Arrive Home™
National DPA program with both forgivable and repayable structures. Arrive's Repayable option offers 5% assistance — the highest commonly-available repayable percentage among national programs.
Quick answer: how does Arrive Home™ work?
- Where: Nationwide — works in Arizona.
- Forms available: Forgivable (30-year, 0% lien, no monthly payment, forgiven after 36 on-time payments) or Repayable (10-year amortized second with a monthly payment).
- Assistance: 3.5% on most products; 5% available on the Repayable option only.
- FICO floor: 600 lowest middle score.
- Income limit: None. AMI-based pricing adjustment (LLPA) applied above 160% AMI.
- FTHB requirement: Not required by Arrive.
- Loan types: FHA-focused.
Arrive Home is one of several national options. See how it lines up against the others on our full programs list, and compare it with Chenoa Fund, another nationwide DPA we run in Arizona.
How it works, step by step
- Pre-qualify with us. Arrive requires AUS approval (DU or LPA depending on configuration).
- Choose forgivable vs. repayable. The 5% assistance level is only available on the Repayable structure.
- If your AMI is above 160%, expect a small Loan-Level Pricing Adjustment (LLPA).
- Close. The DPA second is recorded behind the first mortgage.
Remember, you pick one DPA program per purchase — Arrive does not stack with another assistance program. The assistance layers on top of your FHA first mortgage, not on top of a second grant. For the latest assistance percentages and income caps across every program we run, check our current DPA figures page.
Eligibility
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Loan type | FHA 203(b), 1–2 units, primary residence. |
| Minimum FICO | 600 (lowest middle score). |
| DTI | Per AUS guidelines. |
| Income limit | None. LLPA applies above 160% AMI. |
| FTHB | Not required by Arrive (Agency rules may still apply). |
| Loan purpose | Purchase only. |
FAQ
Do you have to pay back Arrive Home down payment assistance?
It depends on which version you take. The Forgivable Arrive Home second is a 30-year, 0% lien with no monthly payment, and the full balance is forgiven after 36 on-time payments. The Repayable version is a 10-year amortized loan you pay back monthly. If you sell or do a cash-out refinance early on the forgivable lien, the balance comes due.
How much down payment assistance can I get with Arrive Home?
You can get 3.5% on most products and up to 5% on the Repayable option only. The 5% repayable level is the highest commonly-available repayable percentage among national DPA programs. Arizona's Home Plus goes up to 5% statewide and Home in Five up to 6.5% in Maricopa County, so we compare all three on your file.
What credit score do I need for Arrive Home?
You need a 600 lowest-middle FICO score for Arrive Home. That is lower than the 620 floor on Home Plus and 640 on Home in Five programs, which is why Arrive can be the right fit for buyers in the 600 to 639 range. FHA financing itself allows scores as low as 580, but Arrive sets the floor at 600.
What are the Arrive Home income limits?
Arrive Home allows generous income — generally up to about 160% of area median income (AMI), above which a loan-level pricing adjustment (LLPA) applies. That is higher than most HFA programs. That contrasts with Home Plus at $155,386 borrower income and Home in Five at $157,360 household income, which have hard caps.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to use Arrive Home?
No, Arrive Home does not require you to be a first-time buyer. Repeat buyers qualify. Agency rules on the underlying FHA loan may still apply, but Arrive itself places no first-time-buyer restriction. This matches Home Plus and Home in Five, which also let repeat buyers in.
Does Arrive Home work with FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional loans?
Arrive Home is FHA-focused, built around FHA 203(b) purchase loans on 1 to 2 unit primary residences. If you want VA, USDA, or conventional financing with assistance, we run Arizona programs like Home Plus and Home in Five instead, which all four loan types support. We pick the program that matches your loan.
Can I combine Arrive Home with another DPA program?
No, you pick one DPA program per purchase. Arrive Home does not stack with another assistance program. The assistance layers on top of your FHA first mortgage, not on top of a second grant. If two programs could fit, we model each and choose the one with the better total cost for you.
Is Arrive Home always the right move?
No, DPA is not always the right move. Assistance programs like Arrive can carry slightly higher first-mortgage pricing, so if you already have savings for a down payment, paying out of pocket may cost less over time. We run real numbers both ways before you decide. See our current DPA figures for the latest caps.
Curious if Arrive Home™ is the right fit?
20 minutes — bring your zip code, income range, and credit ballpark. We'll model real numbers.