Your buying budget should begin with the costs you can comfortably manage, not a townwide price. Together, we can distinguish a useful search target from a financial commitment that deserves closer review.
The latest market report covers Denver single-family homes and condos, townhouses, and apartments. The typical sale price was $575,000. The typical asking price among homes listed for sale was $524,990. Those asking and sale prices describe listed and sold groups, not a discount available on a particular home.
These figures provide local price context, but neither establishes what you can afford or should offer. I would separate the purchase price from the ongoing payment and the money needed at closing. A lower asking price deserves the same careful cost review as a home nearer your search limit.
Ask your lender to explain the payment assumptions and money needed at closing for the prices you are considering. Write down the maximum price you are comfortable offering before choosing homes to visit. Review recent sales of similar homes with me so your search budget and a property's value remain separate decisions.
