The Buying Process | Buying a home in Fort Collins CO

Buyer Myths

MYTH: You can’t buy if you don’t have 20% down payment.

TRUTH: There are literally hundreds of loan types that do not require 20% down. In fact, buyers putting 20% down are actually the minority in today’s market. Ask your lender about the options available. Many buyers can buy with zero down, or 3%, 5%, 10%, or anything in between.

MYTH: You should never offer full price right away. Offer lower because sellers always counteroffer.

TRUTH: In today’s competitive market, sellers are commonly receiving multiple offers on the first day listed (often for more than list price). Typically, sellers will select the strongest offer to negotiate with, or they will simply accept. If you really want the home, it may be necessary to offer at or above list price to even be in the running.

MYTH: While you might absolutely love a home on your first day out looking, you should see what else is out there, then compare and decide.

TRUTH: If you rank a home an 8, 9 or 10 out of 10 for you, it’s likely ranked highly for other buyers too — and it will likely be under contract by tomorrow. ACT NOW. Unfortunately, many buyers are still searching months from now, frustrated that no other homes have matched “the one that got away” early in the search. Trust your needs analysis from our buyer consultation and when a home speaks to you, be prepared to write an offer immediately.

MYTH: If the home you want is under contract, it must be off the market completely. It’s not worth submitting a backup offer.

TRUTH: Sales fall apart all the time. Buyers could back out with cold feet on day 2, or their financing could fail on day 30. Inspection negotiations could turn sour. Strong backup offers can actually increase the chances of the first sale falling through. The seller now knows he does not have to bend over backwards to please the first buyer. Being in backup on a home you love is very smart, and you still get to continue shopping for and making offers on other homes!

MYTH: When you see a home for sale that you want to see, but the sign says “Call for Showings,” you should contact the listing agent instead of your agent.

TRUTH: The listing agent either represents the seller exclusively, or is a “transaction broker.” In either case, that agent is not working in your best interests! They are either hired by the seller to get top dollar for the home, or they are transaction brokers who are not allowed to give advice. Call YOUR Realtor for all inquiries to ensure your interests are protected.

MYTH: If the Zestimate is way below the list price, the home you want is overpriced.

TRUTH: Zestimates are not reliable. They are generated using sales data from as far back as the 1980s. Work with your Realtor to put together a market analysis based on sales from the last 3 months. This will determine whether the home is priced fairly.