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Our Home Buying Guide

If you are a first-time homebuyer in the Roaring Fork Valley, or even a second home owner, it's helpful to do your homework, research the markets, and work the numbers. Let us help you find the perfect place.

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Our Home Buying Guide

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We Represent YouFiduciary Dutyto Look After Your Interest

When you buy your home with a Coldwell Banker Mason Morse agent, one key advantage is that you'll tap into your agent's Roaring Fork Valley market knowledge. Your agent has historical and ongoing knowledge of Roaring Fork Valley communities and neighborhoods. They have their pulse on market trends, particularly regarding homes for sale in the area.

As a leader in innovation, service, and expertise, Coldwell Banker Mason Morse has grown to more than 130 agents representing offices in Aspen, Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, and Redstone. Our valley-wide coverage gives us a deep understanding of market conditions and trends. That makes us uniquely qualified to help you buy your home.

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Develop YourHomebuyingCriteria

Before you even start to look for homes, develop your homebuying criteria to guide your search and help your Coldwell Banker Mason Morse agent help you find the properties that meet your needs.

Establishing your homebuying criteria starts with determining basic information such as an overall idea of how much living space and how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need. But don't stop there. You should also consider such factors as your budget, timeline, and preferred location.

Your homebuying criteria should also consider your lifestyle needs. Do you want a home for year-round living? A vacation home for seasonal use? A ski-in, ski-out home? Close proximity to downtown areas? A first-floor primary suite? Will you need space for guests, in-laws, or remote work?

The more you know about your needs and wants, the better your Coldwell Banker Mason Morse agent will help you find properties. That saves you time and speeds the way to finding the perfect home for you.

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Engage in your ownFinancialPreparation

Figure out how much house you can afford. It’s a question you should answer before you start looking at homes. You save time by only looking at homes you can afford to buy. Our mortgage calculator is a great tool to include in this part of your planning.

Buying real estate requires a fair amount of financial preparation and documentation. Gather your pay stubs, tax forms, debt documentation, and other paperwork to provide a clear financial picture to your lender.

Get pre-qualified and pre-approved for a mortgage before you make an offer on a home. This increases your negotiating power with a seller and makes your offer stronger than one from another potential buyer who has not been pre-approved

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View and EvaluatePotentialhomes

Equipped with your homebuying criteria, you and your Coldwell Banker Mason Morse agent can begin the search for homes. Homes for sale in the Roaring Fork Valley feature a wide range of amenities, from chef's kitchens to outdoor living spaces.

However, as you evaluate listings and view homes, consider community and neighborhood amenities such as the following:

  • Access to health care
  • Proximity to recreational opportunities
  • Proximity to cultural amenities
  • Access to grocery stores, services, and shopping
  • Proximity to highways and airports
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Schedule your ownHomeinspection

The home inspection usually takes place shortly after the seller accepts the buyer’s offer. A home inspector will point out problems that could result in costly repairs down the road.

A home inspector will check major home systems and look for structural problems. Keep in mind that a home inspection is a visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation.

A standard home inspection report will include the condition of the home's heating system; AC; interior plumbing system; electrical system; the roof, attic and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; and the foundation, basement and structural components.

A home inspection may identify the need for major repairs, as well as the need for maintenance to keep it in good shape. That gives you, the buyer, a better understanding of the prospective property.

Homebuyers are not required to be present for a home inspection, but the American Society of Home Inspector recommends attending for you to get the most value from the process. Attending the inspection means that you can observe the inspector and ask questions.

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Steps inHome Buying

Broker Agency

Selecting a real estate professional is one of the most important choices you'll make. A reputable agent will save you time and money. Sales professionals can represent the seller, buyer or both parties, so understand the differences between real estate representation.

home search

Locating the perfect home takes time. Our agents will arrange showings of all the homes that meet your criteria, and act quickly when new properties come to market. Our network of agents let's clients know what is going to market . . . before it happens.

pre-qualification

Obtaining a pre-qualification letter from your lender will save time, and give you an advantage when looking for a home. There are many financing options. Discuss these details with your sales professional and the lender you select.

offer process

When it's time to make an offer, a Coldwell Banker Mason Morse professional will work with you throughout the process. Navigating the offer, earnest money, title, contract and contingencies is our speciality.

due diligence

Working through Due Diligence requires many steps from inspections, title, coordinating appraisal and lender, and more. Your Coldwell Banker Mason Morse agent will handle all the details and keep you apprised of the transaction from start to finish. Need more information on real estate terms? Our real estate glossary will help.

inspections

Home inspections determine the overall condition of a home and will save you considerable time in the buying process, ensuring a smart purchase decision and protecting your investment. Be sure to discuss inspection requirements and recommendations with a sales professional before making an offer on a home.

seamless process

Many real estate transactions today are handled from long distance. As the point person for the transaction, it's our job to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. Note that settlement fees on the closing statement, such as surveys and title insurance, are generally paid by the seller in Colorado. Buyers are responsible for payment of transfer taxes. A transfer tax varies according to the area, so consult with your Mason Morse agent.

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