Match the Arizona program, lender and property
Assistance research starts with the exact program name. Home Plus and Arizona IDA's Arizona Is Home have different geographic rules and funding arrangements. The resources below help you separate those options, identify the right contact and compare the obligations alongside the first mortgage.
Start Home Plus research with a participating loan officer
The Arizona Industrial Development Authority describes Home Plus as a statewide mortgage and down-payment-assistance program. Its FAQ says you do not have to be a first-time buyer, although owning other real estate can limit the available options. The application goes through an approved participating lender, which evaluates the mortgage and arranges the program assistance; there is no separate direct homebuyer application to Arizona IDA.
Use the official lender page alongside the city directories above. Arizona IDA cautions that approval of a lending company does not mean every loan officer handles its programs. Ask for someone who works with the proposed program and mortgage type. The lender page also explains that processing, underwriting and origination fees can differ between lenders. Request an itemized proposal, and confirm participation directly: a Mortgage Firm listing does not establish program approval.
Check the Arizona Is Home notice before planning around it
Arizona IDA's Arizona Is Home program page carries an October 6, 2026 notice stating that its 2026 funds are exhausted and the program is retired for the remainder of the year. Do not treat the eligibility information still displayed below that notice as an invitation to submit a new funded application. Check the administrator's current notice before relying on this option; the notice does not promise a reopening date.
The same page describes Arizona IDA's program territory as excluding Maricopa County, Pima County and Chino Valley. Those restrictions belong to this specific program, not to Home Plus or every local assistance resource. A broad Arizona or Phoenix-area search can therefore surface information that does not apply to the property. Give a prospective lender the actual address and ask which administrator and program its proposal uses.
Compare the assistance obligation as well as cash needed at closing
Home Plus assistance is structured as a second mortgage. The program page describes both forgivable and non-forgivable options, so ask the lender to identify the actual option in writing. A deferred payment does not, by itself, mean the balance disappears. Request the forgiveness conditions, any remaining repayment obligation and the treatment of a future sale or refinance before including assistance in your budget.
The administrator's FAQ says a sale or refinance can require repayment of an unforgiven balance; non-forgivable assistance remains repayable. It also says Arizona IDA does not subordinate its lien to accommodate a refinance. Ask how that policy would affect the payoff needed for your proposed loan. For the initial purchase, request a comparison showing cash to close and the full monthly payment, including taxes and insurance, with mortgage insurance where applicable, for the assistance option and a mortgage using your own funds.
Questions to take with you
- Which Home Plus assistance option is included, and what written conditions govern forgiveness or repayment?
- What balance would need to be paid if I later sell or refinance?
Choose an accepted course and leave time for its completion steps
Arizona IDA requires one borrower to complete pre-purchase education before closing under its assistance programs. Its education page lists approved online providers and an in-person route through HUD-certified homebuyer education providers. Confirm the course with your loan officer before enrolling, then ask the provider about fees, scheduling and the completion certificate. Course completion does not reserve assistance funds or establish mortgage eligibility.
For the eHomeAmerica option, Arizona IDA explains that the borrower must select a sponsoring counseling agency. Its page says the course is accepted by Home Plus and Arizona Is Home regardless of the sponsoring agency. Ask that agency about the steps needed to finish your chosen course, rather than assuming online registration alone produces the documentation for closing.
If you need a conversation about readiness before selecting a loan, HUD's Arizona resource page links to housing-counseling agencies and provides a telephone referral route. Explain that you want pre-purchase help so the agency can distinguish your request from foreclosure, rental or other housing services. Confirm separately whether any course it offers satisfies your proposed mortgage program.
Published by Mortgage Firm, an independent directory. Program administrators and lenders determine current availability and eligibility. Our editorial approach