NCJAR News
Beyond Traditional Loans: How Non-Qualified Mortgage & Portfolio Loans Help You Close More Deals Go beyond conventional lending and discover how Non-Qualified Mortgage (Non-QM) and portfolio loans can unlock more opportunities for your clients. This session delivers practical, easy-to-understand insights you can use right away to overcome common financing challenges, serve a wider range of borrowers, and close more deals with confidence.
We are proud to share that NCJAR has made a $2,500 contribution to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF), supporting disaster relief efforts for communities in need.
Now through May, your impact can go even further. Thanks to a generous matching initiative from Realtor.com, every dollar donated to RRF will be matched—doubling the support for families recovering from natural disasters across the country.
We invite you to join us in making a difference. Your donation, no matter the size, helps provide critical housing-related assistance to those affected by disasters. With this limited-time match, your generosity can make twice the impact when it’s needed most.
You’ve found a house with great bones—solid structure, a desirable location, and plenty of potential—but it needs some work. For many buyers, the idea of taking on renovation costs can feel overwhelming. The good news? It doesn’t have to be.
Today’s homebuyers have access to financing options that allow them to roll renovation costs directly into their mortgage. That means you can purchase a home and fund improvements with a single loan—making it easier to compete in a low-inventory market, personalize your space, and build equity faster.
As always, a knowledgeable NCJAR real estate professional can help guide you through these options and connect you with trusted lenders.
What Is Renovation Financing?
Renovation financing allows buyers to include the cost of repairs, upgrades, or even structural changes in their home loan. Instead of purchasing a home and then taking out a separate loan for improvements, everything is bundled into one mortgage.
This approach offers several advantages:
- One monthly payment instead of multiple loans
- Potentially lower interest rates compared to personal or home improvement loans
- The ability to customize your home immediately
- Faster equity growth by increasing the home’s value
New Jersey’s REAL (Resilient Environments and Landscapes) rules mark one of the most significant updates to land use and environmental regulations in decades. Adopted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) on January 20, 2026, these rules are designed to better prepare communities, properties, and infrastructure for future flooding, sea-level rise, and climate impacts.
For NCJAR® members, the takeaway is clear: deals aren’t disappearing, but they are becoming more complex.
What Are the REAL Rules?
The REAL rules are part of the broader NJPACT (Protecting Against Climate Threats) initiative and represent a overhaul of regulations governing:
- Flood hazard areas
- Coastal zone management
- Freshwater wetlands
- Stormwater management
Unlike previous regulations, REAL integrates forward-looking climate science, including projections for sea-level rise and increasing flood risk, directly into permitting and development standards.
In fact, New Jersey is among the first states to implement such a comprehensive, climate-based regulatory framework for land use.
