When you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the Longmont, Boulder and Front Range areas, we know questions are bound to come up — sometimes in the middle of the night. Here’s your 24/7 resource for answers to common questions.
If you need more info, feel free to give us a call. We love to chat real estate.
Ideally, yes. This will help you figure out how much of a loan you’re qualified for so you can begin to look at homes that are priced within your pre-approved limit (you’ll also want to take into account the limits of your household budget). It’s important to ask for a prequalification or preapproval letter from your lender so that sellers take you seriously when it comes time to submit an offer. Need help finding a great lender in the Boulder, Longmont or Northern Colorado area? We have ideas; just ask.
It will depend on your mortgage type and your finances, but the typical mortgage loan will require a down payment of around 15 to 20% of the mortgage amount. There are exceptions, however. FHA, VA and USDA loans require much smaller or no down payments. If you have questions about these loan types, we can help.
There are benefits and drawbacks to both options: selling your home first vs. selling it after you find a new home. Selling your home first will allow you to access your current home equity. However, if you are not able to find a new home right away, it could mean moving into temporary housing while you search for, and close on, a new home. There are a number of solutions to consider, including a contingency (see below) or a “lease back” of your home from the new buyers. Depending on the current housing market in the Boulder, Longmont or Northern Colorado area and your particular situation, we can help you plan the right timing of your selling and buying.
When there is a contingency in a real estate contract, it means there is a provision included that states certain conditions must be met before the contract is valid. One of the most common contingencies is that of a prior home sale; for example, buyers may not be willing to activate the contract until their own current home is sold.
A licensed realtor is trained in the complexities and intricacies of real estate transactions and will act on your behalf to help achieve the best possible outcome in your home purchase. Real estate agents also have the most up-to-date market and property information that is often not available to the general public. A good agent will be a keen negotiator to act in your best interest. Additionally, things don’t always go as planned when it comes to buying and selling homes. An experienced agent will help you deftly navigate any challenges that come up. Chances are we’ve seen it before, have resources to lean on and can guide you past any bumps in the road.
We help clients zero in on great homes for sales in Boulder, Longmont and Loveland, and have frequently helped clients buy homes in Berthoud, Frederick, Firestone and Mead, too — with lots of stops in between. Our knowledge extends throughout the Front Range and Northern Colorado real estate markets.
Nope. In fact, by the time the public sees a Boulder or Longmont real estate listing online, it’s often already under contract. Once we discuss what you’re looking for, we’ll research homes that meet your criteria and that are freshly listed (or sometimes even before they hit the market) and available. Of course, if you’ve seen something you are interested in, it’s fine to let us know.
Nope. In fact, by the time the public sees a Boulder or Longmont real estate listing online, it’s often already under contract. Once we discuss what you’re looking for, we’ll research homes that meet your criteria and that are freshly listed (or sometimes even before they hit the market) and available. Of course, if you’ve seen something you are interested in, it’s fine to let us know.
Consider that once you’ve put an offer in on a home, it’s usually 30 to 60 days before closing. That gives everyone time for inspections, appraisals, getting finances in order, etc. On the front end of this process, of course, you can add the time it takes to tour available homes and submit offers. How long this takes will really depend on what you’re looking for and where.
Not usually. In most cases, the seller’s agent will pay the buyer’s agent fees.
Yes. There are unique factors to consider when looking for an investment property vs. a property you plan to live in for the long-term. I’ll help you decipher what is available on the market and assess its investment potential.
Multiple listings services (MLS) that are available to the public include Zillow and Redfin. However, licensed real estate agents are granted access to special, agent-only MLS, a database of home details. We’ll tap into this MLS to get the details about homes for sale that fit your criteria and to see details that only agents can access.
If you’re wanting to know the value of your home, you’re in the right place. We can provide you with quick turnaround on a personalized home evaluation that — unlike automated sites such as Zillow and Trulia — takes into consideration improvements you’ve made, comparable homes sold in your area and current hyper-local market forces. Get a Peronsalized Home Valuation
It’s our pleasure to help clients sell their homes in Boulder, Longmont and Loveland. We also frequently offer homes for sale in Berthoud, Frederick, Firestone, Mead and the surrounding areas. Our expertise extends throughout the Front Range and Northern Colorado real estate markets.
A licensed realtor is trained in the complexities and intricacies of real estate transactions and will act on your behalf to help achieve the best possible outcome in the sale of your home. Real estate agents also have the most up-to-date market and property information that is often not available to the general public. A good agent will be a keen negotiator to act in your best interest. And finally, things don’t always go as planned when it comes to buying and selling homes. An experienced agent will help you deftly navigate any challenges that come up. Chances are, we’ve seen it before, have resources to lean on and can guide you past any bumps in the road.
When there is a contingency in a real estate contract, it means there is a provision included that states certain conditions must be met before the contract is valid. One of the most common contingencies is that of a prior home sale; for example, buyers may not be willing to activate the contract until their own current home is sold.
A standard commission is 6 percent of the real estate transaction, which is typically paid by the seller to his/her agent. The seller’s agent, in turn, provides a portion of that to the buyer’s agent.
Homes where major repairs have been addressed, clutter has been cleared and a thorough cleaning is evident will be more attractive to potential buyers and are likely to sell for more in a shorter amount of time. In terms of easy improvements, a coat of fresh paint can make a big difference and is fairly cost effective. However, you may want to discuss with your agent what repairs or improvements are worth the investment before embarking on them. There may be flaws buyers are willing to overlook, or circumstances where you may want to see your home “as is.” We’re happy to talk it through with you.
