Denver County, CO First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help
Denver County buyers can apply to 1 local down payment program, on top of Colorado's statewide programs. Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.
Local programs in Denver County
These are run by City and County of Denver (and other Front Range participating cities/counties), separate from the state housing finance agency, and can usually be combined with a state loan. Check the program page for current funding before you apply.
| Program | Type | Amount | Income limit | First-time only | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| metroDPA (Metro Down Payment Assistance) City and County of Denver (and other Front Range participating cities/counties) (City and County of Denver, metroDPA program) · source | deferred, 0% interest second mortgage, 30-year term, no monthly payment | A percentage of the first-mortgage loan amount (varies by loan product - FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional), used for down payment and/or closing costs; example given: an FHA borrower with a $300,000 loan receiving 5% assistance would get $15,000 | Household income up to $195,600/year per the official program page | Check | Home being purchased must be in Denver or one of the other participating Front Range cities/counties in the metroDPA service area (not limited to buyers who live or work in Denver) |
- metroDPA (Metro Down Payment Assistance). Minimum credit score: 640 Second mortgage is repaid (principal only, interest-free) when the home is sold, the borrower stops living there as a primary residence, or refinances the first mortgage, or after 30 years.
Income limits in Denver County
Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO MSA (Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, Park counties) (fiscal year 2026): the area median family income is $144,000 and the 80% limit that most programs use is $106,800 for a four-person household. Limits scale with household size; each program page has the full table. HUD income limits
Colorado statewide programs you can also use in Denver County
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) (homebuyer programs page) runs 4 statewide programs open to buyers anywhere in Colorado, with down payment help up to $25,000 through CHFA Down Payment Assistance Grant. Most local programs above can be combined with a state first mortgage; check each program's pairing rule.
| Program | Type | Amount | First-time only | Min. credit | Income limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHFA Down Payment Assistance Grant source | Grant (no repayment) | Up to the lesser of $25,000 or 3 percent of the first mortgage amount (e.g., up to $6,000 on a $200,000 mortgage) | No | 620 | Must not exceed CHFA's income limits |
| CHFA Down Payment Assistance Second Mortgage Loan source | Second mortgage | Up to the lesser of $25,000 or 4 percent of the first mortgage amount (e.g., up to $8,000 on a $200,000 mortgage) | No | 620 | Must not exceed CHFA's income limits |
| CHFA FirstGeneration source | Deferred second loan | $25,000 down payment assistance | Yes | 620 | See program page |
| CHFA Statewide Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program source | Tax credit (MCC) | Federal tax credit equal to 20% of annual mortgage interest paid | Yes | n/a | See program page |
Colorado also offers a mortgage credit certificate (CHFA Statewide Mortgage Credit Certificate Program), a federal tax credit worth 20% of your mortgage interest each year. MCC program page
Denver County closing costs that differ from the rest of Colorado
Transfer tax: Colorado's statewide real estate documentary fee is $0.01 per $100 of consideration (about $1 per $10,000, i.e. roughly $0.01 for every $100) on sales over $500, typically paid by the buyer/grantee at recording. Denver does not impose its own additional real estate transfer tax on typical residential resales.
The documentary-fee rate and a stated flat $43 recording fee were corroborated by multiple non-official summaries (e.g.org) or the Colorado Division of Property Taxation.
Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance is available in Denver County, CO?
metroDPA (Metro Down Payment Assistance) (City and County of Denver (and other Front Range participating cities/counties)). Colorado statewide programs can be used here too.
What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in Denver County?
Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $106,800 for a four-person household in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO MSA (Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, Park counties) (FY2026). Some programs allow up to 120% or 150% of median; each program page lists its own table by household size.
Is there a transfer tax in Denver County?
Colorado's statewide real estate documentary fee is $0.01 per $100 of consideration (about $1 per $10,000, i.e. roughly $0.01 for every $100) on sales over $500, typically paid by the buyer/grantee at recording. Denver does not impose its own additional real estate transfer tax on typical residential resales.
What is the median home price in Denver County?
About $616,000, per U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Denver County, Colorado - Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year).
Official sources
- City and County of Denver (and other Front Range participating cities/counties): metroDPA (Metro Down Payment Assistance)
- HUD income limits
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Denver County, Colorado - Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year)
Denver County figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
This is general information, not financial advice. Program funding, limits and terms change; confirm the current rules with the administering agency and your lender before you rely on them.
See down payment help in all covered counties