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Down payment assistance from the MDPA Grant Program

With the Middle-Income Down Payment Assistance (MDPA) Grant Program, you may be able to get up to $50,000 toward your first home when you have a $10,000 down payment, bringing you a little closer to crossing the homeownership threshold.  

What is the MDPA program?

With $10 million of funds available in 2025, the MDPA program is designed to get more individuals and families into more houses. If you haven’t owned a home in the last three years, you have a down payment of $10,000 or more and you meet eligibility requirements, you may be able to get up to $50,000 toward your down payment, closing costs and more.

Funds are limited, so act fast to see if you can take advantage of this opportunity!

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Am I eligible?

To be eligible for MDPA Grant Program funding, you must:

  • Have not owned a residential property in the last three years and meet the first-time homebuyer requirements from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
  • Make a minimum down payment of $10,000, which can come from savings, grants or gifted funds
  • Meet household income eligibility requirements by earning between 80.01% and 140% of the HUD-defined area median income (AMI) based on the home’s address
  • Successfully complete a homebuyer counseling program
  • Buy the property as a primary residence
  • Open escrow (having a neutral third-party hold funds until the conditions of the agreement are fulfilled) with closing scheduled within 30 days of requesting program funds

Work with a mortgage loan officer to get started!

If you think you qualify, fill out the form below, and one of our mortgage loan officers will be in touch with you shortly!

Other opportunities for first-time homebuyers

Even if you aren’t eligible for the MDPA program, you may be able to take advantage of one of our other great programs for first-time homebuyers!
Home with a heart
First-Time Homebuyer Program
Enjoy no down payment,² closing cost credit³ and competitive rates on your first home!
Learn more
Community Heroes First-Time Homebuyer Program
Get all the perks of the First-Time Homebuyer Program, plus no private mortgage insurance!
Learn more

You can also learn about other programs that help first-time homebuyers based on location, occupation, veteran status and more.

Disclosures

1

The applicant must be a first-time homebuyer (no ownership in a primary residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of purchase of the property), who has successfully completed an approved Homebuyer Counseling Program; funds are limited and must meet eligibility guidelines predetermined by program including homebuyer household to have earnings between 80.01% and 140% of HUD-defined AMI (based on purchase property address) and adjusted for household size at time of enrollment in MDPA Program. Valid only for primary residence in Arizona; Must make a minimum contribution of $10,000 from savings or gifted funds; Escrow must be opened on home purchase with closing scheduled within 30 days prior to Desert Financial Credit Union requesting program funds.

For 2025, $10 Million in MDPA Grant Funds are available and will be disbursed to financial institution members on a reimbursement basis. Once the program opens, member banks and credit unions may reserve funds and submit disbursement requests for households earning just over 80% up to 140% of AMI on a first-come, first-served basis until the $10 million program allocation is exhausted. Desert Financial Credit Union cannot guarantee the availability of MDPA Program Grant Funds. Other terms and conditions apply.

2

Must be a first-time homebuyer (not having owned a primary residence in the last three years) with a minimum credit score of 680 to be eligible. Property must be located in Arizona. Jumbo loans and loans with non-occupant co-borrowers are ineligible. Additional restrictions and eligibility requirements apply.

3

The Real Estate Broker Program ("Desert Financial Home Plus") will match you with a participating real estate broker (“Participating Broker”) who will assist in the homebuying experience and will provide the applicable credit toward closing costs. Participating Broker shall provide a credit of 25% of the buyer’s agent commission toward the closing costs, up to a maximum of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) to be provided regardless of the lender utilized, and a credit of 25% toward the listing agent commission expense, up to a maximum of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500), if the Participating Broker lists an applicable property with a real estate agent from the list of preferred providers. The Participating Broker will confirm each applicable credit is applied by the title company. These credits are applied as a discount from the commission payable to the broker. Use of a Participating Broker is completely voluntary and members financing the purchase of a home with Desert Financial Credit Union (“Desert Financial”) are under no obligation to participate in this Program. Desert Financial does not receive any benefit, monetary or otherwise, from the Participating Broker under this program. Participating brokers are non-affiliated third parties of Desert Financial, and Desert Financial makes no warranties or representations about the services provided by participating brokers.

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