Arizona · main city

Buying a home in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix median home value: $454,900 (Census ACS 2024). Maricopa County: $482,800. Phoenix Open Doors gives up to 10% of the price to first-time buyers.

Checked on against the official sources listed at the bottom of the page.

In short

The median value of owner-occupied homes in Phoenix is $454,900 (Census ACS 2024; owner estimates, not sale prices). The FHFA House Price Index shows Arizona prices up 0.6% and Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler prices up 0.8% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026. Arizona has no real estate transfer tax. Selling a main home you owned and lived in for 2 of the last 5 years, the first $250,000 of gain ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly) is excluded from federal income tax (IRS Publication 523).

Calculate for Phoenix

If you buy

Arizona state transfer tax

Arizona has no real estate transfer tax. Change the price: the amount is recalculated instantly.

Price$454,900
State transfer tax$0
Share of the price—

Default price: the Phoenix median value of owner-occupied homes, $454,900 (Census ACS 2024). Rule: No tax is levied on the price. The $2 fee is flat and already part of the $30 recording fee. Who pays: Section 11-1132 says the recorder collects the $2 before recording but does not say which party pays; it appears in the recorder's charge on the closing statement. Not included: county and city transfer taxes, recording fees, title insurance and lender charges. Arizona transfer tax guide · all 50 states.

If you sell

Capital gain and the federal tax on it

Same federal rule in every state: Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code excludes up to $250,000 of gain on a main home ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly).

Capital gain$350,000
Section 121 exclusion$250,000 (limit $250,000)
Taxable gain$100,000
Type of gainLong-term (owned over 1 year), 15% chosen
Federal tax on the gain$15,000

Section 121 excludes $250,000; the rest is taxable.

Gain = sale price minus your adjusted basis (purchase price, buying costs and improvements); selling expenses reduce it (IRS Publication 523). Long-term rates for sales in 2026, by taxable income including the gain (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, section 4.03): 0% up to $49,450 single or $98,900 married filing jointly, 15% up to $545,500 single or $613,700 jointly, 20% above. Not included: Arizona state income tax on the gain (not computed), the net investment income tax, depreciation recapture on a rental or home office, and the reduced exclusion for an early sale. Agent commissions are negotiated and never set by law. Capital gains on a home sale.

In short

The median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Phoenix is $454,900, according to the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey; in Maricopa County it is $482,800. Prices in the Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler metro area rose 0.8% in a year, per FHFA. The City of Phoenix’s Open Doors program gives first-time buyers up to 10% of the price.

How much homes cost in Phoenix

The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) asks owners how much they think their home would sell for. The median of those answers is a useful benchmark, but it is not a sale price: it covers every owner-occupied home, including homes bought long ago. Our page on Arizona home prices explains the method in detail.

AreaMedian value, 2024 (ACS)Margin of error (90%)
City of Phoenix$454,900±$6,467
Maricopa County$482,800±$3,281
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler metro area$470,600±$2,742
Arizona$426,000±$2,728
United States$360,600±$618

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024, table B25077. The 2025 estimates are scheduled for October 29, 2026.

Are Phoenix prices rising?

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) tracks repeat sales of the same single-family homes. Its purchase-only, seasonally adjusted index for the Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler metro area, published August 25, 2026, shows:

Area1-year change (Q2 2025 to Q2 2026)5-year change (Q2 2021 to Q2 2026)
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler metro area+0.8%+27.0%
Arizona+0.6%+27.5%
United States+2.1%+33.4%

Source: FHFA House Price Index, quarterly purchase-only files. Changes calculated by Payotte from the published index values.

Prices in the Phoenix area were nearly flat over the past year, after a gain of about a quarter over five years.

Costs on top of the price

Buyers and sellers also pay closing costs: lender fees, the appraisal, escrow and recording fees, and title insurance. Several depend on the loan and on the providers you choose, so there is no single official figure. Our guide to closing costs in Arizona explains the rules and who pays each item.

Two taxes matter in Phoenix, and both are explained in the state guides rather than recalculated here:

  • Property tax. Arizona taxes a home’s limited property value, and Maricopa County collects. See Arizona property tax, which includes a Phoenix example at 2026 Maricopa County rates.
  • Transfer tax. See transfer tax in Arizona for what the state charges on a sale.

If your lender collects the tax with your monthly payment, read our guide to escrow accounts.

Help for Phoenix buyers

Three layers of help apply in Phoenix. Details, limits and sources are in our guide to Arizona first-time buyer programs.

  • City of Phoenix Open Doors. According to the Housing Department’s fact sheet of August 25, 2026, it offers up to 10% of the purchase price as a 0% deferred loan forgiven after an affordability period of up to 15 years. The buyer must be a first-time buyer under FHA’s definition, earn at or below 80% of area median income ($89,900 for a household of four), and buy a home in the city with a price of $470,250 or less.
  • Home in Five Advantage. The Maricopa County and Phoenix IDAs list help of up to 6%, for incomes up to $153,440, with no purchase price limit, for homes in Maricopa County.
  • Home Plus. The Arizona Industrial Development Authority lists up to 4% statewide, forgiven after 5 years, for incomes up to $155,386.

The City of Phoenix also sells properties under its Section 18 program, as-is, with no income limit and no first-time buyer requirement, and lists a Community Land Trust program run through a nonprofit.

Arizona guides for Phoenix buyers

Frequently asked questions

What is the median home price in Phoenix?

The Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Phoenix at $454,900 (±$6,467). This is what owners think their home is worth, not the median sale price of recent sales.

Are home prices in Phoenix going down?

According to the FHFA purchase-only index, prices in the Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler metro area rose 0.8% between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026, which is nearly flat. Over five years, they rose 27.0%.

Is there down payment help in Phoenix?

Yes. The City of Phoenix lists Open Doors, up to 10% of the price for eligible first-time buyers. Home in Five Advantage and Home Plus also apply; see our first-time buyer programs article for limits.

How much is the Phoenix price limit for Open Doors?

The City of Phoenix lists a purchase price limit of $470,250 for Open Doors, with the home inside city limits. Check the city’s current fact sheet, since the program can change without notice.

Where do I find property tax and transfer tax for a Phoenix home?

Our Arizona property tax and transfer tax articles cover both, including a Phoenix property tax example at 2026 Maricopa County rates.

More Arizona guides

Sources

Professionals by sector of Phoenix

Who licenses each trade in Arizona

Arizona · All states · Federal guides