AZIDA Mortgage Explained: Arizona IDA HOME Plus DPA

AZIDA stands for the Arizona Industrial Development Authority, the state entity that administers the HOME Plus down payment assistance program. An "AZIDA mortgage" is simply a standard home loan — FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional — paired with HOME Plus assistance of up to 5% of the loan amount, delivered as a forgivable second mortgage.

What Is AZIDA?

The Arizona Industrial Development Authority is a nonprofit corporation and political subdivision of the State of Arizona. Among its housing initiatives, AZIDA is best known to home buyers as the sponsor of the HOME Plus Home Loan Program, the statewide down payment assistance program available in all 15 Arizona counties.

Key Takeaway: AZIDA is not a lender. You don't apply to AZIDA directly — you access HOME Plus through an approved participating lender, who reserves the assistance on your behalf.

What Is an "AZIDA Mortgage"?

When people search for an "AZIDA mortgage," they usually mean a home loan that includes HOME Plus down payment assistance. Here's how the two pieces fit together:

First mortgage: A 30-year fixed-rate loan (FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional) originated by a participating lender.
DPA second mortgage: Assistance of up to 5% of the loan amount, structured as a second lien with no monthly payments.
Forgiveness: The second lien is forgiven gradually over three years. Stay in the home and you never repay it — see our guide to how Arizona DPA forgiveness works.

HOME Plus Eligibility Snapshot (2026)

Requirement	HOME Plus Standard
Income limit	$136,609 (all Arizona counties)
Minimum credit score	640
First-time buyer required?	No
Occupancy	Primary residence in Arizona
Education	Homebuyer education course required

Full details on every program are in our Arizona down payment assistance complete guide and on our programs page.

AZIDA HOME Plus vs. Other Arizona DPA

HOME Plus is the statewide flagship, but Pima County buyers should also compare the Pima Tucson Homebuyer's Solution (PTHS). The biggest practical difference is the forgiveness timeline — three years for HOME Plus versus thirty for PTHS. Income limits also work differently: HOME Plus uses one flat limit, while PTHS limits vary by household size. Our county income limits guide breaks down the numbers.

How to Get an AZIDA / HOME Plus Loan

Estimate your assistance with our DPA calculator.
Get pre-qualified with a participating lender such as Cornerstone First Mortgage.
Complete homebuyer education — an online course with a certificate required before closing.
Shop for your home anywhere in Arizona; the lender reserves your HOME Plus funds when you go under contract.
Close with the assistance applied to your down payment and eligible closing costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AZIDA a mortgage lender?

No. AZIDA sponsors and funds the HOME Plus program, but all loans are originated by approved participating lenders. Your application, underwriting, and closing all happen with the lender.

Is HOME Plus the same thing as an AZIDA loan?

Effectively yes. HOME Plus is the program name; AZIDA is the authority that runs it. A lender may describe the same product as "HOME Plus," "AZIDA DPA," or "Arizona IDA assistance."

Do I have to repay AZIDA assistance?

Not if you stay in the home through the forgiveness period. HOME Plus assistance is forgiven monthly over three years. If you sell or refinance early, you repay only the unforgiven portion.

Can repeat buyers use an AZIDA mortgage?

Yes. HOME Plus has no first-time buyer requirement — see our guide to Arizona DPA for non-first-time home buyers.

Next Steps

The Cook Brothers Mortgage Team — Tanner Cook (NMLS #2090424) and Zac Cook (NMLS #2111496) at Cornerstone First Mortgage (NMLS #173855) — works with HOME Plus every day. Take the 60-second eligibility check and we'll tell you exactly what AZIDA assistance you qualify for.