hey prescott.
See what you qualify for

Township of Irvington Homeownership Program (First-Time Homebuyer / HOME)

Township of Irvington Department of Economic Development and Grants Oversight (DEDGO) · Irvington, New Jersey

Last verified
See what you qualify forOfficial program site →
Assistance

$1,000–$10,000

The maximum the program publishes — not an offer

Income limit

80% AMI

Of area median income; varies by county and household size

Repayment

Forgivable

Forgiven after 5 years

What is Township of Irvington Homeownership Program (First-Time Homebuyer / HOME)?

Township of Irvington Homeownership Program (First-Time Homebuyer / HOME) is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Irvington, New Jersey, administered by Township of Irvington Department of Economic Development and Grants Oversight (DEDGO).

  • The Township of Irvington Homeownership Program uses federal HUD HOME funds to provide eligible first-time homebuyers up to $10,000 in down payment and/or closing-cost assistance toward a 1-4 family home, condo, co-op, or manufactured home within Irvington. The subsidy is secured by a lien with a 5-year affordability period and becomes a partially repayable loan (per a recapture schedule) only if the buyer sells, moves, or defaults before 5 years. Applicants must complete Urban League of Essex County homebuyer counseling, have a credit score of at least 640, at least $1,500 in savings, and earn at or below 80% AMI.
  • Up to $10,000 DPA/closing-cost grant.
  • Forgiven after 5 years.
  • Condos, co-ops, manufactured homes eligible.
  • Free HUD-approved counseling via Urban League of Essex County.
  • Open to any lender.
  • This is a federal program, so it is available beyond a single state or city.
  • Funding comes from Federal HUD HOME Investment Partnerships Program.

How much assistance does it provide?

Township of Irvington Homeownership Program (First-Time Homebuyer / HOME) offers between $1,000 and $10,000 in assistance.

  • Award tiers: Sliding scale based on the primary mortgage; minimum $1,000, maximum $10,000 per dwelling unit.
  • Buyer contribution: At least $1,500 in a savings account.
  • Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — Township of Irvington Department of Economic Development and Grants Oversight (DEDGO) determines any individual award.

Do you have to pay it back?

Township of Irvington Homeownership Program (First-Time Homebuyer / HOME) is forgiven after 5 years, so a buyer who stays that long does not repay it.

  • Repayment is triggered by Partial repayment (per recapture schedule) if buyer moves, sells, or defaults before the end of the 5-year affordability period.
  • The assistance is recorded in Second position.
  • Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Township of Irvington Homeownership Program (First-Time Homebuyer / HOME) is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

The program requires

  • First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: First-time homebuyer defined as not having owned a home in the last 3 years
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: Minimum credit score of 640 with no late payments, collections, judgments, or tax liens in the past 12 months
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through Urban League of Essex County (ULEC) First-Time Homeowners Program (HUD-approved); certificate required plus post-purchase counseling commitment
  • Residency: Property must be located within the Township of Irvington
  • DRAFT (dpa-gap-finder 2026-06-13): pending review. Must complete Urban League of Essex County (ULEC) First-Time Homeowners Program and obtain certificate; no late payments/collections/judgments/tax liens in past 12 months; property must pass local Housing Standards and Lead-Based Paint inspections. UNCONFIRMED (left blank, not guessed): max_dti, income_limit_amount 4-person dollar figure, max_purchase_price cap, annual_funding_cap, citizenship_requirement, is_stackable, hud_ami_year, required_mortgage_term, points_fees.

The program excludes

  • Households above 80% of area median income

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

What are the income limits?

Township of Irvington Homeownership Program (First-Time Homebuyer / HOME) limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

  • Household income at or below 80% of area median income (HUD Section 8 low-income limits), adjusted for household size; revised annually.
  • The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s.
  • Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

What kind of home can it be used for?

Township of Irvington Homeownership Program (First-Time Homebuyer / HOME) can be used for Single Family, 2-4 Unit, Condo, Co-op, and Manufactured.

  • New construction is eligible.
  • Manufactured homes are eligible.

Where does it apply?

Township of Irvington Homeownership Program (First-Time Homebuyer / HOME) is a federal program, so it is not limited to New Jersey.

How do you apply?

Applications for Township of Irvington Homeownership Program (First-Time Homebuyer / HOME) go through Township of Irvington Department of Economic Development and Grants Oversight (DEDGO), which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through Urban League of Essex County (ULEC) First-Time Homeowners Program (HUD-approved); certificate required plus post-purchase counseling commitment.

  2. Contact Township of Irvington Department of Economic Development and Grants Oversight (DEDGO) to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through Walk-in preliminary application at DEDGO office; referral to Urban League of Essex County counseling; then Program Participation Application and eligibility interview, and are subject to availability.

  3. Work with a lender who handles the program

    Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Learn this program

Short reads on how it works, in plain language. Free, no sign-up needed to read.

Free course from Hey Prescott

Township of Irvington Homeownership Program (First-Time Homebuyer / HOME), explained

A short, free course on Township of Irvington Homeownership Program (First-Time Homebuyer / HOME): what it is, who it is for, how it is forgiven, where it applies and how to apply. Based on program data from July 2026. About ten minutes.

5 modules · About 10 minutes

Read the course

90-second match

Not sure which you qualify for?

Answer 9 questions and we'll match you to every program you can actually use — in about 90 seconds. No SSN, no credit pull.

Find my programs