By: Lauryn Dempsey, Top Arvada and Denver Metro Area Realtor, Advisor & Navy Veteran | Serving Arvada and the Denver Metro Area, Colorado

Introduction: Assessing the November Mission Brief

As a real estate advisor and a Navy veteran, I know that success in any operation—especially a high-stakes one like buying or selling a home—begins with a clear-eyed assessment of the situation. You cannot rely on headlines; you must rely on data.

The Denver Metro Association of Realtors (DMAR) Market Trends Report for November 2025 is our intelligence brief. It confirms what many sellers and buyers already feel: the market is exhibiting a distinct seasonal slowdown. However, the true mission is to distinguish between seasonal normalcy and fundamental deterioration.

My analysis, based on my work with clients across Arvada and the Denver Metro area, is this: The Denver Metro market is not broken; it has simply returned to a healthy, predictable, and strategic operational rhythm. The frantic pace of the "pandemic blip" is over, replaced by a market where preparation, pricing, and negotiation matter more than ever.

This report will translate the raw numbers into actionable intelligence, preparing both Arvada buyers and sellers for a successful closing mission as we head into 2026.

1. The Big Picture: Residential Market Metrics (Detached + Attached) The overall Denver Metro residential market data for November 2025 shows a natural month-over-month contraction, driven by sellers pulling listings and buyers shifting focus to the holidays.

Key Market Indicators for the Entire Denver Metro Market (November 2025 vs. October 2025)

• Median Close Price ◦ Data: $585,000 ◦ Change M-o-M: Down 0.85% ◦ Insight: Pricing slightly declined, which is a typical movement for the fourth quarter as demand moderates.

• Active Listings ◦ Data: 10,506 ◦ Change M-o-M: Down 15.92% ◦ Insight: Sellers pulled their homes off the market, effectively reducing competition for those who remain listed.

• New Listings ◦ Data: 2,620 ◦ Change M-o-M: Down 41.39% ◦ Insight: This significant drop is considered normal seasonal seller behavior, closely mirroring patterns observed in 2024.

• Closed Homes ◦ Data: 2,734 ◦ Change M-o-M: Down 23.37% ◦ Insight: The decrease reflects the slowdown in contracts written in October, representing a typical winter decrease in closings.

• Median Days in MLS (DOM) ◦ Data: 36 Days ◦ Change M-o-M: Up 9.09% ◦ Insight: Homes are taking longer to sell, which is interpreted as a sign of normalcy—buyers now have more time to think and negotiate.

The most important takeaway for the overall market is the Months of Inventory (MOI), which sits at 3.84% months. Since a balanced market ranges from four to six months 18, this still indicates a seller's market overall, though one that is trending toward balance.

2. Deeper Dive: Detached vs. Attached Housing in Arvada For Arvada clients, understanding the combined residential data isn't enough. We must segment the market between detached (single-family) and attached (condo/townhome) properties, as they are currently following two very different trajectories.

A. The Detached Home Market: Resilient and Competitive The single-family market continues to show resilience, though with clear seasonal shifts:

• Median Close Price: $640,000. While this is down 1.47% month-over-month, the year-to-date median price remains essentially flat, up just 0.02% from 2024. This reflects stabilization after years of rapid appreciation

• Inventory is Moving: The largest segment of the detached market, properties sold between $500,000 and $749,999, has the lowest MOI (Months of Inventory) of any price segment at 2.85% months

Strategic Insight for Detached Homes:

If your Arvada home falls into the $500,000 to $749,999 range, demand remains strong. While new listings fell 42.30% month-over-month, sellers who remained active benefited from lower competition. The mission for a seller here is precision pricing and exceptional presentation, ensuring you attract the highly motivated buyers who are active now.

B. The Attached Home Market: Shifting to Buyers The condo and townhome segment shows a more pronounced softness, largely due to affordability challenges like rising HOA fees and insurance premiums, coupled with mortgage rate pressure.

• Median Close Price: $380,000. This is down 1.96% month-over-month and down 3.21% year-to-date.

• MOI Tilt: For attached properties, the overall MOI sits at 6.19 months. Specifically, the $500,000 to $749,999 attached segment has an MOI of 6.89% months.

Strategic Insight for Attached Homes:

An MOI above six months indicates a buyer's market. For Arvada clients selling an attached home, the strategy must pivot. This is a market that rewards sellers who are willing to price below comps and invest heavily in staging and high-quality photography to stand out from the higher inventory.

3. The Affordability and Liquidity Report: The $500K-$749K Backbone As a local real estate expert serving Arvada, I pay especially close attention to the $500,000 to $749,999 price range because it represents the core of our community’s single family home stock and middle-market transactions.

Detached Dominance and Buyer Pressure In the detached category, this price segment comprises 39.49% of the total detached active inventory and 44.60% of total detached closed properties.

• What this means: This price range is the engine of the Arvada and Denver Metro market. Buyers are concentrated here because it offers the balance of space, amenities, and price point they seek.

• Seller Confidence: For detached sellers, confidence remains high. The low 2.85 MOI suggests that these homes are still moving quickly compared to other segments.

Attached Turmoil and Buyer Opportunity Conversely, the drop in attached property sales was dramatic, falling 37.66% month-over-month in the $500,000-$749,999 range.

• What this means: Attached sellers are facing significant headwinds. The market is thinly populated with serious buyers.

• Buyer Opportunity: For buyers seeking townhomes or condos, this range represents a moment of leverage. You can negotiate for concessions and take your time, a luxury not available in the detached market.

4. Economic Headwinds and Strategic Adjustments Market activity in November was heavily influenced by external economic forces, not just housing fundamentals. As your strategic partner, here are the key external factors we must integrate into your plan:

A. Encouraging News on Mortgage Rates For the first time in a while, mortgage data offers a significant positive note for buyers. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has dipped to about 6.23%, which is noticeably lower than this time last year and marks one of the lowest averages in the past three years.

• Strategic Takeaway: Lower rates mean more buying power. Buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines due to high rates may start re-engaging with the market. This creates an immediate opportunity for active sellers to attract newly qualified buyers.

B. The Return to Normalcy and Negotiation After years of frenzied markets where buyers waived contingencies, the 2025 data confirms the return of the functional market.

• Days in MLS: The Median Days in MLS rose to 36 days. Homes that sit for 29 days or more are not signs of crisis; they are signs of normalcy.

• Buyer Leverage: Buyers who can successfully negotiate concessions aren't exploiting weakness; they are participating in standard real estate transactions.

• Seller Expectation Management: Sellers must align expectations with current market conditions to avoid extended time on the market. Aggressive initial pricing is no longer the mission.

C. The Holiday Strategy: To Pause or Not to Pause For sellers whose listings have been on the market for a long time, the DMAR report suggests a strategic pivot: temporarily pausing a listing over Christmas and New Year's and re-launching in January.

• The Logic: This boosts visibility when buyers, who are less distracted, return with a fresh perspective after the new year. This isn't a "one-size-fits-all" approach, but it is a tactic worth considering for tired listings.

Conclusion: Act with Discipline and Data

The November 2025 Denver Metro real estate market trends provide a clear mandate: act with discipline and data. The seasonal slowdown is real, and the overall market is stabilizing, offering much-needed balance after years of extremes. For Arvada homeowners, your success hinges on understanding the nuances: the detached market remains competitive, while the attached market requires a more aggressive, buyer-focused strategy.

As your Navy veteran Real Estate Advisor, I bring the precision, the market intelligence, and the disciplined execution required to navigate this stabilizing market. Don't let the noise of generalized headlines distract you for finding your perfect home. We will focus on the local data, develop a customized strategy for your property type and price point, and execute your mission for a successful 2026.

If you are looking for daily insight and tips on today’s market, follow Lauryn Dempsey on LinkedIn. If Lauryn can help you strategize your next steps in real estate in the Denver Metro Area or elsewhere across the U.S., please book a call!