Relocating to the Monument and Colorado Springs area in 2026: a local guide for buyers from Karie McLain.
Moving to Monument or relocating to Colorado Springs in 2026, whether you're PCSing to the Air Force Academy, transferring into Peterson or Schriever Space Force Base, or just trading a coast for the Front Range, is one of the most common moves I help people make. It's also one of the easiest to get wrong from a distance. As a Monument realtor who lives here and works across Colorado Springs, Peyton, Palmer Lake, and Larkspur, I want to give you the honest version: what homes actually cost right now, how long they're sitting, how the communities differ, and what I'd watch for before you ever sign anything. No hype. Just the picture as it really is this summer.
I came to real estate from the mortgage side. I spent years as a mortgage fraud investigator and a loan underwriter before I ever showed a house. So when I talk about a market, I'm reading it the way I used to read a file: what's the number, what's behind the number, and what does it mean for you.
Here's what that means for you this summer.
The Pikes Peak market in plain numbers
Let's start with the truth, because relocation decisions get made on guesses far too often.
In Monument (80132), homes are currently listing around a $799K median, and they're taking roughly 73 days to sell. That's a real shift from the frantic pace of a couple years ago. Monument has always run at a higher price point than the metro, with bigger lots and a lot of newer construction, and right now there's genuine inventory to choose from instead of three buyers fighting over one house.
In Colorado Springs, the median sale price is sitting near $450K, down a little over 3% year over year, with homes averaging about 58 days on market and inventory up more than 20% compared to last year. The Springs has moved into balanced territory. Not the seller's market of 2024, not a crash, just somewhere sane in the middle where a prepared buyer has room to negotiate.
June 2026 market snapshot for Monument and Colorado Springs: median prices and days on market.
Here's what that means for you: if you're relocating this summer, you have something buyers haven't had in a while, namely time and choice. You can tour, compare, sleep on it, and write an offer with an inspection contingency that actually means something. That's a good position to move into.
Monument, the Academy, and the drive to base
If you're PCSing in, Monument is worth a look for one very practical reason: location.
Monument sits about 20 minutes north of the Air Force Academy on I-25, which makes the commute to USAFA manageable, and it's reachable from Peterson and Schriever if you don't mind a longer drive south. Monument and the surrounding communities are served by Lewis-Palmer School District 38. If schools factor into your decision, I always recommend researching them directly through the district and the Colorado Department of Education so you can weigh what matters most to your household.
The trade-off is price. Monument's median sits well above the metro, so if your budget is built around a VA loan with no down payment, we'll talk honestly about what your options are.
Finding the right fit: Colorado Springs, Peyton, Palmer Lake, and Larkspur
One of the biggest mistakes I see relocating buyers make is treating "Colorado Springs" as one place. It isn't. The Pikes Peak region is a collection of very different communities, and the right one depends on your commute, your budget, and how much land you want.
Colorado Springs itself gives you the widest range: established neighborhoods, newer builds on the north and east sides, and the shortest commutes to most of the bases. It's where your dollar stretches furthest and where most of that growing inventory lives.
Peyton is for buyers who want room to breathe: acreage, space for animals, big skies, and a quieter pace, with an easy shot to Schriever and the east-side bases. If you've been dreaming about land, Peyton is usually where that dream is actually affordable.
Palmer Lake is small, walkable, and tucked right against the foothills, a short drive north of Monument with a tight-knit, small-town feel.
Larkspur, just over the county line heading toward Castle Rock, suits buyers who want privacy and trees and don't mind being a bit farther out. It's also worth a look if part of your household commutes north toward Denver.
Part of my job, start to finish, is helping you match the community to your actual life, not just the listing that looked prettiest online at 11 p.m. from two time zones away.
What to handle before you arrive
A relocation runs smoother when the unglamorous things get done early. From the underwriter in me, here's the short list I walk every relocating client through.
Get fully underwritten, not just pre-qualified. A pre-qualification is a guess. A full underwriting approval, especially on a VA loan, makes your offer stronger and your closing far less likely to wobble when you're already mid-move. This matters even more when you're buying from a distance.
Understand your VA loan's real strengths. No down payment and no PMI are powerful, but appraisal timelines and certain property conditions deserve attention. I've underwritten these. I know where they snag, and we plan around it before it becomes a problem.
Don't waive an inspection just because you're far away. In this balanced market you don't have to, and you shouldn't. I'll be your eyes on the ground: at the inspection, at the walkthrough, sending you video of the things photos never show.
Map your commute honestly. I-25 is your main artery, and a home that's "only 25 minutes" on a Sunday can be very different at 6:45 on a Tuesday. Tell me where you'll report, and we'll build the search around the drive you'll actually do every day.
You don't have to do this from a distance alone
Relocating to Monument or Colorado Springs should feel like an upgrade, not a second job stacked on top of a stressful move. That's the whole point of how I work. Concierge-level service so you can stay focused on the move itself while I handle the home: showings on video, contracts read closely, inspections covered, and the local knowledge that only comes from living here. Because luxury is an experience, not a price point, and a smooth relocation is one of the most valuable experiences I can give you.
If you're PCSing in this summer, transferring for work, or just ready to make the Front Range home, I'd love to help you land in the right community for your needs.
Comment MONUMENT and I'll send you my full relocation guide, or send me a message and we'll talk through your move, start to finish.
Warm Regards,
Karie
Karie McLain is a top-producing real estate agent serving Monument, Colorado Springs, Peyton, Palmer Lake, Larkspur, and the surrounding Pikes Peak region. A former mortgage fraud investigator and loan underwriter, she brings concierge-level service and an elevated experience to every move.
Karie McLain
Monument and Colorado Springs REALTOR® with eXp Luxury, former mortgage fraud investigator and underwriter, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist and Military Relocation Professional. Luxury is an experience, not a price point.
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