Stay updated on national real estate news, local market trends, VA loan changes, and housing insights that matter to military families and buyers across the country.

Colorado Springs is one of the most consistently strong military rental markets in the country — and the reasons behind that reputation are structural, not cyclical. Five major military installations, a steady PCS-driven tenant pool, and a cost of living that keeps rents affordable relative to most Colorado markets combine to make this one of the better cities in the country for military families who want to hold real estate as a long-term investment. Here's why the fundamentals are so strong and what it means if you're considering buying near one of the Colorado Springs installations.

Five Installations Create Year-Round Demand

Most cities with strong rental markets are tied to a single employer, industry, or university. Colorado Springs has five…

63 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

If you've started researching VA loans and stumbled across the funding fee, you're not alone in being confused by it. It's one of the most misunderstood parts of the VA loan process — and depending on your situation, it's either something you need to plan for carefully or something you don't need to pay at all. Here's a plain-language breakdown of exactly how it works in 2026.

What Is the VA Funding Fee?

The VA funding fee is a one-time charge paid directly to the Department of Veterans Affairs — not to your lender, not to a title company, not to anyone else in the transaction. It replaces mortgage insurance and keeps the VA loan program self-sustaining without requiring taxpayer funding. Think of it as the mechanism that makes zero-down VA loans…

89 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

If you're PCS'ing to Colorado Springs and looking for a real estate agent who actually knows the military market — not just one who lists it as a specialty on their website — here's the background that matters.

Colorado Springs Native with Deep Local Roots

Luke Martin grew up in Colorado Springs and has spent his entire life in the city. That local knowledge isn't something that can be learned from a market report — it's knowing which neighborhoods have changed, which ones haven't, where the commute times actually land at 7am versus what Google Maps says, and which streets near Fort Carson flood after heavy rain. For military families making a high-stakes housing decision from across the country with limited time on the ground, that depth of local…

126 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

A VA loan assumption is one of the most powerful but least understood tools in the military real estate market right now. With hundreds of Colorado Springs homes carrying VA loans originated at 2% to 3% rates, stepping into one of those loans instead of originating a new one at today's rates can save $700 to $900 per month on a typical purchase. The process is more involved than a standard transaction — but when it's handled correctly it's entirely manageable. Here's exactly how it works from start to finish.

Step 1: Find an Assumable Property

Not every VA loan is listed as assumable in the MLS, so finding them requires intentional searching. Work with an agent who actively filters for assumable inventory and understands the transaction mechanics.…

184 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

One of the most common questions military buyers ask when shopping near Fort Carson is whether they should use their VA loan benefit or go conventional. The answer depends on your specific situation — your savings, your disability rating, whether this is your first time using the benefit, and what your long-term plan is for the property. Here's a straight breakdown so you can make the right call for your family.

For Most Fort Carson Buyers the VA Loan Wins Clearly

For most active duty and veteran buyers purchasing a primary residence near Fort Carson with little to nothing saved for a down payment, the VA loan is the clear choice. A conventional buyer putting just 3% down on a $450,000 home is looking at over $13,500 out of pocket before closing…

39 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The VA loan is one of the most powerful financial tools available to anyone who has ever worn a uniform — but it doesn't run on autopilot. Military buyers across Colorado Springs, from Fort Carson families navigating a PCS to Space Force members at Peterson and Schriever buying their first home, make the same handful of avoidable mistakes every single PCS season. In a market where homes near the installations regularly see multiple offers, one misstep can mean losing a home you loved to a buyer who simply came more prepared. Here are the four mistakes worth knowing before you ever make an offer.

Mistake 1: Not Getting Pre-Approved Before You Start Looking

Showing up to tour homes without a pre-approval letter is the real estate equivalent of showing…

56 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The 2026 housing market in Colorado Springs looks nothing like the frenzied seller's market of 2021 and 2022 — and for most buyers, that's good news. Inventory is climbing, homes are sitting longer before going under contract, and buyers finally have real negotiating power again. For military families PCS'ing into Colorado Springs, the timing is genuinely favorable. For sellers, the rules have changed and strategy matters more than ever. Here's what's actually happening in the local market right now.

More Inventory Than Buyers Have Seen in Years

Active listings in Colorado Springs have increased significantly year over year, giving buyers more options than at any point since before the pandemic. Homes are averaging 50 to 60 days on market depending…

202 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Colorado Springs home prices have climbed considerably over the past several years, and for military families working within BAH budgets, that pressure has started pushing housing searches outside the city limits. The good news is that some of the best value in the region isn't in Colorado Springs proper — it's in the smaller towns surrounding it, many of which offer more land, newer construction, lower prices, and commute times to the bases that are more manageable than you'd expect. Here's a look at the towns worth knowing about.

Monument — Best for Air Force Academy and Peterson Families

Monument sits about 15 miles north of Colorado Springs on I-25 and has become one of the most popular alternatives to the city for Air Force Academy and Peterson…

131 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Downtown Colorado Springs has been in a sustained growth cycle for the better part of a decade — new restaurants, infrastructure investment, residential development, and increasing visitor traffic have been steadily reshaping what the city's core looks and feels like. For military families PCS'ing here, that growth changes the lifestyle picture. For buyers, sellers, and investors paying attention to the market, it changes the financial picture too. Here's what's actually happening and what it means in practical terms.

Population Growth Is Driving Housing Demand

Colorado Springs has been one of the faster-growing cities in Colorado for several consecutive years, and that growth isn't slowing down. Population increases drive housing demand in a…

68 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The U.S. housing market in 2026 is in a different place than it was two years ago — and for military families navigating PCS decisions, that shift matters in practical ways. The panic-buying frenzy of 2021 and 2022 is gone. The interest rate shock of 2023 and 2024 has settled into something more stable. What's emerged is a market that's more balanced, more negotiable, and more manageable for buyers who show up prepared. Here's what the current landscape actually looks like and what it means if you're buying, selling, or deciding between the two heading into PCS season.

Mortgage Rates Have Stabilized — But Remain Elevated

After the dramatic rate increases of 2022 through 2024, mortgage rates have stabilized in the 6.5% to 7.5% range for conventional…

140 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post