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Denver’s luxury home inventory has reached its highest level since 2011: Detached houses priced above $2 million now have more than six months of supply, while properties between $1 and $2 million carry more than 10 months of inventory, according to the latest report from Denver Metro Association of Realtors [DMAR]. With a surge of new listings hitting the market and sustained high interest rates, shoppers are taking their time to find the four-walled equivalent of a magic glass slipper.
“Buyers are waiting for their perfect home to bring an offer at all,” says Michelle Schwinghammer, a Denver realtor and member of the DMAR Market Trends Committee. “Sometimes, timing is charmed and shoppers find their ‘Cinderella fit’ within a few days of a listing’s debut; other times, and more often, homes must withstand time in the market for their perfect buyer to find it.”
Allow us to play fairy godmother with these four hand-picked listings, from newly built and renovated houses in desirable neighborhoods to a sprawling 600-acre ranch in southern Colorado.
481 Meadowleaf Lane, Highlands Ranch
- Price: $1.395 million
- Neighborhood: Backcountry
- Listing agents: Jackie Garcia and Noelle Chole with REMAX Professionals
Built as a model home in 2018, this 4,442-square-foot home makes a strong first impression through a double-height living room that seamlessly connects a covered deck with the chef’s kitchen. From there, design details start to emerge, like the light blue tile and 60-inch gas fireplace. Four bedrooms and an office provide space to spread out. Downstairs, the family room showcases a reclaimed wood accent wall sourced from Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, and an additional bedroom and full bathroom create an ideal guest suite. Located within the bounds of the Backcountry Association, future homeowners can enjoy 11.2 miles of private trails on 550 acres of open space, while being less than an hour south of Denver.
8568 Foxhaven Court, Niwot
- Price: $2.845 million
- Neighborhood: Foxhaven
- Listing agent: Christina Sajovich with WK Real Estate
Built in 2017 in a quiet Niwot neighborhood, this ranch house features 12-foot ceilings that frame mountain views and wood, stone, and steel accents throughout. The 5,467-square-foot property includes multi-zoned radiant floor heating, automatic solar roller blinds, and an EV charger. In the kitchen, home chefs and entertainers can gather around the Brazilian quartz island and utilize Thermador and SubZero appliances, while walnut-finished cabinets and a walk-in pantry maintain organization. The primary retreat opens to a deck with a saltwater hot tub overlooking a meadow. The four-bedroom, four-bathroom residence also includes a walk-out basement with a kitchenette, a theater room, and a guest suite with a steam shower. Niwot’s picturesque downtown is a short bike ride away, and an extensive trail system, along with Longmont and Boulder, are within close proximity.
101 S. Humboldt St., Denver
- Price: $7.995 million
- Neighborhood: Washington Park
- Listing agent: Jason Cummings with Compass
Designed by prominent Colorado architect Thomas Edgar Moore in 1954 and updated in 2019, the Grant Residence exemplifies midcentury modernism. Step through the Alaskan Yellow Cedar-clad front door and onto radiant-heated walnut floors that flow through the 8,691-square-foot home. The west wing houses the formal dining area, library, and living room, where Moore’s original curtain wall was rebuilt to capture downtown skyline views. The east wing centers on a kitchen next to a family room with a wood-burning fireplace and NanaWall doors. The 0.43-acre lot overlooks the south side of Denver Country Club’s golf course.
401 USFS 668, Pagosa Springs
- Price: $27.995 million
- City: Pagosa Springs
- Listing agent: Dan Dockray with LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
Envisioned by singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg in 1982, Mountain Bird Ranch offers a total escape from city life about five hours southwest of Denver. Surrounded on three sides by San Juan National Forest and Wilderness Areas, the estate spans more than 600 acres. Mature aspen trees frame the 8,695-square-foot lodge, which is accented by charming wood accents around its expansive windows. Anglers can cast for fish in the stocked ponds, while equestrians can meander through riding trails on the property. Bookworms will appreciate the library, and pool sharks and beginners alike can benefit from the dedicated billiards room. Wolf Creek Ski Area lies less than 50 miles away, and Pagosa Springs, great for dining, shopping, and hot springs, is 35 miles away when it’s time to venture beyond the ranch gates.
