The Phoenix mortgage banker who teaches before he sells.
Mike Certo runs the Phoenix branch of Cornerstone First Mortgage. A meaningful share of what we do here is help first-time Arizona homebuyers understand down payment assistance — what it is, how it works, when to use it, and importantly, when not to.
Why we built this site
Most DPA information online is either oversimplified ("it's free money!") or gated behind a lead form. Neither serves a first-time buyer trying to make a real decision. This site is the honest middle: real program details, real tradeoffs, and the parts no one explains — like the rate premium that funds the assistance and when DPA isn't actually the cheaper path.
Who we are
Cornerstone First Mortgage, LLC is a full-service mortgage bank headquartered in San Diego, CA, lending in 49 states + Puerto Rico under NMLS #173855. The Arizona Down Payment Assistance program is run from Mike Certo's Phoenix branch.
The DPA programs we're approved with
- Home Plus (Arizona statewide)
- Arizona Is Home (Arizona statewide)
- Home In 5 (Maricopa County)
- City of Flagstaff CHAP
- Chenoa Fund (national)
- Arrive Home (national)
- Essex / NHF (national)
We're an originating lender on each — not a referral site. When something goes sideways at the underwriting desk, the person you talked to at the consult is the same person resolving it.
What we won't do
- Push you toward a DPA program when saving 6 more months would cost you less in total.
- Pick the program that pays our office the most when a different one fits you better.
- Bury the rate premium that funds the "free" assistance.
First-time buyer? Start with a 20-min call.
No commitment, no salesy follow-up. We'll model 2–3 programs against your real numbers and tell you what's best.