Arizona down payment assistance, explained honestly.
If you're buying anywhere in the Phoenix metro, your two real options are Home Plus and Home in Five. Here's how they actually compare, what "Arizona Is Home" does and doesn't cover here, and how to tell which one fits your purchase.
Arizona has real, well-funded down payment assistance — often enough to cover most or all of a first-time buyer's cash to close. But the program names get confusing fast, and one of the most-searched names, "Arizona Is Home," doesn't actually work the way most people assume if you're buying in the Phoenix metro. Let's clear that up first, then get into which program actually fits your purchase.
The Arizona Industrial Development Authority's specific "Arizona Is Home" program is not available in Maricopa or Pima County — it covers Arizona's other 13, more rural counties. Since every city I serve (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Glendale, Peoria) is in Maricopa County, that specific product doesn't apply to my clients. You may also see "Arizona Is Home" used more loosely as a state-level initiative name that includes county-specific programs like Home in Five — if you see that term, I'll confirm exactly which underlying program it refers to for your address before we go further.
The two programs that actually matter in the Phoenix metro
| Program | Home Plus | Home in Five Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage area | Statewide, all Arizona counties | Maricopa County only (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Glendale, Peoria, and more) |
| Typical assistance | Up to ~5% of loan amount | Up to ~6–7% of loan amount, with boosts for teachers, first responders, military/veterans, and income-qualified buyers |
| Minimum credit score | ~620 | ~640 |
| Structure | Forgivable second mortgage (no monthly payment) | Forgivable second mortgage (no monthly payment) |
| First-time buyer required? | No — repeat buyers allowed | No — repeat buyers allowed |
| Works with | FHA, VA, USDA, conventional | FHA, VA, USDA, conventional |
Assistance percentages and income limits change multiple times a year as both programs adjust funding and guidelines — treat the numbers above as a starting comparison, not a quote. I'll confirm the exact current figures for your income and purchase price when we talk.
Which one fits your situation
- Buying under about $400,000, most Maricopa County cities: Home in Five's higher assistance percentage usually wins.
- Buying above roughly $400,000, or in higher-priced areas like much of Scottsdale: Home Plus often produces a better total cost, since Home in Five's assistance is capped by loan-amount limits that some higher-priced homes exceed.
- Household income above both programs' caps: National programs (such as Chenoa Fund) may still apply — worth a conversation rather than assuming you're priced out of assistance entirely.
- Teacher, first responder, active-duty, veteran, or income-qualified buyer: Home in Five's additional 1% boost is usually worth checking first.
You generally can't combine two down payment assistance programs on the same purchase — it's one program per transaction, layered on top of your FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional first mortgage.
Program details by city
Both programs technically work the same way everywhere in Maricopa County, but local home prices and, in a couple of cities, a separate city-run program change the practical answer. I've written up the specifics for the cities I work in most:
| City | What's different there |
|---|---|
| Tempe | Has its own city-run first-time buyer assistance program, separate from the state/county options |
| Chandler | Has its own city-run first-time buyer program for lower-income households |
| Mesa | No longer has its own city program — Home Plus/Home in Five are your options |
| Scottsdale | Higher price points often make Home Plus the better math than Home in Five |
How to actually start
- Get a rough sense of your income, credit score, and target purchase price.
- I'll run the numbers both ways (Home Plus vs. Home in Five, or whichever applies) and tell you which is actually cheaper for your specific purchase — not just which has the bigger headline percentage.
- You complete a required homebuyer education course (typically a few hours, often free or low-cost) before closing.
- The assistance closes alongside your first mortgage — you don't apply for it separately after the fact.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get Arizona down payment assistance?
No, for Home Plus and Home in Five specifically — both allow repeat buyers. Some city-run programs (like Chandler's) do require first-time buyer status, generally meaning you haven't owned a home in the past three years.
Do I have to pay the assistance back?
Usually no. Home Plus and Home in Five are both structured as a forgivable second mortgage with no monthly payment — the debt is forgiven over a set number of years as long as you stay in the home. Some other programs use a non-forgivable or repayable structure instead, so I'll confirm which applies before you commit to one.
Can I combine down payment assistance with a VA loan?
Yes — both Home Plus and Home in Five can pair with VA financing, and military/veteran buyers often qualify for an additional assistance boost through Home in Five specifically.
Not ready for a full application? Start smaller.
Two quick questions and how to reach you. That's genuinely it — no Social Security number, no credit pull, no document upload. I'll come back to you with a straight answer about what you actually qualify for.
- No SSN or credit pull to get started
- A real person reads and replies — not an auto-responder
- Free, and you're under no obligation to move forward