Generally, any organization "located" in New Jersey which is authorized or permitted by law, whether directly or indirectly through a holding corporation, partnership or other entity, to provide health care-related services. Assisted living, in addition to many other services, is considered a health care-related service.

The Authority will consider the issuance of bonds on a non-recourse basis. Ultimately, it will be the market which determines whether non-recourse bonds are sellable.

No, this is another case where the market will determine what loan to value ratios are acceptable.

Most, but not all, bond issuances will carry a credit rating from one or more independent rating agencies. The credit rating is intended to measure the probability of timely repayment of principal and interest on the bonds being issued by the borrowing institution. The rating agency continues to monitor the institution's financial position over time and provides updates to investors when required. However, there is also an option to purchase credit enhancement, such as bond insurance or a letter-of-credit from a commercial bank, to enable the issuance to be sold based on the credit rating of the enhancement provider and not the borrowing institution. Often, both options are explored and evaluated taking into consideration the financial strength of the borrower.

Following a policy change made in June 2007, the Authority no longer requires a feasibility study, with the understanding that, should a borrower need a feasibility study to sell bonds, the underwriter will ask the borrower to obtain one.

There are two factors that are important; first, those costs which are allowable under the Tax Code, and second, those costs which investors are willing to finance. A borrower should discuss this issue at greater length with its financial advisor or investment banker.

As a conduit issuer, the Authority issues bonds on behalf of a borrower and then lends those proceeds to that borrower. The borrower provides security to the bondholder, not the Authority. Therefore, the interest rate on the bonds is based on the market's assessment of the likelihood that the borrower, and not the Authority, will make timely payments on the bonds. Under its Capital Asset Program, the Authority loans proceeds from a bond issue completed in 1986 to qualified borrowers for certain types of projects. The Authority does, however, have one financing program that involves lending money from its own funds; that is the Authority's Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers Loan Program.

The Authority's fee schedule is posted here.

Members of the Authority's staff are available to meet with potential borrowers or spend time on the phone going over the particular circumstances of a financing. Visit the Authority's web site at www.njhcffa.com where you will find additional financing information, as well as phone numbers and e-mail addresses of Authority staff. The Authority's central phone number is 609-292-8585.