ORANGE, NJ – Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins Jr. today joined Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Joseph Doria and New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) Executive Director Marge DellaVecchia at Reock Commons, a new condominium development at 57 South Center Street, to announce that Orange is the newest member of the Live Where You Work Program. The city is the 15th municipality to partner with the HMFA on the program.

“Live Where You Work complements Governor Corzine’s efforts at revitalizing communities because it promotes homeownership and encourages people to live closer to their jobs,” said Commissioner Doria. “Mayor Hawkins and Orange are to be commended for their commitment to the residents of this city and I encourage more municipalities to join the program.”

The Live Where You Work Program is a workforce housing initiative that provides low-interest, fixed rate mortgage loans to homebuyers purchasing homes in towns where they are employed. Other benefits include down payment and closing cost assistance for the purchase of a home within Smart Growth Areas and flexible underwriting criteria for the loan qualification process. Homes must be located in a municipality that has become a Live Where You Work partner with HMFA. The Live Where You Work initiative strives to revitalize and build sustainable communities that will provide a greener environment, access to alternative transportation and affordable housing opportunities for residents.

“The HMFA believes that now is a great time to buy a home and Live Where You Work is a wonderful program that can make homeownership a reality for many families,” said Marge DellaVecchia, Executive Director of the HMFA. “Participants can receive larger loans than they would otherwise be eligible for because the program understands that the money they will be saving with a shortened commute can now be invested in their mortgage.” 

As a result of the city’s partnership with the HMFA, people working in Orange who are interested in buying a home in the city will be able to take advantage of Live Where You Work program incentives. Live Where You Work is administered by the HMFA, a DCA affiliate. Trenton, Jersey City, Woodbridge, Elizabeth, Atlantic City, Rahway, Morristown, Evesham, Neptune Township, Bayonne, Carteret, New Brunswick, Paterson and Glassboro are all taking part in the program.

“In a time of economic crisis, any program that eases or creates opportunities for people to purchase homes is a great thing and the Live Where You Work program accomplishes this by targeting people who work in our community,” said Mayor Hawkins. “That means more of our police officers, firefighters, teachers and other anchors of our community can now live right next door, making the community safer.”

To learn about how to get a Live Where You Work mortgage, please call 1-800-NJHOUSE. For more information about how municipalities can join Live Where You Work, please call 609-278-7478. Or, you can visit the Live Where You Work website at www.livewhereyouwork.nj.gov.