Did June know?

June has a way of stretching the days and softening the edges of our schedules. The sun lingers a little longer, peonies burst into their fleeting but fabulous glory, and somehow even the busiest evenings feel more inviting. If you're anything like me, you'll find me outside whenever possible, especially if I have the opportunity to kayak with wild abandon - my fave outdoor sport.  Ever!  If there's no water, I'll languish in my cozy backyard, laptop in hand, sitting by the wood-burning fire pit (weather and wind permitting, of course), enjoying the fresh Colorado air and the familiar crackle of burning wood. There's something wonderfully comforting about a fire in June; it feels a bit rebellious, as though cozy shouldn't be reserved exclusively for autumn!

Those longer evenings almost make after-hours work feel less like work and more like a chance to savor the season. Between answering emails and planning for clients, I find myself pausing to admire the peonies (yes, I've mentioned them already!), listen to the birds settle in for the night, and appreciate the simple luxury of being outdoors.

Summer also brings a renewed focus for many homeowners, whether that's finding a new place to call home, preparing for a move, considering a renovation, or simply enjoying the one they're in. And while we're talking about taking care of important investments, here's your friendly June reminder: just because you tan doesn't mean you're protected. Sunscreen is every bit as important as maintaining your home.  Both are small acts of care today that pay dividends down the road.  Believe me, my freckled skin reminds me every day to stay sunscreen focused!

As you enjoy the season ahead, I hope you'll make time for the things that make summer special: gathering with those who matter most,  lingering a little longer outside, chasing new opportunities and, whenever possible, stopping to smell the peonies (yep, that's 3 times ~ they're my fave). After all, both summer and peony season have a habit of reminding us that some of life's greatest pleasures are also its most fleeting.

Count it down with me:  10 weeks until the biggest Summer Event of the Season arrives ...if you're a Compass Plus Agent or are lucky enough to be working with one.  The 11th Annual Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) National Conference will be in Denver this August for 3 amazing days of connecting, learning, and collaborating with the best in the Senior Care industry.  It's one of the most, if not THE most invigorating conferences for professionals in the country.  Compass Plus will be well-represented with its CSAs from all over the country and as a Diamond Sponsor who will share our knowledge base through a 3-day Expo Staffed "Activation Station" and a breakout workshop for all attendees. 

On a personal note, I am deeply honored and excited to officially step into the national role of Vice President of Compass Plus. Following in the footsteps of the remarkable leaders who helped establish this division, I am committed to advancing the mission that brought us together: educating, empowering, and activating our Compass agents to better serve seniors and the families who care for them. Through collaboration, shared expertise, and a growing network of trusted resources, I look forward to helping make every transition in our clients' next chapter as seamless, coordinated, and compassionate as possible. The future of Compass Plus is bright, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help lead the way.

Homes Don’t Last Around Here

Cherry Hills Village

5380 Sanford Cir E, 80113

5 BD 4 BA 4386 SF $1,930,000

Eastridge

9407 Harvard Dr, 80130

5 BD 4 BA 3807 SF $756,500

Preserve

99 Blue Heron Court

3 BD 3 BA 5531 SF $1,350,000

😎Vibes

From the Mile High City to the Big Apple, June flips the switch on summer — here's where the energy is landing just right this month.

🏔️ Denver — Red Rocks Reawakens

Summer at altitude doesn't get better than this. Film on the Rocks returned to Red Rocks on June 8 with The Princess Bride, and the series rolls on with Sinners under the stars on June 22 — cool mountain air, a famously friendly crowd, and a movie at the "8th Wonder of the World." Off the amphitheater, the calendar is stacked: the Red Bull Soapbox Race barrels into Empower Field on June 13 for the first time in 24 years, the Juneteenth Music Festival takes over historic Five Points on June 20, and Denver PrideFest closes the month June 27–28. See what's on at Red Rocks →

🗽 New York — Summer Spills Into the Streets

NYC in June is pure momentum — long days, rooftops everywhere, and a city that refuses to sit still. A few moves worth making:

• Pride, all month: the NYC Pride March steps off June 28 at noon down Fifth Avenue

• Free & outdoors: SummerStage opens June 10 in Central Park with 60+ shows across the five boroughs

• Only-in-NY: Coney Island's Mermaid Parade turns Surf Avenue into sequins and glitter

• Big stages: Governors Ball lands at Flushing Meadows with Lorde, Kali Uchis & A$AP Rocky

• Culture: the Tribeca Festival and the 15th Blue Note Jazz Festival (June 1–July 1)

Local Bites

Denver

Sập Sửa

• Price: $$$

• Cuisine: Modern Vietnamese

• Location: City Park West, Denver

• Recognition: Bon Appétit "Best New Restaurants" alum

Why We Like It

Run by a husband-and-wife team cooking from their families' Vietnamese roots, Sập Sửa has become one of the hardest reservations in the city — and one of the most joyful meals. Expect bright, layered plates that travel from the streets of Saigon to the Front Range: crisp imperial rolls, clay-pot fish, herb-piled noodles, and a wine list that punches well above the room's size.

Good to Know

It's the kind of place that turns a Tuesday into an occasion. Go with a group, order generously down the menu, and let the kitchen show off — this is Denver's new-Vietnamese moment, and Sập Sửa is leading it.

new york

Cafe Carmelini

• Price: $$$$

• Cuisine: French–Italian

• Location: NoMad (The Fifth Avenue Hotel)

Why We Like It

This is chef Andrew Carmellini (Locanda Verde, The Dutch) at his most ambitious — a soaring, jewel-box dining room inside The Fifth Avenue Hotel, all plush banquettes, hand-painted ceilings, and a bar built for lingering. The menu is a love letter to France and Italy at once: silky pastas, tableside flourishes, and dessert worth saving room for.

Good To Know

It's a special-occasion splurge and books out well in advance, so plan ahead — but if you can't land a table, the adjacent lobby bar and lounge deliver a taste of the glamour without the prix fixe. A perfect anniversary, celebration, or "I'm visiting and want the full New York moment" reservation.

Get Lit List

Here are a few reads I recommend.

1. So Big

By Edna Ferber

2. Backpack Jacket Surfboard

By Graham Broyd

3. The Housemaid's Secret

By Freida McFadden

4. Planet Money

By Alex Mayyasi

Weather or Not

And then there’s June weather, where national real estate seasonality meets storms, heat, high winds and deluges of rain in full technicolor. Across the U.S., housing data shows what economists have long tracked: spring and early summer typically bring the most active listing and transaction periods, as buyer demand, mobility, and inventory all peak together. Even in 2026’s more balanced, rate-sensitive market, June continues to sit right in that traditional “high activity window,” where well-priced homes are still moving and buyers are most engaged, even if the frenzy of past years has cooled. 

Remember the 5 D's are always in motion:  Diapers, Diplomas, Diamonds, Divorce and Death.  Every "season" has a reason to pivot with a housing opportunity, whether it's voluntary or not.

Locally, that plays out against Denver’s very specific version of summer: bright, hot afternoons, quick-moving storms, and then those long, glowing evenings that feel like they were designed for lingering outside. In real estate terms, the “emotional temperature” is often warmer than the “transaction temperature”, meaning buyers may feel ready, optimistic, and active, but decisions are still grounded in affordability, mortgage rates, and value discipline. Nationally, price growth has slowed to low single digits and inventory has improved in many markets, which has created a more deliberate, selective pace rather than the urgency-driven cycles of the past.

Which is why June feels so fitting here: the market, like the weather, can change quickly in intensity but not necessarily in direction. And in both cases, timing, preparation, and knowing when to act between the sunshine and the passing storm makes all the difference.

Out the Door

Who says you can't be in two places at once?  My heart (and my Real Estate licenses) beg to differ!  If Denver summer is all wide-open skies, golden light, and fire pits that somehow feel perfectly reasonable in June, then New York summer is its energetic counterpart with pavement heat, rooftop conversations that run late into the night, and a city that never quite stops moving, even when it’s pretending to slow down. One invites you to exhale into the horizon; the other pulls you into its current and dares you to keep up. Both, in their own way, are reminders that summer is meant to be lived a little more fully rather than scheduled.

And somewhere between the two lies the spirit of the season itself: small indulgences that feel like luxury.  Are you excited for those fresh, juicy peaches eaten over the sink, an extra scoop of ice cream you didn’t plan on (well, maybe I did!), dinners that stretch long past sunset, and those rare evenings when “work” simply migrates outdoors because the air feels too good to ignore.

Real estate right now is following a similar dual rhythm. Nationally, the market is no longer in one unified sprint but in a series of shifting micro-climates.  Some segments move quickly when pricing and presentation align, others take a more measured, intentional pace shaped by interest rates, inventory, and local demand. Like summer itself, it rewards presence and awareness more than urgency: knowing when to step forward, when to pause, and when to simply enjoy the moment you’re in.  Insert your moment to "exhale" right here!

In the end, whether it’s Denver calm or New York momentum, the season, and the market, both ask the same thing: stay attentive, stay flexible, and don’t forget to enjoy the sweetness in between the transitions.  As for me, I'm going outside to check on my peonies!

Thanks for reading and subscribing! Ready to achieve your next real estate goal?

Lisa Snyder

Broker Assoc.®

M: 303.601.5580

lisa.snyder@compass.com

Licensed in CO and NY