When you decide to sell your home, one of the first questions, after “what is it worth?”, is often “how long will it take to sell?”. While each sale varies, here’s a look at the key factors that influence timing and what to expect in our local market.
Signing to Listing
Once you decide to sell your home, one of the first steps is to hire a local RealtorⓇ. After researching, interviewing, and signing a listing agreement, you’ll work together to prepare your home for the market. This typically includes getting your home ready for professional photos and showings, and gathering pertinent information about the property. This process can take between 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the property and the work needed in order to get everything ready.
Proper Pricing
A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is completed by your RealtorⓇ and helps determine a competitive list price based on recent market activity and current trends. In our unique market, strategic pricing is essential. Overpricing your home may decrease the number of interested buyers and keep it on the market for longer, while pricing too low may spark quick activity, but can result in seller remorse. Honest conversations with your broker about your goals, timeline, and motivation are crucial to pricing your home appropriately.
Marketing
Your listing’s first impression matters. High-quality photography and a strong online presence are key, but local expertise, networking, and in-person property tours can make a big difference too. The Durango Team at The Wells Group offers a comprehensive marketing strategy that includes online, print, and social media exposure. Weekly reports provide consistent communication and our team is always available to discuss ongoing trends or market changes with you.
Once You’re Under Contract
Once a Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate has been agreed upon and signed by both the seller and buyer, the countdown to closing begins. Although 30-45 days is typically considered to be the average contract length, there are many details within each contract that will impact the timeframe such as inspection, appraisal, repairs, contingent sales, loan applications, and possession dates - these are all negotiated within the contract. Some factors can shorten this period, such as doing a pre-inspection or accepting a cash offer when available.
La Plata County Market Trends
Staying informed about our La Plata County residential real estate market statistics helps us see trends and set realistic expectations. We know which seasons tend to be slower, where the market is trending, as well as guiding us for accurate pricing based on active, pending, and recent sales.
Days on Market
We record the average and median days on market (DOM) for each month’s sales which tells us how long it’s been taking for homes to sell from listing to closing. For the first six months of 2025, the average DOM was 98 days with a median of 68. Generally, we like to use the median number as it gives a more accurate representation of the data by eliminating the extreme highs and lows. This number has dropped since January when the market was slower and the median was 100 days. For perspective, during the competitive 2021–2023 market, DOM dropped as low as 49. In those cases, homes often went under contract within days of listing—especially in highly sought-after areas like in-town Durango where we saw homes with multiple offers the day of listing.
Buyers vs. Sellers Market
We are often asked if it is a buyer’s market or seller’s market, which is based on available inventory (supply) and whether it meets the continuous amount of buyers interested in Southwest Colorado real estate (demand). With about 450+ listings in the La Plata County residential real estate inventory (as of June 30, 2025), the market is relatively balanced. This means that buyers are willing to wait a little longer for the right home to hit the market and may have more negotiating power. This has recalibrated from the strong seller’s market we have been in since the COVID boom, when homes were selling quickly often with multiple offers paired with 2-3% interest rates.
Area, Location, and Upkeep
La Plata County and Southwest Colorado offer a wide variety of homes from luxurious mountain living and spacious horse properties to historical Durango charmers and lock-and-leave townhome units. In-town homes and townhomes, and well-maintained and/or updated homes remain in high demand. Professional real estate brokers will take into consideration all of these factors when creating a CMA to determine the sweet spot for pricing your listing.
With increased inventory, 6.5%+ mortgage rates, and broader economic uncertainty, we’re experiencing a slower pace: more price reductions, longer days on market, fewer multiple offer situations, and less sales for over asking price.
While it’s important to set realistic expectations, the La Plata County real estate market remains a strong investment when viewed through a long-term lens.
For more information, a personalized CMA, or any other questions about selling your home please don’t hesitate to contact Max Hutcheson and Deven Meininger.
