02/20/2024 #Cheerios #Change #Wisdom and #FaithPopcorn

While writing this post for MyTownCryer each week, I spend time thinking about the world around me. Sometimes it’s my beliefs, family, and career with Real Estate, but like today it’s just about random thoughts.

Before we examine the Denver Residential Market, we have to talk about Cheerios! Cheerios are something that have existed longer than me. In fact, arriving in the 1940s, who new 75 years ago, a breakfast cereal would still be an “A List” item? Why is it?

Do we resist change? Is this why? What is the wisdom we can take away from this knowledge? I would say first and foremost, Americans resist change until they don’t.

Cheerios are the Utility Player on the baseball team able to play almost all positions. They are that Senator or Representative that gets re-elected over and over again, but nobody knows their name. They might even be an MVP. They start off as snacks in a cup for toddlers and graduate as late-night nourishment for college revelers!

How does all this translate into wisdom? Most wisdom translates to staying power. Cheerios has staying power. Some neighborhoods have staying power, others have comeback power, and others coast along with no great energy or excitement.

You have heard how the 4 bedroom 2 story in the suburbs would become demographically obsolete, but builders are still building them. Who knew Covid would require that extra room as an office for Zoom calls?

This week the market is not really telling us anything new, but it is offering some affirmation to what we already know. Let’s take a look at the last 7 days of activity.

Market Watch

New Listing
1144 This is an increase from last week, but clearly not market defining.
Coming Soon
168 Not much here either.
Back On Market
241
Price Increase
150
Price Decrease
848 This is the stat that keeps on giving!
Pending
1134 Now, here’s a breath of fresh air! Properties going under contract at a much greater volume.
Withdrawn
122
Leased
84
Closed
944 Until this number is over 1,000 every week, I will not be convinced interest rates have run their negative course in this market place.
Expired
183

Here’s some interesting news about Denver! Ranked #1…

https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/housing-market-index/articles/the-hottest-housing-markets-in-the-us

Now, let’s take a look at Active Listings in Total so far this month over the last 10 years.

With just 4,172 Active Single Family Listings, we are nearing a shortage coming into the spring marketing season. Will more sellers step in? Will rates ease? Stay tuned…

I’m crediting Faith Popcorn with this one:

“Visualizing tomorrow isn’t about having a crystal ball, but about diligently searching for signals in today’s culture. The most important step is consuming culture outside your typical boundaries. Make it a habit.”

This is exactly why we report on the Denver Residential Market every week. Looking at submarkets and wondering, consuming neighborhoods and locations for years gives us the wisdom to share with our clients making them confident in their decisions when it comes to buying or selling. Why does this happen and this doesn’t? Let us share this knowledge and experience with you…tc

Posted in Denver Residential Real Estate | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

02/17/2024 #DenverStats #January2024

The South Metro Denver Realtor Association has published their Market Report, and here it is for your review…tc

Posted in Denver Residential Real Estate | Tagged | Leave a comment

02/13/2024 #LunarNewYear #Bitcoin #NYC Weather

Along the order of things making you scratch your head, the three hashtags above were in the top 5 Google searches yesterday and today.

I can understand #Bitcoin, it is on another one of its epic runs; now over $50,000. I can understand #LunarNewYear, but are you telling me, there are 200,000 people in New York City who don’t have an app telling them what the weather might be? Come on….

Anyway, over the past 7 days, we’ve seen the market wake up a little bit, but not much.

Denver Market Watch

New Listing
963 With under 1000 New Listings, this is becoming common place. It is predictive of a shortage.
Coming Soon
224 This is ramping up a little, it could be a good sign moving forward for buyers.
Back On Market
197
Price Increase
175
Price Decrease
730 Still coming on the market too strong…!!!
Pending
1042 This is a strong week, still early in the “selling season”.
Withdrawn
123
Leased
76
Closed
734 This is not a great number.
Hopefully, the Pending Number will keep inching up and get some more buyers to the closing table.
Expired
177

Let’s look at some more broad Denver Market Watch Numbers. First, where has the Total Active Listing Number gone? We continue to see the total number of active listings in our MLS system erode as we come into the new year, however, if we factor in “Builder Inventory” the story shows a much greater number of available properties. We are going to keep a close eye on this.

Our Closed Sales to Active Listings Ratio is in line with past years of normal markets, but looks well out of line compared to the days of 3% interest rates. I’m predicting a more normal market with a more definable balance of supply and demand.

In closing this week’s Town Cryer, Dee and I look at what we do as Family Wealth Protectors. We take time to learn your true path to ownership. Whether you are moving up, a first time buyer, a last time buyer or somewhere in between, we have your family’s best interest at heart. For most households, the residence is routinely the most important asset. We want you to know, this is what is most important to us.

We’ll be there for you every step of the way…tc

TheCryerTeam@Kentwood.com

Posted in Denver Residential Real Estate | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

01/30/2024 #MallWalker #ElevatorMusic #BagLady #FoodCourt #PatinaClean

I was Mall Walking this week. This has been identified by me as someone who goes to the Mall with no intention of acquiring anything. When it is cold, it is a great way to walk and listen.

I have often wondered if the elevator music played in the mall is intended to make you buy something. Does it put the fever in you?

There is a different type of Bag Lady at the mall. A bag lady at the mall has as many bags as can be carried, all with different store logos, obviously demonstrating this person’s shopping accume.

Google this one, and you will get a difference of opinion. Most are in agreement, the earliest food courts arrived around 1970. The Food Court is, was, and will be one of the few things at the mall actually bringing people together. Older malls tended to have a movie theatre for an anker, but in today’s malls, it’s the food court.

Finally, while at the mall the other day, I was thinking about older houses and some maybe, not even that old. When showing property, buyers will often express their respective opinions on condition and appeal. I’ve long been a defender of patina. I would much rather have a well maintained and clean 1930s Tudor than something painted gray with white trim and white cabinets. That’s just me. Once it’s remodeled, it can never be original again. The patina tells a story. It may be someone else’s story, but it is still a story. When the story is gone, it’s never coming back.

A sunrise near Death Valley in January still offers bright yellow flowers in the foreground. Nature is still making it happen!!

It’s now time to move on to this week’s Market Watch Report for the Denver Metro Area.

Market Watch

New Listing
894 Not a big number here. Sellers are clearly not rushing into market!
Coming Soon
135
Back On Market
195
Price Increase
130
Price Decrease
721
Pending
1097 Now, this is a pretty big number for January. Well done!
Withdrawn
123
Leased
69
Closed
630 Coming off the holiday season, 30 days ago, this one is understandable…
Expired
157

Over the last 7 days, it has not been a remarkable week. Few closings, but a pretty active Under Contract/Pending number. New Listings to the market is not enough to get buyers off the couch or the chairlift…

What about Total Active Listings right now?

Closing out 2023 with just 4,606 and starting the year with January Contracts at about 200 higher than the number of new listings clearly starts to define another year of little to no relief for buyers seeking their dream home. I think we can safely predict Q1 2024 will mirror 2023 with limited choices for buyers and sellers still remaining on the sidelines.

Dee and I continue to be very active in this market. With transactions pending as far north as Erie and as far south as Colorado Springs, we really get a personal sense of the market. Buyer demand is still strong. The realization 6% or more for interest rates is the new normal and renting only benefits the Landlord, buyers with good credit and income are ready to make something work. Home is where the heart is…

Please don’t forget, we can help you in all 50 states and US territories. Additionally, our network has a global reach in countries you can’t imagine. If you need to sell or buy, we have the tools and resources to make the transaction smooth and seamless. Give us a call, and we will discuss the appropriate solution. “Every step of the way”

Posted in Denver Residential Real Estate | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

01/23/2024 #WhoKnew? #2024

The Land of Enchantment has some amazing scenery. Some is man made! These dishes are gigantic…

THE VERY LARGE ARRAY

These antenna are about communication. The Denver Residential Market is into its first month of the new year. We don’t have to listen to “deep space” to observe the trend in Denver.

Over the last 7 days, we are experiencing much of what I predicted earlier in the month. We will see supply start to grow, we will see Pending Listings start to grow, and we will see closings pick up with this trend. The market is embracing these higher rates. Sellers are accepting the cost of “buy downs” and buyers are seeking ownership. 

Market Watch 2024

New Listings
855 Like I had predicted at year’s end, Listings are spiking!
Coming Soon
119 Nothing to see here.
Back On Market
206 Funny how this happens…
Price Increase
143
Price Decrease
653 It is very hard to appropriately price in this market!
Pending
1098 Wow, this is a big jump. Let’s keep an eye on Under Contracts.
Withdrawn
116
Leased
67
Closed
678 Nothing to see here, but as we move into 2024, this will be the most telling.
Expired 177

But, Tom, how does the broader market of Active Listings look? With only 4,527 Active Listings in the 11 County Market of Denver, we are starting out 2024 almost with almost 500 fewer listings than 2023. Where will our Inventory come from this year?

LSS, no two years are alike. Markets are like snowflakes. There are some similarities we can draw from, however. We are starting the year off with low supply. We are still working through higher rates. Employment in Denver is still strong. I don’t know if we will need sunglasses, but our future is still bright.

TheCryerTeam@Kentwood.com

Please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us. We maintain a living list of some of the best vendors in this market place. We are here for you every step of the way…tc

Posted in Denver Residential Real Estate | Tagged | Leave a comment

01/16/2024 #DeathValley

Next week we start our stats up again. 2024 Is sure to be raucous!

I can’t wait to share all I’ll learn this year with you…tc

Badwater!
Posted in Denver Residential Real Estate | Leave a comment

01/09/2024 #LighterLonger

The days are getting lighter for longer every day now. Crazy how the Earth does what it does. It’s a pretty cool place. Let’s have a great year!

Denver’s Residential Market finished 2023, and started 2024 with low inventory. We will grow inventory for the next 6 months. What we don’t know and can’t predict is Buyer Demand! As a result we will waltz into 2024 uncertainty.

I predict a slow, maybe even a critically slow recession of mortgage rates. This will continue to keep buyers and sellers on the sidelines. Buyers don’t want to buy into high rates and sellers don’t want to give up their low rates. So, don’t expect anything more exciting than last year.

Finally, this week and next we will post without data, but on the last Tuesday of the month, we will be posting some meaningful numbers.

Until then my friends, thank you for your support and feedback! Go AVS!

Posted in Denver Residential Real Estate | Leave a comment

12/26/2023 #BoxingDay ???

Just when you thought it was all over, “Boxing Day”? What is Boxing Day?

Being just a few days away from 2024 leaves us all a little betwixt and between. At this point in the year, we reflect, remember, and wonder about the new year upon us. 

Let’s see how the Denver Residential Market is looking as we race into year’s end.

Market Watch

New Listing
353 A very slow week.
Coming Soon
17
Back On Market
96
Price Increase
105
Price Decrease
336
Pending
617 Lower rates, and the need of shelter?A pretty good week considering…
Withdrawn
165
Leased
48
Closed
732 As we roll into year’s end, this isn’t bad!
Expired
270

And, as we close out the year, What does our total Active Listing supply look like?

With just 5,800 Active Residential Listings, the Denver Residential Market appears to be “hanging in there”, but we are rolling into a new year with many, many headwind sources. Interest Rates, Wars, Elections, New Construction, Supply Chain, Inflation, Energy Costs, and more are potential drags on our market. This is the reason to follow, share and offer feedback on this weekly report. Clear, Concise and cogent every week; this is what you will get!

THECRYERTEAM@KENTWOOD.COM

Posted in Denver Residential Real Estate | Tagged , | Leave a comment

12/19/2023 #Merry #Happy #Together

As we finish up 2024, May all your wishes come true, all your prayers be answered, and may sharing it all with family and friends be joyous!

From our table to yours…

Sharing and Caring!
Posted in Denver Residential Real Estate | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

12/12/2023 #AtlasShrugged

Normally, I would have more than one Hashtag in the subject line, but this week’s #AtlasShrugged hashtag provides more than enough “rabbit holes” for us, I just don’t believe we need more this week.

I was required to read Atlas Shrugged in high school, later on, my son told me to revisit it. Finally, for the third and final time, I enjoyed 50 hours of it from an audio book. It really comes to life in the audio book! I can not recommend the movie, but it you must, you must.

Long story short, required reading never works, but keeping ‘AS’ on your #ReadingList is clearly advisable IMHO!

When I watch, listen or read the news, I am constantly changing the names in the book with today’s newsmakers. I’ll leave that up to you, but what we lack in today’s world is #JohnGalt. Although, John Galt could easily be a metaphor for all the “#SecretSocieties” working on covert activities to further their cause while inviting the #Billionaires to participate. Who knows?

Long story short, if you haven’t read or listened to Atlas Shrugged, it is a clear image of what’s happened, what is happening and what will happen. Like me, it may take you three tries to really see it’s future focused meaning, but also like me, some days, it would be nice to have an invitation to “The Valley”. It is a worthy commitment of your time, and while we are on the subject, I highly recommend the films Dr. Zhivago, and Lawrence of Arabia and a Prime Original, Hell on Wheels.

Well, that’s enough suggestion for your New Year’s Resolutions! This week’s…

Denver Residential Market Watch over the last 7 days…

New Listing
761 This a slow week except for the fact we are in the holiday season.
Coming Soon
35
Back On Market
167
Price Increase
89
Price Decrease
768 These are becoming the expired as sellers lose interest and hope for higher prices in the future.
Pending
848 This is a pretty strong week and a good time of year to be competing!
Withdrawn
228 Gave Up!
Leased
67
Closed
807 Not a bad week, but clearly well away from our mid-season numbers.
Expired
302 Ready to move in a different direction.

As you can see above, Denver continues to drift along deeper into the holiday season without any real pain. Let’s look what the total supply numbers look like.

Our current number of 5,659 Active Single Family Residences is very typical of pre-covide numbers, and in some cases even lower.

The Total Number of Active Listings has clearly peaked and turned the corner for the season. At a current number of 5,659, there is a good chance of starting 2024 with something under 5,000 active listings. This is not a far off prediction. It could happen.

Some things you might not know about Dee and Tom. Dee, a Wesleyan Grad, brings a tremendous amount of experience to the table with a multi-discipline career from oil and gas to real estate appraisal to brokerage for many years. Tom on the other hand is a DU Grad and went straight into real estate appraisal from college became one of the most awarded Relocation Appraisers of his time and subsequently made the move toward brokerage more than 25 years ago. Dee and Tom can always be reached via email at TheCryerTeam@Kentwood.com

You can go deeper into our past, present and future here with our mission, testimonials and our history in the Denver Market Place right here. We can’t wait for hear from you, we’ll see you in the “Valley”…

Posted in Denver Residential Real Estate | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment