When you’re looking to invest in a place of your own, it’s tempting to focus only on the big number: the price of the home itself. 

That’s an important number, obviously. But to avoid some unpleasant surprises, it’s good to include the smaller expenses in your budget, too. Take, for instance, the move itself.

So let’s get real about expenses that make up the true cost of moving.

To say the Denver market is “competitive” is an absurd understatement. Inventory is low, prices are high, and sellers are laughing all the way to the bank.

All is not lost. Even in this market, you can absolutely get a home you love at a price you won’t regret. All it takes is a skillfully crafted offer. 

Here are 11 tools we use to make the magic happen. 

Quick real estate lesson: Agents make money through commissions. We get a percentage of the transaction every time we help someone buy or sell a home. 

Know who pays the commission? The seller.

Since buyers don’t pay commissions, they often think it doesn’t matter what agent they choose to work with. But it does matter. A whole lot, actually.

Owning your own home has a ton of personal perks: Privacy, agency, stability… and a sure path to long-term wealth. Yes, please!

But here’s the thing: The benefits of buying a home aren’t limited to you and your bank account. Given our country’s history of housing discrimination, homeownership is also a form of activism.