Expensive homes dominated the metro Denver real estate market in 2020.

"Metro Denver’s worsening imbalance between supply and demand has 2021 starting out with annual home price appreciation solidly into double-digit territory," reports
Aldo Svaldi, sharing data from a Market Trends Report published recently by the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.
"The average price of a single-family home that closed in January in metro Denver rose 2.9% from December to a record $629,159," Svaldi writes. That kind of monthly appreciation added up over the course of the year. "Annual price appreciation is running a hot 18.7%," adds Svaldi.
The sharp increase is caused by an overwhelming share of home sales occurring at the upper end of the market, according to the report. "For example, there were 70% more homes worth $1 million or more sold last month compared to January 2020, while there were 45.4% fewer homes sold in the $300,000 range and an 11.2% drop in homes sold in the $400,000 range."
All that data is also influenced by record low levels of inventory on the market. "After reaching an all-time low at the end of December, the number of active listings dipped another 8.9% in January to 2,316. Buyers last month had less than half as many properties to choose from as they did in January 2020 and compared to the average inventory going back to 1985, 83% fewer options available," according to Svaldi.
FULL STORY: In metro Denver housing market, double-digit price gains carry over in 2021

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won
A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide
Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code
The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont