Colorado Mortgage Guides 2026
2026 FHA limits by county (resort counties like Eagle, Pitkin, and Garfield reach the national ceiling), CHFA down payment assistance including the FirstGeneration and FirstStep programs, USDA rural loans, VA resources for Colorado’s large military and veteran community, and a full closing cost breakdown covering the state documentary fee and resort-town transfer taxes, all in one place.
Everything You Need for a Colorado Home Purchase
Six in-depth guides covering every aspect of getting a mortgage in Colorado, from loan program selection to what you’ll pay at closing.
Colorado Mortgage Guide
2026 FHA loan limits by county, CHFA programs, property taxes, closing costs, and the Colorado housing market outlook covering Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Fort Collins, and mountain communities.
Read guide →Colorado First-Time Home Buyer Guide
CHFA FirstStep, CHFA Preferred, CHFA FirstGeneration, and CHFA HomeAccess loans, with down payment assistance offered as a grant or a deferred second mortgage, plus income and purchase price limits by county.
Read guide →Colorado FHA Loan Requirements
2026 FHA limits from $541,287 across most of Colorado up to $1,249,125 in Eagle, Pitkin, and Garfield counties, explained county by county from the official HUD file.
Read guide →Colorado VA Loan Requirements
VA loan benefits for Colorado veterans and service members near Fort Carson, Peterson SFB, Buckley SFB, and Schriever SFB, plus how full entitlement means no loan cap.
Read guide →Colorado USDA Loans
USDA-eligible rural areas across the eastern plains, the San Luis Valley, and Western Slope communities, with current income limits and property eligibility explained.
Read guide →Colorado Closing Costs Guide
Colorado’s state documentary fee, resort-town real estate transfer taxes, title insurance customs, escrow-based closings, and what buyers and sellers each pay.
Read guide →Key Colorado Mortgage Facts
FHA Loan Limits (2026)
- Most counties (national floor): $541,287 (HUD)
- Colorado Springs (El Paso, Teller): $541,650 (HUD)
- Denver metro counties: $862,500 (HUD)
- Boulder County: $879,750 (HUD)
- Summit / Routt (Steamboat): about $1,089,050–$1,092,500 (HUD)
- Eagle (Vail), Pitkin (Aspen), Garfield: $1,249,125 national ceiling (HUD)
- 29 of Colorado’s 64 counties exceed the floor (HUD)
Down Payment Assistance
- CHFA DPA Grant: up to 3% of the first mortgage or $25,000, no repayment (CHFA)
- CHFA DPA Second Mortgage: up to 4% or $25,000, deferred with no monthly payment (CHFA)
- Choose one option, paired with a CHFA first mortgage: FirstStep, Preferred, FirstGeneration, HomeAccess, or SmartStep (CHFA programs)
- Min mid credit score: 620, with no-score exceptions on some programs (CHFA FAQ)
- 2026 CHFA income limits vary by county and program: FirstStep and FirstGeneration run $127,800–$153,600 for a 1–2 person household in non-targeted areas, and SmartStep is $178,920 regardless of household size (CHFA 2026 limits, effective June 15, 2026)
Property Taxes
- Effective rate: approx. 0.45%–0.55% (Est.) (DOLA)
- No state property tax; every dollar is levied locally by counties, cities, and special districts (DOLA)
- 2026 residential assessment rates: 6.80% for local governments, after a 10% reduction of the first $700,000 of actual value (DPT), and 7.05% for school districts (DPT)
- Senior and 100% disabled-veteran homestead: 50% of the first $200,000 of value exempt for qualifying owners (DOLA)
- Proposition HH was defeated in 2023; today’s relief comes from SB24-233, not Prop HH (SB24-233)
Closing Costs
- Buyer closing costs vary with the loan, lender, title insurer and any town transfer tax
- No statewide real estate transfer tax, frozen by a 1992 constitutional amendment (DOLA)
- State documentary fee: $0.01 per $100 of price ($0.10 per $1,000), under C.R.S. 39-13-102 (C.R.S. 39-13-102)
- Some resort towns levy their own transfer taxes, including Telluride 3%, Aspen 1.5%, Breckenridge 1% and Avon 2%; confirm the rate with the specific town
- Who pays each title policy varies and is set in the purchase contract; closings are handled by a title company, and no attorney is required
Buying or Refinancing in Colorado?
Our guides pull every figure from primary sources so you can plan with confidence. Start with the numbers that matter for your county, then verify current terms directly with the agencies below.
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