By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated October 27, 2026

Glendale AZ Down Payment Assistance & Homebuyer Programs

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Compare the county, state and FHLBank down payment assistance a Glendale buyer can pair with FHA, VA or conventional financing against a $387,500 median value.

Verified Oct. 2026

Median home value
$387,500
Census ACS 2020-2024
3% down
$11,625
Before closing costs
Closing costs
$8k–$12k
Planning estimate
Assistance paths
3 programs
Plus 6 mortgage options

Start with the program that matches the property

Start with the program that matches the property: Glendale's $387,500 median sits well under any cap, so the split is credit and how long you stay. Home in Five needs a 640 score and forgives its FHA second in 36 months; Home Plus takes 620 and forgives after 60.

County

Home in Five Advantage Down Payment Assistance

Up to 6% of the first loan

The Maricopa County and Phoenix IDAs pay 3% to 6% on any Glendale address, with no purchase price limit and a $153,440 income line.

State

Arizona IDA Home Plus Down Payment Assistance

Up to 4% of the first loan

Open all year statewide, Home Plus is the 4% second for Glendale buyers whose scores land between 620 and 639.

Lender network

WISH Down Payment Matching Grant

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

First-time Glendale savers under 80% of HUD AMI can have a member bank match their savings 4 to 1, up to 32,837 dollars.

Plan the cash

What buying in Glendale costs

Median home value$387,500
3% down payment$11,625
Estimated closing costs$7,800–$11,600
Estimated cash before assistance$19,425–$23,225

Estimate only, not a quote. Estimated at 2% to 3% of Glendale's $387,500 median value, covering lender and title fees, escrow, prepaid insurance and taxes, HOA transfer charges, and Home in Five's 1% origination fee.

Keep cash help separate

Down payment assistance in Glendale

Home in Five Advantage Down Payment Assistance (Maricopa County)Maximum:Up to 6% of the first loanBest fit:640+ scores who expect to stay three yearsRepayment / limit:Forgiven over 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 80% of HUD AMIRepayment / limit:Grant with 5-year retention; Member requests through Mar 12, 2027
Arizona IDA Home Plus Down Payment AssistanceMaximum:Up to 4% of the first loanBest fit:620 to 639 scores planning five years or moreRepayment / 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

Luke AFB service member

Price VA before any second

A VA loan needs no down payment with full entitlement, so a Glendale airman may only need help with closing costs; Home in Five's FHA and VA seconds can cover those.

Score between 620 and 639

Use Home Plus

Home in Five requires a 640 FICO, so Home Plus is the 4% option; it is forgiven only after month 60, and a sale or refinance before then repays all of it.

First-time saver

Ask a member bank about WISH

WISH grants four dollars per dollar saved, up to 32,837 dollars, but only an FHLBank San Francisco member can enroll the household and reserve the funds.

Property and geography checks

Home in Five AdvantageWhere:Anywhere in Maricopa CountyGate:640 FICO, 45% DTI, 8-hour Arizona course and 1% fee; the second can't be subordinated or assumed later
Home PlusWhere:Every Arizona county and zip codeGate:Requires the Home Plus first mortgage; the full second is due on a sale or refinance before month 60
FHLBank WISHWhere:Through FHLBank San Francisco membersGate:First-time buyers within 80% of HUD AMI; escrow must open within a year of enrolling
VA and FHA loansWhere:Owner-occupied Glendale homesGate:Condos need project approval, and HOA dues count in the payment the lender qualifies

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 Glendale 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.

FHA house at Glendale's median with Home in Five

Price$387,500
Down payment$13,563
Closing costs$9,700
Home in Five Advantage 4%−$14,957
Estimated gap$8,306

Four percent of a 373,937 dollar FHA base loan; the closing figure includes the 1% origination fee.

630 score buying a $330,000 townhome

Price$330,000
Down payment$11,550
Closing costs$8,300
Home Plus 4%−$12,738
Estimated gap$7,112

Four percent of a 318,450 dollar FHA Home Plus loan; selling in year four would repay the full 12,738 dollars.

First-time saver on a $315,000 condo

Price$315,000
Down payment$11,025
Closing costs$7,900
WISH matching grant−$12,000
Estimated gap$6,925

An FHA purchase with WISH only; the buyer's 3,000 dollars of savings is part of the cash shown.

How to apply in Glendale

  1. 1

    Take the 8-hour Arizona class

    HUD-approved Arizona counseling agency

    Home in Five accepts certificates from Arizona agencies, with online courses listed from ARC, ACCE with Take Charge America, CPLC, Money Management International, Newtown CDC and Trellis. One course also satisfies Home Plus.

    homein5advantage.com

  2. 2

    Compare both seconds with one lender

    Home in Five and Home Plus lenders

    Ask a participating lender to price Home in Five's 3-year, 7-year or 30-year second beside Home Plus's 4% on the same Glendale address, fee included.

    homeplusaz.com

  3. 3

    Enroll in WISH before you shop

    FHLBank San Francisco member bank

    The Bank set aside 13 million dollars for 2026 WISH, and members can request funds through March 12, 2027. Escrow must open within one year of enrollment.

    fhlbsf.com

  4. 4

    Get a VA eligibility certificate

    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

    Luke Air Force Base buyers should pull a Certificate of Eligibility early; the lender uses it to confirm entitlement and any funding fee exemption.

    va.gov

  5. 5

    Keep the city's contacts for later

    City of Glendale Community Revitalization

    Glendale funds no down payment program, but owners who have lived in their home a year can apply for its emergency repair help under 2025 income limits.

    623-930-3590 · glendaleaz.gov

Free eligibility check

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

  • Free
  • No credit check
  • Takes 2 minutes

Are you a first-time homebuyer?

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Question 1 of 6
HouseBuyerGuides.comhousebuyerguides

Local details matter

Buying considerations in Glendale

Luke Air Force Base

Luke sits on Glendale's west side. Arizona's Department of Real Estate keeps military airport records, so west Glendale buyers should read the seller's airport-vicinity disclosure closely.

Mid-1980s housing

Census puts Glendale's median year built at 1986, so many listings carry roofs, ducts and AC units near the end of their lives; inspect all three before using assistance on a house.

Repair help after year one

Glendale's emergency repair program needs one year of ownership in city limits, under 20,000 dollars in liquid assets and income under 89,750 dollars for four (June 1, 2025).

Low property tax

Census ACS 2020-2024 puts the typical Glendale tax bill at $1,612, roughly 0.42% of what the median home is worth.

If local funding isn't available

Glendale City Hall funds no down payment program right now; its housing office runs public housing, vouchers and owner repairs. Glendale buyers can still look at these county, state, lender-network and federal routes.

Maricopa County

Home in Five Advantage pays 3% to 6% with no price limit for incomes up to $153,440 and a 640 FICO; the 7-year option needs first-time status and income under $131,520.

Arizona IDA

Home Plus pays up to 4%, forgiven after 60 months, in every Arizona county and zip code, with a $155,386 income line effective April 6, 2026 and a 620 credit floor.

FHLBank San Francisco

WISH matches first-time buyer savings 4 to 1, up to $32,837, through member banks, for households within 80% of HUD AMI; members request 2026 funds through March 12, 2027.

VA financing

Veterans and Luke AFB service members with full entitlement can finance the full price, then use a Home in Five or Home Plus second only for the closing costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Glendale City Hall help with my down payment?+
No. Glendale's housing office runs public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers and emergency repairs for owners, not purchase help. Cash for a Glendale down payment comes from Maricopa County's Home in Five, Arizona IDA's Home Plus and FHLBank San Francisco's WISH grant through member banks.
Can a Luke Air Force Base family combine a VA loan with Home in Five?+
Yes, Home in Five lists VA loans among its first mortgages, with a 3% to 6% second. Because VA needs no down payment with full entitlement, the second mainly covers closing costs. The family still needs a 640 FICO, the 8-hour Arizona class and income under $153,440.
What would I bring to closing on a median-priced Glendale house?+
About 8,300 dollars in our example. FHA's 3.5% down on $387,500 is 13,563 dollars; add an estimated 9,700 dollars of fees and prepaids, and the buyer needs 23,263 dollars. A 4% Home in Five second of 14,957 dollars covers the rest, before any seller credit.
Which second is safer if I might move in four years?+
Usually the 3-year Home in Five second. It forgives 1/36 each month, so after 36 months nothing is owed. Home Plus forgives nothing until month 60, so a Glendale buyer who sells in year four repays the entire 4% second at closing.
Can Arizona Is Home be used in Glendale?+
No. Arizona IDA does not offer Arizona Is Home anywhere in Maricopa County, and its 2026 funds ran out as of October 6, 2026. Glendale buyers use Home in Five or Home Plus instead, both open to repeat buyers.

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

Sources

Last verified October 27, 2026.

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