Almost daily, I hear someone say, "Summer is already over," and as hard as it is to believe—let alone accept—that statement is true. Evenings are spent talking about school supplies and back to school events that are quickly approaching. About the only thing not coming to an end is the continued heat we’ve seen this year across Colorado. However, not everything has been as hot this year in Denver; Denver’s real estate market certainly has not been.

As summer winds down, many Denver homeowners are wondering if they missed the boat when it came to selling their home. However, if you ask the many sellers who have had a "For Sale" sign in their yard for much of 2026, they might tell you there wasn't much of a boat to catch in the first place.

If you have been following our Denver Market Update blogs year to date, Denver’s real estate market has struggled to gain any momentum this year. With the historical selling season now behind us, it’s time to accept it might not. The stats are in for July, and the numbers are giving us a clear picture. Home values are down, days on market are up, inventory is up and pending homes are down—the Denver real estate market is soft. So, what does this mean for Denver area homebuyers and sellers?

For buyers, today’s Denver market conditions could mean opportunity. Sellers, especially those that have been on the market for the majority of the summer, might be ready to negotiate. It may be easier to get sellers to accept below list offers or be able to negotiate seller concessions to help with rate buydowns or closing costs. However, buyers do need to understand that many Colorado sellers are not necessarily willing to accept today’s market conditions, and just because their house is on the market or has been for some time, they may not be willing to negotiate as much as a buyer would like. Often, it’s because of this reason that their home is still for sale. The good news is there is lots of inventory available right now; this means if a seller is unwilling to negotiate, you can walk away and likely find a seller who is.

For sellers today, it might feel like a bad time to sell, and for many, if time is on their side, waiting may make sense. However, the thing to remember in a soft market is there is no timeline for when the market may turn around. It could be in the spring next year, or it could be in a couple of years. This means there is a risk in waiting to sell your home. By waiting, your home might actually be worth less than it is today. It is important to weigh this risk when making a decision to sell or wait. If selling is the best option for you right now, it’s important to be realistic about your home’s value and list it at a price buyers will be excited to see it and purchase it. Unfortunately, this price might not be as high as it once was, but if you want to sell today, you will have to be willing to put your home on the market at today’s values. The good news is that values have not slipped significantly. In July, we saw a modest value loss of roughly only 1.5% according to Denver Metro Association of Realtors. However, if history has taught us anything about Denver’s real estate market, it’s that we typically see more depreciation at the end of the year. So, if you are wanting to sell your home in 2026, getting it on the market sooner rather than later will help you maximize your sales price rather than waiting.

Whether you are thinking of buying or selling, Denver’s complex real estate market is still moving for both buyers and sellers. The important thing is working with a trusted Denver area real estate agent that understands today’s market and can create a buying or selling strategy that will get you results in today’s Denver real estate market. Luckily, if you’re reading this, you’ve already got this part taken care of. Contact a TK Homes Denver Real Estate Agent today and let’s talk about your real estate goals and how to make them a reality!

~ Written by CEO/REALTOR® Trevor Kohlhepp