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City of Newark Down Payment Assistance Loan Program Pre-Application - Let's get started

Greetings!

Hello Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing organization, administers the City of Newark's Down Payment Assistance Loan (DPAL) Program on behalf of the City of Newark. This Pre-Application will be reviewed by Hello Housing to determine eligibility to move forward in the application process. This Pre-Application includes required information as well as optional information. Unless a section is labeled "Optional" it is a required section and must be completed. We encourage applicants to complete all sections. Answers to optional questions are confidential and will NOT impact your eligibility. In aggregate, the collective answers from the pool of applicants will help Hello Housing better understand who benefits from affordable homeownership programs and to advocate for effective programs to policymakers.

The program is open and accepting applications through 5:00 pm on January 8, 2027. Due to a high volume of interest in the program, there will be a lottery held the week of January 25th, 2027, to determine which applicants will be able to move forward in the application process.

Applicants who submit Pre-Applications by the due date and are deemed eligible at this stage to proceed with the application process will be issued a lottery number by email which will be used to enter the application lottery.

Results of the application lottery will be posted on our website and emailed to lottery participants.

Thanks!
Hello Housing Team

Email Address

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Section I. General Information

First Name

Last Name

Street

City

State

Zip Code

Phone

Program

Campaign

Campaign ID

Section II. Basic Eligibility

Household Details

Have any adult members of your household owned a primary residence in the last three years?

YesNo

All household members must have not owned a Primary Residence in any state or country during the three-year period before applying for the DPAL Program. Exceptions to this definition include: A) An individual who previously owned a home with a former spouse or registered domestic partner during their marriage or domestic partnership; B) An individual who has owned a principal residence that was not permanently affixed to a permanent foundation, according to applicable regulations; C) An individual who has owned timeshares; D) An individual who was a loan cosigner from a previous real estate transaction; E) An individual who has appeared on title for property solely in the capacity as a trustee for a trust, where the trustor is living at the time and in the residence; F) An individual named as a beneficiary of a trust that includes a housing unit amongst the trust assets, but only if the trustor is living at the time and occupying the residence.

Household Income

Include all gross income (before taxes) anticipated for the current year, earned by adults in the household aged 18 or over. Include regular employment, self-employment, gratuities and commissions BEFORE taxes and other deductions, child or spousal support, adoption assistance, Social Security, unemployment, disability, welfare assistance, armed forces pay, pensions or other retirement income, Worker’s Compensation, investment income, income from rental property, and any other miscellaneous income. Please project annual income based on year-to-date income including overtime pay, plus any anticipated bonuses.

Combined ANNUAL Income for all Adults

Please enter a number without dollar signs, decimals or commas

Please double check your income. The City of Newark DPAL Program does not have a minimum income requirement, but annual income of this amount could make it difficult to qualify for a first mortgage in Newark.

Your annual income is too high to qualify for the City of Newark DPAL Program.

Household Assets

Assets are NOT the same as income. Assets include: the value of all cash in all of your financial accounts including checking and savings, mutual funds, etc., any cash on hand you may have, the cash value of revocable trusts available to the household member, and the amount of equity in any real estate owned. Please also include the value of any gift funds or funds you anticipate withdrawing from retirement account(s) for your home purchase. Combine the total value of all of these assets for all adults in your household. Please DO NOT include the value of retirement account balances that you do not plan to withdraw for the home purchase, life insurance policies, special needs trusts or 529 college savings accounts. Enter 0 for no assets.

Estimated Combined Assets for all Adults

Please enter a number without dollar signs, decimals or commas

Please double check your asset amount. The City of Newark DPAL Program does not have a minimum asset requirement, but applicants with assets below $5,000 may have difficulty qualifying for a first mortgage or paying for closing costs in the City of Newark.

Please double check your asset amount. Households with assets greater than $225,000 will not qualify for the City of Newark DPAL Program. Please DO NOT include the value of retirement account balances that you do not plan to withdraw for the home purchase.

Preference Criteria

The City has established a Preference/Priority system which prioritizes limited down payment assistance funds for those who live and/or work within the City limits of Newark. You can view the Preference/Priority Criteria and the definition of what it means to live or work in the City along with the type of documentation you will have to submit in the Program Guidelines which are available for download here.

Answers to the questions below will establish if you fit within either preference. PLEASE NOTE, if you are selected to move forward in the application process, you will have to provide documentation that demonstrates that you meet the priority that you select based on your answers below. If you are not able to demonstrate that you meet the priority you have selected, you will lose your lottery priority ranking number and will be reassigned to the appropriate preference category for which you do qualify and placed at the bottom of the lottery ranking list within that group.

Does an applicant who will be listed as an owner on title for the property currently live within the city limits of the City of Newark? Occupying and renting, at the time of application and for at least a full six months (180 days) prior to the application date, a bona fide rental dwelling within the Newark city limits, as evidenced by valid third-party documentation (a lease, a California driver’s license or identification card showing street address (not a post office box) of such residence, current California vehicle registration card, or gas/electric/water bills). For residency-based priority, the Applicant must currently meet the criteria and for at least the past 6 months at the time of submitting a Pre-Application. Evidence of payment of a lease and rental contract for the 6-month period will be required.

YesNo

Does any applicant who will be listed as an owner on title for the property currently work within the city limits of the City of Newark? Earning one’s primary source of annual income (salary, wages, commissions) through employment by a Newark employer licensed and permitted by the City, at a primary worksite in the City of Newark; or through operation of a Newark-based business that is licensed and permitted by the City of Newark. Working in the City of Newark does NOT include volunteer or unpaid work, or self-employment consisting solely of operating a business entity established solely for the purposes of investment in a rental property. Income earned in the City of Newark must be verified by your paycheck stubs, tax returns, and/or other documentation described in the application forms. The Applicant’s qualifying household member must be a person whose name will appear on title for the home purchased with DPAL funds and who will use the unit as their primary residence. For employment-based priority/preference, the Applicant must currently meet the criteria and have met the criteria for at least the past 6 months at the time of submitting a Pre-Application. If an applicant works from home either part-time or full-time, employment must be with an employer licensed and permitted by the City of Newark at a place of business located within the City limits and verified by the employer.

YesNo

No applicant who will be listed as an owner on title for the property has been working or living within the City Limits of the City of Newark for at least the past 6 months at the time of application.

Yes - This is Correct

Section IV. Final Details

City of Newark DPAL Program

How did you hear about us?

Which faith-based organization?

Which homebuyer counseling agency?

Which lender?

Name of your employer

Which social media site?

Which elected official?

Which community organization?

Which newspaper?

If "Other", please provide additional information:

As part of my Pre-Application, I certify that the statements included herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I also acknowledge that the information submitted in my Pre-Application will be shared with City of Newark.

City of Newark Down Payment Assistance Loan Program Pre-Application - Let's get started

Section I. General Information

Primary Language

Primary Language

Section II. Basic Eligibility

Section IV. Final Details

City of Newark DPAL Program