Short answer: Arizona has several strong down payment assistance programs in 2026, and some of them do not require you to be a first time buyer.
Depending on where you buy and your income, you may qualify for help worth 3% to 10% of your purchase,
plus low down payment loans like FHA, VA, and USDA.
The big picture:
Down payment assistance helps with the money you need up front. A buyer rebate from RebateAZ can help with the rest
by lowering your closing costs. Used together, they can dramatically cut the cash you need to buy your first home in Arizona.
Arizona Down Payment Assistance Programs at a Glance
Program
Where
Help available
First time buyer required?
Income limit
HOME Plus
Statewide
Up to 4% of the loan
No
$155,386
Home in Five Advantage
Maricopa County
3% to 6% of the loan
No (most options)
$157,360
Phoenix Open Doors
City of Phoenix
Up to 10% of the price
Yes
80% of area median ($89,900 for 4 people)
Pima Tucson Homebuyer's Solution
Pima County
A percentage of the loan
No
$155,386
Tucson and Pima County HOME DPA
Tucson and Pima County
Up to $50,000 or 20% of the price
See program
80% of area median ($79,850 for 4 people)
Arizona Is Home
Outside Maricopa and Pima
4% of the loan
Yes (with exceptions)
Varies by county ($112,400 in Pinal)
Figures come from each program's official guidelines as of September 2026. Programs change their limits and funding often, so confirm current terms with a participating lender before you apply.
Statewide: HOME Plus
HOME Plus (Arizona Industrial Development Authority)
The most widely used program in Arizona, available in every county with no first time buyer requirement.
Assistance: up to 4% of your first mortgage, as a 0% second loan with no payments
Forgiveness: forgiven in full after 5 years. Sell or refinance before then and you repay it.
Income limit: $155,386 in all counties (effective April 6, 2026), based on the borrowers on the loan
Price limit: none beyond normal loan limits
Minimum credit score: 620
Loan types: FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional (Fannie Mae HFA Preferred, Freddie Mac HFA Advantage)
Education: one borrower must complete a homebuyer course before closing
Home in Five Advantage (Phoenix IDA and Maricopa County IDA)
Available anywhere in Maricopa County, including Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Scottsdale, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, and Buckeye.
Assistance: 3% to 6% of your first mortgage, with no dollar cap
Options: several repayment versions, including a 3 year forgivable option on FHA and VA loans. Some options have used up their funds for 2026, so ask your lender what is open.
First time buyer: not required for most options
Income limit: $157,360 (guidelines effective June 10, 2026)
Price limit: none
Minimum credit score: 640
Loan types: FHA, VA, and conventional
Education: an 8 hour course from an Arizona HUD approved agency
Other cities in the valley offer smaller or specialized programs from time to time. For example, Chandler runs a first time buyer program through a community land trust.
If you are buying in a specific city, ask your lender or check the city's housing department for anything currently funded.
Tucson and Pima County Programs
Pima Tucson Homebuyer's Solution
The main assistance program in Pima County, run by the Industrial Development Authorities of Pima County and the City of Tucson.
Assistance: a percentage of your loan amount, as a 0% forgivable second loan (a grant on VA loans)
First time buyer: not required
Income limit: $155,386 for FHA, VA, USDA, and most conventional loans (effective May 21, 2026)
What about the Pima County Lighthouse program? PimaTucson LIGHTHOUSE has closed and is not currently offered.
Pima County buyers can also look at the Mortgage Credit Certificate, a federal tax credit on part of your mortgage interest.
It is scheduled to reopen to new applications on October 1, 2026.
Pinal County and Rural Arizona
Buying in San Tan Valley, Maricopa, Casa Grande, or elsewhere outside Maricopa and Pima counties? You have two extra options:
Arizona Is Home (Arizona IDA)
Assistance: 4% of your loan plus a below market interest rate
Repayment: 0% with no payments, repaid in full when you sell or refinance
First time buyer: required, with exceptions for veterans and targeted areas
Where: every Arizona county except Maricopa and Pima (and Chino Valley)
Income limit: 100% of area median by county. In Pinal County, $112,400.
Price limit: $481,176
Minimum credit score: 620
Funding: capped at $55 million for 2026 and may run out before year end. Ask your lender if it is still open.
USDA loans are also worth checking in Pinal County and on the edges of the valley. They allow 0% down in eligible areas.
Look up any address on the USDA eligibility map.
Low Down Payment Loans for Arizona Buyers
Assistance programs are layered on top of a regular mortgage. These are the most common options for first time buyers:
FHA: 3.5% down with a credit score of 580 or higher. The 2026 FHA loan limit for a single family home is $557,750 in Maricopa and Pinal counties and $541,287 in Pima County.
VA: 0% down for eligible veterans and service members.
USDA: 0% down in eligible rural and suburban areas, with household income limits.
Conventional 3% down: Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible allow 3% down for buyers at or below 80% of area median income.
Stacking a Buyer Rebate With Down Payment Assistance
Down payment assistance covers your down payment. But you still have closing costs, often thousands of dollars on top of the down payment.
That is where a buyer rebate helps.
With RebateAZ, part of your agent's commission comes back to you as a credit at closing, typically 1% to 2% of the purchase price
depending on the commission structure. On a $400,000 home, that is $4,000 to $8,000 that can go toward:
Your closing costs and prepaid items like taxes and insurance
Buying down your interest rate
Lowering your loan amount, when your program allows it
Know the rules:
Arizona down payment assistance programs do not allow cash back to the buyer at closing. When you use one, your rebate is applied to allowable costs
instead of paid out as cash. Loans also cap credits to the buyer (for example, 6% on FHA and 3% to 9% on conventional loans, depending on your down payment).
We work with your lender to structure the rebate so you get the full benefit within those rules.
Step by Step: How to Buy Your First Home in Arizona
Check your credit and budget. Most assistance programs need a score of 620 to 640 or higher.
Take a homebuyer education course. Nearly every program requires one, and Home in Five and Open Doors require 8 hours. Starting early saves time.
Get preapproved with a participating lender. Assistance programs only work through approved lenders, so ask up front which programs they offer.
Choose your agent and sign a buyer agreement. Ask about a buyer rebate before you sign, since the agreement sets how your agent is paid.
Visiting new builds? Bring your agent the first time. Builders usually require your agent to register on your first visit.
Make an offer, inspect, and close. Your assistance and rebate both show up on your closing statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What first time home buyer programs are available in Arizona in 2026?
The main ones are HOME Plus (statewide), Home in Five Advantage (Maricopa County), City of Phoenix Open Doors, Pima Tucson Homebuyer's Solution,
the Tucson and Pima County HOME program, and Arizona Is Home (outside Maricopa and Pima). FHA, VA, USDA, and 3% down conventional loans are also available.
Do I have to be a first time buyer to get down payment assistance?
Not always. HOME Plus, Home in Five Advantage, and Pima Tucson Homebuyer's Solution do not require it. Phoenix Open Doors and Arizona Is Home do.
What is the income limit for HOME Plus?
$155,386 in every Arizona county as of April 6, 2026.
Can I use a buyer rebate with down payment assistance?
In many cases, yes. The rebate is applied as a credit toward allowable closing costs, prepaids, or a rate buydown within your loan's limits.
It cannot be paid out as cash on assistance programs, and your lender must approve how it is applied.
Is the Pima County Lighthouse program still available?
No. PimaTucson LIGHTHOUSE has closed. The current Pima County program is Pima Tucson Homebuyer's Solution.
Tell us where you are looking and your price range. We will show you how a rebate could lower your closing costs
alongside the assistance programs you may qualify for.