In the Roaring Fork Valley, we are lucky to be surrounded by beauty, community, and opportunity. But as someone who works with families and individuals looking for homes every day, I can tell you that one of the most pressing challenges we face here is affordable housing.
This isn’t just a real estate issue—it’s a human one. The cost of living continues to rise while wages stay relatively flat, making it harder for local workers, families, and young professionals to live in the place they call home. Teachers, nurses, restaurant staff, small business employees—many of them are struggling to stay here. And when they can’t, the ripple effects touch all of us.
Housing = Stability
A stable home is the starting point for everything else: a child’s success in school, an adult’s ability to hold a steady job, a family’s chance to save and build a better future. Without a secure place to live, everything becomes more difficult. I've worked with families who are moving every year—or even more often—not by choice, but because rent keeps going up or properties are being sold. That kind of instability takes a toll on people’s well-being.
Affordable housing isn’t just about dollars and square footage. It’s about providing the security that allows people to plan, to raise their kids with consistency, and to show up for their community.
How It Affects Our Local Economy
When people can't afford to live where they work, businesses struggle. I’ve seen employers lose great staff simply because those workers can’t find housing nearby. Commutes get longer, burnout increases, and turnover becomes a real problem. This impacts everything—from healthcare to hospitality to schools.
Affordable housing helps solve that. It keeps talent in the valley, reduces employee turnover, and supports a stronger local economy. It’s not about taking away from one group to give to another—it’s about creating balance and making it possible for all kinds of people to contribute to our community.
Conversations Worth Having
There are ongoing conversations about how to support affordable housing in our region. Ideas like revisiting zoning to allow more housing options, looking at how publicly owned land might be used wisely and exploring partnerships between the public and private sector all have merit. These are discussions we should welcome—not avoid—because they open the door to creative, realistic solutions.
Innovative ways to create more affordable housing in the valley have come together, like Habitat for Humanity’s acquisition of the L3 Building, an 88 - condo building converted into deed restricted condos in Glenwood Springs, and their Modular Housing Production center being built in Rifle.  Another organization is the Good Deeds program, which buys down the purchase price of market-rate homes to a more affordable price for local residents.  Downpayment assistance programs are also being put together like the newly announced City of Glenwood Springs downpayment assistance for first-time homebuyers and many other ones in the valley.
I don’t believe there’s a one-size-fits-all answer. Every neighborhood is different, and every community has its own character. But what’s consistent is the need for options. Not just luxury homes. Not just rentals. We need a range of housing that reflects the range of people who live and work here.
What Real Estate Brokers Can Do
As a real estate broker, I see it as part of my responsibility to be involved in these conversations. We bring insight into market trends, buyer behavior, and property values. We work with developers, investors and families every day. That gives us a unique perspective on what’s working—and what isn’t.
We can help connect the dots between opportunity and need. We can support housing initiatives, promote transparency, and encourage thoughtful development. Most importantly, we can listen to the people we serve and advocate for housing solutions that reflect their realities.
Looking Ahead
Affordable housing isn’t a problem to solve overnight. But it is something we can improve—step by step—by keeping people at the center of the conversation. When families have stable housing, they can thrive. When workers can live near their jobs, they stay. When communities make space for everyone, they grow stronger.
Let’s keep talking. Let’s keep caring. And let’s keep building—not just homes, but a future where the Roaring Fork Valley remains a place where everyone belongs.