I'm a mortgage broker, but I don't go out of my way looking for 1st time homebuyers.  The real estate market, like every other market, has cycles, and this bull market is starting to get long in the tooth.  As more and more condos and apartments become available through new construction, the supply will catch up with demand, rents will begin to fall, and property values will follow.  We have loan programs available with down payment requirements as little as 1%, but if that's all you put down, you're 5% "underwater" because it takes 6% to sell if you need to if your circumstances change, like you get a better paying job that isn't close to your home.  That's why I focus on refinancing debt people already have.

It's a shame that Denver can't come to grips with the fact that restrictive builder liability laws, high tap fees, and rising property taxes all contribute to the rising cost of housing.