Down Payment Assistance
Every year, down payment assistance goes unused because buyers don’t know it exists. The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) pairs its first mortgages — FHA, VA, USDA and conventional — with either a grant that is never repaid or a 0%-interest second mortgage with no monthly payment, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the first loan. On top of that, the Denver metro has metroDPA and the Pikes Peak region has El Paso County’s Turnkey Plus program. Scott pairs the pieces for you.
Is this you?
- First-time buyers — and repeat buyers on the CHFA programs that allow them
- Households within CHFA, metroDPA or Turnkey Plus income limits
- Buyers who qualify on income but are short on savings
- Anyone told “come back when you’ve saved more”
Questions friends actually ask
How does down payment assistance work in Colorado?
CHFA offers assistance alongside a CHFA first mortgage: a grant (up to a percentage of the first mortgage amount, never repaid) or a second mortgage at 0% interest with no monthly payment, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the first loan. Local programs — metroDPA in the Denver metro and El Paso County Turnkey Plus in the Pikes Peak region — have their own structures and limits. Scott handles the pairing for you.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get assistance in Colorado?
Not always. CHFA FirstStep is for first-time buyers, qualified veterans and buyers in targeted areas, but CHFA SmartStep and Preferred serve repeat buyers too, and metroDPA does not require first-time status. Income and purchase-price limits apply and vary by county.
Is down payment assistance a grant or a loan?
In Colorado it can be either. CHFA offers a true grant option and a deferred second-mortgage option; metroDPA assistance is typically a forgivable second loan. Scott will walk you through exactly what your version costs, in plain English, before you commit.
Is there down payment assistance in Colorado Springs and El Paso County?
Yes. CHFA programs are available statewide, and El Paso County’s Turnkey Plus program adds a local down payment assistance option for eligible buyers in the Pikes Peak region. Program terms change; Scott checks current eligibility and runs the numbers before you commit.
Keep exploring
Conventional Loans
The workhorse of home financing — flexible terms, competitive costs, and down payments as low as 3% for first-time buyers.
Learn more →FHA Loans
The first-time buyer favorite — 3.5% down, friendlier credit requirements, and forgiving guidelines for real-life finances.
Learn more →VA Loans
For those who served — $0 down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and some of the strongest terms in all of lending.
Learn more →Not sure yet?
That is literally what Scott is for. One conversation, all your options side by side, zero pressure to move forward.
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