Last updated: October 29, 2026
Short answer: Avondale buyers can look at three public programs: the statewide Home Plus program, Maricopa County's Home in Five Advantage, and the City of Avondale's First-Time Homebuyer Program run by Trellis. Each one has its own credit score, income and class rules, and the help comes as a second loan. Browse our Avondale home search.
Key takeaways
- Home Plus (Arizona Industrial Development Authority) works statewide, needs a credit score of at least 620 and has a borrower income limit of $155,386 as of April 6, 2026. You don't have to be a first-time buyer.
- Home in Five Advantage (the Maricopa County and City of Phoenix IDAs) needs a credit score of at least 640 and an 8-hour homebuyer class from an Arizona HUD-approved counseling agency. There's no purchase price limit.
- The City of Avondale First-Time Homebuyer Program is run by Trellis (623-932-3565) for income-qualified first-time buyers. Home must be inside Avondale city limits; homebuyer class through Trellis.
- The help is a second loan or lien. Home Plus and some Home in Five options are forgiven over time, and you may have to pay them back if you sell or refinance first. The City of Avondale help is a lien on the home, and the amount due when you sell or refinance can include a share of the home's appreciation.
¡Qué tal! I'm Rosie Armenta. Buying your first home is a big step, and saving for the down payment and closing costs can feel like the hardest part. The good news is that there are public programs in Arizona built for exactly that. Mariela and I walk buyers through these options in English and Spanish, and every program below is open to anyone who meets its rules. Let's go through them one by one so you can see which ones fit you.
Who counts as a first-time home buyer in Arizona?
It depends on the program. For the Arizona is Home option offered through Home in Five Advantage, a first-time buyer is someone who hasn't owned a residential property in the last three years. So if you owned a home years ago and have been renting since, you may count as a first-time buyer again.
Some programs don't require it at all. The Arizona IDA says Home Plus borrowers do not have to be first-time buyers for any loan type.
Which down payment assistance programs can I use in Avondale?
| Program | Who runs it | First-time buyer required? | Minimum credit score | Income limit | What the help looks like |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Plus | Arizona Industrial Development Authority (Arizona IDA) | No | 620 | $155,386 of qualifying income for all borrowers (as of April 6, 2026) | Up to 4% of the first mortgage as a second loan with no interest and no payments, forgiven after 60 months |
| Home in Five Advantage | Industrial Development Authorities of Maricopa County and the City of Phoenix | Only for the 7-year option (Arizona residents for at least six months) | 640 | $157,360 program income limit (Home in Five Advantage guidelines, June 10, 2026). Limits change, so confirm with the program or a participating loan officer. | 3% to 6% of the first mortgage as a second loan. The 3-year and 7-year options are forgiven a little each month you live in the home |
| City of Avondale First-Time Homebuyer Program | City of Avondale, run by Trellis | Yes | Set by the program and your lender | Income-qualified households | Help with down payment, closing costs or principal reduction. It's a lien on the home, and the amount due when you sell or refinance can include a share of the home's appreciation. Ask Trellis for the current terms. |
Sources: Arizona IDA Home Plus program page and Program Summary for Lenders (April 6, 2026); Home in Five Advantage Down Payment Assistance Guidelines (June 10, 2026) and eligibility page; City of Avondale Housing and Community Development page. All checked October 29, 2026. Limits and funding can change, so a participating lender confirms what's available the day you apply.
A few real details matter here. The statewide Arizona IDA version of Arizona Is Home ran out of 2026 funds on October 6, 2026, and that version doesn't serve Maricopa County anyway. In Maricopa County, the Arizona is Home option runs through Home in Five Advantage. The City of Avondale says it funds its first-time buyer help with HUD HOME dollars through the Maricopa County HOME Consortium, so ask Trellis whether funds are open when you call.
The same Home in Five guidelines also list a $134,880 income limit (120% AMI) for the 7-year option and an $89,920 limit (80% AMI) for conventional loans.
The Arizona Department of Housing also lists programs at housing.az.gov; check there for current options.
How does the second loan get paid back or forgiven?
This is the part I want every buyer to understand before signing. Each program treats the second loan differently. Here's a made-up example to show the math. Say your first mortgage is $300,000 (a made-up example amount) and you get 4% in assistance, or $12,000. Then you sell after 36 full months:
| Program option | How it's forgiven | Forgiven after 36 months | Still owed when you sell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Plus | All at once after 60 months; nothing before that | $0 | $12,000 |
| Home in Five, 3-year option (FHA or VA loans) | 1/36 for each full month you live in the home | $12,000 | $0 |
| Home in Five, 7-year option | 1/84 for each full month you live in the home | $5,143 | $6,857 |
Example numbers are made up and rounded to the dollar. Math: $300,000 × 4% = $12,000; $12,000 × 36/84 = $5,143; $12,000 − $5,143 = $6,857.
Home in Five also has a 10-year option you repay monthly and a 30-year option for conventional loans that isn't forgiven until the 30-year mark. The Arizona IDA also notes that the interest rates on Home Plus first mortgages may be slightly higher than other current rates, so ask your lender to show you the total cost with and without assistance.
The City of Avondale help isn't forgiven this way. It's a lien on the home, and the amount due when you sell or refinance can include a share of the home's appreciation, so ask Trellis for the current terms before you sign.
And remember, assistance helps with the cash to close. Your monthly budget still has to cover principal and interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, HOA dues if there are any, utilities and upkeep. My guides on how much property taxes are in Avondale and how much homeowners insurance costs in Avondale can help you plan those.
What about the homebuyer education class?
Home in Five and Home Plus both ask for a class. Home in Five requires an 8-hour course through a HUD-approved housing counseling agency located in Arizona, in person or online, and you give the certificate to your lender. Its list of approved online courses includes Chicanos Por La Causa, Trellis, Newtown CDC, Money Management International, Administration of Resources and Choices, and ACCE's Make Your Move with Take Charge America. Home Plus requires at least one borrower to finish an approved course before closing. If you'd like the class in Spanish, ask the agency when you sign up.
Honestly, the class is worth it even beyond the rules. You'll learn how the loan, the inspection and the closing work before you're in the middle of it.
Can I combine assistance with a gift or an ITIN loan?
Assistance programs sit on top of a first mortgage like FHA, VA, USDA or a conventional loan, so you still have to qualify for that loan. Gift money can be part of the picture too, and my guide on using gift money for a down payment explains the paperwork.
If you'll be buying with an ITIN, ask a licensed lender of your choice whether you qualify for the first loans these programs use. My guide on buying a house in Arizona with an ITIN covers other paths. And if you're still deciding whether now is the time, is it cheaper to rent or buy in Avondale walks through the full monthly costs.
How do I apply for down payment assistance in Avondale?
- Check your credit and income. Compare your score and your qualifying income with each program's limits.
- Take the homebuyer education class. Sign up with an approved Arizona agency and keep your certificate.
- Talk with a participating lender of your choice. Home Plus and Home in Five post lists of participating lenders on their sites. For the City of Avondale program, call Trellis at 623-932-3565.
- Get preapproved with the program. Ask the lender to show you the second loan terms in writing, including when it's forgiven or has to be repaid.
- Shop for your home. Stay within your preapproval and the program's rules.
- Close and keep your paperwork. Save the second loan documents so you know when it's forgiven or what's due when you sell or refinance.
Ready to start looking?
Start with our Avondale home search to see what's on the market. If you already own a home and you're thinking of moving up, get a free home value report first. Then call or text me at 623-295-5770. Mariela and I will help you understand each step of the purchase and work alongside the lender you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get down payment assistance in Arizona?
Not always. The Arizona IDA says Home Plus doesn't require it for any loan type. Home in Five's 7-year option and the City of Avondale program are for first-time buyers. For Arizona is Home through Home in Five, that means you haven't owned a residential property in the last three years.
What credit score do I need for down payment assistance in Arizona?
Home Plus requires a minimum credit score of 620. Home in Five Advantage requires a minimum FICO score of 640. Your lender may have its own requirements for the first mortgage, so ask early.
Is down payment assistance free money?
It's a second loan, not a gift. Some options are forgiven over time if you keep living in the home, and some have to be repaid. Home Plus is forgiven after 60 months, and Home in Five's 10-year option is repaid monthly.
Do I have to pay back down payment assistance if I sell?
It depends on the program and timing. With Home Plus, a sale or refinance in the first 60 months means the second loan must be repaid. Home in Five's 3-year and 7-year options are forgiven a little each full month you live in the home.
Can I use down payment assistance with an FHA loan?
Yes. Home Plus works with FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae HFA Preferred and Freddie Mac HFA Advantage first mortgages. Home in Five Advantage works with FHA, VA and conventional HFA first loans through participating lenders.
Is there a price limit on homes with Home Plus or Home in Five?
Home in Five Advantage has no purchase price limit. The Arizona IDA doesn't add its own price limit to Home Plus, but the loan limits of the first mortgage you use still apply.
Where do I take the homebuyer education class?
Through a HUD-approved housing counseling agency in Arizona. Home in Five lists approved online courses, including Chicanos Por La Causa, Trellis and Newtown CDC. Ask your lender which courses your program accepts before you sign up.
Does the City of Avondale have a first-time homebuyer program?
Yes. The City of Avondale contracts with Trellis to help income-qualified first-time buyers with down payment, closing costs or principal reduction. Call Trellis at 623-932-3565 to ask about eligibility and whether funds are available.
This article is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Please talk with a licensed attorney, CPA, or lender about your situation.
About the authors
Rosie Armenta is a REALTOR® with West USA Realty. She and her daughter, Mariela Armenta, work together as a mother-daughter team. Avondale (85392) is their home base, and they help buyers and sellers across the West Valley in English and Spanish. Call or text 623-295-5770, or get a free home value report.
Rosie Armenta, REALTOR® | West USA Realty | Equal Housing Opportunity
Figures were checked on October 29, 2026, from the Arizona IDA's Home Plus program page and Program Summary for Lenders (April 6, 2026), the Arizona IDA's Arizona Is Home page and its October 5, 2026 update, the Home in Five Advantage Down Payment Assistance Guidelines (June 10, 2026), eligibility, Arizona is Home and homebuyer education pages, and the City of Avondale Housing and Community Development page. The first mortgage and assistance amounts in the example are made up. Program rules, limits and funding can change, so a participating lender confirms what applies to you.