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By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated May 7, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Denver, CO (2026)

Population: 729,019 | Median home price: $599,000 | Est. closing costs: $12,000 - $18,000

Skyline of Denver, CO

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

metroDPA
Type:
Deferred Loan
Amount:
Up to 5% of first mortgage loan amount
First-time only:
No

State Programs in Colorado

CHAC Down Payment Assistance Program
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
CHFA Down Payment Assistance Grant
Type:
Grant
Amount:
Up to lesser of $25,000 or 3% of first mortgage
First-time only:
No
CHFA Down Payment Assistance Second Mortgage Loan
Type:
Deferred Loan
Amount:
Up to lesser of $25,000 or 4% of first mortgage
First-time only:
No
CHFA FirstGeneration
Type:
Deferred Loan
Amount:
Up to $25,000 in deferred down payment assistance, paired with 30-year fixed first mortgage
First-time only:
Yes
CHFA FirstStep
Type:
Government-Insured Mortgage
Amount:
30-year fixed-rate FHA first mortgage
First-time only:
Yes
CHFA HomeAccess
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

FHA Loans
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
Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD)
Type:
Government Property Sale Program
Amount:
50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
First-time only:
Yes
Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac)
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
HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae)
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
HUD $100 Down Program
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
USDA Rural Development Loans
Type:
Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:
100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
First-time only:
No
VA Loans
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

CRHDC NeighborhoodLIFT
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
Up to $15,000
First-time only:
No
Elevation Community Land Trust
Type:
Government-Insured Mortgage
Amount:
Permanently affordable below-market home purchase via 99-year ground lease
First-time only:
No
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver Homeownership Program
Type:
Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:
Affordable mortgage at approximately 30% of gross monthly income; sweat-equity ownership model
First-time only:
No

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17 programs available in Denver. See which ones you qualify for.

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Are you a first-time homebuyer?

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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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Denver?+
You can stack multiple programs. metroDPA offers up to 5% of the loan amount as a zero-interest deferred second mortgage with no monthly payments. CHFA adds either a DPA Grant of up to the lesser of $25,000 or 3% of the loan (no repayment) or a DPA Second Mortgage of up to the lesser of $25,000 or 4% of the loan (deferred). CRHDC NeighborhoodLIFT layers another $15,000 forgivable loan on top in metro Denver counties. Combined, well-qualified buyers can access $40,000 or more in down payment and closing cost assistance.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer in Denver?+
Not for every program. metroDPA and CRHDC NeighborhoodLIFT are open to both first-time and repeat buyers. CHFA FirstStep, FirstGeneration, and HomeAccess require first-time buyer status (no ownership in past 3 years), with exceptions for qualified veterans or buyers in CHFA-targeted areas. CHFA FirstGeneration adds the requirement that your parents or guardians have never owned a home.
What is the maximum income to qualify in Denver?+
It depends on the program. metroDPA caps household income at $210,150. CHFA HomeAccess uses a statewide cap of $174,440 in 2026. Standard CHFA programs vary by county and household size: in Denver, the limit is roughly $130,400 for households of 1-2 people in non-targeted areas, rising to $156,480 in targeted areas, and to about $149,960 for households of 3 or more (non-targeted).
What is the minimum credit score for Denver DPA programs?+
Most major programs require a 620 minimum credit score, including all CHFA programs and metroDPA. Some metroDPA layering scenarios require 640. Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver and Elevation Community Land Trust use alternative credit and affordability evaluations rather than a strict score cutoff.
What homebuyer education is required in Denver?+
All CHFA programs require a CHFA-approved homebuyer education course completed by every borrower before closing, with certificates valid for 12 months. metroDPA accepts either a CHFA-approved or HUD-approved course. CHAC, NeighborhoodLIFT, and Habitat partners also include education as part of their programs. Courses are offered online or in person through HUD-approved counseling agencies.
Are there programs for buyers with disabilities in Colorado?+
Yes. CHFA HomeAccess is designed specifically for first-time homebuyers and qualified veterans who are living with a permanent disability or who are the custodial parent or guardian of a child or individual with a permanent disability. It provides a 30-year fixed first mortgage plus an optional zero-interest $25,000 second mortgage for down payment, closing costs, and prepaids, deferred until the first mortgage is paid off.

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