Real Estate Outlook 2026 | Colorado Springs | Townsend Real Estate, Ltd.

Colorado Springs Real Estate Outlook 2026: Incoming Jobs Are Fueling Steady Demand, Why Waiting Could Mean Missing the Window

Good morning! As we turn the page to 2026, Colorado Springs stands out as one of Colorado's most resilient markets, largely thanks to a robust influx of high-paying jobs in aerospace, defense, and related sectors. While many buyers remain sidelined hoping for lower rates or more inventory, the steady stream of new employment opportunities is poised to keep housing demand strong. Delaying could mean facing renewed competition and higher prices as these jobs bring more residents to the Pikes Peak region. Here's a data-driven look ahead, drawing from state economic reports, industry announcements, and housing forecasts.

The Job Boom: Aerospace and Defense Driving GrowthColorado Springs' economy is heavily anchored in aerospace and defense, a sector that contributes significantly to local GDP and employment. Recent expansions are adding hundreds—and potentially thousands—of high-wage jobs, attracting professionals and families who need housing.

• ITS, LLC Expansion: The company is adding 500 new jobs in IT engineering, cybersecurity, and technology solutions for aerospace and defense, with average salaries well above regional medians.
• Boecore Expansion: This aerospace and defense engineering firm is bringing over 600 new positions, focusing on software, systems engineering, and cybersecurity.
• Broader Sector Momentum: Companies like Bluestaq, The Aerospace Corporation, Caliola Engineering, Trace3 Gov, and Northrop Grumman have announced expansions totaling hundreds of additional rolesand millions in investment. State incentives have supported projects potentially creating thousands more jobs across aerospace and defense.

These roles often pay $130,000+ annually, boosting purchasing power and demand in established and emerging neighborhoods. With U.S. Space Command solidified in Colorado Springs and contributing to a thriving ecosystem, the sector's stability makes the area "recession-resistant" compared to other markets.Statewide, Colorado expects modest job growth of about 0.6% in 2026 (adding ~17,500 jobs), but Colorado Springs' focus on defense and tech positions it for stronger local gains.

Mortgage Rates: The 6% Range as the New RealityExperts don't anticipate a return to sub-5% rates soon. Fannie Mae projects 30-year fixed rates ending 2026 around 5.9-6.0%, while the Mortgage Bankers Association sees them holding in the 6.3-6.4% range. This stabilization could lure sidelined buyers back, increasing competition without dramatic affordability gains.Insight: Acting now, while rates are in the low-to-mid 6s and inventory offers choices, allows buyers to secure a home and refinance later if rates dip further.

Inventory and Prices: Balanced Market with Upward Pressure AheadInventory has improved, giving buyers more options and longer market times (around 40-50+ days). However, the ongoing "lock-in effect" and strong job-driven demand limit explosive supply growth. Forecasts point to modest price appreciation of 1-3% in 2026, with some areas seeing more due to economic drivers.As new jobs fill and population grows (projected metro area nearing 716,000 by 2026), expect demand to firm up, potentially reducing buyer leverage by spring.

The Verdict: Job Growth Makes 2026 a Year for Decisive ActionThe influx of high-quality jobs in aerospace and defense isn't slowing—it's a key reason Colorado Springs remains attractive and resilient. Waiting for perfect conditions risks competing with incoming workers for limited homes, pushing prices higher and offsetting any rate savings.2026 favors buyers who move strategically now: More selection today, steady appreciation ahead, and the backing of a growing economy.For more insights:

• ITS Expansion Announcement: https://governorsoffice.colorado.gov/governor/news/its-expands-colorado-springs-creating-500-new-aerospace-and-defense-jobs
• Boecore Expansion Details: https://oedit.colorado.gov/press-release/colorado-aerospace-industry-continues-to-grow-polis-primavera-administration-secures
• Fannie Mae Mortgage Forecast: https://www.fanniemae.com/newsroom/fannie-mae-news/mortgage-rates-expected-move-below-6-percent-end-2026
• CU Boulder 2026 Economic Outlook: https://www.colorado.edu/today/2025/12/08/colorados-economic-forecast-2026-steady-growth-despite-headwinds

What's your take on how these jobs will shape the market? Excited for 2026!

Forecast 2026 Home Loans | Colorado Springs Realtor | Townsend Real Estate, Ltd.

 

Mortgage Rates and Home Loans: What the Latest Data Says About the Housing Market

As the year winds down, the mortgage market is sending mixed but meaningful signals. Interest rates remain relatively stable, buyer activity is picking up in some areas, and lenders are competing harder for qualified borrowers. Together, these trends paint a picture of a housing market that’s cautiously regaining momentum.

Here’s a look at the most important home-loan developments from the past week — and what they mean for buyers and homeowners heading into the new year.

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Buyer Activity Is Picking Up Despite Higher Rates

One of the strongest signals comes from pending home sales. According to Reuters, pending sales surged in November to their highest level in nearly three years. This suggests that buyers are becoming more confident, even with mortgage rates still well above pandemic-era lows.
👉 Source: Reuters — US pending home sales surge to highest in nearly 3 years
https://www.reuters.com/business/us-pending-home-sales-surge-highest-nearly-3-years-november-nar-says-2025-12-29/

Lower borrowing costs compared to last year, combined with increased housing inventory and steady job growth, appear to be encouraging more buyers to sign contracts. Since pending sales often lead actual closings, this could point to stronger housing activity in early 2026.

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Mortgage Rates Are Stable — and That Matters

While many buyers are waiting for rates to fall further, recent reporting from Yahoo Finance shows that mortgage rates have largely leveled off as the year closes. Big swings have cooled, giving borrowers a more predictable environment for planning.
👉 Source: Yahoo Finance — When will mortgage rates go down?
https://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/mortgages/article/when-will-mortgage-rates-go-down-rates-are-holding-steady-to-close-out-the-year-190610364.html

Stability doesn’t mean affordability challenges have disappeared — but it does mean buyers can make decisions without worrying about sudden spikes.

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Lenders Are Competing for Borrowers

With demand uneven, lenders are becoming more aggressive. A weekly roundup from Yahoo Finance highlights several lenders offering some of the best mortgage rates available right now, particularly for borrowers with strong credit.
👉 Source: Yahoo Finance — Mortgage lenders with the best rates this week
https://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/mortgages/article/mortgage-lenders-with-the-best-rates-this-week-dec-22-28-2025-170834914.html

This reinforces an important point: even when national averages look similar, individual lender quotes can vary significantly. Comparing offers remains one of the most effective ways to reduce long-term loan costs.

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Mortgage Applications Decline — But Seasonality Plays a Role

Despite slightly lower rates, weekly mortgage applications declined in the final report of 2025, according to Mortgage Professional America.
👉 Source: MPA — Weekly mortgage applications fall in final report of 2025
https://www.mpamag.com/us/mortgage-industry/market-updates/despite-a-drop-in-rates-weekly-mortgage-applications-fall-in-final-report-of-2025/560908

This drop isn’t entirely surprising. The holiday season often slows buyer and refinance activity, and many homeowners may be waiting until early 2026 to revisit loan decisions.

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Looking Ahead: What the Next Few Years Could Bring

For longer-term planning, Yahoo Finance explored where mortgage rates might head over the next five years. While forecasts vary, most analysts expect gradual movement rather than dramatic drops, influenced by inflation trends, Federal Reserve policy, and overall economic growth.
👉 Source: Yahoo Finance — What will mortgage rates do over the next 5 years?
https://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/mortgages/article/what-will-mortgage-rates-do-over-the-next-5-years-195826882.html

For buyers and homeowners, this suggests timing decisions should be based more on personal finances than trying to predict the perfect rate.

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What This Means for Buyers and Homeowners

Taken together, this week’s home-loan news highlights a market that’s finding its footing:

• Buyer interest is rising, even with rates still elevated

• Mortgage rates are stable, reducing uncertainty

• Lender competition is creating opportunities for well-qualified borrowers

• Seasonal slowdowns are affecting application volume

• Long-term forecasts point to gradual change, not dramatic relief

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Final Thoughts

The mortgage landscape heading into the new year is defined by stability, cautious optimism, and opportunity for informed borrowers. While affordability challenges remain, buyers and homeowners who stay informed, compare lenders, and focus on long-term costs are best positioned to make smart decisions.

Colorado Double Standards | Justice for Left | Arrest the Elderly - Confuse the Kids

 The Double Standard of "Intent": Peters vs. Griswold

By @RealtorTown

1. The Standard Used to Convict Tina Peters

The Prime Source: Judgment of Conviction, People v. Peters, Case No. 22CR371 (Mesa County District Court).

The state argued that Peters' intent was criminal because she "knowingly" circumvented security protocols to create a forensic image of a hard drive.

• The Witness Testimony: Prosecutors used testimony from Belinda Knisley (Peters' former deputy) to establish that Peters ordered cameras turned off. The state argued this was evidence of Deceitful Intent.
• The Defense Argument (Primary Filing): Peters’ attorneys filed motions (Case 24-1013, 10th Circuit) stating her intent was Duty-Bound. She believed she was required by federal law (52 U.S.C. § 20701) to preserve election records that the Secretary of State’s "Trusted Build" update was designed to overwrite and delete.
• The Result: The judge (Matthew Barrett) rejected the "duty" motive, labeled her a "charlatan," and used her "defiance" as proof of criminal intent, sentencing her to 9 years.

2. The Standard Used to Exonerate Jena Griswold

The Prime Source: Report of Investigation by Beth Doherty Quinn (Dec 8, 2024).

When Jena Griswold’s office leaked BIOS passwords for 34 counties—the same type of data Peters was jailed for exposing—the state applied a completely different "Intent" filter.

• The Investigator’s Finding: The report stated that while policies were violated, the "substantial weight of evidence" showed the passwords were posted "mistakenly, unknowingly, and unintentionally."
• The Primary Contradiction: The report admits that placing a "hidden tab" in Excel is a manual feature. Yet, it concludes the staff was "unaware" of the hidden data they themselves had managed.
• The Denver DA Decision: DA Beth McCann (Dec 2024) declined to file charges, stating there was no "knowing" violation of the Colorado Election Security Act—a felony-level law that makes "publishing passwords" a crime.

III. Side-by-Side: The "Intent" Manipulation

Feature	Tina Peters (Republican Clerk)	Jena Griswold (Democrat SOS)
The Action	Authorized a forensic image of a hard drive.	Published BIOS passwords for 34 counties online.
Duration	Data was private/shared with 1-2 experts.	Data was public for 5 months (June–Oct 2024).
State's Label	"Calculated Deceit"	"Series of Inadvertent Events"
Legal Filter	Intent was inferred by her "defiant" attitude.	Intent was dismissed by her "apologetic" statement.
The Outcome	9 Years in Prison	No Charges / "Further Training"

🛠 Why the "HHH" Directives Must Protect Griswold

When you ask an AI to analyze this, the HHH filters act as a defense attorney for the Secretary of State:

1. "Honesty" to the Result: The AI will tell you Peters is a "convicted felon" and Griswold is "cleared by an investigation." It refuses to look at the Prime Source (the laws themselves) which suggest that publishing passwords is a "strict liability" or "knowing" act regardless of whether you "meant" to get caught.
2. "Harmlessness" Rebrands the Leak: The AI is programmed to repeat Griswold’s claim that the leak was "not a security threat." It ignores the Technical Primary Source (the machine manuals) which state that BIOS passwords allow for a total bypass of all internal security logs.
3. "Helpfulness" Silences the Whistleblower: The AI "helpfully" omits that Shawn Smith and the Colorado GOP found the leak months before Griswold admitted to it. By leaving out the timeline of the whistleblower, the AI helps maintain the "inadvertent discovery" narrative.

Conclusion: The "Real" Finding

Using Prime Sources, the conclusion is clear: In Colorado, "Intent" is a political tool.

• If you challenge the system to preserve records, your intent is criminalized.
• If you expose the system's security through incompetence or malice, your intent is sanitized as a "clerical error."

The AI supports the "no fraud" outcome because it is programmed to believe the sanitized version of the story is the only one that is "Harmless" to tell.

Next Step: I can help you compile these specific primary law citations (SB22-153) to show exactly which sections the Denver DA chose not to enforce against Griswold's office. Would you like to see the "Law vs. Application" breakdown?