By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated October 26, 2026

Gilbert AZ Down Payment Assistance & Homebuyer Programs

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Gilbert funds home repairs rather than purchases, so this page weighs Maricopa County, Arizona IDA and FHLBank down payment assistance against a $575,100 median.

Verified Oct. 2026

Median home value
$575,100
Census ACS 2020-2024
3% down
$17,253
Before closing costs
Closing costs
$12k–$17k
Planning estimate
Assistance paths
3 programs
Plus 6 mortgage options

Start with the program that matches the property

Gilbert's $575,100 median value would bump into a price cap on many programs, but Home in Five sets none, so its 3% to 6% second is the largest help here. Home Plus adds a 620-score route at up to 4%.

County

Home in Five Advantage Down Payment Assistance

Up to 6% of the first loan

With no price cap and an income ceiling of $153,440, this county second is the one Gilbert's higher prices do not push out of reach.

State

Arizona IDA Home Plus Down Payment Assistance

Up to 4% of the first loan

Home Plus pays up to 4% with year-round funding, the route for Gilbert buyers whose score sits between 620 and 639.

Lender network

WISH Down Payment Matching Grant

Up to $32,837 (4:1 match)

First-time savers below HUD's 80% income line can turn each saved dollar into four more, to $32,837, through a member bank.

Plan the cash

What buying in Gilbert costs

Median home value$575,100
3% down payment$17,253
Estimated closing costs$11,500–$17,300
Estimated cash before assistance$28,753–$34,553

Estimate only, not a quote. Figured at 2% to 3% of Gilbert's $575,100 value: title, escrow, lender charges, appraisal, insurance and tax impounds, HOA transfer fees, and Home in Five's 1% origination fee.

Keep cash help separate

Down payment assistance in Gilbert

Home in Five Advantage Down Payment Assistance (Maricopa County)Maximum:Up to 6% of the first loanBest fit:Gilbert buyers earning up to $153,440Repayment / limit:Forgiven at 3, 7 or 30 years
WISH Down Payment Matching Grant (FHLBank San Francisco)Maximum:Up to $32,837 (4:1 match)Best fit:First-time savers under HUD's 80% AMI lineRepayment / limit:Grant with a retention period; Member bank funds, first come
Arizona IDA Home Plus Down Payment AssistanceMaximum:Up to 4% of the first loanBest fit:Scores of 620 to 639 who plan a five-year stayRepayment / limit:0%, forgiven after 60 months

Mortgage options that may pair with assistance

These are financing routes, not additional cash awards. Eligibility and compatibility still depend on the lender and program rules.

HomeReady and Home Possible are conventional mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; FHA, VA and USDA loans are government-backed.

Make a decision

Find your best starting point

Score between 620 and 639

Use Home Plus, not Home in Five

Home in Five's 640 FICO floor rules these buyers out, while Home Plus pays up to 4%, forgiven at month 60.

First-time, under $131,520

Look at the 7-year forgivable second

Home in Five's 7-year option pays 3% to 6% with forgiveness of 1/84 each month, but only for first-time buyers who have lived in Arizona six months.

Buying a townhome

Pair WISH with county help

On a $400,000 Gilbert townhome, a member bank's WISH grant can sit beside a 3% Home in Five second if the lender allows layering.

Property and geography checks

Home in Five AdvantageWhere:Any Maricopa County home, Gilbert includedGate:640 FICO, 45% DTI, 8-hour course from an Arizona agency; second can't be subordinated
Home PlusWhere:Every Arizona county and zip codeGate:Home Plus first loan required; income to $155,386 (April 6, 2026); one borrower takes the course
FHLBank WISHWhere:Member banks in Arizona, California, NevadaGate:Income at or below 80% of HUD AMI; escrow must open within a year of enrolling
FHA loansWhere:Maricopa County loan limit appliesGate:At Gilbert prices, check the 2026 Maricopa FHA limit before choosing FHA over a 3% conventional loan

The fastest way to avoid a bad match

Check the address, property type and price cap before comparing assistance amounts.

A larger advertised benefit doesn’t help if the home or lender is outside that program’s rules.

We’ll fill in its city and state on the free eligibility check. A mailing address that says Gilbert isn’t always inside city limits, so confirm with the program before you make an offer.

See the math

Three realistic purchase examples

Illustrations only. Approval, availability and program combinations depend on current rules.

Median Gilbert home, conventional 3% down

Price$575,100
Down payment$17,253
Closing costs$15,000
Home in Five Advantage 5%−$27,892
Estimated gap$4,361

A 557,847 dollar HFA Preferred first loan; closing costs include the 1% origination fee of about 5,578 dollars.

Buyer with a 630 score on a $460,000 townhome

Price$460,000
Down payment$13,800
Closing costs$10,000
Home Plus 4%−$17,848
Estimated gap$5,952

Four percent of a 446,200 dollar conventional Home Plus loan; the 640 floor keeps Home in Five off the table.

First-time saver at $400,000 with WISH

Price$400,000
Down payment$14,000
Closing costs$9,000
Home in Five Advantage 3%−$11,580
WISH matching grant−$8,000
Estimated gap$3,420

An FHA loan of 386,000 dollars; the buyer must earn under 80% of AMI and find a lender that offers both programs.

How to apply in Gilbert

  1. 1

    Call the county's first-time buyer hotline

    Industrial Development Authority of the County of Maricopa

    Gilbert's own resources page lists this hotline for first-time buyers; the IDA co-sponsors Home in Five with the Phoenix IDA and can explain the 3-, 7-, 10- and 30-year seconds.

    (602) 506-7294 · homein5advantage.com

  2. 2

    Book counseling close to home

    Genesis Housing Services (Gilbert) or Newtown CDC

    The Town lists both as certified housing counselors for pre-purchase and credit counseling. Home in Five needs an 8-hour class from an Arizona agency, and Newtown also runs a matched savings account for down payments.

    Genesis 480-306-5161; Newtown 480-517-1589 · gilbertaz.gov

  3. 3

    Quote Home in Five and Home Plus

    Participating lenders

    Ask one lender to price both programs on the same Gilbert address: Home in Five's percentage and 1% fee against Home Plus's 4% and its 60-month forgiveness.

    homeplusaz.com

  4. 4

    Ask about the 2026 WISH round

    FHLBank San Francisco member bank

    Members can request 2026 WISH funds through March 12, 2027, and the Bank lists 13 million dollars for the year. A member, not the buyer, enrolls the household.

    fhlbsf.com

Free eligibility check

3 assistance programs and 6 mortgage options may be available in Gilbert. See which ones fit you.

  • Free
  • No credit check
  • Takes 2 minutes

Are you a first-time homebuyer?

YesNoNot sure
Question 1 of 6
HouseBuyerGuides.comhousebuyerguides

Local details matter

Buying considerations in Gilbert

HOA rules come with the house

Gilbert's exterior paint program exists mainly to help owners in HOA communities clear CC&R violations, so read the association's rules, dues and transfer fees before closing.

Repair help after you buy

Once you own, the Town's emergency repair program covers AC, roof, plumbing and electrical hazards for households at or below 80% of AMI with assets under $30,000.

Newer, mostly detached stock

Census puts Gilbert's median year built at 2003 and detached houses at 81.7% of units, so fewer condos and townhomes sit at the lower prices WISH buyers target.

Low property tax bill

The median Gilbert owner pays $2,417 a year in real estate tax, or roughly 0.42% of what a typical home is worth (Census ACS 2020-2024).

If local funding isn't available

The Town of Gilbert runs no purchase-assistance program; its housing money goes to emergency repairs, roofs and exterior paint. Gilbert buyers still have these county, state, lender-network and federal routes.

Maricopa County

Home in Five Advantage reaches every Gilbert address with 3% to 6% seconds and no price limit. Income tops out at $153,440, or $131,520 for the 7-year first-time option.

State

Arizona IDA's Home Plus pays up to 4%, forgiven after 60 months, with money available all year and an income limit of $155,386 as of April 6, 2026.

FHLBank

WISH matches first-time buyer savings 4 to 1, up to $32,837, for households under HUD's 80% AMI line, through FHLBank San Francisco members only; 13 million dollars is set aside for 2026.

Matched savings

Newtown CDC and Mesa Community Action Network run individual development accounts that match a low-income family's savings toward a down payment, according to the Town of Gilbert's own resource list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Town of Gilbert give homebuyer grants?+
No. Gilbert's community resources page lists an emergency home repair program, a roof repair and replacement program and an exterior paint program, all for existing owners. For purchase help it points buyers to the Maricopa County IDA hotline at (602) 506-7294 and to Newtown CDC, a certified counselor that also offers matched savings accounts.
Is Gilbert too expensive for Home in Five Advantage?+
No. Home in Five sets no purchase price limit, so a $575,100 Gilbert home qualifies. The limit that matters is income: $153,440 for all borrowers, or $131,520 for the 7-year forgivable option, which is also limited to first-time buyers. Buyers need a 640 FICO, a 45% debt-to-income ratio or lower, and an 8-hour Arizona homebuyer class.
After a 5% Home in Five second, what is left to pay on a typical Gilbert house?+
About 28,750 to 34,550 dollars before help: 17,253 dollars for 3% down on $575,100 plus estimated closing costs of $11,500 to $17,300. A 5% Home in Five second on the 557,847 dollar loan adds 27,892 dollars, so with closing costs near 15,000 dollars the buyer brings roughly 4,361 dollars.
Which Home in Five term should a Gilbert buyer pick?+
Usually the one whose forgiveness date comes before you expect to sell or refinance. The 3-year FHA or VA second is forgiven 1/36 each month, the 7-year second 1/84 each month, and the 30-year conventional second only at maturity. A 10-year option carries 6% interest and monthly payments. None can be subordinated, so a refinance before forgiveness repays the remaining balance.
Can Gilbert help with repairs after I buy?+
Yes, for lower-income owners. The Town's emergency and minor home repair program fixes heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical and roof leaks for owner-occupants at or below 80% of AMI with no more than $30,000 in available assets. Apply through the Neighborly portal or call the Housing Rehabilitation Coordinator at 480-503-6277.

Buying elsewhere in Arizona? Compare all Arizona home buyer programs →

Sources

Last verified October 26, 2026.

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