Blog > Moving From Hawaii to Denver: One Couple's Real Home Search
Moving From Hawaii to Denver: One Couple's Real Home Search
by Alex Saldana
Moving From Hawaii to Denver: One Couple's Real Home Search
By Alex Saldana, Colorado Real Estate Broker (License #042865) · July 1, 2026
▶ For the full breakdown, watch the video on YouTube.
Moving from Hawaii to Denver means selling a home across an ocean while chasing tight inventory here. This is how one retired couple did it, from their first coffee with me to a snowy closing day.
What is it like moving from Hawaii to Denver?
Roughly 5,000 people move to the Denver metro every month, and about half of them come from out of state like Mike and Susan did.
Mike and Susan were a young retired couple in their 60s who had spent about five years in Hawaii after leaving California. They came to Colorado for lower property taxes, cheaper living than Hawaii, much better access to health care, and more room to explore. Being closer to kids scattered across Arizona, California, and the Midwest mattered too, since visiting from an island was tough. They reached out to me in May 2024 after finding me on YouTube. That part is common. What was not common was how prepared they were. They had already bought and sold several homes, so they knew what they wanted and did not want. When people have watched hours of my videos, our first meeting feels like seeing old friends, and that is exactly how our coffee went.
What should go on your Colorado home wish list?
Mike and Susan sent me a two-part list of 15-plus yays and roughly 10 nays before we ever toured a house.
Their yays included a half acre up to three-quarters of an acre, at least 2,000 square feet, open concept, a wood-burning fireplace, mature trees, close to trails, bikeable to a downtown, high ceilings, a two to three car garage, low HOA, and a house that says you are in Colorado. Their nays were just as specific: no septic or well water, no cookie-cutter neighborhoods, no corner lots, no new construction, nothing backing to a highway, and no log cabin feel. Cities in play were the Pinery in Parker, Littleton, Ken Caryl, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Wash Park, and even Loveland as a wild card. A clear list like this is a gift. It let us rule out homes fast and focus on the handful that actually fit their life, which saved everyone real time.
Should you sell your current home before buying in Denver?
Mike and Susan wanted to avoid the double move, so they tried to sell in Hawaii and buy here nearly at once, what I call the bang-bang play.
Decoupling the two transactions is almost always the stronger move. You get more for your sale and you negotiate better on your purchase when your offer is not contingent on selling another home. Mike and Susan had already shipped belongings across the Pacific on a boat, so they did not want to move into a rental and move again later. That is understandable, but it created pressure. Their Hawaii home went up around 1.1 million in mid-July, and until it went under contract we were stuck in limbo, watching Denver inventory while tracking their showings back home. Hawaii contracts made it worse. They have no set dates and deadlines, and either party can push closing back two weeks for any reason. That uncertainty shaped every offer we tried to write here.
Why did the first two Denver offers fall through?
Their first strong target near Niwot listed at 1.185 million, and a listing agent demanded 30,000 dollars in non-refundable earnest money to accept a contingent offer.
Before that, a 1.025 million home northeast of Boulder felt like the one. We offered a bit over asking, but they took a cash offer 25,000 above ours and closed at 1.05. Painful, but it happens. The Niwot home stung more. That house had sat 90 days, which usually signals overpricing. We came in at ask with a large down payment, contingent on their Hawaii sale, and gave the seller an out date so they could go back on the market if we did not sell in time. In 15 years I had never had an agent respond by demanding non-refundable earnest money. That would erase any negotiating room on an inspection objection for a 1984 home on expansive soils. We passed. Mike and Susan live by if it is meant to be, it will be, so we moved on.
How did they finally win a home in Ken Caryl?
In September, a 4,100 square foot Ken Caryl home listed at 1.125 million, dropped 20,000 to 1.105, and drew a competing offer the moment we bid.
After the losses, we refocused on Ken Caryl, tucked right against the foothills with the finish level and trail access they wanted. This home checked the boxes: instant Colorado feel, big pines, a three-car garage, an updated open kitchen, a fireplace, and immaculate backyard landscaping. Their Hawaii house was finally under contract and they were already in a local Airbnb, so timing was tight. We went in at the reduced asking price, then suddenly a second offer appeared. To win, we paid the original 1.125 million, 20,000 above the current ask. We got it under contract. It was a touch big for them, but it was the one. Three trips into town, two lost offers, and months of patience finally lined up on a single house that felt like home.
Why does the exact wording of a Colorado inspection matter?
The inspection objection asked the seller to repair or replace the deck to code with a licensed contractor, and that one phrase decided a 20,000 dollar dispute.
Colorado has an inspection objection, what you ask for, and an inspection resolution, what the seller agrees to do. The resolution survives closing, so it stays enforceable even after the sale. Here the seller agreed to fix a large deck with a hot tub and outdoor kitchen, then tried to wriggle out. First a buddy claimed the deck was fine, then a handyman quoted 8,000 dollars, but neither was the licensed contractor the contract required. My own licensed general contractor confirmed serious work was needed. Because the wording held, the seller finally came to the table with a 20,000 dollar credit that satisfied my buyers. They closed on November 8th during the third-largest snowstorm that area had on record. I picked them up in four-wheel drive, and it was the perfect ending for a couple who loves extreme weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people move to Denver each month?
About 5,000 people move to the Denver metro every month, and roughly half come from out of state. That steady demand keeps well-priced homes moving fast, so relocating buyers benefit from narrowing their target neighborhood before they ever start touring properties in person.
Is it better to sell before buying when relocating to Denver?
Usually yes. Decoupling your sale and purchase gets you more for your current home and gives you stronger negotiating power on the new one. Buying with a sale contingency, like this Hawaii couple tried, can invite tougher terms or lose out entirely to cleaner competing offers.
What is a contingent offer and why is it weaker?
A contingent offer depends on selling your current home first. Sellers see added risk because your purchase can collapse if your home does not sell. That risk lets them demand higher earnest money or reject you for a cash buyer, which is exactly what happened twice here.
How much is earnest money in the Denver area?
Earnest money typically runs about 1 percent of the sales price, so roughly 10,000 to 15,000 dollars on a million-dollar home. Some areas and sellers ask for more, and a demand for non-refundable earnest money should be a red flag that wipes out your inspection bargaining room.
What is the difference between an inspection objection and resolution?
The inspection objection is your written list of requested repairs. The inspection resolution is what the seller agrees to do. In Colorado the resolution survives closing, meaning it stays legally enforceable afterward, so precise wording like requiring a licensed contractor protects you if a seller tries to back out.
What makes Ken Caryl a popular Denver-area choice?
Ken Caryl sits right against the foothills southwest of Denver, offering trail access, larger lots, mature landscaping, and an updated finish level. Buyers can be a short walk from open space while still enjoying a well-kept community, which is why it drew this couple back after other areas fell through.
Why do sellers get multiple offers after a price drop?
A price drop often signals the home is finally priced right, which pulls in buyers who were waiting on the sidelines. This couple watched a home sit for weeks, then faced a competing offer the moment they bid after a 20,000 dollar reduction, forcing them back up to original asking.
Thinking about buying or selling in Denver?
Call or text (303) 552-4804 for a no-pressure conversation about your situation.
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