Mortgage Guides & Straight Answers
Straight answers for Colorado homebuyers on down payment help, loan types, credit, closing costs and getting approved.
Permanent Buydown vs Temporary Buydown vs Price Reduction
Give a seller's $12,108 to a temporary buydown, a permanent rate buydown, or the price. Priced off today's wholesale sheet, the answer flips at month 61.
A 1-1 Buydown in Colorado: The Cheapest Way to Cut a Payment
The 1-1 buydown on a real file: $8,200 in escrow takes the first-year payment from $3,432 to $3,091.
A 3-2-1 Buydown in Colorado: The Full Three-Year Math
The 3-2-1 buydown on a real file: $23,814 in escrow takes the first-year payment from $3,432 to $2,457.
A 2-1 Buydown in Colorado: What It Costs and Who Pays
The 2-1 buydown on a real file: $12,108 in escrow takes the first-year payment from $3,432 to $2,765.
Temporary Rate Buydowns in Colorado: 3-2-1, 2-1 and 1-1 Explained
A seller-paid buydown lowers your payment for the first years of the loan. Here is the escrow arithmetic behind all three structures, and the concession cap that usually picks which one you get.
CHFA Schools to Home for Boulder Valley School District Employees
Fifty-six schools in the hardest market in Colorado for its own staff to buy in. Here is the honest version of what the program does and does not reach.
CHFA Schools to Home for Pueblo City Schools (D60) Employees
Twenty-nine schools in the most affordable city on the Front Range, where this program can cover the entire down payment on a house that is genuinely available.
CHFA Schools to Home for Greeley-Evans District 6 Employees
Thirty-three schools in Weld County, in one of the few Front Range markets where a school salary still reaches a house.
CHFA Schools to Home for Poudre School District Employees
Fifty-two schools in a college town where housing has outrun school salaries for a decade.
CHFA Schools to Home for Colorado BOCES Employees
BOCES staff are the most commonly missed group in this program, because their employer is not a school district and not a school.
CHFA Schools to Home for Colorado Charter School Employees
Charter staff keep being told to check with their district. CHFA names charter and institute charter schools directly, and 266 Colorado charters are on the list.
CHFA Schools to Home for Mapleton Public Schools Employees
Twenty small schools between north Denver and Thornton, in a district whose staff are close enough to the city to feel priced out by it.
CHFA Schools to Home for Adams 14 Commerce City Employees
Eleven schools in Commerce City, in the part of the metro where a school salary and a house still line up.
CHFA Schools to Home for Brighton 27J Schools Employees
Thirty-three schools across Brighton and the north-metro growth corridor, where the program stretches about as far as it does anywhere in the metro.
CHFA Schools to Home for Littleton Public Schools Employees
Twenty schools in a district small enough that everyone knows everyone, and priced like the desirable inner-ring suburb it is.
CHFA Schools to Home for Douglas County Schools Employees
Eighty-five schools across Parker, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree, in the district where its own staff are most likely to be commuting in.
CHFA Schools to Home for Denver Public Schools Employees
DPS is the largest school employer in Colorado at 190 schools, in the market where its staff are most thoroughly priced out.
CHFA Schools to Home for Adams 12 Five Star Schools Employees
Fifty-three schools across Thornton, Northglenn and Broomfield, in the part of the metro where the program stretches furthest.
CHFA Schools to Home for Jeffco Public Schools Employees
Jeffco is the second-largest district in Colorado with 143 schools, spread from Lakewood to Conifer. What the assistance is worth depends a lot on which end you buy in.
CHFA Schools to Home for Cherry Creek Schools Employees
Cherry Creek pays competitively and sits in the priciest part of the metro east side. The assistance is what makes buying inside the boundary realistic.
CHFA Schools to Home for Aurora Public Schools (28J) Employees
APS runs 59 schools with a staff that mostly cannot afford Aurora. This is the program that changes that arithmetic.
CHFA Schools to Home for Lewis-Palmer District 38 Employees
D38 staff work in the top-rated district in the county and commute in from cheaper towns. The CHFA assistance is what makes living in Monument possible.
CHFA Schools to Home for Manitou Springs District 14 Employees
Four schools in a town of six thousand, with almost nothing for sale at any given moment. The assistance matters here because timing does.
CHFA Schools to Home for Cheyenne Mountain District 12 Employees
Eight schools, some of the best scores in the state, and the Broadmoor next door. Here is what the CHFA assistance does to that price problem.
CHFA Schools to Home for Fountain-Fort Carson District 8 Employees
Fountain-Fort Carson D8 staff work in the most military district in the county. Here is how the CHFA assistance fits a Fountain purchase.
CHFA Schools to Home for Widefield District 3 Employees
Widefield D3 staff buy in one of the last parts of the metro where a school salary and a house still line up. The CHFA assistance closes the gap.
CHFA Schools to Home for Harrison District 2 Employees
Harrison sits in the part of Colorado Springs where the program does the most per dollar, because the entry prices are the lowest in the county.
CHFA Schools to Home for Falcon District 49 Employees
D49 is the fastest-growing district in the county and the one where new construction and the CHFA assistance fit together best.
CHFA Schools to Home for Academy District 20 Employees
Academy 20 pays well and sits in the most expensive corner of the county. Here is what the CHFA assistance does to that math.
CHFA Schools to Home for District 11 Employees in Colorado Springs
What CHFA Schools to Home is worth to a Colorado Springs District 11 employee, at the prices central Springs actually trades at.
How to Refinance a CHFA Loan in Colorado
CHFA subordinates its down payment second exactly once, and only into its own FHA Streamline. Every other refinance has to pay it off in full at closing, and that one rule decides whether yours works.
Freddie Mac Rewrote the Asset Depletion Rules: What Your Savings Qualify For Now
Freddie Mac cut the asset depletion division factor from 240 months to 180 and removed the 80% LTV ceiling. The same accounts that bought a $465,790 house in July buy $614,679 today.
DSCR Loans in Colorado: Qualify a Rental on Its Rent, Not Your Tax Returns
A DSCR loan qualifies a rental property on the rent it produces rather than the income you document. Here is how the ratio is calculated, what Colorado lenders actually require, and where the structure helps or hurts.
CHFA Schools to Home in Aurora: Down Payment Help for APS, Cherry Creek & Aurora School Employees
Aurora school employees can get up to 25% down payment help with CHFA Schools to Home. Check your school, see the guidelines, and meet our Aurora team with Leah Celler.
CHFA Schools to Home in Colorado Springs: Down Payment Help for D11, Academy 20 & El Paso County School Employees
Colorado Springs school employees can get up to 25% down payment help with CHFA Schools to Home. Check your school, see the guidelines, and meet our COS team with Nicole Strom.
CHFA Schools to Home: Down Payment Help for Colorado School Employees
If you work for a Colorado public school, CHFA Schools to Home can cover up to 25% of your loan toward down payment and closing costs. See how it works, who qualifies, and check your school in seconds.
The Listing Is Just a Window
The listing is just a window
Guide To Colorado Springs Schools
Moving to Colorado Springs? Discover the best school districts in our complete guide! 📚🌟 Learn about Academy District 20's top-rated schools, School Choice options, and much more. 🏔️ Click the link to find the perfect educational environment for your family
Closing Cost Explainer
Learn how to estimate your true closing costs with this hands-on video lesson from Speak Straight Mortgage. Using a downloadable workbook, you'll break down lender fees, insurance, prepaid costs, and more—so you know exactly what to expect out of pocket. Perfect for buyers who want clarity and confidence.
What Types of Loans Are Available?
Ever find yourself puzzled by the different home loan options? FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional... What does it all mean, and which one is right for you?
How Much Will My Payments Be?
Learn what makes up a monthly mortgage payment in this clear, step-by-step video guide. Matt covers principal, interest, taxes, insurance, HOA fees, and mortgage insurance—plus how to estimate and compare costs with a worksheet. Ideal for buyers who want to understand their payments before making a move.
Useful Definitions For First-Time Homebuyers
Understanding mortgage terms is key for first-time homebuyers. This guide explains essential concepts like debt-to-income ratio, preapproval, mortgage insurance, and closing costs in plain language. Organized by the stages of the homebuying process, it helps you feel confident, ask smart questions, and make informed decisions every step of the way.
🏡 How Your Credit Score Impacts Your Mortgage Options
If your credit score is under 620, mortgage options are limited and interest rates are higher. Raising your score to 620 or above opens the door to better loan terms and more programs. Speak Straight Mortgage can help you build a plan to improve your credit and qualify with confidence.
How Much Do I Need Saved To Buy A Home
Wondering “how much do I need out of pocket” to buy a home? This post breaks down key costs like earnest money, inspections, and closing costs—and how things like seller concessions and assistance programs can reduce what you actually spend. Learn how to plan ahead and buy smart with expert guidance
Ultimate Guide to Colorado Down Payment Assistance Guide 2025
This guide outlines Colorado first-time buyer and down payment assistance programs by credit score, including FHA and CHFA options. It explains types of assistance like repayable and silent second loans, and grants. It also highlights resources to understand loan types, income limits, and credit scores to help buyers get started
Colorado Low Down Payment Programs 2025
Low down payment mortgage programs help buyers get into a home with as little as 0% to 3.5% down. This guide explains options based on credit score, income limits, and buyer status. Explore FHA, VA, USDA, and Conventional loans to find the right path to homeownership