Selling in Lakewood before summer can absolutely be a smart move, especially in the kind of balanced, slightly inventory-heavy Denver real estate market we’re heading into for 2026. Right now, the broader metro is seeing more homes on the market than last year, prices that are roughly flat year-over-year, and a clear seasonal slowdown that usually flips to renewed buyer activity in late winter and early spring. If you’re thinking about selling in Lakewood, the question isn’t “Is the market good or bad?”—it’s “How do I time my listing so I stand out before everyone else jumps in?”​

I want to walk you through what the current inventory trends mean for you as a potential Lakewood seller, and how I’d position your home if we were planning a sale together.

What Inventory Is Doing Around Denver Right Now

Across the Denver metro, active listings have climbed year-over-year, even though they pull back seasonally heading into the holidays. That means buyers now have more choices than they did a year ago, but we’re still far from a flooded, distressed market.​

Recent reports show:

• Average sales price around $707,000 metro-wide, up just a couple percent from last year—basically flat in real terms.​
• Months of housing supply near 3.5–3.8 months, which is very close to a “normal” balanced market.​
• Fewer new listings coming on in November and December, which is totally typical as many sellers wait for spring.​

For you, that means two important things:

1. Well-prepared homes are still selling at solid prices.
2. There’s a real opportunity to catch early 2026 buyer demand before inventory ramps back up.

How Lakewood Fits Into the Bigger Picture

Lakewood sits in a sweet spot for many buyers: close to downtown Denver, easy access to the mountains, and a good mix of established neighborhoods and newer pockets. In a market where prices are no longer sprinting upward, lifestyle and location matter even more.

With metro prices holding steady and days on market lengthening a bit, buyers in Lakewood are taking more time to compare options and negotiate, but they’re still writing offers on homes that show well and are priced realistically. Inventory being higher than last year means you can’t just throw a sign in the yard and expect multiple offers—but you can absolutely still get a strong result with the right strategy.​

When I’m looking at Lakewood specifically, I pay close attention to:

• Proximity to light rail and major routes like 6th Ave.
• HOA structure and amenities (especially in townhome and condo communities).
• School zones and access to parks, trails, and the foothills.

Inventory trends tell me buyers are picky, not gone. That’s actually good news for a seller who’s willing to prep properly.

Why Listing Before Summer Can Work in Your Favor

Inventory in Denver tends to tighten through December, then build again as more sellers list in late February, March, and April. At the same time, buyers who paused over the holidays come back into the market with new pre-approvals and fresh motivation.​

If you list in that late-winter to early-spring window—before summer—you’re positioned to:

• Compete against fewer new listings than peak spring.
• Capture pent-up demand from buyers who have been watching but waiting.​
• Avoid getting lost in the wave of “everyone else” deciding summer is the time.

I’ve seen this pattern consistently in Lakewood and neighboring areas: the homes that come on just ahead of the main rush often get better visibility, more showings per week, and stronger negotiating positions.

What Today’s Inventory Means for Pricing Strategy

With more homes on the market and prices moving sideways, pricing has to be both realistic and strategic. I don’t recommend “testing high and seeing what happens” in this environment, because longer days on market combined with visible price reductions can hurt your leverage.​

Instead, I typically:

• Study the last 60–90 days of closed sales in your specific Lakewood neighborhood—not just actives.
• Factor in condition, updates, lot quality, and HOA differences.
• Suggest a price that puts you right in the “clear value” zone, not the “maybe if someone overpays” zone.

In a market like this, being in the top few homes buyers want to tour that week is more important than trying to squeeze out an extra few thousand dollars on day one. The inventory trends tell us buyers are comparing more and rushing less, so we use price to draw them in and strong presentation to keep them interested.

How I’d Help You Use These Trends to Your Advantage

This is where the concierge-level piece matters. Over 15+ years working Denver, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Lakewood and the west side, I’ve watched how small details make big differences when inventory rises and the market calms down.

If we were prepping your Lakewood home to sell before summer, I would:

• Walk the property with you and identify the 3–5 highest-impact updates (paint, light fixtures, minor exterior cleanup).
• Recommend a staging and photography plan that highlights the lifestyle—views, outdoor space, access to trails or transit.
• Time the listing to hit right as buyer activity picks up, but before your direct competition goes live.

I’d also give you straight talk on pricing: where I’d list, what I’d expect in terms of showings and feedback, and how we’d respond if the first two weeks don’t meet our expectations. Integrity and transparency matter to me—this isn’t about getting a sign in the yard, it’s about getting you to your next chapter with as little stress and as much net in your pocket as possible.

My Honest Take for Lakewood Sellers Right Now

Based on where inventory and pricing sit across the Denver metro, this isn’t a market to fear—it’s a market to approach with a plan. If you know you want to be out of your Lakewood home by summer, using the late-winter and early-spring window to list gives you a real advantage:​

• You’ll face less competition than peak summer.
• You’ll meet buyers who are serious and already approved.
• You’ll be working with a stable pricing environment instead of gambling on a big shift.

If you’re on the fence about timing or you just want to understand how these inventory trends apply to your specific home, I’m always happy to talk it through with no pressure.

You can visit me online at www.MileHighHomeGroup.net or reach out at 720-401-2711. If you’re thinking about selling in Lakewood before summer, let’s put a thoughtful plan together so you’re ready when the timing feels right.