colorado housing inventory climbs but buyers hold back
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By Margaret Jackson | Published on May 27, 2025
The Colorado housing market saw a noticeable increase in inventory in April, although buyer activity remains flat, according to the latest Market Trends Housing Report from the Colorado Association of Realtors.
Statewide, the more than 14,000 new listings were up more than 17% from a year ago and the 27,000 active listings are 33% higher than April 2024.
New listings in metro Denver jumped nearly 20% to 8,713 in April compared to the same time last year. Active listings were up 37% compared to last year.
Home prices continue to rise despite the increased number of homes on the market. In metro Denver, the median home price of a single-family home rose 1.2% between March and April to $632,500, and 1.3% for condos and town homes to $395,000.
Despite the influx of supply, buyer activity has remained relatively flat, likely due to concerns over interest rates and the broader economy.
“More homes are coming on the market at a faster pace and not coming off quite as fast,” said Cooper Thayer, a Denver-based real estate broker.
“We’re seeing intense competition and a race to the bottom between listings. Similar houses at similar prices are competing for the same buyer.
It can be a challenge to differentiate.”
Thayer said competitive pricing is the key to getting more potential buyers to look at a listing. The appearance of the property should be professional, whether it’s through the photography, staging or upgrades to the fixtures and paint.
“The No. 1 thing you can do is swallow your pride. Competitive pricing is the best way to get more eyes on your listing,” Thayer said. “The house that has the extra work put into it tends to be more successful when a buyer is comparing two homes.”
Properties with homeowners associations (HOAs) are struggling more than single-family homes.
“HOA costs have been prohibitive from an entry-level standpoint,” Thayer said. “Insurance premiums have really gone up, and that is impacting HOA dues.”
Aurora Realtor Sunny Banka said 2025 is proving to be one of the more disappointing housing markets for many sellers. Buyers are worrying about cost, forcing sellers to lower their listing prices.
The inventory is up more than 35% in the Aurora, Adams County and Arapahoe County areas, she said.
“There is a lot of trepidation,” she said. “Some people are worried that they may not want to stay in Colorado.”
Banka noted that many of the listings are rental properties because landlords are anxious to exit the business due to new regulations. They are purchasing properties in other states where the rules are more reasonable.
“Over the past two years, I’ve probably had about 20 people who have gotten rid of their rentals and bought in Tennessee, Florida, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah,” Banka said. “Being a landlord is not a problem. Being a landlord in Colorado is a big problem.”