Not stated in the QAP, and no verified NJ-specific recent award/scoring-summary data was located during this research (a Delaware award-ranking document was found in the working files but is for a different state and was disregarded). Leave as null rather than estimate.
Select a category to read its scoring criteria.
01Extended Affordability / Compliance Period Election
20 pts+
Applicant selects one of three mutually exclusive options: 20 pts for non-TUM projects electing an additional 15-year compliance-period extension (30-yr total occupancy restriction: 15-yr compliance + 15-yr extended use); 15 pts for the same election if the project is in a Targeted Urban Municipality (TUM); or 10 pts for single-family/duplex projects that will convert to tenant ownership at the end of the compliance period.
02Public Housing Waiting Lists
2 pts+
2 points for a project that utilizes public housing waiting lists.
03Large-Family Units
5 pts+
5 points for low-density buildings where at least 25% of tax-credit units are large-family units (by unit count, not square footage).
04Municipal Support
5 pts+
Up to 5 points for a fixed-rate 15-year municipal tax abatement on the residential component: 5 pts if the effective rate is 6.28% or less (inclusive of fees), 3 pts if higher. Projects without an abatement must instead capitalize a 2-year property-tax escrow and maintain a 1.20 DCR with minimum $3,000/unit core operating expenses (no points, but required to remain otherwise compliant).
05Resident Social Services
6 pts+
Up to 6 points (2 points per service, max 3 services) for providing resident social services for the full compliance period -- e.g., social service coordinator, financial literacy, food insecurity/nutrition programs, health screenings, job training, computer literacy -- with documented funding source, provider experience, and executed agreements.
06M/WBE Participation
5 pts+
Up to 5 points based on EITHER the percentage ownership interest a certified minority/women-owned business enterprise (M/WBE) holds in the general partner/managing member (5 pts at 100%, 3 pts at 50-99%, 1 pt at 20-49%) OR the percentage of construction costs committed to unrelated certified M/WBE contractors/subcontractors/suppliers (5 pts at >=20%, 3 pts at 15-19%).
07Ready to Grow Area
2 pts+
2 points for project location within a designated Ready to Grow area.
08Unit Amenities
6 pts+
Up to 6 points (2 points each, max 3 amenities) for in-unit amenities such as a security alarm, all-electric cooking, ENERGY STAR refrigerator/washer-dryer/dishwasher, MERV-13 air filtration, minimum bedroom/closet/cabinet dimensions, or free high-speed internet.
09Project Amenities
4 pts+
Up to 4 points (2 points each, max 2 amenities) for project-level amenities such as a playground, community room (>=1,600 sf), ENERGY STAR laundry, qualifying open space, larger average unit sizes, parking/bicycle storage, healthy food delivery, smoke-free policy, gym/fitness center, or (TUM only) heat-mitigation infrastructure.
10Community Policing / Public Safety
2 pts+
2 points for community policing or public safety enhancements such as an evening security guard, on-site policing station, building cameras/security systems, CPTED design, or police-partnership funding.
11Site Selection (Positive/Negative Land Uses)
6 pts+
Up to 6 net points based on proximity to positive community land uses (grocery store, hospital/clinic, school, day care, career center, pharmacy, bank, library, park, place of worship, etc. -- 1-2 points each within 0.5-3 miles depending on cycle and use type), minus 3 points per negative land use (landfill, incinerator, nuclear plant, refinery, unremediated Superfund site, jail/prison, wastewater plant) within 1 mile, capped at 6 points either direction.
12Syndicator/Investor Commitment
3 pts+
3 points for a syndicator/investor commitment letter or executed partnership/operating agreement specifying net pricing and net capital contributions within NJHMFA's stated equity range (term sheets do not qualify; not required for applicants using credits themselves).
13Green Building Certification
4 pts+
Up to 4 points for green building certification: 4 pts for Enterprise Green Communities (Mandatory + 40 optional points), LEED Silver+, NGBS Silver+, NJ Zero Energy Ready Homes + renewables, Living Building Challenge, or Passive House, each with 'future-ready' electrification selections; 3 pts for Enterprise Green Communities (Mandatory + 40), LEED Silver+, or NGBS Silver+ WITHOUT future-ready selections -- the 3-point tier is narrower than the 4-point tier and does not include NJ Zero Energy Ready Homes, Living Building Challenge, or Passive House at all.
14Neighborhood / Location Characteristics
12 pts+
Up to 12 points combined across: redevelopment/historic rehab/adaptive reuse (1 pt); public transportation proximity plus jobs-to-housing ratio bonus (up to 5 pts, e.g. 5 pts for Transit Village district); high-performing school district via 4th-grade NJSLA proficiency rates plus school-choice-program bonus (up to 3 pts); Municipal Revitalization Index ranking (non-TUM only) plus court-approved fair-share housing plan bonus (up to 3 pts); or Qualified Opportunity Zone designation (2 pts, TUM only).
15Uncorrected Noncompliance (negative)
-15 pts+
Deduction of 15 points (maintenance/health-code violations or major building-system failure) or 10 points (other QAP-provision violations) where a GP/voting member/developer/related party has an uncorrected noncompliance finding on an NJ LIHTC project; disqualifies the application from all set-asides.
16Prior Full Credit Return (negative)
-5 pts+
5-point deduction where a GP/voting member/developer/related party fully returned tax credits to NJHMFA within the past 2 years, if the return occurred after October 15 of the required placed-in-service year.
17Unpaid Monitoring Fees (negative)
-15 pts+
15-point deduction where a GP/voting member/developer/related party owns a managing/controlling interest in an NJ LIHTC project with unpaid NJHMFA compliance monitoring fees (absent a formal deferral); disqualifies from all set-asides.
18Failure to Submit Certifications (negative)
-15 pts+
15-point deduction where a GP/voting member/developer/related party failed to submit required annual project certifications or tenant information for an NJ LIHTC project; disqualifies from all set-asides.
19Fair Housing Violations (negative)
-15 pts+
15-point deduction where a GP/voting member/developer/related party had a fair-housing discrimination finding (federal or NJ Law Against Discrimination) or a Fair Chance in Housing Act penalty within the past 4 years; disqualifies from all set-asides.
20Developer / Property Management Experience
3 pts+
3 points where a GP/related party has a track record of successfully developing and operating 1-3 prior LIHTC projects (ownership-interest thresholds vary by option), in some options paired with a property manager having 5+ years' LIHTC monitoring experience and a 300+ unit portfolio.
21Homeless / Olmstead Set-Aside
3 pts+
3 points for setting aside the greater of 5 units or 5% of units for homeless individuals/families (with HMIS registration, proportionate bedroom mix); or 2 points for setting aside the same for individuals with disabilities transitioning from institutions under Olmstead v. L.C.
22Deep Income Targeting
8 pts+
8 points for electing the federal 20%-at-50%-AMI minimum set-aside (all tax-credit units then restricted to 50% AMI) or for restricting 10% of tax-credit units to households at or below 30% AMI.
23Cure Period Use (negative)
-1 pts+
1-point deduction per cured defect for applicants who use the 48-hour post-deadline cure period to fix a curable defect.
24NJHMFA Mortgage Arrearages (negative)
-15 pts+
15-point deduction where a GP/voting member/developer/related party owns an interest in an NJHMFA-financed property with 3+ months of arrearages and no Executive-Director-approved workout plan.
25Bonus Point Election
1 pts+
1 bonus point for choosing one of: at least 20% market-rate unrestricted units (forfeits eligibility for the 130% HERA basis boost); at least 20% of units underwritten at or below 30% AMI (excluding rental-assistance units); or traditional multifamily pooled permanent bond financing through NJHMFA.
Scoring sourceQAP (N.J.A.C. 5:80-33), "2026 Qualified Allocation Plan," Adopted February 2, 2026 (58 N.J.R. 991(a)): Section 5:80-33.14 (Scoring and ranking, including the 65%-of-maximum-score eligibility threshold); Section 5:80-33.15 (Point system for the Family Cycle -- the full 25-category rubric, pp.46-56); Section 5:80-33.16 (Point system for the Age-Friendly Senior Cycle -- incorporates the Family Cycle categories with modifications, pp.57-58); Section 5:80-33.17 (Point system for the Supportive Housing Cycle); Section 5:80-33.19 (Tiebreaker system, p.61); Sections 5:80-33.4, 33.5, 33.6, 33.7, 33.8 (cycle and set-aside structure, pp.16-23).
