Poudre Schools To Home: Fort Collins DPA 2026

25%of first mortgage $0monthly payment NoPurchase Price Limit $178,920income limit $1,000minimum borrower contribution

The short version

CHFA Schools To Home is a Colorado homeownership program for eligible full-time public school employees. If you are a full-time employee of Poudre School District, you may qualify for a CHFA first mortgage paired with a deferred second mortgage worth up to 25% of your first mortgage amount — potentially useful for a home in Fort Collins, Wellington, Timnath, LaPorte, Loveland, or Windsor.

• Up to 25% of the first mortgage amount in second-mortgage assistance.
• $0 monthly payment and 0% interest on the second mortgage.
• No separate purchase price limit.
• Income limit is $178,920 statewide — regardless of county or household size.
• $1,000 minimum borrower contribution, which may be a gift.
• 620 minimum mid-credit score, subject to applicable loan requirements.
• You do not have to be a first-time buyer.
• Only one borrower needs to meet the public-school employee requirement.
• One important consideration: the CHFA second mortgage must eventually be repaid, and you also share a portion of the home's appreciation with the Public School Permanent Fund under the program's shared-appreciation rules.

Program terms in this guide reflect the CHFA Schools To Home program matrix effective July 1, 2026. Always confirm current requirements with a participating CHFA lender before making an offer.

On this page

1. What is CHFA Schools To Home?
2. Who qualifies at Poudre School District?
3. How much assistance can I actually receive?
4. A $500,000 Fort Collins example
5. How shared appreciation works
6. Fort Collins and Northern Colorado communities to consider
7. The CSU and rental-pressure question
8. What types of homes qualify?
9. Complete eligibility checklist
10. When Schools To Home may not be the right move
11. How to use the program step by step
12. Poudre Schools To Home FAQ

What is CHFA Schools To Home?

What is CHFA Schools To Home? CHFA Schools To Home is a Colorado homeownership program created specifically to help eligible public school employees purchase homes. It combines a 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage with an optional deferred second mortgage that can provide up to 25% of the first mortgage amount, with no monthly payment and no accrued interest while it remains outstanding.

If you work full time for Poudre School District and buying a home in Fort Collins or Northern Colorado feels harder than it should, this program is worth understanding. The assistance can be used for eligible costs such as:

• Down payment
• Closing costs
• Prepaid expenses
• Principal reduction

The second mortgage comes with a shared-appreciation obligation: when the CHFA assistance becomes due, you repay the original assistance plus the applicable shared-appreciation payment. CHFA describes the program as being funded through investment from Colorado's Public School Permanent Fund (PSPF) and designed to help public school employees purchase homes and live in the communities where they work.

For Poudre School District employees, that can make homeownership worth exploring across Fort Collins, Wellington, Timnath, LaPorte, Loveland, and other Northern Colorado communities. Poudre School District says it serves more than 1,800 square miles in Northern Colorado, including Fort Collins, LaPorte, Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, Red Feather Lakes, Livermore, Stove Prairie, and parts of Windsor.

Is Schools To Home free money?

No, and this is one of the most important things to understand before using the program. Schools To Home is not a grant — the assistance is a second mortgage. You don't make a monthly payment on it, but you still owe the money later, and there's also a shared-appreciation component. That means the program essentially allows you to use more assistance today in exchange for accepting a future financial obligation. For some Poudre employees, that trade-off makes sense. For others, a conventional mortgage with a traditional down payment could be less expensive over the long term. The right question isn't "how much money can I get?" — it's "what will this assistance cost me compared with my other financing options?"

Who qualifies at Poudre School District?

The program isn't limited to classroom teachers. CHFA defines an eligible public school employee as an individual employed by an eligible Colorado preK–12 public school, school district, charter school, institute charter school, board of cooperative educational services, or innovation zone, who is classified as full time by the employer. For a Poudre School District employee, the important question is therefore not "am I a teacher?" — it's "am I classified as a full-time employee of an eligible public school employer?"

Do I have to be a teacher?

No. The program is broader than classroom teachers. Potentially eligible Poudre employees can include:

Classroom & SPED teachers Paraprofessionals & aides Counselors, psychologists, nurses Registrars & admin staff Custodial & maintenance Nutrition services staff Bus drivers, mechanics, transportation Athletic & coaching staff IT, HR, finance, security

Your employment classification matters more than your job title. Your lender will verify your employment and the eligibility of your employer.

How to verify your employer: CHFA directs borrowers and lenders to the Colorado Department of Education's employer information for verification. If using the CDE's employer spreadsheet, CHFA says "Public" should appear in the School Type column for the applicable employer.

Do I have to work for Poudre for a certain number of years?

The Schools To Home program does not establish a specific minimum number of years you must have worked for the district. However, normal mortgage underwriting still applies — your lender must be able to document your employment and qualifying income. If you recently started working for Poudre, don't automatically assume you're disqualified; ask the participating lender to review your situation.

Does my spouse have to work for Poudre?

No. Only one borrower on the mortgage needs to satisfy the eligible full-time public school employee requirement. A Poudre employee plus a healthcare worker, engineer, or self-employed spouse may potentially work, assuming everyone meets the applicable mortgage underwriting requirements. The lender will still review income, credit, debts, assets, employment, occupancy, and overall ability to repay the first mortgage. There are also important restrictions on cosigners and non-occupying co-borrowers — those are not permitted, and non-borrowing spouses or anyone else not obligated on the mortgage cannot take title.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?

No. CHFA Schools To Home is not limited to first-time buyers. If you previously owned a home, you may still qualify if you meet the other program and mortgage requirements — that makes the program potentially useful for a broader group of Poudre employees than a traditional first-time-buyer-only program.

Do I have to buy a home in Fort Collins?

No. Your eligibility comes from your qualifying employment, not from buying inside Poudre School District boundaries. A qualifying Poudre employee can compare homes in Fort Collins, Wellington, Timnath, LaPorte, Loveland, Windsor, or other eligible Colorado communities, subject to the program's owner-occupancy and mortgage requirements. Poudre School District itself covers a very large geographic area, so a school employee working in Fort Collins might find that a home in Wellington or Timnath gives them a different combination of price, commute, and housing type.

How much assistance can I actually receive?

This is where the 25% number needs to be understood correctly. The program does not give you 25% of the purchase price — it provides up to 25% of the first mortgage amount.

For example, if you purchase a $500,000 home and your first mortgage is $400,000: 25% × $400,000 = $100,000. So the maximum second mortgage could be $100,000, subject to the program's loan structure and your lender's approval. That $100,000 could potentially be used toward eligible down payment and closing-related expenses.

Why the $1,000 contribution matters

You may see two very different numbers when researching Schools To Home: 25% and $1,000. They mean completely different things. The 25% is the maximum potential second-mortgage assistance based on the first mortgage amount. The $1,000 is the minimum borrower financial contribution, which may be a gift, subject to applicable requirements.

It does not mean that $1,000 is necessarily all the cash you will need to close. Your actual cash-to-close can be affected by closing costs, prepaids, property taxes, insurance, seller concessions, loan structure, lender fees, escrows, earnest money, and other transaction costs. Ask your lender for a complete cash-to-close estimate.

Is there a purchase price limit?

There is no separate purchase price limit under the Schools To Home program. That does not mean you can purchase any home at any price — your actual purchasing power is still limited by your qualifying income, existing debts, credit, first mortgage limits, loan-to-value requirements, automated underwriting, and property eligibility. "No purchase price limit" is best understood as: there isn't a separate CHFA rule saying the home itself must cost less than a specific ceiling. Your mortgage qualification still determines what you can realistically buy.

What's the income limit?

The current statewide income limit is $178,920, regardless of county or household size. Because income calculation can depend on the specific mortgage and borrower circumstances, don't assume your gross salary alone determines eligibility — have the participating lender calculate your qualifying income.

Not sure what you'd actually qualify for?

Send us your target price range and we can connect you with a participating CHFA lender who can run the numbers for you — free, no obligation.

Call Us: 720-575-1588 Poudre Area Homes

A $500,000 Fort Collins example

Let's make the math easier to visualize. This is an illustration only — your actual first mortgage amount, DPA amount, cash-to-close, mortgage insurance, and monthly payment depend on your credit, income, debts, loan structure, underwriting, and the property. Your lender should run the actual numbers before you make an offer.

Illustrative example

How shared appreciation works

This is the section we don't want you to skip. Schools To Home can provide substantial assistance upfront, but that assistance isn't simply forgiven. When the CHFA second mortgage becomes due, you repay the original second mortgage amount plus the applicable shared-appreciation payment.

CHFA's official example explains that the shared-appreciation percentage is 5 percentage points lower than the percentage of DPA received. So for an illustrative borrower receiving the maximum 25% DPA, the applicable shared-appreciation percentage would be 20%. That distinction is important — it's not automatically a one-to-one match with your assistance percentage.

A simple shared-appreciation example

Using the $500,000 purchase, $400,000 first mortgage, and $100,000 Schools To Home assistance above, the applicable shared-appreciation percentage must be determined under the CHFA program documents and established for the specific transaction.

For illustration only, if the applicable shared-appreciation percentage were 20% and you later sold the home for $600,000, the home's appreciation would be $100,000. The illustrative shared-appreciation payment would be $20,000, in addition to repayment of the original $100,000 second mortgage. Your actual percentage and payoff amount may be different and must be confirmed by your lender and closing documents.

What happens if your home appreciates a lot?

This is where the shared-appreciation trade-off becomes more important. Suppose you receive substantial assistance and your home appreciates significantly — the future shared-appreciation payment can become substantial as well. That's why we recommend looking at Schools To Home as a financing strategy, not simply as "free down payment money." The assistance can help you purchase sooner, but if the home appreciates substantially, you'll share part of that appreciation when the CHFA obligation becomes due.

What happens if your home loses value?

A decline in home value does not turn the CHFA assistance into a negative balance. You still owe the original second-mortgage assistance when it becomes due, subject to the program documents. This is another reason to understand the program as a deferred loan, not a grant.

When does the CHFA assistance have to be repaid?

CHFA states that repayment of the second mortgage and the applicable shared-appreciation payment is deferred until the end of the loan term or an earlier maturity event, such as sale of the home, refinance, payoff of the first mortgage, or the property no longer being the borrower's primary residence. That means you need to think beyond closing day — if you expect to sell or refinance relatively soon, have your lender explain what the CHFA payoff could look like.

Can I refinance later?

Potentially, yes, but refinancing can trigger repayment of the CHFA assistance and applicable shared appreciation. If you're considering Schools To Home because you expect to refinance after interest rates fall, discuss that plan with your lender before closing. A future refinance isn't necessarily a bad thing — you simply need to understand that the CHFA obligation does not disappear when you refinance.

Fort Collins and Northern Colorado communities to consider

Poudre School District's geographic footprint gives employees several communities to compare. The right choice depends on your school assignment, commute, budget, housing preferences, and long-term plans.

Fort Collins

The obvious starting point for many Poudre employees, with a broad mix of older established neighborhoods, newer construction, townhomes, condos, and single-family homes. Don't assume it automatically gives the best value — compare total monthly ownership cost. Browse Fort Collins homes.

Wellington

Worth considering for employees who want to stay north of Fort Collins with a different price and housing environment. PSD's school directory lists Wellington schools including Eyestone Elementary, Rice Elementary, and Wellington Middle-High School. Browse Wellington homes.

Timnath

An important residential option east of Fort Collins with newer neighborhoods. PSD includes Timnath Elementary and Timnath Middle-High School. Pay attention to HOA fees, metro district taxes, and builder incentives. Browse Timnath homes.

LaPorte

A different environment from newer suburban developments, on the western side of the district. PSD includes Cache La Poudre Elementary and Cache La Poudre Middle School. Browse LaPorte homes.

Loveland

Poudre School District includes parts of Loveland within its broader service area. If you're willing to trade some commute time for a different housing market, Loveland can be part of the search. Browse Loveland homes.

Windsor

Poudre School District also includes parts of Windsor within its geographic footprint — worth comparing if your work assignment or commute makes the eastern side of the region practical. Browse Windsor homes.

Every one of these submarkets is moving at a different speed right now. Rather than quote you a stale median, we'll pull live REcolorado data for the specific attendance areas you're considering — that's a fifteen-minute conversation and it'll tell you more than any blog post.

Our team tracks active listings, price reductions, pending sales, and market trends through REcolorado so Poudre buyers can make decisions using current local market data rather than outdated averages.

The CSU and rental-pressure question

Fort Collins has another consideration that can matter to a school employee: rent versus ownership. Colorado State University is a major part of Fort Collins' identity and housing environment. If you're currently renting near CSU or in central Fort Collins, it can be tempting to compare only your current rent with a future mortgage payment. That's not enough.

A homeownership comparison should include mortgage principal and interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA fees, mortgage insurance if applicable, utilities, maintenance, repairs, closing costs, and expected holding period. With Schools To Home, there's one additional line: future CHFA repayment plus potential shared appreciation. That doesn't automatically make the program a bad choice — it simply means your comparison should be more complete than "rent = $X versus mortgage = $Y."

What types of homes qualify?

Schools To Home can be used with eligible owner-occupied properties that meet the applicable CHFA and Fannie Mae requirements. Depending on the specific property and underwriting, eligible property types can include:

• One-unit single-family homes, attached or detached
• Eligible PUDs
• Condominiums
• Modular homes
• Eligible manufactured homes
• Homes with qualifying existing ADUs

Always have your lender confirm the property before assuming it qualifies.

What about a townhome or condo?

An attached single-family property or eligible PUD may qualify — what matters isn't whether the listing agent calls it a "townhome," but how the property is legally classified and whether it satisfies the applicable Fannie Mae and CHFA requirements. Eligible condominiums may qualify too, subject to applicable requirements; if you're considering a condo in Fort Collins, have the lender evaluate the project early rather than waiting until after making an offer.

What about a duplex?

Schools To Home is structured around eligible one-unit owner-occupied properties, so a typical duplex does not fit the standard property requirement. If a property has an unusual configuration, ask your participating lender before writing an offer.

What about a home with an ADU?

An existing ADU can potentially be permitted if the property meets the applicable requirements. That can make certain Fort Collins-area properties interesting for multigenerational living, guest space, home offices, or flexible family arrangements — but the property still needs to meet the one-unit and owner-occupancy requirements.

Complete eligibility checklist

Before you start shopping, discuss these items with your participating lender.

Employment

• At least one borrower must be a full-time employee of an eligible Colorado public school employer
• Poudre School District employment must be verified
• Employee must be classified as full time by the employer

Credit & Underwriting

• Minimum mid-credit score of 620, subject to applicable requirements
• Fannie Mae underwriting requirements apply
• Maximum LTV/CLTV and DTI requirements apply
• Automated underwriting approval required

Income & Money In

• Current statewide income limit: $178,920
• Minimum borrower financial contribution: $1,000 (may be a gift)

Education

• Required CHFA-approved homebuyer education course
• CHFA's "Understanding Your Financial Commitment" course

Loan restrictions

• No subordinate financing
• No interest-rate buydowns
• No cosigners
• No non-occupying co-borrowers
• Property must remain the borrower's primary residence while the CHFA obligation remains outstanding

When Schools To Home may not be the right move

We like the program. But we don't think every Poudre employee should automatically use it. Consider slowing down if:

• You already have a substantial down payment. If you already have enough savings to comfortably purchase without assistance, compare the long-term cost of conventional financing with Schools To Home — you may decide the future shared-appreciation obligation isn't worth the additional assistance.
• You expect to move soon. Buying and selling a home involves transaction costs. If you're likely to move in a year or two, run the numbers carefully.
• You expect to refinance soon. A refinance can trigger repayment of the CHFA obligation — ask your lender to model that scenario.
• You want to convert the home into a rental. The home needs to remain your primary residence while the CHFA obligation is outstanding. Moving out can trigger repayment.
• You're stretching your budget. Just because the program allows a certain loan structure doesn't mean you should borrow the maximum amount — leave room for repairs, maintenance, taxes, insurance, HOA dues, utilities, and emergency expenses.
• Your credit needs improvement. A higher credit score can sometimes improve the overall financing picture. If your credit isn't ready, ask the lender whether waiting and improving your profile would make more financial sense.

How to use the program step by step

1. Confirm your employment. Verify that your Poudre School District employment meets the program's full-time public-school employee requirement.
2. Talk to a participating CHFA lender. Schools To Home is a specialized program — work with someone who understands the shared-appreciation structure specifically, not just traditional CHFA loans.
3. Get fully pre-approved. Have the lender review credit, income, assets, debts, employment, automated underwriting, and loan limits.
4. Compare financing structures. Don't automatically take the maximum DPA — ask what happens to your monthly payment, mortgage insurance, and future CHFA obligation at different assistance levels.
5. Complete the education requirements. Finish the required CHFA education and financial-commitment course early.
6. Choose your search area. Compare Fort Collins, Wellington, Timnath, LaPorte, Loveland, and Windsor based on your actual school assignment, commute, budget, and lifestyle.
7. Get the property reviewed. Before writing an offer, make sure your lender knows you're using Schools To Home — the property needs to satisfy the applicable program and mortgage requirements.
8. Write the offer, then close. Your agent and lender should communicate throughout. Once underwriting, appraisal, title, and CHFA requirements are satisfied, you close — and then you get to go home.

Official CHFA Schools To Home Resources

Because Schools To Home is a specialized mortgage program, we recommend reviewing the current CHFA requirements and confirming your eligibility with a participating lender before making an offer.

• CHFA Schools To Home program information
• CHFA participating lender information
• CHFA-approved homebuyer education requirements
• Understanding Your Financial Commitment course requirements

Important: CHFA program requirements, income limits, loan structures, and other terms can change. Always verify the current requirements with CHFA and your participating lender before relying on information in this guide.

Poudre Schools To Home FAQ

Is CHFA Schools To Home a grant?

No. It is a deferred second mortgage with a shared-appreciation component.

How much assistance can I receive?

Up to 25% of your first mortgage amount.

Do I make monthly payments on the second mortgage?

No. The CHFA second mortgage is a zero-percent deferred second mortgage with no monthly payments and no accrued interest while outstanding.

Do I have to be a first-time buyer?

No.

What's the income limit?

The current statewide limit is $178,920, regardless of county or household size.

What's the minimum credit score?

The current program information lists a 620 minimum mid-credit score, subject to applicable loan requirements.

Do I have to be a teacher?

No. Eligible full-time employees of qualifying Colorado public school employers can potentially qualify.

Can Poudre bus drivers and custodians qualify?

Potentially, yes, provided the employee meets the program's full-time employment and all other mortgage requirements.

Does my spouse have to work for Poudre?

No. Only one borrower needs to satisfy the eligible public-school employee requirement.

Can I buy in Wellington, Timnath, or Loveland?

Potentially, yes, assuming the home and loan meet all applicable requirements.

Can I buy outside Poudre School District?

Yes. Eligibility is tied to qualifying employment, not necessarily to purchasing within the district.

Can I buy a condo or townhome?

Eligible condominiums, attached single-family properties, or PUDs can qualify subject to applicable requirements.

Can I buy a duplex?

A typical duplex does not meet the program's one-unit property requirement. Ask your lender about unusual property configurations.

Can I buy new construction?

Eligible new construction can potentially qualify, subject to CHFA and Fannie Mae requirements.

Can I use the program for closing costs?

Yes. CHFA states that second mortgage proceeds may be used toward eligible down payment, closing costs, prepaids, and/or principal reduction.

Can I combine it with another down payment assistance program?

The current program matrix states that subordinate financing is not permitted.

Can I refinance later?

Potentially, but refinancing is a maturity event that can trigger repayment of the CHFA assistance and applicable shared appreciation.

What happens if I sell or move out?

The CHFA obligation becomes due, including repayment of the second mortgage and applicable shared appreciation, when the property is sold or is no longer your primary residence.

How is shared appreciation calculated?

The shared-appreciation percentage is established under the CHFA Schools To Home program documents and is based on the amount of assistance received relative to the home's original purchase price. CHFA's published example shows that a borrower receiving $87,500 in assistance on a $437,500 purchase would owe a 25% share of the home's appreciation. The exact shared-appreciation percentage and payoff amount should be confirmed in the borrower's CHFA loan documents.

Can I receive the full 25%?

Up to 25% is the program maximum, but your actual assistance depends on your first mortgage, loan structure, underwriting, and eligible transaction costs.

Is $1,000 all I need at closing?

Not necessarily. The program requires a $1,000 minimum borrower contribution, but your actual cash-to-close can be higher because of closing costs, prepaids, and other transaction expenses.

Who do I call about Poudre School District?

Call our team at 720-575-1588 or 303-955-4220.

Let's find out if Schools To Home works for you

If you work full time for Poudre School District and homeownership has felt just out of reach, Schools To Home is worth running the numbers on. We can help you compare homes and communities throughout Northern Colorado, including Fort Collins, Wellington, Timnath, LaPorte, and Loveland. But the goal isn't simply to get you the largest possible amount of assistance — it's to figure out whether the assistance actually makes financial sense for you. If a conventional mortgage is the better option, that's the answer you should get.

The Kenna Real Estate Group · 720-575-1588 · 303-955-4220
Lender partner: Mike Oswald, New American Funding · NMLS #261003

Call Us: 720-575-1588 Search Poudre Area Homes

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.

HUB — All Colorado Districts Denver Public Schools Douglas County RE-1 Aurora (Adams-Arapahoe 28J) Adams 12 Five Star St. Vrain Valley Poudre — you're here Boulder Valley District 49 Academy District 20 School District 27J Greeley-Evans 6 Colorado Springs D11 Colorado Charter School Institute Thompson Pueblo City 60 Littleton Public Schools Harrison District 2 Widefield District 3 Weld RE-4 Fountain-Fort Carson D8 Westminster Public Schools 50 BOCES + Small Districts Roundup

If you work for another Colorado public school district, use the hub above to find your district-specific guide.

Program details summarized here are based on the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) Schools To Home program information and program matrix effective July 1, 2026. Program terms can 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, or shared-appreciation calculations. Eligibility, income limits, loan limits, credit requirements, property requirements, education requirements, loan structure, and shared-appreciation calculations are determined by CHFA and a participating lender. Examples are illustrative only. Always verify current requirements with CHFA and your participating lender before making a purchase decision. The Kenna Real Estate Group is a real estate brokerage team and does not originate loans. Not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Poudre School District. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.