First-Time Home Buyers
A top 1% Arizona team that loves working with first-time buyers. We explain everything, walk you through every step, and never pressure. Phoenix is still accessible if you know where to look.
CF Team is a full-service Phoenix Metro real estate team. We help every kind of buyer and seller, at every price point. First-time buyers happen to be one of our favorite kinds of clients because the work matters most. You are making the largest purchase of your life and you deserve a team that explains everything, never pressures, and works for you.
Phoenix is still one of the most accessible major US metros for first-time buyers. There are real homes in the 350 to 500 range with good schools, safe streets, and strong long-term value. The trick is knowing where to look and how to write an offer that actually wins.
No question is dumb. We will walk you through earnest money, escrow, inspections, appraisals, closing costs, and everything else without jargon, on your timeline.
Arizona has multiple programs that can cover down payment and closing costs. Home in 5, HOME Plus, Pathway to Purchase. We will introduce you to lenders who know how to use them.
We will help you get a clean, fully underwritten pre-approval that wins offers. This matters more than buyers realize and it is free.
Lenders will tell you what you can borrow. We will help you target what you should spend, including taxes, insurance, HOA, utilities, and maintenance reserves.
Scottsdale priced you out? Mesa, Gilbert, and Chandler still have strong first-time buyer inventory in the 400s. We will show you where the value is.
What to push back on, what to let go, how to negotiate repairs without losing the deal. We have done this thousands of times and you have not.
We sit with you at closing, explain every signature, and make sure you walk out with the keys and no surprises.
Strongest first-time buyer market in the East Valley. 3-bedroom homes still available in the high 300s to low 400s. Eastmark for new construction, Dobson Ranch for established value.
Top schools, master-planned communities, and meaningful inventory in the 450 to 600 range. Power Ranch and older central Gilbert are first-time buyer territory.
Established east Chandler neighborhoods like Cooper Commons offer strong value in the 500 to 700 range with top schools.
Most affordable corner of the Valley with new construction in the high 300s to low 500s. Strong appreciation potential as the West Valley continues to grow.
It depends on the loan program. FHA loans require as little as 3.5 percent down. Conventional loans can go as low as 3 to 5 percent. VA loans require 0 percent. Down payment assistance programs in Arizona can cover part or all of the down payment for qualified buyers.
Closing costs typically run 2 to 3 percent of the purchase price for buyers in Arizona. They include lender fees, title insurance, escrow, prepaid taxes and insurance, and the home warranty if applicable. We will walk through a written estimate before you write any offer.
For most first-time buyers we recommend move-in ready unless you have a specific skill set, a clear renovation budget, and time. Fixer-uppers always cost more and take longer than buyers expect.
From pre-approval to closing is typically 30 to 45 days once you are under contract. Finding the right home can take anywhere from a single weekend to a few months depending on what you are looking for and how active the market is.
On a buyer side transaction the seller typically pays the buyer agent commission as part of the listing agreement, so your direct cost is often zero. If a specific deal is structured differently we will walk through it transparently with you before you sign anything.
Full-service Phoenix Metro team. We answer the phone after hours, we do not pressure, and we work for you, not the deal.
Want the deep dive? Read the full Phoenix Buyer Guide