First-Time Homebuyer Guide for Arizona

Buying your first home comes with questions you can't always anticipate — what actually counts as "first-time," what assistance you might qualify for, and where people commonly trip up. Here's a straight answer to the questions I hear most from first-time buyers in Phoenix and across the Valley.

You May Qualify as "First-Time" Even If You've Owned Before

Most first-time buyer programs define the term as not having owned a home in the past three years — not literally never having owned one. If you sold a home more than three years ago, you likely still qualify for first-time buyer programs and assistance.

What First-Time Buyers Get Access To

Common First-Time Buyer Mistakes

• Shopping for homes before getting pre-approved — you risk falling for a home outside your real budget, or losing it to a buyer with financing already lined up
• Making large purchases or opening new credit during the loan process — a new car loan or credit card between pre-approval and closing can change your DTI enough to delay or derail your loan
• Assuming you need 20% down — many first-time buyers don't realize how many low-down-payment and zero-down-payment options actually exist
• Underestimating closing costs — beyond your down payment, plan for an additional 2-5% of the purchase price in closing costs
• Not researching down payment assistance early — some programs require enrollment or homebuyer education before you're under contract, so timing matters

Dig Deeper

Frequently Asked Questions