Market analysts expect Colorado Springs home prices to rise again in the second quarter, but with so many unsold homes on the market, this price increase may only be temporary.  There is a certain sense of urgency for sellers as we enter the 2010 prime selling season.  Interest rates are starting to rise, the deadline for the Federal New Home Buyers Tax Credit expires at the end of this month, and many homeowners who have been waiting for the right moment are expected to list their homes for sale.

So how do you stay one step ahead of the competition this spring?  One proven method of selling your home quickly is by pricing it effectively.  This doesn’t necessarily mean you should price it too low; but it does mean you should price it accurately right from the start.  Most importantly, it should be priced to fall into the right search categories as buyers search the Colorado Springs MLS listings.

For example, if a buyer is searching for homes in the $250,000 to $300,000 price range and your home is priced at $300,000, it will make your home show up as the most expensive listing in that range.  However, it will also appear as the least expensive home in the $300,000 to $400,000 Colorado Springs MLS listings.  This type of pricing strategy will expose your home to a much larger pool of potential buyers than it would if you priced it at $299,000.

According to the first quarter report from the Pikes Peak MLS, the average sales price in Colorado Springs is $214,626.  The highest prices were found in Northgate and Flying Horse, at $346,725, and the lowest prices were in Old Colorado City, at $134,215.

If you are thinking about selling your home, don’t put it off any longer. By all indications, the second quarter will be a much more active buying season, so it will be interesting to see how that affects Colorado Springs home prices.