The first week of September is the annual celebration of Labor Day. Labor Day is more than just an opportunity for a last-minute summer camping trip. It honors the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, laws and well-being of our nation.  Here in Colorado we have a lot to be thankful for in regards to our local employment and job market.  It’s one of the best job markets in the country!  On top of that, Colorado is considered one of the most desirable places to live!

Real estate markets and job/economy markets move together hand in hand. Strong job growth increases demand to purchase. In a perfect world and market, there would be enough housing and purchase opportunities for everyone who wants to buy a home. Unfortunately, the reality is that Colorado’s inventory of available homes for sale is at historic lows. Over the past few years, this has created a tight housing crunch and a strong tilt towards a “sellers” market.

Why is housing inventory at a historic low? Many job seekers are staying in Colorado and do not have the need to relocate for employment. With the growth of technology, the ability to work remotely has allowed many employees to choose where they want to live. Additionally, employers do not need to create incentives to move employees to Colorado. The incentives are the state and quality of life.  Believe it or not, but some employees relocating to Colorado from the Bay area of California or from the upper east coast actually think our local real estate market is “affordable”.

So now that we’re past Labor Day and heading into Fall, what is the short term projection of our local real estate market? No matter how great our local job market is and no matter how great the state of Colorado is to live in, there is still some seasonality to our local real estate market. In upcoming months, the real estate market will inherently cool a bit. However, buyers will still have great opportunities to secure some good deals on lingering homes for sale. Likewise, there are still newer-sale homes that will become available for sale. The real estate market may slow down a bit, but it never stops.   

So, if you’re looking online at 8z.com and seeing a home that looks interesting, give me a call or send me an email. I don’t stop working either. Year after year I’m always amazed and encouraged by the sales that occur in the fall and later months – this year could be your opportunity!

A Refreshing Look at the Question “What is my House Worth?”

Let’s take a look at some of the stats for our area to get a better idea of what is going on in the local housing market!

In El Paso County for August 2018, the average sales price* was:

• • • $313,297 for Single Family Homes (up 11.9% from 1 year ago)
    • $206,500 for Condos/Townhomes (up 4.8% from 1 year ago).

I have access to detailed stats across Colorado and can help you find out the worth of your property any time. I can also help you determine what your home is worth even if it’s in a different area. As always, I am here for you. If it’s time for you to buy or sell, let’s talk.

*Median sales price based on a six-month moving average