OHCS Homeownership Development application process and documents

Summary

OHCS is proposing to move to a new multistep application process for the Homeownership Development Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) offering for 2026 and 2027. This process will separate the main application and due diligence steps into two stages prior to final approval of funding. This change will reduce the amount of work required prior to knowing if funding is available for a project and will increase the time and availability of technical assistance for more intensive application tasks. 

Intake

You will be asked to complete a form available online providing basic details about your organization and your project.

After your intake is processed, you will receive an invitation to two Procorem Workcenters.

• Your Partner Portal will be available for information and documents that apply to all your projects now or in the future.
• Your Project Workcenter will be available for information and documents relating to the specific project you are applying for.

Concept proposal

Once you gain access to your workcenters, you may submit the first stage of your application and secure your place in line. This stage includes:

• Application Workbook
• Organizational Documents
• Proof of Secretary of State Registration 
• Evidence of Site Control 
• Preliminary Site Plan
• Site Review Checklist 
• Authorization and Acceptance Form 
• Board Resolution (if applicable) 
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Agreement
• Culturally Specific Organization Attestation Form (if applicable)

Applicant selection

Your place in line will be determined by the submission date of your Concept Proposal. If there are not enough funds to support your project, your application stops here and nothing else is required. Applications submitted in the first half of 2026 will have another chance for selection in September 2026 with no additional action needed.

If funds are available, OHCS staff will reach out to you to complete the Due Diligence stage of the application. The funds required to support your project will be held until the due diligence deadline.

If there is only partial funding available or you are next in line, OHCS may select you as an alternate. You will be invited to complete Due Diligence. If your project is not funded, you will receive priority for the next NOFA year if the program is funded.

If you are not invited to complete Due Diligence, your application will be added to the publicly available list of applicants and held until funding is available or the NOFA closes.  No further action from you will be required at this time.

Due Diligence

If you have been invited to complete Due Diligence, your Project Workcenter will be updated with new tasks and folders for submission.  A submission timeline has been established to ensure your project is on track to meet deadlines. Stage 1 documents must be submitted within two months of invitation to complete Due Diligence. Stage 2 documents must be submitted within four months of invitation to complete Due Diligence. Stage 3 documents must be submitted by the deadline of Nov. 3, 2026, for projects approved for 2026 and Sept. 3, 2027, for projects approved for 2027. You will be assigned to a development officer at OHCS who can provide support through this process.  The tasks and documents required at each stage include:

Stage 1

• Kickoff meeting with OHCS 
• Acknowledgement of deadlines 
• Updated Application Workbook
• Evidence of Zoning Form 
  
• Pro forma rough draft
  
• Evidence of costs
  
• Evidence of funding commitments (if available)
• Operating budget rough draft
  
• Evidence of tie-breaker (if requested)

Stage 2

• Recipient charge payment
  
• Close on predevelopment loan (if applicable) 
• Key stakeholder meeting 
  
• FEMA flood map 
• Wetlands map 
• BOLI prevailing wage determination 
• Phase 1 environmental study 
• Preliminary title report

Stage 3

• Preview loan document templates 
• Submit permit application (if required) 
• Final pro forma
  
• Final operating budget
  
• Evidence of commitment for all funding sources 
• Elevation drawings 
• Appraisal 
• Draft ground lease 
• Fair housing resolution 
• General contractor business registry 
• Update dissolution statement (if required) 
• Other covenants (if applicable)
• Evidence of risk mitigation (if required)
• OAHTC application (if applicable) 

Reservation of funds and closing

Once Due Diligence has been completed successfully, OHCS will recommend your project to Housing Stability Council for approval. After approval, OHCS will send a formal reservation of funds, which you must sign and return within 15 days. The date you receive this letter will guide deadlines throughout your development cycle.

After formal reservation, you must prepare the final steps to close. Projects awarded with 2026 funds must close by Feb. 26, 2027, and those awarded with 2027 funds must close by Dec. 17, 2027. Deadlines may be extended for projects with other funders requiring a permit to be issued prior to closing, provided all other tasks are complete.  The tasks required at this stage include:

• Certificate of Insurance 
• Updated Title Report 
• ALTA Extended Lenders Policy 
• ACH Banking Form and W-9 
  
• Reservation, document preparation, and legal charges