Before you start searching for a new home in Arizona, learn the ins and outs of the buying process and how to work strategically to find a deal you’re happy with.
This home-buying guide will help you familiarize yourself with market conditions in Arizona, teach you strategies for dealing with a competitive housing market, and help you tap into the right resources to simplify the process.
Let’s start with a broad look at Arizona’s housing market.
Understanding the Arizona Housing Market
To make an informed decision when buying a home, you should understand the market you’re buying in. Here’s an overview of housing market conditions in Arizona and what to expect in the market in the future.
Current Trends
The average home in Arizona is valued at $434,773, a 3.9% increase from last year’s average. Many areas within the state are highly desirable, keeping a steady rotation of inventory in the housing market.
The average house in Arizona stays on the market for only 23 days before it’s under contract, but this time period will vary with the seasons. Homes for sale in Arizona tend to sell for around their listing price or under it. This varies considerably based on where you’re buying, with more popular neighborhoods regularly seeing houses sell for above listing prices.
Popular Areas
Arizona is the 14th most populous state in the US and the sixth largest by land mass. It’s home to famous landmarks like the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest, as well as Phoenix, the fifth-largest city in the US.
Arizona has many thriving cities with hot real estate markets. Here are the five most desirable places to live in Arizona and some of the highlights of each area:
- Tucson: Tucson is a popular spot for tourism and outdoor adventures. It is the first US city named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
- Phoenix: Phoenix is the most populous city in Arizona and the state’s capital. It has a lively culture, vibrant nightlife, and incredible desert botanical gardens. Three professional sports teams call Phoenix home.
- Tempe: Tempe is a wonderful community that offers something for everyone. With varied housing types and recreational activities available, Tempe is ranked as the most walkable city in Arizona.
- Mesa: east of Tempe, Mesa is the historic downtown of the greater Phoenix area. With old historic buildings, museums, and living art exhibits, Mesa is a beautiful city with a more relaxed vibe.
- Scottsdale: Home to luxury resorts, golf courses, high-end shopping, and a charming downtown area, Scottsdale has a good mix of walkable city attractions and comfortable residential areas.
Arizona is full of many incredible communities. Whatever you’re looking for, there’s bound to be a neighborhood to suit your needs somewhere in Arizona!
Market Forecasts
The housing market in Arizona is set to continue growing. There’s no indication the market will cool over the next few years. With a strong economy and a comfortable cost of living, demand for homes around Arizona will likely remain steady.
Based on expected demand for homes and a stable mortgage interest rate, home prices are set to continue increasing. Home price growth should be gradual, with no extreme jumps anticipated.
Interest rates are not expected to increase again, and the Federal Reserve has indicated that they may decrease them. This would lead to lower interest rates in Arizona.
Essential Tips for Arizona Home Buyers
Buying a house in Arizona can be tricky. With the right information and advice, you can make smart choices before jumping into the market. These tips can help you prepare to buy in a challenging market.
Get Pre-Qualified Early
Mortgage pre-qualifications are valid for around 2-3 months from the date they’re issued. If you’re actively seeking a house in Arizona, get pre-qualified before you start making offers to sellers.
Going into an offer with mortgage pre-qualification gives you two main benefits:
- Demonstrating your serious buying intentions: Mortgage pre-qualification shows the seller you’ve already found a mortgage lender who will likely give you a home loan for the amount you’re offering. This shows you’ve taken concrete steps toward buying a home and are fully prepared to back your offer.
- Simplifying the closing process: Pre-qualification doesn’t guarantee approval for a mortgage, but it does make it more likely and speeds up the closing process.
You may have better negotiating power in a seller’s market if you secure mortgage pre-qualification. Take advantage of every opportunity to put yourself in a better position and help your offer stand out.
Work with a Knowledgeable Local Real Estate Agent
Working with a local Arizona real estate agent can help you find an ideal property, reduce closing costs, negotiate a better purchase price, and close the deal faster.
While you can see online property market listings, a local Arizona real estate agent may have access to more up-to-date, exclusive property listings and off-market listings. An agent’s connections in the area could be vital to finding a property and getting an offer in early.
An experienced local real estate agent can also help you negotiate more effectively. They’ll be familiar with how similar homes do on the market, giving them an insight into how much you should offer for a better chance at securing the deal.
For an expert real estate agent, it’s their job to find you a house in Arizona. Having someone on the ground can make the difference between finding the right house or settling for something that’s less than what you want.
Agents operating where you’re searching know the Arizona real estate market. Tapping into their knowledge and experience can help you get a property in the right location at a purchase price you can manage.
Be Prepared to Move Quickly
Housing markets move fast. A desirable house in Arizona could get multiple offers the first day it’s listed. Do the work upfront so you’re ready to buy when something good comes along.
A few keys to being decisive when buying a home are:
- Knowing what you want: You can’t decide quickly if you’re not sure what you’re looking for in a home. Decide on the neighborhoods you’re comfortable buying in, the type of home you’re looking for, and how much house you need.
- Understanding your financing: A budget will help you make a buying decision quickly without going outside your comfort zone financially. Remember to consider more than just the price of the home itself.
- Establishing your must-haves and dealbreakers: If there’s anything you can’t live without or can’t stand the thought of in a new home, keep these things in mind to quickly screen new listings.
The quicker you can judge a house based on your list, the quicker you can make a solid offer.
Consider Your Budget Carefully
Your monthly mortgage payment is only one of many costs associated with managing your home. When planning your budget, consider all the costs together for a more realistic picture of what you can afford.
What should you budget for your monthly home expenses? Combine your monthly mortgage payment with the costs of owning a house in Arizona.
For your mortgage payment, make sure you add all the costs you’ll be paying monthly, including your monthly mortgage insurance premium, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and interest and principal payments for the loan.
Add this monthly payment to the everyday expenses associated with owning and managing your home in Arizona, including:
- HOA or condo fees: Depending on where you live, you may be responsible for homeowners association (HOA) fees. Membership in an HOA is usually mandatory when purchasing a home in a designated HOA neighborhood. If you’re buying a condominium, the equivalent is condominium fees.
- Utilities: Arizona has above-average monthly utility costs. The average household pays $460 monthly in utilities, compared to the national average of $429. A big part of this is above-average water costs throughout the state and high power costs in the summer.
With your monthly mortgage and associated costs added together, you should know how much you can spend every month on a house in Arizona.
Be Realistic with Offers
Prepare to place an appropriate offer for the market you’re operating in. Competitive housing markets might see every listing getting multiple offers, resulting in a bidding war. Less competitive markets are more relaxed and offer more space to negotiate with sellers.
The listing price is just a starting point for negotiations. Competitive markets may require you to put in an offer above the listed price to be considered by the seller. In some cases, you may need to include an expansion clause with a price ceiling in your offer. Expansion clauses allow your offer to increase to bid against other offers. The price ceiling you list will be the maximum you’re willing to bid with your initial offer.
Other concessions can make an offer more attractive to the seller. Common concessions in home sale offers revolve around closing costs, home repairs, assessments, origination fees, or inspection fees.
Don’t make any offers or contract concessions you’re uncomfortable with just to please a seller. Make sure you negotiate to get a deal you can feel good about.
Getting a Loan for a Home in Arizona
Documents Required
To apply for a mortgage loan in Arizona, you need to present the lender with certain documents to prove your identity and show details of your income, assets, and debts.
Mortgage lenders in Arizona will ask for these basic documents:
- Driver’s license or other government ID
- Federal tax returns for the last two years
- 1099’s and W2’s from the past two years
- Pay stubs from the previous 30 days
- Asset account statements for the past two months
- Mortgage statements from any other existing mortgages the borrower has
Additional documents may be requested depending on the type of loan you’re applying for, your down payment, and your specific circumstances.
Down Payment
The preferred down payment for conventional loans is around 20%, but this is not required for all borrowers. Many borrowers can put down as low as 3% of the purchase price if they have a good enough credit score. However, private mortgage insurance may be required.
Some loan programs for first-time homebuyers allow for a smaller down payment. Arizona Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans commonly allow down payments as low as 3.5% if the borrower has a credit score of at least 580. Veteran’s Administration (VA) loans have even lower minimum down payments than FHA loans, allowing eligible borrowers to put down 0%.
Jumbo loans may require higher down payments than other loan types. Typically, lenders will require a minimum down payment of 10% for jumbo loans for borrowers with good credit.
Monthly Mortgage Payment
The rule of thumb is that housing and its associated costs should not take up more than 25-30% of your income. Sticking to this ratio helps ensure you can always make your monthly payments, even if you face unexpected costs or changes to your income.
Lenders are unlikely to give you a mortgage with a payment that takes up too much of your monthly income or if your debt-to-income ratio is unfavorable.
Closing Costs
Every home sale includes closing costs. Closing costs are typically 3-5% of the home’s purchase price. Depending on the deal you make with the seller, these costs can be covered by either the buyer or the seller or a split between both.
Closing costs refer to many different fees associated with finalizing a mortgage. These include:
- Origination fees
- Title searches
- Appraisal fees
- Title insurance
- Taxes
- Property surveys
- Deed recording fees
- Credit report fees
- Private mortgage insurance (where applicable)
The more competitive the market, the more likely the buyer will pay for most, if not all, of the closing costs. If the seller makes concessions to repair the house, buyers typically cover a larger portion of the closing costs.
Types of Loans
You can buy a house in Arizona using one of many common mortgage types. Eligibility varies, but the most common types of loans available to buyers include:
- Conventional loan
- FHA loan
- VA loan
- US Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan
- Jumbo loan
Buyers eligible for a VA, USDA, or FHA loan typically have to make a home purchase under a set maximum price. These loans tend to be available to more low-to-mid-income homebuyers, including those with lower credit scores.
Arnaiz Mortgage offers affordable rates for all mortgage types. We provide mortgages to suit most individuals, including conventional mortgages, FHA loans, VA loans, and USDA loans.
If you have an existing mortgage, you can refinance to access more cash from equity, get a better mortgage rate, or renovate your home.
Navigating Specific Arizona Home Buying Challenges
Limited Inventory
Searching for a home to buy in a hot market requires a strategic approach. First, consider expanding your search area. Location matters, but you may not be able to get the home you want if you’re looking strictly in a highly desirable area. Consider looking at nearby neighborhoods or similar places around common focal points.
Write down what makes the location important to you.
- Is it close to your workplace?
- Does it have any significant features around it?
- Are there specific quality-of-life features you like?
Note what you want from a location, then expand your search to nearby places that also fit the criteria.
If you’re only looking at turnkey houses, you may also want to consider renovations, fixer-uppers, or new constructions as an alternative. Finding land and constructing a new home may be easier than finding a ready-built one. New construction costs vary, but in Arizona’s most competitive markets, the cost to build may be similar to the cost of buying a home.
Renovating or fixing up an older home in poor condition is also an option. If you can buy an older home below your budget, the cost of renovating may be the same as buying an existing home.
These options will help you broaden your horizons to find more homes in your ideal locations during the home-buying process. Other strategies that may help you find a suitable house in Arizona include:
- Searching below your price range so you can bid high;
- Take video home tours to speed up the process;
- Avoiding fixating on a house or a specific type of house;
- Know where you’re willing to negotiate contingencies;
- Don’t wait for perfection – unless you’ve got the time.
The trick to finding and buying a home in a challenging market is to know your limitations and to be flexible about the specifics. It’s not easy to find a house in Arizona that checks all the boxes, but you’ll improve your chances if you become more strategic with your search.
Water
Arizona has a dry, desert climate, and water can be an issue for homeowners. Before you finalize a home or residential land purchase, investigate the water supply to ensure a safe, reliable water source for your prospective home.
When you’re buying a house in Arizona, the seller is required to disclose information about how utilities are supplied to the buyer. The disclosure must state specific details about the water supply, including whether it’s a municipal water source, private water source, a well, or a hauled water supply.
This disclosure allows you to research the water supplier and check on the stability of the source. Look for a home with a water supply designated as adequate by the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
While most urban areas are likely to have adequate water supplies, this step is essential for properties in rural areas. Water supply is not always assured for rural properties, even if municipal sources supply them. Make sure you research the specific suppliers and their stability.
Summer Heat
Arizona summers reach average highs of 105-115 degrees with little cloud cover or rainfall. Because of the high summer heat, you should prepare a seasonal expense budget and include a heat damage inspection.
With such high summer temperatures, most homeowners tend to run the A/C throughout the day to stay cool. Your power bill will increase dramatically with extensive use of your A/C, so plan a budget to see if you can still afford utilities over the summer.
During the home inspection, make sure the inspector searches for signs of heat damage, especially to vital infrastructure like the roof and foundation. Check that the HVAC system runs appropriately and the house is well insulated to retain cool air.
If you’re considering a home with a pool, include pool maintenance costs in your estimates. When you have a pool at your house in Arizona, you can expect to spend around $120 per month on regular maintenance.
Resources for Arizona Home Buyers
Many helpful resources exist to give you access to the information you need as a homebuyer in Arizona. Here’s an overview of some of those resources and how to use them.
First-Time Homebuyer Programs
Buyers across the US can access FHA, USDA, and VA loans, but state-run programs help first-time homebuyers afford a house in Arizona.
The Arizona Is Home program is a down payment assistance program that provides a silent second mortgage to first-time buyers with a down payment of less than 20%. The funds can be used for a down payment, interest rate buydown, or closing costs from a home purchase.
Another state program, the HOME Plus program, offers 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loans and down payment assistance. It is managed by Arizona’s Industrial Development Authority (IDA) and is available statewide to all eligible homebuyers, not just first-time buyers.
Neighborhood Research Tools
You can get information from the Census Bureau’s state profile for a general overview of Arizona state statistics. To get more detailed information about crime data, school systems, amenities, and more, use the following resources:
- Population data: Office of Economic Opportunity
- Crime data: Arizona Crime Statistics
- School system data: Arizona Department of Education
- Health services: Arizona Department of Health Services
- Public transport data: Arizona Department of Transportation
- Water utility data: Arizona Department of Water Resources
Use a website like Census Reporter to search for specific demographic data in different parts of Arizona.
Home Inspectors Associations
All home inspectors in Arizona have to be officially licensed by the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration. You can search for licensed home inspectors through their professional search.
Search to find licensed home inspectors in the area you’re buying. Make sure any inspector you’re working with has an active license.
Summary
Are you ready to jump into the market and start looking for your new home in Arizona?
Arnaiz Mortgage is your lifeline for getting the financing you need when you need it. Start today with a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our professional leasing agents.
We’re ready to support your home-buying journey. Call us today at (623) 806 4645 or email us at tarnaiz@arnaizmortgage.com. We look forward to helping you find and purchase your new home in Arizona.