Arapahoe County at a glance
Four districts serve most of the county: Cherry Creek School District, Aurora Public Schools, Littleton Public Schools and Englewood Schools. Cherry Creek alone covers Centennial, Greenwood Village and much of south Aurora, so many full-time staff here, from classroom aides to transportation, fit Schools To Home.
Aurora straddles Arapahoe and Adams counties. If you work for Aurora Police or Aurora Fire Rescue, your eligibility for Colorado Champions doesn't depend on which side of the county line you buy on. The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office and South Metro Fire Rescue round out the main public safety employers.
Arapahoe shares the Denver metro FirstStep limits shown below.
Caps for Arapahoe County
| Income, 1–2 | Income, 3+ | Price cap |
|---|---|---|
| $144,000 | $165,600 | $832,750 |
Arapahoe uses the Denver metro FirstStep figures; Schools To Home and Colorado Champions rely on statewide limits instead. Statewide table · Budget estimate
Local programs in Arapahoe 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 Arapahoe County
Plan on a homebuyer education course before closing; nearly every program asks for one. HUD-approved agencies serving Arapahoe County:
| Agency | City | Miles | Services | Languages | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County Housing Partnership | Lone Tree | 30 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Operation Hope-Commerce City Co | Commerce City | 33 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | |
| Northeast Denver Housing Center | Denver | 33 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Community Economic Defense Project | Denver | 34 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation | Denver | 35 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone |
From HUD's housing counseling agency list. Programs differ on which courses they accept.
Qualifying employers in Arapahoe County
Local school systems and public safety agencies:
- Cherry Creek School District
- Aurora Public Schools
- Littleton Public Schools
- Englewood Schools
- Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office
- Aurora Police Department
- Aurora Fire Rescue
- South Metro Fire Rescue
Staff at the four school districts above and the listed sheriff, police and fire agencies are the most common local qualifiers. Full list of eligible jobs.
Arapahoe County questions
I work for Aurora Public Schools but want to buy in Adams County. Does that matter?
No. Schools To Home is statewide. What matters is your full-time public school job, not where in Colorado you buy.
Do South Metro Fire Rescue firefighters qualify?
Yes. Anyone employed by or volunteering with a Colorado fire protection district is covered by Colorado Champions.
What's the FirstStep income limit for a family of four here?
$165,600 for non-targeted areas. Schools To Home's limit is $178,920 and Champions' is $196,810, statewide.
Nearby county guides: El Paso · City and of Denver · Jefferson · Adams · Douglas · Weld · Larimer · Boulder · Pueblo · Mesa · all counties
Run the check for Arapahoe County
Six questions, no credit check. A lender who offers the program follows up, or call (800) 555-0100.
Start the eligibility check