By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated October 22, 2026

Tucson AZ Down Payment Assistance & Homebuyer Programs

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Compare Tucson down payment assistance from the city-county HOME loan, Arizona IDA Home Plus and the WISH savings match against a $266,200 median home.

Verified Oct. 2026

Median home value
$266,200
Census ACS 2020-2024
3% down
$7,986
Before closing costs
Closing costs
$6k–$8k
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: Tucson's $266,200 median sits under the HOME loan's $304,000 cap for existing homes, so many lower-income buyers can borrow up to $50,000 from the city-county consortium. Buyers above 80% of AMI or past the cap turn to Home Plus, which pays up to 4% statewide.

City and county

City of Tucson and Pima County HOME Down Payment Assistance

Up to $50,000 or 20% of price

A deferred loan of up to $50,000 for households at or under 80% of AMI, with the 2% interest forgiven after the affordability period.

State

Arizona IDA Home Plus Down Payment Assistance

Up to 4% of the first loan

Up to 4% of a Home Plus first loan, forgiven after 60 months, with no first-time buyer rule and a $155,386 income ceiling.

Lender network

WISH Down Payment Matching Grant

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

Member banks turn each dollar a lower-income first-time buyer saves into four grant dollars, up to $32,837 per household.

Plan the cash

What buying in Tucson costs

Median home value$266,200
3% down payment$7,986
Estimated closing costs$5,500–$8,000
Estimated cash before assistance$13,486–$15,986

Estimate only, not a quote. Escrow, title, lender fees, appraisal, the required inspection and home warranty, and prepaid tax and insurance reserves, about 2% to 3% of a $266,200 Tucson home.

Keep cash help separate

Down payment assistance in Tucson

City of Tucson and Pima County HOME Down Payment AssistanceMaximum:Up to $50,000 or 20% of priceBest fit:Buyers at or under 80% AMI on homes up to $304,000Repayment / limit:2% deferred; principal due on sale
WISH Down Payment Matching Grant (FHLBank San Francisco)Maximum:Up to $32,837 (4:1 match)Best fit:First-time savers banking with a memberRepayment / limit:Grant with a 5-year retention period; Member bank funds, rolling to Mar 2027
Arizona IDA Home Plus Down Payment AssistanceMaximum:Up to 4% of the first loanBest fit:Repeat buyers and incomes up to $155,386Repayment / 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

Lower-income buyer

Start with the HOME loan

Households at or under $79,850 for four (2025 HUD) can borrow up to $50,000, but counseling with ARC, Chicanos Por La Causa or the Pima County Community Land Trust must come before any purchase contract.

Repeat buyer

Use Home Plus

Home Plus has no first-time rule and counts only borrowers' qualifying income against $155,386; its 4% second disappears after 60 months.

Saver at a member bank

Match savings with WISH

First-time buyers within 80% of AMI who save through a participating member bank get four grant dollars per dollar, capped at $32,837.

Veteran or PCS buyer

Price VA against Home Plus

VA removes the down payment; a Home Plus VA first loan can add up to 4% toward closing costs, forgiven after five years.

Property and geography checks

Tucson-Pima HOME loanWhere:Tucson and Pima County, not Tribal landsGate:Existing home up to $304,000, new up to $345,000; environmental review before contract approval
Arizona IDA Home PlusWhere:Every Arizona county and ZIP codeGate:620 middle score even with an AUS approval; Home Plus 30-year fixed first loan from a participating lender
FHLBank WISHWhere:Member banks in AZ, CA and NVGate:Household at or below 80% of AMI; member must enroll the buyer by March 12, 2027
FHA, HomeReady, Home PossibleWhere:All of TucsonGate:Condo projects need approval; HomeReady and Home Possible cap income at 80% of area median income

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 Tucson 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-value home with the HOME loan

Price$266,200
Down payment$9,317
Closing costs$6,750
Tucson-Pima HOME loan−$15,000
Estimated gap$1,067

FHA first loan. The buyer's $1,067 meets the $1,000 contribution rule, and two months of payments must stay in the bank.

Repeat buyer at $290,000 with Home Plus

Price$290,000
Down payment$10,150
Closing costs$7,250
Arizona IDA Home Plus (4%)−$11,194
Estimated gap$6,206

FHA base loan of $279,850; 4% is about $11,194. Selling or refinancing before month 60 repays it all.

Davis-Monthan family at $280,000 with VA

Price$280,000
Down payment$0
Closing costs$7,000
Arizona IDA Home Plus (2% option)−$5,600
Estimated gap$1,400

Home Plus VA first loan; 2% of a $280,000 base loan before any VA funding fee. A seller credit could cover the rest.

How to apply in Tucson

  1. 1

    Call a HOME partner counseling agency

    Administration of Resources and Choices, Chicanos Por La Causa or Pima County Community Land Trust

    The HOME Consortium takes no applications itself. One of these three agencies checks eligibility and gives the HUD-certified counseling that must be finished before you sign a purchase contract.

    (520) 882-0018 · tucsonaz.gov

  2. 2

    Confirm income and price against the fact sheet

    City of Tucson Housing and Community Development

    The June 2026 fact sheet lists 2025 HUD limits from $55,900 for one person to $105,450 for eight, and the $304,000 and $345,000 price caps. The buyer contributes at least $1,000.

    520-837-5325 · tucsonaz.gov

  3. 3

    Pick a Home Plus participating lender

    Arizona Industrial Development Authority

    Search by Tucson ZIP code on the Home Plus lender map, and ask for a loan officer who knows both Home Plus and the HOME loan. The lender list was updated October 5, 2026.

    602-799-5931 · homeplusaz.com

  4. 4

    Ask a member bank about WISH

    FHLBank San Francisco

    WISH funds reach buyers only through participating member banks and credit unions, which can enroll households through March 12, 2027 while the 13 million dollar 2026 pool lasts.

    fhlbsf.com

  5. 5

    Check FEMA and local flood status

    City of Tucson and Pima County Regional Flood Control District

    Before an offer, ask the City of Tucson about addresses inside city limits and the county district about unincorporated parcels; local floodplains cover more ground than FEMA maps.

    pima.gov

Free eligibility check

3 assistance programs and 6 mortgage options may be available in Tucson. 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 Tucson

Older homes need a lead check

Tucson's median home was built in 1979, so many listings predate 1978, and the HOME loan requires a paint and lead inspection on those homes before approval.

Local floodplains beyond FEMA maps

Pima County's flood district says local floodplains and erosion hazards cover more area than FEMA maps, and monsoon storms have flooded homes outside mapped zones.

Davis-Monthan relocations

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is in Tucson, so PCS buyers can weigh VA's zero down against a Home Plus VA loan, which has no first-time rule.

Moderate property taxes

Census puts Tucson's median real estate tax at $1,786 a year, about 0.67% of the median home value, so escrow adds roughly $149 a month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the City of Tucson run its own down payment assistance?+
Yes. The City of Tucson and Pima County HOME Consortium lends up to $50,000 or 20% of the contract price, whichever is less, to households at or under 80% of area median income. The loan is deferred at 2% interest; the interest is forgiven after the affordability period and the principal is repaid on sale. Applications go through Administration of Resources and Choices, Chicanos Por La Causa or the Pima County Community Land Trust.
Can I use the Tucson HOME loan for a house outside city limits?+
Yes. The fact sheet updated June 2026 covers homes throughout the City of Tucson and Pima County, excluding Tribal lands. The same rules apply everywhere: income at or under the 2025 HUD limit for your household size, a price of $304,000 or less for an existing home or $345,000 for new construction, and approval of the property after a federal environmental review.
How much cash do I need for a median-priced Tucson home?+
About $1,067 in this example. A 3.5% FHA down payment on a $266,200 home is $9,317, and closing costs near the middle of the $5,500 to $8,000 range add $6,750, for $16,067 in all. A $15,000 HOME loan covers most of it. The program also requires at least $1,000 of your own money and two months of mortgage payments left in the bank after closing.
Can I combine the HOME loan with Arizona IDA Home Plus?+
Yes, through the 0% option, if both the lender and counselor agree. Arizona IDA requires its own assistance lien to sit in second position, so a buyer who needs the HOME loan would take a Home Plus first mortgage with 0% assistance, leaving second position to the city-county loan. The housing counselor must approve the mortgage terms, and adjustable-rate loans are not allowed. Ask both the counselor and the Home Plus lender before you lock.
Do I need flood insurance to buy in Tucson?+
Only sometimes. Flood insurance is mandatory when the home sits in a FEMA-mapped floodplain and the loan is federally backed. Pima County's flood district recommends it anyway, noting that during the 2012 monsoon at least eight homes flooded outside FEMA floodplains. Ask the City of Tucson about addresses inside city limits and the county district about unincorporated parcels before you make an offer.

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

Sources

Last verified October 22, 2026.

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