Phoenix prices surged after 2020, so first-time buyers here lean on two strong programs — the City’s Open Doors, worth up to 10% of the price, and the county-wide Home in Five grant.
This guide focuses on what first-time buyers in Phoenix specifically can tap in 2026 — the local programs run by the city and county, the statewide help you can layer on top, and what it realistically takes to buy here.
Phoenix’s own first-time buyer programs
The Phoenix area offers both a city program and a broader county program:
- Open Doors Down Payment Assistance — from the City of Phoenix Housing Department, a 0% deferred second worth up to 10% of the purchase price that is fully forgiven after the affordability period, for buyers at or below 80% of area median income buying within Phoenix city limits (price cap around $447,000)
- Home in Five Advantage — a grant of roughly 5–6% of the loan amount (never repaid) from the Maricopa County and Phoenix Industrial Development Authorities, available county-wide with no first-time requirement and extra help for teachers, first responders, and military
- Newtown CDC Community Land Trust — a nonprofit land-trust model that lowers the purchase price to keep homes permanently affordable (amounts vary)
These local programs are the piece most buyers miss, because they are run by the city or county rather than a lender — and they can often be combined with the statewide programs below.
Statewide programs you can also use in Phoenix
On top of Phoenix’s local help, every Arizona buyer can access the state’s housing finance programs — below-market loans, down payment assistance, and a possible tax credit. We cover them in full in our guide to Arizona first-time home buyer programs, and the wider local picture in our Arizona first-time home buyer guide. In many cases you can stack a city program with a state program to cover most or all of your cash to close — a lender who works with both can structure it.
What it takes to buy in Phoenix
The Phoenix metro median home price is around $450,000 — sharply higher than a few years ago, even after some recent cooling. That makes the local programs especially valuable: Open Doors can cover up to 10% of the price as forgivable help within the city, while the county-wide Home in Five grant reaches buyers well up the income scale.
Before you shop, pin down your budget. Our home affordability guide walks through how income, debt, and rates set your price range, and our first-time home buyer checklist keeps the rest of the process on track.
Loan options for Phoenix buyers
Most Phoenix first-time buyers use one of a few loan types, each of which can pair with the assistance above:
- FHA loans — 3.5% down with flexible credit, popular with first-time buyers
- Conventional loans — as little as 3% down, with reduced mortgage insurance through state HFA versions
- VA and USDA loans — zero down for eligible veterans and in qualifying areas
- Down payment assistance — city and state programs that layer on top (see our down payment assistance guide)
How to buy your first home in Phoenix
- Check your budget and credit first — see our guide to credit score requirements.
- Complete a homebuyer education course — nearly every Phoenix and Arizona program requires one, and it is usually free.
- Find a lender who works with both Phoenix and Arizona programs, and ask them to run the city and state options together.
- Get pre-approved, then line up your assistance before you make an offer.
One note: local and state program funding and terms change, and some rounds close when the money runs out. Always confirm current amounts and availability with the program administrator before counting on a figure.
Phoenix first-time buyer FAQ
What down payment help is available in Phoenix?
Within Phoenix city limits, the Open Doors program offers up to 10% of the price as a forgivable second for buyers at or below 80% of area median income. Across Maricopa County, the Home in Five Advantage program provides a grant of roughly 5–6% of the loan — with no first-time requirement and higher income limits — plus extra help for teachers, first responders, and military.
Can I combine Phoenix city programs with Arizona state programs?
Often yes. City or county assistance is usually designed to layer on top of a first mortgage, and many buyers stack it with a Arizona state program to cover most of their down payment and closing costs. A lender who participates in both can confirm what combines. See our Arizona programs guide for the statewide options.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to qualify in Phoenix?
It depends on the program. Open Doors requires first-time buyer status and caps income at 80% of area median income. Home in Five does not require first-time status and allows income up to roughly $153,000, making it far more widely available. Both require homebuyer education. Confirm current terms with the program administrators, since amounts and caps update over time.
Should I use Open Doors or Home in Five in Phoenix?
Open Doors (City of Phoenix) gives up to 10% of the price as forgivable help but requires first-time status, an income at or below 80% of area median income, and a home inside Phoenix city limits. Home in Five (Maricopa County) gives a grant of about 5–6% with no first-time requirement and much higher income limits, and it works across the county. Lower-income buyers inside the city often do best with Open Doors; many others use Home in Five. A participating lender can compare both.