See programs you qualify for

By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 29, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in North Bergen, NJ (2026)

Population: 63,000 | Median home price: $550,000 | Est. closing costs: $11,000 - $16,500

North Bergen is a densely populated township in Hudson County, New Jersey, situated along the Hudson River with panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and convenient access to New York City via the NJ Transit bus system and the nearby light rail. With a median home price around $550,000, homebuyers in North Bergen can take advantage of several strong state and county assistance programs to reduce their upfront costs. The NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program provides up to $15,000 as a forgivable loan, and first-generation buyers can add another $7,000 through the NJHMFA First Generation Down Payment Assistance for a combined $22,000. The NJCC Statewide Down Payment Assistance Program offers grants of up to $30,000 based on need, and the Hudson County HOME Homebuyer Assistance Program provides an additional $5,000 to $8,000 for qualifying buyers. By stacking these programs, eligible North Bergen homebuyers could access over $60,000 in total assistance toward their purchase.

County Programs in Hudson County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Hudson County HOME Homebuyer Assistance Program	Grant	$5,000 - $8,000	No	View →

Hudson County HOME Homebuyer Assistance Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: $5,000 - $8,000
First-time only:: No

State Programs in New Jersey

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program	Grant	Up to $30,000	Yes	View →
NJCC Statewide Down Payment Assistance Program	Grant	Up to $30,000	Yes	View →
NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program	Forgivable Loan	Up to $15,000: $15,000 in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union counties; $10,000 in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, Sussex and Warren counties	Yes	View →
NJHMFA First Generation Down Payment Assistance	Forgivable Loan	$7,000	Yes	View →
NJHMFA First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Program	Government-Insured Mortgage	30-year fixed-rate FHA, VA or USDA first mortgage through NJHMFA participating lenders (rate quoted by lender); eligible for up to $15,000 NJHMFA down payment assistance	Yes	View →
NJHMFA HFA Advantage Mortgage Program	Government-Insured Mortgage	Competitive 30-year fixed-rate conventional mortgage	No	View →

FHLBNY Homebuyer Dream Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $30,000
First-time only:: Yes

NJCC Statewide Down Payment Assistance Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $30,000
First-time only:: Yes

NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to $15,000: $15,000 in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union counties; $10,000 in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, Sussex and Warren counties
First-time only:: Yes

NJHMFA First Generation Down Payment Assistance

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: $7,000
First-time only:: Yes

NJHMFA First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Program

Type:: Government-Insured Mortgage
Amount:: 30-year fixed-rate FHA, VA or USDA first mortgage through NJHMFA participating lenders (rate quoted by lender); eligible for up to $15,000 NJHMFA down payment assistance
First-time only:: Yes

NJHMFA HFA Advantage Mortgage Program

Type:: Government-Insured Mortgage
Amount:: Competitive 30-year fixed-rate conventional mortgage
First-time only:: No

Federal Programs

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
FHA Loans	Government-Insured Mortgage	Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)	No	View →
Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD)	Government Property Sale Program	50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes	Yes	View →
Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac)	Government-Guaranteed Mortgage	Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment	No	View →
HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae)	Government-Guaranteed Mortgage	Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment	No	View →
HUD $100 Down Program	FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase	Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.	No	View →
USDA Rural Development Loans	Government-Guaranteed Mortgage	100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value	No	View →
VA Loans	Government-Guaranteed Mortgage	No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)	No	View →

FHA Loans

Type:: Government-Insured Mortgage
Amount:: Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
First-time only:: No

Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD)

Type:: Government Property Sale Program
Amount:: 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
First-time only:: Yes

Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac)

Type:: Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:: Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
First-time only:: No

HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae)

Type:: Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:: Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
First-time only:: No

HUD $100 Down Program

Type:: FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
Amount:: Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
First-time only:: No

USDA Rural Development Loans

Type:: Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:: 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
First-time only:: No

VA Loans

Type:: Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:: No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
First-time only:: No

Nonprofit Programs

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newark Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Below-market-price home purchase with income-based mortgage	Yes	View →
NACA Best in America Mortgage Program	Zero-Interest Loan	No down payment, no closing costs, no fees, no mortgage insurance, below-market interest rate	No	View →

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newark Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Below-market-price home purchase with income-based mortgage
First-time only:: Yes

NACA Best in America Mortgage Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: No down payment, no closing costs, no fees, no mortgage insurance, below-market interest rate
First-time only:: No

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16 programs available in North Bergen. See which ones you qualify for.

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most programs require household income at or below 80% to 100% of Area Median Income for Hudson County. The NJHMFA program sets the income limit at $131,700 for 1-2 person households and $151,455 for 3+ person households.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. A HUD-approved pre-purchase counseling course is required for most programs. New Jersey Citizen Action offers certified NeighborWorks housing counseling and can be reached at 973-643-8800. You can also call 800-569-4287 to find a HUD-approved counselor near you.

Step 3: Get pre-approved with an NJHMFA participating lender. You cannot apply for NJHMFA or NJCC assistance directly. Visit theroadhomenj.com for a list of approved lenders serving the North Bergen area.

Step 4: Apply for the Hudson County HOME Homebuyer Assistance Program. This $5,000 to $8,000 grant is available for low-to-moderate-income buyers purchasing in Hudson County. Contact Hudson County Housing and Community Development for current availability.

Step 5: Explore additional nonprofit options. NACA offers no-down-payment, no-closing-cost mortgages at below-market interest rates with no requirement for first-time buyer status. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newark serves the broader Newark metro area with below-market-price homes.

Step 6: Find a home within program price limits. Single-family homes in Hudson County may not exceed approximately $640,000 under NJHMFA guidelines. Work with your lender to ensure the property meets all program requirements before submitting your offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in North Bergen?+

North Bergen homebuyers can potentially stack multiple programs for significant assistance. The NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program provides up to $15,000 as a forgivable loan, the NJHMFA First Generation DPA adds $7,000 for first-generation buyers, and the NJCC Statewide DPA offers up to $30,000 in grants. The Hudson County HOME Homebuyer Assistance Program adds another $5,000 to $8,000. Combined, eligible buyers could access over $60,000 in total assistance.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+

The NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program and the NJCC program both require first-time homebuyer status, which in New Jersey means you have not owned a home in the past three years. However, NACA does not require first-time buyer status, and the HUD Good Neighbor Next Door program is available regardless of prior ownership for eligible law enforcement, teachers, and firefighters.

What is the maximum income to qualify in North Bergen?+

Income limits vary by program. The NJHMFA First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Program sets the limit at $131,700 for 1-2 person households and $151,455 for 3+ person households in Hudson County. The NJCC program requires income at or below 100% of Area Median Income. The Hudson County HOME program targets low-to-moderate-income buyers as defined by HUD.

What homebuyer education is required?+

Most programs require completion of a HUD-approved pre-purchase homebuyer counseling course. New Jersey Citizen Action at 973-643-8800 offers certified NeighborWorks housing counseling courses that satisfy program requirements. You can also call 800-569-4287 to locate a HUD-approved counselor near North Bergen.

How much are closing costs in North Bergen?+

Typical closing costs in North Bergen range from $11,000 to $16,500 based on the median home price of $550,000. These costs include title insurance, attorney fees, recording fees, and prepaid items. Several DPA programs allow funds to be used toward closing costs in addition to the down payment, which can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

What is the maximum home price I can purchase with assistance?+

Under NJHMFA guidelines, single-family homes in Hudson County may not exceed approximately $640,000. The NJCC program and other state programs may have their own purchase price limits. Work with an NJHMFA participating lender to confirm the current limits for the specific programs you plan to use.

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