TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The Arizona Department of Housing is trying to get more people interested in its “Arizona is Home” program.
It makes ownership more feasible for those wanting to buy their first home or get back into the market.
Thanks to the program, Amanda Hatch is about to hit one year as a homeowner, and she wants others to know that the program is still open, so other people can get the same help.
Amanda Hatch recently became a homeowner thanks to the Arizona is Home program.(13 News)
After floating from one apartment to the next for a decade, Hatch never thought she’d be able to buy a home. That is, until she came across the “Arizona is Home” program.
The initiative launched in 2024 with $13 million in funding, and a recent expansion has led to another $5 million in federal funding.
“I’m here for a while. Like this is my house. I’m staying here,” Hatch said. “It gives me just a great feeling of security.”
Hatch is one of more than 500 homebuyers across the state – and this latest expansion will bring that number to over 1,000.
She said she registered online for the program in June 2024. Once she found out she was eligible, she was given a variety of resources, including a class to help her learn about her pre-approved loan and the entire process in a matter of weeks.
“So, for them to be like, here, like, we see you’re struggling, we see you want to move on, we see you want to progress and grow,” Hatch said. “So, let’s, here’s $20,000 for a home. We can absolutely help you out.”
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This program offers down payment assistance and mortgage interest rate buy-downs to qualified low- to middle-income homebuyers.
These are the eligibility requirements:
- You must be an Arizona resident for at least six months
- You cannot have owned a home in the past three years
- And you must be at or below 120% of your area median income. For Tucson-Pima County, that would be $115,320 for families of four, and $80,760 for an individual.
“Everything is, you know, more driven towards families, which is great, absolutely, but as a single person, I was like, oh my gosh, like I have an opportunity now.”
Tucson and Pima County will get around $1 million of the $5 million available – meaning between 75 and 100 people can get up to $9,000 to start their homebuying journey.
As long as you qualify, the money is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Arizona Department of Housing Director Ruby Dhillon-Williams.(Cleared for use)
That is why Arizona Department of Housing Director Ruby Dhillon-Williams urges everyone to see if you qualify.
“I think we talk a lot about data and funding, but to see these real stories and these lives changing, that’s really what gives the heart behind this program,” Dhillon-Williams said.
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