Denver, CO Mortgage Broker

The short answer

Ben Yost is a Colorado mortgage broker who helps Denver homebuyers get FHA, VA, conventional, jumbo, and CHFA home loans, plus down payment assistance. Because I'm a broker and not a bank, I shop 160+ wholesale lenders for your loan and work with 30+ down payment assistance programs. Most lenders carry 2 or 3. In a city where prices run high, that gap matters.

Why buying in Denver is different

Denver isn't the suburbs. The homes are older, there are a lot more condos, and the city runs its own programs. Here's what that means for your loan, and what most lenders won't slow down to explain:

• One city, one county. Denver is a combined city and county, so the rules are simpler than in the suburbs: one county, one CHFA income limit, one set of city programs. The exception is newer neighborhoods like Central Park, where a metro district can add to the property tax bill. I pull the real tax number before we set your budget.
• Older homes. A lot of Denver's houses were built before 1978. On FHA and VA loans, peeling or chipping paint usually has to be fixed before closing, and the appraiser will flag it. I'll help you plan for that before you write the offer. And on an older home, a sewer line inspection is money well spent.
• Lots of condos. Condos are often the most realistic first step in Denver. But FHA, VA, and conventional loans each look at the building itself, including the HOA's budget and insurance. I check the building early so you don't fall for a condo your loan can't finance.
• City-backed down payment help. Denver sponsors metroDPA and offers income-restricted homes through its Department of Housing Stability. More on both below.
• Higher prices. Some Denver homes land above the conforming loan limit, which means a jumbo loan. I'll tell you where your price range falls before you start shopping.

Home loan options for Denver buyers

• FHA loans — 3.5% down. A common starting point for Denver first-time buyers, especially paired with down payment assistance.
• Conventional loans — as little as 3% down for many buyers, and the mortgage insurance can come off later.
• VA loans — zero down and no monthly mortgage insurance for eligible veterans and service members.
• Jumbo loans — for Denver homes above the conforming loan limit.
• CHFA and down payment assistance — grants and deferred seconds that sit on top of FHA, VA, or conventional loans.
• Refinancing — for Denver homeowners who want to lower a payment, drop mortgage insurance, or pull cash out.

Down payment assistance in Denver

Here's what most lenders won't tell you: plenty of Denver buyers qualify for down payment help and never hear about it. These are the options I use most in the city. I work with 30+ programs in total.

metroDPA (sponsored by the City and County of Denver)

metroDPA gives you a 0% interest deferred second mortgage with no monthly payment. You pay it back when you sell, refinance, or stop living in the home. It pairs with a 30-year fixed loan from an approved lender, and it's open to first-time and repeat buyers. You don't have to live in Denver already to use it. I'll confirm your income and the property qualify before you count on it.

CHFA (statewide)

The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority offers a grant of up to the lesser of $25,000 or 3% of your first mortgage that you never pay back, or a deferred second mortgage of up to the lesser of $25,000 or 4%, with no monthly payment. You need a 620 middle credit score, a homebuyer education class, and income under the limit. Under CHFA's limits effective June 15, 2026, the SmartStep and Preferred programs cap household income at $178,920 in Denver County.

Denver's income-restricted homes

Denver's Department of Housing Stability offers income-restricted homes priced below market. The trade-off is real: there are limits on who can buy, and on how much the home can go up in value when you sell. For some buyers it's the fastest way into Denver. I'll walk you through the fine print so you know what you're signing up for.

Real Denver-metro buyers I've worked with

Both of these buyers ended up just east of Denver in Aurora. The lessons apply anywhere in the metro.

How it works with me

1. 1A quick call. 15 minutes. You tell me where you are, whether you're buying next month or a year from now. If you're 6 to 12 months out, great. That's the best time to talk.
2. 2Your Personalized Homebuyer Seminar. We go through FHA vs. conventional, down payment assistance, closing costs, escrows, and seller concessions, all built around your numbers.
3. 3Pre-approved and shopping. You walk into Denver open houses knowing your payment, your cash to close, and your program. If you're not ready yet, I'll give you a plan for exactly what to do next.

What my clients say

Don't take my word for it. Here are the latest reviews from people I've helped, in their own words.

Reviews from Experience.com. Read more client reviews →

Denver mortgage FAQs

Related reading

• → Buying a Home in the Denver Metro Area: A Local Mortgage Guide
• → Colorado Down Payment Assistance in 5 Steps
• → Buying in Aurora instead? Aurora, CO Mortgage Broker
• → Buying in Centennial? Centennial, CO Mortgage Broker
• → Client reviews

Program details, limits, and funding availability change and are not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to credit approval, income and property qualification, and program guidelines. Edge Home Finance, LLC is a private mortgage broker and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of or at the direction of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), or any other government agency. Equal Housing Opportunity.