Affordable Homes for Sale in Arvada, CO

Affordable homes in Arvada: live numbers

Cheap homes in Arvada are mostly condos and townhomes, and most of them carry an HOA, so the monthly dues decide the payment as much as the price does. The grid above is every affordable home for sale in Arvada under $400,000, updated from the MLS through the day. The tables below fill live from the same feed when you open this page.

Where the affordable homes in Arvada are and what they buy

In Arvada Plaza and Lamar Heights, Lake Arbor and Pomona, and Alta Vista and the streets west of Olde Town. Under $300,000 it is a one- or two-bedroom condo. The first townhomes with a garage appear in the $300,000s, and a detached house under $400,000 is rare and sells in days.

Before you call a lender: the credit score that decides your program

• 620 or higher: CHFA and metroDPA down payment assistance are open, and your cash to close can come down to about $1,000. How CHFA works.
• 580 to 619: an FHA loan works when you have your own 3.5 percent down payment and closing money saved.
• Under 580: start with a credit plan, not a lender call. We set one up with you and check back when the score is ready.
• Have these ready: your exact credit score, your income, the money you have for closing, and the same for a co-buyer.

Then the order that gets you into a home:

1. Step 1

   Know your score

   620 or higher for assistance; 580 to 619 with your own down payment.

2. Step 2

   Get pre-approved

   Income, savings and score checked before you tour.

3. Step 3

   Pick the program

   CHFA, metroDPA or a city program; the grant covers the down payment.

4. Step 4

   Tour the grid

   Showings seven days a week; we check the HOA and the condo approval first.

5. Step 5

   Write the offer

   Ask the seller to pay closing costs, so your cash stays near $1,000.

How the price comes down in Arvada

• CHFA assistance: 3 percent grant or 4 percent second mortgage, 620 score, income limits set by county, repeat buyers welcome. The program and the $1,000 cash-to-close math.
• metroDPA: Jefferson County is a member; 0 percent second mortgage, no monthly payments, 620 score.
• Arvada Housing Authority: a small deed-restricted program; ask us what is open.
• HUD homes at $100 down: Arvada HUD homes, when one is listed.
• Rent-to-own, priced honestly: Arvada rent-to-own homes and why assistance beats it.

What to watch out for on cheap homes in Arvada

• The HOA line, not the price. A $300,000 Arvada condo with high dues can cost more a month than a $350,000 townhome with low dues. Put the dues into the Colorado mortgage calculator before you tour, and read what the dues cover on HOA fees in Colorado.
• Special assessments and HOA reserves. Ask for the HOA budget, the reserve study and the meeting minutes before the inspection deadline. A roof or siding assessment can land on the buyer after closing; how to check for a special assessment.
• FHA and VA condo approval. An FHA or VA loan on a condo needs the complex to be approved for that loan, or an FHA single-unit approval. Ask us to check the complex before you write an offer, not after.
• Older homes in the Olde Town and Arvada Plaza areas. Order a sewer scope with the inspection; a broken clay sewer line is a five-figure repair that the standard inspection does not cover. Details on sewer line warning signs.
• Radon. About half of Colorado homes test above the EPA action level for radon. Test during the inspection period and ask the seller to pay for mitigation; radon testing and mitigation.
• Rent-to-own contracts. A lease-option fee is lost if you do not buy at the end. Check CHFA assistance first on Arvada rent-to-own homes.

Next steps for affordable homes in Arvada

• All Arvada homes for sale, every price
• Arvada real estate statistics: median price, days on market and inventory, updated live
• Arvada area guide: neighborhoods, commutes and parks
• Colorado mortgage calculator: your payment with the HOA and taxes included
• Colorado mortgage rates, updated every week
• CHFA down payment assistance and the $1,000 cash-to-close program
• Arvada rent-to-own homes and why assistance beats a lease-option
• Affordable homes across Colorado, city by city

Related Arvada searches

Arvada starter homes · Arvada condos · Arvada townhomes · Arvada 3-bedroom homes · Arvada fixer-uppers · Arvada foreclosures · Arvada homes that pass FHA · All Arvada homes for sale. Nearby: Westminster, Golden, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Denver. Statewide: affordable homes in Colorado, the Denver affordable homes guide.

Questions people ask about affordable homes in Arvada

Where are the cheapest homes for sale in Arvada?

In Arvada Plaza and Lamar Heights, Lake Arbor and Pomona, and Alta Vista and the streets west of Olde Town. The map and the grid above show every one live from the MLS; the ZIP pages start with 80003, 80002, 80004.

What does $300,000 buy in Arvada today?

Under $300,000 it is a one- or two-bedroom condo. The first townhomes with a garage appear in the $300,000s, and a detached house under $400,000 is rare and sells in days. Sort the grid above by price to see what is listed today, and Arvada real estate statistics for the live median and price per square foot.

How much is the monthly payment on an affordable Arvada home?

The payment has five lines: principal and interest, HOA dues, property taxes, FHA mortgage insurance and homeowners insurance. Enter the list price and the HOA from the tile into the Colorado mortgage calculator, with today's rate from Colorado mortgage rates.

How much cash do I need to buy a cheap home in Arvada?

About $1,000 with CHFA assistance at a 620 score: the 3 percent grant covers the FHA 3.5 percent down payment, the seller pays closing costs through the offer, and the earnest money comes back at closing. Without assistance, bring the 3.5 percent down payment plus closing costs. The worked example is on $1,000 cash to close; the rules on CHFA down payment assistance.

What credit score do I need to buy an affordable home in Arvada?

620 or higher opens CHFA and metroDPA down payment assistance. From 580 to 619, an FHA loan works when you have your own down payment and closing money saved. Under 580, start with a credit plan before any lender call; we set one up with you. Have your exact score, your income and your savings ready when you call 303-955-4220.

Which down payment programs work in Arvada?

CHFA assistance: 3 percent grant or 4 percent second mortgage, 620 score, income limits set by county, repeat buyers welcome. metroDPA: Jefferson County is a member; 0 percent second mortgage, no monthly payments, 620 score. Arvada Housing Authority: a small deed-restricted program; ask us what is open. Every program and its catch is on affordable homes in Colorado.

Are there HUD homes or foreclosures in Arvada?

HUD homes sell as-is at HUD's appraised price with a $100 down option on an FHA loan, and the list changes every week on Arvada HUD homes. Bank-owned and fixer listings are on Arvada foreclosures and Arvada fixer-uppers.

Is rent-to-own cheaper in Arvada?

No. A lease-option takes an option fee of several thousand dollars up front plus a rent premium, with no title until the end. CHFA assistance puts you on title now for about $1,000 at a 620 score. The side-by-side is on Arvada rent-to-own homes.

What should I watch out for when buying a cheap home in Arvada?

The HOA dues and any special assessment, FHA approval on condos, the sewer line on older homes, and radon. The full list is in the watch-outs section above.