October 2025 Newsletter Real Estate
Greetings! I hope you are all settling into the shorter days of the season.
October in La Plata County saw an uptick in the market and some changes from summer trends. Some patterns we’ve seen over the last month have continued, with other factors balancing away from a clear Buyer’s Market into one that is more mixed with higher demand.
October 2025 Market Highlights
For instance, in our county overall, the median price jumped 47.8% over last year in October, bucking all recent months of median depreciation. The price was bolstered by double the number of high-end luxury sales in 2025; 30 year-to-date residential sales over $2.5M vs. 11 last year, same time period. From the outside, it appears home prices are rising, when in fact many are flat, or even depreciating in some of our rural areas.
Another trend we’ve been watching is the amount of inventory, which has come down just slightly, helped by seasonal change as rural properties tend to come off the market before winter sets in. Days on Market until sale is 23.6% higher than last year at this time, with the average days on market at 110 days, but the Months Supply of Inventory is the same as last October at 5.3 months. The number had been climbing for months, and our market breathed a short sigh of relief in October.
Condos and Townhomes
Condos and Townhomes are still significantly down vs October 2024 and YTD, with 40.6% less October sales and 8.5% less sales YTD. The median in this segment is down 4.5% YTD to $535,000, and the Months Supply of Inventory is up 36% over October 2024 to 6.4 months.
Regional Breakdown
In-Town Durango
Some regions to take note of are In-Town Durango, where higher-end single-family sales drove up the average and median prices by over 30% vs. October 2024, though the median is down 10% YTD in this area. Inventory in this much sought-after region remains what it was in October 2024 at 2.8 months.
Rural Durango
Rural Durango has more inventory and fewer sales than in 2024 YTD, but the median sales price continues to climb, 9.5% YTD. We believe some of this is the result of higher-end sales in this area.
Rural Bayfield
Rural Bayfield inventory is shrinking just a bit and helping out that market. The median has held steady YTD at $542,000 in October and $545,000 YTD. It is taking these homes a lot longer to sell—125 days, which is 59 days longer than last October, and can feel like years to a Seller waiting for a showing request.
Purgatory Resort Area
The Purgatory Resort area’s active inventory of homes for sale has climbed in 2025, 66.7% in single-family listings and 25% in condos and townhomes, with newly built subdivisions helping give choice in the market. Sales have not yet followed, with an equal amount of sales in October 2024, but we expect this will change by the winter season, as right now we are fully in shoulder season.
What Does the Market Feel Like?
October felt like a busy month of contracts and closings. One of the larger title companies said they were busier in October than in mid-July. Yet Realtors with rural listings can’t get showings on their listings. Buyers definitely have chosen to stay close to our urban Durango hub this year, or look for homes that show value outside of town. If a home is further from town center, it must demonstrate enough amenities to be worth the price and the drive, and be in show-ready condition.
What Changed?
As far as the uptick in the market, it doesn’t appear to be one thing. We wonder if Buyers who held off making choices with all the abundant inventory in 2025 felt an urge to get moved in before the holidays as colder weather set in. As for the high-end sales, it could be the legacy properties that came on the market or a sign of buyers diversifying their portfolio.
What’s interesting is that as markets change—in our case from one of a strong seller’s market into one that is more clearly a buyer’s market, it’s not always a linear change. Markets can swing back and forth as they slowly move in one direction, but while you are riding the wave that is our current market, it feels confusing with mixed signals. Only when looking back can you say for certain what the ending will be.
Durango News
The Community Development Commission recommended approval for the preliminary subdivision for the 32nd Street Collective. The Collective is proposing a mixed residential development with eight townhomes and a multiplex with four apartments on 32nd Street east of Holly Ave. The preliminary subdivision for the project still requires City Council approval.
Featured Listings
2550 Destination Ranch Road — $2,985,000
Experience this one-of-a-kind legacy property which exemplifies Colorado living at its finest—then blow a kiss to the highest peaks of the La Plata Mountains from your own private alpine sanctuary. The 40 acre property features parklike trails that lead from the home to two separate meadows creating a year-round wonderland. Inside, you are immediately struck with a dramatic landscape through a wall of windows—every angle takes advantage of the views. The infinity view with thousands of feet of elevation change and of numerous peaks in the San Juan Mountains is a view only possible from this home, and it is one that truly makes your jaw drop. MLS #826356
583 Trew Creek Drive — $725,000
Mountain Retreat! Home and storage space with 2.9 acres of meadow and forest on Trew Creek with no HOA. Oversized deck with a beautiful view. Over 2,200′ living space with multiple levels for privacy with a bathroom on each level and perfect for large gatherings. Great location for a second home or vacation rental. You can access National Forest from this subdivision, and you are moments from Lemon Reservoir. MLS #825353
Recently Sold by Destination DRO
95 Ute Pass West, Durango
3 Bed / 4 Ba / 2-Car Garage | 2,728 Sq Ft | Built 2003
List Price: $1,060,000 → Sold: $1,010,000
Side Represented: Seller
46 Blue Sky Drive, Durango
4 Bed / 3 Ba / 3-Car Garage | 3,935 Sq Ft | Built 1999
List Price: $1,675,000 → Sold: $1,550,000
Side Represented: Seller
1200 N Oak Drive, Bayfield
3 Bed / 2 Ba / 2-Car Garage | 2,124 Sq Ft | Built 1984
List Price: $525,000 → Sold: $525,000
Side Represented: Seller
400 Sheol Street #7, Durango (Purgatory Resort)
2 Bed / 3 Bath | 920 Sq Ft | Built 1971
List Price: $479,000 → Sold: $470,000
Side Represented: Buyer
Warmly,
Heather Erb
Owner & Broker, Destination DRO Real Estate Group
President-Elect of the Durango Area Association of Realtors and spokesperson for the Colorado Association of Realtors, La Plata County, and as quoted on Fox News 31, Denver Gazette, and Colorado Business Journal
View Colorado Association of Realtors Market Statistics
Proud Member of the La Plata County Economic Alliance
The Alliance membership represents a public/private partnership driving economic development in our community. This partnership makes La Plata County the most vital and vibrant community to live, work, learn, and play.
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