Best approach for house hunting trip (Denver, Colorado Springs: sales, apartment, to rent)

[runner_414]

Hi Everyone,

We’ll be visiting Colorado next month to find a home. We’ll be focusing on new construction in several different areas: Fort Collins, Denver, and Colorado Springs.

Is the right approach to work with the assigned realtor for each community or should we work with a realtor in each area (Fort Collins, Denver, and Colorado Springs)?

Dealing with one realtor per area would be more convenient, but I’m not sure if it is an acceptable practice.


Thanks in advance for your advice,

Pat

[Teckeeee]

Check you email, and use a specific one for each area. They live in the area and know it. My reco for Castle Rock/Parker doesn't know downtown Denver.

[StealthRabbit]

Need to do some homework before you leave, get a list of recent listings and narrow down a few choices and send to a realtor BEFORE you arrive, with a PRECISE direction on your Musts and wants. They will return a few more ideas to you, then you weed through those and have appointments set before you arrive.

While in the area, stay in Private guest homes (within each desired location) so you get the inside scoop on the area, and good suggestions on the areas.
Hospitality exchange - Wikitravel

Research the activities you would choose if living there and attend some meetings / dinners / events.
If you seeking a church, look into local schedules and arrange to visit several in each weekend (Many have Sat night / midweek services)

#1... ALWAYS go meet the tax assessor before making an offer on a house... The one across the street might have significantly lower taxes (different schools / fire ...) Your next buyer will purchase across the street.

#2, usually best to rent while seeking a neighborhood.

#3 YMMV on using a realtor. Choose wisely, and don't waste their time (or yours) There are ezr ways to buy a house.

#4 If you plan to make equity gain... You make that on your Purchase Price, Sales price is YTBD. Buy wise.

[lurtsman]

You may want to talk to realtor's and find one that has friends in the other cities and is comfortable with a contract that says if a property is within Co. Springs you'll buy through Joe, within Fort Collins through Amy, or in any other area through Tod. I haven't had that experience because when I was buying I already had the city selected. However, I would suggest moving into an apartment for about six months to a year while getting to know the city if you have no prior experience with it. It helps to know which places you really like going to. If you buy 20 miles from the places you like going a few times a week, you may end up kicking yourself for years.

Using that hospitality exchange is a great idea for learning about the area.

[headingtoDenver]

Where will you be working? Colorado Springs and Ft. Collins are NOWHERE near each other. If you work from home, then yes, search each of these areas, but if you don't then I would look at the areas near where you will be working.

[otterprods]

Originally Posted by headingtoDenver

Where will you be working? Colorado Springs and Ft. Collins are NOWHERE near each other. If you work from home, then yes, search each of these areas, but if you don't then I would look at the areas near where you will be working.

..and even if you work from home or are retired, use some other criteria besides "there's a house there" to narrow it down to one (or at least 2) regions. If you really want to consider such a large area equally, then consider staying in each town for some time and looking around on your own before getting realtors involved.

[randomparent]

My gosh, that's an enormous amount of ground to cover. Are you sure you can't narrow it down a little before getting a Realtor involved? Also, I don't really know the protocol, but I think it's unfair to use three different Realtors. If I expended my time and expertise driving you from housing development to housing development, only to be kicked to the curb in favor of another town's agent, I'd be ticked to say the least.

[Snikt]

That's like saying you want to live in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Washington DC, or Baltimore. That's the same distance

[headingtoDenver]

Originally Posted by randomparent

My gosh, that's an enormous amount of ground to cover. Are you sure you can't narrow it down a little before getting a Realtor involved. Also, I don't really know the protocol, but I think it's unfair to use three different Realtors. If I expended my time and expertise driving you from housing development to housing development, only to be kicked to the curb in favor of another town's agent, I'd be ticked to say the least.

I think you are right. I remember signing an agreement that I would work with my agent only. I had the right to terminate the agreement at any time, but I worked exclusively with her while house hunting.

[2bindenver]

As A Realtor and in Denver, I'll chime in. If I were in the market to buy, I would use a buyer's agent in each area. There is not one broker in Colorado that would know the market in Ft. Collins, Denver, and Colorado Springs.

I think brokers should only work in an area they understand well.