See programs you qualify for

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

Homebuyer Programs in Fort Collins, CO (2026)

Population: 170,229 | Median home price: $530,000 | Est. closing costs: $10,500 - $16,000

Fort Collins is the county seat of Larimer County and Colorado's fourth-largest city, with a population of about 170,000 and a median home price near $530,000 as of 2026. The City of Fort Collins ended its direct homebuyer loan program but now supports homebuyers through the EPIC (Employment-based Purchasing Initiative), administered by Impact Development Fund and using FirstBank as the primary mortgage lender. EPIC offers up to 20% of the contract purchase price or $30,000, whichever is less, for first-time buyers at or below 80% of Area Median Income. The Larimer Home Ownership Program (LHoP) layers up to $15,000 as a 1% interest second mortgage. CHFA stacks on top with up to the lesser of $25,000 or 3% of the loan as a DPA Grant (no repayment) or up to 4% as a deferred DPA Second Mortgage. Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity serves households earning 45-80% AMI through its sweat-equity ownership model. Neighbor to Neighbor (970-484-7498) is the area's primary HUD- and CHFA-approved counseling agency and provides the homebuyer education required for LHoP, USDA, CHFA, and EPIC. Combined, well-qualified Fort Collins buyers can access $40,000-$70,000 in stacked assistance.

City Programs in Fort Collins

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Fort Collins EPIC (Employment-based Purchasing Initiative)	Deferred Loan	Up to 20% of the contract purchase price or $30,000, whichever is less	Yes	View →

Fort Collins EPIC (Employment-based Purchasing Initiative)

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to 20% of the contract purchase price or $30,000, whichever is less
First-time only:: Yes

County Programs in Larimer County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Larimer Home Ownership Program (LHoP)	Deferred Loan	Up to $15,000	No	View →

Larimer Home Ownership Program (LHoP)

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $15,000
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 →

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

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 →

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

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Affordable Habitat mortgage with sweat-equity ownership model	No	View →
Impact Development Fund Colorado Down Payment Assistance Program	Deferred Loan	Down payment and closing cost assistance (amount varies by program tier and borrower)	No	View →

Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Affordable Habitat mortgage with sweat-equity ownership model
First-time only:: No

Impact Development Fund Colorado Down Payment Assistance Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Down payment and closing cost assistance (amount varies by program tier and borrower)
First-time only:: No

Free eligibility check

17 programs available in Fort Collins. See which ones you qualify for.

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Question 1 of 6

housebuyerguides

How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most Fort Collins programs serve households at or below 80% AMI for Larimer County. CHFA programs use county- and household-size-specific income limits, with HomeAccess capped at $174,440 statewide.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Take the HUD- and CHFA-approved homebuyer education class through Neighbor to Neighbor at 970-484-7498 or 970-829-0296. The Neighbor to Neighbor class fulfills the education requirement for LHoP, USDA, CHFA, and EPIC. Certificates are valid 12 months.

Step 3: Connect with the right lender. EPIC specifically requires FirstBank as the primary mortgage lender. CHFA programs use a statewide approved-lender network. LHoP requires lender pre-qualification documentation and a $60 application fee. Habitat works directly with applicants.

Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Your lender will pull credit, document income, and identify which programs fit. The minimum credit score for most CHFA programs is 620. EPIC and LHoP use program-specific underwriting alongside the FirstBank or LHoP application.

Step 5: Find a home in Larimer County. EPIC requires the property be located in Fort Collins. LHoP works anywhere in Larimer County (including Loveland and Estes Park). Fort Collins Habitat homes are pre-selected.

Step 6: Submit your assistance application. For EPIC, work through FirstBank and Impact Development Fund. For LHoP, submit proof of income, family size, lender pre-qualification, and a $60 application fee to LHoP at 375 W. 37th Street, Suite 200, Loveland, CO 80538 (970-635-5931). For City of Fort Collins program questions, contact Tamra Leavenworth at tleavenworth@fcgov.com or 970-416-4366.

Step 7: Close on your home. Plan to occupy the property as your primary residence within 60 days of closing. LHoP requires 1% buyer contribution at closing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Fort Collins?+

You can stack multiple programs. Fort Collins EPIC provides up to 20% of the contract purchase price or $30,000 for first-time buyers below 80% AMI (using FirstBank). The Larimer Home Ownership Program (LHoP) adds up to $15,000 as a 1% interest second mortgage. CHFA layers 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 $25,000 or 4%. CHAC adds another low-interest second mortgage option statewide. Combined, well-qualified buyers can access $40,000 to $70,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance.

Does the City of Fort Collins still offer a homebuyer loan?+

The City no longer issues direct homebuyer loans, but it now supports the Fort Collins EPIC program (Employment-based Purchasing Initiative). EPIC is administered by Impact Development Fund and requires using FirstBank as the primary mortgage lender. EPIC provides up to 20% of the contract purchase price or $30,000, whichever is less, for first-time buyers at or below 80% AMI. For program questions, contact Tamra Leavenworth at tleavenworth@fcgov.com or 970-416-4366.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer in Fort Collins?+

It depends on the program. Fort Collins EPIC requires first-time buyer status. 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. The Larimer Home Ownership Program (LHoP) and Impact Development Fund programs are open to both first-time and repeat buyers. Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity targets households who demonstrate housing need.

What is the maximum income to qualify in Fort Collins?+

It depends on the program. EPIC, LHoP, and Fort Collins Habitat all serve households at or below 80% of Area Median Income for Larimer County. CHFA HomeAccess uses a statewide income cap of $174,440 in 2026. Standard CHFA programs vary by county and household size. CHAC serves low- to moderate-income first-time buyers.

Where do I take homebuyer education?+

Neighbor to Neighbor at 1550 Blue Spruce Drive in Fort Collins is the primary HUD- and CHFA-approved counseling agency for the area. Their homebuyer education class fulfills the requirement for LHoP, USDA, CHFA, and EPIC. Call 970-484-7498 or 970-829-0296 to register.

Can I buy outside of Fort Collins city limits?+

Yes, but it changes which programs apply. EPIC requires the property be in Fort Collins city limits. LHoP works anywhere in Larimer County, including Loveland and Estes Park. CHFA programs work statewide. If you are looking outside Larimer County, the metroDPA program (City and County of Denver) covers the Denver Front Range counties to the south.