Fact sheet
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
Check my eligibility →How denFirstGen works
The City and County of Denver launched denFirstGen on September 1, 2026, delivered through the metroDPA TMS channel run by eHousingPlus. The assistance is a flat $30,000 that cannot exceed 20% of the purchase price, structured as a 0% second mortgage with a 30-year deferral. It is not forgiven, so it is repaid when the loan term ends or the home is sold or refinanced. The first mortgage must be an FHA loan through the metroDPA TMS program.
Who qualifies?
The rule is stricter than most: the borrower and spouse, including a spouse who is not on the purchase, must all be first-time buyers, and the buyer must be first-generation. Household income limits rise with size: $100,800 for one person, $144,000 for four, up to $190,100 for eight. Denver counts annualized income for the whole household and verifies assets. Minimum credit score is 620; DTI is capped at 38% for housing and 43% overall. There is no price cap beyond FHA limits. Buyers complete homeownership counseling with a housing counseling agency, and the home must pass an NSPIRE inspection within 90 days of loan commitment.
Combining denFirstGen with other help
denFirstGen requires its own FHA first mortgage, which rules out Schools To Home and Colorado Champions on the same purchase. A Denver Public Schools employee who is also first-generation should compare $30,000 here with a Schools To Home second, which could be larger but shares appreciation. Whether any outside grant can be added is a question for a participating TMS lender.
On a $400,000 home, 20% would be $80,000, so the flat $30,000 is the binding figure. On a $120,000 condo, however, the 20% cap would hold the help to $24,000. Because the debt ratios here (38% and 43%) are tighter than many FHA loans, buyers near the limit should check their numbers before writing an offer. The NSPIRE inspection is an extra step that some older homes may need repairs to pass.
How to apply
Confirm first-generation status for everyone in the household, line up a counseling session, then contact a lender approved for metroDPA TMS. Build the NSPIRE inspection into your contract timeline. Read our buying steps guide, the Denver County page, and check eligibility.
County guides for this program: City and County of Denver.
Questions about denFirstGen
How much is denFirstGen?
$30,000, not to exceed 20% of the purchase price.
Does my spouse have to be a first-time buyer too?
Yes, including a spouse who is not purchasing.
Is denFirstGen a grant?
No. It is a 0% 30-year deferred second that is not forgiven.
Similar programs
- metroDPA (Metro Down Payment Assistance) · Denver metro / Front Range: listed cities and towns plus unincorporated Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Jefferson and Larimer counties
- Elevation Community Land Trust (ECLT) homes · Denver, Aurora and Fort Collins listings (also Trinidad and Cripple Creek outside the 20 counties)
- CHFA HomeAccess / HomeAccess Plus
- CHFA SectionEight Homeownership / SectionEight Homeownership Plus
- CHFA Preferred Very Low Income (VLIP)
- Colorado HFA1 / Colorado HFA1 Plus
Summarized from the program's official page, November 2026. Money and rules shift; check today's terms with the administrator or a participating lender. Colorado Down Payment Assistance has no tie to this program.
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