Tag: affordability
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Colorado Cost of Living: New home builders offer route to more affordability
In a year when the housing market is struggling with affordability, home prices in Denver and some other Colorado areas are actually climbing again — at least marginally. And some real estate agents don’t expect that price picture to get much better for buyers. But it’s also a time when homebuilders are reaching out for…
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Colorado Cost of Living: Housing density not just for apartments, as new home styles offer lower prices, creative single-family living
What seem to be scary numbers in the housing industry have prompted action. The median age of a first-time homebuyer hit a record 40 years old nationwide last year, the National Association of Realtors recently reported. That’s two years older than in 2024 and up substantially from 33 years old in 2019. Market analysts cite…
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Both sides of Colorado housing regulations cite similar goals: Keep prices at bay
Those in the home building industry say Colorado’s ongoing legislative changes dealing with home construction add up to a big stumbling block to keeping prices at bay, much less more affordable. Loren J. Moreland, vice president and project manager of Classic Homes, talks about a “complex energy code” at the state level that’s “taken away…
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Colorado Cost of Living: Sky-high home prices narrow pool of buyers in Douglas County
Douglas County has one of the highest median incomes in the state, but home prices can rival some of the most exclusive communities in Colorado. As the population continues to grow, these demographics, combined with limited housing diversity, have made affordability an ongoing challenge. With a median listing price of $757,810 as of February, according…
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Colorado Cost of Living: State is now 4th most expensive in U.S., and residents feel the strain
Think of Colorado and what comes to mind? Majestic mountain views; skiing, sledding, rafting, hiking and more in the Great Outdoors; alpine forests and golden plains; ample sunshine, craft beer and breathtaking sunsets. Just to scratch the surface. But the cost of living and housing affordability in Colorado has drastically increased in recent years, gradually…
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Colorado Cost of Living: Financial freedom in Pueblo County after being priced out elsewhere
Of 10 major Front Range counties in Colorado, Pueblo County has the cheapest cost of living in nearly all key categories — with the exception of health care costs being the most expensive and transportation running slightly higher than El Paso and Denver counties. The county’s standing makes sense because Puebloans earn less than Coloradans in…
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Colorado Cost of Living: El Paso County residents feel the crunch
When Brittany, a special education paraprofessional, moved back to Colorado Springs from Denver a decade ago, a main driver was the rising cost of living in the Mile High City. The 53-year-old, who declined to give her last name, relocated with hopes the move would improve her financial freedom and quality of life. While the…
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Colorado Cost of Living: Moving closer to downtown Denver
As the mid-morning sun spills through a small window in Elizabeth Nagle’s small Denver apartment, her 12-year-old dog, Freya, gnaws intently on a small toy rabbit. On her table sits a retro, portable record player and a plate of small French pastries. Plastic moving boxes tucked in various corners of her living room quietly hint…
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Colorado Cost of Living: ‘Everything is feeling too expensive all at once’ in Adams County
Adams County real estate broker Jessica Zeleniak has watched the median age of first-time homebuyers go up drastically in the last several years. Currently, the median age for her clients hovers around 40. While the cost of housing itself is a major factor in that trend, other costs like interest rates, homeowners’ association and metro…
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Colorado Cost of Living: Struggling to get by in Jefferson County
Twenty-year-old Ashton Starcher hasn’t had a solid living space since he moved to Jefferson County in 2023. As of April, Starcher is staying with his friend and his friend’s girlfriend in a parent’s basement in Lakewood. Starcher said the ever-rising price of living in the area, even in the suburbs of Denver, has caused him…