Vetoed by Governor Chris Christie

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands participation in the New Jersey HomeKeeper program.

Highlights:

• Requires the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to use the entire amount of the Hardest Hit Fund established by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 by December 31, 2017 (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits Hardest Hit funds from being used for any other purpose than to provide financial aid to financially struggling homeowners through the New Jersey HomeKeeper Program (Sec. 2).

• Requires the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to expand the HomeKeeper program to include programs that assist individuals in the following ways (Sec. 2):
• Assist individuals in obtaining principal reductions by lenders;
• Assist individuals in obtaining second mortgage reduction or payoff;
• Assist individuals in obtaining loans or subsidies to cover past-due payments;
• Assist individuals in obtaining mortgage reinstatements;
• Expand eligibility for mortgage assistance to assist underemployed and unemployed individuals; and
• Assist individuals in obtaining transition assistance to help homeowners relocate.

• Requires the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to approve or deny applications for assistance under the HomeKeeper Program within 90 days of the original application submission by the homeowner (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes Homekeeper funds to be used for individuals who are current in their mortgage loans or individuals who are delinquent in their mortgage loans, but who have not been foreclosed upon (Sec. 2).

• Requires at least 20 percent of the Hardest Hit Fund to be used within 1 year of the effective date of this bill (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text