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Colorado Real Estate Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: We own a townhome in Frisco, CO that is technically a condo. Can you divide the properties to separate townhomes?

There is a 4-plex and a duplex and each has a parcel of "private use" outdoors. We want to see if its possible to separate the units into townhomes, where you own your unit individually, including the dirt, siding and roofs. There is one shared large driveway accessing all 6 garages, it... View More

John Roland Lund
John Roland Lund
answered on Nov 29, 2017

It's possible but there would be several challenges. First, there is the question of government constraints. What do the Frisco and Summit County codes permit or restrict in terms of zoning, occupancy, etc.? You are talking about redefining property boundaries in a way that triggers such... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: We have rural property where there has been a road for over 50 years. The neighbor had his property surveyed

and about 20 feet cross into our land. Do I have any recourse?

John Roland Lund
John Roland Lund
answered on Nov 26, 2017

Easements, which are rights to use certain portions of another person's land for limited purposes such as a road, can be established through use, through necessity or through contract. Is it 20 feet of the road that crosses onto your land? If that road is necessary to your neighbor to get... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Colorado on
Q: I wish to sell a rental in Denver, current tenant has a year remaining on lease.What can I do ?
Timothy Canty
Timothy Canty
answered on Nov 8, 2017

If the tenant won't voluntarily agree to move, your only choice is to sell it subject to the tenancy. The new owner would have to wait it out - not an attractive prospect.

0 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: What can I do if I do not have the address of my old private landlord?

I need to send her a 7 day demand letter for not returning my SD within the 30 days of vacating. She will not respond to my emails or texts and I do not have her address. I looked up her address online and its the same one I used to live at which I know she isn't living in.

0 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Colorado on
Q: What notice is required to end a multi-year verbal lease in Colorado and how many days are required.

I inherited a home with a family member who has lived there for many years with no rent payment. I asked him to sign a written lease with defined terms and cost, but he refuses to sign a lease or move out. How do I get him removed from the property? What notice is required and how many days are... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Banking, Contracts, Divorce and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Sep. from spouse (not legally). Approved on own to buy R.E. but mortgage co req him to be there at signing and on title?

Parents are separated (not legally) he just moved to another state. Mom is trying to buy a condo and was approved solely on her own. Mortgage is currently in underwriting and they are requiring my Dad to be physically at the closing and on the title. Since he is not on the loan, I don't see... View More

John Hyland Barrett III
John Hyland Barrett III
answered on Oct 9, 2017

If your mother truly qualified for the mortgage on her own, there should be no need for her husband to be on the deed or at closing.She should get an explanation from the mortgage company. In Colorado, a married woman may hold title in her sole name, without her husband.

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law and Small Claims for Colorado on
Q: Bought a house and discovered the previous owner flipped the house without pulling permits. Garage damaged, recourse?

We discovered the damaged garage one month after closing, which prompted us to check to see if he had pulled permits on the garage and found out he didn't pull any permits for anything, including the interior renovations, roof, fence, garage.

Vincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo
answered on Sep 26, 2017

What you are referring to are documents that are readily available in the public records. Why didn't you look into this before you closed?

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: I have agreed to an emailed offer to sell, but am now having second thoughts. We have not signed a contract yet.

This was an unsolicited offer by an agent and we don't have a signed contract with him either. Is email acceptance binding or can we rescind?

Timothy Canty
Timothy Canty
answered on Sep 23, 2017

In Colorado, Contracts for the sale of real estate must be in writing pursuant to statute. In some cases, a court may enforce oral real estate contracts if there has been some partial performance. To determine whether your email "acceptance" is valid or not, I would have to look at the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Bankruptcy, Real Estate Law and Foreclosure for Colorado on
Q: Tenants in our PA property just gave notice, and we cannot support that mortgage as well as ours here in CO. Bankruptcy?

Home in PA is a VA loan that we've had for 11 years, and is still underwater (~$60K) since the 2008 crash. We recently closed on our home here in Berthoud, CO, and have virtually no equity built up. Wife laid off last April, only on one income (mine). Our PA tenants just gave notice that they... View More

Timothy Canty
Timothy Canty
answered on Sep 23, 2017

Without knowing your entire financial picture, I cannot determine whether a bankruptcy would be right for you. A bankruptcy would relieve you of liability for the PA property, but I can't determine whether it would protect your other assets. Since you apparently have not lived in Colorado for... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Small Claims for Colorado on
Q: Bought a house a little bit ago. My ex is on the title but not the deed I am on both. Do I need his consent to sell?

He wanted to sell and now he doesnt and he keeps telling me I cant sell with out his consent. I am the one who pays the bank, the house is in my name, he had bad credit so I put him on the title in hopes of building it. I found something about tenancy in common vs joint tenancy does that apply... View More

Vincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo
answered on Sep 21, 2017

What do you mean that he is on the title?

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: I was engaged to my girlfriend of 7 years. We bought a house together 6 months ago. Now she wants me out.

What do I have to do to get off mortgage?

Timothy Canty
Timothy Canty
answered on Sep 21, 2017

There are only two ways I know to get released from the mortgage. The lender can agree to release you from liability (not bloody likely) or your girlfriend can refinance by herself.

1 Answer | Asked in Bankruptcy, Contracts and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: Should I sue a seller for pushing back a legal contract to sell while in bankruptcy?

I have a contract to buy a house, but the seller repeatedly extends the closing date. It seems like he is ensuring his proceeds will not go to his bankruptcy, but in the mean time I can't take full possession of the house. I'd like to close now, but is there a reason to allow him to... View More

Kevin Scott Neiman
Kevin Scott Neiman
answered on Apr 18, 2018

Your recourse depends on the consequences of the failure to close, though since that failure would be a breach of contract, you would be entitled to something.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: How can seller cancel contract with buyers in Colorado?

Seller in foreclosure, listed house with me, now have contract with buyers. Seller since found a way to stay in her home and doesn't want to sell. Buyers' agent wants to sue everyone. How can I help her stay in her home?

Timothy Canty
Timothy Canty
answered on Sep 21, 2017

Generally, a buyer is entitled to specific performance of a real estate contract as long as the buyer has not defaulted on any material terms. However, your seller could break the contract legally by filing a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. There are many other consideration before deciding on... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Colorado on
Q: I own a house. My girlfriend moved in 5 months ago and we broke up recently. She hasn't paid rent in 3 months.

She has another place to go live and I do not trust her in my home anymore. Can I evict her? How much time do I need to give her before making her leave? Her name is not on the mortgage and there is no written lease agreement.

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Sep 13, 2017

The best practice is to provide 30 days written notice of termination. Some lawyers argue that notice is not required because she is not paying rent and not on the lease, but this approach presents risks and may not be legal in Colorado (esp. with a domestic relationship).

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Colorado on
Q: There is no explicit language to the type of pets our renter can have. Our renter got two kittens

Are there any grounds that allow us to revise the lease to include a pet deposit or enforce that the kittens be re homed after the lease has been executed? we do not want cats in our house.

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Sep 13, 2017

Both the tenant AND landlord are bound by the terms of the existing lease. The landlord, like the tenant, can propose amendments or a new lease but neither side is obligated to accept any modifications. Applying pressure to amend via threated litigation, increased inspections/visits, and/or... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Colorado on
Q: Can I rent a single house to 5 students, each student in individual bedroom room?

Can I sign 5 leases for 5 students for same house. Is Denver, Colorado allowed to rent the house to several university students not related by blood or marriage or any other legal relationship

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Sep 7, 2017

Most counties follow the related by law/blood plus one rule. That is, there can be only one additional unrelated person residing at a home. Note, many counties allow unmarried couples that are in a permanent relationship (usually with children) to county as "family". Some counties also... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: My brother & I co-own, as tenants in common, undeveloped land in COLORADO. Can I sell my 1/2 without his approval?

COLORADO LAW- Since the entire 40 acres (Las Animas County) are each owned as undivided equal interest by each of us; how can I sell my 1/2 ?

AS INFO ONLY--- My brother has sold his 1/2 ( of 27 acres) interest in the same type ownership of raw land in MAINE. He did so with out my knowledge... View More

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Sep 1, 2017

Tenants-in-common (TiC) and Joint Tenants have nearly identical ownership rights. The basic concept is that if all owners are alive, each owner has a 100% interest to the entirety of the property, but is required to share the property with the other owners. Partial interests can be sold to other... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: I am selling a rental property. Can I use the proceeds to pay down the loan on another rental property to avoid taxes?

Colorado. No papers are signed yet

Timothy Canty
Timothy Canty
answered on Aug 23, 2017

Your idea will not avoid capital gains taxes on the gain from the sale. I am aware of three possible solutions to avoiding these taxes. First is a 1031 exchange and involves buying another qualifying property and rolling the gain into that - there are complicated rules to this. The second method is... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Real Estate Law for Colorado on
Q: As sellers of a condo under contract, how to terminate the sale?

We are selling condo, currently under contract, our circumstances have changed, we want out of contract, in state of Colorado, how can we terminate the contract and what penalties would we incur?

Tristan Kenyon Schultz
Tristan Kenyon Schultz
answered on Aug 22, 2017

The sales contract defines the terms of termination and associated penalties. If you want to know the specific repercussions of termination you will need to hire an attorney to review the contract or you can review the contract yourself. Be warned, terminations are partially time sensitive, so you... View More

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