Douglas County at a glance
DCSD is a single countywide district, and its charter schools count too. On a larger loan, the size of the Schools To Home second, up to 25% of the first mortgage, can matter more here than a flat dollar amount would.
Douglas County Sheriff's Office deputies, Castle Rock and Parker police, and South Metro Fire Rescue crews are the main Colorado Champions employers. Champions caps help at $25,000 or 4%, so responders buying here often pair it with an FHA, VA or conventional first mortgage sized to the market.
Remember the shared appreciation on Schools To Home: the bigger the assistance relative to your price, the bigger the share of any gain you'll repay.
Caps for Douglas County
| Income, 1–2 | Income, 3+ | Price cap |
|---|---|---|
| $144,000 | $165,600 | $832,750 |
Douglas County uses the metro FirstStep tier; for Schools To Home and Champions only the statewide caps apply. Statewide table · Budget estimate
Local programs in Douglas 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 →DCHP Down Payment Assistance
OpenDouglas County
- Buyers
- First-time buyers (HUD definition) at or below 80% AMI; preference for those living or working in Douglas County
- Amount
- Amortizing option: $15,000 second at 3% for 30 years (about $63.24/month); other DPA amounts not stated
- Form
- Loan with monthly payments
- Income cap
- 80% AMI
- Price cap
- $556,000
- First-time only
- Yes
- Conditions
- Typically 1% of price own funds, minimum $1,000; property must meet HUD guidelines; homebuyer education
Amortizing loan page: https://douglascountyhousingpartnership.org/amortizing-loan-program/
Checked November 2026 · method
Program details →Check my eligibility →Homebuyer courses near Douglas County
Plan on a homebuyer education course before closing; nearly every program asks for one. HUD-approved agencies serving Douglas County:
| Agency | City | Miles | Services | Languages | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County Housing Partnership | Lone Tree | 15 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Southwest Improvement Council | Denver | 28 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Northeast Denver Housing Center | Denver | 28 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation | Denver | 28 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone |
| Denver Housing Authority | Denver | 29 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.
Qualifying employers in Douglas County
Local school systems and public safety agencies:
- Douglas County School District
- Douglas County Sheriff's Office
- Castle Rock Police Department
- Parker Police Department
- South Metro Fire Rescue
DCSD and its charters, plus the sheriff, police and South Metro Fire Rescue staff listed, are the usual local qualifiers. Full list of eligible jobs.
Douglas County questions
How does shared appreciation work on a Douglas County home?
You repay the assistance plus a share of any gain equal to your assistance divided by the purchase price. CHFA's example: 20% assistance on a home that gains $42,500 means $8,500 extra.
Can a Parker police officer get more than $25,000?
No. Colorado Champions caps the second at $25,000 or 4% of the first mortgage, whichever is less.
Does DCSD charter school employment count?
Yes, as long as you're classified as full-time.
Nearby county guides: El Paso · City and of Denver · Arapahoe · Jefferson · Adams · Weld · Larimer · Boulder · Pueblo · Mesa · all counties
Run the check for Douglas County
Six questions, no credit check. A lender who offers the program follows up, or call (800) 555-0100.
Start the eligibility check