housing report: colorado housing market shifts in favor of buyers
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By Margaret Jackson | Published on October 23, 2025
After years of dominance by sellers, Colorado’s housing market has definitively shifted, placing the power squarely in the hands of buyers.
Marked by increased inventory, slower sales times and greater negotiating leverage, September was one of the best purchasing environments in years, according to the latest Market Trends Housing Report from the Colorado Association of Realtors.
The overarching theme is one of rebalancing. While this is making sales tougher for homeowners, it provides relief for buyers struggling with high interest rates and affordability challenges.
“Buyers, sellers and real estate professionals are confronting a hard reality that has been months in the making, and September made it clear: It is not a great time to sell a home,” said Cooper Thayer of The Thayer Group in Denver.
September data showed a significant market shift across categories. While new listings were down statewide, active listings, sold listings and pending contracts remain up compared to September 2024, signaling increased options for buyers.
Despite the challenges, median prices across the state held relatively firm year over year. Single-family home prices statewide were down 0.8% from August to September, but at $585,000, are still up 1.7% from a year ago.
Market conditions varied across Colorado’s Front Range, with some areas experiencing significant shifts.
In metro Denver, it was a tough time to sell. Homes are lingering on the market longer, and the average sale is closing at a historically low 98.2% of list price, giving buyers significant leverage.
Inventory in the Boulder/Broomfield market is up 10%, and sellers are offering more concessions. Condo and townhome prices in Broomfield dropped 11%.
“With values declining most of the year, today’s listings should come on the market at about 3% under comparable sales from last spring,” said Kelly Moye, a broker with Compass Real Estate in Broomfield. “Smart sellers are taking the advice of their agent when pricing, while savvy buyers are jumping on the opportunity to negotiate in a market that’s finally leaning in their favor.
While the Colorado Springs market appears stable on the surface, sellers are facing tough negotiations with hesitant buyers, and the inventory of single-family homes reached 4,010 – its highest September level since 2014.
“For buyers, the current abundance of available homes offers a great opportunity to find properties that suit their preferences and negotiate better deals with motivated sellers,” said Jay Gupta, a real estate agent with Equity Colorado Real Estate in Colorado Springs.
In Fort Collins, the market remained steady but slow-moving. Well-priced, move-in ready homes sold quickly, while others lingered because of price or conditions. Listings were up nearly 12%, and sales climbed 13.5% year-over-year. Still, homes took about 75 days to sell, keeping inventory above the 3-month mark.
“Economic and political uncertainty combined with higher-than-desirable mortgage interest rates are still keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines,” said Chris Hardy, a realtor with Elevations Real Estate in Fort Collins. “Sellers who built up equity over the last five years aren’t willing to let that go and give up ultra-low mortgage interest rates. It’s an ongoing tug-of-war that leaves the housing market inching forward as we head toward the colder months.”