Down Payment Help Guides

One guide so far, with more on the way.

Before you apply for assistance

Before anyone writes an offer, I lay out three paths side by side: the loan with assistance, a plain FHA loan, and a conventional loan with the cash you have now. Here's what usually shapes the answer:

• Your household income. Most programs set income limits based on everyone in the household, not just the people on the loan.
• Where the home is. Phoenix Open Doors, Home in Five, and HOME Plus are different programs with different service areas. The home's address decides which ones are open to you.
• The rest of the deal. Seller credits can conflict with program rules, and homebuyer education certificates can expire. I check both before you write.
• Your offer. In a busy weekend with multiple offers, having the assistance paperwork ready matters. If a seller is unlikely to accept an offer with assistance, I'll tell you before you write, and we'll look at a cleaner option.
• Other paths. A gift from family can sometimes cost less than assistance. If you served in the military, a VA loan may need no down payment at all. Start with VA loan notes.

If the numbers say renting another year is the smarter move, I'll tell you that too, along with a plan to get there.

More reading: first-time home buyer loans · buying notes · mortgage calculator

Read this before you take the class twice

Income limits are household income. Occupancy is primary residence. Price caps are not the same in Scottsdale and Avondale. A gift can beat a second lien. VA benefits can beat both. I will not call assistance free money. I will not promise funds. Pair this category with first-time buyer loans and buying notes.

The 2026 post is the comparison habit I use before anyone writes an offer: assistance stack, straight FHA at 3.5 percent down, and conventional with cash you actually have. Seller credits can conflict with program rules. Education certificates expire. Multiple-offer weekends in Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa move faster when the second-lien documents are ready. If the listing agent will not accept assistance, I say that before you write. A cleaner FHA offer can be the better path when an assistance addendum would be turned down.

HOME Plus is the statewide Arizona conversation. Home in Five is a Maricopa-focused conversation. Phoenix Open Doors is for eligible purchases inside Phoenix city limits. Those geographies are on the assistance program page. This category does not replace that page. It keeps the longer note on its own URL so /category/down-payment-help/ is a real index, not a redirect to /blog/.

Veterans should open VA loan notes before they stack a second lien. First-time definitions are not universal. Some programs mean you have not owned in three years. A divorce that left you on title in another state can block the label. Bring title history. News and identity are under news.

West Valley and East Valley insurance are not the same number. A Glendale payment and a Queen Creek payment can diverge even when the price looks similar. HOA in Peoria or Surprise belongs in the same worksheet. I will not publish a county millage as if it were yours. Use the calculator as an estimate, then call (602) 448-4470 with household size, a rough income picture, the city of the house, and whether anyone is gifting money.

When more assistance posts are published, they will list here as cards with a featured photo. The office is 3420 E. Shea Blvd Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85028. Programs change. Qualification required. If your numbers and your goals say renting is the better move this year, I will say that. We look at your circumstances, not a rule that renting or buying is always cheaper. Hide a household member and the application fails later. Take the class early only if you actually fit a layer that requires it. Certificates expire. Compare the assistance page with a plain loan before you write an offer.