The agency & primary document
- Allocating agency
- Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH)
- QAP / guidelines
- https://housing.az.gov/programs/rental-development
- Governing document
- Arizona 2026-2027 QAP (amended for 2027), item 8 Market Need
- Methodology
- NCHMA Model Content Standards
Required market study sections
Arizona market studies follow the NCHMA Model Content Standards. The required sections are:
- Executive Summary — Concise summary of each section including data, analysis, and conclusions. 11 minimum content items including feasibility opinion, strengths/weaknesses, absorption estimate.
- Introduction and Scope of Work — Purpose, intended use, intended users, scope of work, effective date, physical inspection date.
- Project Description — Unit mix, utilities, target market, unit and community amenities, construction date. If rehab: scope of work, existing rents and vacancies.
- Location — Site description, site photos/maps, community services map, neighborhood evaluation (visibility, accessibility, crime).
- Market Area Definition — PMA description and rationale, PMA map. Extended/secondary market area if applicable.
- Employment and Economy — Employment trends, employment by sector, unemployment rates, major employers and proximity, planned expansions/reductions.
- Demographic Characteristics — Population and household estimates/projections, building permits, household characteristics (income, tenure, size). Senior/special needs: target-market data.
- Competitive Environment — Comparable profiles and photos, map of comps, vacancy and rents analysis, subject comparison, affordable housing alternatives, pipeline projects.
- Affordability Analysis, Demand Analysis, Capture Rates, and Penetration Rates — Demand estimate, affordability analysis, capture rate, penetration rate.
- Local Perspective of Rental Housing Market and Housing Alternatives — NEW in MCS 3.1 (September 2025). Local market context and housing alternatives beyond standard comparable analysis.
- Analysis / Conclusions — Absorption rate and lease-up timeline, market feasibility statement, strengths and weaknesses, key conclusions reconciling any conflicting indicators, recommendations if any.
- Other Requirements — Analyst qualifications, data sources, physical inspection date, limiting conditions, signed certification.
Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) market study checklist → — every required item, with a link to the agency's guideline.
Key Arizona rules
- Staleness window
- Market study dated within one (1) year of application submission (2026-2027 QAP, item 8 Market Need)
Arizona-specific overlays
- Tribal projects — PMA must reflect geographic constraints of Tribal Land status
- Pre-application market study requirement REMOVED for 2026-2027 (was required in prior cycles)
Things analysts miss in Arizona
- housing.az.gov is inaccessible programmatically — always download QAP directly from the agency website
Build the Market Data section of your Arizona study
StudyScribe auto-fills the Market Data section — employment, unemployment, building permits, crime and amenities — from BLS, Census, HUD, FBI and Google sources, cites every figure, and exports a Word document formatted for Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) submissions. Start free — no credit card.
Request access for your Arizona study →Frequently asked questions
Who reviews LIHTC market studies in Arizona?
Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) sets the market study requirements and reviews submissions for Arizona Low-Income Housing Tax Credit applications.
How current must a Arizona LIHTC market study be?
Market study dated within one (1) year of application submission (2026-2027 QAP, item 8 Market Need)
Does Arizona follow NCHMA standards?
Arizona market studies follow the NCHMA Model Content Standards section structure — ADOH defers to the most recent NCHMA Model Content Standards. Layer state-specific overlays on top..
Other states
This summary is for general reference and reflects Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH)'s published guidance as understood by StudyScribe; it is not legal or compliance advice. Always confirm requirements against the current QAP / market study guidelines before submission.