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Down payment assistance
Learn how grants and different second-mortgage structures may reduce upfront cash while adding their own eligibility and repayment terms.
Quick orientation
Who may want to explore this?
Eligible buyers comparing current grants, forgivable or deferred second mortgages, and repayable assistance structures.
In plain English
What this loan is
, or DPA, is not one universal program. A current program may provide a grant, forgivable second mortgage, deferred-payment second mortgage, or repayable second mortgage to eligible buyers, often alongside an approved first mortgage.
Learn the structure before the amount
Assistance can mean four different things
A grant generally does not create a repayment obligation when all program terms are met. A forgivable second mortgage can be forgiven over a defined period if its conditions are satisfied. A deferred second postpones payments but may remain due later. A repayable second has its own repayment terms.
Program documents—not the word 'assistance'—determine what is owed. Some programs can also help with eligible or an approved rate buydown rather than only the .
Not always free money
Repayment and first-mortgage terms belong in the comparison
Assistance may require repayment, carry a forgiveness or affordability period, become due after a sale or , limit the compatible first mortgage, require education, or affect the rate, fees, and .
That does not make undesirable. It means the buyer should compare the complete structure with a no-assistance option rather than evaluating only the dollar amount received.
Current Arizona resources
State programs use current funding and eligibility rules
Arizona is Home currently publishes assistance information for eligible first-time buyers in Maricopa and Pima Counties through the Arizona Department of Housing. The department's page describes an income-based program and a silent second-mortgage structure, but current availability and administrator requirements must be confirmed directly.
Arizona IDA also publishes Home Plus and Arizona is Home program information. Product structure, participating lenders, income limits, assistance percentages, rates, and status can change; use its current program page and eligibility process instead of hard-coded figures here.
Verified Tucson and Pima resource
The local HOME Consortium publishes a separate assistance path
The City of Tucson currently publishes a HOME program for eligible purchases across Tucson and Pima County, excluding Tribal lands. Its current page describes a deferred-loan structure, -residence, income, education, reserve, inspection, property, and first-mortgage conditions.
The consortium directs buyers to participating housing-counseling agencies rather than accepting applications directly. Purchase-price and income limits are intentionally not repeated here because the official page marks them as current and subject to change.
Questions before relying on assistance
Compare the whole financing package
Ask these questions before treating assistance as part of the purchase plan:
- Is it a grant or a second loan, and does it have to be repaid?
- Is there a forgiveness or affordability period?
- What happens after a sale, , move, or early payoff?
- What income, purchase-price, property, occupancy, or geographic limits apply?
- Is homebuyer education or counseling required?
- Which first mortgages and lenders can be used?
- How does assistance affect the , fees, , and total payment?
- Is currently available and reserved for this transaction?
Potential benefits
Why someone may consider it
- May reduce the buyer's upfront cash requirement when a current program fits.
- Can sometimes assist with or eligible .
Important things to know
Tradeoffs and limitations
- Assistance is not one universal program and may need to be repaid.
- Income, property, geography, education, first-mortgage, and requirements can change.
Prepare without oversharing
Documents commonly discussed
- Income and household documentation required by the selected assistance program
- Asset statements and evidence of any required buyer contribution or
- Homebuyer education or housing-counseling completion when required
- First-mortgage approval and program-specific lender documents
- Purchase contract, property, inspection, and geographic eligibility records when applicable
Sensitive documents belong only in the external mortgage application or an approved document portal—not this website.
Try this tool
Estimated Money Needed at Closing
Separate , , , credits, and assistance instead of treating them as one number.
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Useful next tools
Common questions
Questions buyers ask
Is down payment assistance free money?
Not universally. Some assistance is a grant, while other assistance is a forgivable, deferred, or repayable second mortgage. Review the actual note, , forgiveness, repayment, sale, and terms.
Does every first-time buyer qualify for Arizona assistance?
No. Eligibility can depend on income, household, geography, property, price, occupancy, education, first mortgage, participating lender, , and other program rules.
Can DPA change my mortgage rate or payment?
It can. Some assistance is paired with a particular first mortgage or rate structure, and a repayable second may add an obligation. Compare the complete payment and financing cost.
How do I verify a Tucson or Pima County program?
Start with the current City of Tucson HOME Consortium page and its listed participating counseling agencies. Confirm funding and requirements before signing a purchase contract based on expected assistance.
Primary sources
Review the official guidance
These sources support the educational summary above. Program rules and limits can change, and lender requirements may be more restrictive.
Your next step
Ready to discuss down payment assistance?
Use the secure mortgage application when you want Jesse to review an individual scenario. Eligibility and final terms require verified information and lender .
