Juggling Two Closings: How Colorado Contract Deadlines Work When You Buy and Sell at Once

How do Colorado contract deadlines work when you are buying and selling at the same time? Each sale has its own contract with its own list of strict dates. The goal is to line up the deadlines on both contracts so your Denver sale is on solid ground before you are fully committed to the Littleton purchase.

Say you own a brick bungalow in Platt Park. You have found a home in Littleton with the yard and the extra bedroom you have been wanting, and you have a buyer lined up for your Denver house, or you are about to list it. Now you have two contracts, two inspections, two appraisals, two sets of title work, and two closing dates. Every one of those pieces runs on a calendar.

For many people, this is the most stressful part of the move. Once you understand how the deadlines connect, it feels a lot more manageable. This post walks through the Colorado contract deadlines that matter most when you are doing both at once, and how to think about lining them up.

If you are still deciding which comes first, buying or selling, I wrote about that in Can You Buy Your Littleton Home Before Selling Your Denver Home? This post picks up once you have decided to do both close together.

Every deadline in a Colorado contract is strict

Most residential sales in Colorado use the Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate (Residential) approved by the Colorado Real Estate Commission. The current version became mandatory on January 1, 2026.

Section 3 of that contract is a table of dates and deadlines. Depending on the deal, it can include more than 40 entries. Not every one applies to every sale, but the ones that do are taken seriously. Section 20 of the contract says time is of the essence, and that all dates and deadlines are "strict and absolute."

A few details about how those deadlines are counted are worth knowing:

• A day ends at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time, unless the contract sets a specific time of day for certain deadlines.
• Weekends and holidays do not automatically push a deadline. There is a checkbox for whether a deadline that lands on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday moves to the next day. If neither box is checked, it does not move.
• A notice has to be received by the deadline. A notice to terminate that arrives late is not effective.

With two contracts, the real work is understanding how the dates on one affect your choices on the other.

The deadlines that matter most when you are doing both

Inspection

On your purchase, the inspection deadlines give you time to have the Littleton home inspected and decide whether to move forward, ask for repairs, or walk away.

On your sale, the buyer of your Denver home has the same rights. Older Denver homes tend to get extra attention here. Sewer lines, electrical, foundations, and roofs on 1920s to 1950s homes often come up in inspection requests. Until your buyer's inspection period is behind you, there is still a real chance your sale could change or fall apart.

Appraisal

If your buyer is financing, their lender will usually order an appraisal. In the Colorado contract, if the appraisal comes in below the price or is not received by the Appraisal Deadline, the buyer can object or terminate by the Appraisal Objection Deadline. That means a low appraisal on your Denver home can reopen the price conversation, which can affect how much you have to work with on the Littleton side.

Loan

If you are financing your purchase, the loan deadlines give you time to confirm your loan terms and that the loan is available. Your buyer will have the same deadlines on their side. After a buyer's New Loan Availability Deadline passes without a notice to terminate, their earnest money generally becomes nonrefundable, with some exceptions. That is one of the moments when a sale starts to feel more solid.

I am not a lender, but I work with some amazing lenders, and this is a conversation to have early. Your lender can tell you whether your purchase depends on the proceeds from your sale and what they will need from you along the way.

Closing and possession

The Closing Date is when ownership changes hands. The Possession Date and Possession Time say when the buyer gets the keys. They do not have to be the same day.

The Conditional Sale Deadline: how a contingent offer works

If you need your Denver home to sell before you can buy, the Colorado contract has a provision for that. Section 10.7, "Conditional Upon Sale of Property," lets you make your purchase depend on the sale and closing of a home you already own.

Here is how it works in plain terms:

• Your offer names the property you need to sell.
• The contract sets a Conditional Sale Deadline.
• If your home has not sold and closed by that deadline, you can terminate the purchase contract by getting a notice to the seller on or before the deadline.
• If you do not send that notice in time, you lose that right to terminate.

That last point is easy to miss. The contingency protects you, but only if you act on it by the deadline. If your sale is running behind, you will want to know well before the deadline whether to terminate, ask the seller for an extension, or move forward without it.

Also keep in mind that many sellers see a contingent offer as less certain than one that is not tied to another sale. How well it works depends on the home, the seller's situation, and whether there are other offers. For a broader look at that tradeoff, see Here's Where To Start if You're Selling and Buying at the Same Time.

Lining up the two calendars

When I am working with someone on both sides, one of the first things we do is look at the two deadline tables side by side. The idea is to have the riskiest parts of your sale behind you before the riskiest commitments on your purchase.

A few principles that tend to help:

1. Let your sale's inspection and appraisal deadlines pass first, when possible. Those are the points where a sale is most likely to change. If they are behind you before your purchase deadlines run out, you are deciding with better information.
2. Close the sale first, or on the same day. Many people close on their Denver home in the morning and their Littleton home that afternoon. Some prefer a few days of space between the two in case anything slips. Your lender and title company can tell you what works for your situation.
3. Leave a cushion. If everything has to go perfectly for both closings to work, it is worth asking where you could add a few days of room.

Using possession to give yourself time

One of the most useful tools for buying and selling at once is separating closing from possession on your sale. The Colorado contract allows the parties to sign a Post-Closing Occupancy Agreement, which controls when the buyer takes possession if you stay in the home for a short time after closing. People often call this a rent-back.

That can let you close on your Denver home, use those funds to close on your Littleton home, and then move once instead of twice. Whether a buyer will agree, and on what terms, is something we would negotiate. It is also worth reading the possession section closely, because the contract can set a daily amount the seller owes if possession is late.

What can go wrong, and how to plan for it

I always want to be honest about the risks. When two transactions are linked, a delay or problem on one can affect the other. A few things I would want you to think through before you sign:

• Your sale falls through. If your buyer terminates during inspection or because of the appraisal, what happens to your purchase? This is where the Conditional Sale Deadline, or a backup plan with your lender, matters.
• Your closing gets delayed. A late loan or a title issue on either side can push a closing. Ask your lender and title company how much flexibility there is.
• You need to extend a deadline. Deadlines can be changed, but only if both parties agree in writing. You cannot count on the other side saying yes.

None of this means you should not do it. Lots of people buy and sell at the same time, and with good planning it often goes smoothly. For more on keeping a sale on track once you are under contract, you might like Most Home Sales Close. Here's How To Keep Yours on Track.

Why an experienced Realtor matters here

This is where having an experienced Realtor on your side really counts. When you are buying and selling at the same time, you are juggling two contracts, two sets of deadlines, and a lot of people: the other buyer and seller, their agents, lenders, title companies, inspectors, and appraisers. One missed date, or a notice that goes out a day late, can cost you a right you were counting on.

An experienced Realtor keeps track of every deadline on both contracts, spots problems early before they turn into emergencies, and negotiates terms that protect you, like a realistic Conditional Sale Deadline, enough time between closings, or a Post-Closing Occupancy Agreement. When I work with someone making this move, my job is to protect your interests every step of the way, from the first offer to the day you get your keys.

Frequently asked questions

Can I close on my Denver home and my Littleton home on the same day?

Often, yes. Many people close the sale first and the purchase later that day. It depends on your lender, the title companies, and how the funds need to move.

What happens if my Denver home has not sold by the Conditional Sale Deadline?

Under the Colorado contract, you can terminate your purchase by getting a notice to the seller on or before that deadline. If you miss it, you lose that right. You can also ask the seller to extend the deadline, but they do not have to agree.

Do deadlines move if they land on a weekend or holiday?

Only if the contract says they do. The Colorado contract has a checkbox for this. If neither box is checked, the deadline does not move.

Can I stay in my Denver home after closing?

Possibly. A Post-Closing Occupancy Agreement can let you stay for a set time after closing. The terms are negotiated with your buyer.

Should I talk to an attorney?

If you have questions about what a contract term means for you, a real estate attorney is a great resource. I am happy to explain how the deadlines typically work, but I cannot give legal advice.

Let's talk it through

Buying and selling at the same time is a lot to hold in your head, and you do not have to figure it out alone. If you have questions, let's get together and talk about it. There is no pressure and no timeline. I am happy to be a resource.

Call or text me at (303) 618-6806, or email kim.byers@compass.com.

This post is general information, not legal, tax, or lending advice. Please talk with a lender, attorney, or tax professional about your specific situation.