Median Sale Price
$563,000
Colorado statewide median — well above the national $417,700 median
+0.9% YoYColorado · FHA LoansFHA Loans in Colorado:
FHA Loans in Colorado:
Requirements, Limits & Local Programs
3.5%Min. down payment
580Min. credit score
$524,225FHA floor — Denver & resorts higher
43%Max debt-to-income ratio
The short version
FHA in Colorado at a Glance
FHA loans are government-backed mortgages that let Colorado buyers put as little as 3.5% down with a credit score of 580 or higher.
3.5%
Min. down payment (580+ score)
10%
Down payment if score 500–579
1.75%
Upfront mortgage insurance premium (MIP)
FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration and originated by FHA-approved lenders like Intra Mortgage. Colorado is the one state in our footprint where the FHA loan limit genuinely matters: prices are high enough that the national floor doesn't stretch as far as it does in the Midwest, so the county limit — and whether you're in a high-cost county — is the first thing to check.
Colorado-specific note: Colorado's statewide median sits above the national FHA floor of $524,225, so the county limit does real work here. The Denver metro (Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Douglas, Jefferson) carries a substantially higher FHA limit, and mountain-resort counties (Pitkin/Aspen, Eagle/Vail, San Miguel/Telluride, Routt) run into the high-cost ceiling. Lower-cost areas like Pueblo use the floor. Confirm your county's limit before you shop — we'll pull it for you.
Colorado housing market
Local Market Snapshot
Colorado is the priciest market in our footprint — which makes the FHA county limit, and pairing assistance with it, more important here than anywhere.
Days on Market
49 days
Statewide average — inventory has loosened from the frenzy years
Longer than 2024Homes Sold
7,546
Statewide, May 2026 — steady demand along the Front Range
StableFHA Share (National)
17%
Of U.S. purchase loans are FHA — a flexible-credit path in a high-price market
National avgBecause Colorado prices run high, FHA buyers here bump against the loan limit more often than buyers in our other states — which is exactly why the high-cost Denver-metro and resort-county limits matter, and why layering CHFA assistance to cover the down payment can be the difference between qualifying and not.
Down payment help
Colorado First-Time Buyer Programs
These CHFA and local programs can be layered on top of an FHA loan to reduce your out-of-pocket costs at closing.
CHFA SmartStep
State standard down payment assistance
- Benefit
- Up to 4% of the first mortgage as a silent second loan
- Who qualifies
- First-time and repeat buyers statewide meeting regional income limits
CHFA FirstStep
Entry-level option with lower limits
- Benefit
- Up to 4% of the loan amount as a non-amortizing second loan
- Who qualifies
- First-time buyers or veterans purchasing in statewide target zones
Denver Metro DPA
Regional multi-county urban assistance grant
- Benefit
- Up to 4% of the loan value as a 3-year forgivable grant
- Who qualifies
- Buyers with a 640+ credit score earning below area median income limits
USDA + FHA (Rural Colorado)
Applicable in eligible rural counties
- Benefit
- 0% down USDA or 3.5% FHA in eligible areas
- Who qualifies
- Properties outside urbanized areas; income limits apply
Stack these programs. CHFA assistance is designed to sit on top of an FHA (or conventional) first mortgage from a participating lender, and up to 4% toward the down payment goes a long way against Colorado prices. In the Denver metro, regional DPA can add more for income-eligible buyers. CHFA and the Denver program generally want a 640+ score, above FHA's 580 floor.
Real scenarios
Colorado FHA Borrower Profiles
Common buyer combinations we see in Colorado — and how FHA works for each.
Profile A
First-time buyer, Colorado Springs
Buying a $415,000 home in the Springs — more attainable than Denver. Credit 655, W-2 income. Qualifies for CHFA SmartStep (640+), covering much of the 3.5% FHA down payment. Under the FHA floor, so the limit isn't a constraint here.
3.5% downCHFA eligible~40 day close
Profile B
Denver buyer at the limit
Wants a $560,000 Denver home — above the national FHA floor but within the Denver metro's higher high-cost limit. FHA is still an option here precisely because of that elevated county limit. We confirm the exact metro figure and model MIP against a conventional 5%-down scenario side by side.
Denver limit exceeds floorCompare vs. conventional35–45 day close
Profile C
Self-employed buyer, Fort Collins
2-year self-employed history, Schedule C income averaging $95,000/year after write-downs, credit 672. FHA accepts a 2-year average. Needs 2 years of complete tax returns, a year-to-date P&L, and business bank statements. Down payment: 3.5% on a home near the county limit.
2-yr tax returns needed+7–10 day underwriting40–52 day close
Profile D
Resort-county buyer, mountain towns
Looking in Eagle or Pitkin County, where FHA limits run into the high-cost ceiling. FHA can reach higher here than almost anywhere — but prices are steep and inventory thin. We confirm the county ceiling and whether FHA or conventional is the better structure for the price point.
High-cost ceilingConfirm county limit40–50 day close
Run the numbers
Colorado FHA Payment Estimator
Estimate your monthly payment including MIP — the piece most calculators leave out. In higher-cost Colorado counties, confirm your FHA limit before relying on an estimate.
Colorado median: $563,000 · FHA floor: $524,225 (Denver-metro higher)
Rates vary by credit score and lender
Monthly P&I
$3,585
Principal & interest
Monthly MIP
$249
Mortgage insurance premium (MIP)
Total Monthly
Talk to a loan officer$3,834
Before tax & insurance
Estimates only. Does not include property tax, homeowner's insurance, or HOA dues. MIP rate assumes LTV > 90% for loans ≥ 30 years. FHA limits vary by county in Colorado — confirm yours. Not a commitment to lend.
Answers to real questions
Colorado FHA Loan FAQs
From the field
Our Take on FHA in Colorado
"Colorado is the state where I tell buyers to start with the county limit, not the rate. Denver and the mountain counties can go well above the national floor, while a mid-priced home in a floor county can bump right into it. Once we know your county's limit and pair it with CHFA assistance, FHA is very much on the table here — you just have to run it in the right order."
Katie Smith
VP of Operations & Senior Loan Officer, Intra MortgageKatie leads buyer guidance across Intra's footprint and works closely with the Colorado team on FHA files where the county limit and CHFA assistance decide the deal. She focuses on getting buyers the right structure before they shop.
What to watch for on Colorado FHA files:
- County FHA limits — Denver metro and resort counties differ sharply from the floor
- CHFA and Denver DPA income limits that vary by area median income
- Mid-priced homes in floor-limit counties that bump against the FHA cap
CHFA-Participating Lender
Access to Colorado's DPA programs
5.0 Google Rating
Verified borrower reviews
NMLS #2620605
Equal Housing Lender
Licensed in Colorado
Local mortgage guidance
Ready to move forward?
Talk to a Colorado FHA specialist
Get straight answers on your county limit, CHFA assistance, and what you actually need to close — no obligation.