The Smart Move Phase I application period is now open and will close on April 30, 2025.

For crucial information regarding application requirements and scoring criteria, read through the entire Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA):

Notice of Funding Availability

Manville - Notice of Funding Availability

Applications will be evaluated competitively based on cost effectiveness, resiliency measures, innovative housing approaches, and other factors.

Application Materials:

Smart Move Application Form

Smart Move Program Sources and Uses Form

For best results, download the application materials to your desktop and use Adobe Acrobat for full functionality.

For questions regarding the application process please email: SmartMove@dca.nj.gov 

Developers experienced in producing single-family housing are able to apply with a housing development project located within the following most impacted and distressed (MID) counties: Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union, and Warren.

The program will be implemented under a developer-led model. Written support from the local government entity where the site is located is required. DCA will provide overall program management and oversight.

The developer will control the site, retain ownership of the development project, and sell properties to eligible homebuyers.

The program will award a maximum of $15 million per project.

Smart Move will provide funds for the construction of single-family housing units and eligible activities related to the delivery of the units.

DCA may provide funds for the following housing development costs:

• Land acquisition
• Infrastructure
• Housing Construction
• Soft Costs
• Developer Fee

Developers must submit projects that meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Located in a designated MID-area.
• Located outside the 500-year floodplain and the inland or coastal climate adjusted floodplain, as defined by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
• Contain a minimum of six (6) single-family housing units.
• Target ratio of:
  • 70% of units sold to low- to moderate-income (LMI) households, which are households making 80% or less of the area median income (AMI).
  • 30% of units sold to households that make between 81% and 120% of AMI.
• Meets or exceeds green and energy efficiency standards
• May be one of the following project types:
  • New construction of single-family subdivisions
  • Infill/scattered site development
  • Adaptive reuse/conversions
• Within the project types, the program will also allow for:
  • Attached or detached single-family homes
  • Innovative housing construction (examples include but are not limited to 3D printed homes, tiny homes, and modular homes)

Phase II of the Smart Move Program will be launched as projects in Phase I are nearing completion.  

To participate in the program, homebuyers must meet the following requirements:

• Have either (1) had their high-risk property acquired through a buyout program or (2) is a first-time homebuyer with a household income at or below 120% of AMI.
• Meet all loan requirements.
• Occupy the property as the primary residence.

• Priority Households
  • Priority 1: Buyout program participants within the jurisdiction.
  • Priority 2: Buyout program participants outside the jurisdiction.
  • Priority 3: Ida-impacted renters or first-time homebuyers within the jurisdiction.
  • Priority 4: Ida-impacted renters or first-time homebuyers outside the jurisdiction.
  • Priority 5: Any affordable housing-eligible applicant.

Additional Flexibility for Developers: Developers can create homebuyer referral pools aligned with local affordable housing requirements, allowing developer-referred applicants to hold priority within each established priority level.

• Income-Qualified
  • Households with incomes at or below 80% of AMI.
  • Households with incomes between 81% AMI and 120% AMI.

The Smart Move Program will offer affordable single-family housing and down payment assistance to income-qualified households.

Down Payment Assistance

The amount of down payment assistance will be determined based on need during the underwriting and first mortgage loan approval process.

• Up to 20% of the affordable sales price for households with incomes at or below 80% of AMI.
• Up to 5% of the affordable sales price for households with incomes between 81% of AMI and 120% of AMI.