Longer listings, softer prices: Western Slope housing continues shift toward buyers as winter slowdown nears

 
 

Colorado’s housing market is stepping closer to the winter season with steady prices and signs of a broader market recalibration, according to the latest Market Trends Housing Report from the Colorado Association of Realtors.

But while statewide trends show slowing sales and listings, some Western Slope counties are seeing surging sale numbers, rising inventory and modest price drops.

October snapshot: Rising inventory and sales

Colorado’s average number of sales and new listings both fell in October. Statewide totals showed 9,659 new listings and 7,353 home sales, both down 2% from this time last year. Meanwhile, active listings from markets across the state reached 30,803, according to the report.

Even with fewer listings, homes are sitting 12% longer on the market than they were in October 2024, with an average of 68 days. This shift means buyers have slightly more leverage in negotiations since, on average, Colorado buyers are closing at roughly 5.7% below original list prices.

“With mortgage rates hovering in the mid-6% range and cost pressures still weighing on budgets, value remains the deciding factor. Sellers who adapt quickly, pricing realistically, presenting well, and offering strategic concessions are the ones finding success in this new phase of the market’s evolution,” the association said in the report.

Across several Western Slope counties, homes are sitting on the market even longer — translating into slightly more negotiating power for buyers as sellers and Realtors scramble to put homes under contract before the winter season.

Between Grand and Routt counties, days on market range from 134 to 77 respectively, according to the association’s October 2025 Local Market Update reports. Single-family homes in Garfield and Summit counties saw the biggest increase in days on the market compared to the same time last year, jumping 56% and 55% respectively.

Several resort towns also saw rising inventory in October, contrary to statewide trends. Vail’s Inventory of single-family listings rose 25% year-over-year and condos rose 17%, resulting in a 6.4-month overall supply, according to Vail-area Realtor Mike Budd. Combined with rising sales, Budd said the data suggests a positive outlook for the pending ski season market.

Routt County saw the largest leap in active inventory with 161 single-family homes for sale, an almost 50% increase compared to this time last year. The difference was even larger for condos and townhouses, with a 70% increase in active inventory to 201 units. Garfield County came in second, with a 33% increase in inventory, despite having the lowest months’ supply of inventory (5.2 months for single-family homes and 3.8 months for condos).

Grand County’s months’ supply of homes now ranges from 8.6 for single-family homes to almost 10 for condos, more than double the 4.3 statewide average. Despite having gone down since last year, Pitkin County’s supply of single-family homes also sits at over 10 months.

In addition to slightly lower prices and higher inventory, some Western Slope counties are also seeing increased sales compared to last fall. In Summit County, single-family home sales surged 66% year-over-year with 78 sold listings.

Vail’s sales activity rose by 36% year over year for both single-family and duplex homes, and townhouse/condo units, Budd wrote in the report.

“While (Vail’s) new listings declined 5%, the market shows a healthy balance heading into ski season, supported by cash buyers and improving affordability for locals as mortgage rates ease,” he wrote.

Condo sales, on the other hand, seem to be suffering for some county markets. Sold listings in Pitkin County fell by almost 72% in October 2025 after only closing on 16 condo listings. The decrease was less for Garfield and Summit counties, at 12% and 7% respectively.

October snapshot: prices

Statewide, the median sales price for homes in Colorado held firm at $550,000, virtually identical to last year.

Meanwhile, several counties including Summit, Eagle, Pitkin and Grand counties saw slightly lowered prices compared to this time last year (while Routt and Garfield counties saw price increases).

An average single-family home in Grand County was priced 20% lower this October than it was last year — or $300,000 less — at just over $1 million. The median price sat 29% lower at $1.1 million.

Eagle’s average sales price fell over 15% for single-family homes in October, at just over $3.1 million while the median price fell 24% to $1.75 million. Pitkin’s media price for a single-family home grew 33% to almost $9 million while the average cost for a home fell to $9.7 million, almost 14% below last October’s price tag of $11.2 million.

The median price of a single-family home in Summit County fell 6.5% year over year to $1.87 million, while condos sat at a $775,000 median. Summit’s average price for a single-family home came in at just around $2.34 million, around $2,500 less than in October 2024.

Buyers hold the upper ground — for now

According to Realtors, the combination of falling median prices, higher months’ supply of inventory and longer days on the market in some Western Slope counties suggest buyers hold the advantage heading into winter, though sellers are still benefiting from the region’s higher-than-average home values.

“Buyers: You might have more leverage than in the frenzied peaks of past years. With prices slightly softened and more days on market, there’s room to negotiate,” Grand County Realtor Monica Graves wrote. “Sellers: Still a high-value market — the typical home is well into the mid-six-figures — but you’ll want to price smart, stage well, and be prepared for a bit longer than lightning-fast sale times.”

For example: active listings in Summit, Park and Lake counties range from a $82,500 mobile home in Park County to a $21 million Breckenridge home. Nearly half are priced above $1 million, with 47 listings over $5 million, according to Colorado Association of Realtors President Dana Cottrell.

Although Grand County’s higher-than-state-average median price “signals that this is premium real-estate territory,” the price is the lowest median the town has seen since 2019, a promising shift for potential buyers watching the market from the sidelines.

“The market ‘breathing out’ a bit gives both sides a chance to strategize more thoughtfully rather than rush,” Graves wrote.

Colorado’s winter season is generally slower for the housing market, reflected in fewer new listings and lower buyer activity. As a result, some homeowners make use of their vacant homes by turning them into seasonal rentals while they wait for market conditions to improve, which has already started to happen in some rural markets.

While inventory remains on the higher end, real estate agents are urging aspiring homeowners to take advantage of the buyer-favored market ahead of the spring buyer boom. “Much like the early snow, market activity is uneven but promising. Buyers are back out exploring, sellers are adjusting expectations, and the market overall is showing healthy signs of equilibrium,” Cottrell wrote.

Read more at Vail Daily

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in North Carolina

Search Homes in Oklahoma

The 20-minute trick that will help a carved pumpkin last for weeks

 
 

Carving a pumpkin is one of the joys of autumn, but they typically only last between three and five days before beginning to rot.

To stop your pumpkin from looking sunken, sad and smelly, experts have recommended a clever 20-minute vinegar trick that could help your carved creations last for weeks in the run-up to Halloween and beyond.

Better still, this simple solution is an eco-friendly alternative to the trend of spraying pumpkins with bleach.

It's also safe for wildlife too, so you don't have to worry if you leave your pumpkin outside.

"The vinegar kills fungus, making it hard for the pumpkin to rot. That's why vinegar-soaked pumpkins look so new; they're unblemished by the grossness that inevitably befalls their untreated peers," says the team at Taste of Home.

How to preserve a carved pumpkin with vinegar

Want to give this trick a go? According to Taste of Home, you can make your fresh pumpkin last longer by using vinegar and water. To do this, follow the steps below:

1. Choose a healthy pumpkin from your local pumpkin patch. "Make sure there are no soft spots or discolored areas, and avoid any gourd that's too bruised," says the team.

2. Next, carve your pumpkin with your desired design. Browse our guide on pumpkin carving ideas for plenty of inspiration.

3. Fill a large bucket with 10 parts water and one part vinegar (the bucket needs to be big enough for your pumpkins). Some experts also suggest doing this in the bath or a large sink.

4. Submerge your pumpkin in the vinegar and water solution, leaving them for 20-30 minutes. Once the time is up, pull them out and let them air-dry. You can then place your carved pumpkins outside for a long-lasting display.

Read more at CountryLiving.com

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in North Carolina

Search Homes in Oklahoma

As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Planted with a Purpose

 

Larkspur Landscaping
Artfully Designed Gardens That Connect You to Nature

Recommended by Joy McEntaffer

“By helping people connect with nature in their own backyards, I believe we can heal both the mind and the planet.”

Larkspur Landscaping transforms Colorado’s wild beauty into vibrant, sustainable gardens. Led by two passionate creatives—founder and lead designer Nicole Chernyakhovsky and owner and lead designer Nicole Zelyez—Larkspur blends native plants, florals, and edibles to create gardens that thrive in the state’s unpredictable climate while supporting local ecosystems.

Nicole Chernyakhovsky, inspired by the quiet of quarantine and the wild beauty of the Colorado landscape, founded Larkspur to help people reconnect with nature. What began as a personal garden project during the pandemic soon blossomed into a new career path—one that combined her longtime love of design, plants, and flowers with years of business experience. 'By helping people connect with nature in their own backyards,' she shares, 'I believe we can heal both the mind and the planet.

Nicole Zelyez, a designer with over a decade of experience in the Front Range, focuses on sustainable, water-wise landscaping. She ensures every project combines creative vision with technical expertise, using plants that handle Colorado’s intense sun and temperature swings. “We want our gardens to feel like they were always meant to be there—designed specifically for you and your piece of Colorado,” she says.

Larkspur offers full design, build, and consultation services, including personalized plant guides and seasonal care education. The Nicoles pride themselves on helping clients become confident gardeners while creating spaces that feel timeless and meaningful.

Beautiful, Resilient, Wildlife-Friendly: Larkspur’s Picks for Colorado Gardens

Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot)

This lavender-pink native perennial
offers more than just beauty—its
fragrant foliage attracts over 20
species of native bees, butterflies,
and hummingbirds. Drought-tolerant
once established, it thrives in sun or
partial shade, adding versatility to any
garden.

Agastache (Hummingbird Mint)

A true Colorado favorite, Agastache
brings striking vertical interest (2–4
feet) and an extended bloom season
in sunset shades from orange to deep
purple. Its anise-scented foliage
appeals to the senses and supports
hummingbirds, butterflies, and native
bees. It’s also highly drought-tolerant.

Epilobium angustifolium (Fireweed)

One of the first plants to return after wildfires, Fireweed sends up vivid magenta-pink spikes (3–5 feet) and transforms in fall with fiery red-orange foliage. It supports native bees and serves as a host plant for several moth species.

Learn more about Larkspur Landscaping
 

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Oregon

 

As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Serenity in style

 

Stacie Staub's Renovation
A Bathroom Refresh byNeuHaus Remodeling

For NeuHaus Remodeling, every project is more than just a renovation—it’s about building lasting relationships and creating spaces that feel like home.

Owner of NeuHaus Remodeling, Tim recently completed a stunning bathroom remodel for West and Main CEO + Co-founder Stacie Staub. With his unique approach to renovation— what one client has dubbed 'construction therapy'—Tim brought Stacie’s vision to life with a perfect balance of creativity and functionality.

NeuHaus Remodeling may be a relatively new company, but Tim’s diverse background and passion for design and construction have equipped him with the skills to lead with confidence. “I’m a good listener, and I also balance it with the ability to lead and create confidence with decisions,” he shares. This approach made him the perfect match for Stacie, whose ideas for the bathroom were more a spark than a fully-formed vision.

When Tim first saw Stacie’s space, he knew exactly what it could become. “We need to put a big bathtub in front of this window, cut a door in this wall, and make this one gigantic en-suite,” he recalled. From there, the renovation unfolded seamlessly. Together, Stacie and Tim combined her design sensibility with his creative construction process to craft a serene retreat, flooded with natural light and calming details.

Tim’s team played a crucial role in the project’s success. “I’ve been very lucky to find some top-notch people who are willing to collaborate with me,” Tim explains. “There’s no way I could do this without them.”

Looking ahead, Tim hopes to continue blending creativity with construction, much like he did with this project. “What’s important is finding the right match between contractor and customer,” he reflects, underscoring his commitment to personalized service and excellence.

 

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Oregon

 

As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Mermaid Tile + Modern Vibes

 

A Townhome Revamp with Bev Marsh

“After 17 years, including a decade as a rental, it was ready for a glow-up.”
— Bev Marsh

When W+M agent Bev Marsh decided it was time to give her longtime townhome a facelift, she had one goal in mind—lighten, brighten, and bring it back to life. “After 17 years, including a decade as a rental, it was ready for a glow-up,” she says. And with her daughter moving back in post-college, the timing was perfect.

Calling in the expertise of Harmonious Mountain Renovations, led by Natasha Fox, Bev had a vision, and Natasha helped make it a reality. “She suggested things I hadn’t even thought of,” Bev shares. “At the end of the day, I was so happy to partner with a great renovation company.”

While the project was mostly straightforward, a few surprises popped up along the way—including the discovery of the perfect mermaid tile, which quickly became the star of both the fireplace and kitchen backsplash. “We are in love with it,” Bev laughs.

Of course, no renovation comes without a few budgetary twists. “I didn’t realize how expensive flooring was,” she admits. “But I didn’t want the cheap stuff since I don’t plan on replacing it for another 20 years.” And while new backsplash and lighting weren’t originally in the plan, they became must-haves as the project evolved.

The final result? A stunning, airy kitchen featuring Tradewinds blue cabinets (Sherwin-Williams), Valor Gold Quartz countertops, and gold hardware that perfectly ties it all together. 

“We found a great remnant piece for the counters, which saved us some money,” Bev adds. And with new flooring from Carpet Direct and stylish tile from Floor & Décor, the entire space feels fresh and modern.

So, what’s her advice for anyone tackling a similar renovation? “Hire a professional!” she says without hesitation. And if she had to sum up the whole transformation in one phrase? “Kitchen Glow-Up—Mermaid Style!”

 

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Search Homes in Colorado

Search Homes in Oklahoma

Search Homes in Oregon