Real Estate Report: Colorado housing market steadies as inventory rises and prices hold flat

As the spring season takes root, Colorado’s housing market is showing a new sense of equilibrium.

The first quarter saw steady sales, stable pricing, and a healthy inventory increase, signaling a shift toward a more buyer-friendly, negotiation-driven environment, according to the latest Colorado Association of Realtors’ Market Trends Housing Report.

In the seven-county Denver metro area, the market has found a consistent rhythm. March data shows 5,798 pending contracts — a 6.5% increase year-over-year — and 4,540 closed sales.

Despite the rise in activity, the median sale price for the region remained flat at $575,000, mirroring figures from the first quarters of the past three years.

“The annual cycle repeats with near-mechanical consistency,” said real estate agent Cooper Thayer of The Thayer Group. “What distinguishes 2026 is pace, not direction. The market is operating at a more deliberate speed.”

While the single-family home sector remains robust with a median price of $615,000, the attached-home market is more challenging.

High HOA dues and rising insurance costs have pushed the average days on market for condos and townhomes up 26% to 68 days. With 5.1 months of supply, the segment is still in buyer-favorable territory.

Statewide, the trends are similar. New listings hit 12,803 in March, while pending sales rose 7.2% compared to last year. The statewide median sale price fell 0.9% to $545,000.

Conditions Vary By Market

In Boulder and Broomfield, the spring rush has been slower to start, with limited new listings and cautious buyers reacting to geopolitical uncertainty and interest rate fluctuations.

Conversely, Durango saw a 34.8% surge in sold listings, driven by a significant influx of new inventory.

Highlights in other markets include:

• Aurora and Centennial are experiencing a slower-than-anticipated start to spring. Inventory listings in some ZIP codes are down as much as 45% compared to last year. With median prices ranging from $510,000 to $669,700, sellers are being advised to plan for at least 60 days on the market, Aurora Realtor Sunny Banka said.
• Fort Collins is still unpredictable with mixed conditions. Move-up homes are seeing strong demand and occasional multiple offers, but entry-level condos are lagging. Overall, buyers are more selective, rewarding sellers who offer move-in-ready homes with sharp pricing.

Looking ahead to the second quarter, experts are keeping a close watch on mortgage rates.

“The variable that matters most … is one the market cannot control: geopolitical uncertainty,” Thayer said.

Evergreen-area Realtor Julia Purrington Paluck said that if rates remain stable, the underlying demand is expected to accelerate.

If they rise, the market will likely continue its current “measured and negotiation-driven pace,” she said.