Dave,
What’s is the current state of the real estate market in Grand Junction? Is it a buyer’s or a seller’s market? I’m also curious how long it takes to sell a home in our neck of the woods compared to other places like Denver or Fort Collins. It always seems like I’m hearing how Denver is booming and has been for the last couple of years. How do we measure up over here on the Western Slope?
Thanks for the market update!
Steve, Grand Junction
Steve,
Great question! When I wake up in the middle of the night I am either thinking about ways to improve my marketing plans or pondering what is really going on with our real estate market? How will this year be, compared to last year? Will we finally see the job and wage growth start to flow or remain stagnant like a rivers eddy? Is there enough development being initiated to keep pace with present and future housing demands? I spend way more time than I should pondering questions just like this and will admit that I waft back and forth like a wind swept balloon, but will give you what I know as of now! Keeping track of what is happening is hard enough, however trying to predict what will happen typically proves a fools game. Today I am happy to report that the state of the Grand Junction real estate market is strong and holding steady.
“Steady is the new normal for us and has been for the past several years, as we have seen steady and sustainable growth year over year since 2012! ”
Steady is the new normal for us and has been for the past several years, as we have seen steady and sustainable growth year over year since 2012! Having a real estate market that demonstrates sustainable growth is a real blessing, as that kind of market generally does not lead to a bubble and keeps affordability in reach for most of the residents. Our prices have not gotten too far out in front of our wages and income and that helps any market remain on the healthier side of things. The average days on market for a home in Grand Junction in 2016 was 103, down from 142 days in 2012. 103 is good. Not great, but a healthy good. In stark contrast the Metro Denver area has an average days on market of 27 and Ft. Collins you are looking at 59 days on average. 27 Days is really hard to believe, but Denver has been sustaining that kind of market for 3 years now. What seems like it has to end, has no end in sight. The average days on market for Ft Collins is impressive, however not when compared to Denver! The real test is median sales price and we will see that the prices on the Front Range are soaring!
Since 2012 the median home price in Denver has gone from $233,500 to $350,000, an increase of 50%! Ft Collins went from $228,000 to $344,000, an increase of 51%. WOW. Here in Grand Junction the median house price has gone from $175,000 to $211,000 in the same time span, an increase of 21%. Not as impressive as Denver, however very solid and most importantly very sustainable. Being able to sustain the growth is very important to the long term viability of our local real estate market. Although the real estate numbers here are not as impressive as the Front Range, I personally believe it is to our benefit over the long haul. Having a real estate market that consistently shows sustainable growth and appreciation will lead to an overall healthy local economy and one where housing will remain affordable to the majority of our residents and that is a very important part of community.
I for one am thankful for where our valley is and where it is headed! As the author Robert Fulgham wrote, "The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. No, not at all. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you are.”
Dave Kimbrough
The Kimbrough Team
