"After months of drifting, rates finally picked a direction in September, and it wasn't the one buyers wanted. The 30-year fixed rate climbed each week, topping out at about 7.5 percent by the end of the month. Mid-month, the Federal Reserve raised the federal
funds rate for the first time since July 2023. Anyone holding out for cheaper financing just watched the Fed move the other way."
"The real test of September's rate climb comes over the next two months. If the market responds the way it has to every other shift over the past four years, the lesson will be the same one it keeps teaching: the opportunities here don't hinge on rates falling or prices
climbing—they belong to the buyers and sellers who keep an eye on where the market is going and have the right people in their corner to get there."
Amanda Snitker
Chair of the DMAR Market Trends Committee | Denver REALTOR®
- LUXURY MARKET ($1,000,000+): "While year-to-date sales across the metro area were down 4.96 percent, sales in the $1 million+ segment were up 1.99 percent, with 4,449 closed sales so far. Sales volume in this segment was also up 3.17 percent, reaching $7.30 billion, barely shy of its 2022 peak. In September, new listings in this segment jumped 12.15 percent month-over-month, suggesting increased seller confidence. Buyers within the segment aren’t exactly taking the scenic route either. $1 million+ listings spent a median of just 21 days in the MLS in September, compared with 32 days across the broader market. Detached homes moved even faster, selling in a median of 19 days." - Michelle Schwinghammer, DMAR Market Trends Committee Member & Denver REALTOR®
- SIGNATURE MARKET ($750,000 - $999,999): "With 4.76 months of inventory, sellers need to be especially thoughtful about both presentation and pricing. In today's market, pricing for the future—not the past—is critical. The question isn't simply,“What did homes sell for?” but rather,“Where is the market headed, and where does this property need to be priced to compete?” Strategy also becomes increasingly important as buyers have more choices and listings continue to come to market. Understanding financing options, seller credits and the advantages available to today's buyers—while simultaneously managing seller expectations—is where Realtors® can provide real value." - Brad Colburn, DMAR Market Trends Committee Member & Denver REALTOR®.
- PREMIER MARKET ($500,000 - $749,999): "On paper, this segment leads the market with a 99.36 percent close-price-to-list-price ratio year-to-date. That number deserves context, however, because it does not account for seller concessions. Buyers may be negotiating value through closing-cost credits, rate buydowns, repairs or other concessions rather than through purchase price alone. As Realtors®, understanding and communicating what is happening beyond the headline numbers is increasingly important when setting expectations around pricing, affordability and negotiating leverage." - Christina Ray, DMAR Market Trends Committee Member & Denver REALTOR®.
*Remarks from Pages 14-15 of the September 2026 Market Trends Report from DMAR
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