Assistance program · Arizona
Home in Five Advantage
Help from the Phoenix and Maricopa County development authorities for the down payment and closing costs in Maricopa County: up to 6% as a second loan, forgivable or with payments depending on the option; no first-time buyer requirement
At a glance
- Most it gives, per the source
- Up to 6% of the loan
- What its page says; your amount depends on the price and the loan.
- Kind of help
- Forgivable · Repayable
- Second loan forgiven if you stay in the home
- First-time buyer?
- No
- No first-time requirement
- Minimum credit score
- 640
- The minimum the source asks for; a lender may ask for more.
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- Second loan forgiven if you stay in the home
- Second loan with monthly payments
Only in: Maricopa County
What it gives
Up to 6% of the loan
Source text
Borrowers Get up to 6%. … Qualified homebuyers receive assistance for down payment and closing costs, plus a loan with a competitive interest rate. A summary of what the program publishes; not a loan offer or advice. Amounts, limits and funding change without notice.
At a glance
Who qualifies
Each answer comes from the program's page. "Not stated — ask" means its page doesn't make it clear: ask before you apply.
Source text
Minimum FICO credit score of 640 … Annual income up to $153,440 … Debt to Income ratio up to 50% … Occupy the home as principal residence within 60 days of closing … Complete Homebuyer education … Located in Maricopa County … A new purchase (no refinancing) … Purchase price is not limited … Complete an 8-hour homebuyer education course through an Arizona-based HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency, including limited online courses. - First-time buyers only No
- Homebuyer course required Yes
- Minimum credit score 640
- Income limit A flat cap; see the source
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with FHA, VA, Conventional
- Immigration requirement Not stated — ask
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Not stated — ask
- Program status The source does not say whether it is open — ask
- Where it applies Maricopa County
What its page says about being open
Its page does not say whether the program is open or has funds. Ask the lender or the agency before counting on it. Read on the official page on November 5, 2026.
Your area in numbers
What buying costs in Maricopa County
These are the official figures for the area the program covers. Use them to compare the price of the home you want and your household income with the program's limits.
The typical home value ($452,800) fits within Maricopa County's FHA limit ($557,750).
The program publishes an income cap of $153,440 for the household. For reference, HUD's low-income limit for 4 people in Maricopa County is $89,900.
| Figure | Maricopa County | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $452,800 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $557,750 | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $832,750 | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $89,900 | HUD |
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024) · FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data) · Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data) · Income Limits (HUD) (Fiscal year 2026)
Step by step
How to use it, step by step
Each step comes from what the program's page says. What its page leaves out is further down, in the questions.
Find a participating lender-
Ask first whether it is open
Its page does not say whether it is open or still has funds. That is the first thing to ask.
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Your income cannot go above $153,440
According to its page, the cap counts the whole household's income.
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Take the homebuyer course
The program requires it. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach courses. Arizona has 21 agencies on HUD's list, and 17 serve people in Spanish.
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Pick a mortgage it works with
According to its page, the help is used together with a FHA, VA and Conventional loan. Each loan type has its own requirements.
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Check your score: the published minimum is 640
That is the program's minimum; the lender may ask for more. If you are short, a housing counselor can explain how to raise it.
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Apply with Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority and The Industrial Development Authority of the City of Phoenix. Its page explains whether you apply directly or through a participating lender.
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Compare the total cost before you sign
Ask about the total cost. The mortgage with assistance may carry a higher rate than without it, and some programs charge for the course or a fee.
Before you call
What to ask
Its page leaves 5 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority and The Industrial Development Authority of the City of Phoenix.
What its page does not say
- Is it open now, and does it still have funds?
- Is there a maximum price for the home?
- Which immigration status or residency documents do you ask for?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
- Do you have materials or staff in Spanish?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- After how many years is the loan forgiven, and what happens if I sell or refinance before then?
- What rate and monthly payment does the second loan have?
Against the others
How it compares with Arizona's other programs
The 2 programs we checked in Arizona, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is the only one of Arizona's 2 programs that says you do not need to be a first-time buyer. It is one of 2 out of 2 that publish an amount with the figure in their own wording. One other program in the state also gives "forgivable" help: Home Plus. It is the only local program on the list; the others cover the whole state. 2 of the 2 require a homebuyer course, this one included.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home in Five Advantagethis program | Forgivable · Repayable | Up to 6% of the loan | No | Yes | Doesn't say | Maricopa County |
| Home PlusOpen, per the source | Forgivable · Deferred | Up to 4% of the loan | Doesn't say | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
Sources
How we checked this program
We read the program's official pages on November 5, 2026 and copied their text as it appears on them. We add no amounts or requirements those pages do not state, and a program is listed as open or closed only when its page says so.
We check every program again. If more than 180 days pass without a check, the page says so.
Get free help applying
A HUD-approved housing counselor explains the program's requirements, goes over your numbers and tells you what to ask the lender. They do not sell loans.
Find a counselor (HUD)Read before you apply
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Help and programs
Down payment assistance: how it works
What down payment assistance is, the types that exist (grant, forgivable or deferred second loan, tax credit), who qualifies and where to find it.
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Help and programs
Homebuyer education courses: when you need one
What a homebuyer education course is, when Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and assistance programs require one, and where to take it for free or in Spanish.
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Mortgage loans
FHA loan: down payment, insurance, limits and who qualifies
How an FHA loan works: the down payment and credit score HUD requires, MIP mortgage insurance, your county limit, the home and the residency rules.
Your county
Price and income limits depend on the county. Your county page has the typical value, the FHA limit and the counseling agencies that can walk you through the application.