Arizona Down Payment Assistance Programs: How They Work
Last updated September 2026
Arizona has four main down payment assistance programs: Home Plus statewide, Home in 5 Advantage in Maricopa County and Phoenix, the Pima Tucson Homebuyer’s Solution, and Pathway to Purchase in named cities. Each gives a percentage of the loan toward your down payment. Forward Loans is a mortgage broker in Phoenix (NMLS #2006640) and we help buyers access these programs through approved wholesale channels.
The constraint is your household income, not the price of the house. The full buying process sits on the pillar: How to Buy Your First House in Arizona.
On this page
- What down payment assistance programs does Arizona have?
- How do the four programs compare?
- What actually disqualifies people?
- Can you use assistance with FHA, VA, or conventional?
- Do you have to pay the assistance back?
- When is assistance not the right answer?
- How do you apply for down payment assistance in Arizona?
- What to ask a lender about this
- Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance programs does Arizona have?
Four programs cover most Arizona buyers. Each is run by a housing authority, not by a lender, and each works the same basic way: the program contributes a percentage toward your down payment as a second lien behind your main mortgage.
Home Plus (statewide)
Run by the Arizona Industrial Development Authority and available in every county. Up to 4% assistance, with forgivable and non-forgivable options. Minimum credit score 620. Homebuyer education is required. Also styled HOME+PLUS, which is the same program, not a separate one.
Home in 5 Advantage (Maricopa County and the City of Phoenix)
The largest program in the Valley. Up to 6% assistance, minimum credit score 640, debt-to-income under 50%, purchase only. Maricopa County addresses only, which covers Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Scottsdale, Tempe, and the rest of the metro.
Pima Tucson Homebuyer’s Solution (Pima County)
Run by the Pima County Industrial Development Authority. Up to 5% assistance, minimum credit score 640, debt-to-income at or under 45%, with income limits set by loan type. The lien is forgivable; confirm the current term on the program’s rate sheet.
Pathway to Purchase (named cities)
Run by the Arizona Department of Housing. Up to 10% of the purchase price, capped at $20,000, paired with a 30-year fixed first mortgage and a five-year second at zero interest. It covers 17 named cities, mostly in the West Valley, Pinal County, and rural Arizona. It does not cover central Phoenix or Scottsdale. Funding runs in annual cycles, so availability varies.
How do the four programs compare?
| Program | Where | Assistance | Minimum credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Plus | Statewide | Up to 4% | 620 |
| Home in 5 Advantage | Maricopa County and Phoenix | Up to 6% | 640 |
| Pima Tucson Homebuyer’s Solution | Pima County | Up to 5% | 640 |
| Pathway to Purchase | 17 named cities | Up to 10%, capped at $20,000 | Varies by cycle |
If you are buying in the Phoenix metro and your credit is 640 or better, Home in 5 usually gives the most help. Below 640, Home Plus is the statewide fallback at 620. In Tucson, the Pima program is built for that market. Outside the metros, Pathway to Purchase gives the largest percentage but covers the fewest addresses.
What actually disqualifies people?
Household income. That is the gate, and it is the one buyers guess wrong about most often.
These programs cap what your household can earn. Home Plus sits near $146,500 and Home in 5 near $153,400, and the caps move, so treat those as the neighborhood rather than the number. Your loan amount is also limited by the loan program itself, FHA by county or conventional by the conforming limit.
What they generally do not cap is the price of the house. If you read somewhere that Arizona assistance has a purchase-price cap that rules out the Phoenix market, that is the wrong frame. The question to ask is whether your income fits, not whether the house is too expensive.
Two other common blockers: credit below the program floor, and skipping the homebuyer education course, which most programs require before closing.
Can you use assistance with FHA, VA, or conventional?
Yes. Assistance is not its own loan. It rides on top of a standard first mortgage, and all four programs work with FHA and conventional. VA and USDA pairings vary by program and by the lender delivering it.
That is why the program does not change your monthly payment much. Your first mortgage stays the same size. What assistance changes is the cash you bring to the table, which is usually the thing actually standing between a renter and a closing date.
Do you have to pay the assistance back?
It depends on the option you choose. Several Arizona programs offer a forgivable second lien that is released after you live in the home for a set period, and a non-forgivable option that is repaid when you sell or refinance.
Forgivable is not free money with no strings. It is a lien on your home with an occupancy requirement attached. Sell or move out early and the balance can come due. Ask which option you are being placed in, and what happens if you move in year two.
When is assistance not the right answer?
Three situations, and a good loan officer will tell you about them up front.
- Your income is over the cap. Nothing to do about it. The programs are built for households under a ceiling.
- You have the cash already. Assistance adds a second lien, an occupancy requirement, and paperwork. If you can cover the down payment comfortably and keep reserves, the simpler file usually wins.
- You plan to move within a few years. A forgivable lien with an occupancy term can turn into a repayment when you sell early.
Assistance is a timing tool. It gets you to the closing table sooner than saving would. That is worth a lot to most first-time buyers, and worth nothing to a buyer who is already ready.
How do you apply for down payment assistance in Arizona?
- Check your household income against the program caps. This is the gate. Do it before anything else.
- Check your credit against the program floor. 620 for Home Plus, 640 for Home in 5 and the Pima program.
- Confirm the property is in the program’s area. Home Plus is statewide. Home in 5 is Maricopa only. Pima is Pima only. Pathway covers 17 named cities.
- Complete the homebuyer education course. Most programs require it before closing, and it takes a few hours online.
- Apply through an approved lender. You cannot apply to the housing authority directly. The program is delivered through participating lenders, and your loan officer submits it with your loan.
What to ask a lender about this
- Which of these four programs is my household income under?
- Which one gives me the most assistance at my credit score and my address?
- Am I being placed in the forgivable or the non-forgivable option, and what is the term?
- What happens to the lien if I sell or refinance in year two?
- Is the homebuyer education course done before or after my offer is accepted?
A loan officer who cannot name which programs they can actually deliver is a signal. Not every lender is approved for every program.
Frequently asked questions
Does Arizona have down payment assistance?
Yes. Four main programs: Home Plus statewide with up to 4%, Home in 5 Advantage in Maricopa County and Phoenix with up to 6%, the Pima Tucson Homebuyer’s Solution with up to 5%, and Pathway to Purchase in 17 named cities with up to 10% capped at $20,000. Each sets its own credit and income requirements.
What is the income limit for Home Plus?
Home Plus sets a household income cap that sits near $146,500, and Home in 5 sits near $153,400. These caps are adjusted periodically, so confirm the current figure with your loan officer or on the program’s own rate sheet before you rely on it. Income is the main thing that disqualifies applicants.
Do I have to pay back Arizona down payment assistance?
It depends on the option. Several Arizona programs offer a forgivable second lien released after you occupy the home for a set period, and a non-forgivable option repaid when you sell or refinance. Ask which one you are being placed in and what the occupancy term is, because selling early can trigger repayment.
Can I use down payment assistance with an FHA loan?
Yes. Assistance is not a loan type of its own. It rides on top of a standard first mortgage, and all four Arizona programs work with FHA and conventional loans. VA and USDA pairings vary by program and by the lender delivering it.
What credit score do I need for down payment assistance in Arizona?
620 for Home Plus, and 640 for Home in 5 Advantage and the Pima Tucson Homebuyer’s Solution. Pathway to Purchase varies by funding cycle. These are program floors, and an individual lender can set a higher requirement on top of them.
Is there a purchase-price cap on Arizona down payment assistance?
Generally no. The binding limits are your household income and the loan amount your loan program allows, not the price of the house. Confirm the current rules for your specific program with your loan officer, since program terms change.
About the author
Michael Creel, Founder, Forward Loans. NMLS #420674.
Michael Creel founded Forward Loans in 2020 after 20-plus years in mortgage, marketing, and real estate. He is based in Phoenix and personally licensed to originate loans in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Texas (NMLS #420674).
About this guide
Last updated September 2026. Program percentages, credit floors, income limits, and funding availability change, and every figure here should be confirmed with your loan officer or on the program’s current materials before you rely on it. This page is education, not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to full underwriting and program eligibility.
Forward Loans is licensed as both a mortgage broker and a non-delegated correspondent mortgage lender. Depending on the loan program, we either arrange financing through wholesale lenders, or originate and fund the loan ourselves and sell it to an investor that provides the underwriting decision.
Forward Loans, NMLS #2006640 | Michael Creel, NMLS #420674 | Equal Housing Lender | nmlsconsumeraccess.org
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