See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated May 7, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Denver, CO (2026)
Denver is Colorado's capital and largest city, a consolidated city-county along the Front Range with a population of about 729,000 and a median home price near $599,000 as of 2026. Buyers in Denver can stack significant assistance: metroDPA from the City and County of Denver provides up to 5% of the loan amount as a zero-interest deferred second mortgage with no first-time buyer requirement, while CHFA pairs FirstStep, FirstStep Plus, FirstGeneration, and HomeAccess first mortgages with up to $25,000 in DPA Grant or DPA Second Mortgage funds. Local nonprofits add another layer: Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver and Elevation Community Land Trust offer permanently affordable ownership paths for households under 80% of Area Median Income, and CRHDC NeighborhoodLIFT provides up to $15,000 in forgivable assistance in Denver and surrounding metro counties. Combining metroDPA, CHFA assistance, and federal FHA, VA, or USDA programs can put a Denver home within reach for buyers who would otherwise be priced out.
City Programs in Denver
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| metroDPA | Deferred Loan | Up to 5% of first mortgage loan amount | No | View → |
- 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 | Low-interest, flexible second mortgage for down payment and closing costs | 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 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Low-interest, flexible second mortgage for down payment and closing costs
- 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:
- Yes
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 → |
| FHLBA Community Partners Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+ | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | 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:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- 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. metroDPA accepts household incomes up to $210,150 with no first-time buyer requirement, while most CHFA programs cap income near $130,000 to $175,000 depending on county, household size, and program. CHFA HomeAccess uses a single statewide income limit of $174,440 in 2026.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Take a CHFA-approved or HUD-approved homebuyer education 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. metroDPA, CHFA, and CHAC all work through approved lender networks. Many Denver-area lenders are approved for multiple programs, so you can layer assistance through one application. Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver works directly with applicants — call 720-496-2726 to start.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Your lender will pull credit, document income, and identify which programs you qualify for. The minimum credit score for most Colorado DPA programs is 620, with 640 sometimes required for specific layered combinations.
Step 5: Find a home and verify program rules. Some programs (Habitat, Elevation CLT) require purchasing specific properties from the nonprofit; others (metroDPA, CHFA) let you buy any qualifying property in approved areas. Confirm purchase price and property type fit the program before going under contract.
Step 6: Submit your assistance application. Once you have an accepted offer, your lender or program partner submits the DPA reservation. Funds are typically committed at the loan reservation stage, but availability can change month to month, so apply as early in the process as possible.
Step 7: Close on your home. CHFA DPA, metroDPA, and CRHDC NeighborhoodLIFT funds are delivered directly to the closing table. Plan to occupy the home as your primary residence within 60 days of closing for most programs.