Quick answer: On Broomfield's $649,191 median sale price, per Redfin, a buy-before-you-sell program fee runs about $14,607 to $15,581. Borrowing $150,000 for three months costs about $2,760 in HELOC interest at 7.36%, or $3,375 on a 9.00% bridge loan. A sale contingency costs $0 but weakens your offer.
By Nick Ahrens, Colorado real estate broker license FA.100104470, eXp Realty
Published June 19, 2026. Updated November 1, 2026.
What does it cost to buy before you sell in Broomfield in 2026?
Anywhere from $0 to about $16,457 on a median-priced Broomfield home, depending on the tool you use. Broomfield's median sale price was $649,191 over the three months ending September 2026, per Redfin's Broomfield housing market page. Here is what each option costs on that price, or on a $150,000 down payment draw:
- Home sale contingency: $0 in fees. The cost is a weaker offer.
- HELOC opened before you list: about $2,760 in interest for three months, or $5,520 for six, at the 7.36% national average.
- Bridge loan: about $2,625 to $3,375 in interest for three months at 7.00% to 9.00%, plus closing costs.
- HomeLight Buy Before You Sell: about $15,581, using the 2.4% program fee in HomeLight's own example.
- Knock Bridge Loan with its purchase offer: about $16,457, from a 2.25% contract fee plus about $1,850 in estimated closing costs.
The cheapest tool isn't always the right one. A move-up owner in Anthem or Baseline is really buying certainty: a clean offer, one move, and an empty home to sell.
Sources and as-of dates: Redfin Broomfield housing market data for the three months ending September 2026; Bankrate HELOC average for the week of October 28, 2026 (via FRED); Federal Reserve bank prime rate of 7.00% on October 27, 2026 (via FRED); Bankrate's bridge loan guide (January 28, 2026); HomeLight and Knock program pages; Colorado Real Estate Commission CBS1 contract, mandatory January 1, 2026. All checked November 1, 2026.
What this guide does not cover: a rate quote or loan approval, tax treatment of HELOC or bridge interest (talk to a CPA or tax advisor about your situation), reverse mortgages, or a value for your home. Lenders set their own terms, so get written quotes before you choose.
How does a home sale contingency work in Colorado?
It costs nothing, and it lets you walk away if your current home has not sold and closed by a date you set. Colorado's standard purchase contract, the CBS1 Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate, handles this in section 10.7, "Conditional Upon Sale of Property." You name your current home and a Conditional Sale Deadline. If your home has not sold and closed by then, you can terminate with written notice. If the seller does not receive your notice by the deadline, you waive that right.
The catch is competition. Over the three months ending September 2026, 22.8% of Broomfield homes sold above list price, per Redfin. When a seller has two offers, the one that does not depend on another sale usually looks stronger. A contingency fits best when the home you want has been sitting, or when your own home is already under contract and just needs to close.
Before you write any contingent offer, know what your home is actually worth, because your sale price sets every number that follows. The contingency deadline is one of several dates covered in the Colorado homebuying process.
What does a bridge loan cost in 2026?
Roughly prime to prime plus 2 percentage points, which works out to 7.00% to 9.00% today, plus closing costs. Bankrate's bridge loan guide gives that rate range, and the Federal Reserve's bank prime loan rate was 7.00% on October 27, 2026.
Here is the interest math on a $150,000 bridge loan, before fees:
- 3 months at 7.00%: $150,000 x 0.07 x 3/12 = $2,625.
- 3 months at 9.00%: $150,000 x 0.09 x 3/12 = $3,375.
- 6 months at 9.00%: $150,000 x 0.09 x 6/12 = $6,750.
Bankrate also notes that bridge terms usually run six to 12 months, that some lenders fund in as little as two weeks, that many require at least 20% equity in your current home, and that you will often need a credit score of about 680. Its worked example puts closing costs at $2,000 on a $70,000 bridge loan. The big risk is time: every extra month your home sits adds interest.
What does a HELOC cost if you set it up before you list?
Usually less than a bridge loan: about $2,760 in interest for three months on $150,000, if you open it before you list. That uses the 7.36% national average HELOC rate for the week of October 28, 2026, per the Bankrate HELOC series on FRED. That average assumes a $30,000 line, a 700 credit score and 80% combined loan-to-value, so your quote can differ.
Interest only accrues on what you draw. On a $150,000 draw:
- 3 months at 7.36%: $150,000 x 0.0736 x 3/12 = $2,760.
- 6 months at 7.36%: $150,000 x 0.0736 x 6/12 = $5,520.
Timing is the rule that trips people up. Bankrate's HELOC guide warns that you may be ineligible for a HELOC on your current home if it is for sale, so open the line before you list. Bankrate says lenders typically let you borrow up to 80% of your home's value minus what you owe, with some going to 85% or 90%, and usually want 15% to 20% equity. HELOCs are usually variable-rate, so the payment can change while you carry it.
Found your next Broomfield home before selling this one?
I'll run your numbers side by side: what your current home should net, how much equity you can use, and what each buy-before-you-sell option would cost you in dollars.
Call or text me: 949-230-3625, or get your home value first.
What do HomeLight and Knock charge on a Broomfield home?
About $14,607 to $15,581 in program fees on a $649,191 home, plus closing costs. Both let you buy with no home sale contingency, then sell your old home after you move.
- HomeLight's worked example uses a 2.4% program fee, paid when your old home sells, and says actual fees vary. On $649,191, 2.4% is $15,581.
- It unlocks equity up to 90% of combined loan-to-value, up to $2 million, at 0% interest.
- It places a backup offer on your current home, which HomeLight says lets most lenders leave your old mortgage out of your debt-to-income ratio.
- HomeLight says you are likely a good fit with a conventional loan, more than 30% equity and a 620+ credit score.
- Knock charges no interest for 6 months and a 2.25% contract fee for its purchase offer, based on your home's listing price. On $649,191, that is $14,607.
- Knock's bridge loan guide estimates closing costs of $1,850, so the example total is $16,457. Fees can come out of the loan proceeds.
- If your home has not sold after 6 months, Knock buys it at an agreed price.
- Knock's 2026 loan matrix lists deed-restricted homes, with 55+ as its example, as ineligible. If you are selling in an age-restricted community, confirm eligibility before you count on it.
Program fees buy a guaranteed backstop. On a home that sells in about a month, a five-figure fee can cost more than a HELOC or bridge loan. On a home that might sit, the backstop is the point.
What about selling first and renting back?
Selling first costs no fees and gives you the strongest offer on your next home, because your cash is in hand. The trade-off is timing. Colorado's CBS1 contract includes a Post-Closing Occupancy Agreement option (section 31.1.1) that lets you stay in your sold home for an agreed period after closing, which can bridge the gap to your next purchase. The buyer has to agree, and the terms are negotiated.
Broomfield homes sold after a median 34 days on market over the three months ending September 2026, up from 31 days a year earlier, and 47.0% of homes took a price drop, per Redfin. If your home is priced right, selling first may not take as long as you fear. Our best time to sell in Broomfield guide covers seasonal timing.
Which buy-before-you-sell option should you choose?
Match the tool to your equity, your timeline and how much risk you can carry. Use these as a starting point:
Choose a home sale contingency if:
- Your current home is already under contract, or the home you want has been on the market a while.
- You want to spend $0 and can accept losing out to a clean offer.
Choose a HELOC if:
- You have not listed yet and can open the line now.
- You have 15% to 20% equity or more and can carry two payments for a few months.
- You want the lowest interest cost, about $2,760 for three months on $150,000 at 7.36%.
Choose a bridge loan if:
- Your home is already listed, so a new HELOC may be off the table.
- You need funds within about two weeks and have at least 20% equity.
- You expect your home to sell within a few months, so the interest stays near $2,625 to $3,375.
Choose a buy-before-you-sell program if:
- You want a guaranteed backup offer so you are never stuck with two homes.
- You need your old mortgage left out of your debt-to-income ratio to qualify.
- You value moving once over saving a five-figure fee.
Choose to sell first with a rent-back if:
- You can't qualify for two payments, or you don't want any added debt.
- The buyer of your home agrees to a post-closing occupancy period.
"Pick the tool after you know your net, not before. Once your sale number and your equity are on one page, the cheapest option that still lets you win the house is usually obvious." Nick Ahrens, North Denver relocation specialist with eXp Realty.
What should you budget for carrying two homes?
Budget every monthly cost on both homes, times the months you expect to carry them. Bridge and program fees are only part of the bill. Add these up:
- Both mortgage payments, unless your bridge or program defers the old one.
- Property taxes on both homes. Metro district levies can add a lot in parts of 80023, as our Broomfield property tax guide shows.
- Insurance, HOA dues and utilities on both homes.
- Prep and staging for the old home once it is empty.
- Your selling costs, which our Broomfield net proceeds guide walks through.
If the next home is a new build at Baseline, builder timelines change the math. See new construction vs. resale in Broomfield. Ready to look? Search homes for sale, or call or text me at 949-230-3625.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a bridge loan cost in Colorado in 2026?
Bankrate puts bridge loan rates between the prime rate and prime plus 2 points, or about 7.00% to 9.00% with prime at 7.00% on October 27, 2026. On $150,000 for three months, that is about $2,625 to $3,375 in interest, plus closing costs.
Is a HELOC or a bridge loan better for buying before you sell?
A HELOC usually costs less, about $2,760 in interest for three months on $150,000 at the 7.36% national average, but you need to open it before you list. A bridge loan works after your home is listed and can fund in about two weeks, at a higher rate.
What does a buy-before-you-sell program cost on a Broomfield home?
On Broomfield's $649,191 median sale price, HomeLight's 2.4% example fee is about $15,581. Knock's 2.25% contract fee is about $14,607, plus about $1,850 in estimated closing costs. Both include a backup offer on your current home.
Can I make an offer contingent on selling my home in Colorado?
Yes. Section 10.7 of Colorado's CBS1 contract makes the purchase conditional on your current home selling and closing by a Conditional Sale Deadline. It costs nothing, but with 22.8% of Broomfield homes selling above list, a contingent offer can lose to a clean one.
About Nick Ahrens
Nick Ahrens is a Colorado real estate broker with eXp Realty, specializing in Anthem, Anthem Highlands, Baseline and the North Denver suburbs. Call or text 949-230-3625, or visit youranthemhome.com.
