Arizona Homeownership Assistance

The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) has made a commitment to making homeownership a reality for more Arizona families. ADOH makes resources available for home buying counseling, low interest mortgages, down payment and closing costs to help buyers purchase their first home through a network of non-profit agencies around the state.

Homebuyer Counseling
Purchasing a home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. Take the first step to unlocking the secret to homeownership by calling the homebuyer counselors nearest you. Let them explain the steps to homeownership.

They can assist you with homeownership counseling and training, information on available low-interest mortgages and federal income tax credits, assistance with down-payments and closing costs, and other forms of assistance.

Phoenix

Community Housing Resources of Arizona
500 East Thomas Rd., Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone (602) 631-9780, 1-800-424-7574

Homeownership assistance; delinquency and default counseling.

Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix
320 E McDowell Rd Ste 120
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4514
Phone: 602-258-1659
Fax: 602-258-1666

Homeownership assistance; delinquency and default counseling.
Maricopa County

Community Housing Resources of Arizona
500 East Thomas Rd., Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone (602) 631-9780, 1-800-424-7574

Homeownership assistance; delinquency and default counseling.

Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix
320 E McDowell Rd Ste 120
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4514
Phone: 602-258-1659
Fax: 602-258-1666

Homeownership assistance; delinquency and default counseling.

Tucson

Family Housing Resources, Inc.
3777 East Broadway, Suite 100
Tucson, AZ 85716
Phone 1-800-622-7462

Homeownership, first-time buyer, and housing counseling. Pima County
Family Housing Resources, Inc.
3777 East Broadway, Suite 100 Tucson, AZ 85716
Phone 1-800-622-7462

Homeownership, first-time buyer, and housing counseling.
Apache, Coconino, Navajo & Yavapai Counties

Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG)
119 East Aspen Avenue
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone (520) 774-1895

Homeownership assistance for households at or below 80% of the area median income where the home will be purchased. Certified Rural Homeownership Assistance Program (RHAP) Agency. Cochise, Graham, Greenlee & Santa Cruz Counties

Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization (SEAGO)
118 Arizona Street
Bisbee, AZ 85603 Phone (520) 432-5301

Homeownership assistance for households at or below 80% of the area median income where the home will be purchased. Certified Rural Homeownership Assistance Program (RHAP) Agency.
Gila, Pinal, LaPaz & Mohave Counties

Community Services of Arizona (CSA)

670 North Arizona Avenue, Suite 23
Chandler, AZ 85224 Phone (480) 899-8717

Homeownership assistance for households at or below 80% of the area median income where the home will be purchased. Certified Rural Homeownership Assistance Program (RHAP) Agency. Yuma County

Housing America Corporation
130 North State Avenue
Somerton, AZ 85350
Phone (520) 627-4221

Homeownership assistance for households at or below 80% of the area median income where the home will be purchased. Certified Rural Homeownership Assistance Program (RHAP) Agency. Four other agencies offer homebuyer counseling to Arizonans:

Fannie Mae Phoenix Partnership Office
One Arizona Center
400 E. Van Buren, Suite 540
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone 1-800-732-6643

Homeownership assistance and counseling. Consumer Credit Counseling Service
1951 W. Camelback, Suite 200
Phoenix, AZ 85015
Phone 1-800-308-2227

Homeownership assistance and counseling, mortgage and foreclosure problems.
Housing for Mesa
251 West Main, Suite 2
Mesa, AZ 85210
Phone (480) 649-1020

First-time homebuyer, homeownership counseling and assistance. Housing Counseling Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 9057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-9998
Phone 1-800-217-6970

Housing counseling to renters, first-time homebuyers and homeowners

Low Interest Mortgages
Programs are available throughout Arizona for first time homebuyers that include down payment assistance and other ways to make buying a home affordable.

Affordable mortgages for first-time homebuyers are available through lenders in your area! Thousands of Arizonans have affordable mortgages because of Mortgage Revenue Bond or Mortgage Credit Certificate Programs available in your area. These programs are offered through mortgage lenders or by contacting nonprofit agencies in different parts of the state. The nonprofit agencies make homebuyer counseling available and can direct you to lenders who are familiar with these programs.

These programs have lower interest rates or Federal income tax credits available that make your monthly payments lower, perhaps lower than paying rent!

Read below, ask a lender, or ask a real estate agent in your community about the Mortgage Revenue Bond or Mortgage Credit Certificate programs. It’s the starting point for understanding that you can own a home.

Program requirements

You must:

Be a first-time homebuyer (you can’t have owned a home in the last three years).
Have a signed purchase agreement for your home before you actually apply for the mortgage of income tax credit.
Have federal income tax return copies for the last three years.
Have decent (not perfect) credit.
Live in the home within 60 days of closing on your mortgage.

Have income at or below prescribed income limits.
Extra funds for down payment and closing costs!
You may not have enough saved for a down payment on a home, but don’t give up. Special, low-interest second mortgages are available to help with down payments and closing costs. Click on down-payment assistance for more information.

Down Payment Assistance
Down payment and closing cost assistance programs differ by the area of the state you live in. In the urban counties, this help tends to come from a Fannie Mae second mortgage program, supplemented at times by local funds. In the rural counties the help comes from the state’s Rural Home Purchase Assistance Program (RHAP).Contact the homebuyer counseling service to learn more about down payment assistance available to you.

Rural Home Purchase Assistance Program (RHAP)
RHAP provides assistance to the rural counties of Arizona.

Who is eligible?
Families, including single people, whose yearly income does not exceed 80% of the area median income where the housing unit will be purchased, are eligible for the RHAP. The family must meet this requirement at the time that the house is purchased. Click on income limits to view the limits by county and family size.

The family must also apply to a lender for a home loan and meet all the lender’s requirements. The value of the house that is purchased cannot exceed specific limits and must be occupied by the family as a primary residence for at least five years. It cannot be rented or left vacant during this period. How much assistance can be provided?

The actual amount of the assistance is dependent on five factors: 1) the amount of family income, 2) the purchase price of the house (which must meet minimum property standards), 3) the actual closing costs on the house, 4) the amount of family savings and assets, and 5) any other gifts or assistance the family may be receiving. The maximum amount of assistance is $10,000.

When must the assistance be repaid?
The assistance must be repaid if, during the five years following the assistance, the family sells the property or fails to occupy the property as a primary residence. These restrictions are spelled out in legal documents that must be signed at the time the house is purchased.

How much must the family contribute to the home purchase?
The family must contribute at least 3% of the purchase price of the house. If the family is receiving a gift or other ssistance or is participating in a special loan program, it must still contribute at least $1,000 of its own funds. The family may also be responsible for other costs.

Other requirements?
Contact a homebuyer counseling service or lenders nearest you to learn about the down payment assistance available to you. The family must participate in a series of classes or individual meetings that explain the program requirements, the home buying process, and the family’s responsibilities.

This information provided by The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) to visit this site please Click Here

Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) - the Home Purchasing Program is designed to assist low to moderate income residents become first-time home buyers by providing grants for closing costs, down payment, and principal reductions. CPLC builds homes and takes applications for the County's HOPE3 Program, providing home purchase counseling. Call (520) 882-0018 and contact: Maggie Amado Tellez (Home Purchasing)/Jenny Garcia (New construction)

Rebuilding Together - Volunteers provide home repair and rehabilitation to homeowners living on low incomes, particularly older adults, people with disabilities, and families with children so they may live in safety, dignity, and decency. The work is performed on one day in April in partnership with a pre-selected neighborhood in the barn-raising tradition. Call (520) 294-7765 and contact: Kyrin Alves

City Of South Tucson - Because South Tucson is a federally colonia designated community, the USDA's Rural Housing 502 Mortgage program allows low-income residents to secure home loans worth 100% of the assessed value of the home. Interest rates can be as low as one percent and vary depending on income. Either private or non-profit sector builders can use the loan to finance new construction. USDA also provides assistance with a home repair program for very low-income persons and the elderly. Call (520) 792-2424 and contact: Billy Eckstrom

City Of Tucson - The City works in partnership with private and non-profit developers to build affordable homes in scattered sites around the city, and then sells these homes to eligible low-income homebuyers. Families interested in purchasing a home can contact the City to determine if they meet the income qualifications, find out what homes are available and fill out an application. For current homeowners, the City offers deferred and low-interest loans for home rehabilitation. Contact either: Susana Rodriguez (Home Purchasing) at (520) 791-4123 or Rick Duffy (Home Rehabilitation) at (520) 791-4636.

Community Land Trust - Counseling to prepare low-income persons for homeownership in a community land trust; assists to repair credit, eliminate debt, and set monthly budget; families can lease the home they purchase while they prepare for homeownership. Call (520) 742-2598 and contact Barrios Unidos.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service Of Arizona - Credit problems are the biggest barrier preventing otherwise qualified people from becoming homeowners. This HUD-funded agency will work with people to resolve credit problems. Call (520) 795-2227.

Family Counseling Agency - Ways To Work Program - Ways to Work is an innovative program that provides loans of up to $3,000 to low-income parents to help pay for unexpected expenses that could interfere with their ability to keep a job or stay in school. Loans can be used for housing costs, such as mortgage payments, rent, security deposits, utilities, and repairs. Services are available in Spanish. Call (520) 327-4583 and contact: Jessica Monthony.

Family Housing Resources - Provides home purchase assistance primarily but not limited to first time homebuyers. FHR administers Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) programs, which provide annual tax savings for first-time homebuyers. Grant funds for down payment and closing costs may be available and are dependent upon home purchase location. Call (520) 318-0993 and contact the receptionist.

Habitat For Humanity - Builds homes for low-income families to purchase with a sweat equity requirement and 1.5 down payment and no interest on the balance, which is paid over 20 years. A Family Selection Committee selects families. Call (520) 326-1217 and contact the receptionist.

Pima County Community Services Department
Pima County offers programs to assist eligible first-time homebuyers. Programs are available throughout Pima County and include down payment/closing cost assistance, construction of new homes and resale of existing homes. Call (520) 740-5241 (Homeownership Programs) and contact Marcos Ysmael.

Home Repair Programs - Home repair grants and loans are available for Roofing, Heating/Cooling, Septic System Repair, Weatherization and other needed home repairs. These programs serve homeowners in unincorporated Pima County earning below 50% of the county's median income. Call (520) 740-5243 and contact Maria Soto.

Pascua Yaqui Tribe - The Pascua Yaqui Tribal Housing Authority assists enrolled income eligible Yaquis in seeking homes for rent or purchase; two year waiting period. Adobe block is used. Call (520) 883-5500.

Primavera Builders - Primavera Builders build affordable and energy-efficient homes for low-income families and provides construction-training programs that employ the homeless, working-poor and youth at risk in the construction of these homes. Down payment and closing cost assistance is available for the homes built. Call (520) 882-5383 and contact Julie Hancock.

Southwest Fair Housing Council - This agency investigates housing discrimination and provides outreach and education regarding Fair Housing Laws to community residents and housing providers. Call (520) 798-1568 and contact Rick Rhey or Fax at (520) 620-6796.

Southwest Gas - Provides a free energy analysis of your proposed home using plans and specifications. Consultation will include recommendations for energy-saving items, cost-effective improvements, estimate of monthly utility bills, and Energy Efficient Mortgage information for your lender. Call (520) 794-6566.

Town Of Marana - The town of Marana has been involved in placing low-income families into homes using various funds from the County and State, along with their own. The goal is to increase the stock of affordable housing by building additional housing including another rental housing complex, while rehabilitating existing housing. Call (520) 682-3401 and contact Dick Gear.

Tucson Electric Power Company - Information about low-income programs: Lifeline discount ($8 per month); Medical lifeline discount (varies), weatherization, energy assistance. Homes qualify for the lowest residential rate for electricity - RED 201 Partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, Chicanos Por La Causa, Primavera Builders. Call customer service at (520) 623-7711.

TMM Family Services Inc. - Provides 1st-time homebuyer assistance for low-income people at 80% or below Tucson median income, including closing costs and down payment, along with providing assistance with rehabilitating existing homes. Builds single and multi-family housing and provides low-income rental housing. Provides housing counseling services, and is in the process of becoming a HUD-approved counseling agency. Call (520) 322-9557 and contact Terry Galligan.

Tucson Urban League - Susan Lintgen (Housing Department Head). The Tucson Urban League, Inc. was incorporated in 1971. It addresses problems related to minority unemployment and lack of economic opportunities. The agency offers an array of services including employment training, emergency assistance, youth education and delinquency programs, technical assistance for businesses, and housing programs, including a "Home Start" comprehensive counseling program. Other programs include home purchasing, major and minor rehabilitation and weatherization programs for low-to-moderate income families. Call (520) 882-4872 and contact B.C. Robinson.

United Housing & Educational Development Corp. - United Housing specializes in the acquisition and development of affordable building sites. It operates the Rural Development Self-Help program where the prospective homeowners build their homes, thereby providing sweat equity. The agency provides pre-and post-homeownership credit counseling, processing and loan packaging for prospective homeowners, technical assistance in construction of homes and their maintenance, technical management assistance to other non-profits, technical assistance in the Urban Self-Help programs and works with the City of Tucson and Phoenix metropolitan areas. Call (520) 825-7942 and contact: Carlos Carranza or Cora Esquibel.

USDA Rural Development - Rural Development offers two types of home ownership loans: guaranteed and direct loans. The purpose is to provide financing, with no down payment and at favorable rates and terms, including those with interest rates as low as one percent for qualified persons either through a direct loan with Rural Development or with a loan from a private financial institution, which is guaranteed by Rural Development. These loans are for the purchase, construction, rehabilitation, or relocation of a dwelling and related facilities for low or moderate- income rural persons.

Home Improvement and Repair Loans and Grants enable very low-income rural homeowners to make emergency repairs to remove health and safety hazards from their homes and to make homes accessible for people with disabilities. Grants are available for people 62 years old who cannot afford to repay a loan. Call (520) 887-4505 and contact Shirley Colbert.

This informatoin