Colorado first-time home buyer programs
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) list 2 programs that help buyers in Colorado with the down payment or closing costs. Amounts and terms are shown as the agency publishes them.
- Programs from the agency
- 2
- Biggest amount listed
- $25,000
- First-time buyers only
- None of them
- Income caps
- Set per program
Down payment assistance programs in Colorado
| Program | Amount | Grant or loan | Income limit | First-time buyers only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHFA Down Payment Assistance Grant. With a CHFA first mortgage loan program; credit score 620+; homebuyer course; price limit varies by area; may be higher in targeted areas. | Up to 3% of the home loan, at most $25,000 | Grant: You do not have to pay this grant back. | CHFA income limits vary by household size, county, targeted area, and program. | No |
| CHFA Down Payment Assistance Second Mortgage Loan. With a CHFA first mortgage loan program; credit score 620+; homebuyer course; price limit varies by area; may be higher in targeted areas. | Up to 4% of the home loan, at most $25,000 | Deferred loan: No monthly payment. You repay it when you sell, refinance, pay off your main home loan or stop living in the home. | CHFA income limits vary by household size, county, targeted area, and program. | No |
Usually, "first-time buyers only" means you haven't owned a home during the past three years, though every program sets a rule of its own. The name of each program links to a Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) page that says whether applications are open right now. The agency also maintains its own list of participating lenders. Compare down payment assistance programs across all states, or ask a lender that works with Colorado's programs.
How do you repay Colorado's programs?
- Grant: money you never pay back, used for the down payment or closing costs.
- Deferred loan: nothing to pay each month, but the full amount comes due when you sell, refinance or pay the first mortgage off.
How does your income compare with Colorado's caps?
Every program has its own income cap, which the table shows, and the exact chart is on that program's agency page. Use the HUD income limits lookup (FY2026) to find the figure for your county and household size. If a program relies on its own county chart or Freddie Mac's, the result can differ from HUD's number, and the agency's chart decides.
| HUD area | Median family income | HUD low-income limit |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $144,000 | $106,800 |
| Boulder | $150,000 | $106,800 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $130,400 | $104,300 |
| Greeley | $128,000 | $99,900 |
| Colorado Springs | $116,400 | $93,100 |
HUD uses about 80% of the median as a starting point. Its own caps can hold that number down, including a yearly cap on increases, so the low-income limit is under 80% in a few areas.
Talk to a lender that works with Colorado programs
These programs are paid out through the agency's approved lenders, so the lender is your next step. Tell us where you're buying and a lender that works with Colorado's programs can explain which ones fit you.
Rather not call? Send your details and the lender will reach you.
Are you buying near a state border?
Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming or programs for all 50 states plus DC.