Hi Pete,
I came across your previous question about relocation to the Fort Collins area and just wanted to see how everything is going for you and your wife. If you have any more questions about Northern Colorado, I'd love to hear from you. All the best,

Lori Jarrett, Broker/Owner
Take Me Home Real Estate, LLC

i guess i'm confused why a Sept 22 2008 Q would appear again in Feb. 2009. I'd like clarification.

I guess I'm confused... why a Sept 22 Q would reappear.

Have you heard that Fort Collins was just named one of the best places to retire? See the link below on that article. Great choice!
To answer you question, yes homes with contingencies are very common. A seller would prefer a contract with no contingincies, but sellers realize that it hard-pressed to find. I oftenwork with buyers and sellers needing to sell before they buy. Typically, we close both homes on the same day. Just last week, a seller sold their home and wrote a contract on their new house contingent on the closing of their own home. Both were closed succesfully on the same day. It is truly a common practice.
If your home now is currently under contract, you should be starting the home search on your new home in Fort Collins very soon. Our market has picked up and great homes at good values don't last long on the market here. In Fort Collins alone, 104 detached residential homes closed in the past 2 weeks.
I would love to help you with your home search in Fort Collins. Feel free to contact me anytime and we can talk about your criteria; what kind of home would best fit your needs and the price range you are comfortable with. Again, we can get both homes closed the same day so that you don't have any time frame where you have no home!
After we speak, I can begin emailing you MLS info and photos of homes available in your criteria and when you are in town, set up times to tour them. Being your home now is under contract, I believe time would be of the essence to have them both close the same day.
Email or call me to let me know what kind of home would best fit your needs (for ex., ranch, main floor master, newer home, location, yard size, minimum square footage) and your price point.
Look forward to hearing from you.
-Leigh Watson
(970) 217-6485

Pete, How has it gone for you since Sept. when you asked this question. I enjoyed all the Oct. it's a good time to buy assistance. Did you sell? Was it a good time to buy? Please stop by and let us know how it worked out and if the advice helped....

Hoping you stop by, Dunes

A house to sell contingency lowers your purchasing power; however, since your house is Under Contract with a definite closing date, that improves that for you substantially. If you want, you can write a contract contingent on your existing contract closing. You can "shop" on-line on several web sites including http://www.coloproperty.com. You can set up automatic emails as well. If you prefer, I would be happy to talk with you to determine your needs/criteria and set up for you sending emails of property that meet your needs. Q: Are you considering a single-family home? Ranch or two-story? Or, are you looking now for lower maintenance and therefore perhaps a patio home? Single story or two? Are you familiar with the Ft. Collins area and what area(s) work best for you? Have to decided a price range? All of these questions need to be considered in order for you to actually "shop" for what it is you want. You can contact me at http://www.dougcard.net and I'd be happy to assist you. Your other option of course is to get your home closed and then come out and take advantage of being a "buyer."

sounds like your letting the presure of buying a home get to you in CO. don't do that, once you sell your home, you'll have the cash and the power to rent and shop the market on the ground in CO. I tell folks selling is hard and buying is easy. Don't sweat the easy part, just get you house clutter free so you don't move any clutter.
Doug

Now that we are in October which is a time the Fort Collins market tends to be a little slower, sellers become more motivated. If your current home is under contract, a seller here will more than likely accept your offer with a definite closing timeframe. Their Realtor® will require a copy of your contract to insure all of the contingencies such as your buyer's loan approval and inspection have been met or will be met soon. Definitely start searching for properties here. We have an awesome public site where you can search on your own at http://www.coloproperty.com – This site is updated daily and not affiliated with any particular company. This will give you a feel for our market. I have a personal website at http://www.SusieRipp.com that has wonderful community and real estate information where you can search from the local homes button. It is definitely not too early to start looking. Homes can close very quickly if you have your financing together and the seller can vacate fast. This is a fantastic place to retire as well as raise a family. I am sure you will LOVE it here. Please call me with any questions your may have.

Respectfully,
Susie Ripp, CRS, SRES, ePro

Hi Pete,

Try to think of it from the Seller's perspective as well. When I represent a seller's home I would always advise against accepting a 'home sale' contingency in an offer in all but the most secure circumstances. Some sellers may be desperate to unoad their house and will take anything...but do you really want that home?

Even in this market in Colorado, properly priced homes (i.e. the nicest home for the price relatively speaking) are selling rather quickly. And those sellers don't have to accept a contingency offer.

Otherwise I would agree with Carrie about setting up an automated property search at least to help you feel out the market. Online and phone research with an agent is no substitute for actually setting foot on the ground so to speak, but the more preparation you can do ahead of time, the more you will feel fully informed and in control of the home buying experience.

As for selling your home, please check out http://www.stuartdobson.com/sellers.php for some home selling tips and Colorado market information.

thank you,

Stuart

Hi Pete,

Just to help, the colorado real estate purchase contract has a place where the buyer specifies if they need to complete the sale of another properties before purchasing the next home. We will also give a few more details in the Additional Provisions portion of the purchase contract. By letting the seller know right up front that you have a home for sale, already under contract, and scheduled to close on a specific date, helps the Seller be more comfortable with accepting an offer with a contingency.

It is a good idea to start watching the market ahead of time, and to work with someone who will be your advocate, helping to represent you.

As you can see from all the reponses to your question, We all love it here in Colorado and are always excited to welcome people home. Feel free to call or email with any questions. I hope this helps. Kathy

Create your own search: http://www.SearchNorthernColoradoMLS.com

KathyStandiford@rmfa.com
RE/MAX Alliance
970-679-1686 Direct
970-290-2836 Cell

Home, is where your story begins...

Hi Pete,
A buyer may be more willing to accept an contingency if you have a contract on your current home. When you find the perfect home here in Ft. Collins, you can make that contract contingent on the successful closing of your current home. We live, work and invest in Ft. Collins. Please call if you have any questions about the area and the real estate market. Please check out our web site: http://www.dynamicrealestate.net. Welcome to Ft. Collins.
Shawna Lowell
Dynamic Real Estate
970-226-4433

It is alwasy smooterh if the home is sold first, However it is a buyers market and the sellers are motivated. with a solid loan approval ( unless you are paying cash ) it should not be a problem getting a seller to take an offer contingent on your home selling.

If you would like a quick loan approval, please contact me.
I am a NATIVE of Colorado and an very familiar with the market.

Here is the name of an EXCELLENT realtor in the FT. Collins area
Renee Erickson at 303-982-7469

Tino Martinez
630-835-9044
tinomax@mchsi.com

Seller's are more open to accept contingent contracts that have a final closing established verses the sale of an existing home with an unknown time frame. This is especially true when a local seller is considering a contingence for a home buyer who has to sell out of state, because sellers/Realtors are not as familiar with other markets and what their days on market are.

I would suggest that you start to narrow down out what areas of Fort Collins you would like to live in and that way when you do get an offer on your house, you have already done some prep work. If you would like I can set you up on an automated property search that will email you all the new listings that meet your criteria so you can shop at your leisure until you can come out and visit. If this is of interest, please either call me at 970-988-0242 or email me, Carrie.Holmes@ColoradoHomes.com with the details of what you are looking for.

Best wishes! Carrie Holmes, GRI, REALTOR
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

View ALL Homes Listed in Northern Colorado at;