See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated May 7, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Aurora, CO (2026)
Aurora is Colorado's third-largest city, spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties just east of Denver, with a population near 394,000 and a median home price around $460,000 as of 2026. Aurora homebuyers benefit from one of the most generous local DPA stacks in the state. The City of Aurora's new Down Payment Assistance Program offers between 4% and 10% of the purchase price as a silent second loan for households earning up to 120% of Area Median Income (about $168,120 for a family of four). On top of that, metroDPA from the City and County of Denver covers Aurora and provides up to 5% of the loan amount as a deferred second mortgage with no first-time buyer requirement, while CHFA pairs first mortgages with up to $25,000 in DPA Grant or DPA Second Mortgage funds. CRHDC NeighborhoodLIFT layers another $15,000 forgivable loan, and Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver and Elevation Community Land Trust provide permanently affordable ownership paths for households below 80% AMI. Additional Aurora resources include Aurora Federal Credit Union's First Time Homebuyer Program (303-755-2572), Maiker Housing Partners in Adams County for affordable housing options, and the Housing Authority of the City of Aurora (AHA) for Section 8 voucher-based homeownership in qualifying cases. Combined, well-qualified buyers in Aurora can access more than $50,000 in stacked assistance.
City Programs in Aurora
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Aurora Down Payment Assistance Program | Deferred Loan | Between 4% and 10% of the purchase price | No | View → |
| metroDPA | Deferred Loan | Up to 5% of first mortgage loan amount | No | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Between 4% and 10% of the purchase price
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 5% of first mortgage loan amount
- First-time only:
- No
State Programs in Colorado
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHAC Down Payment Assistance Program | Deferred Loan | $5,000 to $12,000 (6% of lesser of sale price or appraised value, capped at $12,000) | Yes | View → |
| CHFA Down Payment Assistance Grant | Grant | Up to lesser of $25,000 or 3% of first mortgage | No | View → |
| CHFA Down Payment Assistance Second Mortgage Loan | Deferred Loan | Up to lesser of $25,000 or 4% of first mortgage | No | View → |
| CHFA FirstGeneration | Deferred Loan | Up to $25,000 in deferred down payment assistance, paired with 30-year fixed first mortgage | Yes | View → |
| CHFA FirstStep | Government-Insured Mortgage | 30-year fixed-rate FHA first mortgage | Yes | View → |
| CHFA HomeAccess | Zero-Interest Loan | 30-year fixed first mortgage plus optional $25,000 second mortgage for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- $5,000 to $12,000 (6% of lesser of sale price or appraised value, capped at $12,000)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to lesser of $25,000 or 3% of first mortgage
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to lesser of $25,000 or 4% of first mortgage
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $25,000 in deferred down payment assistance, paired with 30-year fixed first mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- 30-year fixed-rate FHA first mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- 30-year fixed first mortgage plus optional $25,000 second mortgage for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRHDC NeighborhoodLIFT | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 | No | View → |
| Elevation Community Land Trust | Government-Insured Mortgage | Permanently affordable below-market home purchase via 99-year ground lease | No | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage at approximately 30% of gross monthly income; sweat-equity ownership model | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Permanently affordable below-market home purchase via 99-year ground lease
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage at approximately 30% of gross monthly income; sweat-equity ownership model
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. The City of Aurora DPA goes up to 120% AMI ($168,120 for a family of four). metroDPA accepts incomes up to $210,150 with no first-time buyer requirement. CHFA programs use county- and household-size-specific limits. Habitat and Elevation CLT serve households below 80% AMI.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Take a CHFA-approved or HUD-approved course online or in person. Certificates are valid for 12 months and must be issued before closing. Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation (CHAC) offers counseling at 303-572-9445.
Step 3: Connect with a participating lender. The City of Aurora DPA, metroDPA, CHFA, NeighborhoodLIFT, and CHAC all use approved-lender networks. Many lenders are credentialed across multiple programs, so you can stack assistance through one application.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Your lender will pull credit, document income, and identify which programs fit your profile. The minimum credit score for most Aurora-area DPA programs is 620, with 640 sometimes required for stacked combinations.
Step 5: Find a home. The City of Aurora DPA requires the property be located within Aurora city limits. metroDPA and CHFA work across the Front Range. Habitat Metro Denver homes (including 20 new units in Aurora's Havana Heights neighborhood) are pre-selected, as are Elevation CLT homes.
Step 6: Submit your assistance reservations. Once you have an accepted offer, your lender or program partner submits the DPA reservation. The City of Aurora program is funded by a $720,000 DOLA grant available through October 31, 2026 or until funds are exhausted, so apply as early as possible.
Step 7: Close on your home. Plan to occupy the property as your primary residence within 60 days of closing. Continued owner-occupancy is required for forgiveness on multiple programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Aurora?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer in Aurora?+−
What is the maximum income to qualify in Aurora?+−
Is the City of Aurora DPA funding limited?+−
What is the minimum credit score for Aurora DPA programs?+−
Can I use the City of Aurora DPA outside the city limits?+−
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