7-23-25 From Funchal to Farkle: A Week of Family, Food, and Forward Motion

Personal Life: Ice Cream, Ocean Swims, and One Scooter Mishap Later…

We just spent the past week in Madeira, staying in the old part of Funchal, and it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime family trips that fills your heart in a way that’s hard to describe. My dad and stepmom came. My siblings came. Tag’s mom came. Tag’s aunt and uncle hosted us. And the kids were in heaven, surrounded by family, sunshine, and an ocean that practically begged us to jump in every day.

Most days started late (thank you 2 a.m. bedtimes), involved a round of Farkle or Yazee, and ended with a swim and a mandatory ice cream stop. Hazelnut was my go-to. It wasn’t even a conscious decision; it just became a part of the day. Bridger and Sterling both said their favorite part was swimming and hanging out with everyone, which honestly captured the heart of the whole trip.

Now, let’s talk about the scooter. Tag and I had a full day of island exploring, including cliffside hikes, ice cream in Santana, and views for miles. We finished the day with a ride along the northeast coast on a scooter. It was all going beautifully until it wasn’t. One unexpected tumble later, I ended up with some road rash and a precautionary wrist x-ray. Thankfully, no breaks, just a couple of bandages and a new story for the family dinner table. We’re fine, the scooter may be emotionally scarred, and the views that day still made it worth it.

This trip also helped me get clearer about what I want in a future home down here. As charming as the old part of Funchal is, it turns out I really value peace and quiet. Especially at night. Barking dogs until sunrise? Not for me. That’s going on the “dealbreaker” list for any future house hunts on the island.

We’re toying with the idea of a house swap, trading Colorado snow for a Madeiran winter. I know they still have winter here, but it’s the kind where you can walk along the ocean and eat gelato outdoors. If you happen to know anyone in Madeira who’d like to ski, send them my way.

And for the record, we played so many board and dice games that I may have to start a second suitcase just for travel-friendly game kits. If you’ve got a favorite family game, I’m always looking for new additions.

Real Estate Life: Clarity, Calm, and What’s Happening in the Market

While I was out bandaging my wrist and perfecting my hazelnut gelato order, the Denver metro market was making some quiet moves of its own.

Detached homes across the seven-county area saw a bump in inventory, both compared to last month and last year. Sellers who listed early this spring likely got the most eyes on their homes, but there’s still plenty of opportunity out there, especially for buyers.

New listings dropped a bit from May but are still higher than last June. Pending and closed transactions held steady, which tells us demand is consistent even as we shift into the slower half of the year. Prices are still climbing, with both median and average sales prices up. But sellers are becoming more negotiable. More homes are selling below asking, and concessions are common, often used for rate buy-downs or closing costs.

Buyers are definitely being more selective. The days of “just grab whatever’s available” are over. People are waiting for the right fit, and when something good hits the market, it still goes fast. A lot of homes are going under contract in a week or less, but only if they’re priced right and show well.

If you’re thinking about making a move and feeling stuck on when or how to do it, now’s a good time to get the clarity you need. That’s exactly why I’m hosting a seminar on July 29 at the Evergreen Library. I’m excited about it because I know what it feels like to be unsure of your next step simply because you don’t have all the facts. The goal is to help people move forward with confidence, whether they’re downsizing, selling and then buying, or figuring out how to put their home equity to work.

We’ll be covering everything from reverse mortgages to estate planning to how to avoid scams targeting retirees. Plus, I’ll be walking through market trends and real options for people ready to right-size their lives.

So if you’ve been feeling like you're in a bit of limbo, unsure of what your next move should be or whether now is the time, this event is for you.

And if you ever need a real estate advisor with a good sense of humor, strong negotiation skills, and a small addiction to board games, you know where to find me.