Down Payment Assistance in Glendale, AZ: What’s Available in 2026 and How to Choose
Down Payment Assistance in Glendale, AZ (2026 Guide) | Joe Mortgage
By Joe Hansen, Mortgage Loan Officer, NMLS #217716 · Peoria, AZ
Short answer: yes, Glendale buyers can potentially get down payment assistance. Three programs come up most often: Home Plus Arizona, Home in Five (Maricopa County), and the Chenoa Fund. Each one is a second mortgage with different rules, and the one that gives you the most money is not always the one that costs you the least. The right pick depends on your income, your credit, how long you plan to stay, and which first mortgage you use.
I’ve been a mortgage loan officer in Arizona for more than 24 years, and the most common thing I hear from Glendale buyers is some version of “I can afford the payment, I just don’t have the cash.” That is exactly the gap assistance programs were built for.
It’s also the most misunderstood part of buying a home. People assume assistance is free money, or that it’s only for first-time buyers, or that it’s reserved for low-income households. None of those is quite right. Let’s walk through what actually exists, what it costs and how to compare it.
You Probably Need Less Cash Than You Think
Before getting into assistance, it helps to know how little the loan programs themselves require. On a $400,000 Glendale home, here is the starting cash for the down payment alone:
| Loan type | Minimum down | On a $400,000 home |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional (qualifying buyers) | 3% | $12,000 |
| FHA loan | 3.5% | $14,000 |
| VA Loan (eligible borrowers) | 0% | $0 |
| Conventional, 20% down | 20% | $80,000 |
Down payment is only part of the picture, though. Closing costs, prepaid items like homeowners insurance and property tax reserves, and any HOA charges all add up. That total is your cash to close, and it’s the number that stops most first-time buyers. Assistance can help with both pieces.
Down Payment Assistance Programs Available to Glendale Buyers
Glendale sits in Maricopa County, so buyers here can look at statewide Arizona programs as well as a county program. Guidelines, income limits and funding change often, so treat the figures below as a snapshot and confirm current terms before you apply.
Home Plus Arizona
Home Plus is the statewide program run through the Arizona Industrial Development Authority. Current information shows:
- Up to 4% of the loan amount toward down payment and closing costs
- A borrower income limit of $155,386 (effective April 6, 2026)
- Works with FHA, conventional, VA and USDA first mortgages
- A forgivable second mortgage option that is fully forgiven after 60 months, plus a non-forgivable option
- At least one borrower must complete homebuyer education before closing
- Not limited to first-time buyers, so repeat buyers may qualify
Home Plus is often the first program I run for Glendale buyers because it works with so many loan types.
Home in Five (Maricopa County)
Home in Five is offered through the Industrial Development Authorities of the City of Phoenix and Maricopa County, which means it’s built for Glendale-area purchases. Under the guidelines effective June 10, 2026:
- Eligible first mortgages include FHA, VA, Fannie Mae HFA Preferred and Freddie Mac HFA Advantage
- For certain FHA and VA structures, assistance runs from 3% to 6% of the first-mortgage amount
- Several second-mortgage structures exist, including three-year, seven-year, ten-year and thirty-year options with different forgiveness or repayment terms
- The three-year option is forgiven at 1/36 per full month you stay in the home
- The general income limit is $157,360, though some structures have other thresholds
The range of options is the strength here and also the complication. Choosing the wrong structure can cost you real money, so this is one to model side by side with the others.
Chenoa Fund
The Chenoa Fund is provided through CBC Mortgage Agency and is paired with an FHA first mortgage. Per CBC’s current information:
- Assistance options of 3.5% or 5%, depending on the structure
- A repayable option with a 10-year term and a rate 1 percentage point above the FHA first-mortgage rate
- A forgivable option with a 30-year term, 0% interest and no monthly payment
- The home must be your primary residence
- CBC states the program remains funded throughout the year rather than running out like a limited bond program
The 3.5% option lines up with FHA’s minimum down payment, which is why Chenoa can make sense for a buyer with solid income and very little savings.
Side-by-Side Snapshot
| Program | Typical assistance | First mortgage | Key detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Plus | Up to 4% | FHA, conventional, VA, USDA | Forgivable after 60 months; first-time or repeat buyers |
| Home in Five | 3% to 6% (certain FHA/VA structures) | FHA, VA, HFA Preferred, HFA Advantage | Multiple second-mortgage structures; Maricopa County |
| Chenoa Fund | 3.5% or 5% | FHA | Repayable or 30-year forgivable option |
Is Down Payment Assistance Really “Free Money”?
No, and I’d rather you hear that from me now than discover it at closing. Most programs are structured as a second mortgage. Some are forgiven if you stay in the home long enough. Others must be repaid, either monthly or when you sell or refinance.
There are trade-offs worth weighing honestly:
- The first-mortgage rate. A loan paired with assistance can carry a higher rate than the same loan without it.
- Mortgage insurance. FHA includes both an upfront premium and an annual premium collected monthly. That cost belongs in the comparison.
- Your timeline. If you might sell or refinance before a forgiveness period ends, a forgivable second mortgage may not stay “forgiven” the way you expect.
- Income limits and occupancy rules. Programs generally require the home to be your primary residence.
Sometimes assistance is clearly the winner. Other times a buyer with enough savings does better putting 3% or 5% down on a conventional loan with no assistance at all. The only way to know is to run both.
Three Glendale Buyers, Three Different Answers
Buyer A: Good income, only $6,000 saved
This is the classic assistance candidate. Home Plus, Home in Five and Chenoa are all worth comparing, focusing on total monthly payment and second-mortgage terms.
Buyer B: A veteran stationed at or retired from Luke Air Force Base
VA financing already allows zero down for eligible borrowers, with no monthly PMI. Assistance is worth a look mainly for closing costs, and only if the resulting rate and terms still beat a straight VA loan.
Buyer C: Enough for 5% down, wants to keep a cash cushion
A conventional loan without assistance may end up costing less over time. Keeping reserves in the bank is often worth more than shaving the down payment to the minimum.
Where Glendale’s Market Fits In
Based on August 2026 figures, Zillow put the typical Glendale home value at roughly $401,811, with 55.1% of July sales closing below original list price. Redfin, which measures things differently, reported an August median sale price near $434,462 and about 57 days on market. The City of Glendale lists a median household income of about $75,530.
Translation: this is a more negotiable market than buyers saw a few years ago. That matters for assistance because you can pair it with seller concessions. A seller credit toward closing costs or a rate buydown can sometimes do more for you than the same dollars off the price, and it can stack with assistance within each loan program’s limits. That decision should be modeled before you write the offer, not after.
Glendale also offers a wide range of price points, from established central neighborhoods to newer development near Westgate and the Loop 101 corridor, north Glendale around Arrowhead, and the western edge near Luke AFB. A lower price point can keep you under program income and purchase limits, which makes your search area part of your financing strategy.
How to Get Started: A Practical Order of Operations
- Decide on a comfortable monthly payment, not just the maximum you qualify for.
- Review your credit and income so we know which programs you can realistically use.
- Compare the loan with and without assistance, including rate, mortgage insurance, second-mortgage terms and cash to close.
- Complete homebuyer education if the program requires it. Do this early, since it’s required before closing.
- Get pre-qualified before you tour homes, and have the Arizona Pre-Qualification Form ready for your offer.
- Re-run the numbers on the actual property once you find it, with real taxes, insurance and HOA dues.
One more tip: if family is helping, talk to me before any money moves between accounts. Gift funds are allowed under several programs, but they have to be documented correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there down payment assistance in Glendale, AZ?
Yes. Glendale buyers can potentially use statewide programs like Home Plus and the Chenoa Fund, plus the Maricopa County program Home in Five, if they meet the income, credit and property requirements. Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
Not always. Home Plus is open to qualifying first-time and repeat buyers, and Chenoa may also be available to repeat buyers depending on the option. Requirements vary by program. Is down payment assistance free money?
Usually not. Most programs are a second mortgage that is either forgiven over time or repaid. The structure matters as much as the amount. Can I use assistance with a VA loan?
Some programs pair with VA. Since VA already allows zero down for eligible borrowers, assistance is mostly worth comparing for closing costs. Can assistance cover closing costs?
Yes. Many Arizona programs allow the funds to be used toward the down payment, closing costs, or both. Will assistance raise my interest rate?
It can. A loan with assistance sometimes carries a slightly higher rate, so compare the full payment both ways before deciding. How much do I need to buy a $400,000 home in Glendale?
A 3% conventional down payment is $12,000 and FHA at 3.5% is $14,000, plus closing costs and prepaids. Assistance, gifts and seller credits can reduce what you bring to the table. VA buyers may need no down payment at all.
Final Thoughts
The biggest mistake I see is buyers ruling themselves out before anyone has run the numbers. “I need 20% down.” “I make too much.” “I don’t have enough saved.” Any of those may or may not be true for you.
If you’re thinking about buying in Glendale, I’ll compare Home Plus, Home in Five, Chenoa and a no-assistance option side by side, so you can see the payment and cash to close for each before you look at a single home. Learn more about my approach at Joe Mortgage.
Let’s Run Your Glendale Numbers
Find out which down payment assistance program fits your situation, with no pressure and no guesswork.Call Joe: 480-239-7766
Joe Hansen – Joe Mortgage
Precision Mortgage · NMLS #217716
14155 N 83rd Ave Ste 125, Peoria, AZ 85381
joehansen@precisioninc.org
Loan programs, down payment assistance, income limits, interest rates and program guidelines are subject to change. All financing is subject to borrower and property qualification. Examples are for educational purposes and are not a commitment to lend. Joe Hansen, NMLS #217716, AZ LO0911403.
