Quick answer: As of November 5, 2026, the main down payment program you can still use anywhere in Maricopa or Pinal County is Arizona’s Home Plus. It gives you up to 4% toward your down payment and closing costs, the income cap is $155,386, and it’s funded year-round. In Maricopa County, Home in Five Advantage is still running, but its popular 7-year forgivable option ran out of money June 25, 2026, and Home in Five Platinum is fully used up (June 9, 2026). Pinal County buyers can also look at Arizona Is Home and the city-based Pathway to Purchase program. The fastest way to see what fits your address and income is my free Down Payment Resource eligibility check. It takes about two minutes.
Interactive tool: check programs for your address
👉 Open the free interactive DPA tool
Open it to see a funding status table (checked Nov 5, 2026) and tabs to see what you might qualify for, compare programs, learn how to apply, reach me, search homes, and take my buyer course.
Hey, Wes here. I help buyers all over Gilbert, the East Valley, and the rest of the Phoenix metro. Most “down payment help” posts end with “talk to your lender.” That’s good advice, but it leaves you guessing. Below is what’s open right now, what’s closed, and how to check your eligibility before you call anyone.
Why down payment help matters right now in the East Valley
Rates jumped in October. Realtor.com figures that cost buyers on a $2,000/month budget more than $22,000 in purchasing power (AZ Big Media). On the plus side, parts of the Valley are tilting toward buyers. Mesa’s Cromford Market Index was 86.6 the week of Oct 29, which is under the 90 buyer’s-market line (InsideTheValley). So you’ve got more room to negotiate, and saving up the cash to close is the hard part. That’s what down payment help is for.
Here’s a stat that surprised me. An Urban Institute analysis with Down Payment Resource found 43.6% of purchase loans in the 10 largest metros were potentially eligible for down payment assistance, and 30.7% of declined loans might have been saved with it (DPR Reports). Plenty of buyers qualify and never find out.
How to use Down Payment Resource (start here)
1. Check your eligibility: my personal DPR portal
👉 Check your eligibility now
Enter a specific address and ZIP, or just a city, neighborhood, or county. Then answer a few household questions: household size, whether you own a home now, household income, and military service. It shows you which programs may match. It runs on the same Down Payment Resource database ARMLS agents use. Nothing gets approved here. It’s just your shortlist.
2. Learn the basics: DPR Homebuyer Resources
Plain-English guides like “How to Apply for Down Payment Assistance: 7 Steps,” “You Don’t Need 20% Down, But How Much Do You Actually Need?,” and a series that debunks common down payment program myths.
3. See the big picture: DPR Reports
The quarterly Homeownership Program Index tracks how many programs exist and what they look like. There’s also Urban Institute research on how DPA affects approvals.
4. Want a printable version? DPR Marketing Resources
DPR makes flyers in English and Spanish, plus a weekly “DPA Radar” on new programs. If you’d like the flyer in Spanish, just ask and I’ll send it.
🏡 Ready to look at homes? Search homes now. Live MLS listings across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, and Mesa, updated in real time.
Maricopa County programs (verified Nov 5, 2026)
Home Plus (statewide, open)
- Up to 4% for down payment and closing costs. Forgivable and non-forgivable options.
- Income up to $155,386 (limit as of 4/6/2026), the same in every county.
- The forgivable second is 0% interest, no payment, and forgiven after 5 years (60 months). If you sell or refinance before then, you pay it back.
- Funded year-round with no sunset date. You apply through an approved lender, not directly.
- One borrower has to finish homebuyer education before closing.
- Source: homeplusaz.com
Home in Five Advantage (Maricopa County, partly open)
- Income up to $153,440, minimum 640 FICO, DTI up to 50%. You have to live in the home within 60 days, and there’s no purchase price cap.
- 8-hour homebuyer education through an Arizona HUD-approved agency.
- ⚠️ 7-year forgivable option with a 30-year first: funds fully used as of June 25, 2026. More funding isn’t expected. Other assistance structures (3-year, 30-year, and 10-year amortizing seconds) still show up in the program’s documents. Ask a participating lender which ones are live.
- Extra 1% for teachers, first responders, or military? [NEEDS SOURCE] I couldn’t confirm this on the official pages Nov 5, 2026, so ask your lender.
- Source: homein5advantage.com and Resources for Lenders
Home in Five Platinum (closed)
- All funds used and the waitlist closed as of June 9, 2026.
Newtown CDC WISH matched savings (Maricopa + Pinal)
- A 4-to-1 match on savings: save up to $7,250 and get up to $29,000 toward your down payment and closing costs. The match is funded by FHLBank San Francisco.
- For first-time buyers (no home owned in 3 years) with income under 78% AMI. In both counties that works out to $61,386 for 1 person and $87,672 for a household of 4 (limits effective June 2026). Only earned income counts toward the match, and you need a fixed-rate loan. Fees: $60 to apply and $500 at closing.
- Sources: newtowncdc.org WISH, income limits. Grant funds are first come, first served, so confirm availability with Newtown. [NEEDS SOURCE: current 2026 fund status]
City-level programs (Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek)
[NEEDS SOURCE] I haven’t verified any of these yet. Run your exact address through the DPR portal to see local options.
Pinal County programs (verified Nov 5, 2026)
Home Plus (open)
Same terms as above. The income cap is also $155,386 in Pinal County.
Arizona Is Home (first-time buyers)
- Two different programs share the “Arizona Is Home” name. (1) The Arizona Department of Housing describes a first-time buyer program for people who haven’t owned in 3 years. It offers up to $30,000 at or below 80% AMI, and up to $20,000 at 81–120% AMI, as a silent second that’s due on sale. You’ll need 8 hours of education plus a one-on-one session with a HUD-certified advisor.
- (2) The Arizona Is Home Mortgage Assistance Program from the Arizona IDA (below-market rate plus 4% DPA, at or below 80% AMI) covers Pinal and other counties, but not Maricopa or Pima.
- Source: housing.az.gov. Current funding status is [NEEDS SOURCE].
Newtown WISH (also open to Pinal)
Same 4-to-1 savings match as above. Pinal has the same income limits as Maricopa.
Pathway to Purchase (certain cities)
Up to $20,000, tied to specific cities and ZIP codes. Casa Grande, Coolidge, and Florence have been on the list in past cycles. [NEEDS SOURCE: current ADOH city/ZIP list and funding status]
Pinal County Housing / IDA matched savings
[NEEDS SOURCE] A HOME-funded county program and an “IDA up to $22,000” grant are mentioned only by third parties (Redfin, a lender blog). Check with pinal.gov.
Who qualifies, and the gotchas nobody mentions
- “First-time buyer” usually means you haven’t owned in 3 years, and Home Plus doesn’t require first-time status at all (homeplusaz.com).
- Your income counts, and so does the house. The address, the program’s funding cycle, and occupancy rules all matter.
- It’s a second lien. Most DPA is a second mortgage. Read the forgiveness and repayment terms closely, especially if you might sell or refinance within 5 years.
- You have to live there. These programs are for your primary residence only.
- Plan for the class. Home in Five requires 8 hours of education. Book it early so it doesn’t hold up your closing.
- Works with FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional. Conventional HFA loans can come with reduced mortgage insurance (homeplusaz.com). The rate may run a little higher than a standard loan, so ask your lender to show both payments side by side.
- Sellers don’t need to worry. Down payment help is ordinary financing. A clean, well-prepped file closes on time.
🎓 New to buying? Take my free Strategic Homebuyer course. It walks through budgeting, financing, and offers step by step.
Next steps
- Run your address and income through my DPR portal.
- Talk to a lender approved for the programs that match. I’m happy to introduce you to a few.
- Book your homebuyer education class now.
- Then go shopping: search live listings.
🏠 Buying?
Find out what you qualify for, then see what’s out there. Search homes →
🏡 Selling?
Curious what your home would sell for in today’s market? Let’s talk →
👀 Just Exploring?
No pressure. Ask me anything about the East Valley. Reach out →
FAQ
Is there down payment assistance in Maricopa County right now?
Yes. Home Plus is open, with up to 4% and income up to $155,386. Home in Five Advantage is still active, but its 7-year forgivable option ran out of funds June 25, 2026, and Platinum closed June 9, 2026.
Can I get down payment help in Pinal County?
Yes. Home Plus works statewide, and Arizona Is Home covers Pinal County. Pathway to Purchase depends on your city or ZIP.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
Not for Home Plus. Programs that do require it usually mean you haven’t owned a home in the past 3 years.
Do I have to pay down payment assistance back?
It depends on the program. Home Plus’s forgivable second is forgiven after 5 years, but you repay it if you sell or refinance before then. Arizona Is Home’s second is due when you sell.
What is the WISH program?
It’s Newtown CDC’s matched-savings program for first-time buyers in Maricopa and Pinal. You save up to $7,250, and it matches $4 for every $1, up to $29,000, if your income is under 78% AMI.
How do I check what I qualify for?
Use my free Down Payment Resource portal. It matches you to programs based on your address, household size, and income.
Sources (accessed Nov 5, 2026)
- Down Payment Resource, Homebuyer Resources: https://downpaymentresource.com/homebuyer-resources/
- Down Payment Resource, Reports: https://downpaymentresource.com/reports/
- Down Payment Resource, Marketing Resources: https://downpaymentresource.com/marketing-resources/
- Wes Bender DPR portal (ARMLS): https://www.workforce-resource.com/dpr/pmt/ARMLS/WESLEY_BENDER
- Home Plus (Arizona IDA), income limit as of 4/6/2026: https://homeplusaz.com/home-plus-dpa/
- Home in Five Advantage: https://homein5advantage.com/ and https://homein5advantage.com/resources-for-lenders/ (fund notices dated 6/9/2026 and 6/25/2026)
- Newtown CDC WISH: https://newtowncdc.org/what-we-do/individual-development-accounts.html ; income limits (eff. June 2026): https://newtowncdc.org/news-events/income-limits.html
- Arizona Department of Housing, Programs for Homebuyers: https://housing.az.gov/general-public/programs-homebuyers
- AZ Big Media (Realtor.com purchasing power): https://azbigmedia.com/real-estate/phoenix-tucson-housing-markets-shift-toward-buyers/
- InsideTheValley (Cromford, week of Oct 29, 2026): https://insidethevalley.com/news/mesa-glendale-buyers-market-cromford-market-index-valley-scorecard/