Adams County at a glance
Adams 12 Five Star Schools covers Thornton and Northglenn, 27J Schools serves Brighton and the growing northeast, Adams 14 is centered in Commerce City, and Mapleton and Westminster Public Schools cover the west side. That's a lot of school jobs, and Schools To Home is open to any full-time role in them.
For Colorado Champions, the Adams County Sheriff's Office, Thornton Police Department, Thornton Fire Department and South Adams County Fire Department are the core agencies. Aurora and Westminster officers who live in Adams can also use it.
New construction is common in the 27J and Adams 12 areas. Schools To Home's second can go toward down payment, closing costs or prepaids, which helps when builder deposits come due.
Caps for Adams County
| Income, 1–2 | Income, 3+ | Price cap |
|---|---|---|
| $144,000 | $165,600 | $832,750 |
Adams County sits in the metro FirstStep tier; Schools To Home and Champions have statewide income caps and no price limit. Statewide table · Budget estimate
Local programs in Adams County
Programs run by cities, the county, employers or nonprofits here. Some layer on top of the state option and some replace it; the lender sorts out which combinations are allowed.
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 →Homebuyer courses near Adams County
Plan on a homebuyer education course before closing; nearly every program asks for one. HUD-approved agencies serving Adams County:
| Agency | City | Miles | Services | Languages | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation Hope-Commerce City Co | Commerce City | 30 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | |
| Northeast Denver Housing Center | Denver | 34 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Community Economic Defense Project | Denver | 35 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation | Denver | 36 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone |
| Colorado Housing and Finance Authority | Denver | 36 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish |
From HUD's housing counseling agency list. Programs differ on which courses they accept.
Qualifying employers in Adams County
Local school systems and public safety agencies:
- Adams 12 Five Star Schools
- 27J Schools
- Adams 14 School District
- Mapleton Public Schools
- Westminster Public Schools
- Adams County Sheriff's Office
- Thornton Police Department
- Thornton Fire Department
- South Adams County Fire Department
Any full-time employee of the five districts above, and staff at the listed sheriff, police and fire agencies, fit the programs. Full list of eligible jobs.
Adams County questions
Do 27J Schools bus drivers qualify for Schools To Home?
Yes. Any full-time role at a Colorado public school district counts, including transportation.
Can I use Schools To Home on a new-build home?
The program covers single-family homes, PUDs, condos and modular homes used as a primary residence. Your lender confirms the specific property.
What's the FirstStep price limit in Adams County?
$832,750 for non-targeted areas.
Nearby county guides: El Paso · City and of Denver · Arapahoe · Jefferson · Douglas · Weld · Larimer · Boulder · Pueblo · Mesa · all counties
Run the check for Adams County
Six questions, no credit check. A lender who offers the program follows up, or call (800) 555-0100.
Start the eligibility check