East Valley buyer guide
You do not necessarily need 20% down to buy a home. If saving for the down payment and closing costs is holding you back, several Arizona programs may help. The right option depends on where you buy, your income, and the terms of your mortgage.
For buyers in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, Tempe, San Tan Valley, and nearby communities, Arizona down payment assistance in 2026 is worth exploring before setting a home-search budget. Assistance may come as a matching grant or a second mortgage, and some second mortgages must be repaid when you sell or refinance.
Donna’s article on the 20% down payment myth explains why that familiar number is not a universal requirement. Here is a closer look at four assistance programs and the questions to bring to a participating lender.
Quick answer
What down payment assistance programs are available for Arizona homebuyers in 2026? HOME Plus offers eligible buyers up to 4% assistance statewide. Home in Five Advantage advertises up to 6% for eligible Maricopa County buyers. WISH offers eligible first-time buyers a 4-to-1 matching grant, up to $32,837. Arizona Is Home offers 4% assistance in eligible counties including Pinal, but excludes Maricopa.
Arizona Down Payment Assistance 2026 at a Glance
HOME Plus
Up to 4%
Statewide assistance through a second mortgage.
Home in Five
Up to 6%
Assistance for eligible Maricopa County purchases.
WISH
4-to-1 match
A grant of up to $32,837 for eligible first-time buyers.
Arizona Is Home
4%
An option in eligible counties such as Pinal, subject to limited funding.
These are program maximums, not amounts every buyer receives. A participating lender must confirm your eligibility, the assistance calculation, the current interest rate, and your estimated cash needed to close.
HOME Plus: A Statewide Starting Point
HOME Plus is administered by the Arizona Industrial Development Authority and is available in every Arizona county, city, and ZIP code. It pairs an eligible 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with up to 4% assistance for down payment and closing costs. The published borrower income limit is $155,386 as of April 6, 2026; program limits can change.
The assistance is a second mortgage. HOME Plus describes both forgivable and non-forgivable options. Under its five-year forgivable option, the second mortgage has no interest or monthly payment and is forgiven after 60 months. If you sell or refinance during those first 60 months, the assistance lien must be repaid. Ask the lender to identify the exact option and repayment terms in your proposed loan.
At least one borrower must complete homebuyer education before closing. HOME Plus runs year-round and does not require every applicant to be a first-time buyer. You can begin with Donna’s homebuying resources while you locate a program-approved lender.
Home in Five Advantage: For Maricopa County Purchases
Home in Five Advantage serves eligible buyers purchasing in Maricopa County, including Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, and the Maricopa County portion of Queen Creek. Its program site currently advertises up to 6% assistance toward down payment and closing costs.
The published qualification overview lists a minimum 640 FICO score, annual income of up to $153,440, and a debt-to-income ratio of up to 50%. Buyers must occupy the home as their principal residence within 60 days of closing and complete an eight-hour homebuyer education course through an eligible Arizona housing counseling agency.
Program options and second-mortgage terms require a careful lender review. Ask whether assistance under the option you are offered is forgivable, what events trigger repayment, and how its monthly payment compares with a mortgage without assistance. For more on weighing the full cost of a purchase, see Donna’s renting versus buying discussion.
WISH: A Matching Grant for Eligible First-Time Buyers
The Workforce Initiative Subsidy for Homeownership, known as WISH, matches an eligible buyer contribution at $4 for every $1, up to a maximum grant of $32,837 in 2026. The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco provides the program through participating member financial institutions.
For example, an eligible $8,000 contribution could be matched with $32,000, for $40,000 in combined buyer contribution and grant funds. An award is not automatic: the buyer must meet the program rules, the institution must participate, and funds must be available.
WISH requires first-time buyer eligibility under its rules, completed homebuyer counseling, and income at or below 80% of the applicable HUD area median income. The buyer must open escrow within one year of enrollment. If you have been saving toward a purchase, ask a participating WISH institution whether it can reserve funds for your transaction.
Arizona Is Home: An Option in Pinal County
The Arizona IDA’s Arizona Is Home program offers an eligible 30-year fixed-rate mortgage paired with 4% down payment assistance. Its service area includes Pinal County, where buyers considering San Tan Valley may find eligible homes. The Arizona IDA does not offer this version of the program in Maricopa or Pima counties, so check the property’s county before relying on it.
Under the Arizona IDA’s current published terms, buyers generally must be first-time homebuyers, with certain veteran and targeted-area exceptions, and have income at or below 100% of the applicable area median income. One borrower must complete homebuyer education. The assistance is a non-forgivable, no-interest second mortgage, with its full balance due when the home is sold or refinanced. The 2026 program has limited funding.
County boundaries matter around the East Valley. A lender can confirm the property location and program eligibility while you compare neighborhoods, existing homes, and new construction. Donna’s article on newly built homes and affordability provides another consideration for your search.
The distinction that matters most
Assistance is not always free money. Compare the first mortgage and any second mortgage together, including the interest rate, payment, closing costs, and what you would owe if you sell or refinance.
How to Get Started
- Speak with a participating lender. Tell them where you want to buy and ask which assistance programs they currently offer.
- Get a complete comparison. Review the interest rate, estimated monthly payment, mortgage insurance, closing costs, and cash needed at closing with and without assistance.
- Complete required education early. The course and counseling rules vary by program, and WISH also has enrollment and escrow timing requirements.
- Search within your approved budget. Once the lender confirms your options, compare homes based on the payment and total ownership costs you are comfortable carrying.
A lender can also determine whether seller-paid closing costs or another assistance source may be used alongside a specific program. Assistance does not replace mortgage underwriting, and combining programs is subject to their individual rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need 20% down to buy a home in Arizona?
No. Some mortgage products allow smaller down payments, and eligible buyers may qualify for assistance. The down payment and total cash needed depend on the loan and transaction.
Can a repeat buyer use HOME Plus?
Potentially. HOME Plus does not require every applicant to be a first-time buyer, although owning other real estate may limit available loan options.
Is Arizona Is Home available in Gilbert or Chandler?
The Arizona IDA’s Arizona Is Home program is not offered in Maricopa County. Its eligible counties include Pinal, so buyers looking in San Tan Valley should confirm the specific home’s county with a lender.
Explore What Works for Your Purchase
Arizona down payment assistance in 2026 gives some buyers more ways to manage upfront costs, but the useful number is your complete loan estimate—not an advertised maximum. Donna can help you plan an East Valley or San Tan Valley search after a participating lender establishes the financing options that fit your situation.
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Talk with Donna Allman about your home search
Tell Donna where you hope to buy and where you are in the process. She can help you organize your search and the questions to discuss with a participating lender.
Program funding, rates, limits, and terms may change. Eligibility and mortgage approval require review by a participating lender. This article is general information, not a loan offer or guarantee of assistance.