The agency & primary document
- Allocating agency
- Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA)
- QAP / guidelines
- https://www.destatehousing.com/build/lihtc/
- Governing document
- DSHA Market Study Requirements Checklist (Exhibit 25), 2025-2026 cycle
- Methodology
- Agency-specific standalone methodology
Required market study sections
Delaware uses its own standalone market study methodology rather than the NCHMA Model Content Standards. Own-methodology (pure). DSHA prescribes its own net-demand methodology with a fixed demand table and no NCHMA reference; certification ties to USPAP Standards 4 & 5.
Key Delaware rules
- Staleness window
- Market study conducted within 6 months of the date of application submission
- Capture-rate threshold
- Overall project capture rate must not exceed 10%; capture rate also required per targeted income level and per bedroom count
- Rent-burden standard
- Affordability: rent (plus utility allowance) may not exceed 30% of gross income. Cost-over-burdened demand source = households paying >35% of gross income (>40% if elderly)
- Absorption / occupancy
- Must define and justify the absorption rate/period using NET demand; no fixed target
Delaware-specific overlays
- DSHA must PRE-APPROVE the preparer of every market study (from a pre-approved provider list)
- Vacancy caps: overall area vacancy ≤ 15%; affordable-housing vacancy ≤ 10%
- Elderly-homeowner-to-rental demand component capped at 20% of total demand
- Required distance-to-services map (grocery ≥10,000 sq ft, medical, pharmacy, transit, school) with a quality-of-life narrative
- Market area = area from which typically 60%–90% of residents are likely to move
- Certification per USPAP Standards 4 & 5; preparer–sponsor relationship disclosed
Required companion documents
- 2025-2026 DSHA LIHTC QAP
- 2025-2026 DSHA LIHTC Guidelines
- 2025-2026 LIHTC Application Detailed Checklist (item 25 = market study)
- Pre-Approved List of Market Study Providers
Things analysts miss in Delaware
- Hard numbers live in Exhibit 25 (a separate checklist PDF), not the QAP / Guidelines / Application Checklist
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Start a free Delaware report →Frequently asked questions
Who reviews LIHTC market studies in Delaware?
Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) sets the market study requirements and reviews submissions for Delaware Low-Income Housing Tax Credit applications.
How current must a Delaware LIHTC market study be?
Market study conducted within 6 months of the date of application submission
Does Delaware follow NCHMA standards?
Own-methodology (pure). DSHA prescribes its own net-demand methodology with a fixed demand table and no NCHMA reference; certification ties to USPAP Standards 4 & 5.
Is there a capture-rate threshold in Delaware?
Overall project capture rate must not exceed 10%; capture rate also required per targeted income level and per bedroom count
What absorption/occupancy does Delaware expect?
Must define and justify the absorption rate/period using NET demand; no fixed target
Other states
This summary is for general reference and reflects Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA)'s published guidance as understood by StudyScribe; it is not legal or compliance advice. Always confirm requirements against the current QAP / market study guidelines before submission.