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What are the steps to buy a home in Arizona, from offer to closing?

Short answer

Arizona closings run through a title and escrow company, not a lawyer, and usually take 30 to 45 days from accepted offer: budget and pre-approval, a written buyer-broker agreement, an offer on the standard Arizona contract with earnest money, a ten-day inspection period, appraisal and loan approval, then signing at the title company and recording of the deed with the county.

Before you look, settle the budget and, if you need a loan, a pre-approval; foreign buyers paying cash prepare proof of funds instead. Arizona agents must have a written buyer-broker agreement with you before showing homes, which states what the agent will be paid and by whom, so verify the licence and sign that first [1] [2].

Offers go on the Arizona REALTORS Residential Resale Purchase Contract, which sets the earnest money (deposited with the title company), the inspection period of ten days by default, the seller’s disclosure statement, the HOA document review and the financing contingency; during the inspection period you can cancel for any reason and get the earnest money back [2]. If you have a mortgage, the lender orders an appraisal and issues the Loan Estimate and, three days before closing, the Closing Disclosure that the consumer finance regulator explains line by line [3].

Closing happens at the title and escrow company: you sign, wire the balance (confirm wire instructions by phone, because wire fraud targets buyers at exactly this moment), the lender funds, and the deed is recorded with the county recorder, which is the moment you own the home [4]. First-time buyers can use free HUD-approved housing counselling to walk through the process [5].

Checklist

  1. Pre-approval or proof of funds; written buyer-broker agreement with a licensed agent [1].

  2. Offer on the standard contract; earnest money to the title company [2].

  3. Inspections, disclosures and HOA review inside the inspection period [2].

  4. Appraisal, loan approval, Closing Disclosure [3].

  5. Sign at the title company; deed recorded with the county [4].

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Sources

Official and institutional sources this answer is based on. The numbers in the text point here.

    1.
    • Officialazre.gov
      Arizona Department of Real Estate ↗

      Regulator of real estate licensees: verify a broker or salesperson license, consumer information on buying and selling, public reports for subdivisions, and how to file a complaint.

      checked Sep 12, 2026 · verify manually

    2.
    • Officialaaronline.com
      Arizona REALTORS® ↗

      The state REALTOR® association: standard Arizona purchase contract and disclosure forms, buyer/seller advisories and how to find a member agent.

      checked Sep 12, 2026 · verify manually

    3.
    • Officialconsumerfinance.gov
      Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ↗

      Plain-language guides to mortgages (shopping, closing disclosures, escrow), credit reports and scores, bank accounts and complaints against financial companies.

      checked Sep 12, 2026

    4.
    • Officialrecorder.maricopa.gov
      Maricopa County Recorder ↗

      Recorded documents — deeds, deeds of trust, liens and HOA CC&Rs — searchable by name or parcel; also voter registration and early voting for the county.

      checked Sep 12, 2026 · verify manually

    5.

Reviewed: October 7, 2026. General information with sources, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change: check the linked sources and talk to a licensed professional about your own case.

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