It is working out what you can actually afford, and what the process will ask of you, before you are standing in someone’s kitchen deciding in ten minutes.

What to know

Four things worth knowing first.

Assistance programs exist, with income limits

CHFA — the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority — runs down-payment assistance aimed at first-time buyers, and metro Denver layers its own programs on top. Both carry income limits that are revised yearly, so check against the current year, not an old article.

You do not need twenty percent down

You do need to understand what mortgage insurance costs you every month when you put down less, and at what point it comes off. That number belongs in your budget from the start.

Get underwritten, not just pre-qualified

A pre-qualification is an estimate based on what you told someone. Full underwriting means a lender has actually verified it. In a competitive stretch, sellers know the difference.

Older Denver stock needs specific inspections

Much of central Denver was built before 1950. Sewer scopes and radon tests are worth the money here — they are not upsells, they are the two things that most often turn into five-figure surprises.

Before you commit

Three questions to ask.

What is my all-in monthly number — principal, interest, taxes, insurance, HOA and mortgage insurance?

Which assistance programs do I actually qualify for, and do they restrict which homes I can buy?

What will this inspection report realistically cost me to fix in the first year?

Who can help

Agents who work this specifically.

Every inquiry goes directly to the agent you pick — it is never shared, scored, or sold on.

AM

Ana Martinez

Sample profile — layout preview

Denver Metro First-Time Buyers Español

A short, specific bio in the agent’s own voice — who they help, which neighborhoods they know block by block, and what makes them the right call.

Common questions

Buying your first home in Denver — the questions people actually ask.

How much do I need for a down payment in Denver?

Less than most people assume — many loan programs allow well under twenty percent, and Colorado has down-payment assistance aimed at first-time buyers. The trade-off is mortgage insurance, which raises your monthly payment until you reach enough equity.

What is the difference between pre-qualified and pre-approved?

Pre-qualification is an estimate based on information you provide. Pre-approval, and better still full underwriting, means a lender has verified your income, assets and credit. Sellers treat the two very differently.

Does a first-time buyer assistance program limit which homes I can buy?

Often yes. Programs may cap the purchase price, require the home be your primary residence, and require it to meet condition standards. Check the restrictions before you tour, not after you find something.

Other situations

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