The Platinum Group, REALTORS®Weldon HobbsColorado Springs | REALTOR®
Veteran | USAFA
Downsizing & Life Transitions

What help is available for seniors who are moving or downsizing in Colorado Springs?

ByWeldon HobbsTeam Hobbs RealtyPublished Last reviewed

Short answer: Start with the Pikes Peak Area Agency on Aging (719-471-2096), which offers free information and referrals, Medicare counseling, and caregiver support for adults 60 and older in El Paso, Park, and Teller counties. Colorado also has property tax help for homeowners 65 and older (an exemption, a deferral loan, and an income-based rebate), and Colorado Springs offers repair grants to income-eligible homeowners. Each program has its own qualifications, so check before you count on one.

Where to start: the Pikes Peak Area Agency on Aging

The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments serves as the Area Agency on Aging for El Paso, Park, and Teller counties. It helps adults 60 and older and their caregivers, with the goal of helping older adults stay independent. Its services come at no cost to the people it serves. Among them:

  • Senior Information and Assistance Center. Staff connect you with the regional services that fit your situation. The agency also publishes the free "Yellow Book," a directory of local services for older adults and caregivers.
  • Senior Insurance Assistance. This is the region's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) office. Counselors give free, unbiased help with Medicare and don't sell or endorse any insurance.
  • Family Caregiver Support Center, for adult children and others caring for an older adult.
  • Long-term care ombudsman, which advocates for residents of long-term care facilities.

Call 719-471-2096. If a parent is moving to another part of the country, the National Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116) can connect you with the agency on aging there.

Property tax help for homeowners 65 and older

These programs matter whether an older homeowner is staying or selling:

  • Senior property tax exemption. Qualifying homeowners 65 and older can have 50% of the first $200,000 of their home's actual value exempted from property tax. It applies to the home that qualifies, and it doesn't automatically move with you to a new home. For how that affects a move, see what happens to your property taxes when you downsize and how the senior exemption works in El Paso County.
  • Property Tax Deferral Program. Homeowners 65 and older can put off paying property taxes with a low-interest loan from the state. It's a loan, not a tax cut: the deferred taxes and interest become a lien on the home, and they're repaid when a qualifying event happens, such as selling the home. Starting in 2026, applications go through the county treasurer, and the 2026 application deadline was April 1. If you're selling a home with a deferral, the payoff is handled at closing, so tell your title company early.
  • Property Tax/Rent/Heat (PTC) Rebate. Colorado residents 65 and older, or surviving spouses 58 and older, with low income may qualify for a rebate on property tax, rent, or heating costs. For the 2025 program year, the rebate is up to $1,178, with total income under $19,094 for a single person or $25,788 for a married couple. Because it also covers rent, it can still help after a move to an apartment or rental community.

Help with repairs, accessibility, and heating

These programs help an older adult stay safely in a home, or make needed repairs:

  • City of Colorado Springs home repair grants. The city uses federal HUD funds to offer repair grants to low- and moderate-income homeowners within city limits. The programs cover failing housing conditions, energy efficiency, and accessibility changes such as entry ramps and converting a tub to a walk-in shower. The city partners with Brothers Redevelopment (719-666-7181) for applications. Help depends on available funding.
  • Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). LEAP helps eligible households pay part of their winter heating costs and can repair or replace a home's main heating system. Households earning up to 60% of the state median income may qualify. Applications open November 1 and run through April 30. Call 1-866-432-8435 (1-866-HEAT-HELP) or apply through El Paso County Human Services.

If you're deciding whether changes to the home would make staying realistic, see home modifications for aging in place.

Other help worth knowing about

  • Reverse mortgage counseling. Before a reverse mortgage (HECM) application can move forward, HUD requires counseling from an approved counselor. HUD's roster lets you search by city or ZIP code, or you can call 800-569-4287.
  • Protection from exploitation. If you believe an older adult is being pressured or financially exploited, El Paso County Adult Protective Services takes reports and inquiries at 719-444-5755. If someone is in danger, call 911.

Why families don't always use these programs

In my experience, families often don't use all the programs that are out there. There's usually so much going on during a move that it's easy to miss them. Part of what we do is make people aware of them.

You have to qualify, of course, and applying takes time and paperwork. Often, when there's a capable family member involved, they end up simply taking care of things themselves, which can be easier than applying. The people running these programs are trying to do the right thing. Whichever route a family takes, we try to set them up for success.

A simple way to decide:

  • If the owner is staying for now, look first at the property tax programs, repair grants, and LEAP.
  • If the owner is moving soon, the Area Agency on Aging can help with the next setting, and the property tax programs affect what happens at closing.
  • If a family member can easily handle something, such as a small repair, that may be faster than an application. For larger costs, the time to apply may be worth it.

What could change the answer

  • Eligibility rules and funding change. Income limits, deadlines, and funding are updated each year. Confirm the current rules with each program before you plan around it.
  • Where the home is. The city's repair grants apply only within Colorado Springs city limits. Other El Paso County communities may have their own programs.
  • Who is applying. If someone is applying for a parent, the program may ask for proof of their authority, such as a power of attorney.
  • Moving out of the area. Most of these programs are local or statewide. A new state will have its own.

When to talk with a professional

For the tax side of a sale, talk with a CPA. For questions about a power of attorney or who can sign for a parent, talk with an elder law or estate attorney. For a reverse mortgage, start with a HUD-approved counselor. For the rest of the team, see who should be on your downsizing team and what a senior move manager does.

If you're sorting out a move for yourself or a parent and want help mapping which programs might apply and how they fit the timeline, let's talk through your situation.

About the author

Weldon Hobbs is a Colorado Springs REALTOR® and co-founder of Team Hobbs Realty. He is a member of The Platinum Group, REALTORS®, Colorado Springs' #1 independent brokerage, which pairs deep local expertise with premium marketing exposure. A U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and retired Air Force veteran, he and his family made more than 10 military moves. Since 2006, he and his wife, Kristen, have bought and sold their own homes, managed a portfolio of rental properties, and guided others through their own real estate decisions. He has also helped both family members and clients downsize, where the decisions are often complex and the process can feel overwhelming. Drawing on his background as a PMP® (Project Management Professional), he helps people break those decisions into clear, manageable steps.

Since beginning his real estate career, he has ranked in the top 7% by sales volume among the more than 4,000 members of the Pikes Peak Association of REALTORS®. He works with military families, seniors and downsizing clients, luxury and premium home sellers, and people relocating to Colorado Springs. He developed the Life → Wealth → Real Estate™ method, hosts the national YouTube channel Life & Real Estate Without Regret, and holds an MBA along with the SRES® (Seniors Real Estate Specialist®), MRP (Military Relocation Professional), and Certified Financial Coach credentials. More about Weldon

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