Arizona's major down payment assistance programs, HOME Plus and the Pima Tucson Homebuyer's Solution, continue to offer DPA in 2026, with HOME Plus at up to 4% of the loan and the Homebuyer's Solution at 2% to 5% (5% only with its EDGE rate buy-down). Income limits are revised periodically, so some buyers who didn't qualify in prior years may now be eligible.

2026 Updates to Arizona Down Payment Assistance Programs

Lighthouse availability: Pima Tucson Lighthouse is released in limited funding rounds that close once the money is committed. When we checked the Pima Tucson Housing Innovation Hub in October 2026, it listed the latest round as closed. Lighthouse details in this article describe how the program works when a round is open, and each round's lender guidelines set its eligible loan types. Ask us whether a round is open before you plan around it; the Pima Tucson Homebuyer's Solution and Home Plus Arizona remain available in the meantime.

Down payment assistance programs don't stay static forever. Income limits get adjusted, program terms change, and occasionally entirely new options become available. As we move through 2026, here's what Tucson-area home buyers need to know about the current state of DPA programs.

Pima Tucson Lighthouse: What's Current

Pima Tucson Lighthouse runs in limited funding rounds. When we checked in October 2026, the Pima Tucson Housing Innovation Hub listed its latest round as closed, so treat the details below as how it works when a round is open.

2026 Program Details

• Assistance amount: 4% of the loan amount
• Forgiveness period: becomes a grant after 5 years in the home
• Credit score minimum: 640
• First-time buyer requirement: Yes - must not have owned a home in the past 3 years
• Eligible loan types: set in each round's lender guidelines

Income Limits

Lighthouse publishes household income limits that vary by household size for each round.

Single buyers, couples, and larger families each have a different threshold under those tables.

Important: Income limits are based on gross income (before taxes) for everyone who will be on the loan. If you're a dual-income household, both incomes count toward the limit.

Recent Changes

Lighthouse changes round to round: each new round sets its own terms and limits, and it closes when the money is committed.

Home Plus Arizona: 2026 Overview

Home Plus remains open to all buyers, not just first-timers, with assistance set in tiers up to 4% of the first mortgage.

Current Program Terms

• Maximum assistance: Up to 4% of the loan amount
• Forgiveness period: in full on the loan's fifth anniversary
• Credit score minimum: set by the program, and lenders can require more
• First-time buyer requirement: None - any qualified buyer can use this program
• Eligible loan types: FHA, VA, Conventional, USDA

Income Limits

Home Plus uses a single statewide income limit, $155,386 for 2026, measured on the borrowers' income and not adjusted for household size. Arizona IDA revisits it periodically.

What's Changed

Home Plus has seen some adjustments in 2026:

• Income limit updates to align with current housing costs
• Continued availability across all Arizona counties
• Assistance tiers that top out at 4% of the first mortgage

How Income Limits Work

The two programs measure income differently:

• Lighthouse publishes its own Pima County limits, which can differ by household size
• HOME Plus applies one statewide cap to the income of the borrowers on the loan, whatever the household size
• The Pima Tucson Homebuyer's Solution uses one cap for every household size: $155,386 with FHA, VA, USDA-RD or Fannie Mae HFA Preferred loans, or $79,840 with its 80%-of-AMI conventional options
• All adults in the household who will be on the loan have their income counted

The limits are designed to help low-to-moderate income families achieve homeownership. Many buyers assume they earn too much, but the limits are often more generous than expected.

Purchase Price Limits

In addition to income limits, there are maximum purchase price limits for both programs. These limits:

• Vary by county
• Are set high enough to cover typical home purchases
• May exclude luxury properties at the top of the market

For most Tucson-area buyers looking at properties under $500,000, purchase price limits aren't a concern.

What Hasn't Changed

Some things remain constant:

• Primary residence requirement - Both programs still require you to live in the home
• Homebuyer education - You still need to complete an approved homebuyer education course
• Property condition standards - Homes must still meet minimum condition requirements for the loan type
• Credit requirements - Each program keeps its own credit floor (640 for Lighthouse rounds; HOME Plus sets its own)

Looking Ahead

DPA programs are always subject to change. Funding levels, political priorities, and housing market conditions all influence how these programs evolve.

What we're watching for the remainder of 2026:

• Potential income limit adjustments later in the year
• Any new state-level initiatives
• Federal policy changes that could affect down payment assistance

How to Stay Current

The best way to know exactly what you qualify for is to get pre-qualified with a current assessment of your eligibility. Program details that were accurate three months ago might have changed.

Your lender should be working with the most up-to-date program guidelines. If you're working with someone who isn't familiar with the current DPA landscape, that's a red flag.

Compare Your Options

Here's a quick side-by-side for reference:

Feature	Pima Tucson Lighthouse	Home Plus Arizona
Assistance	4% of the loan	Up to 4% of the loan
First-time buyer required	Yes	No
Forgiveness	Grant after 5 years in the home	In full on the loan's 5th anniversary
Credit score minimum	640 (exceptions apply)	Program floor; lenders may require more
Available in Tucson	Only while a funding round is open	Yes, year-round

Ready to Check Your Eligibility?

The specifics of your situation determine which program works best for you. Income, credit score, household size, and whether you've owned before all factor in.

Start with our qualifier quiz for a quick assessment, or visit our programs page for more detailed information.

Have questions about the 2026 program changes? Call us at (480) 420-4918. We stay current on all the updates so you don't have to.

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Program terms and availability may change. This information is current as of the publish date. Contact a licensed loan officer to verify current program details.