Durango · La Plata County · Median Home Value $725,000 · Licensed Mortgage Broker & Real Estate Agent

Thinking About Selling Your Durango Home? Read This First.

Selling a $725,000 Durango home costs $50,500–$88,250 in commissions and fees. If your goal is accessing cash — not relocating — a HELOC accomplishes the same thing for $500. Bobby shows you both paths with real numbers.
💰Selling Costs: 8–12% of Sale PriceHELOC Alternative: $0–$500🏠Keep Your Home + Keep Your Low Rate📊Free Net Proceeds Analysis🔄Bobby Shows You Both Paths🏦Licensed Mortgage Broker + Real Estate Agent
The Math

What Selling a Durango Home Actually Costs

CostTypical Range (on $725,000 Home)
Real estate commissions (5–6%)$36,250–$43,500
Closing costs (1–3%)$7,250–$21,750
Staging & prep$3,000–$8,000
Repairs from inspection$2,000–$10,000
Moving costs$2,000–$5,000
Overlap costs (carrying two properties)$3,000–$10,000/month
TOTAL$50,500$88,250

On a $725,000 Durango home with $348,000 remaining mortgage, your total equity is $377,000. After selling costs of $50,500$88,250, you walk away with $288,750$326,500. That's $50,500$88,250 that disappears in the transaction.

A HELOC on the same home gives you access to up to $268,250 for $0$500 in closing costs. If your goal is cash not relocation the math isn't even close.

Real Stories

Durango Homeowners Who Made the Right Call

🏠THE ESTATE SALE

The Caldwells: The Caldwells' Animas Valley property sat on 5 acres with Animas River frontage. Standard MLS photos wouldn't do it justice. Bobby's team flew drone footage at sunset, produced a 4-minute YouTube video showcasing the river, mountain views, and outdoor living spaces, and ran targeted ads to buyers in Denver, Texas, and Arizona. A Texas buyer flew in for a private showing after seeing the video. Closed at $935K in 26 days.

💵 $935K sale🎥 Drone sunset video✈️ Texas buyer flew in⚡ 26 days on market
💰THE HELOC CONVERT

Mike and Laura: Mike and Laura in Three Springs were planning to sell to access $100K for a new roof, HVAC replacement, and their son's first year at Fort Lewis College. Bobby's math: selling their $650K home costs $52K–$78K. A HELOC for $100K cost $500. Roof is new, HVAC is efficient, tuition is covered, and they kept their 3.2% rate. Selling would have cost more than the problems they needed to solve.

💵 $100K HELOC💰 Saved $51K+ vs selling🏠 Kept 3.2% rate🔧 Roof + HVAC + tuition

These are illustrative examples based on typical Durango scenarios. Actual terms depend on credit, income, and market conditions.

"Half the people who call me thinking about selling don't actually need to sell. They need cash. A HELOC gives them the cash for $500. Selling gives them the cash minus $50,000. I show everyone both paths because I hold both licenses — and I'd rather find you the right answer than the expensive one."

BF

Bobby Friel

CO Home Equity · Founder

Bobby Friel — CO Home Equity Founder
Side by Side

Sell Your Durango Home vs HELOC The Real Comparison

Factor🏷️ Sell🏠 HELOC
Access to cashFull equity minus $50,500–$88,250 in costsUp to 85% CLTV minus mortgage balance
Cost$50,500–$88,250$0–$500
Timeline60–120 days5 days
Keep your homeNoYes
Keep your mortgage rateN/A — home soldYes — rate untouched
Monthly payment impactNew housing costs (rent or new mortgage)HELOC payment added
Kids stay in schoolNo (if relocating)Yes
Future appreciationLostYours to keep
Tax implicationsUp to $250K/$500K exclusion on gainsInterest may be deductible for improvements
When Selling Wins

When Selling IS the Right Move

🚚

You’re relocating

If you’re leaving for a new city, selling makes sense. Bobby coordinates the sale, your next home purchase financing, and insurance on the new property.

🏡

You’re downsizing

If the home is too big, too expensive to maintain, or you want to simplify — sell and buy something that fits your life now. Bobby handles both sides.

🔧

The home needs major repairs

If the roof, foundation, or systems need $50K+ in work and you don’t want to fund it — selling as-is and buying updated may be smarter than borrowing to fix.

💔

Divorce — both parties agree to sell

When neither spouse can afford the home alone or both want a clean break, selling and splitting is the right path.

📉

You’re underwater or equity is minimal

If you owe close to what the home is worth, a HELOC isn’t available. Selling may be the only way to access what equity exists.

🏠

You inherited a property you don’t need

If you’ve inherited a home you don’t plan to live in or rent, selling converts it to cash without the ongoing costs of taxes, insurance, and maintenance.

Bobby's Selling System

When Selling IS the Right Move Here's How Bobby's Team Maximizes Your Return

Preparation. Pricing. Promotion. Not just a sign in the yard.

🔧

PREPARATION We Don't List Until the Home Is Ready

Most agents list your home the day you sign. Bobby's team doesn't. We start with a pre-listing analysis: which repairs add real value? Which rooms need staging? Should you get a pre-listing inspection to eliminate surprises during negotiations? We prepare the home to sell at maximum value not just to get it on the market.

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Pre-listing property analysis with real comps

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Strategic repair recommendations — only fixes that add measurable value

🎨

Professional staging consultation — first impressions drive offers

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Pre-listing inspection option — know the issues before the buyer does

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Insurance review — verify coverage is current before listing

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PRICING Data-Driven, Not Guesswork

Bobby prices your home based on what the market supports real comparable sales in your Durango neighborhood, current inventory levels, seasonal trends, and what similar homes are actually selling for (not just listing for). The goal: attract maximum qualified offers without leaving money on the table or sitting on the market for 60 days.

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Comparative market analysis with neighborhood-level comp data

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Current inventory and absorption rate analysis

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Price-to-sell-fast vs price-to-maximize — different strategies for different goals

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Active, pending, and sold comp review within your specific micro-market

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PROMOTION Eyeballs Sell Homes. Period.

A sign in the yard and an MLS listing isn't marketing it's 2005. In 2026, the more qualified buyers who see your property, the faster it sells and the higher the final price. Bobby's team runs a full digital marketing campaign for every listing.

🎥

Professional video walkthrough — produced, edited, posted to YouTube (not iPhone footage)

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Professional photography with drone aerials

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YouTube ads targeting buyers actively searching for Durango homes

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Social media distribution — LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

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Digital retargeting — Google/Meta ads serving your listing to people who viewed it online

🏠

MLS syndication to 100+ real estate platforms

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Open houses run by Bobby’s field agents — not just one Saturday, a coordinated schedule

Market Data

Durango Home Sale Data What Sellers Are Seeing in 2026

NeighborhoodMedian Sale PriceAvg Days on MarketAvg Sale-to-ListNet After Costs (est.)
Downtown Durango$800K24 days98%$680K–$724K
Animas Valley$950K28 days97%$808K–$860K
Three Springs$650K18 days99%$553K–$588K
Edgemont Ranch$720K22 days98%$612K–$652K

Durango homes are selling in an average of 22 days days at 98% of list price. But fast doesn't mean cheap commissions and closing costs still take 812% of the sale price.

Market data as of early 2026. Actual results vary by property condition, location, and market timing.

The Process

How Bobby Helps You Sell Smart Or Not Sell at All

01

🏠Tell Me Why You’re Considering Selling

Are you moving? Do you need cash? Is the home too much to maintain? The reason matters — it determines whether selling or a HELOC is the right path.

02

📊I Run Both Scenarios

Before we talk, I calculate your net proceeds if you sell AND what you could access through a HELOC. Side by side, real numbers for YOUR Durango home.

03

🗺️Strategy Call — Your Decision, Not Mine

15–30 minute video call. Both paths presented honestly. If selling is right, we move to Preparation. If HELOC makes more sense, we go that route.

04

🔧Preparation, Pricing, Promotion

Home prepped. Price set by data. Marketing campaign launched. Bobby’s field agents run showings and open houses. Bobby manages the transaction.

05

🔑Your Next Chapter — Already Set Up

Selling usually means buying next. Bobby handles your next home’s mortgage and insurance too. One team through the entire transition.

Whether You're Selling, Buying, or Staying Your Insurance Needs a Review

Durango's rising home values mean most policies are outdated. If you're selling and buying, you need coverage on the new place before closing. If you're staying with a HELOC, your lender requires 100% replacement cost coverage. Either way, through Direct Insurance Services, we compare 30+ carriers so you're covered and not overpaying.

Get Your Free Insurance Review
FAQ

Durango Home Selling Questions Answered

Durango offers mountain living with a college-town feel, Purgatory ski access, the Animas River, and a historic downtown — all at prices well below Summit or Pitkin County. Bobby targets buyers in Texas, Arizona, and Denver who want that lifestyle. Drone video of the Animas Valley sells the setting that photos miss.
Animas Valley properties average $950K — 30% above the Durango median. River frontage, acreage, and mountain views drive the premium. These homes take slightly longer to sell (28 days vs 22 citywide) because the buyer pool is more specific, but they attract motivated buyers willing to pay for the setting.
On a $725K sale, expect $36K–$43K in agent commissions (5–6%), plus $7K–$11K in closing costs, transfer taxes, and staging. Total: $43K–$54K leaving the table. If you need $100K for repairs and tuition, a HELOC costs $500 and keeps your low rate intact.
Yes. One Three Springs couple used a $100K HELOC for a new roof, HVAC replacement, and their son's first year at Fort Lewis College. Total cost: $500. Selling their $650K home would have cost $52K–$78K in transaction fees — more than the problems they needed to solve.
Bobby covers Durango, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, and the broader La Plata County market. He markets Durango listings to Front Range buyers, Texas relocators, and Arizona retirees through video campaigns and targeted digital ads. His team handles both the sale and the equity alternative side.
Three Springs is Durango's newest planned community — homes average $650K with just 18 days on market and a 99% sale-to-list ratio. It is the fastest-selling neighborhood in Durango. Younger families and Fort Lewis faculty drive demand. Bobby prices Three Springs listings based on the strong turnover and competition.
Yes. Fort Lewis creates steady demand from faculty, staff, and parents buying for students. It also brings a younger demographic that keeps downtown vibrant. Bobby markets family-sized homes near campus to Fort Lewis-connected buyers specifically, which expands the buyer pool beyond typical mountain-town demographics.
Late spring through early fall (May–September) is strongest. Summer tourism peaks, families want to close before school, and the Animas River and outdoor recreation are at their best. Winter listings can work — Purgatory ski season brings visitors — but expect longer days on market.

Before You List, Let's Run the Numbers.

Your net proceeds analysis and HELOC comparison side by side, real numbers, for your specific Durango home.

No obligation. Bobby shows you both paths you decide.

Bobby Friel · NMLS# 332039 · Friel-Good Mortgage, Inc. · NMLS# 1901977