metroDPA (Denver-area)

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.

What the money can be used for

Grant funds are applied at closing toward your down payment and, on most programs of this type, your closing costs. No lien is recorded, so the money does not appear on your title.

• Down payment on an owner-occupied purchase.
• Closing costs and prepaid items, where the administering agency permits it — confirm the split before you write an offer.
• The home must be your primary residence. Investment and second homes are not eligible.
• Funds are delivered at the closing table. They cannot pay your earnest money deposit, inspection or appraisal up front.
• Assistance cannot be taken as cash back at closing; anything left over is normally applied to the loan balance or returned to the program.

Steps to get this program

1. 1

   Confirm the property location qualifies

   Eligibility is limited to specific municipalities: denver, aurora, lakewood, thornton, westminster, arvada, commerce city, englewood, centennial, wheat ridge, northglenn. Assistance follows the property address, not your current address.

2. 2

   Check the income limit for your county and household size

   Qualifying income must fall at or below the program's published cap, which is set by county and often adjusted for larger households. Check this year's table before anything else — it is the most common disqualifier.

3. 3

   Confirm credit and first-mortgage eligibility

   This program sets a minimum credit score of 640. Your first mortgage carries its own minimum, and the higher of the two governs your file.

4. 4

   Get pre-approved with a participating lender

   Assistance is delivered through the first mortgage, so it has to be originated by a lender approved for this specific program. Confirm participation in writing before you go under contract.

5. 5

   Complete homebuyer education

   Check whether an approved homebuyer education certificate is required. Most programs require one, and it is always a closing condition when they do.

6. 6

   Reserve the funds

   Assistance allocations are finite and are reserved by your lender, usually once you are under contract. Eligibility alone does not secure money — the reservation does.

7. 7

   Close and keep your documents

   There is no second lien to sign. Keep the award letter and settlement statement with your closing file.

Is this program right for me?

Program details

Administered by

metroDPA · metrodpa.org

Where it applies

Colorado

Cities

denver, aurora, lakewood, thornton, westminster, arvada, commerce city, englewood, centennial, wheat ridge, northglenn

Assistance amount

up to 5%

Minimum credit score

640

Income limit

$12,916 per month ($154,992 per year), before adjustments

First-time buyer required

No

Compatible first mortgages

FHA, Conventional, VA, USDA

Occupancy

Owner-occupied primary residence only

Funding status

Unconfirmed — verify with the administrator

Program terms are set and changed by the administering agency without notice to us. This page is educational and is not an approval, a commitment to lend, or a guarantee that funds are available. Simply Approved Mortgages LLC does not administer this program unless it is explicitly identified as an in-house program.