Nurse Home Loan Programs in Colorado (2026): Down Payment Assistance for Nurses & Healthcare Workers

Nurses have a clear path to CHFA down payment help

There is no separate “nurse home loan” product in Colorado, but nurses are among the professions best positioned for CHFA help — because they qualify on two tracks. School nurses are explicitly eligible for CHFA Schools To Home, the state’s most generous educator program at up to 25% down payment assistance. Hospital and clinical nurses qualify for standard CHFA programs with grants or deferred loans up to $25,000.

In Northern Colorado, the region’s major health employers — UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Medical Center of the Rockies and McKee Medical Center in Loveland, and Banner North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley — employ thousands of nurses whose incomes fit CHFA county limits. If you are an RN, LPN, NP, or clinical specialist buying your first home — or moving up — CHFA is likely part of the conversation.

Track 1: CHFA Schools To Home for school nurses (up to 25% DPA)

CHFA Schools To Home provides up to 25% of your first mortgage as a down payment assistance second mortgage for full-time Colorado public school employees. School nurses are named in the program’s eligible roles — so if you work full-time for a district, charter school, or BOCES, you may qualify for assistance far larger than the standard $25,000 cap.

On a $400,000 first mortgage, 25% assistance equals $100,000 in help usable toward down payment, closing costs, prepaids, or principal reduction. The second mortgage has no monthly payment. There is a shared appreciation component at repayment, and Schools To Home cannot be combined with other CHFA programs. Requirements: minimum 620 credit score, household income at or below $178,920, and at least $1,000 of your own contribution.

School districts serving Northern Colorado — Poudre School District, Thompson School District, Greeley-Evans District 6, Weld County districts, and area charter schools — are CDE-listed, the same channel used to verify eligibility.

• Up to 25% of the first mortgage as DPA (second mortgage)
• No monthly payment on the assistance
• Minimum 620 credit score and $1,000 contribution
• Household income at or below $178,920
• Cannot combine with any other CHFA program

• CHFA Schools To Home Program Page — Full eligibility, examples & free consultation

Track 2: Standard CHFA programs for hospital and clinical nurses

Nurses employed by hospitals and health systems use the same CHFA first mortgage and DPA programs as other qualified buyers. SmartStep Plus pairs an FHA, VA, or USDA first mortgage with a no-repayment DPA grant up to $25,000 or 3% of the first mortgage. Preferred and Preferred Plus serve conventional buyers at up to 97% LTV with a deferred second mortgage. FirstGeneration Plus offers up to $25,000 in DPA for first-generation buyers whose parents never owned a home.

The practical effect for a nurse at Poudre Valley Hospital or North Colorado Medical Center: a 620+ credit score, roughly $1,000 in savings toward the purchase, CHFA-approved homebuyer education, and a household income within county limits can replace a 3–10% down payment with a grant or deferred loan. The exact program depends on your loan type and lender.

• SmartStep / SmartStep Plus — FHA, VA, or USDA; grant available
• Preferred / Preferred Plus — conventional up to 97% LTV
• FirstStep / FirstStep Plus — FHA for first-time buyers
• FirstGeneration — FHA; up to $25,000 DPA regardless of loan size

• CHFA Down Payment Assistance Guide — Program comparison, limits table & free consultation

CHFA income and price limits for Northern Colorado nurses

CHFA publishes income and purchase price limits by county, household size, and targeted-area status. Mid-2026 non-targeted ranges: Larimer County household income roughly $130,000–$156,000+ with purchase prices up to about $664,000–$812,000; Weld County household income roughly $153,600–$179,200 with purchase prices up to about $735,000. Households buying in targeted areas can qualify with higher income limits.

Nurses should confirm the current limits with a CHFA participating lender before shopping — limits change, and the lender is the source of truth for your exact situation. SAA Homes helps nurse buyers find homes within limits and structure offers in the communities where they work.

What nurses should do this week in Northern Colorado

Start with the two tracks: if you are a school nurse, verify your employer with the Colorado Department of Education and check the Schools To Home program page. If you work at a hospital or clinic, review the CHFA down payment assistance guide and ask a participating lender which program fits your income and credit.

Either way, take a CHFA-approved homebuyer education class early, pull your credit scores, and save the $1,000 borrower contribution. SAA Homes works alongside CHFA lenders across Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, and Greeley — call (970) 999-1407 and we will help you coordinate the search with your program approval.

• Colorado Home Buyers Guide — Buyer representation & program hub
• Contact SAA Homes — Adam and Mandi Schwartz — (970) 999-1407