See programs you qualify for

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

Homebuyer Programs in Perth Amboy, NJ (2026)

Population: 55,000 | Median home price: $490,000 | Est. closing costs: $10,000 - $14,500

Perth Amboy is a historic waterfront city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, with a population of approximately 55,000 and a median home price around $490,000. The city offers one of the strongest local down payment assistance programs in New Jersey, providing up to $15,000 in CDBG-funded grants for first-time homebuyers purchasing within city limits. At the state level, the NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program adds up to $15,000 in forgivable loans, and first-generation buyers may qualify for an additional $7,000 through the NJHMFA First Generation program. Middlesex County also offers $5,000 through its American Dream Downpayment Program, and Greater Middlesex and Morris Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes in the area. By stacking city, county, state, and federal programs, eligible Perth Amboy buyers could potentially access over $35,000 in total assistance.

City Programs in Perth Amboy

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Perth Amboy First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program	Grant	Up to $15,000	Yes	View →

Perth Amboy First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $15,000
First-time only:: Yes

County Programs in Middlesex County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Middlesex County American Dream Downpayment Program	Forgivable Loan	$5,000	Yes	View →

Middlesex County American Dream Downpayment Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: $5,000
First-time only:: Yes

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
Greater Middlesex & Morris Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Below-market-price home purchase with affordable mortgage ($170,000 - $230,000 depending on income level)	No	View →
Housing Partnership of New Jersey CDFI Homebuyer Loan	Zero-Interest Loan	Up to $20,000	No	View →

Greater Middlesex & Morris Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Below-market-price home purchase with affordable mortgage ($170,000 - $230,000 depending on income level)
First-time only:: No

Housing Partnership of New Jersey CDFI Homebuyer Loan

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Up to $20,000
First-time only:: No

Free eligibility check

17 programs available in Perth Amboy. See which ones you qualify for.

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. The Perth Amboy DPA program requires household income at or below HUD low-to-moderate income limits. Your monthly mortgage payment must fall between 30% and 45% of gross monthly income. Review current HUD income limits for Middlesex County.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. All applicants must attend a Homebuyer Education Course from a HUD-certified agency. The Perth Amboy Housing Authority offers HUD-approved homebuyer workshops at 881 Amboy Avenue for $50 per person or $60 per couple. Contact Eugenia Hill at (732) 826-3110 ext. 631 to register.

Step 3: Apply for Perth Amboy down payment assistance. Contact the City of Perth Amboy Office of Housing and Social Services at (732) 826-4300 or visit 1 Olive Street, 1st Floor. The program provides up to $15,000 for first-time homebuyers purchasing in Perth Amboy. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Step 4: Apply for Middlesex County assistance. Contact Melissa Bellamy at (732) 745-3025 for the Middlesex County American Dream Downpayment Program, which provides an additional $5,000 in deferred-payment assistance.

Step 5: Get pre-approved through an NJHMFA participating lender. You will need an approved lender to access the NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program (up to $15,000) and First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Program.

Step 6: Find a home within program guidelines. The Perth Amboy DPA requires the home to be a one or two family, owner-occupied property within city limits. Homes built before 1978 must pass a lead-based paint inspection.

Step 7: Submit your applications and close. Your lender will coordinate the DPA funding with your mortgage. Allow extra processing time when stacking multiple assistance programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Perth Amboy?+

Perth Amboy buyers can stack significant assistance. The Perth Amboy First-Time Homebuyer DPA provides up to $15,000 in grants. The NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $15,000 in forgivable loans. First-generation buyers may qualify for an additional $7,000 through NJHMFA First Generation. The Middlesex County American Dream Downpayment Program adds $5,000. The Housing Partnership of New Jersey CDFI program offers up to $20,000. Combined, eligible buyers could access over $35,000 in assistance.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to get assistance in Perth Amboy?+

Yes, most programs require first-time buyer status. The Perth Amboy DPA, NJHMFA programs, and Middlesex County American Dream program all require that you have not owned a home in the past three years. The NJHMFA First Generation program additionally requires you to be the first in your family to own a home. Greater Middlesex and Morris Habitat for Humanity selects partner families based on need rather than strict first-time buyer requirements.

What is the maximum home price I can pay using these programs?+

Purchase price limits vary by program and are updated annually. The NJHMFA programs set county-specific limits for Middlesex County. The Perth Amboy DPA does not list a specific price cap but requires that your monthly mortgage payment fall between 30% and 45% of gross household monthly income, which effectively limits the purchase price based on your income. Contact an NJHMFA participating lender for the most current Middlesex County purchase price limits.

What homebuyer education is required?+

All programs require HUD-approved homebuyer education. The Perth Amboy Housing Authority is a HUD-certified counseling agency and offers homebuyer education workshops at 881 Amboy Avenue, Perth Amboy. The workshop costs $50 per person or $60 per couple. Contact Eugenia Hill at (732) 826-3110 ext. 631 to register. The PRAB organization also offers housing counseling enrollment through the Housing Coalition of Central Jersey.

Is the Perth Amboy DPA a grant or a loan?+

The Perth Amboy First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance is funded through HUD CDBG Program funds and provides up to $15,000 toward your home purchase. Contact the Office of Housing and Social Services at (732) 826-4300 for specific terms and repayment requirements.

Can I combine Perth Amboy assistance with state and county programs?+

Yes, you can typically stack multiple programs. Many Perth Amboy buyers combine the city DPA (up to $15,000) with the NJHMFA Down Payment Assistance (up to $15,000), the NJHMFA First Generation program ($7,000 if eligible), and the Middlesex County American Dream program ($5,000). Work with an NJHMFA-approved lender who can coordinate multiple assistance sources with your mortgage.