Greater Denver Area Real Estate Market Report from January 2025

 
 

Each January brings optimism and a renewed sense of purpose. We reflect on the previous year's accomplishments and set new goals for the year ahead. At the beginning of the month, many buyers found themselves in the same place as they were this time last year-seeking to purchase a new home and hopeful for friendlier market conditions, according to the Denver Metro Association of Realtors’ Market Trends Committee.

While market conditions have not changed much, sentiment has. This is our market environment, and it's likely here for the foreseeable future. In some ways, that brings stability-decisions become more complex when too many unknowns exist. We expect mortgage rates to remain steady, while price growth has stabilized. Inventory remains a key factor we are monitoring, as the balance between supply and demand is the most significant variable influencing the market right now.

The main highlight for January was the influx of new inventory. Both the attached and detached markets saw an increase of more than 100 percent from December and were up 38.50 and 29.11 percent, respectively, from January 2024. We typically see an increase in new listings from December to January as sellers reenter the market after a slower time during the holiday season. Active inventory at month's end was up 57.83 percent year-over-year, giving buyers more options as we enter the spring buying season. The median days in the MLS were up 28.57 percent year-over-year to 45 days-the highest median days in the MLS since 2015, a market unfamiliar to many in the Denver Metro area.

The most significant portion of this inventory is in the $500,000 to $749,999 price point for detached homes and under $500,000 for attached homes. These price ranges tend to attract buyers who rely more on mortgage purchases than cash, making them sensitive to interest rate fluctuations. Detached homes over $2 million have seven months of inventory, and attached homes priced at $1.5 to $1.99 million are seeing 19 months of inventory.

Market conditions are similar to those in January 2024. The higher mortgage rate environment lingers, and the optimism felt in January 2024 for multiple Federal Funds Rate reductions and lower mortgage rates did not materialize, presenting buyers with a rinse-and-repeat scenario. As a result, buyer activity was similar to January 2024, with 3,061 properties pending in January 2025, a slight decrease of 0.07 percent year-over-year, and 2,259 properties closed, an increase of 2.31 percent. The median sold price for attached properties increased 0.76 percent, and detached homes increased 2.08 percent. Total sales volume in January was up 7.43 percent, and the close-price-to-list-price ratio was up just 0.04 percent to 98.50 percent year-over-year.

The Denver Metro market's median sale price has increased from $317,000 in January 2016 to $575,000 in January 2025—an increase of 81.38 percent, averaging 9.04 percent per year. This serves as a reminder that real estate is a long-term investment.

Sellers in this market need to be serious and realistic about pricing. "Testing the market" by over-pricing is a risky proposition that leads to price reductions and a longer time on the market. Making your property stand out in a higher inventory environment takes preparation, flexibility and a willingness to work towards a common goal.

With increased inventory, less buyer competition and slow price growth, this is the moment buyers have been waiting for. Now is the time for buyers to start thinking about how to make homeownership work instead of looking for reasons it won't.

Learn more about the market from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.

Thank you to our partners at the Denver Metro Association of Realtors for compiling this information.

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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.

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Just Listed: Spacious Edgewater Gem with Room to Grow + Entertain!

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Discover this fantastic 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom home in the heart of Edgewater, perfectly situated on a corner lot!

With over 2,622 square feet (plus an 11x15 enclosed sunroom not included in public records), this home offers plenty of space for comfortable living and entertaining. The main level features three spacious bedrooms, a bright and inviting living area, and a dining space large enough for gatherings. The updated full bathroom serves two bedrooms near the primary suite, which includes its own private ¾ bath. Downstairs, you’ll find a versatile family/game room, a bar area, two additional bedrooms, a full bathroom, laundry room, and a private exterior entrance—an excellent setup for house hacking, guests, or roommates! When summer rolls around, enjoy the above-ground pool, covered patio, and generous yard space—perfect for outdoor entertaining. PRIME LOCATION! Less than a mile from Edgewater Beer Garden and Edgewater Public Market, with easy access to Sloan’s Lake and several local parks. Plus, you’re surrounded by amazing restaurants, breweries, salons, and unique gift shops. Don’t miss out—schedule your tour today!

Listed by Leslie Maginn for West + Main Homes. Please contact Leslie for current pricing + availability.

 
 
 

Have questions?
West + Main Homes
(303) 935-8787
hello@westandmain.com

Presented by:
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720-474-5891
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Just Listed: Cozy Prairie Ridge Condo with Mountain Views!

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Welcome to this adorable 2-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom condo, perfectly designed for comfort and style!

Featuring an inviting loft space, this home offers extra versatility—perfect for a home office, guest space, or cozy retreat.Step inside to find a bright, airy, open-concept living area with large windows that fill the space with natural light. The spacious kitchen boasts modern appliances, ample cabinet storage, a pantry, and a convenient breakfast bar—perfect for cooking and entertaining. A cozy fireplace in the living room adds warmth and charm, ideal for relaxing evenings at home. Enjoy breathtaking mountain views from your private deck, creating the perfect backdrop for morning coffee or evening relaxation. The primary suite features a walk-in closet and an en-suite bath, while the second bedroom offers plenty of space and comfort. Additional highlights include a separate laundry area, high ceilings, and abundant storage throughout. The attached 2-car garage provides convenience and hassle-free mornings, while the well-maintained community offers beautiful landscaping with easy access to Southlands Shopping Center, DIA, and the Tech Center. You’re going to love living here!

Listed by Bev Marsh for West + Main Homes. Please contact Bev for current pricing + availability.

 
 
 

Have questions?
West + Main Homes
(405) 652-6635
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Presented by:
Bev Marsh
720-841-8041
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Homebuyers Are Being Warned About a Real Estate Scam That Will Drain Your Bank Account

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A new homeowner’s dream turned into a nightmare when a six-figure sum needed to close the real estate transaction went to a scammer instead.

The district attorney in Wichita, KS, is still trying to unravel the scam, which saw a massive amount of money for a home closing end up in the wrong bank—not due to a mistake, but to fraud.

Scams like this are known as wire fraud. It’s a federal crime that involves the use of electronic communication, such as the internet or phone, to steal money.

The National Association of Realtors® explains real estate fraud is one of the most prevalent cybercrimes in the U.S.

Cybercriminals identify a pending sale transaction and then build a profile of the parties. This includes the title company, the real estate agency, and the buyer and seller.

NAR says the cybercriminals will hack into the email account of one or more parties and monitor email traffic. They’ll usually send false wire instructions that divert the deposits, closing costs, and even mortgage payoff funds from the intended lawful recipient.

The origin email is either the legitimate email of someone involved in the transaction whose account has been hacked, or a very similar email with usually one digit off (as what happened in the Kansas incident).

The buyer then unwittingly sends the money into the account of the criminal.

“This is not the first time we have seen this particular fact pattern,” District Attorney Marc Bennett told Realtor.com. “It is certainly not the first time that financial transactions have been impacted by way of a fabricated or altered email. I would say the uptick occurred several years back. Now electronic scams involving large sums of money are a regular occurrence.”

Real estate scams are on the rise

Real estate insiders say this sort of scam is not new. With real estate transactions typically requiring large cash bank transfers, homebuyers are perfect high-value targets for criminals—and the scam is on the rise.

“This type of fraud has become very common,” says Richard Redmond of Redmond Mortgage Capital. “Consumers have to be extremely careful before wiring money to escrow to close a real estate transaction.”

A recently released report by wire fraud protection firm CertifID, says that over 1 in 4 consumers are targets of fraud in a real estate transaction, and nearly 1 in 20 become victims.

Real estate wire fraud has grown 50 times in less than a decade, from $9 million to $446 million in annual losses reported to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The growth is due to the complexity of real estate transactions (easier for people to get confused), the public availability of transactional data, and the big sums involved as home prices continue to balloon.

Fred Goncher of Backyard Mortgage Co. agrees that this type of crime is common. He tells how one of his clients came very close to losing a hefty sum.

“Two years ago, I had an attorney’s email get hacked and the hacker sent the borrower false instructions for a $300,000 wire,” he tells Realtor.com®. “When the problem was detected, the wire was canceled with about five minutes to spare.”

Experts say this kind of fraud is particularly devastating to the victim not only because of the large sums involved—often six figures or more—but because once the money is gone, it’s gone.

Wire fraud of this type is not covered by FDIC insurance as the bank simply followed the account holder’s instructions.

“If someone steals your credit card, you call and cancel it, and they don’t charge your card,” real estate fraud attorney David Fleck tells Realtor.com. “If someone hacks into your bank account, the bank will cover losses. But in this kind of fraud, you send the money to the bad guy’s account, likely overseas, and then it transfers to three other accounts, and you never see the money again.”

Your average buyer likely doesn’t have another six-figure sum lying around to cover the loss or make another home purchase.

Fleck says he has been seeing this scam for at least a decade, and those in the industry are well aware of it. However, an eager homebuyer might not be.

In fact, only 47% of consumers were informed about the risks by their real estate professionals at the start of the process, says the CertifID report. More than half of consumers were unaware that real estate wire fraud is “a thing.”

Fleck says that buyers might not be warned by those in the know for many reasons—perhaps real estate insiders simply don’t realize how prevalent the scam is—but that it would be “definitely helpful” if buyers are verbally warned early in the process.

First-time homebuyers are particularly vulnerable

According to the CertifID wire fraud report, first-time homeowners are three times more likely to become victims of this scam.

The first-time buyer is simply less aware of the dangers involved in such a high-sum transaction, and might believe that their hired real estate professionals will protect them.

More experienced buyers might have heard of real estate transaction fraud from friends or family, or professionals they worked with in the past.

Red flags to watch out for

Last-minute changes are a big red flag, say experts.

“Be cautious of last-minute changes to banking details,” warns Redmond. “An email with changes to previously sent wire instructions is a huge red flag.”

Another red flag is being asked to wire money to a bank not in the country where you are doing business. In fact, it is best if the bank is in the immediate area, less than 30 miles from the property in question.

Goncher says that for title money, the funds should always be going to an Interest on Lawyer Account or a trust account.

Fleck hopes that the law will catch up with this type of fraud.

“There could be legislative fixes for this,” he says.

How to stop this scam in its tracks

The good news? There is a simple solution to not becoming a victim of this type of fraud.

Pick up the phone.

“Always call and confirm the bank information and instructions with the person sending you the information,” says Fleck. “And do not use the phone number in the email. Use the number you already have for that person.”

Goncher agrees: “All wires must be verbally confirmed with the receiver before sending money. This is a simple phone call to a verifiable number.”

If you want to make certain you are sending your funds to the proper bank, grab coffee with your escrow agent or whomever you are doing business with, and verify the account details in person.

Read more at Realtor.com

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The German Habit You Should Try for Fresher Indoor Air This Winter

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While keeping your windows closed all winter may keep your home warm, it also traps mold, bacteria, and allergens inside the house, where they will gradually build and affect your indoor air quality.

To counteract this air quality issue, Germans developed the practice of lüften, which is now used in homes, schools, offices, and other public spaces in Germany. Lüften is even sometimes required by apartment leases in Germany.

Find out what lüften is and discover whether you should adopt this German window practice for your home.

What Is Lüften?

So what exactly is lüften and how is it done?

"Lüften is a historic practice of opening your home’s windows to allow fresh air in and force stale air out," says Lauren Riddei, Healthy Home Wellness Interior Designer and CEO of Haus Holistics.

There are a few ways to go about this depending on the time of the year, the time of day, and the size of the home.

For smaller spaces, opening all the windows in a room for a few minutes is often enough to improve the indoor air quality. When you have a larger home, it's a good idea to open all the windows in the morning, the evening, or both to let cool air in and allow warm, moist air to escape.

How Does Lüften Work?

The goal of lüften is to increase the amount of oxygen inside the home, while allowing excess carbon dioxide and moisture to escape.

"Lüften works simply by manually opening your windows either in the morning or in the evening to release an excess build up of carbon dioxide, mold, bacteria, allergens or condensation, while also allowing oxygen back into the interior environment," Riddei says.

Depending on the season, you can practice lüften at different intervals and for differing lengths of time. In summer, open all the windows about two times a day for 30 minutes to improve the indoor air quality.

During the spring and fall seasons, shorten the amount of time the windows are open to about 10 to 15 minutes twice a day. When winter hits, you should only need to have the windows open for about five to 10 minutes twice a day.

Why Is Lüften Considered Beneficial?

In general, by practicing lüften, you can improve the air quality indoors, replacing stale air with fresh air to help reduce the risk of mold.

Cool, oxygen-rich air also helps you to sleep better at night, while opening the windows during the spring and fall can keep the home feeling comfortable, without wasting money on energy bills to run your furnace or air conditioner.

"Lüften is not only a quick and easy habit to get into, but it's a great way to release potential volatile organic compounds, condensation, mold, allergens or bacteria that can build up inside our enclosed spaces," Riddei says.

Why Should People Consider Lüften for Their Home?

Adopting lüften as a regular practice can improve home comfort and air quality. It's also an easy practice that doesn't take a lot of time or much effort, so there is little reason to avoid this beneficial change to your morning or evening routine.

"Personally, I prefer to slightly ajar my windows first thing in the morning as I'm going about my tasks," Riddei says. "During cold winter evenings, there is nothing better than opening my windows for just a few minutes before I go to sleep. Not only does the temperature drop, allowing for deeper sleep, but the indoor air quality is improved."

Read more at Spruce

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