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BOCES Schools To Home: Colorado DPA for Staff
A Colorado Schools To Home guide for BOCES employees and staff at smaller public school districts that can be easy to miss in district-by-district down payment assistance marketing.
BOCES Employees May Have Access to Schools To Home
Colorado's CHFA Schools To Home program is designed for eligible public school employees. That audience can include employees of Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), along with employees of eligible smaller public school districts.
This page brings together BOCES and smaller-district employees who may not have a dedicated Schools To Home guide of their own.
What Is BOCES?
BOCES stands for Boards of Cooperative Educational Services. Colorado BOCES organizations allow school districts to work together and share educational programs, services, and resources.
Depending on the organization, BOCES can support areas such as special education, professional development, career and technical education, technology, student services, and other specialized educational programs.
Because BOCES employees may work across multiple school districts, they can be overlooked when homebuyer assistance marketing is organized only around the largest school districts in Colorado.
Why BOCES and Small District Staff Are an Important Audience
Most school-employee homebuyer marketing naturally focuses on large districts. That leaves a much broader group of Colorado public school employees who may not see a district-specific Schools To Home page.
BOCES
A statewide group of education employees that can be missed when marketing is organized only by traditional school districts.
Small Districts
Smaller public school employers may not receive the same DPA marketing attention as Colorado's largest districts.
Statewide Reach
This roundup gives employees one place to start when their district does not yet have its own dedicated guide.
Who May Qualify?
Eligibility depends on the employee's specific employer and the current CHFA Schools To Home requirements. A participating lender must verify the borrower's employment, income, credit, property, loan, and other applicable requirements.
Important: Working in education by itself does not guarantee eligibility. The participating lender must verify the specific employer and the employee's eligibility under the current program rules.
Do BOCES Employees Qualify?
BOCES is part of the public-school employer audience addressed by Schools To Home. Employees should still have their exact employer and employment status verified by a participating CHFA lender.
The program is not limited simply to classroom teachers. Depending on the applicable employer and program requirements, employees across different areas of a public-school organization may want to investigate their eligibility.
BOCES + Small Districts Colorado Roundup
This roundup focuses on BOCES and smaller Colorado public-school employers that can be difficult to find when Schools To Home information is organized only around large districts.
BOCES
Boards of Cooperative Educational Services serving Colorado school districts and education programs.
Clear Creek
Clear Creek-area public school employees may investigate eligibility through a participating CHFA lender.
Gilpin County
Employees of this smaller mountain district can check their potential Schools To Home eligibility.
Platte Canyon
Employees can have their specific employer and eligibility reviewed by a participating lender.
Park County
Public school employees can investigate whether their employer meets current Schools To Home requirements.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth-area school employees can ask a participating lender to verify their specific employer.
Estes Park
Estes Park-area public school employees can investigate eligibility under current program requirements.
Small Weld Districts
Smaller Weld-area public school employers are included in this roundup for employees looking for their potential DPA options.
How Schools To Home Down Payment Assistance Works
Schools To Home assistance is designed to help eligible school employees with the cash needed for a home purchase, including applicable down payment and closing costs.
Remember: Down payment assistance is not the same as a traditional cash grant. Review the exact loan structure, repayment terms, and applicable shared-appreciation provisions with the participating lender.
BOCES Schools To Home Eligibility Checklist
Employment
- Work for an eligible public school employer
- Have your employer verified
- Meet applicable employment requirements
- Provide employment documentation
Financing
- Meet applicable credit requirements
- Meet applicable income limits
- Meet applicable loan requirements
- Meet applicable property requirements
Education
- Complete required homebuyer education
- Complete applicable financial education
- Meet current program requirements
Property
- Purchase an eligible property
- Meet occupancy requirements
- Use the property as required by the program
How BOCES Employees Can Get Started
- Identify your exact employer. Determine whether you work directly for a BOCES, school district, or another eligible public school employer.
- Confirm your employment status. Have your employer information available for lender verification.
- Speak with a participating CHFA lender. Ask the lender to verify your employer and eligibility.
- Get pre-approved. Review your income, credit, debts, assets, and estimated cash to close.
- Complete required education. Finish the applicable homebuyer education requirements.
- Choose your target area. Compare the housing market, commute, taxes, insurance, and ownership costs.
- Review the full loan structure. Make sure you understand the first mortgage, assistance, and future repayment obligations before purchasing.
Work for a BOCES or Small Colorado School District?
You may qualify for Colorado's Schools To Home down payment assistance. Find out whether your school employer and home purchase meet the current program requirements.
See If You QualifyBOCES Schools To Home FAQ
Do BOCES employees qualify for Schools To Home?
BOCES employees may qualify if their specific employer and employment status meet the current program requirements. A participating lender must verify eligibility.
Do I have to be a teacher?
Not necessarily. Eligibility depends on the applicable employer and employment requirements, not simply whether your title is teacher.
Do small Colorado school districts qualify?
District size by itself does not determine eligibility. The exact employer and borrower must meet the applicable requirements.
What about Clear Creek, Gilpin, Platte Canyon, and Park County?
Employees of eligible public school employers in these areas can ask a participating lender to verify their specific employer and Schools To Home eligibility.
What about Elizabeth and Estes Park?
Employees can investigate the program through a participating lender, who can verify the exact employer and current requirements.
What about small Weld districts?
Employees of eligible public school employers in smaller Weld-area districts may also investigate Schools To Home eligibility.
Is Schools To Home a grant?
The assistance is structured as a deferred second mortgage rather than simply being a traditional grant. Review the current repayment and shared-appreciation terms with the lender.
Is homebuyer education required?
Applicable CHFA homebuyer education requirements must be completed. Confirm the current requirements with the participating lender.
More Colorado Schools To Home Guides
Every eligible Colorado public school district gets its own Schools To Home breakdown. Links below will go live as each guide publishes — check back if one isn't active yet.
If you work for another Colorado public school district or eligible public school employer, use the hub above to find your district-specific guide.
Program details summarized from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) Schools To Home program information available at the time of publication. Program terms, income limits, loan limits, eligible employers, credit requirements, property requirements, education requirements, and shared-appreciation terms are subject to change. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a commitment to lend, an offer of credit, or a guarantee of eligibility, loan terms, assistance amounts, or approval. Eligibility must be verified by a participating CHFA lender. The Kenna Real Estate Group is a real estate brokerage and does not originate loans. Not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by CHFA or any individual school district. Equal Housing Opportunity.