Have you ever heard of a treasure map? According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The world makes way for a man who knows where he is going.†If 2008 is the year that you are determined to buy resort real estate in Breckenridge, Keystone, or Frisco so that your family will have a weekend getaway, start with a treasure map.
Imagine that you are already vacationing in your Breckenridge, Colorado home and take a mental picture. First, make a list of your dream house or condominium in the Colorado Rockies and everything about life when you are there. The list can cover a wide variety of elements that may be factors in buying the property including career, finances, family, children, education, health, the Breckenridge home, relationships, spirituality, travel, and hobbies.
A treasure map is like a multidimensional picture of what you want to have and when you would like it. It serves to remind you of your greatest desires so that you stay on track. You can use it to catch dreams, shape them into tangible goals, and make them happen. It is important to keep the map in a secluded place in your home and to go over it in your mind at least twice a day, and to take steps to achieve your goals.
Building a treasure map is fun. Start with a large poster board, pasting onto it pictures and symbols of everything you want and need. Look in old magazines and cut out pictures of the elements that may be parts of your new home. For example, cut out a golf-course estate or a wooded chalet. Find a skier, some kids, and other symbols of your vacation home. To symbolize cash, use a picture of money and write the amount you need across the top. Write down feeling words like harmony and happiness, and beauty. Cut out a pool table and swimming pool and other amenities and pictures of friends and relatives to keep you company.
If there are timelines, include them on your treasure map. If you want to be in the vacation home by July 1, here are some applicable dates. Change them to match your goals.
January 1
- Narrow down your territory to the right resort town before you choose a neighborhood or house.
- Find out your credit score and deal with any problems on your credit report.
- Decide exactly how much money you can comfortably pay for a monthly mortgage. Be realistic with your budget and the options available for townhouses, single-family, suburbs or country properties.
- Choose a realtor. For expert guidance, call Rick Allemang at 888-547-1002.
March 1
- Select a mortgage broker or a mortgage lender and do not waste time looking at properties out of your price range. Get pre-approved.
- Find a local real-estate attorney at this point in the game.
January, February, March
- When you spot your real estate, make an offer. Initiate a title search, a home inspection, an appraisal, and buy homeowners insurance and a home warranty if needed.
May 22
- If you will be bringing existing furnishings, select a mover and supplement their coverage.
July 1
- Carefully review the bill of lading. Do a final walk through of the house the day of the closing or the day before closing. Be sure you have all of the payments needed to take possession of the home as well as a cashier’s check for the movers.
Congratulations and welcome to our mountain lifestyle.
Posted by: Editor
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