By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, contributing editor for REALTOR® Magazine; editor of the Styled, Staged & Sold blog

Listing agents with homes that have been on the market for more than the median days should prepare sellers to expect requests for seller concessions as part of an offer.

Sellers of vacant homes should arrange for regular property checks if their home is expected to be on the market for an extended period-of-time, especially if it goes days and weeks without showings.

Many buyers are sensitive to both pleasant and unpleasant odors when touring a home. A neutral scent is always the safest choice. Sellers should avoid strong plug-in fragrances or artificial scents, which can make buyers wonder if unpleasant odors are being masked or simply make the showing uncomfortable.

We’re in unprecedented territory with mortgage rates remaining high while home prices are at record levels. Buyers need more guidance, sellers need realistic expectations and Realtors® must work together to find solutions that result in transactions getting to the closing table. As Atlanta Realtor® Glennda Baker states, “The fastest way to lose a deal is to take it personally. Every offer is a door. Counter it instead of thinking it’s insulting.” That mindset is exactly what’s helping deals come together in today’s market.

Colorado tourism generated a record $29.2 billion in economic impact in 2025, though the Colorado Tourism Office’s latest annual report indicates the pace of tourism growth is beginning to slow.

Denver Water is increasing tap fees for new homes, apartments and businesses by up to 32% to help fund major infrastructure projects. The fee for a typical new single-family home within Denver will increase to about $10,450, adding to housing affordability and development costs.

A new statewide poll found that 76% of Colorado residents worry about affording to stay in the state, up from 70% last year. Rising costs are causing many households to reduce discretionary spending, while others report delaying healthcare, struggling with utility bills or worrying about housing affordability. Renters continue to express the greatest financial concerns.

Colorado is investing approximately $18.5 million through Proposition 123 in five affordable housing developments across Denver that will create more than 400 new housing units. The projects will serve families, older adults and individuals transitioning out of homelessness.

The Denver City Council approved an agreement advancing construction of the Wynkoop Crossing Pedestrian Bridge, which will connect LoDo to the Ball Arena redevelopment. The bridge will accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and scooters and become part of the planned 5280 Trail.

Denver saw a modest increase in office attendance in June 2026 compared to a year earlier but continued to rank last among major U.S. cities in return-to-office rates. Office visits remain nearly 40% below 2019 levels.

Colorado homeowners may soon get more help to lower insurance costs through grants for hail-resistant roofs and required discounts for wildfire mitigation. A new state program aims to strengthen homes against extreme weather and reduce future insurance claims.

CBRE reported that Colorado apartment sales totaled $289 million in the first quarter of 2026, down from $893 million during the same period a year earlier. The average price per unit fell 20% year-over-year to $224,000.

Starter homes are making a comeback, with roughly 220,000 more entry-level homes on the market than four years ago. However, inventory remains about 300,000 short of pre-pandemic levels, and higher mortgage rates continue to make homeownership challenging for many buyers. The recovery has been strongest in the South and parts of the West, while the Northeast and Midwest continue to face limited inventory and rising prices.

Hiring slowed in June, with the economy adding just 57,000 jobs while un-employment held at 4.2%. At the same time, unemployment claims remain historically low, suggesting employers are not making widespread layoffs, which could help support housing demand.

A new Consumer Federation of America study found that homeowners in predominantly Black communities pay 16% higher insurance premiums than those in majority-white communities, while homeowners in predominantly Hispanic communities pay 30% higher insurance premiums.

Transaction activity slowed across much of the housing market as mortgage rates remained elevated, but more affordable metro areas continued to out-perform higher-priced markets.

MORTGAGE NEWS

Mortgage application activity remained volatile throughout July, fluctuating as rates moved higher. The trend highlights that today’s buyers are highly sensitive to even small changes in borrowing costs.

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate climbed to approximately 6.7% in late July, reaching its highest level in about a year. Higher borrowing costs continue to impact affordability and keep many buyers on the sidelines.