What can a first-time buyer in Denver get right now?
The newest option is denFirstGen, which launched September 1, 2026. It lends $30,000, capped at 20% of the purchase price, as a 0% second mortgage with no payments for 30 years. It is not forgiven, so it is repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off. Every borrower and spouse, including a spouse who is not on the loan, must be both a first-time and a first-generation buyer. It pairs only with an FHA first mortgage through the metroDPA TMS channel, household income tops out at $100,800 for one person and $144,000 for four, and the home needs an NSPIRE inspection within 90 days of loan commitment.
The second city program does not hand out cash. Denver's Department of Housing Stability (HOST) sells deed-restricted homes below market to households earning at least 50% of area median income and no more than 80% to 120%, depending on the home. Personal assets may not exceed 1.5 times the home's maximum initial sales price, and gifts are capped at 20% of the price. Because Denver is a combined city and county, the broader metroDPA program, which the city sponsors for the Metro Mayors Caucus, and Elevation Community Land Trust homes are also open here; ECLT homes can be paired with the Dearfield Fund.
Your job matters too. Full-time Denver Public Schools staff can look at CHFA Schools To Home, which lends up to 25% of the first mortgage but has limited funding. Officers with the Denver Police Department or Sheriff Department, Denver Fire firefighters and Denver Health paramedics can use CHFA Colorado Champions, which CHFA says is not limited by funding. The Denver County guide covers income and price limits, and the program finder sorts out which of these you can combine.
Denver programs
denFirstGen
OpenCity and County of Denver
- Buyers
- First-time AND first-generation buyers (borrower and spouse, including non-purchasing spouse, must be first-time) buying a primary residence in Denver; min FICO 620; max DTI 38%/43%
- Amount
- $30,000, not to exceed 20% of purchase price
- Form
- Deferred loan, repaid later
- Income cap
- Household-size limits: $100,800 (1) to $144,000 (4) to $190,100 (8); annualized whole-household income, assets verified
- Price cap
- None (FHA loan limits apply)
- First-time only
- Yes
- Conditions
- FHA first mortgage only through the metroDPA TMS program; homeownership counseling from a housing counseling agency; NSPIRE inspection within 90 days of loan commitment
Launched 09/01/2026. 0% 30-year deferred second, not forgiven. Guidelines: https://www.ehousingplus.com/wp-content/uploads/metroDPA-denFirstGen-Final-Guide-TMS-09-14-26b.pdf
Checked November 2026 · method
Program details →Check my eligibility →Denver Affordable Homeownership Program (income-restricted homes)
OpenCity and County of Denver
- Buyers
- Households buying a deed-restricted affordable home sold below market
- Amount
- Below-market purchase price (no cash assistance)
- Form
- shared equity / deed-restricted resale
- Income cap
- Minimum 50% AMI; maximum 80%-120% AMI by household size depending on the home (HUD HOME limits)
- Price cap
- Set per affordable home
- Conditions
- Personal assets may not exceed 1.5x the home's maximum initial sales price; gifts capped at 20% of price; income pre-qualification valid 6 months
Contact affordablehousing@denvergov.org, 720-913-1634.
Checked November 2026 · method
Check my eligibility →County programs that cover Denver
metroDPA (Metro Down Payment Assistance)
OpenDenver metro / Front Range: listed cities and towns plus unincorporated Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Jefferson and Larimer counties
- Buyers
- Any buyer (first-time and repeat) buying a primary residence in a participating area; min FICO 620 (TMS) or 640 (U.S. Bank)
- Amount
- 0%, 3% or 4% of the first-mortgage amount (Nov 2, 2026 U.S. Bank guide); daily rate sheets currently show 0% or 3% for FHA/VA/USDA and 80%-AMI conventional, 2% for conventional over 80% AMI. 'EDGE' option: buyer or seller pays 2 points for a lower rate
- Form
- Deferred loan, repaid later
- Income cap
- $216,000 for FHA/VA/USDA and conventional over 80% AMI (same for all household sizes); conventional at/below 80% AMI tier $115,200 in Denver-metro counties ($120,000 Boulder, $104,320 Larimer, $102,400 Weld)
- Price cap
- None (agency loan limits apply)
- First-time only
- No
- Conditions
- Must use metroDPA first mortgage from an approved lender (30-yr fixed FHA, VA, USDA-RD, Fannie HFA Preferred, Freddie HFA Advantage); homebuyer education for all borrowers; occupy within 60 days; max DTI about 50%
0% 30-year second, never forgiven; due on sale, refinance, payoff or move-out. Cannot be combined with CHFA Schools To Home (each requires its own first mortgage). Incorporated cities listed include Denver, Aurora, Arvada, Lakewood, Westminster, Thornton, Northglenn, Brighton, Commerce City, Englewood, Littleton, Centennial, Golden, Wheat Ridge, Edgewater, Castle Rock, Parker, Lone Tree, Boulder, Longmont, Erie, Superior, Broomfield, Fort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud, Timnath, Wellington, Windsor, Greeley, Evans, Eaton, Ault, Johnstown, Firestone, Frederick, Dacono, Mead, Platteville, Keenesburg, Lochbuie, Elizabeth, Bennett, Deer Trail and others (eligible-areas PDF dated 06-12-23). Denver's page and metro-dpa.com show older figures ($210,150 income cap; 5% example).
Checked November 2026 · method
Program details →Check my eligibility →Elevation Community Land Trust (ECLT) homes
OpenDenver, Aurora and Fort Collins listings (also Trinidad and Cripple Creek outside the 20 counties)
- Buyers
- Low-to-moderate income households at or below 80% AMI buying a CLT home (ECLT owns the land under a 99-year ground lease; buyer owns the house)
- Amount
- Below-market prices; listings seen Nov 2026 from about $152,000 to $350,000
- Form
- shared equity (community land trust)
- Income cap
- 80% AMI: Denver metro $115,200 for 4 (MTSP); Larimer County $104,320 for 4; asset limit $185,000 for 4
- Price cap
- Set per home
- Conditions
- Must use an ECLT participating lender; ECLT online orientation plus CHFA homebuyer education; HUD Chapter 5 income rules; resale formula limits appreciation
ECLT homes are eligible for Dearfield Fund DPA. ECLT keeps a list of compatible DPA programs. Income limits: https://elevationclt.org/elevation-community-land-trust-income-limits . Aurora ZIPs 80010/80011 straddle Adams and Arapahoe counties.
Checked November 2026 · method
Program details →Check my eligibility →Statewide programs
10 statewide programs are also open to Denver buyers, CHFA Schools To Home among them. Full Colorado directory · program match
County guide: City and County of Denver.
Homebuyer courses near City and County of Denver
Plan on a homebuyer education course before closing; nearly every program asks for one. HUD-approved agencies serving City and County of Denver:
| Agency | City | Miles | Services | Languages | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Denver Housing Center | Denver | 0 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Community Economic Defense Project | Denver | 1 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation | Denver | 2 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone |
| Colorado Housing and Finance Authority | Denver | 2 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | |
| Denver Housing Authority | Denver | 4 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
From HUD's housing counseling agency list. Programs differ on which courses they accept.
Denver questions
Is denFirstGen a grant?
No. It is a 0% deferred second mortgage of $30,000 (no more than 20% of the price). It has no monthly payment, but the full amount is repaid when you sell, refinance, pay off the first mortgage or reach the end of the 30-year term.
Who counts as first-generation for denFirstGen?
Every borrower, and a spouse who is not on the loan, must be a first-time buyer and a first-generation buyer. Household income limits run from $100,800 for one person to $144,000 for four, and you need homeownership counseling from a housing counseling agency.
How do I buy one of Denver's income-restricted homes?
Get income pre-qualified through Denver's Department of Housing Stability (HOST). Pre-qualification is good for six months. The home's sale price is set below market and a deed restriction controls resale. The program contact is affordablehousing@denvergov.org or 720-913-1634.
Check Denver options in one pass
A lender who offers Colorado programs weighs the city, county and state programs together. No credit check.
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