Spring housing market signals positive momentum

Spring housing market signals positive momentum

Boulder County real estate shows renewed promise as the spring buying season emerges.

The number of homes for sale continues to climb, and the typically fast market pace has eased, at least for now. With more homes to choose from and more time to decide, the spring market is just what Boulder County buyers want.

Plus, new buyers can find attractive opportunities in townhomes and condominiums, with prices trending lower than in recent years.

Sellers can benefit from strong market dynamics, too. Despite rising inventory, home sellers are getting more than 97% of their asking price, according to the Colorado Association of REALTORS® (CAR). Median prices for single-family homes remain resilient, and well-priced homes may still attract multiple offers, especially those under $800,000 in Boulder.

While homes spend more time on the market, properties continue to sell relatively quickly compared with other U.S. markets.

More homes, more choices

As of February, the Boulder County market saw a year-over-year increase in available homes — a welcome development for buyers. Single-family inventory rose nearly 10% compared to 2025, while attached homes available for sale jumped 19%, according to CAR data.

The rise in inventory provides long-awaited breathing room and better negotiating conditions. Fewer bidding wars allow buyers to take more time and weigh options.

The statistics confirm the good news: This spring market is more plentiful than in years past. In February, 612 single-family homes were on the market, with a median list price of $849,000, a 7.2% increase over the previous year. Homes sold in an average of 89 days, about 13% longer than in 2025.

Townhome and condo inventory is also growing, with 367 units available for sale countywide, representing 7.4 months of supply, nearly 30% more than last year. Unlike the single-family market, prices for attached homes dipped 5.5%, bringing the median list price to $475,000, CAR reports.

Inventory grows nationwide, and “lock-in” effect eases

National inventory rose 8% year over year through February 2026, according to a ResiClub analysis. The increase is helping homebuyers gain leverage, particularly in markets where inventory levels are above pre-pandemic levels.

Colorado is one of the nine states in this category, with a 26% growth in housing inventory for sale compared to pre-pandemic levels in February 2019.

That growth is one reason why the Boulder County market has shifted from a strong seller's market toward more balanced conditions, and home price gains have softened.

But the rate of homes being listed for sale is decelerating in Colorado and across much of the country. While Colorado’s inventory continues to grow, the state’s active inventory rose 17% from 2025 to 2026, a notable slowdown compared to the 44% increase recorded the previous year, according to ResiClub.

Nationwide, many areas saw real estate prices surge during the pandemic’s housing boom. But as the pandemic waned and mortgage rates rose, homeowners began to stay in their current home rather than move to a new home with a higher-rate loan — a trend analysts called the “lock-in effect.”

Now, the rise in listings suggests the lock-in effect is easing, bringing more activity to the market.

Source: Colorado Association of REALTORS®, Jan.-Feb. 2026, compared to 2025. Year-over-year = YOY; Days on Market = DOM

Bottom line

If you’re considering a move this spring, the real estate environment is attractive. With a shift toward a more balanced, sustainable pace, the Boulder County market is less intense than in prior years. The evolving landscape is creating a healthier market environment and opening the door to excellent opportunities for buyers and sellers.

Dive deeper into the statistics: (https://www.realtor.com/local/market/colorado/boulder-county) and (https://www.resiclubanalytics.com/p/state-inventory-update-housing-market-march-2026).