Move brief · Sample
A move brief for Alex.
An incoming professional with a new role at a Broomfield worksite.
Alex and the scenario inputs are fictional. A personal brief would use your circumstances and current property information. The example does not establish available inventory or mortgage qualification.
Prepared by Jackson Granger, Broker Associate, Coldwell Banker Realty | Global Luxury
What Alex told me
- Planning horizon
- About 8 weeks before the start date
- Planning range
- $1M to $1.3M, supplied by the buyer as a hypothetical
- On-site schedule
- Two days a week at the worksite
- Open question
- Buy now, or rent first and buy later
All inputs illustrative.
Places to investigate
Not recommendations. Three places worth a closer look given the worksite, each with a tradeoff to think about and something to verify next.
Broomfield
Why investigate: The worksite is here. Broomfield is a consolidated city and county along US 36, between Denver and Boulder.
Tradeoff or question: Homes vary widely in age, size and style. Which parts of the city match the type of home Alex wants?
Verify next: Drive from two or three candidate streets to the worksite at the actual travel time.
Louisville
Why investigate: Close to Broomfield in southeastern Boulder County; a former coal town that became a residential community after the mines closed.
Tradeoff or question: With two on-site days, is a slightly different drive worth it for the setting Alex prefers?
Verify next: Compare property tax and any HOA dues for specific homes against similar Broomfield homes.
Erie
Why investigate: A town in Boulder and Weld counties just west of I-25, settled in 1867.
Tradeoff or question: Because Erie spans two counties, taxes and services can differ by address. Which apply to each home?
Verify next: Confirm the county, taxing districts and HOA for each home of interest.
Ownership cost worksheet
Left blank on purpose. Each line is confirmed for a specific home, with Alex’s lender, the county and insurers.
Purchase and financing inputs
Used to estimate the payment. Not part of the monthly total.
- Purchase priceConfirm for the selected home
- Confirm for the selected home
- Down payment and loan amountAlex’s plan, confirmed with the lender
- Alex’s plan, confirmed with the lender
- Loan type, term and rateLoan Estimate from Alex’s lender
- Loan Estimate from Alex’s lender
- One-time closing cost estimateLoan Estimate from Alex’s lender
- Loan Estimate from Alex’s lender
Monthly planning
- Principal and interestLender’s Loan Estimate
- Lender’s Loan Estimate
- Property taxes (annual ÷ 12)County assessor/treasurer for the address
- County assessor/treasurer for the address
- Homeowners insurance (annual ÷ 12)Insurer quote for the address
- Insurer quote for the address
- HOA dues, monthly equivalentHOA documents, if any
- HOA documents, if any
- Mortgage insurance, if applicableLender’s Loan Estimate
- Lender’s Loan Estimate
- UtilitiesProviders or recent bills for the home
- Providers or recent bills for the home
- Maintenance reserveAlex’s own estimate for the home’s age and condition
- Alex’s own estimate for the home’s age and condition
- Total planned monthly amount
If the lender’s payment already includes taxes and insurance in escrow, count them once: either within that payment or on their own lines, not both.
Buy now or rent first
Points toward buying now
- ☐ Your work location and on-site schedule are settled.
- ☐ You have seen enough, in person or remotely, to compare homes with confidence.
- ☐ Your financing is in place and the monthly cost fits with margin.
- ☐ You expect to stay long enough for buying and selling costs to make sense.
Points toward renting first
- ☐ Your role, office or schedule could still change after you arrive.
- ☐ You have not yet spent time in the places on your shortlist.
- ☐ Your current home has not sold or your lease runs past the start date.
- ☐ A short lease would let you learn the area without a deadline.
Timeline, counting back from the start date
Weeks 8 to 7
Lender conversation and planning range confirmed
Depends on: Nothing; start here
Weeks 7 to 6
Buy now or rent first: decide with the criteria above
Depends on: Lender numbers, current home plan
Weeks 6 to 5
Visit: commute drives, time in each place, calibration tours
Depends on: Shortlist of three places
Weeks 5 to 3
Remote and in-person showings of specific homes
Depends on: Decision to buy now
After an accepted offer
Lender, inspection, appraisal and closing deadlines set by the actual contract
Depends on: Accepted offer; timing confirmed for that transaction
Before the start date
Interim housing decided if closing falls after the job start
Depends on: Contract closing date, or rental chosen instead
Relative weeks only. Real timing depends on the contract, lender and market.
Decisions for the next two weeks
- Is two days on site settled, or could it change in the first year?
- What monthly cost, all in, feels comfortable rather than possible?
- Will the current home be sold or leased before closing here?
- Which one place would Alex visit first, and what would rule it out?