Collingswood is happy to announce it will be pairing with New Jersey's Live Where You Work Porgram, which offers homebuying incentives for residents that live and work in the same town. Read more about the program on the State's page here.

In 2010, Collingswood announced its participation in the State’s Live Where You Work program, which provides low-interest, fixed rate mortgage loans to first-time homebuyers purchasing homes in towns where they are employed. Additional program 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. Collingswood is the 34th municipality to partner with the HMFA on this workforce housing initiative.

“This program is a perfect fit for our town,” said Mayor Jim Maley. “Live Where You Work encourages people that work in our community to truly be a part of our community. What a terrific incentive to keep the backbone of Collingswood – downtown employees, municipal employees – here in town.”

“Live Where You Work helps build sustainable communities by providing affordable and reliable mortgages for residents and encouraging greener environments and alternative transportation options,” said Anthony Marchetta, Executive Director of the HMFA. “Live Where You Work has so much to offer, which is why we’re so excited to see another community come on board.”

The other 33 municipalities participating in the Live Where You Work program include: Trenton, Jersey City, Woodbridge, Elizabeth, Atlantic City, Rahway, Morristown, Evesham, Neptune Township, Bayonne, Carteret, New Brunswick, Paterson, Glassboro, Orange, Keyport, Newark, Washington Township (Gloucester County), Edgewater Park, Cherry Hill, Plainfield, Old Bridge, Passaic, Belmar, Asbury Park, Pemberton, Gloucester City, Voorhees, Manchester, Lakewood, Freehold Borough, East Orange and Red Bank.

“Taking part in the Live Where You Work is a no-brainer for us,” added Commissioner Joan Leonard. “The program cuts down on auto reliance and offers a wonderful incentive for Collingswood employees to become residents.”

Live Where You Work received the 2009 President’s Award for Innovation from the Council of State Community Development Agencies, a national association that supports state efforts in community development, affordable housing, local economic development and state-local relations. The award recognizes innovative activities, policies or programs that have been implemented at the state level and have demonstrated success in solving community needs.

“By assisting hardworking New Jersey residents who are seeking homeownership opportunities, the Live Where You Work program contributes to maintaining the vitality of our communities,” said Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa. “I commend Collingswood for their commitment to improving the lives of the people who work and live in the borough. We encourage more municipalities to join the program.”

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.

Collingswood is known for its varied housing stock including towns, victorians and The LumberYard Condos, the newest downtown development.