Colorado First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Assistance

Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) currently lists 4 programs for Colorado buyers, with down payment help up to $25,000 through CHFA Down Payment Assistance Grant. Figures below were read from the agency's own pages on September 11, 2026.

Colorado first-time buyer programs open now

Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) is the state's housing finance agency (homebuyer programs page). It runs 4 down payment or closing-cost assistance programs. Has not owned a home in the prior three years (CHFA FirstGeneration program page); CHFA's standard DPA Grant/Second Mortgage do not require first-time status, only a CHFA first mortgage

Program	Type	Amount	First-time only	Min. credit	Income limit
CHFA Down Payment Assistance Grant source	Grant (no repayment)	Up to the lesser of $25,000 or 3 percent of the first mortgage amount (e.g., up to $6,000 on a $200,000 mortgage)	No	620	Must not exceed CHFA's income limits
CHFA Down Payment Assistance Second Mortgage Loan source	Second mortgage	Up to the lesser of $25,000 or 4 percent of the first mortgage amount (e.g., up to $8,000 on a $200,000 mortgage)	No	620	Must not exceed CHFA's income limits
CHFA FirstGeneration source	Deferred second loan	$25,000 down payment assistance	Yes	620	See program page
CHFA Statewide Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program source	Tax credit (MCC)	Federal tax credit equal to 20% of annual mortgage interest paid	Yes	n/a	See program page

CHFA Down Payment Assistance Grant. Terms: Grant, no repayment required; figures shown are for a 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage; higher first-mortgage interest rates apply when this assistance is used Must pair with: A CHFA first mortgage loan Homebuyer education: required Program page
CHFA Down Payment Assistance Second Mortgage Loan. Terms: Second mortgage; repayment of the loan balance deferred until the first mortgage is paid off, the home is sold or refinanced, or the home is no longer the borrower's primary residence; higher first-mortgage interest rates apply when this assistance is used Must pair with: A CHFA first mortgage loan Homebuyer education: required Program page
CHFA FirstGeneration. Terms: Deferred second; repayment deferred until payoff of the first mortgage, sale or refinance of the home, or the home is no longer the primary residence; program is not funding-limited ('will be here when you are ready') Must pair with: A CHFA first mortgage loan Homebuyer education: required Program page
CHFA Statewide Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program. Terms: Annual federal income tax credit for the life of the loan while the home remains the primary residence; a Reissued MCC (RMCC) option preserves the credit after a refinance Program page

Mortgage credit certificate in Colorado

Colorado offers a mortgage credit certificate (CHFA Statewide Mortgage Credit Certificate Program), a federal tax credit worth 20% of the mortgage interest you pay each year, for as long as you live in the home. MCC program page

City and county programs in Colorado

Local governments run their own down payment funds on top of the state programs. These can be combined with a state loan in most cases; each has its own income limit and area.

City and County of Denver (Front Range regional program): metroDPA. Down payment assistance up to a percentage of the first mortgage loan amount. Forgivable second loan. Income limit: Household income up to $216,000/year. Official page
City of Boulder: H2O: House to Homeownership Down Payment Assistance Loan Program. Up to $100,000 (shared-appreciation second loan). Program. Income limit: Up to 150% AMI: $157,500 (1 person) to $297,000 (8 people). First-time buyers only. Official page

How little you can put down

You do not need 20% down. Conventional loans go as low as 3% (through programs like Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible), FHA loans start at 3.5%, and VA and USDA loans can require nothing down. On Colorado's median-priced home (about $604,600), 3% down is roughly $18,138. Putting 20% down lets you skip private mortgage insurance, but most first-time buyers put down far less.

Who counts as a first-time buyer

For most programs, a first-time buyer is anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years, so many repeat buyers qualify again. Colorado programs often add income and purchase-price limits, which is another reason to confirm the details with Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA).

Stack a buyer rebate on top in Colorado

Down-payment assistance and a buyer commission rebate are two different things, and in Colorado you can use both. Assistance from Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) helps with your down payment and closing costs; a buyer rebate returns about 2% of the price to you at closing (roughly $12,092 on a median-priced home), which can cover much of your closing bill.

See Colorado buyer rebates → See Colorado closing costs →

You may qualify for more help in your county

City and county governments in Colorado run their own down payment programs on top of the state ones, and most can be combined with a state loan. Each county page lists the local programs, income limits and local closing costs alongside the state programs:

Denver County: local programs and limits

Frequently asked questions

What first-time home buyer programs are available in Colorado?

Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) lists 4 programs: CHFA Down Payment Assistance Grant, CHFA Down Payment Assistance Second Mortgage Loan, CHFA FirstGeneration, CHFA Statewide Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program. Down payment help runs up to $25,000. City and County of Denver (Front Range regional program), City of Boulder also run local down payment programs.

How much down payment assistance can you get in Colorado?

Up to $25,000 through CHFA Down Payment Assistance Grant (grant (no repayment)). Other Colorado programs offer different amounts; see the table on this page for each one.

Do you have to be a first-time buyer to qualify in Colorado?

Not for every program. 2 of 4 Colorado programs are open to repeat buyers. Has not owned a home in the prior three years (CHFA FirstGeneration program page); CHFA's standard DPA Grant/Second Mortgage do not require first-time status, only a CHFA first mortgage

How much down payment do you need in Colorado?

As little as 3% on a conventional loan, 3.5% on an FHA loan, and 0% on VA or USDA loans. On Colorado's median-priced home (about $604,600), 3% is roughly $18,138. You do not need 20% down, though 20% lets you avoid mortgage insurance.

Who counts as a first-time home buyer?

For most programs, a first-time buyer is anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years. Some Colorado programs also have income and purchase-price limits, so check with Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA).

Can I combine assistance with a buyer rebate in Colorado?

Yes. A buyer commission rebate is separate from down-payment assistance and is legal in Colorado. Assistance helps with your down payment and closing costs up front; a rebate returns about 2% of the price at closing, which you can put toward closing costs. You can use both.

Official sources

Colorado program details last verified against Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) on September 11, 2026.

Read the full guide to the cash you need to buy →

This is general information, not financial advice. Program details, limits, and loan terms change; confirm the current rules with Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) and your lender before you rely on them.

See first-time buyer programs in all states