The Foundation: A Denver Real Estate Blog by Feaster Realty

As Denver-based realtors, we work with countless homebuyers moving to this fast-growing city. If you’re considering relocating and buying a new home in Denver (or any new city), you probably have a lot of questions about the process:

• Will I have to fly to Denver every weekend to look at homes for sale?
• Will I miss out on hot properties?
• Is it even possible to buy without physically being in Denver?

While buying a new home from a distance certainly can be intimidating, by no means is it impossible! Here are four tips to make the process easier, faster, and less stressful for you and your family:

1. Gather information 

If you’re moving to Denver from a different city, the first thing you need to do is educate yourself. Gathering information on the different neighborhoods, the cost of living, schools, and commute times is essential to help you make an informed decision. Without it, you'll likely waste time and energy exploring homes that ultimately aren’t the right fit for you.

For example, you might see a home for sale in Denver that matches all of your criteria and think “Great! We should look at this home!” But once you do your research or talk to a local Realtor, you might learn that while the home is great, it's in an undesirable area, doesn’t have the walkability you’re looking for, or has a subpar school system that wouldn’t be the right fit for your children.

 If you’re moving to Denver, our detailed Denver Neighborhood Guide should help get you started.

2. Choose the right real estate agent

While we always recommend using a Realtor, a Realtor's value is often most evident when moving to a new city! Choose someone who’s an expert in your new market and who you trust to check out properties on your behalf when you’re not around. Your real estate agent will act as your eyes and ears, going to see properties, eliminating ones that aren’t the right fit for you, and only bringing your attention to the ones they feel hit the mark.

You also need a real estate agent with a sense of urgency. Denver’s real estate market is moving FAST right now, and since you’re at a distance, you need to trust that your agent is working for you and making sure you don’t miss any hot opportunities.

If you're considering moving to Denver, contact us. We'd love to help you move to this awesome city we call home!

3. Decide your boundaries and parameters up front

Once you pick your real estate agent, it’s important that you set your boundaries and parameters up front. How often will you fly in to view properties? If the perfect home came along, would you purchase it sight unseen? What are your must-haves for your new home? By setting proper expectations up front, you’ll feel much more comfortable having your realtor work on your behalf.

4. Leverage technology

Thanks to technology, there’s never been a better time to search for properties from afar. Ask your realtor to set you up on email alerts so you can be notified the second a new home within your parameters hits the market. When exploring neighborhoods, use sites like WalkScore and BikeScore to get an idea of how easy to navigate your new neighborhood is. Have your real estate agent use video conferencing technology like FaceTime or Skype during property walk-throughs so you can get a sense of the layout and flow of properties.

Trying to find and buy a home in a city you don’t live in can be a challenge. But when you do your research, know what you want, find the right agent, and make technology work in your favor, finding your dream home in a faraway zip code won’t be as difficult as you might think!