Short answer: Homes are sitting on the market in El Paso County not because buyer demand has dropped, but because the number of available listings has more than doubled since 2023 while buyer activity has stayed flat. A growing share of that inventory is overpriced for current conditions, leading to a rise in withdrawn, expired, and cancelled listings.
The data
A chart tracking El Paso County's market for the month of June from 2023 through 2026, compiled by local market analyst Brian Sink, lays out the trend clearly:
- Homes going under contract in June: 1,685 (2023), 1,663 (2024), 1,724 (2025), 1,664 (2026)
- Active listings in June: 1,502 (2023), 2,372 (2024), 3,394 (2025), 3,567 (2026)
Buyer demand, measured by homes going under contract, has moved in a narrow band of about 1,660 to 1,725 for four straight years. Active listings, on the other hand, grew from 1,502 to 3,567 over the same period, an increase of more than 137 percent.
The inventory picture is bigger than it looks
In June 2026 alone, El Paso County recorded 503 listings that were withdrawn, expired, or cancelled without selling. Adding that number to the 3,567 active listings paints a fuller picture of how much housing stock in the county is currently failing to sell within its listing period.
What this means for buyers
Buyers today have significantly more homes to choose from than they did three years ago, and more room to negotiate on price, terms, and concessions. The flat under-contract numbers show buyers are still active and still purchasing, they simply have more options now.
What this means for sellers
The rise in expired and cancelled listings suggests that pricing and positioning have become the deciding factor in whether a home sells. A steady pool of buyers exists, but they are gravitating toward homes priced accurately for current conditions. Homes priced for an earlier, tighter market are more likely to sit, get relisted, or expire.
Bottom line
El Paso County is not experiencing a drop in buyer demand. It's experiencing a supply correction, with more sellers listing homes and a growing number of those listings not finding a buyer. Understanding this distinction matters for anyone making a decision to buy or sell in the current market.
Chart data courtesy of Brian Sink.
