Down payment assistance in Commerce City, Colorado

Commerce City buyers can use Colorado statewide assistance plus any local funds serving Adams County. We track 6 programs for this area. Because Commerce City sits in Adams County, the county income and purchase-price limits are the ones your file will be measured against — the 2026 FHA one-unit ceiling there is $862,500.

Residential street of single-family homes in Commerce City, Colorado, a market served by down payment assistance programs
Illustrative photo of Colorado housing. Assistance available to Commerce City buyers is set by the state, county and city agencies that administer each program.

Quick answer: Can you get down payment assistance in Commerce City?

Commerce City buyers draw on Colorado statewide assistance plus any Adams County or municipal funds open to this address. Because Commerce City sits in Adams County, the 2026 FHA one-unit limit of $862,500 applies to the first mortgage, and the county's published income and price caps govern most program eligibility.

TL;DR

  • Commerce City uses Adams County limits: $862,500 one-unit FHA ceiling for 2026.
  • Statewide, county and city funds can sometimes be layered on one purchase.
  • Eligibility is address-based — a program can be open a few miles away and closed here.

Quick questions

Are there Commerce City-only programs?
Municipal funds exist in many cities and are limited to addresses inside city limits; the programs listed on this page are the ones we track for Commerce City and Adams County.
Does the property type matter?
Yes — most programs require an owner-occupied primary residence and set their own rules for condos and manufactured homes.

Published Last updated

  • Reviewed September 2026
  • 2026 official data
  • Data verified January 1, 2026
  • Data source: HUD — CHUMS forward limits file
Written and reviewed by the Simply Approved Mortgages Team at Simply Approved Mortgages LLC, NMLS #2620881.Verify on NMLS Consumer Access

Licensed in Commerce City, Colorado

Simply Approved Mortgages LLC is licensed to arrange residential mortgage loans in Commerce City, Colorado. Eligibility, terms, conditions and availability vary by borrower, property, lender and loan program, and all loans are subject to lender underwriting and approval. Figures shown are estimates, not a quote or commitment to lend.

Programs available to Commerce City buyers

GrantFederal Home Loan Bank

FHLBank Topeka Homeownership Set-Aside (AHP)

FHLBank Topeka · fhlbtopeka.com

Assistance
Amount varies — verify with the administrator
Where
CO
Min credit
Varies
First-time buyer
Not required

Affordable Housing Program set-aside funds for income-eligible Colorado buyers, available only through lenders that are FHLBank Topeka members. Funds may be structured as a grant or as secondary financing layered with an FHA first mortgage; household income generally must be at or below 80% of area median income, and each year's funding allocation is limited.

Repayment: Does not have to be repaid if you meet the program's conditions.

Tax credit (MCC)Federal

Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

IRS · Section 25 MCC

Assistance
Amount varies — verify with the administrator
Where
Nationwide (state exclusions may apply)
Min credit
640
First-time buyer
Required

IRS Mortgage Credit Certificate program administered by state and local HFAs. Converts up to 20–30% of your annual mortgage interest into a dollar-for-dollar federal income tax credit for the life of the loan. Not DPA cash — a lifetime tax benefit. Must be a first-time buyer (or in a targeted area) and stay in the home as your primary residence.

Repayment: A federal income tax credit, not cash toward your down payment.

Repayable second mortgageLender program

Simply Approved Mortgages In-House DPA

Simply Approved Mortgages LLC · NMLS# 2620881

Assistance
up to 5%
Where
Nationwide via our wholesale lender — we originate in FL and CO only
Min credit
580
First-time buyer
Not required

Offered by Simply Approved Mortgages LLC and delivered through our wholesale lender partner: up to 5% of the lesser of purchase price or appraised value, structured as a repayable 10-year fixed second mortgage on a qualifying primary residence. Layers with FHA 203(b) or FHA 203(k) purchase first mortgages only. The second lien is priced at the first-mortgage rate + 2.00% and is fully amortizing — not a grant and not forgivable. The wholesale lender offers this product nationwide, but Simply Approved Mortgages LLC is licensed to arrange residential mortgage loans in Florida and Colorado only, so we can originate it in those states only.

Repayment: A recorded lien with a monthly payment that is underwritten into your debt-to-income ratio. It is a loan, not a gift.

GrantCity or county

metroDPA (Denver-area)

metroDPA · metrodpa.org

Assistance
up to 5%
Where
CO
Min credit
640
First-time buyer
Not required

City and County of Denver's metroDPA offers a forgivable grant of up to 5% of the loan amount for buyers of primary residences in the Denver-metro region. Layers with FHA, VA, USDA, or Conventional first mortgages. Income limits apply.

Repayment: Does not have to be repaid if you meet the program's conditions.

Deferred second mortgageState housing finance agency

CHFA FirstStep

CHFA · chfainfo.com

Assistance
up to 4%
Where
CO
Min credit
620
First-time buyer
Required

Colorado Housing and Finance Authority first-time buyer program with a 30-year fixed FHA mortgage. Pairs with CHFA DPA Grant (up to 3% of first-mortgage amount) or CHFA Second Mortgage Loan (up to 4% of first-mortgage amount, 0% deferred). Income and purchase-price limits vary by county.

Repayment: A recorded lien with no monthly payment. The full balance comes due on sale, refinance, transfer or payoff of the first mortgage.

Deferred second mortgageState housing finance agency

CHFA Preferred (Conventional)

CHFA · chfainfo.com

Assistance
up to 4%
Where
CO
Min credit
620
First-time buyer
Not required

CHFA's HFA Preferred conventional (Fannie Mae) product with reduced MI and CHFA DPA Grant or Second Mortgage Loan of up to 3–4% of the first mortgage. Available to first-time and non-first-time buyers subject to CHFA income limits.

Repayment: A recorded lien with no monthly payment. The full balance comes due on sale, refinance, transfer or payoff of the first mortgage.

Adams County limits that apply here

  • 2026 FHA one-unit loan limit: $862,500
  • HUD area median price: $750,000
  • Metro area used for the limit: DENVER-AURORA-CENTENNIAL, CO
See the full Adams County limits and program table

What the Adams County numbers mean for Commerce City buyers

Adams County's 2026 FHA one-unit limit of $862,500 is set above the Colorado floor of $541,287, ranking it 11th highest of the 64 counties in the state. That extra room matters for Commerce City buyers, because an assistance second still has to fit under the county limit on the first mortgage.

HUD records an area median price of $750,000 for Adams County, about 183% of the Colorado county median of $410,000. Purchase-price caps on assistance programs are published separately by the administering agency and are the figure that usually binds first.

The limit is calculated for the DENVER-AURORA-CENTENNIAL, CO area, so neighbouring counties inside the same area share it. Assistance eligibility, however, is decided county by county and sometimes city by city, which is why a program can be open a few miles away and closed here.

Other Adams County markets we cover: Brighton, Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster.

Commerce City buyer questions

What down payment assistance is available in Commerce City, CO?

Buyers in Commerce City can potentially use 6 programs we track, covering grant, tax-credit, repayable-second-mortgage and deferred-second-mortgage from FHLBank Topeka · fhlbtopeka.com, IRS · Section 25 MCC and Simply Approved Mortgages LLC · NMLS# 2620881, plus 2 more. Program rules are set by the administering agency, change without notice and can run out of funding mid-month, so confirm anything you plan to rely on directly with them before you write an offer.

How much down payment assistance can I get in Commerce City?

Awards for Commerce City are recorded as a percentage of the purchase price, topping out at 5% in our data. Statewide agency seconds are usually the largest awards; city and county funds are smaller but can occasionally be layered on top.

Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get help in Commerce City?

2 of the 6 programs shown here require it. "First-time" almost always means you have not owned a primary residence in the last three years, and the rule is often waived in targeted areas or for veterans and public-service occupations.

Which income limits apply to Commerce City buyers?

Commerce City sits in Adams County, so the county limit table applies. Recorded household-income caps for these programs top out around $12,916 a month, adjusted by household size.

What is the maximum purchase price for assistance in Commerce City?

Programs serving Commerce City generally cap the sales price at or below the 2026 FHA one-unit limit for Adams County, which is $862,500. Confirm each program's own cap with the agency.

What credit score do Commerce City assistance programs require?

The lowest recorded minimum across these programs is 580, and most agency seconds sit in the 620–660 range. Your first mortgage lender can require a higher score than the assistance program does.

Do I pay back assistance if I sell my Commerce City home?

Usually yes if the award is a deferred or repayable second — those come due on sale, refinance or payoff. Forgivable seconds are written off over an occupancy period (often 5–10 years); selling early triggers repayment of the unforgiven portion. True grants are not repaid.

Can I use assistance on a condo or townhome in Commerce City?

Generally yes for attached homes that the first mortgage approves — condos have to be on the FHA-approved list or clear conventional project review, which is the usual sticking point in Colorado coastal and urban markets. Manufactured homes are excluded by many programs.

Which loan types can I pair with assistance in Commerce City?

5 of these programs work with FHA, 4 with conventional, 3 with VA and 3 with USDA. FHA is the most common pairing for Commerce City buyers because of the 3.5% minimum down payment.

Is homebuyer education required for Commerce City programs?

No education requirement is recorded for the programs we list here, but agencies add one frequently. A HUD-approved course is inexpensive and never hurts your file.

How do I apply for down payment assistance in Commerce City?

You apply through a participating lender, not the agency directly. The lender qualifies you for the first mortgage, reserves the assistance while funds are available, and coordinates the education certificate and the second lien. Reservation is first-come, first-served in most Colorado programs.

How long does closing take with assistance in Commerce City?

Budget 30–45 days. Fund reservation, agency file review and recording the second lien add time on top of a standard purchase, so write the contract with a realistic closing date rather than the shortest one you can get.

Can Simply Approved Mortgages originate my Commerce City loan?

Simply Approved Mortgages LLC (NMLS #2620881) is licensed to arrange residential mortgage loans in Colorado, so we can take your application and pair an eligible program with the first mortgage.

What if I buy just outside Commerce City?

County and state programs follow the property, not the city line, so nearby Adams County markets such as Brighton, Northglenn, Thornton and Westminster usually qualify for the same assistance. Only city-funded programs stop at the municipal boundary.

Talk to us about buying in Commerce City

We are licensed in Colorado. Send your details and we will tell you which of these programs you can realistically use, and what the file would look like.

Step 1 of 147%

Which state are you buying in?

Assistance is awarded by state, county and city — location is the single biggest filter.

Simply Approved Mortgages LLC arranges residential mortgage loans in Florida and Colorado only. We ask first so we never collect a mortgage inquiry we are not licensed to act on.

This tool is an educational research aid. It does not determine eligibility, and does not confirm that any program currently has funds. Program rules are set and changed by the administering agencies.

How down payment assistance helps you buy in Colorado

Down payment assistance closes the cash gap between what a lender will lend and what a seller needs at the closing table. For most buyers it is the difference between purchasing this year and saving for another three to five. Terms and availability are set by each administering agency and can change or run out of funding without notice.

You buy years sooner

Saving a 5% down payment on a median-priced home usually takes several years. Assistance covers most or all of that gap now, so your timeline is set by your credit and income rather than by your savings balance.

Your own cash stays intact

Because the assistance funds the down payment and, on many programs, closing costs, your savings can stay where they belong — reserves, moving costs, and the repairs that show up in the first year.

Often no monthly payment added

Grants and forgivable or deferred second mortgages add nothing to your monthly payment. Only a repayable second creates a second monthly obligation, and every program card on this site states which structure applies.

It stacks with normal financing

Assistance attaches to a standard FHA, conventional, VA or USDA first mortgage originated by a lender approved for that program, so you are not trading away loan choice to use it.

What you have to meet

Income limit
Household or qualifying income must fall at or below a published cap, set by county and usually adjusted for household size. This is the most common disqualifier, so check it first.
Purchase-price cap
Most programs limit the acquisition cost of the home, and the cap can differ between new construction, existing homes and federally targeted areas.
First-time buyer status
Commonly defined as no ownership interest in a primary residence for the past three years. Veterans and targeted-area purchases are frequently exempt.
Credit score
Program minimums typically sit in the low-to-mid 600s, and the first mortgage carries its own minimum. The higher of the two governs your file.
Owner occupancy
The home must be your primary residence. Investment and second-home purchases are not eligible, and moving out during a forgiveness period usually accelerates repayment.
Homebuyer education
Most programs require an approved course certificate before closing. It takes a few hours online — take it early, because it is a hard closing condition.
Participating lender and reservation
Funds are delivered through the first mortgage and reserved by an approved lender, normally once you are under contract. Eligibility alone does not hold money; the reservation does.

A realistic timeline

  1. Week 1Check the county income and price limits, pull your own credit report, and start the homebuyer education course.
  2. Week 1–2Work with a lender approved for the specific assistance program you want to use to confirm your financing.
  3. Week 2–8Shop inside the program's eligible area and price cap, then write an offer that allows time for the assistance paperwork.
  4. At contractYour lender reserves the assistance funds while the file moves through underwriting.
  5. At closingFunds are wired to the closing agent and applied to your down payment and permitted closing costs — they are never paid to you as cash.

Timelines are illustrative and vary by program, lender and market. Nothing here is an offer of credit, an approval, or a guarantee of assistance eligibility, funding availability or any particular term.

Recent updates for Commerce City

Dated changes we recorded from administering agencies and public housing data. Each item links to the source it came from.

  1. Rates

    15-year fixed mortgage rate (national average): 6.09% as of September 10, 2026

    That is 0.05 points higher than the prior reading. Rate moves change the payment behind any assistance award in Commerce City, and can move the price a program's income cap still supports.

    Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) · View source

  2. Market data

    Colorado colorado house price index (fhfa, all transactions) up +0.2% year over year

    The latest Federal Housing Finance Agency (via FRED) reading for Colorado is 853.19 as of April 1, 2026, +0.2% against a year earlier. Rising prices raise the purchase-price cap pressure on assistance programs in Commerce City; falling prices ease it.

    Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (via FRED) · View source

Taxes and closing charges in Commerce City

Assistance solves the cash-to-close problem. These are the costs that stay with you afterwards, and the one-time state charges that land on your Closing Disclosure. Figures are modelled on the HUD area median price for Adams County of $750,000 for Commerce City using Colorado's published statewide effective property tax rate — an estimate for planning, not a quote for a specific property.

Effective property tax rate
0.55%

Colorado statewide, below the national effective rate of 0.90%.

Source: Tax Foundation — property taxes by state

Estimated annual property tax
$4,125

At the HUD area median price for Adams County for Commerce City.

Source: Calculated from Tax Foundation — property taxes by state

Added to the monthly payment
$344

Escrowed monthly, before homeowners insurance and any HOA dues.

Source: Calculated from Tax Foundation — property taxes by state

Why this matters here. At the national effective rate of 0.90%, the same $750,000 home would carry about $6,750 a year. Colorado runs 0.35 points lower, roughly $2,625 less a year, which quietly widens what you can carry on the same income.

Transfer and documentary charges. Colorado levies a documentary fee of $0.01 per $100 of consideration — one of the lowest in the country, about $40 on a $400,000 purchase. A handful of home-rule municipalities add their own real estate transfer tax; the closing agent confirms whether the property sits in one.

Homeowners insurance. Wildfire and hail exposure has pushed premiums up sharply in recent years and some carriers have restricted new business in higher-risk ZIP codes. Quote insurance early: a policy that arrives late or high can undo the payment math assistance was supposed to fix.

CHFA assistance is layered onto a CHFA first mortgage, so the documentary fee and recording charges are calculated on the full purchase price and loan amount regardless of how much assistance you receive.

Estimates only. Property tax is assessed locally and millage, exemptions (including homestead), and assessment ratios change the actual bill. Transfer, documentary and recording charges are itemised on your Closing Disclosure. This is not tax advice — confirm with your closing agent and a tax professional. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (property taxes paid) · Tax Foundation — property taxes by state.

Monthly review

September 2026 Commerce City Down Payment Assistance Review

We reviewed Colorado housing finance agency program notices, Adams County and municipal assistance funding announcements, published income and purchase-price limits and federal housing and mortgage-market data relevant to this page. No material changes requiring substantive revisions were identified this month. The information and sources shown here remain current as of our latest review.

  • Checked: Colorado housing finance agency program notices
  • Checked: Adams County and municipal assistance funding announcements
  • Checked: published income and purchase-price limits
  • Checked: federal housing and mortgage-market data
Sources:
HUD — CHUMS forward limits file
Data last verified:
2026-01-01
Data year:
2026

Current data & page updates

Page last reviewed
September 5, 2026
Page last substantively updated
September 5, 2026
Data last verified
January 1, 2026
Current data year
2026
Primary sources
HUD — CHUMS forward limits file
Next scheduled review
October 5, 2026
Current monthly review
September 2026
Live data feed
No

Licensing & Disclosures

Simply Approved Mortgages LLC | NMLS #2620881

Florida Mortgage Broker License #MBR7685 | Colorado Mortgage Company Registration

Simply Approved Mortgages LLC is a mortgage broker and is not a direct lender. We arrange residential mortgage loans in Florida and Colorado.

Eligibility, terms, conditions, and availability vary by borrower, property, lender, loan program, and state. Not all products or programs are available in all states. All loans are subject to lender underwriting and approval. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Verify our license on NMLS Consumer Access

DPA amount calculator and eligibility checker

Estimate your assistance amount, the second-lien payment and where you stand against the program rules. Illustrative only — not a quote, offer or commitment to lend.

Simply Approved Mortgages DPA

DPA amount calculator & eligibility checker

Estimate 3.5% assistance on the lesser of price or appraisal, layered over a 30-year fixed FHA first mortgage.

Estimated DPA
$14,000
3.5% of $400,000
2nd-lien P&I
$174
10-yr · 8.500%

Amount calculator

Assistance tier
Lesser of price or appraisal
$400,000
DPA at 3.5%
$14,000
2nd-lien term
10-year fixed, repayable
2nd-lien rate
8.500%
Monthly P&I
$174/mo

Illustrative only — not a quote, lock, offer, or commitment to lend. Binding figures appear only on your Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure.

Eligibility checker

Documentable qualifying income?

Willing to complete homebuyer education before closing?

Property in NY, WA, USVI, Guam, MP, or AS?

Answer each question above to see your preliminary result.

Talk to a Loan Officer →

Preliminary self-check only. Not a quote, lock, offer, or commitment to lend. Simply Approved Mortgages is not affiliated with HUD, FHA, VA, USDA, FHFA, or any government agency. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS# 2620881.

Keep reading

Related pages on down payment assistance, local markets and the numbers behind each program.

Simply Approved Mortgages In-House DPA

Our own down payment assistance program — up to 5% toward your primary home

Simply Approved Mortgages LLC · NMLS# 2620881

In addition to matching you with agency programs, we offer our own assistance program, provided through our wholesale lender partner and arranged by Simply Approved Mortgages: up to 5% of the lesser of the purchase price or appraised value, structured as a repayable 10-year fixed second mortgage on a qualifying primary residence. It layers with FHA 203(b) or FHA 203(k) purchase first mortgages only, and the second lien is priced at the first-mortgage rate plus 2.00%. It is fully amortizing — not a grant and not forgivable — so your Loan Officer will show a side-by-side comparison before you commit.

Offered through our wholesale lender partner
Up to 5% of the lesser of purchase price or appraised value
Repayable 10-year fixed second mortgage
Layers with FHA 203(b) or FHA 203(k) purchase first mortgages
Second-lien rate = first-mortgage rate + 2.00%
Fully amortizing — not a grant and not forgivable
Qualifying primary residence only

Program at a glance

Assistance
Up to 5%
Where
FL & CO*
Min credit
580
First-time buyer
Not required

*Our wholesale lender partner offers this product nationwide, but Simply Approved Mortgages LLC is licensed to arrange residential mortgage loans in Florida and Colorado only, so we can originate it in those two states only. Outside Florida and Colorado this is educational information and you should work with a lender licensed in your state.

How it works

1. Find the assistance you qualify for

Answer ten short questions and our DPA matching tool screens your location, income, price range, credit band and first-time buyer status against every state, county and city program we track.

2. A licensed loan officer reviews it with you

A Simply Approved loan officer confirms which programs your file can actually use, how each one is structured, and what it means for your monthly payment and closing costs.

3. Pair assistance with your first mortgage

Assistance is delivered through an approved first mortgage. We arrange the FHA, conventional, VA or USDA loan underneath it and reserve the assistance funds once you are under contract.

4. Funds arrive at closing

The assistance is wired to the closing agent and applied to your down payment and, where the program permits, closing costs — so your own savings stay where they belong.

Repayment: The second lien is a recorded lien with a monthly payment that is underwritten into your debt-to-income ratio. Layered DPA affects your final rate and mortgage insurance; your Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer will disclose the side-by-side comparison before you commit. Program terms, income limits, funding availability and eligibility requirements are subject to change without notice and must be confirmed in writing. Nothing here is an offer of credit, an approval, or a guarantee of eligibility, funding or any particular term. All loans are subject to lender underwriting and approval. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Follow our down payment assistance updates on Google

Add Simply Approved Mortgages as a preferred source in Google Search and our program updates, county limit changes and funding-status notes are more likely to surface when you search. It is a Google setting you control and can remove at any time.

Google is a trademark of Google LLC. Simply Approved Mortgages LLC is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Google, and this setting has no effect on loan eligibility, pricing or availability.

Free monthly briefing

Down payment assistance changes fast. Stay ahead of it.

New funding rounds, closed programs, and updated income and price limits for Florida and Colorado buyers — in one short email each month.

Licensing notice: Simply Approved Mortgages LLC arranges residential mortgage loans in Florida and Colorado only. The briefing and this website are educational content — not an offer, solicitation, advertisement of credit terms or commitment to lend, and no mortgage services are offered in states where we are not licensed.

Expert Insight

The loan has to survive wildfire insurance, mountain taxes and HOA math

In Commerce City, Colorado, the published interest rate is usually less important than whether the loan survives the real costs of the property: wildfire and natural-hazard insurance in the foothills and mountains, property-tax spikes in resort counties, and HOA dues that can rival principal and interest. A buyer in the Denver metro may qualify very differently than a buyer in Summit, Eagle or Boulder County, even at the same price.

Takeaway: Model taxes, insurance and HOA dues with a Simply Approved Loan Officer before setting a price range.

The only way to know which program, down-payment structure, and insurance strategy actually fits you in Colorado is to walk through it with a Simply Approved Mortgages Loan Officer who can compare the real numbers side-by-side on a Colorado Loan Estimate.

Commentary from the Simply Approved Mortgages Team at Simply Approved Mortgages LLC, NMLS #2620881. Verify on NMLS Consumer Access