As published in DMAR Market Trends, October 2025

This year feels upside down. The typically active spring market felt dormant, while the late fall—when activity usually slows—appears to be gaining speed. Buyers seemed to use October as their moment to get off the fence.

A quick reminder: maintaining your home by replacing an outdated roof or HVAC system, repainting and caulking doesn’t necessarily equate to ROI. These home maintenance updates help your home remain desirable and sellable.

Sellers may be facing more competition than they realize. They know they are competing with their neighbors to sell first, but they are also up against new construction, which saw a 20% increase in sales in August, reaching a three-year high, with sales incentives at a five-year high. Additionally, apartment buildings are offering 12 weeks of free rent and perks like Ikon Passes at signing.

Sellers who prepare their homes properly and price aggressively are reaping the rewards with quick sales. Those who hold firm on outdated pricing or fail to prepare their homes are experiencing fewer showings and a lack of offers.

The idea of “balance” is just that, an idea. The market continues to shift, both seasonally and in response to national trends. Realtors® need to meet their clients where they are by listening and focusing on their goals and needs, and using current market trends to guide the process.

Several title reps and lenders report that buyer terminations during inspection are on the rise. In many cases, the issues prompting cancellations aren’t major, but buyers are becoming more cautious and, at times, overly critical of inspection findings. It’s a reminder that today’s buyers are not only price-sensitive but also inspection-sensitive, making it increasingly important to manage expectations early in the process.

A new study highlights the impact of Denver’s decision to eliminate parking minimums, revealing the policy could boost housing construction by roughly 12.5%, adding about 460 new homes per year. By removing parking mandates, the city is freeing up land for more productive uses, supporting affordability and encouraging investment in walkable, community-oriented development.

The Denver Broncos committed to a community benefits agreement process, an important step designed to ensure neighbors have a voice in plans for a proposed new stadium at the Burnham Yard site.

In the third quarter of 2025, Denver’s 80246 zip code ranked as the third hottest zip code in the country, according to The Business Journals’ national ranking.

As more people turn to Al as their preferred search tool, ChatGPT announced a new integration with Zillow. Realtors® may soon need to craft their property descriptions with Al-driven search optimization in mind.

Nationally, 33% of homes sold in the first half of 2025 were bought with cash, down less than one percent from the prior year, but still well above pre-pandemic levels. All cash sales peaked in 2012 at 35%.

Moody’s Analytics released a 10-year forecast that home prices between now and 2035 will see annual increases hovering between 0.5 and 2.8%, signaling a long period of stability rather than rapid appreciation.

As of August, there were 72% more condo sellers than buyers in the United States. Conditions remain challenging in the attached home market due to affordability constraints, complex rules and regulations and a cooler rental market that is prompting investor pullback.

Continuing the “quiet luxury” trend, Benjamin Moore announced its 2026 Color of the Year: Silhouette, an alluring blend of rich espresso tones with subtle charcoal undertones, described as “balancing refinement and distinction.”

MORTGAGE NEWS

Mortgage rates have come down slightly in recent weeks, but they remain high enough to keep affordability tight. The impact of years of rising prices and elevated borrowing costs isn’t something that lower rates can quickly undo. Even with modest rate improvements, buyers continue to feel the squeeze as both home values and monthly payments remain elevated.