Rural Homes Colorado
Rural Homes Colorado
  • Home
  • What Make Us Unique
  • Neighborhoods
  • Child Care Initiative
  • Home Features
  • Rural Homes Team
  • Contact
  • More
    • Home
    • What Make Us Unique
    • Neighborhoods
    • Child Care Initiative
    • Home Features
    • Rural Homes Team
    • Contact
  • Home
  • What Make Us Unique
  • Neighborhoods
  • Child Care Initiative
  • Home Features
  • Rural Homes Team
  • Contact

rural homes 101

Rural homes is the trusted expert that first-time homebuyers can rely on. We build homes for the core of our communities and are a steady guide throughout the homebuying process. Whether you’re an essential worker who provides critical services or a local artist who crafts culture, we provide homeownership opportunities that keep you rooted where you want to be.

This page outlines the core concepts behind our model so buyers know what to expect before diving into the details.

A deed restriction is a covenant (permanent agreement) tied to the property that helps preserve affordability over time.

Rather than allowing unrestricted resale or rental, deed restrictions:

  • Guide who can purchase the home
  • Establish clear resale parameters
  • This structure allows each home to serve multiple families over generations; without losing its affordability.


  • Earn within the published AMI range for your county
  • Have a stable income from employment, self-employment, retirement, or benefits
  • Meet the lender’s debt-to-income requirements

Each neighborhood has different restrictions. Reach out to us for more information.


AMI stands for Area Median Income. It’s a benchmark used nationwide to understand what a “typical” household earns in a specific region.


Area Median Income is calculated annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and varies by:

  • County or metro area
  • Household size


In workforce housing programs, AMI helps determine who a home is intended to serve and ensures housing opportunities align with local wages—not speculative market pricing.


 Rural Homes uses AMI to help make sure homes are priced for local working households.


AMI helps:

  • Determine who is eligible to buy
  • Keep pricing aligned with local wages
  • Apply consistent standards across communities

Eligibility is based on total household income and varies by project. Our team walks you through the process and explains what’s needed at each step.


Many buyers qualify for local, state, or employer-assisted programs that reduce upfront costs. Rural Homes creates unique Down Payment Assistance programs specific to every neighborhood we build.


Our team of lenders can help you determine if you may qualify for additional down payment assistance


You don’t need perfect credit — you just need a pathway.


  • Credit scores starting at 620
  • Reasonable debt-to-income (DTI) ratio
  • Ability to get a standard mortgage loan (FHA, CHFA, USDA, or conventional)

If you’re not there yet, we’ll connect you with resources to help you get mortgage-ready.


Some Rural Homes communities offer priority to applicants who:

  • Work locally
  • Serve in essential roles (teachers, healthcare, public safety, etc.)


Each community is unique — we’ll walk you through the local preference criteria specific to your town.


To qualify for an attainable home, you may need to complete a homebuyer education course (online or in person).


These courses help you:

  • Understand the mortgage process
  • Budget for homeownership
  • Prepare for long-term success


We’ll give you clear instructions on where to complete the course once you’re under contract.


To keep these homes attainable for future generations, buyers must:

  • Use the home as their primary residence
  • Follow the community’s resale guidelines (when applicable)


There are no restrictions on employment type, immigration status (as long as you can qualify for a loan), or family type.


EXPLORE RURAL HOME NEIGHBORHOODS

Click Here

Rural Homes does business under Rural Homes LLC, which has the Sole Member of Paradox Community Trust, the official name of our 501-C3 nonprofit organization.


This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept