Can You Use Arizona HOME Plus with an FHA or VA Loan? (2026)
Published on Nov 10, 2026Yes. Arizona’s HOME Plus program can be paired with an FHA or a VA first mortgage, as long as you meet the program’s income, credit, education, and occupancy rules. You do not have to be a first-time homebuyer. You apply through a participating lender, not directly with the Arizona Industrial Development Authority (Arizona IDA).
What is Arizona HOME Plus?
HOME Plus is Arizona’s statewide down payment and closing cost assistance program. It is available in every county, city, and ZIP code. The assistance comes as a second mortgage with no interest and no monthly payment, and it is fully forgiven on its fifth anniversary. If you sell or refinance during the first five years, the full amount is repaid from the proceeds.
The first mortgage is a regular purchase loan, most often FHA, VA, USDA, or a conventional HFA product. HOME Plus is for primary residences and purchases only; it cannot be used to refinance a home you already own. Arizona IDA sets the first-mortgage rate daily, and that rate can be a little higher than a standard loan. In exchange, you may receive assistance at closing and, on conventional HOME Plus loans, reduced mortgage insurance. A side-by-side comparison shows which path costs less over the time you plan to stay.
Can you use HOME Plus with an FHA loan?
Yes. FHA is one of the first-mortgage types Arizona IDA lists for HOME Plus. That combination is common for buyers who want FHA’s more flexible credit guidelines and need help covering the cash to close.
You still have to fit both sets of rules. FHA has its own loan limits, mortgage insurance, and property standards. For 2026, the one-unit FHA limit is $557,750 in Maricopa and Pinal counties, $541,287 in Pima County and most other Arizona counties, and $609,500 in Coconino County, according to HUD’s official CY2026 forward limit file, for case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2026. HOME Plus adds its own income cap, a minimum credit score of 620, and a homebuyer education requirement.
Can you use HOME Plus with a VA loan?
Yes. HOME Plus also works with VA purchase loans for eligible veterans, service members, and certain surviving spouses. The VA loan is still backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Your Certificate of Eligibility confirms entitlement and whether a funding fee applies.
With full VA entitlement, VA does not cap the loan amount. If only part of your entitlement is available, lenders use the county conforming limit to calculate what remains. In 2026, that one-unit conforming limit is $832,750 in every Arizona county, per the Federal Housing Finance Agency. HOME Plus rules still apply on top of the VA rules, including the income limit and the education course.
What is the 2026 HOME Plus income limit?
As of April 6, 2026, qualifying borrower income cannot exceed $155,386. Arizona IDA applies that same figure in every county. For most loan types, the limit looks at the income of borrowers who will live in the home and are on the note, not the entire household. USDA loans are an exception and use household income. If an agency has a lower cap, that lower cap controls.
These figures come from Arizona IDA’s HOME Plus updates on homeplusaz.com. Income limits can change, so we confirm the current number when you apply.
Do first-time and repeat buyers both qualify?
Yes. HOME Plus does not require you to be a first-time homebuyer, including on FHA and VA loans. Repeat buyers can use it if the property will be their primary residence and they meet the other guidelines. That is different from some other Arizona assistance programs, so it is worth asking about HOME Plus even if you have owned a home before.
What else is required?
At least one borrower must finish an approved pre-purchase homebuyer education course before closing, online or in person. Finish it early; completing it after closing can make the loan unsaleable. HOME Plus also requires a minimum credit score of 620, and the underlying FHA or VA lender may set additional guidelines.
You cannot apply to HOME Plus on your own. A participating lender reserves the assistance as part of your first-mortgage application. Marketline Mortgage offers HOME Plus loans and will tell you whether the program, or a standard FHA or VA loan without it, is the better fit for the time you plan to stay in the home.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Arizona HOME Plus with an FHA loan?
Yes. HOME Plus is designed to pair with FHA purchase loans, along with VA, USDA, Fannie Mae HFA Preferred, Freddie Mac HFA Advantage, and HUD 184 loans, when you use a participating lender and meet program rules.
Can I use HOME Plus with a VA loan?
Yes. Eligible veterans and service members can pair HOME Plus assistance with a VA purchase loan if they also meet HOME Plus income, credit, education, and occupancy requirements. Your Certificate of Eligibility still governs the VA benefit itself.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to use HOME Plus?
No. Arizona IDA does not require first-time buyer status for HOME Plus, including on FHA and VA loans. The home must be your primary residence, and you must meet the income and credit rules.
What is the HOME Plus income limit in 2026?
As of April 6, 2026, qualifying borrower income cannot exceed $155,386, and that figure is the same in every Arizona county. The limit generally counts borrowers on the loan, not the entire household, except on USDA loans. Confirm the current limit when you apply, because Arizona IDA can update it.
Is HOME Plus assistance a grant?
No. It is a second mortgage with no interest and no monthly payment, and it is forgiven after five years. If you sell or refinance during the first 60 months, the assistance is repaid from the proceeds.
Marketline Mortgage, LLC · NMLS #1842 · Arizona Mortgage Broker License #MB-1049666 · 16427 N Scottsdale Rd, Ste 410, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 · NMLS Consumer Access · Equal Housing Opportunity
This article is for general information and is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval, property eligibility, and program guidelines, which can change. Confirm current limits and program rules with a licensed loan officer and the official agency sources cited here.