PHOENIX — Some would-be homeowners in the state’s largest counties could get a helping hand from the state.
Gov. Katie Hobbs has allocated $5 million from the state’s share of federal COVID relief dollars to expand a program started last year that provides down payment assistance to first-time home buyers. That’s enough to provide $9,000 for 75 would-be homeowners in Pima County. The governor’s office said the additional dollars should help to purchase 65 homes in Maricopa County.
All this is in addition to an earlier $13 million program that provided financial assistance to about 500 home buyers throughout the state.That includes rural counties that, according to the governor’s office, already received their second infusion of dollars — what’s now being provided to the two largest counties. With both pots of money, the governor’s office said 589 homes have been purchased through the program in the state’s 13 rural counties…