Colorado is losing businesses, corporate headquarters, and workers — and that shift is starting to show up in the housing market. This page breaks down what the data actually says, what it means for buyers and sellers in Colorado right now, and why Colorado Springs is operating under a different set of rules. No spin, just the facts.
Jobs Drive Housing Demand
Housing markets run on employment. When people have jobs, they buy homes. When companies leave, those jobs leave with them. Since 2019, CBS News Colorado reported that 98 companies either exited the state, expanded somewhere else, or dropped plans to relocate here — taking more than 13,000 jobs with them. That is not a rounding error. That is a structural shift.
Texas, California, and North Carolina are absorbing the companies and the talent that used to land in Colorado. More people moved out of Colorado than into it last year. Population decline affects everything — school enrollment, retail, local tax base, and yes, home values. If demand softens, prices follow. That is not a prediction. That is how markets work.
What This Means for Colorado Home Values
The picture is not all bad. But ignoring the pressure points does not make them go away. Here is what buyers and sellers need to watch. Continued corporate departures are reducing local employment pools, and population outflow is shrinking the buyer pool. Colorado ranks as the 6th most regulated state, adding friction to business investment, and the net loss of 34 public company HQs since 2022 is removing high-wage jobs from the market. Reduced migration inflows mean fewer first-time buyers entering the market. On the other side, lower competition in some price bands means more leverage for ready buyers, military and federal employment in Colorado Springs remains stable, and 200+ business leaders are pushing for a long-term competitiveness strategy.
Colorado Springs Is a Different Conversation
The military doesn’t move because of state tax policy. Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Complex, the Air Force Academy — Colorado Springs has one of the densest concentrations of military installations in the country. That presence does not shrink when a tech company relocates to Austin. It does not respond to state regulatory rankings. It is a constant.
For active duty service members, veterans, and military families buying or selling in Colorado Springs, the dynamics are different. VA loan volume in this market stays strong because the buyer base is not dependent on private sector employment trends. If you are a veteran or active duty buyer, your eligibility for a VA loan is not affected by what is happening to Colorado’s corporate ranking. Zero down, no PMI, and competitive rates are still on the table.
Who Is J.D. Peck?
J.D. is a Colorado native. He has watched this state grow, shift, and reset over 25 years of doing mortgages here — and he calls it like he sees it. J.D. Peck is an Area Manager and Mortgage Loan Originator with PRMG, specializing in VA Loans, Non-QM, Manual Underwriting, and Military & Self-Employed Mortgage Strategies. With 25+ years of experience and 3,000+ transactions, licensed in 49 states, J.D. works with buyers other lenders turn away — the self-employed, the recently transitioned veteran, the borrower with a complicated file. If there is a path, he finds it.
Bottom Line for Buyers and Sellers
For Buyers: Softening demand in some markets means less competition — that is leverage if you are ready to move. VA loan buyers in Colorado Springs are insulated from much of this corporate volatility. Get pre-qualified now. Non-QM and manual underwriting options exist for buyers who do not fit a standard mold — self-employed, commission-based, or recently transitioned military.
For Sellers: Pricing strategy matters more right now. Overpriced listings sit longer as the buyer pool normalizes. Military relocation buyers are still active — target your marketing to that segment if you are in Colorado Springs. If you are thinking about selling, the window before further softening is worth paying attention to.
