How much do I need for a down payment in Fort Collins?

3% down on a conventional loan, 3.5% on FHA, and zero down on VA for eligible buyers. Assistance programs can cover part or all of that if your income and target price fit current limits, and we check that for you at the start.

Can I use down payment assistance to buy in Fort Collins?

Often, yes. CHFA and Larimer County assistance options all serve this area, each with its own income and purchase price limits. We check your scenario against current limits early so you know your real budget before you fall in love with a house.

What should I do before I start touring homes?

Get a fully documented pre-approval, not just an online estimate. We walk through your monthly payment, cash to close, and assistance options first, so the number you shop with is the number you can actually close on.

How long does it take to buy a first home?

Pre-approval usually takes a day or two once your documents arrive. Once you are under contract, most purchase loans close in 18 to 25 days, and we work to beat contract deadlines.

First Time Buyer Experts

First-time home buyer in Fort Collins? Start here.

Buying your first home in Fort Collins comes with questions nobody hands you answers to. We walk first-time buyers through every step, from the real monthly payment to the assistance programs most people never hear about.

A couple walking their dog past craftsman homes on a leafy Fort Collins street with the foothills behind them

Most first-time buyers we meet in Fort Collins are further along than they think. The down payment is usually smaller than expected, the monthly payment is the number that actually matters, and the right loan structure can save real money over the years you own the home.

Buying your first home in Fort Collins

Plenty of first-time buyers here stay after CSU or come back for the breweries and tech employers, and the market's balanced stretches reward buyers who show up prepared.

The loans first-time buyers use here

There is no single first-time buyer loan. There is a short list of options, and the right one depends on your income, your credit, and the home you are targeting.

Conventional 3% down: the most common first-time buyer loan, with mortgage insurance that drops off once you reach 20% equity.
FHA 3.5% down: more flexible on credit history, with mortgage insurance that behaves differently than conventional.
VA zero down: for eligible veterans, service members, and surviving spouses, with no monthly mortgage insurance at all.
Assistance programs: CHFA and Larimer County assistance options can cover part or all of the down payment and closing costs if your income and target price fit current limits.

How we work with first-time buyers

We start with a conversation, not an application. You will know your real monthly payment, your cash to close, and which assistance programs you qualify for before you tour a single home.

Then we shop your file across more than 70 wholesale mortgage banks through the IMB network and bring you the best of those offers, with better-than-market interest rates and fair, competitive fees. You see the comparison before you commit to anything.

What first-time buyers in Fort Collins ask us

The short version of each answer. If yours is not here, call or text 720-386-4071 and ask.

Questions about your own numbers?

Call or text 720-386-4071, or start the application and we will follow up the same day. The conversation is free, and the math is yours to keep.

Get Pre-Approved Call or text 720-386-4071