Down Payment Assistance in Broomfield: 2026 Programs That Work
Does down payment assistance work in Broomfield's higher-priced market?
Yes. Two programs do the heavy lifting in Broomfield in 2026: CHFA, which offers up to $25,000 toward your down payment and closing costs, and metroDPA, which offers a zero-interest second mortgage with no purchase price limit. The trick is choosing a program without a low purchase-price cap, because Broomfield homes sit above the limits on the entry-level products. Most buyers need 3 to 5 percent down, and assistance can cover most or all of it.
By Nick Ahrens | June 28, 2026
Here's the thing most "free money for homebuyers" articles get wrong about Broomfield: half the programs they list won't actually work here.
The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority runs a few products with a hard purchase-price ceiling — and that ceiling sits around $566,000 in some counties. Broomfield's median home price is in the $630s, and the 80023 communities like Anthem run higher still. So if you read a generic Colorado down payment guide and walk into your lender's office expecting a check, you can get turned away on the price limit alone.
That doesn't mean you're out of luck. It means you need the right program. And the right ones — CHFA's no-price-limit products and the metroDPA program — reach much further into Broomfield's market than buyers assume. I walk first-time and move-up buyers through this every month, and the surprise is always the same: "Wait, I qualify for this?"
Let's break down what actually works.
How much down payment you actually need in Broomfield
Start with the real number, because it's lower than most people think. You do not need 20 percent.
On a single-family home or townhome in Broomfield, here's what minimum down payments look like:
Conventional loan: 3 percent (first-time buyers) to 5 percent
FHA loan: 3.5 percent with a credit score of 580 or higher (10 percent below that)
VA or USDA loan: 0 percent for eligible buyers
Put real Broomfield numbers on it. On a $650,000 home — a realistic entry point for a townhome or smaller single-family property here — that's roughly:
3 percent conventional: $19,500
5 percent conventional: $32,500
3.5 percent FHA: $22,750
Then add closing costs, which typically run 2 to 3 percent of the purchase price in Colorado. With a 30-year fixed rate sitting in the mid-6 percent range as of late June 2026, the monthly payment matters as much as the cash to close — and your real monthly number in 80023 also includes metro district taxes and HOA dues, which I always have buyers budget for up front. (If you're still comparing Broomfield against nearby suburbs on price, my Broomfield vs. Arvada vs. Lakewood breakdown lays out the trade-offs.)
Down payment assistance is built to knock down that cash-to-close number. Here's how.
The two programs that actually fit Broomfield: CHFA and metroDPA
CHFA — up to $25,000, structured your way
CHFA is the state housing finance authority, and it's the program most Broomfield buyers should look at first. You get a CHFA first mortgage, and on top of it you choose one of two assistance options:
CHFA Down Payment Assistance Grant — up to the lesser of $25,000 or 3 percent of your first mortgage. No repayment, ever.
CHFA Down Payment Assistance Second Mortgage — up to the lesser of $25,000 or 4 percent of your first mortgage. Zero interest, with repayment deferred until you sell, refinance, pay off the first mortgage, or stop using the home as your primary residence.
Here's why this matters for Broomfield specifically. CHFA's purchase-price-limited products (the ones capped around $566,000) generally won't reach our prices. But CHFA's other programs have no purchase-price limit — they're capped by loan amount instead, at $832,750 in 2026. That comfortably covers the entry and mid tiers of the Broomfield market.
Run the math on a $650,000 home: put 3 percent down ($19,500), and a CHFA grant of 3 percent of your first mortgage works out to roughly $18,900. Your down payment is nearly covered. You'd mainly bring closing costs and CHFA's $1,000 minimum borrower investment to the table.
To qualify for CHFA in 2026, you'll need:
A mid credit score of 620 or higher
Income within CHFA's limits — roughly $130,000 for a one-to-two-person household and about $150,000 for a household of three or more in the Denver metro (higher in designated targeted areas, and CHFA adjusts these periodically)
A completed CHFA homebuyer education course before closing ($75 online, around six hours, or free in person; the certificate is good for 12 months)
The home as your primary residence
metroDPA — no purchase price limit, open to repeat buyers
metroDPA is the second program worth knowing, and it's the one buyers overlook. It's sponsored by the City and County of Denver but available across the Front Range — including Broomfield County.
The headline features:
Up to about 5 percent of your loan amount as a zero-interest second mortgage toward your down payment and closing costs, with some structures designed to be forgivable after three years
No purchase price limit (it follows standard agency loan limits)
Open to repeat buyers — you don't have to be a first-timer
Income cap around $210,150, which is generous enough to fit most dual-income Broomfield households
Minimum credit score of 620 (640 in some cases), and you must occupy the home as your primary residence within 60 days
That higher income ceiling and the lack of a price cap are exactly why metroDPA often works for buyers who get screened out of the entry-level CHFA products. If you and a partner both earn solid incomes and you're eyeing an Anthem townhome, this is frequently the program that fits.
There's also a third option worth a mention: through the Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation (CHAC), funded in part by Proposition 123 and the Department of Local Affairs, some first-time buyers can access a 30-year interest-free loan of up to 10 percent of the purchase price for down payment and closing costs. Funds are limited, so timing matters.
The fine print worth knowing before you apply
Down payment assistance is real money, but it isn't free in every sense. Know the trade-offs before you sign:
Most assistance is a second mortgage, not a gift. The CHFA grant is the exception — it's truly forgiven. The second-mortgage options sit silently at 0 percent interest until you sell, refinance, or convert the home to a rental, at which point the balance comes due. That's still a good deal, but plan for it.
Assisted loans carry a small rate premium. CHFA and similar programs typically run about 0.125 to 0.5 percent above a standard market rate. On a mid-six-percent loan, that might add $50 to $165 a month. For most buyers, trading a slightly higher rate for $15,000 to $25,000 in upfront help is an easy yes — but if you have the cash and plan to stay only a couple of years, run both scenarios.
Education and a minimum investment are required. You'll complete the homebuyer course and put in at least $1,000 of your own money. Budget for both.
Layering programs is possible but not automatic. Combining CHFA, metroDPA, and CHAC depends on each program's rules and your lender's approval. This is where a CHFA-participating lender earns their keep.
The single biggest mistake I see? Buyers assume they earn too much or the house costs too much, so they never ask. With income caps reaching $210,150 on metroDPA and loan caps north of $830,000 on CHFA, far more Broomfield buyers qualify than realize it. If you want to see where assistance fits in the bigger picture, my 10-step guide to buying a house in Colorado walks through every stage from pre-approval to closing.
If you want to know exactly which program fits your income, your credit, and the specific home you're targeting in Broomfield or the 80023 communities, call or text me at 949-230-3625, or email NickAhrensRealEstate@gmail.com. I'll connect you with a CHFA-participating lender and we'll run your real cash-to-close number before you ever write an offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to be a first-time buyer to get down payment assistance in Broomfield?
Not always. CHFA defines a first-time buyer as someone who has not owned a home in the last three years, and some CHFA programs require that status. But other CHFA products and the metroDPA program are open to repeat buyers too. If you sold a home recently or already own one, ask a CHFA-participating lender which program still fits.
How much down payment do you actually need to buy a house in Broomfield in 2026?
Conventional loans start at 3 to 5 percent down, FHA at 3.5 percent with a 580 credit score, and eligible VA or USDA buyers can put zero down. On a $650,000 Broomfield home, that is roughly $19,500 to $32,500 before any assistance. Down payment assistance can cover most or all of that minimum.
Does down payment assistance work on a $700,000 home in Broomfield?
Yes, on the right program. CHFA's purchase-price-limited programs top out well below Broomfield prices, but its no-price-limit programs cap by loan amount at $832,750, and metroDPA has no purchase price limit at all. Both reach the entry tier of Broomfield's market, where most townhomes and smaller single-family homes sit.
What is the catch with a CHFA or metroDPA second mortgage?
The assistance is usually a zero-interest second mortgage you repay when you sell, refinance, or stop living in the home. These loans also carry a slightly higher interest rate than a standard market loan, often 0.125 to 0.5 percent more. For most buyers, trading a small rate bump for $15,000 to $25,000 in upfront help is worth it.
Can you combine down payment assistance programs in Colorado?
Sometimes. Layering programs like CHFA, metroDPA, and CHAC depends on each program's rules and your lender's approval. A CHFA-participating lender can tell you which combination you qualify for and run the actual numbers for your purchase.
The bottom line
Down payment assistance isn't just for buyers chasing the cheapest condo in the metro. In Broomfield's 2026 market, the right program can put $15,000 to $25,000 toward your purchase even on a home in the $600s or $700s — you just have to pick the product that doesn't cap out on price. The cash-to-close gap that's keeping you on the sidelines may be smaller than you think.
If you're weighing whether you can afford to buy in Broomfield or the 80023 communities this year, let's run your actual numbers together. Call or text me at 949-230-3625, or email NickAhrensRealEstate@gmail.com, and I'll walk you through exactly which programs you qualify for and what you'd bring to closing.
About Nick Ahrens
Nick Ahrens is a Colorado real estate broker with The Apollo Group at eXp Realty, specializing in the Anthem and Baseline communities of Broomfield (80023). With 15+ years in the business and 350+ career closings, he helps North Denver sellers and relocating buyers navigate pricing, timing, and the path to closing. Connect with Nick at youranthemhome.com.
