How Long Does it Take to Sell Land in Colorado?

As Colorado farmland values gain steam with holdings state-wide already swelling past 19% since 2020 alone according to Colorado State University estimates, overwhelmed property owners surveying seemingly nonstop listings inevitably ask - when can I expect to finalize sales completing acreage divestitures? Average days-on-market metrics fluctuate based on asset types with improved agricultural operations generally selling faster than vacant expanses, though economic factors and specialty land uses add variability. State-monitored crop and pastureland alone accounts for 89% of monitored sales, translating into billions in wealth potentially unlocked by owners seeking liquidity. 

Yet persistent supply constraints with finite sellable inventory amid surging suburban sprawl squeezing space means even less desirable tracts usually garner buyer interest when priced appropriately. With tailored marketing outreach efforts combined with structured pricing adjustments responsive to initial activity or inactivity levels, land sellers can expect to garner suitable agreements within typically 6-12 months on average across Colorado.

When it comes to selling land in Colorado, there are several key factors that impact the timeline. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide an overview of the land sale process and timeframes you can reasonably expect.

Introduction to Selling Raw Land in Colorado

In a state dominated by rural, remote lands with minimal improvements, selling property poses challenges not present with residential sales. Here are some of the top reasons land takes so long to sell in Colorado:

- Small pool of qualified land buyers – Raw land appeals to a niche group of buyers.

- Owners overpricing land – Unrealistic expectations lead to inflating asking prices above market value for unwanted land.

- Lack of parcel improvements – No utilities, legal access established, clearing completed.

- Difficulty getting financing – Banks hesitant to lend on vacant land without proven value.

- Inexperienced sellers struggle marketing – Reaching qualified buyers is difficult.

- Low cash sales incentives – Owners resist dropping price to unlock quick sale.

- Undisclosed title issues – Easements, encumbrances crop up unexpectedly.

- High carrying costs – the property Taxes, maintenance and insurance expenses add up over months/years.

- First-time sellers underestimate effort needed – Land sales require patience and persistence.

While certainly not easy, with the right strategy focused on competitive pricing and creative marketing, sale durations can be reduced to 6-18 months in many cases. But rural land should not be expected to sell overnight. Let’s examine typical timeframes...

Estimated Time-to-Sell for Land in Colorado

Sale timeframes for vacant land can swing substantially depending on where the parcel is located. Metro area tracts sell fastest while remote rural lands take the longest. Here are typical durations:

- Denver Metro and Front Range – 3 to 6 months

- Resort Areas – 6 to 12 months

- Western Slope Small Towns – 12 to 18 months

- Large Ranch Lands – 18 to 36 months

- Remote Western Lands – 2 to 10+ years

For extremely rural properties, owners selling land online sometimes spend years with little serious interest before finally locating a buyer willing to pay their desired price. While not impossible, selling isolated land quickly requires significant price reductions to motivate buyers.

To understand the wide timeframe ranges, let’s explore how key attributes influence the selling speed...

Factors Impacting Sale Timeframes

Many variables affect whether a Colorado land deal transpires quickly or slowly. The most influential factors include:

- Location – Proximity to populated towns/cities positively impacts demand. Remote parcels take longer.

- Parcel size – Smaller tracts sell quicker by attracting more buyers. 100+ acres can take years.

- Improvements – Cleared, usable land sells faster than raw, undeveloped acreage.

- Price – Overpriced land gets little activity. Price drops accelerate sales.

- Buyer demand – Hot real estate markets have abundant buyers able to act quicker.

- Marketing – Strong online/print exposure expands potential buyers.

- Sale method – Agents shorten process vs. for-sale-by-owner listings.

- Financing – Offering owner financing opens more buyers.

- Motivation – Highly motivated sellers price lower for a quick sale.

Let’s look specifically at how location, improvements and pricing impact sale timeframes...

Vacant Land Property Location Matters

In real estate, the adage “location, location, location” strongly applies to land. Properties near Colorado’s Front Range metropolitan area generally sell fastest. Resort communities like Vail, Aspen and Steamboat Springs also attract out-of-state buyers seeking vacation properties and investment land.

As you move farther out into rural counties, buyer interest drops off noticeably. Despite lower prices, few buyers are willing to purchase extremely remote land located hours from any city.

Improvements to Colorado Land Add Value

Vacant land sells quicker when it’s usable and accessible. Clearing trees/brush, grading access roads, installing utilities and other improvements make the parcel “shovel ready” for builders. This added value appeals to more buyers.

Conversely, entirely raw land must still be developed before it can be built on. Many buyers don’t want this hassle, so raw acreage often sits longer on the market unless discounted significantly.

Pricing Drives Sales Velocity

Overpriced land is the number one reason property garners little interest and sits unsold for months or years. When sellers insist on inflating the price far above actual market value, most buyers balk at overpaying.

Properly pricing land aligned with market value generates more buyer interest and drives faster sales. And sacrificing some profit by pricing below market incentivizes buyers to take fair cash price and act quicker before the deal disappears.

Now that we’ve covered the key factors influencing sales speed, let’s examine specific time-to-sell ranges by county...

Typical Timeframes to Sell Land by County

Beyond these broad location types, individual county attributes impact the expected duration to sell land. Here are typical timespans for key counties:

Denver County – 3 to 6 months

With abundant buyers and soaring development, Denver County real estate sells rapidly. Vacant parcels in the core city limits or nearby suburbs transact quickly at market prices or above. Sellers should capitalize on high demand but avoid overpricing.

Jefferson County – 4 to 8 months

Located along the Front Range outside Denver, Jefferson County lands sell briskly, especially smaller tracts under 20 acres located near major highways for easy access. Larger parcels and mountain lands take longer to locate buyers.

Douglas County – 5 to 10 months

Another fast-growing Front Range county, Douglas County lands sell relatively quickly. But increased density near Denver means finding vacant developable land is harder. Be prepared to act fast when competitive parcels become available.

Arapahoe County – 4 to 8 months

Booming tech jobs and housing attract buyers to Arapahoe County. Vacant lands near Centennial, Aurora, and DTC see bidding wars. More remote parcels take longer but still sell if priced right.

Boulder County – 4 to 10 months

Strict growth policies limit new development in Boulder County. But parcels within 30-45 minutes of Boulder City limits sell faster, especially 5-10 acre plots. Be prepared to pay a premium near this tech hub.

Larimer County – 5 to 12 months

Fort Collins’ expansion plus recreation near the mountains attracts buyers to Larimer County. But increased density northeast of Fort Collins pushes buyers farther out where land takes longer to sell.

Weld County – 6 to 12 months

Affordable lands in Weld County appeal to Front Range commuters. Properties within an hour of metro areas sell fastest. But Weld’s vast rural areas mean remotely located parcels can still take a year or longer.

El Paso County – 4 to 10 months

Proximity to Colorado Springs shortens sale times in El Paso County. But abundance of raw land means buyers can be choosey. Location and improvements are key to selling quicker here.

Mesa County – 6 to 18 months

With lower demand than Front Range counties, Mesa County properties take longer to transact. Grand Junction-area lands sell fastest, while remote lands can exceed 12 months. Creative financing and pricing helps attract buyers.

Rural Resort Counties – 6 to 18 months

Resort counties like Summit, Eagle, and Pitkin sell faster than rural counties thanks to seasonal buyer demand. But limited inventory and high prices slow sales. Be prepared to wait months unless pricing very competitively.

Large Rural Counties – 12 to 36+ months

In Colorado’s largest rural counties like Moffat, Rio Blanco and Hinsdale with few towns and scattered populations, locating qualified buyers takes patience and creativity. Lower prices, owner financing and installing access/utilities helps attract more buyers in 12-36 months typically.

Yuma County, Fremont County, Delta County, Phillips County, Custer County, Broomfield County, Garfield County, Sedgwick County, Crowley County, Gunnison County, Montrose County, Mineral County, Kiowa County, Dolores County, Hinsdale County, Pitkin County, Pueblo County, Montezuma County, Jackson County, Kit Carson County, Park County, San Juan County, Lake County, Lincoln County, and Las Animas County are all Colorado counties that will take a long time to sell your land or even getting a fair cash offer. The following section will show you how to sell land fast.

Tips to Sell Your Colorado Land Faster

While vacant land inherently takes longer to sell than homes, smart selling strategies can reduce the timeline. Here are some best practices:

- Price competitively – Shave 10-20% off market value to incentivize buyers.

- Offer owner financing – Expand pool of buyers unable to get traditional loans.

- Consider land contracts – Another option enabling more buyers.

- Improve parcel access – Upgrade roads to show the property is accessible.

- Divide into smaller lots – Breaking into 5-20 acres opens more buyers.

- Boost marketing – Use print ads, online listings, social media and signs.

- Act quickly on decent offers – Don't risk losing buyers through prolonged negotiations.

- Inspect for issues prior to listing – Fix problems ahead of time rather than later.

- Be flexible on closing date – Buyers don't want to wait 60+ days for closing.

- Use an experienced agent – Leverage their expertise and buyer networks.

Sell to a Cash Land Buyer for Maximum Speed

For those seeking the fastest possible Colorado land sale, contacting a local cash land buyer is an alternative to traditional sales. Companies like Land Boss specialize in buying rural land for cash quickly, paying property taxes and providing an easy exit for motivated sellers. In short, we buy vacant land/vacant property. Sell your Colorado land fast to land specialists like us without paying realtor fees all while getting paid cash.

Benefits of selling directly to a cash buyer include:

- Receive a cash offer within days instead of waiting months to find a buyer.

- Close on your own timeline - can sell in as little as 2 weeks.  

- Avoid spending months marketing, showing property and negotiating.

- No need to list with an agent and pay their commissions.

- Cash buyer pays all closing costs for a smooth, hassle-free sale.

- Can purchase property in as-is condition - no need to fix any issues prior.

Though cash buyers pay below full market value, their speed and convenience offset the pricing difference for many sellers. If you want to exit a property quickly, cash buyers like Land Boss offer an easy solution.

Why DIY Sales Often Take Months

Attempting to sell land yourself has some clear disadvantages compared to using a professional buyer:

- Months or years to find qualified buyers on your own.

- Lack of expertise on pricing, marketing and negotiating with buyers.

- Fielding constant calls/emails from potentially unqualified buyers.

- Personally handling all property showings at any hour.

- Drafting a watertight sales contract or sale agreement protecting your interests.

- Properly vetting buyers’ finances and watching for red flags.

- Most DIY sellers only post online ads which limits exposure.

- Dealing with inspection and appraisal contingencies that can jeopardize deals.

An experienced real estate broker or real estate agent, can help avoid these pitfalls through their knowledge and connections. A direct cash buyer like Land Boss makes the process even simpler.

Land Boss Buys Colorado Land for Cash

If you're looking to sell a Colorado property quickly, Land Boss provides an easy solution. We buy land across the state for cash, handling everything from offer to closing. In fact, we've been buying land in Colorado for years and have successfully worked with numerous property owners and real estate agents.

Our buying process is designed for maximum speed and convenience:

- Get a competitive cash offer within 5 business days  

- Close in as little as 14 days if you prefer a fast sale

- We pay all closing costs for a smooth, hassle-free transaction

- Can buy as-is - no need to fix any issues prior to sale

Contact us today to start the cash offer process! There's no obligation to accept our fair cash offer.

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Sources:

• Colorado Division of Real Estate - https://dre.colorado.gov/
• Colorado Association of Realtors market data - https://www.coloradorealtors.com/market-trends/
• Investopedia - Owner financing overview - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/owner-financing.asp

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