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Your mom passed away three months ago. You’re still grieving, and now you’re staring at a house in Lakewood, Colorado while you live in Florida. The utilities are running, insurance payments are due, and you have no idea what condition the place is even in.

You’ve never been a landlord, don’t know any contractors in Denver, and the thought of flying back and forth to deal with this feels overwhelming on top of everything else you’re handling.

Take a breath. You’re not the first person to inherit property 1,000 miles away, and there are solutions that don’t require you to become a long-distance property manager.

The Hidden Costs Eating Your Wallet Right Now

While you’re trying to figure out what to do, that inherited Englewood house is costing you money every single day:

Monthly carrying costs:

• Utilities: $150-300 (heat, electric, water, gas)
• Insurance: $100-200
• Property taxes: $200-400 (depending on value)
• Basic maintenance: $100-500 (lawn, snow, repairs)

Total monthly burn rate: $550-1,400

That’s $6,600-16,800 per year just to keep an empty house from falling apart while you decide what to do. And that’s assuming nothing major breaks.

Real example: Janet inherited her dad’s house in Colorado Springs while living in Texas. Six months of “thinking about it” cost her $8,400 in carrying costs, plus a burst pipe in February that caused $12,000 in water damage she didn’t discover for three weeks.

Legal Maze You’re Trying to Navigate From Across the Country

The paperwork alone is enough to make you want to ignore the whole situation:

If it’s in probate: You might need court approval to sell, Colorado probate attorney, multiple hearings you can’t attend remotely.

If it’s in a trust: Much simpler – you can usually sell without court involvement, but you still need the right paperwork.

Property condition unknown: You can’t see what needs fixing, and hiring contractors long-distance is a nightmare.

Title issues: Many inherited properties have title problems that don’t surface until you try to sell.

Your 4 Real Options for Out-of-State Inherited Property

Option 1: Cash Sale to Investors (1-2 Weeks, Completely Hands-Off)

Timeline: 7-14 days to close
Your involvement: Minimal – mostly electronic signatures
What you get: 70-80% of current market value, all cash

This is the path of least resistance. Real estate investors buy inherited properties sight unseen, handle all the legal work, and close remotely.

How it works:

• You provide property address and inheritance documents
• They do virtual or in-person assessment (you don’t need to be there)
• Cash offer within 24-48 hours
• They handle all title work, probate issues, repairs
• You sign papers with a mobile notary in your home state
• Wire transfer hits your account at closing

Best for: When you just want it gone with minimum hassle, even if that means less money.

Option 2: Creative Financing Solutions (2-3 Weeks, Better Money)

Timeline: 14-21 days
Your involvement: Some ongoing paperwork
What you get: Closer to full market value, payments over time

Instead of a lump sum cash payment, you carry financing for a qualified buyer or investor. They take over the property immediately, but you receive monthly payments.

How it works:

• Investor buys at full market price ($350k example)
• You carry $300k in financing at 6% interest
• They put $50k down (you get cash now)
• You receive $1,800/month for 20 years
• They handle all maintenance, taxes, insurance

The math: Instead of $280k cash sale, you get $50k now plus $432k over time ($482k total).

Best for: When you want maximum money and don’t mind receiving payments over time.

Option 3: Traditional Listing with Agent (2-6 Months, Most Money)

Timeline: 60-180 days
Your involvement: High – multiple trips or constant phone calls
What you get: 90-100% of market value (minus 6% fees and repairs)

This is the “get every dollar” approach, but it requires significant involvement from across the country.

What you’ll need to manage remotely:

• Hiring contractors for repairs/cleaning
• Utility setups, lawn care, snow removal
• Showing coordination, lockbox management
• Inspection repairs, appraisal issues
• Multiple trips to Colorado or hiring local help for everything

Reality check: Most out-of-state heirs who try this route end up frustrated and switch to a cash buyer after 3-4 months.

Option 4: Keep as Rental Property (Ongoing Nightmare)

Timeline: Immediate income, permanent headaches
Your involvement: Constant – you’re now a long-distance landlord
What you get: Monthly rental income minus 20-30% for management

Unless you love being awakened at 2 AM about broken furnaces in Westminster while you’re in New York, skip this option.

Colorado-Specific Inheritance Laws You Need to Know

Stepped-up basis benefit: Your cost basis becomes the property’s value when your parent died, not what they originally paid. If they bought for $150k and it’s worth $350k now, you only pay capital gains on appreciation above $350k.

Probate requirements: Colorado probate can take 6-12 months. If it’s already in a trust, you can sell immediately.

Multiple heirs: If you inherited with siblings, ALL owners must agree to sell. One holdout can block everything.

Property taxes: Colorado gives inherited properties some tax advantages, but you need to file proper paperwork.

Step-by-Step Action Plan (All From Your Home State)

Week 1:

1. Gather all inheritance documents (will, trust, death certificate)
2. Contact inherited property insurance agent – make sure coverage continues
3. Set up utility transfers to your name temporarily
4. Get 2-3 cash buyer quotes online

Week 2: 5. Have local handyman do condition assessment ($200-300) 6. Research comparable sales in the neighborhood online 7. Decide between cash, creative financing, or traditional sale 8. Contact attorney if probate is required

Week 3: 9. Accept best offer or list with agent 10. Sign all paperwork with mobile notary 11. Schedule closing with Colorado title company

Month 2: 12. Closing happens (you can attend by phone) 13. Receive proceeds by wire transfer 14. Property becomes someone else’s problem

Real Examples from Out-of-State Heirs

Michael in Seattle: Inherited his grandmother’s Thornton house. Never visited it, didn’t know its condition. Cash buyer offered $265k sight unseen, closed in 10 days. “Best decision I made – got fair money and zero hassle.”

The Williams siblings in Chicago: Three brothers inherited parents’ Highlands Ranch home. Couldn’t agree on renovations or pricing. Creative financing deal: $425k purchase price, $75k down, payments of $2,100/month for 15 years. “We all get monthly checks without being landlords.”

Susan in Miami: Tried to manage dad’s Lakewood house renovation from Florida. Six months, $30k in contractor disasters, still couldn’t sell. Finally sold to cash buyer for $285k. “Should have done this from day one.”

Red Flags: Scammers Target Out-of-State Heirs

You’re vulnerable because you’re grieving and don’t know the local market. Watch for:

Never work with anyone who:

• Contacts you immediately after the death (they scan obituaries)
• Offers way above market value sight unseen
• Asks for deed transfer before payment
• Won’t provide local references and proof of funds
• Pressures you to “act fast before other heirs find out”

Always verify:

• Better Business Bureau rating in Colorado
• Local attorney references
• Title company handles all paperwork and funds

The Bottom Line for Out-of-State Property Inheritance

You didn’t ask to become a long-distance property owner while dealing with grief. Every month you wait, the property costs you money and creates more stress.

The fastest path to peace of mind is usually a cash sale to a legitimate investor. You’ll get fair money without the headache, and you can focus on healing instead of managing contractors you’ve never met.

If you want maximum money and don’t mind ongoing involvement, creative financing can work well for inherited properties with equity.

Traditional listing works if you have local family to help or don’t mind multiple trips to Colorado over several months.

Keeping it as a rental is usually a mistake unless you’re already an experienced landlord.

The most important thing: Make a decision and act on it. The house isn’t going to manage itself, and every month of delay costs you money and peace of mind.

Your parents left you an asset, not a burden. Handle it quickly and smartly so you can move forward with your life.

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www.SellFastDenver.com delivers cash offers in 24 hours and closes in 7 days—far faster than traditional MLS listings, which often take 45 to 90 days to finalize. To learn more or request a free, no-obligation cash offer, visit https://SellFastDenver.com or call Scott at: 719-888-9962

Time is running out and you’re staring at your Denver house thinking “I need this sold yesterday, but I have no idea where to start.” The clock is ticking, you’re feeling overwhelmed, and every day that passes costs you more money or stress.

Stop spinning your wheels. You have exactly three realistic options to sell your Front Range home fast, and I’m going to break down each one so you can pick the right path and take action today.

Your 3 Real Options for Selling Fast in Denver

Forget everything you’ve heard about “getting top dollar” or “perfect timing.” When you need to sell fast, here are your only legitimate choices:

Option 1: Cash Buyers (7-14 Days)

Timeline: 1 week to close
Best for: Any condition house, urgent situations
Typical offer: 70-80% of current market value

Cash buyers are real estate investors who buy houses directly from you. No realtor, no MLS listing, no open houses. They’ll buy your Lakewood ranch house with the leaky roof or your Littleton townhome with outdated everything.

How it works:

• You call or submit info online
• They visit your house (or do virtual assessment)
• Cash offer within 24-48 hours
• Close at title company in 7-14 days
• You get cash, they get the deed

Real Denver example: Sarah in Englewood needed to sell because of job transfer to California in 3 weeks. Cash buyer offered $285,000 for her house (worth about $320,000 fixed up). Closed in 9 days. She moved stress-free with $43,000 in her pocket after paying off her mortgage.

Option 2: Online Buyers (14-21 Days)

Timeline: 2-3 weeks
Best for: Houses in decent condition, newer neighborhoods
Typical offer: 85-90% of market value (but with fees)

Companies like Opendoor or Offerpad use technology to make quick offers. They’re pickier about condition and location than traditional cash buyers.

Requirements:

• Built after 1960 (usually)
• Under $750,000 value
• No major repairs needed
• Standard neighborhoods (think Highlands Ranch, not rural Golden)

The catch: They charge 5-7% in fees, so your net might be similar to a cash buyer anyway.

Option 3: Aggressive Traditional Listing (30-45 Days)

Timeline: 1-1.5 months if everything goes perfect
Best for: Houses in great condition, stable market timing
Potential return: 95-100% of market value (minus 6% realtor fees)

This means pricing aggressively low, professional photos, and accepting the first decent offer. Only works if your house shows well and you can wait at least a month.

Why this might fail:

• Inspection issues kill the deal
• Buyer financing falls through
• Market shifts while you’re listed
• Competing listings pop up

Option 4: Creative Financing Solutions (7-21 Days)

Timeline: 1-3 weeks
Best for: Homeowners with some equity but need to avoid traditional sale hassles
What you get: Full asking price (or close to it) with flexible terms

This is where an investor takes over your mortgage payments (subject-to) or you carry financing for the buyer. You might get your full asking price but receive payments over time instead of all cash upfront.

How it works:

• Investor evaluates your situation and mortgage
• They take over your monthly payments OR
• You carry financing and get monthly payments
• You transfer the deed but may keep some ongoing involvement
• Good for avoiding foreclosure while getting fair value

Real example from the transcript: Cheryn was facing foreclosure on her house but wanted $450k. Creative financing allowed her to get her number through payment takeover rather than a discounted cash sale.

Best for Denver homeowners who:

• Have equity but can’t wait for traditional sale
• Want to avoid major price reduction
• Are okay with creative deal structure
• Need foreclosure stopped immediately

Denver Front Range Reality Check

The Colorado market has unique factors affecting fast sales:

Lakewood/Englewood: Older homes often need updates. Cash buyers don’t care, but traditional buyers get picky about 1960s electrical and plumbing.

Highlands Ranch/Lone Tree: Newer homes sell faster traditionally, but HOA requirements can slow things down.

Colorado Springs: Military buyers understand quick sales due to deployment schedules. Good market for both cash and traditional.

Westminster/Thornton: Mix of older and newer inventory. Price point matters – under $400k moves fast, over $500k takes longer.

Current market: Rising interest rates mean fewer qualified buyers, making cash offers more attractive than 6 months ago.

Red Flags: Don’t Fall for These Scams

When you’re desperate to sell fast, scammers smell blood in the water:

Never work with anyone who:

• Asks for money upfront
• Won’t provide proof of funds
• Pressures you to sign today
• Has no local Denver address
• Won’t use a title company for closing

Always verify:

• Better Business Bureau rating
• Local references from recent sales
• Actual cash in bank (not just a pre-approval letter)

Your Step-by-Step Action Plan

Today:

1. Decide your absolute deadline
2. List 3 things wrong with your house
3. Research what similar Front Range homes sold for recently

This Week: 4. Contact 2-3 cash buyers for offers 5. Call 1-2 experienced realtors for market analysis 6. Research iBuyer options if your house qualifies

Next Week: 7. Compare all offers and timelines 8. Pick the option that matches your needs 9. Get everything in writing before proceeding

Real Denver Situations and What Worked

Mike in Castle Rock: Divorce situation, needed out in 30 days. Traditional listing would take too long. Cash buyer offered $410,000 (house worth maybe $450,000 fixed up). Closed in 12 days, split proceeds with ex-wife, everyone moved on.

Jennifer in Littleton: Inherited her parents’ 1970s house with avocado appliances and shag carpet. Couldn’t afford to update it. Three cash buyer offers: $205k, $218k, and $225k. Took the highest, closed in 10 days. No repairs, no showings, no stress.

The Rodriguez Family in Thornton: Job loss, behind on payments, needed to avoid foreclosure. Listed with aggressive realtor at $15k under market value. Sold in 18 days to a traditional buyer for $365k. Kept their credit intact.

Quick Decision Framework

Choose cash buyer if:

• You need to close in under 3 weeks
• Your house needs significant work
• You can’t deal with showings and uncertainty
• The convenience is worth $20-40k to you

Choose iBuyer if:

• Your house is in decent condition
• You want slightly more money than cash buyers
• You can wait 2-3 weeks
• You like the online process

Choose aggressive traditional listing if:

• Your house shows well
• You can wait 30-45 days minimum
• Every dollar matters more than speed
• You can handle potential deal complications

The Bottom Line

You’re not stuck. You’re not out of options. You just need to pick the path that matches your timeline and situation.

Fast house sales happen every day in Denver, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, and throughout the Front Range. The key is knowing your options and acting quickly instead of hoping things will magically improve.

Stop researching and start calling. Whether you choose cash, iBuyer, or traditional listing, the longest part of any fast sale is usually the time spent deciding what to do.

Your house will sell fast if you price it right and pick the right buyer type. The question is: which option gets you where you need to be?

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www.SellFastDenver.com delivers cash offers in 24 hours and closes in 7 days—far faster than traditional MLS listings, which often take 45 to 90 days to finalize. To learn more or request a free, no-obligation cash offer, visit https://SellFastDenver.com or call Scott at: 719-888-9962

Missing your mortgage payment feels like the world is crashing down. Your stomach drops every time you see that bill in the mail, and you’re probably lying awake at night wondering if you’re about to lose your Denver home.

Take a breath. You’re not alone, and you have more time and options than you think.

The Real Timeline: You’re Not Losing Your House Tomorrow

Here’s what actually happens when you miss mortgage payments in Colorado – not the scary version the banks want you to believe:

Month 1-2: Late Fees and Phone Calls You’ll get late fees (usually $50-100) and some calls from your lender. Your house is completely safe right now.

Month 3-4: More Serious Letters Expect certified mail and “pre-foreclosure” notices. Still no immediate danger to your home ownership.

Month 4-6: Notice of Default Filed This is when things get real. The lender files paperwork with Jefferson County, Boulder County, or wherever your Front Range home is located. You typically have 110-125 days from this point before any auction.

Month 8-10: Notice of Sale The foreclosure auction gets scheduled. This is your final warning.

The key point? You have roughly 8-10 months from your first missed payment before you could actually lose your Denver area home.

What’s Really Happening Behind the Scenes

Your lender doesn’t want your house. Banks hate foreclosures because they lose money on every single one. A typical foreclosure costs them $50,000-80,000 in legal fees, maintenance, and selling costs.

They’d much rather work with you or have someone else buy your Lakewood, Littleton, or Highlands Ranch home before it gets to auction.

Your Options Right Now (Before Panic Sets In)

Option 1: Contact Your Lender Immediately

Call the number on your mortgage statement and ask about:

• Loan modification (lower payment or interest rate)
• Forbearance (temporary payment pause)
• Repayment plan (catch up gradually)

Don’t be embarrassed. Lenders have entire departments for this because it happens constantly, especially in expensive markets like Denver.

Option 2: Sell Your House Traditionally

If you have equity and time (3-6 months), listing with a realtor might get you the highest price. But this only works if:

• Your house doesn’t need major repairs
• You can wait 60-120 days for a buyer
• You can afford to keep making payments while it’s listed

Option 3: Sell to a Cash Buyer

This is often the fastest solution for Front Range homeowners. Cash buyers can:

• Close in 7-14 days
• Buy your house as-is (no repairs needed)
• Stop foreclosure immediately
• Handle all paperwork and closing costs

Yes, you’ll get less money than a perfect traditional sale, but you’ll avoid foreclosure damage to your credit and get out from under payments you can’t afford.

Real Examples from Denver Area Homeowners

Sarah in Englewood: Lost her job at Denver International Airport during COVID. Three months behind on her $2,400 mortgage payment. Sold to a cash buyer in 12 days, walked away with $23,000, avoided foreclosure completely.

Mike in Castle Rock: Divorce left him with a house payment he couldn’t handle alone. Rather than fight it out in court for months, sold for cash in two weeks. Used the money to get an apartment and start over.

The Johnson Family in Lakewood: Medical bills from their son’s cancer treatment made the mortgage impossible. Sold their 1960s ranch house as-is to an investor, moved to a smaller rental, kept their credit intact.

What About Short Sales?

A short sale means selling your house for less than you owe on the mortgage, with the bank’s permission. In Colorado, this can work if:

• You owe more than the house is worth
• You can prove financial hardship
• You have 3-4 months for the process

The bank forgives the remaining debt, and you avoid foreclosure. But short sales are complicated and take longer than cash sales.

Red Flags: Avoid These Common Scams

When you’re desperate, scammers come out of the woodwork. Never work with anyone who:

• Asks for upfront fees before helping
• Tells you to stop talking to your lender
• Wants you to sign over your deed immediately
• Promises to “stop foreclosure guaranteed” without reviewing your situation
• Has no local Colorado address or references

Colorado-Specific Protections

Colorado law gives you some protection:

• You have the right to “cure” (catch up on payments) up until 12:00 PM the day before foreclosure auction
• You get a 10-day “right of redemption” after foreclosure to buy back your property
• The lender must follow strict notice requirements

But don’t count on these last-minute options. It’s better to act early.

Your Action Plan Starting Today

This Week:

1. Call your lender and ask about workout options
2. Get quotes from 2-3 legitimate cash buyers
3. Talk to a HUD-approved housing counselor (free service)

Next Week: 4. Compare your options: loan modification vs. traditional sale vs. cash sale 5. Make a decision based on your timeline and financial needs

This Month: 6. Execute your chosen plan 7. Get everything in writing 8. Use a legitimate title company for any sale

The Bottom Line

Missing mortgage payments feels terrifying, but you have options and time. Many Denver area homeowners have been exactly where you are and found solutions.

The worst thing you can do is ignore the problem and hope it goes away. The best thing? Take action now while you still have choices.

Whether you work with your lender, sell traditionally, or choose a fast cash sale, you can get through this. Your house payment doesn’t have to ruin your life or your credit.

Need help evaluating your options? Contact a HUD housing counselor at 1-800-569-4287 or visit www.ColoradoHousingAssistance.org for free, confidential guidance specific to Colorado homeowners.

You’re going to be okay. Take it one step at a time.

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This article provides general information about foreclosure timelines and options in Colorado. Every situation is different, so consult with housing professionals, attorneys, or financial advisors for advice specific to your circumstances.