Every DPA program we work with — local Arizona and national.

Usually no. Home Plus and Home in Five both deliver the help as a soft second lien with no monthly payment that is forgivable or deferred, so you don't repay it month to month. A few national programs (Chenoa, Arrive) offer a repayable second on top of a forgivable one. The terms depend on the program, so we tell you exactly which structure applies before you commit.

It depends on the program. Home Plus gives up to 5% of your loan amount statewide — that's 4% plus a 1% boost for Active Duty and Veterans. Home in Five gives up to 6.5% in Maricopa County — 5% base, plus 1% for teachers, first responders, and military or income-qualified buyers, plus a 0.5% boost. National programs (Chenoa, Arrive, Essex) typically offer 3.5% or 5%.

You need a 620 credit score for Home Plus and 640 for Home in Five. The FHA loan itself allows scores down to 580. There is no single DPA credit score; it depends on the program. Arizona Is Home runs at 620, and the national programs (Chenoa, Arrive, Essex) go down to 600. That's still well under the 700-plus many buyers assume they need.

Home Plus caps borrower income at $155,386, or $146,503 when paired with an FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional HFA loan. Home in Five caps household income at $157,360 as of June 10, 2026. National programs (Chenoa, Arrive, Essex) have no income limit, so they're the fallback when you're just over a local cap. See the current figures page for every program.

No, not for most Arizona programs. Home Plus and Home in Five both allow repeat buyers, so you can use them even if you've owned before. Where a program does require "first-time" status, it means you haven't owned a home in the past 3 years — not that you've never owned one. We'll match you to a program that fits your ownership history.

It depends on where you're buying. Home Plus works statewide and gives up to 5% of your loan amount. Home in Five gives more — up to 6.5% — but only in Maricopa County. Home Plus requires a 620 score and Home in Five requires 640, and both allow repeat buyers. If you're in metro Phoenix, Home in Five usually wins on dollars. Outside Maricopa County, Home Plus is your statewide option.

Yes, most Arizona DPA programs require a homebuyer education course before closing. It typically runs about 4 to 8 hours, is offered online, and is often free or in the $50 to $100 range. The course covers budgeting, the loan process, and keeping the home long-term. We'll point you to an approved provider for your specific program so the certificate counts.

No. It's one DPA program per purchase — most programs explicitly prohibit stacking with other DPA. What DPA does layer with is your first mortgage: FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional. So you pair one assistance program with one of those four loan types. If you're just over a local income cap, switch to a national program (Chenoa, Arrive, Essex) instead of trying to combine two.

Yes, all four. Arizona DPA layers on top of FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional first mortgages, so the assistance covers your down payment or closing costs regardless of which loan type you qualify for. Veterans pairing a VA loan with DPA can put assistance toward closing costs. We'll match the DPA program to the first-mortgage type that gives you the best overall fit.

No. DPA can carry slightly higher first-mortgage pricing in exchange for the help, so if you already have savings for the down payment, a standard loan sometimes costs you less over time. We run both ways and show you the real numbers. If down payment assistance isn't the better move for you, we'll say so — no script, no pressure.