If you're buying in Arizona or Texas, down payment assistance isn't a hypothetical — it's a real category of programs with real agencies behind them, and several are worth knowing by name.
In Arizona
The Arizona Industrial Development Authority runs HOME Plus, available statewide, along with Arizona Is Home, a companion program through the Arizona Department of Housing. Phoenix-area buyers also have Home in 5 Advantage, a Maricopa County-specific option. Together, these generally offer assistance in the range of 3-5% of the loan amount toward a down payment or closing costs, depending on the specific program and loan type.
In Texas
Texas buyers have two well-established state programs to know about: TSAHC (Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation) and TDHCA (Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs). Like their Arizona counterparts, these programs typically offer somewhere around 3-5% of the loan amount, structured as a grant, a forgivable loan, or a deferred second mortgage depending on the program.
Nationwide: Chenoa Fund
Alongside the state-specific programs, Chenoa Fund is worth knowing about too — it's a nationwide down payment assistance program (available in every state except New York) that pairs with FHA loans, generally offering 3.5% or 5% of the purchase price. It's not a replacement for the state programs above so much as another option to compare, especially since it doesn't carry the same income caps that many state and local programs do.
The percentage that gets talked about most is 3-5% — but which program fits, and what that actually looks like for your purchase, depends entirely on your specific situation.
What This Means For You
Every one of these programs layers on top of a standard mortgage rather than replacing the usual process — you still go through the same income, credit, and asset verification as any other buyer. What changes is how much cash you personally need to bring to closing.
Prequalification Isn't Final Approval
Prequalification and preapproval are early estimates based on the information provided at the time — not a guarantee of final loan approval. Final approval depends on full underwriting, and program terms, income limits, and availability can change and vary by county and loan type.
The details vary enough — by county, by loan type, by program — that the fastest way to know what actually applies to you is to talk it through directly. Reach out to your licensed Efinity loan officer to see which of these programs, if any, could fit your specific purchase.