Tips for Buying a House in Fort Collins in 2021

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Are you moving or relocating to Fort Collins, Colorado? In this blog post, I talk to you about what it’s like to buy a house in Fort Collins in 2021. I also share some proven tools and strategies that will set you up for success. Let’s dive in.

How inventory is affecting the market in Fort Collins, Colorado

Inventory is a massive issue here in Northern Colorado. We’re a very seasonal location. In the spring, summer, and fall, we often see a rise in inventory, while the situation drastically changes throughout winter. We are just leaving the winter season and moving into our spring selling season.

Currently, there are many uncertainties, whether it’s people not wanting to move because of COVID, landlords and evictions, mortgage forbearance as well as people wanting to move and work remotely. Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure, what we really need is inventory. If you’re looking to sell, it would be a great time to list a property, especially for a price point anywhere south of $800,000.

Setting realistic expectations as a buyer

It’s essential to set realistic expectations as a buyer. This is a difficult market. Are you ready to move fast and make quick decisions? You will need to be emotionally ready to submit on 5,6 maybe even 10 houses before you go under contract.

Make sure your real estate agent understands you and your financial standing. Make sure that they’re not in it just for the sale, but for the security of your financial and housing future.

That is a difficult conversation to have. Will the market go up in the future in Fort Collins? Maybe? Will it go down? Maybe? Does the mortgage fit your needs for the next 3-5 years? If it does, rather than paying rent to a landlord, it could be worth paying yourself in the form of principal paydown on your mortgage and HOPEFULLY gain some appreciation.

The best chance for buyers to win an offer right now is to have the cleanest, simplest contract. A buyer submitting an offer with as few contingencies as possible, specifically the sale of their current house is probably going to present the best to the seller.

Once buyers go into a contract, they can negotiate how that contract moves forward. In Colorado, sellers retain all the power until they go under contract.

7 tips to implement when submitting an offer as a buyer

Here are some ideas you can use as a buyer to submit a strong offer.

  1. Implement an escalation clause to secure your price and max out your offer
  2. Consider your earnest money going hard, meaning non-refundable, to increase your chances of closing the deal
  3. Consider going into the backup position for around 30 days
  4. Have your lender call the seller to improve your chances of getting the contract
  5. Allow the flexibility on closing to your seller
  6. Offer to pay for the closing costs
  7. Try overcoming the issue of non-contingency

Final thoughts

If you’re looking to buy a house in Fort Collins in 2021, it’s absolutely essential to have a conversation with a dedicated real estate agent who can help you build a plan to buy a house.

At Soukup Real Estate Services, we’ve been helping buyers find their dream homes in Northern Colorado for years. If you need any help, feel free to drop us a message. We’d be happy to help.

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