Dana Crawford in 1966, as Larimer Square begins to take shape. Photo Credit: cpr.org
Women didn’t just step through the front door of Denver’s housing market. They built it, claimed it, and rewrote the contract. From staking land on the frontier to leading today’s biggest real estate deals, they’ve turned ownership into influence. And they did it long before they had the legal or financial backing to make it easy.
The Original House Hunters: Women on Denver’s Housing Frontier
In the 1800s, Denver was a rough-and-tumble frontier town, and women weren’t exactly encouraged to own property. But they did anyway. Under the Homestead Act of 1862, single women could claim land… so they did, staking their futures on Denver’s open plains and building the foundations of what would become thriving neighborhoods. Some, like Augusta Tabor, turned land into business empires. Others, like Justina Ford, Denver’s first Black female doctor, fought redlining and discrimination to secure a home and a medical practice in Five Points.
Justina Ford, Photo Credit: denverlibrary.org
Breaking Barriers in Brick and Mortar
By the early 1900s, women weren’t just homesteaders; they were homeowners. Denver saw a rise in women-led real estate deals, often out of necessity. Widowed or single, many women became landlords and property managers to support themselves. During the 20th century, women like Dana Crawford spearheaded historic preservation efforts, saving Denver’s Larimer Square from the wrecking ball and proving that real estate wasn’t just about profit but also about community.
Dana Crawford (center) in downtown Denver. Photo credit: Denver Public Library, Western History Collection, Rocky Mountain News Archive
Modern Market Makers
Fast forward to today, and women are a dominant force in Denver real estate. Single women now outpace single men in homeownership nationwide, and Colorado is no exception. According to recent data, nearly 20% of homebuyers in the state are single women (compared to 8% being single men)… many of them first-time buyers staking their claim in Denver’s competitive market.
Women are also shaping the industry from the top down. Dana Crawford set the stage for female leadership in real estate, and today, women like Amy Cara, who helped develop Denver’s Riverfront Park, and Fiona Arnold, a developer and former Colorado Secretary of Economic Development, are redefining the city’s landscape. Meanwhile, women-led initiatives like the Women’s Homeownership Initiative are working to close the gender wealth gap through real estate.
From RiNo to the Highlands, from high-rises to historic restorations, women in Colorado aren’t just buying homes. They’re leading development, preservation, and policy—shaping Denver’s future one property at a time.
Looking Ahead
The future of Denver's housing is being shaped by remarkable women leading with innovation and dedication. Angela Fletcher, director of the housing management division at Denver Housing Authority, was honored as a 2023 Commercial Real Estate Influential Trailblazer by Bisnow, recognizing her significant contributions to affordable housing initiatives.
Organizations like the Women's Affordable Housing Network (WAHN) are empowering women in the affordable housing sector across Colorado. By fostering mentorship, advocacy, and community engagement, WAHN is cultivating a supportive environment for women to lead and innovate in housing.
From historic preservation to high-rise development, from affordable housing to luxury real estate, women aren’t just participating in Denver’s housing market, they’re drafting the blueprints and leading the charge. And with each new project, policy, and investment, they’re ensuring that Denver’s future is built to last.
And speaking of kick-butt women in real estate, we happen to have some of our own. Connect with one to take the next step in your homeownership journey.
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