1-22-26 Cracks, Contracts, Kamper, and a One of a Kind Week in the Foothills

Life in the Colorado Foothills This Week

Some weeks feel busy. Others feel meaningful. This past week somehow managed to be both, with a side of chiropractic pops and a suitcase quietly judging me from the corner of the room.

On the personal side, I officially committed to Team Chiropractor. Turns out my spine and neck have been freelancing a little too hard, including a reversed curve that explained more than I wanted to know. The appointment itself was hilarious. Pops, cracks, and that moment where you wonder if your head is about to roll across the room. I know some people are not team crack, but I absolutely am. I walked out feeling taller, looser, and cautiously optimistic that my skeleton and I are back on speaking terms.

Staunton State Park also made its weekly appearance in my life with our ladies walk. Even though some of our regulars could not make it, four of us still showed up, which honestly feels very on brand for mountain living. Kamper joined us too, and if you are imagining a peaceful walk through the woods, please adjust expectations. Walking Kamper is a stop and go situation. He has to smell everything. Deeply. Thoughtfully. Repeatedly. He is a dog, after all.

Still, being outside in the Colorado foothills with good people is grounding. It is one of the reasons so many people dream about moving to Colorado, and one of the reasons I love helping clients find their place in communities like Evergreen, Conifer, Pine, and Golden. Life feels a little clearer when you slow down enough to let a Bernedoodle inspect every pinecone.

Real Estate in the Foothills: It's Personal 

Now, let’s talk real estate, because this week delivered in a big way.

There were showings everywhere, two properties under contract, and another closing coming up in three weeks, which is always a double win. But the closing we had this week stood out as something more.

It was bittersweet. The sellers had purchased the property just last year and, due to unforeseen circumstances, needed to sell quickly. Those are the transactions that carry extra weight, because no one plans for life to pivot that fast.

What made this closing especially meaningful for me was how uniquely it came together. A casual conversation with my neighbor led to reconnecting with the people we bought our house from, who mentioned wanting to move back to the area. I reached out, offered my services, and mentioned this nearby property. I honestly did not expect them to love it. It needed work. A lot of work.

But they did. And suddenly, everything aligned.

The seller was able to move forward and onto the next chapter in the right direction. The buyers landed another project house in a neighborhood they already love. And I had one of those quiet moments where it really sinks in, I make things happen for people. Not in a flashy way, but in a deeply human one.

The transaction was truly one of a kind. It all came together almost effortlessly. There were hoops, sure, but they were manageable. It reminded me why I do this work, especially in the Colorado foothills, where homes are rarely just homes. They are history, future plans, and sometimes necessary pauses before the next climb.

A Market That’s Waking Up (and What Comes Next)

Now for the market update, because the energy has shifted.

If the market were a pot on the stove, the water is not boiling yet, but it is absolutely simmering. I keep hearing stories like, “We had ten groups through our open house,” and the overachiever version, “We had twenty five groups and ran out of flyers.” Listings that sat quietly for two months suddenly woke up last weekend with five showings and three offers.

Buyer agents are lighting up social media groups asking for new listings for buyers who are ready, willing, and able. Between mild winter weather, less snow pulling people away for ski weekends, and schedules opening up, the market is not waiting for its usual post Presidents Day wake up call. It is already stretching on the sidelines.

If you are thinking about selling a home in Evergreen, Conifer, Morrison, Golden, or anywhere in the Colorado foothills, strategy matters right now. Watch the weather and avoid listing during snow events. If the Broncos are still playing, list earlier in the week to capture weekday momentum instead of competing with game day plans. Buyers are lined up. The question is how quickly sellers can get onto the field.

We closed 2025 with about a 1.0 percent gain in price. It was a grind, no question about it. But we made it through. Looking ahead to 2026, we are expecting relatively flat appreciation, which may not sound exciting, but stability is powerful. It gives wages time to catch up and creates breathing room around affordability. In mountain markets, that matters.

And now, I am packing for Sweden. I am mildly freaking out, but I have done this before. It is a quick trip for my sister’s PhD graduation, which is a very good cause. I can absolutely handle it. Contracts will keep contracting, homes will keep selling, and I will be back before Kamper forgets my scent.

Life, like the market, is moving. Not boiling yet, but definitely simmering.