The Arizona Mortgage Process
The full 7-step arc from pre-approval to closing, what you do, what we do, and how long each step takes.
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Blog
Practical first-time home buyer guides for Arizona.
In-depth answers to the questions Arizona first-time buyers actually ask. We'll publish new posts here regularly. In the meantime, the pillar pages cover the essentials.
Start with the pillar guides
Pre-Approval vs Pre-Qualification
Which letter Arizona realtors and sellers actually take seriously, and how to get a real one.
Read →Down Payments — what you really need
0% down with VA/USDA, 3% conventional, 3.5% FHA. Plus AZ DPA pairing and gift fund rules.
Read →Credit Scores & FICO
What score gets what rate. Why mortgage FICO ≠ Credit Karma. How to lift 20–40 points fast.
Read →Closing Costs in Arizona
What's actually in your closing costs, and 4 levers to negotiate them down.
Read →Home Inspections in Arizona
What inspectors actually look for in AZ homes (HVAC, pool, termite, stucco), and how to use the report.
Read →10 Myths Debunked
The 20% myth, the perfect-credit myth, the "wait for rates" myth, plus 7 more.
Read →Cities We Serve in Arizona
City-by-city loan-program fit for Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Flagstaff, Yuma, and 15+ other AZ markets.
Read →Loan program deep-dives
FHA Loans Arizona
3.5% down, 580 FICO floor, the most flexible first-time buyer option. Mortgage insurance math, AZ examples.
Read →VA Loans Arizona
0% down, no PMI, the best deal in mortgage if you've earned it. Funding fee math, AZ military communities.
Read →USDA Loans Arizona
0% down for rural and small-town AZ. Where it works (Buckeye, Maricopa, Casa Grande, Yuma, more).
Read →Conventional Loans Arizona
3% down for first-time buyers. PMI that drops off. When conventional beats FHA long-term.
Read →Coming soon — blog posts in development
Topics we're working on:
- "Can I buy a home in Arizona with a 580 credit score?": the real path through FHA + DPA
- "How long does it really take to buy a home in Phoenix?": week-by-week timeline
- "FHA + Home Plus walkthrough, a real Phoenix scenario": start to keys, with real numbers
- "What surprised me at my Arizona home inspection": common AZ flags first-time buyers don't expect
- "How much house can I afford in Phoenix on a $75K income?": DTI, taxes, insurance, real math
- "The $0-down Maricopa city playbook": USDA + DPA combos for first-time buyers priced out of central Phoenix
- "Phoenix vs Tucson vs Flagstaff: which AZ market fits which kind of first-time buyer"
- "Renting vs buying in Phoenix, when each one wins"
Want to suggest a topic? Send us a note with what you wish someone had explained to you when you started this process.
Still not sure where you stand?
That's normal. Tell us your rough credit score, savings ballpark, target city, and timeline. We'll point you toward the guides and loan options that realistically fit your situation.