Frequently Asked Questions

About the Lottery

The lottery is a fair, random selection process that gives every applicant an equal opportunity to be considered to purchase one of the affordable condominium homes. It is not first-come, first-served. Applications are reviewed in the order they are drawn, after giving effect to preferences on some of the units.

  • 6 Cottage Condominium – 40 condominium homes
  • 99 Church Condominium – 68 condominium homes

Each property has its own application and lottery.

  • 6 Cottage Condominium: Applications due February 12, 2026; lottery held March 3, 2026
  • 99 Church Condominium: Applications due March 2, 2026; lottery held March 17, 2026

Once the lottery is complete, applicants will receive their lottery number by email from HomeSeeker or by mail from Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO). If your number is selected, Housing Action Council (HAC) will contact you to request additional documentation for income eligibility verification, affordability, and next steps.

No. Each household may only submit one application per property. Submitting more than one application will disqualify your household.

Yes — each property has a separate application and lottery process. You may apply for both 6 Cottage and 99 Church Condominiums, but each requires a separate application.

Late applications will be placed on a waitlist and reviewed in the order received only after all applications on the lottery list have been processed.

You can withdraw your application on HomeSeeker (or withdraw it and submit a new application before the application deadline if you need to make corrections). However, once the application deadline has passed, you cannot change your application. You will have the opportunity to provide updates or corrections when HAC contacts you to request additional information and support for your application.

After the lottery, HAC will contact applicants (in lottery order subject to the preferences) to determine income eligibility, affordability, review documents, and guide you through the next steps — including homebuyer education and financing.

Eligibility

You must:

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Plan to live in the home as your primary residence — these homes are for owners, not investors or renters.
  • Earn a moderate household income that falls at or below 100% of the Area Median Income for Westchester County, adjusted for household size (see AMI chart in Income, Occupancy, & Set-Asides section of this website).
    • Every household’s situation is different, but, in general, to be able to afford the housing payments for a condo home, the ratio of your total monthly debts on your credit report and housing payments should not exceed 45% of total gross household income. Mortgage lenders will have their own, often stricter, criteria for determining what you can afford.
    • These limits are set each year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to keep homes affordable for working residents — including teachers, nurses, hospital staff, and city or county employees.
  • Have combined household assets of no more than $177,975 to $190,585 (excluding qualified retirement and education savings plans), depending on home type and size, and sufficient liquid assets to cover the required down payment and closing costs.
  • Be able to qualify for a mortgage with a participating lender.

If you’re not sure whether you qualify, HAC can review your situation and help you understand your options.

Everyone who will live in the home must be listed on the application, and their combined income from every and all sources — including wages, bonuses, 1099 income, alimony, child support, Social Security, pensions, etc. — will be used to determine eligibility.

Each condominium has occupancy limits to ensure families have enough space:

  • One-bedroom: 1 to 3 people
  • Two-bedroom: 2 to 5 people
  • Three-bedroom: 3 to 7 people

Yes, certain units are subject to preferences.

Specifically, 25% of the condominium units are subject to a preference for households whose homes were adversely-affected by Hurricane Ida.

Another 25% of the condominium units are subject to a preference for anyone who falls into any of these categories:

  • full-time employees of the City of White Plains or Westchester County,
  • current residents of affordable or subsidized housing owned/operated by the White Plains Housing Authority
  • individuals currently residing in affordable or subsidized rental housing in White Plains or listed, as of September 30, 2025, on a waitlist for affordable or subsidized housing in White Plains.

You must show that your primary residence was affected by the storm. Acceptable documentation includes:

  • Preferred: FEMA, SBA, insurance, or other disaster assistance letters showing damage, loss, or displacement
  • Alternatively: A state or local government assessment or letter confirming storm-related damage
  • If unavailable:
    • Proof that your home was in an Ida-impacted area, along with a signed self-attestation, or
    • Other evidence of damage (e.g., photos of property or structural damage)

Application Process

You can apply online or by mail:

  • Online: homeseeker.westchestergov.com Or the APPLY NOW tab located on the Home page of this website
  • Request Application by Phone or Email: 914-428-4519 or affordable@wroinc.org
  • By Mail or In-Person:
    Affirmative Marketing
    Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO)
    470 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 410
    White Plains, NY 10605
    Note: If requesting by mail, please include your name and address as well as the name and address of the building where you want to apply.

Is there a cost to apply?
No. There is no fee to submit a lottery application.

If selected, you’ll need to provide proof of income (like pay stubs, 1099s, W-2s, tax returns, etc.), identification for each household member, and other documents to confirm eligibility. WRO and HAC will guide you through the process.

If your income or household changes before your application is considered by HAC, you will have the opportunity to withdraw if you know you are no longer eligible or interested. You will also be able to update certain information for changes since the application submission date when HAC contacts you to obtain current documentation on your application.

Yes. If you aren’t selected or don’t qualify, you can still apply for future opportunities on HomeSeeker or re-apply for this opportunity.  However,  if you apply after the lottery deadline, your application will be added to the waiting list and considered in the order received, after all lottery applications.

Financing and Homeownership

Prices vary by size and location and are provided here as estimates only:

  • One-bedrooms: $324,039 to $338,278
  • Two-bedrooms: $351,269 to $366,458
  • Three-bedrooms: $374,092 to $375,105

No. First-time buyers are encouraged, but you can still apply if you’ve owned a home before — as long as you don’t currently own one.

We have estimated the housing payments assuming a 10 percent down payment, but there are loan programs that only require 3% or 5% down payment in some instances. You should consider your own circumstances and discuss with your mortgage lender and housing counseling agency.

No. You need credit that’s good enough to qualify for a mortgage. HAC can help you understand what lenders look for and connect you with resources to prepare.

Your monthly housing costs will include your mortgage payment, property taxes, condo fees, and insurance (homeowners insurance and, potentially, private mortgage insurance).
At 99 Church Condominium, condo fees also cover parking and common-area maintenance.

In general, for you to be approved to purchase a condominium home, those housing costs, plus your other monthly debts that appear on your credit report (like student loans, credit cards, car loans), should not exceed 45 percent of your total gross household income.

Yes. HAC offers free homeownership counseling to help you prepare your finances, complete your paperwork, and navigate the entire process.

You don’t have to figure it out alone! Join a free Home Buying Orientation Workshop with one of the HUD-approved housing counseling agencies listed here to get started.  You will receive an overview of the home buying process and learn how you can ready yourself to purchase a home. All purchasers of homes at 99 Church must obtain a Homebuyer Education certification of completion from a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. Online and in-person programs are available. 

About the Homes

Yes. Both developments are fully electric, high-performance buildings, featuring cold-climate, air-source heat pumps, Energy Star appliances, and efficient lighting. These features support sustainable and healthy living.

Yes. Both communities include units that are accessibility adaptable, as well as certain accessible units adapted and move-in ready for residents with mobility, hearing, or vision impairments

Yes. Both 6 Cottage and 99 Church Condominiums are pet-friendly, subject to condominium rules.
For more information, please review our Pet Policy under the Amenities tab, located in the Community Amenities section under Pet-Friendly Policies.

Yes. Both communities are 100 percent smoke-free.

Yes — each home includes one parking space. 

Earliest expected move-in September 2026

Select homes come with one storage unit.  If you are not assigned a storage cage and wish to rent one, a limited number of storage cages are available for rent.

What are the amenities at 99 Church?

  • Luxury vinyl-plank flooring
  • Spacious closets space
  • Energy-efficient, stainless-steel finish appliances, including dishwasher
  • Wired for Wi-Fi and cable
  • Apartments include clothes washer and dryer
  • Quartz countertops
  • Kohler plumbing fixtures
  • Individually controlled heating and central air-conditioning
  • Fully accessible apartments available

  • Beautifully outfitted and spacious lounge with large screen TV
  • Co-Working Lounge
  • Children’s Playroom
  • Large, well-equipped Fitness Room
  • High-speed Wi-Fi throughout common amenity rooms
  • Landscaped Outdoor Courtyard
  • Storage cages available for rent
  • Separate mail and package rooms
  • Pet-friendly policies (Pet Policy)
  • Bike Storage
  • Smoke-free community
  • Coworking Space
  • On premises parking for 99 Church Street: One space per apartment. Additional parking available in the Hamilton-Main Garage or other nearby municipal and private parking facilities for a fee

  • Residential neighborhood
  • Excellent public and private school options
  • Within walking distance of the White Plains Transit Hub
  • Under 40 minutes from the White Plains Metro North commuter rail station to New York City’s Grand Central Station
  • Short walk to a variety of Westchester’s best restaurants, bars, shopping, and cultural venues

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