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Salida Colorado Buyers: How does your Agent help? Part One of Two

By
Real Estate Agent with Bradfield Ramsey Group

 

Salida Colorado Buyers: Buying a home..How We HelpSalida Colorado Home Buying Process: How Does Your  Agent Help?

 

Pre-Showing to Making the Offer

Before we Meet. First, we will assist you in determining how much home you can buy and what your options are for buying it.. cash, bank loan, owner finance, etc. 

Second, we will set up a broad search for you in areas that may work so that you can get a feel for how much home/land your dollar can buy here and what the differences are in the various places to live (See the series: Salida Colorado Area Places to Live).

Third, we need to know your time frame so we can include foreclosures and/or short sales in your search. In general, they take longer to close, especially short sales.

We will stay in touch. Don't hesitate to ask lots of questions. We will either email or call on regular basis to discuss properties that may not be on their search… FSBOs, expireds, etc.

Salida Colorado Buyer Meeting

When we meet. Our first hour plus or minus will be in the office. First, we discuss the process. For followup, we give you a 20 page buyers guide with the process outlined for you to take home.

One of our objectives in that first meetin if you still need it is to provide a general outline of mortgage types and then make sure you are connected with a GOOD Lender who has a high closing rate See the post Salida Colorado First Time Buyers.. Choosing a GOOD Lender.

We will spend time so that we really understand your wants and needs. That will help us refine your search criteria.

Do you know the difference between a buyer’s agent and transaction coordinator? So far, 100% of our buyers allow us to work for them as buyers agents once they understand it is the only way we can advocate for them.

There are many home types around here. Do you know the difference between mobile homes, manufactured homes, modulars, and site built homes? We will walk you through the differences.

This first meeting is a good time to take a tour of the town and surroundings if you are from out of town. With the maps we give you, you will be able to navigate around pretty well after the tour. Along with the maps is a list of some great places to go, eat and play while you are here.

 

Salida Colorado Buyers: How does an agent help?Showings:

Pre-Showing Activities. We will Preview homes on your list and if possible, we would like you to “drive by” in case there is one or more that needs to be “culled” from the showing list.

Showings. We set the showings up ahead of time and prefer to stick to 4-6 homes/parcels of land a day. It is difficult to keep more than six separate and to keep your energy up. Exploring homes you may want to buy in depth can be exhausting.

If available, we will order Plat maps/surveys for properties seen each day.

We will provide bring area maps, water, a compass and binoculars (for rural properties)

With your ongoing ranking of properties as you see them, when your are done, there will probably only be 2-3 that you may want to see again. We recommend second showings before you write an offer to get the details of the property clear in your mind.Salida Colorado Homes for Sale: Writing an Offer

To be sure the homes are priced well and to see what is selling nearby, we will search for comps (sold homes in the last 6 months) for the final 2-3 homes.

You are now ready to write an offer! 

See the next post for the Offer writing, inspections, loan application and closing..

Salida Colorado Home Buying: How your Agent Assists from Contract to Close.

 

Want to Start Now? Check out Salida Colorado Homes for sale.

For Part two of this series.. contract to close, click on the link below.

Salida Colorado Buyers: How does your Agent Help, Part Two of Two... Contract to close

Salida Colorado Buyers: How does your Agent help? Part One of Two

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by

 

Paula Bradfield, PhD, GRI, EPro, CIAS, CDPE, Realtor
Phone: 719.221.6108 | Email: Paula@InSouthernColorado.com  
Website: SouthernColoradoHomesOnline.com

Keller Williams Performance

Your Salida Colorado Realtor Team

 

 

 

 

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Specializing in homes and land in the Colorado river towns of Salida, Howard, Coaldale, Cotopaxi, Nathrop, Poncha Springs  and Buena Vista, I am here to work for you as you buy or sell your home or land. 

 

It is not just about buying in this area. it is a statement about lifestyle. Our residents generally are active people, whether it involves horses (my passion), white water rafting, cross county or downhill skiing, hiking, mountain biking, or Contra dancing. Some prefer quiet sunrises, strolls through town and time in one of our fabulous coffee shops or restaurants. Whatever the style, folks appreciate this area for its charm and beauty.

 

Want to get more information on available homes or condos in the Central Colorado River Valleys? Go to SouthernColoradoHomesonline to search the area listings by town, zip code or county.

 

Looking for Paula Bradfield?     Let me Google That for You!

 

 

Our Colorado Mountain river communities: A Snapshot

 

Salida ColoradoSalida:  As quoted in the 2004 edition of Outside Magazine, Salida is “Sweetly unpretentious” as they ranked it as one of their “Dream Towns and Adventure Hideouts.” You might agree. Our community of 6,500 (9700 counting the surrounding homes) is surrounded by Forest Service and BLM lands, a haven for bicyclists, campers, folks who love to fish, hikers, skiers, nature photographers and hunters. It is a lovely natural setting with several converging mountain ranges  (We have15 peaks surrounding us that reach over 14,000 feet in elevation).

 We are known for being the Banana Belt of Colorado and this area is known as one of the Colorado River Towns. The Arkansas River winds its way through the Arkansas Valley, through downtown Salida and more; creating an invitation to rafters, kayakers, fishers, and “beach lovers” alike.

 Salida’s charming downtown area had the largest historical downtown district in Colorado. We have blocks and blocks of Victorian and other historic buildings. Because so many folks also come here to play, we have many of the advantages of a smaller resort town: great restaurants, 22 art galleries, fabulous boutiques, outdoor sportswear stores, and an array of shops for music, kitchen, sports, natural foods, children, books, knitters, and quilters.

 

 

 Real Estate in Salida CO

 

Poncha Springs COPoncha Springs: Poncha Springs is a small Salida “bedroom community” (population of 474 but a few thousand when you consider the outlying neighborhoods and ranches). Because it was surrounded  by hot springs (99 nearby) and had a strong early  influence of Spanish culture, the community became known as  Poncho (meaning cape and warmth) Springs. In 1924, the town officially became Poncha Springs.

 

Real Estate in Poncha Springs

 

 Howard ColoradoHoward: Howard, part of what is known as Pleasant Valley, is nestled along the Arkansas River as it snakes its way from Salida to Canon City. Some of the early settlers in the area were prospectors (some still pan for gold in the tributaries of the Arkansas).  Besides gold and silver, rhyolite, travertine, and limestone were sought after. Just a bit north of Howard is a tiny community of Wellsville where the locals used to soak on their time off in the natural hot pools. The area became more populated when the Rio Grande Railroad came through. Today, Howard is a charming, quiet ranch community and “bedroom Community” for folks who work in Salida. Many avid fly fishing folks have 2nd homes here. I love this valley.

 

Real Estate in Howard CO  

 

Coaldale Colorado

 

Coaldale: Coaldale, a tiny community just SE of Howard opens up into a lovely, meadow-like area with many horse properties, ranches, and folks who like the open meadows and surrounding mountains. It got its name from being called Charcoal Valley. In the early days, the Pinon Pines were burnt in beehive kilns to turn them into coals used for the silver smelters in Leadville Co and Pueblo CO. Some of the early kilns can still be seen. Every valley in Coaldale has a creek in it and with just a few minutes drive to the west, you can be on national forest trails. Absolutely lovely community.

 

 Real Estate in Coaldale CO

 

This image can be found at http://www.colorado.com/CotopaxiCotopaxi: Cotopaxi, named after an Ecuadorian Volcano, grew from being a “whistle stop” for the Rio Grande railroad. Now it is known for world class white water rafting and fly fishing. Folks who live around here can commute for work to either Canon City, further east or back to Salida..it is almost midway between the two. Cotopaxi is a great location for vacation/second home or your primary residence if you don’t mind the commute or can work from home.

 

 

 

Real Estate in Cotopaxi CO

 

This image can be found at http://www.sunset.com/travel/rockies/ways-to-warm-up-in-salidaNathrop:  Nathrop, a quiet community north of Salida has always been known as the access point to Mount Princeton Hot Springs. To this day, folks come to soak in the restorative waters. It is my personal favorite in hot springs because the 104-degree water not only comes into the soaking and lap pools but comes out in Chalk Creek, running alongside the pools. I can spend all day there with a book, adjusting the rocks so that the water is neither hot nor cold. Lovely. Many folks choose to live in the area because of access to the hot springs and national forest.

 

 

 

 

Real Estate in Nathrop CO

 

This image can be found at http://www.rockies.com/colorado/city-guides/buena-vista-colorado.htmlBuena Vista: Buena Vista was named after it’s stunning 360-degree views. Folks originally settled here because of the gold mining. Later, families began farming and ranching as they discovered the good soil in the area. The stagecoach and subsequent railroad brought more families to the area. With a population of about 2500 people, the town remains quiet and gracious. It is known as the best kept secret place to stay for folks skiing at the premier resorts near Denver and Aspen…because the town is so friendly and hotel rates are inexpensive. It is a few miles from Cottonwood Creek Hot Springs and Mt. Princeton.

 

Real Estate in Buena Vista Colorado

 

Crestone...beginning of the sunsetCrestone: Unique, magical and beautiful are words that tumble out of my mouth when I think of Crestone. The tiny town proper is 150 and the surrounding area is no more than 1500 when everyone is home. The magic of Crestone however, is its history. Early on, a rancher was instructed to bequeath parcels of his ranch to spiritual groups around the world which he did. It is now known for having the most diverse spiritual community in the world. Spiritual seekers in North America eventually hear about Crestone. And, it generally takes knowing a local or more than one visit for the fullness of the area to emerge…the 5 creeks heading up into the Sangre de Cristos, the temples hidden in the trees, the lovely residents and the “happening”. The local newspaper, the Crestone Eagle, has calendars of event for local happenings that rival a town 10 times its size. If you want a sanctuary, Crestone offers just that.

 

Real Estate around Crestone CO

 

Comments(2)

David Shamansky
US Mortgages - David Shamansky - Highlands Ranch, CO
Creative, Aggressive & 560 FICO - OK, Colorado Mtg

Good post and your pictures are flat beautiful and one of the reasons I truly LOVE being here in CO!!

 

Well done

Jul 24, 2012 02:05 PM
Paula Bradfield
Bradfield Ramsey Group - Salida, CO
Your Salida Colorado area Realtor Team

David, thank you! And yes, that is why we live in colorado yes?

Jul 25, 2012 10:04 PM