Littleton, CO First Home Cash to Close in 2026: $17,395 Down at 3% on a $579,830 Median

Written By Nick Ahrens

Quick answer: A first home in Littleton, CO at the 80123 zipcode's $579,830 median takes about $17,395 down at 3% or $20,294 at 3.5% with an FHA loan, before lender and title costs. Colorado's documentary fee on that price is $57.98, and the seller pays the owner's title policy unless the contract says otherwise.

By Nick Ahrens, Colorado real estate broker license FA.100104470, eXp Realty, LLC

First-time buyers usually know their down payment target. What surprises them is the rest of the cash to close: the fees, the credits, and the contract lines that decide who pays what.

This guide uses Redfin's medians for the three Littleton zipcodes I compared (80123, 80127 and 80128) and the rules set by the state, the county, the contract and the loan.

How much down payment does a first Littleton home take in 2026?

About $17,365 to $21,291 at 3% down and $115,766 to $141,938 at 20% down, depending on which of the three Littleton zipcodes you buy in.

The examples use Redfin's median sale prices for the three months ending September 2026, times the down payment percent, rounded to the dollar.

  • 80123, $579,830 median: $17,395 at 3%, $20,294 at 3.5%, $28,992 at 5% and $115,966 at 20%
  • 80127, $709,691 median: $21,291 at 3%, $24,839 at 3.5%, $35,485 at 5% and $141,938 at 20%
  • 80128, $578,830 median: $17,365 at 3%, $20,259 at 3.5%, $28,942 at 5% and $115,766 at 20%

Those medians mix condos, townhomes and houses. My Littleton house searches start at $600,000, where 3% down is $18,000, 3.5% is $21,000 and 20% is $120,000.

My read: 80123 and 80128 sit $1,000 apart on the median, so their down payments nearly match. 80127 asks for about $3,900 more at 3% down.

Which loans get a first-time buyer to 3% or 3.5% down?

A conventional loan backed by Fannie Mae can go to 97% financing, which is 3% down, and an FHA loan needs 3.5% in most cases.

  • Fannie Mae's standard 97% option requires at least one borrower to be a first-time home buyer, meaning someone who has not owned residential property in the past three years. The loan must be a fixed-rate loan on a one-unit home you will live in (Fannie Mae 97% LTV FAQ)
  • Fannie Mae's HomeReady loan also reaches 97% with no first-time buyer requirement, under its own eligibility rules
  • HUD says FHA's minimum investment "is only 3.5% in most cases," and that money may come from your own funds, gifts, second mortgages or down payment assistance grants
  • Every loan in the examples above stays under the 2026 baseline conforming loan limit of $832,750. Even the 80127 loan at 3% down, about $688,400, has $144,350 of room

Under 20% down usually means mortgage insurance, per the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, so have your lender price it before you pick a down payment.

Which closing fees are set by the state and the county?

Two small ones: a state documentary fee of 1 cent per $100 of price, which is $57.98 on the 80123 median, and county recording fees, $43 per document in Jefferson County.

  • Documentary fee (C.R.S. 39-13-102): collected by the county clerk and recorder when the deed records. On a price equal to each median it works out to $57.98 in 80123, $70.97 in 80127 and $57.88 in 80128
  • Recording: the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder charges a flat $43 for most letter or legal size documents, such as a deed or a deed of trust

Which county records your deed depends on the address. By land area in the Census Bureau's 2020 relationship files:

  • 80127: 100% Jefferson County
  • 80128: 90.1% Jefferson County and 9.9% Arapahoe County
  • 80123: 49.6% Jefferson County, 31.4% Arapahoe County and 18.9% Denver

I did not check Arapahoe County's or Denver's recording schedules for this guide, so confirm those with the county if your address falls there. A Littleton mailing address also does not mean the City of Littleton: the city covers 16.4% of 80123's land, 6.3% of 80128's and 0.8% of 80127's.

Who pays which closing costs under Colorado's standard contract?

The CBS1 contract, adopted August 5, 2025 and mandatory from January 1, 2026, sets most of it: the buyer pays the loan costs, the seller pays the owner's title policy by default, and several fees are checkboxes you negotiate.

  • Loan costs: the buyer pays the loan costs, discount points, prepaid items and origination fees the lender requires, unless a seller concession covers them (section 4.5.1)
  • Owner's title policy: if neither title box is checked, the seller selects the title company and pays for the owner's policy (section 8.1)
  • Closing services fee: a checkbox, buyer, seller or half each (section 15.2)
  • HOA status letter fee: the seller pays it; record change fees and reserves or working capital are checkboxes (section 15.3)
  • Earnest money: tendered with the contract unless you agree to a later deadline, held in the holder's trust account and counted toward your cash at closing (section 4.3)

My read: settle the checkboxes before you write the offer; each one is a line on your closing statement.

How much can a Littleton seller credit toward your closing costs?

On a Fannie Mae loan for a home you will live in, up to 3% of the price with less than 10% down, 6% with 10% to 24.99% down, and 9% with 25% or more down.

The CBS1 calls this a seller concession: a credit at closing for your closing costs, discount points, origination fees and prepaid items, as far as your lender allows. Fannie Mae's interested party contribution limits set the caps by loan-to-value ratio:

  • More than 90% financing: 3%, or $17,395 on the 80123 median
  • 75.01% to 90% financing: 6%, or $34,790 on the same price
  • 75% financing or less: 9%
  • In every case the credit cannot be more than your closing costs

Whether a seller agrees is a market question. Redfin's sale-to-list ratios were 98.2% in 80123, 99.1% in 80127 and 98.8% in 80128 for the three months ending September 2026, with medians of 31, 25 and 24 days on market.

My read: when homes sell a little under list, asking for a credit instead of a lower price can lower your cash to close more than it lowers your loan.

How do property taxes show up on a Littleton closing statement?

As a proration: Colorado property taxes are paid a year in arrears, so the seller usually credits you for the part of 2026 they owned the home.

Per the Jefferson County Treasurer, 2025 taxes are payable in 2026. The CBS1 prorates the closing year's taxes to the closing date, using the prior year's taxes or the most recent mill levy and assessed value, by checkbox (section 16.1.1).

  • Taxes: the seller's share of 2026 shows as a credit to you, and you pay the full 2026 bill in 2027
  • HOA dues: dues the seller paid in advance are credited back to the seller (section 16.2)

Your lender may also collect an escrow deposit for taxes and insurance; that amount comes from the lender, not the contract.

When do you see your real cash-to-close number?

First on the Loan Estimate, due by the third business day after you apply, and in final form on the Closing Disclosure, which you must receive at least three business days before closing.

  • Loan Estimate: the lender's first itemized estimate of loan costs, prepaid items and cash to close (12 CFR 1026.19(e))
  • Closing Disclosure: the final numbers; the CFPB says to compare it with your Loan Estimate and ask about any change

My read: get Loan Estimates from two or more lenders in the same week and compare the cash to close lines.

Where should a first-home Littleton search start?

Start with the 80123 and 80128 house searches, where the medians are lowest, then compare 80127 and the price bands.

For price per square foot in these zipcodes, see my Littleton 80123 vs. 80128 comparison and Littleton 80127 vs. 80128 comparison.

Which Littleton zipcode fits a first-home cash budget?

Match your cash to the zipcode median first, then weigh the house.

Choose 80123 or 80128 if:

  • You have under about $21,000 for a 3% down payment and want room left for closing costs
  • You are open to a condo or townhome as well as a house

Choose 80127 if:

  • You can bring about $21,291 at 3% down, or $24,839 at 3.5%, plus closing costs
  • You would rather deal with one county clerk, since all of 80127 is in Jefferson County

Ask for a seller concession if:

  • Your down payment is ready but closing costs would drain your reserves, and the cap for your down payment covers the gap

Keep looking if:

  • The home's HOA, extended title coverage or closing services checkboxes would push your cash past what you have verified

Broker view: "With first-time buyers in Littleton I build the cash-to-close number before the first showing. The checkboxes and credits are where the money moves." - Nick Ahrens, eXp Realty, LLC

What this guide does not cover: lender fees, title premiums, appraisal and inspection costs, homeowners insurance and escrow deposit amounts; monthly payments and mortgage rates; CHFA and other down payment assistance terms; FHA mortgage insurance premiums; and Arapahoe County and Denver recording fees.

Sources: Redfin's 80123, 80127 and 80128 housing market pages (three months ending September 2026, checked October 25, 2026); C.R.S. 39-13-102; Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder fee page; Census Bureau 2020 zipcode relationship files (land shares); HUD's FHA Myths vs. Facts (June 2025); Fannie Mae's 97% LTV FAQ and Selling Guide B3-4.1-02; FHFA's 2026 conforming loan limit release (November 25, 2025); Colorado Real Estate Commission CBS1 contract (adopted August 5, 2025); Jefferson County Treasurer property tax page; CFPB Closing Disclosure guidance.

Weighing a first home in Littleton? Send me the price range and the down payment you have in mind, and I will build your cash-to-close estimate by zipcode before you write an offer. Call or text 949-230-3625, or request a tour.

Frequently asked questions

How much cash do I need to buy a first home in Littleton, CO?

At the 80123 zipcode's $579,830 median, the down payment alone is about $17,395 at 3% or $20,294 at 3.5%, and 20% is about $115,966. Lender, title and prepaid costs are extra, and your Loan Estimate is where those first show up as dollars.

Who pays the owner's title insurance policy in a Littleton purchase?

Colorado's standard contract, the CBS1 form, lets the parties check a box. If neither box is checked, the seller picks the title company and pays for the owner's policy, so read section 8.1 before you sign.

Can the seller pay my closing costs in Littleton?

Yes, as a seller concession written into the contract, within your lender's limits. On a Fannie Mae loan for a home you will live in, the cap is 3% of the price with more than 90% financing, 6% at 75.01% to 90%, and 9% at 75% or less, and the credit cannot exceed your closing costs.

Why does a Littleton closing show a property tax credit?

Colorado property taxes are paid a year in arrears, so the 2026 tax bill is not due until 2027. The standard contract prorates the year's taxes to the closing date, which usually means the seller credits the buyer for the days the seller owned the home.

Nick Ahrens is a Colorado real estate broker (license FA.100104470) with eXp Realty, LLC, helping buyers and sellers across Denver's west metro. Call or text 949-230-3625, or request a tour.

Hello, World!

Quick answer: A first home in Littleton, CO at the 80123 zipcode's $579,830 median takes about $17,395 down at 3% or $20,294 at 3.5% with an FHA loan, before lender and title costs. Colorado's documentary fee on that price is $57.98, and the seller pays the owner's title policy unless the contract says otherwise.

By Nick Ahrens, Colorado real estate broker license FA.100104470, eXp Realty, LLC

First-time buyers usually know their down payment target. What surprises them is the rest of the cash to close: the fees, the credits, and the contract lines that decide who pays what.

This guide uses Redfin's medians for the three Littleton zipcodes I compared (80123, 80127 and 80128) and the rules set by the state, the county, the contract and the loan.

How much down payment does a first Littleton home take in 2026?

About $17,365 to $21,291 at 3% down and $115,766 to $141,938 at 20% down, depending on which of the three Littleton zipcodes you buy in.

The examples use Redfin's median sale prices for the three months ending September 2026, times the down payment percent, rounded to the dollar.

  • 80123, $579,830 median: $17,395 at 3%, $20,294 at 3.5%, $28,992 at 5% and $115,966 at 20%
  • 80127, $709,691 median: $21,291 at 3%, $24,839 at 3.5%, $35,485 at 5% and $141,938 at 20%
  • 80128, $578,830 median: $17,365 at 3%, $20,259 at 3.5%, $28,942 at 5% and $115,766 at 20%

Those medians mix condos, townhomes and houses. My Littleton house searches start at $600,000, where 3% down is $18,000, 3.5% is $21,000 and 20% is $120,000.

My read: 80123 and 80128 sit $1,000 apart on the median, so their down payments nearly match. 80127 asks for about $3,900 more at 3% down.

Which loans get a first-time buyer to 3% or 3.5% down?

A conventional loan backed by Fannie Mae can go to 97% financing, which is 3% down, and an FHA loan needs 3.5% in most cases.

  • Fannie Mae's standard 97% option requires at least one borrower to be a first-time home buyer, meaning someone who has not owned residential property in the past three years. The loan must be a fixed-rate loan on a one-unit home you will live in (Fannie Mae 97% LTV FAQ)
  • Fannie Mae's HomeReady loan also reaches 97% with no first-time buyer requirement, under its own eligibility rules
  • HUD says FHA's minimum investment "is only 3.5% in most cases," and that money may come from your own funds, gifts, second mortgages or down payment assistance grants
  • Every loan in the examples above stays under the 2026 baseline conforming loan limit of $832,750. Even the 80127 loan at 3% down, about $688,400, has $144,350 of room

Under 20% down usually means mortgage insurance, per the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, so have your lender price it before you pick a down payment.

Which closing fees are set by the state and the county?

Two small ones: a state documentary fee of 1 cent per $100 of price, which is $57.98 on the 80123 median, and county recording fees, $43 per document in Jefferson County.

  • Documentary fee (C.R.S. 39-13-102): collected by the county clerk and recorder when the deed records. On a price equal to each median it works out to $57.98 in 80123, $70.97 in 80127 and $57.88 in 80128
  • Recording: the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder charges a flat $43 for most letter or legal size documents, such as a deed or a deed of trust

Which county records your deed depends on the address. By land area in the Census Bureau's 2020 relationship files:

  • 80127: 100% Jefferson County
  • 80128: 90.1% Jefferson County and 9.9% Arapahoe County
  • 80123: 49.6% Jefferson County, 31.4% Arapahoe County and 18.9% Denver

I did not check Arapahoe County's or Denver's recording schedules for this guide, so confirm those with the county if your address falls there. A Littleton mailing address also does not mean the City of Littleton: the city covers 16.4% of 80123's land, 6.3% of 80128's and 0.8% of 80127's.

Who pays which closing costs under Colorado's standard contract?

The CBS1 contract, adopted August 5, 2025 and mandatory from January 1, 2026, sets most of it: the buyer pays the loan costs, the seller pays the owner's title policy by default, and several fees are checkboxes you negotiate.

  • Loan costs: the buyer pays the loan costs, discount points, prepaid items and origination fees the lender requires, unless a seller concession covers them (section 4.5.1)
  • Owner's title policy: if neither title box is checked, the seller selects the title company and pays for the owner's policy (section 8.1)
  • Closing services fee: a checkbox, buyer, seller or half each (section 15.2)
  • HOA status letter fee: the seller pays it; record change fees and reserves or working capital are checkboxes (section 15.3)
  • Earnest money: tendered with the contract unless you agree to a later deadline, held in the holder's trust account and counted toward your cash at closing (section 4.3)

My read: settle the checkboxes before you write the offer; each one is a line on your closing statement.

How much can a Littleton seller credit toward your closing costs?

On a Fannie Mae loan for a home you will live in, up to 3% of the price with less than 10% down, 6% with 10% to 24.99% down, and 9% with 25% or more down.

The CBS1 calls this a seller concession: a credit at closing for your closing costs, discount points, origination fees and prepaid items, as far as your lender allows. Fannie Mae's interested party contribution limits set the caps by loan-to-value ratio:

  • More than 90% financing: 3%, or $17,395 on the 80123 median
  • 75.01% to 90% financing: 6%, or $34,790 on the same price
  • 75% financing or less: 9%
  • In every case the credit cannot be more than your closing costs

Whether a seller agrees is a market question. Redfin's sale-to-list ratios were 98.2% in 80123, 99.1% in 80127 and 98.8% in 80128 for the three months ending September 2026, with medians of 31, 25 and 24 days on market.

My read: when homes sell a little under list, asking for a credit instead of a lower price can lower your cash to close more than it lowers your loan.

How do property taxes show up on a Littleton closing statement?

As a proration: Colorado property taxes are paid a year in arrears, so the seller usually credits you for the part of 2026 they owned the home.

Per the Jefferson County Treasurer, 2025 taxes are payable in 2026. The CBS1 prorates the closing year's taxes to the closing date, using the prior year's taxes or the most recent mill levy and assessed value, by checkbox (section 16.1.1).

  • Taxes: the seller's share of 2026 shows as a credit to you, and you pay the full 2026 bill in 2027
  • HOA dues: dues the seller paid in advance are credited back to the seller (section 16.2)

Your lender may also collect an escrow deposit for taxes and insurance; that amount comes from the lender, not the contract.

When do you see your real cash-to-close number?

First on the Loan Estimate, due by the third business day after you apply, and in final form on the Closing Disclosure, which you must receive at least three business days before closing.

  • Loan Estimate: the lender's first itemized estimate of loan costs, prepaid items and cash to close (12 CFR 1026.19(e))
  • Closing Disclosure: the final numbers; the CFPB says to compare it with your Loan Estimate and ask about any change

My read: get Loan Estimates from two or more lenders in the same week and compare the cash to close lines.

Where should a first-home Littleton search start?

Start with the 80123 and 80128 house searches, where the medians are lowest, then compare 80127 and the price bands.

For price per square foot in these zipcodes, see my Littleton 80123 vs. 80128 comparison and Littleton 80127 vs. 80128 comparison.

Which Littleton zipcode fits a first-home cash budget?

Match your cash to the zipcode median first, then weigh the house.

Choose 80123 or 80128 if:

  • You have under about $21,000 for a 3% down payment and want room left for closing costs
  • You are open to a condo or townhome as well as a house

Choose 80127 if:

  • You can bring about $21,291 at 3% down, or $24,839 at 3.5%, plus closing costs
  • You would rather deal with one county clerk, since all of 80127 is in Jefferson County

Ask for a seller concession if:

  • Your down payment is ready but closing costs would drain your reserves, and the cap for your down payment covers the gap

Keep looking if:

  • The home's HOA, extended title coverage or closing services checkboxes would push your cash past what you have verified

Broker view: "With first-time buyers in Littleton I build the cash-to-close number before the first showing. The checkboxes and credits are where the money moves." - Nick Ahrens, eXp Realty, LLC

What this guide does not cover: lender fees, title premiums, appraisal and inspection costs, homeowners insurance and escrow deposit amounts; monthly payments and mortgage rates; CHFA and other down payment assistance terms; FHA mortgage insurance premiums; and Arapahoe County and Denver recording fees.

Sources: Redfin's 80123, 80127 and 80128 housing market pages (three months ending September 2026, checked October 25, 2026); C.R.S. 39-13-102; Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder fee page; Census Bureau 2020 zipcode relationship files (land shares); HUD's FHA Myths vs. Facts (June 2025); Fannie Mae's 97% LTV FAQ and Selling Guide B3-4.1-02; FHFA's 2026 conforming loan limit release (November 25, 2025); Colorado Real Estate Commission CBS1 contract (adopted August 5, 2025); Jefferson County Treasurer property tax page; CFPB Closing Disclosure guidance.

Weighing a first home in Littleton? Send me the price range and the down payment you have in mind, and I will build your cash-to-close estimate by zipcode before you write an offer. Call or text 949-230-3625, or request a tour.

Frequently asked questions

How much cash do I need to buy a first home in Littleton, CO?

At the 80123 zipcode's $579,830 median, the down payment alone is about $17,395 at 3% or $20,294 at 3.5%, and 20% is about $115,966. Lender, title and prepaid costs are extra, and your Loan Estimate is where those first show up as dollars.

Who pays the owner's title insurance policy in a Littleton purchase?

Colorado's standard contract, the CBS1 form, lets the parties check a box. If neither box is checked, the seller picks the title company and pays for the owner's policy, so read section 8.1 before you sign.

Can the seller pay my closing costs in Littleton?

Yes, as a seller concession written into the contract, within your lender's limits. On a Fannie Mae loan for a home you will live in, the cap is 3% of the price with more than 90% financing, 6% at 75.01% to 90%, and 9% at 75% or less, and the credit cannot exceed your closing costs.

Why does a Littleton closing show a property tax credit?

Colorado property taxes are paid a year in arrears, so the 2026 tax bill is not due until 2027. The standard contract prorates the year's taxes to the closing date, which usually means the seller credits the buyer for the days the seller owned the home.

Nick Ahrens is a Colorado real estate broker (license FA.100104470) with eXp Realty, LLC, helping buyers and sellers across Denver's west metro. Call or text 949-230-3625, or request a tour.

Nick Ahrens
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