Jefferson County at a glance
Jeffco Public Schools covers the whole county, from the foothills to the Westminster line. Its full-time employees, including food service, maintenance and office staff, can use Schools To Home. Jeffco charter schools count too.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Lakewood Police Department, Arvada Police Department and West Metro Fire Rescue are the anchor agencies for Colorado Champions. Westminster spans Jefferson and Adams counties; the program is statewide, so the county line doesn't change your eligibility.
Jefferson County sits in the metro FirstStep tier. If you have a mix of foothill and suburban options, check whether your target address is in a targeted area with a lender, since FirstStep limits differ there.
Caps for Jefferson County
| Income, 1–2 | Income, 3+ | Price cap |
|---|---|---|
| $144,000 | $165,600 | $832,750 |
Jeffco's FirstStep limits are the metro tier; neither Schools To Home nor Champions uses a county limit. Statewide table · Budget estimate
Local programs in Jefferson 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 →Homebuyer courses near Jefferson County
Plan on a homebuyer education course before closing; nearly every program asks for one. HUD-approved agencies serving Jefferson County:
| Agency | City | Miles | Services | Languages | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Improvement Council | Denver | 14 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Denver Housing Authority | Denver | 15 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Brothers Redevelopment, Inc. | Edgewater | 15 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation | Denver | 16 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone |
| Community Economic Defense Project | Denver | 18 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
From HUD's housing counseling agency list. Programs differ on which courses they accept.
Qualifying employers in Jefferson County
Local school systems and public safety agencies:
- Jeffco Public Schools
- Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
- Lakewood Police Department
- Arvada Police Department
- West Metro Fire Rescue
Jeffco Public Schools staff and the sheriff, police and West Metro Fire employees listed above are typical qualifiers. Full list of eligible jobs.
Jefferson County questions
Do Jeffco charter school staff qualify?
Yes, if the charter classifies you as full-time. Schools To Home covers charter schools and institute charter schools.
Can an Arvada police officer buy in Golden with Champions?
Yes. Colorado Champions works anywhere in Colorado for a qualifying first responder buying a primary residence.
Is the Jeffco FirstStep price limit the same as Denver's?
Yes, $832,750 for non-targeted areas.
Nearby county guides: El Paso · City and of Denver · Arapahoe · Adams · Douglas · Weld · Larimer · Boulder · Pueblo · Mesa · all counties
Run the check for Jefferson County
Six questions, no credit check. A lender who offers the program follows up, or call (800) 555-0100.
Start the eligibility check