Part of the cluster
First-Time Buyers services →There is no single best down payment assistance program in Colorado. There is the right one for your income, your credit, and the city you are buying in. Here is the short list I keep on my desk.
CHFA (Colorado Housing and Finance Authority)
Statewide. Pairs with FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional. Offers down payment grants and second mortgages depending on the program. Income limits vary by county. Required homebuyer education class.
Best for: buyers who do not live in a city with its own program, or who need the broadest lender network.
metroDPA
City and County of Denver and several surrounding metro municipalities. Provides a grant or second mortgage that does not require repayment if you stay in the home long enough.
Best for: buyers inside the metroDPA boundaries who want a clean, well-known program their lender already does.
Adams County HOPE
Specific to Adams County (Brighton, Thornton, Commerce City, Westminster, Northglenn, parts of Aurora). Stackable with FHA or conventional.
Best for: north metro first-time buyers, especially in Brighton and Thornton.
City-specific programs
- Aurora down payment assistance (HOAP).
- Boulder County Worthy Cause programs (limited).
- Various employer-assisted programs (teachers, nurses, first responders).
How I match a buyer to a program
I do not pretend to be a lender. What I do is keep a current map of which programs work in which cities, which lenders close them without drama, and which combinations stack.
If you are early in the process, start with my First-Time Buyers playbook and book a call. We will figure out which program fits before you fall in love with a house outside its boundaries.
About the author
Maddie Cowger is a bilingual (English + Spanish) Realtor with eXp Realty serving the Denver and Boulder metro. SRES- and SFR-certified, with a marketing background that predates her real estate career. Read her story or book a no-pressure call.
