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As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Home Gym Goals

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W+M agent, Kate Kazell’s client, Melanie Phillips

“Fitness has been a huge part of my life for the past decade, and the way I’ve worked out has evolved. After moving across the country to Denver, my husband and I finally had the room to create our own home gym.”
— Melanie Phillips

For W+M agent, Kate Kazell’s client, Melanie Phillips, fitness has been more than just a passion- it’s a lifestyle. Known for her blog, @headstandsandheels, Melanie shares, “Fitness has been a huge part of my life for the past decade, and the way I’ve worked out has evolved. After moving across the country to Denver, my husband and I finally had the room to create our own home gym.”

The couple transformed an alcove in their finished basement into a stylish yet functional workout space. “We wanted the gym to be chic but also practical. We added brick wallpaper on the main wall, a large mirror, shelving for storage, fun neon lighting, and foam floor tiles.” The layout has four workout zones: floor exercises (yoga, Pilates), weightlifting, and two types of cardiowith a Peloton bike and treadmill.

The key to their home gym’s success is organization. “Once everything has a home, it makes the space functional for a variety of workouts.” Melanie advises starting with basics like dumbbells, a yoga mat, a mirror, and a bench, adding more equipment over time

With colder months ahead, the home gym becomes an even more essential part of Melanie’s routine. “We use our home gym most in winter. When it’s too cold to go outside, it’s great to have a space to work out at home.”

As someone who gets bored with the same routine, she keeps things interesting by alternating between online classes including, Sculpt Society, Form, and Peloton. The flexibility to switch between spin, strength training, and low-impact workouts has been especially important during her pregnancy.

Melanie's home gym reflects her fitness journey and lifestyle, offering the perfect space to sweat, stretch, and stay motivated.

 

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As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Vintage Vibe to Inspired Design

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West + Main agent Jessie Matteson

“We fell in love with the vision of what the space could be”
— Jessie Matteson

When West + Main Agent Jessie Matteson and her family bought their off-market home two years ago, they saw potential where others might have seen only orange shag carpeting, outdated windows, and mechanicals begging for an upgrade. But instead of being overwhelmed, Jesse and her family dove headfirst into what would become a major labor of love.

“We fell in love with the vision of what the space could be,”

says Jesse, who didn't shy away from doing much of the work herself. In fact, the family tackled the entire demo by hand. With the help of her handy father-in-law and dad, the Mattesons opened up the main level, knocking down walls to create a kitchen and dining area perfect for entertaining.

“We wanted a space that felt warm and inviting,” Jessie explains. “We went big with the kitchen island to make it a spot for friends and family to gather. It’s the main hangout spot in our home, so we made sure it was both pretty and practical.” The kitchen, with its massive island, quickly became the heart of the house. “We spend a lot of time around that island, whether it's hosting, working from home, or just living life.”

One of Jessie’s favorite features is the flooring, which was lovingly laid by her husband. “It adds such a cozy feel to the whole house,” she says, reflecting on the warmth and comfort it brings to the space.

The remodel also boasts a custom railing, adding a playful transition from the kitchen to the lower-level living room. And though the basement still awaits its full makeover, Jessie says, “The main floor is mostly finished, and it feels so good to see our hard work finally pay off.”

Remarkably, the family didn’t work with an architect or designer for the project. Instead, inspiration came from nearby neighbors who had tackled similar renovations.

“Once we saw that what we were thinking was possible, I started designing the kitchen layout myself,” Jessie explains.

As foster parents, they wanted flexible, cozy spaces that could evolve with each child. “We used furniture that was my grandmother’s and some refinished pieces my mom redid. A mix of new and old makes a space feel cozy and lived in.”

Renovations, of course, come with their share of challenges. But for Jessie, the highlight was working alongside her dad and father-in-law. “It’s the third home renovation we’ve done, and I love the extra time I get to spend with them. There’s a lot of problem-solving and brainstorming – it’s always fun, though sometimes stressful!”

As for advice for others thinking of doing their own remodel? “Things won’t always go as planned, and that’s okay. For design, don’t overthink it. Often, the first thing that catches your eye is what you’ll come back to. And know your limits—it’s important to hire out when you need to.”

For Jessie, the remodel has been more than just an aesthetic transformation. “This house has been a real labor of love,” she says. And with the warmth and care woven into every detail, it’s easy to see why.

 

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Greater Denver Area Real Estate Market Report from December 2024

 
 

2024 began with optimism; mortgage interest rates would stabilize and start a slow decline, inflation would subside — allowing the Federal Reserve to reduce the federal funds rate, and buyers and sellers would re-enter the market, according to the Denver Metro Association of Realtors’ Market Trends Committee.

In reality, we saw much of the same as in 2023.

Interest rates had a bumpy ride throughout the year. We finally saw the Federal Reserve ease the federal funds rate in the third and fourth quarters of the year. Mortgage rates responded temporarily with the first-rate drop but gained no benefit from the second and third reductions; this sends us into 2025 nearly where we began in 2024, with rates in the high six percent range.

Elevated interest rates have lasted longer than anticipated, and historically low rates of three percent are no longer realistic moving forward. Buyers have needed time to adjust to the affordability factors associated with the higher rates and increased home prices.

Total inventory in the market for 2024 increased 12.60 percent over 2023 but still lagged compared to 2020 through 2022. Most of this increase came from detached homes, while attached homes saw only a slight uptick. The number of detached homes sold increased 7.84 percent year-over-year. Attached homes had a decline in year-over-year sales of 15.51 percent and a 45.90 percent decrease from 2021. As we begin 2025, the market has more inventory than in recent years, giving buyers a wider variety of choices-although many of these homes have been sitting on the market for a while. The median days in MLS for active listings is 78 days, compared to 40 days for properties that sold in December. Buyers have an excellent opportunity to negotiate before the start of the spring market when buyer demand will increase.

This year, median home prices for attached and detached homes saw differing trajectories. Detached homes followed a typical annual price increase cycle in the spring months and tapered off into the 4th quarter, showing a slight upward trend and ending the year up 2.28 percent. Attached homes ended the year with a median sale price of $407,000, a decrease of 1.93 percent year-over-year. The attached market has had a unique set of circumstances to contend with. HOA dues have in - creased an average of about 37 percent in the Denver Metro Area since 2020; increases in insurance and repairs costs have strained HOA budgets. Condos are typically more affordable for buyers; however, the higher HOA cost adds one more challenge to the process.

We are over two years into an environment with mortgage rates over six percent with no meaningful change on the horizon.

Buyers and sellers have had to adjust to the market, and in tracking mortgage applications and pending contracts with slight drops in the mortgage rates, we know that buyers are watching and waiting, and buyer demand remains cautiously high.

Sellers, locked into the golden handcuffs of a historically low fixed-rate mortgage, are finding themselves unable or unwilling to postpone life changes, resulting in more inventory entering the market. While mortgage rates are not the only factor affecting market activity, they are the element that could bring about the most significant shift.

We're entering 2025 optimistic; the environment will continue to change with economic and political shifts. Realtors® are resilient and adaptable by nature, constantly evolving to meet the needs of our clients and finding opportunities in every market.

Learn more about the market from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.

Read below for a deep dive into properties sold between $750,000 and $999,000 from West + Main Agent Michelle Schwinghammer.

Thank you to our partners at the Denver Metro Association of Realtors for compiling this information.

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As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Laundry Room Makeover

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West + Main agent Steph Christianson

“That tile gave the room a
whole new personality.”
— Steph Christianson

When West + Main agent Steph Christianson set out to remodel her laundry room, she didn’t just settle for a functional space—she turned it into a bold, eye-catching extension of her home’s personality. Inspired by the dark blue cabinetry in her adjacent kitchen, Steph brought the same pop of color into her laundry room, adding depth and drama to a space often overlooked. She invested about $10,000 to achieve the look, including new cabinets, countertops, a farmhouse sink, fresh tile, and a new light fixture.

The standout feature? The stunning patterned tile she chose from The Tile Shop. “It was definitely a splurge, but totally worth it,” Steph says. “That tile gave the room a whole new personality.”

Steph’s design process started with sketches on graph paper, which she took to her favorite local cabinet company for conversion into CAD drawings. “I made a few tweaks with their help, but the final result turned out exactly as I’d planned,” she shares. The new layout, combined with the height and color of the cabinets, brings a dramatic, moody vibe to the small space.

What started as a laundry room makeover led to some unexpected surprises—like a mini garage revamp! “I knew I’d reuse my old laundry cabinets in the garage, but adding a shiplap feature wall and butcher block workbench were last-minute decisions,” she says. “And I’m so glad I did! Who knew a garage could be such a fun design space?”

For those considering a remodel, Steph’s biggest piece of advice is to start with inspiration. “Make a mood board on Pinterest or Canva, and start narrowing down your favorite designs,” she suggests. “And be open to DIY projects or finding affordable dupes to stretch your budget.”

With the laundry room complete, Steph is already diving into her next project—a full basement remodel with some budget-savvy tricks up her sleeve. For her, it’s all about creating spaces that feel personal, stylish, and fun.

 

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Greater Denver Area Real Estate Market Report from November 2024

 
 

November brought a unique set of challenges, according to the Denver Metro Association of Realtors’ Market Trends Committee.

The first two weeks included the release of the employment data report, a presidential election, the Federal Reserve meeting and the consumer price index report. Each of these events introduced market volatility. While many consumers may not track these data points as closely as we do, they can still feel the uncertainty and fluctuations in consumer confidence.

With challenges come opportunities. Buyers in this current end-of-year market are finding gifts on a level rarely offered. Of the homes sold in November, about 50 percent had at least one price reduction before going under contract, and roughly 60 percent of the sellers provided concessions to buyers, many in the form of interest rate buydowns or repair credits.

November also saw a month-over-month decline of 16.54 percent in properties that closed or went pending, which declined by 10.54 percent. This is not surprising given the month's complexity and the increase in mortgage rates, which returned to the seven percent range.

Heading into the holiday season, we have seen a decrease in the number of new listings entering the market, which is typical this time of year. A decrease of 40.38 percent for attached homes and 41.90 percent for detached month-over-month allowed buyers to absorb some of the inventory, resulting in a 14.90 percent decrease in the active listings at month's end compared to October. Although inventory declined month-over-month, November saw an increase of 57.08 percent in attached homes and 32.01 percent in detached homes year-over-year. This presents opportunities for buyers to take advantage of higher inventory and reduced competition during the winter months.

Although inventory remains higher than in 2023, the median sale price for detached homes increased by 1.90 percent compared to November 2023. Attached homes saw a slight decline of 1.20 percent over the same period.

Through November 2024, 54,006 new listings entered the market, an increase of 12.84 percent from 2023. However, the total number of new listings still lags compared to recent years; through November 2020, 66,947 new listings had entered the market. The total number of sold properties in 2024 reached 39,153, a slight 0.31 percent from 2023 but a significant 32.83 percent drop compared to year-to-date 2020.

By the end of November, active inventory totaled 9,310 properties, with 3,022 properties closing during the month. These figures closely resemble November 2013, when 9,352 properties were on the market and 3,661 properties closed. Looking back, many buyers would describe 2013 as a favorable market, even though it came with its own challenges, such as a 7.4 percent unemployment rate and the lingering effects of the Great Recession.

While today's market challenges differ, opportunities remain for those who seek them. Whether buying or selling, every client faces unique variables, and it's our role as advisors to help them uncover the opportunities in each market and maintain perspective.

Learn more about the market from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.

Thank you to our partners at the Denver Metro Association of Realtors for compiling this information.

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