What down payment assistance is available in Denver?

Denver buyers have access to multiple DPA programs. MetroDPA provides up to 6% of the loan amount as a forgivable loan, forgiven after just 3 years, with no first-time buyer requirement and a 600 minimum credit score. CHFA offers grants up to 4% (never repaid) for income-qualifying buyers. The Dearfield Fund for Black Wealth provides up to $40,000 forgivable for Black homebuyers in the metro area. Denver Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus provides up to 4% as an immediate grant at closing. Buyers can potentially stack MetroDPA and Metro MAP for combined assistance up to 10% of the purchase price.

What is MetroDPA and why is the 3-year forgiveness significant?

MetroDPA provides up to 6% of the loan amount as a forgivable second mortgage for primary residence purchases in Colorado. The key differentiator is 3-year forgiveness. Most DPA programs in the country require 5 to 10 years of owner occupancy before forgiving. MetroDPA clears in 36 months. It also has no first-time buyer requirement, so repeat buyers qualify alongside first-time buyers. Minimum credit score is 600. Works with FHA, conventional, VA, and USDA loans. On a $500,000 purchase with an FHA loan, 6% of the ~$482,500 loan = approximately $28,950.

Does MetroDPA require you to be a first-time buyer?

No. MetroDPA has no first-time buyer requirement. Repeat buyers qualify on the same terms as first-time buyers. This is one of the most buyer-friendly features of the program and a key reason it outperforms CHFA for many Denver buyers. The only restriction is that the property must be your primary residence. Investment properties do not qualify.

What is the CHFA DPA program in Denver?

CHFA (Colorado Housing and Finance Authority) offers two main DPA products. CHFA SmartStep provides a grant of up to 3% of the first mortgage that never requires repayment. CHFA Preferred provides up to 4%. CHFA programs require first-time buyer status (except in federally designated targeted areas). Income limits for Denver County are very high, roughly $160,000 to $180,000, capturing most buyers. Minimum credit score is 620. CHFA is the most widely known program in Colorado but delivers less assistance than MetroDPA for most buyers.

What is the Denver Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus program?

Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus (Metro MAP) is a grant program for buyers in Denver metro counties providing up to 4% of the loan amount. The grant is forgiven immediately at closing with no waiting period. It works alongside first mortgage programs and can potentially be stacked with MetroDPA for combined assistance up to 10%. Verify funding availability with a participating lender before planning around this program.

Can you stack MetroDPA and Metro MAP in Denver?

Potentially yes. MetroDPA at 6% and Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus at 4% can be combined on eligible purchases for up to 10% total assistance. On a $500,000 purchase, that is approximately $50,000 in combined assistance. Stacking eligibility depends on the specific lender, loan type, and program rules at the time of application. Verify with your lender before planning around a combined stack.

What credit score do I need for DPA in Denver?

MetroDPA requires a 600 minimum credit score, which is one of the lowest thresholds of any statewide DPA program. CHFA requires a 620 minimum. The Dearfield Fund uses CHFA underwriting standards (620). Metro MAP minimum varies by lender. Buyers with scores between 600 and 620 should go directly to MetroDPA through an approved lender.

What is the FHA loan limit in Denver County?

The FHA loan limit for Denver County is $833,750 for a single-family home in 2026. Denver's median home price of approximately $560,000 sits well below this limit. FHA-based DPA programs apply to nearly every purchase in the metro area. Veterans with full VA entitlement have no loan limit in Denver County.

What income limits apply for Denver DPA programs?

MetroDPA caps at 100% AMI, approximately $112,000 for a family of four in Denver. CHFA income limits for Denver County are significantly higher, roughly $160,000 to $180,000, meaning most buyers qualify. The Dearfield Fund caps at 80% AMI (approximately $89,600 for a family of four). Metro MAP income limits vary by lender. Confirm exact limits for your household size with an approved lender.

Down Payment Assistance Denver CO 2026 | MetroDPA 6%, CHFA, Dearfield Fund $40K

Q: What is the Dearfield Fund for Black Wealth?

The Dearfield Fund for Black Wealth provides up to $40,000 in forgivable down payment assistance for Black homebuyers in the Denver metro area. It is named after Dearfield, Colorado, a Black farming community founded in 1910. The fund is administered in partnership with CHFA. Income limit is 80% AMI. This is one of the largest race-specific DPA programs in the country by dollar amount. Verify funding availability before going under contract, as this type of program can exhaust allocations.

Last updated: April 2026 · Program availability changes frequently

Down Payment Assistance in Denver: Overview

Most Denver buyers chase CHFA by default because it is what lenders advertise. That is a mistake. MetroDPA provides up to 6% of the loan amount as a forgivable loan with a 3-year forgiveness window, no first-time buyer requirement, and a 600 minimum credit score. CHFA caps at 3% to 4%, requires first-time buyer status in most cases, and demands a 620 credit score. On a $500,000 purchase using an FHA loan, MetroDPA delivers approximately $28,950 forgiven in 36 months. CHFA SmartStep delivers roughly $14,400 as a grant that never comes back. MetroDPA wins on amount. It wins on forgiveness speed. And it does not lock out repeat buyers. The only reason lenders push CHFA is familiarity, not program quality.

Denver's median home price sits around $560,000. The FHA loan limit for Denver County is $833,750, so FHA financing works on nearly every purchase in the metro. A buyer using FHA at 3.5% down on a $560,000 home needs $19,600 upfront before closing costs. MetroDPA at 6% of the loan amount produces approximately $32,000 on that purchase, covering the entire down payment and a significant portion of closing costs. For a market this expensive, that is real money.

The Dearfield Fund for Black Wealth is one of the most significant race-specific DPA programs in the country. It provides up to $40,000 in forgivable assistance for Black homebuyers in the Denver metro. Named after Dearfield, Colorado, a Black farming community founded in 1910, the fund is administered in partnership with CHFA. For eligible buyers, $40,000 in forgivable assistance at Denver prices changes the math on homeownership entirely. Verify funding availability before going under contract.

The best-informed Denver buyers are stacking MetroDPA at 6% with Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus at 4% for combined assistance approaching 10%. On a $500,000 purchase, that is approximately $50,000. Most buyers have never heard of Metro MAP because conventional lenders do not offer it. An experienced DPA lender who knows both programs can model the combined scenario in a single pre-approval.

Quick Answer

Yes. Denver has strong DPA options with MetroDPA as the expert pick over the more commonly advertised CHFA.

MetroDPA: up to 6% of loan amount, forgivable in 3 years, no first-time buyer requirement, 600 credit minimum. CHFA SmartStep: up to 3% grant, first-time buyers, 620 credit. Dearfield Fund: up to $40,000 forgivable for Black homebuyers. Metro MAP: up to 4% immediate grant at closing.

On a $500,000 purchase with an FHA loan: MetroDPA alone covers the entire 3.5% FHA down payment and most closing costs. Stack with Metro MAP and you are potentially at $50,000 in combined assistance with near-zero cash at closing.

MetroDPA, CHFA, and Denver-Area Programs

Open Statewide Through Approved Lenders

MetroDPA

Amount: Up to 6% of loan amount

Type: Forgivable loan (3-year forgiveness)

Income limit: 100% AMI (~$112,000 for family of 4)

First-time buyer: Not required (repeat buyers welcome)

Credit score: 600 minimum

Loan types: FHA, conventional, VA, USDA

The expert pick for most Denver buyers. Three-year forgiveness is one of the fastest in the country. No first-time buyer requirement separates MetroDPA from virtually every other statewide DPA program. Cannot be used for investment properties. On a $482,500 FHA loan (after 3.5% down on a $500,000 purchase), 6% = approximately $28,950. Stay 3 years without selling or refinancing and it is gone. Lenders push CHFA because they know it better. Ask specifically for MetroDPA.

Open CHFA Statewide

CHFA DPA (SmartStep / Preferred)

Amount: Up to 3% (SmartStep) or 4% (Preferred)

Type: Grant (SmartStep: never repaid) or soft second

Income limit: ~$160,000-$180,000 for Denver County

First-time buyer: Required (except targeted areas)

Credit score: 620 minimum

Lender: CHFA-approved lender required

The most widely known DPA program in Colorado, but not always the best option. SmartStep's grant never requires repayment, which is a clean structure. Income limits for Denver County are unusually high, capturing most buyers. The 3% to 4% ceiling is the limiting factor relative to MetroDPA's 6%. First-time buyer restriction cuts out a significant buyer segment. Use CHFA when you need the higher income limit or cannot access MetroDPA's lender network.

Verify Funding Denver Metro

Dearfield Fund for Black Wealth

Amount: Up to $40,000

Type: Forgivable loan

Income limit: 80% AMI (~$89,600 for family of 4)

Eligibility: Black homebuyers in Denver metro area

Administrator: In partnership with CHFA

Property: Primary residence

Named after Dearfield, Colorado, a Black farming community founded in 1910. At $40,000, this is one of the largest race-specific DPA programs in the country by dollar amount. At Denver's median price, $40,000 covers more than two full FHA down payments. Administered through CHFA-approved lenders. Verify funding availability before going under contract. Programs at this size can exhaust annual allocations.

Verify Funding Denver Metro Counties

Denver Metro Mortgage Assistance Plus (Metro MAP)

Amount: Up to 4% of loan amount

Type: Grant (immediate forgiveness at closing)

Geography: Denver metro counties

Forgiveness: Immediate, no waiting period

Stacking: Can combine with MetroDPA

Lender: Participating lender required

The hidden piece of Denver's DPA stack. Metro MAP forgives immediately at closing with no occupancy requirement. Combined with MetroDPA's 6%, eligible buyers can access up to 10% in combined assistance. On a $500,000 purchase, that approaches $50,000. Most conventional lenders do not offer Metro MAP. Find a lender who handles both programs and request a combined scenario before deciding. Verify current funding availability.

How DPA Programs Work in Denver

Forgivable Loans (MetroDPA, Dearfield Fund)

The balance is forgiven after the required occupancy period. MetroDPA forgives after 3 years. Dearfield Fund has its own forgiveness schedule. If you sell or refinance before forgiveness completes, you repay from proceeds. No monthly payment during the period. MetroDPA's 3-year window is faster than any comparable statewide forgivable program in the Mountain West.

Immediate Grants (CHFA SmartStep, Metro MAP)

No repayment, ever. CHFA SmartStep's grant is forgiven the moment you close. Metro MAP is also immediately forgiven. These are the cleanest DPA structures because there is no lien hanging over the property, no forgiveness countdown, and no repayment risk if you sell early. The trade-off is lower dollar amounts compared to forgivable loan programs.

Program Selection Logic

First-time buyer with 620+ credit: compare MetroDPA (6%, 3yr forgiveness) vs. CHFA (3-4% grant). Repeat buyer: MetroDPA is your primary path, CHFA is off limits without a targeted area. Black homebuyer: Dearfield Fund at $40,000 changes the math entirely if income is under 80% AMI. All buyers: ask any DPA lender about Metro MAP stacking. Run every scenario before deciding.

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This guide is for informational purposes only and is not a commitment to lend. Program availability, terms, and eligibility requirements change frequently. All program details should be verified directly with the administering agency or an approved lender before making financial decisions. DownPaymentScout is an independent resource and is not affiliated with any government agency or lending institution. Information is believed accurate as of the date shown but is not guaranteed. Last updated April 2026. Program availability changes frequently.

Down Payment Assistance in Denver, Colorado