2026 CAR VIRTUAL ECONOMIC SUMMIT
January 14, 2026Join us virtually on Wednesday, January 14 from 9:00am – 11:30am for an exciting look into the future of Colorado’s economy and real estate market for 2026. The 2026 CAR Economic Summit will provide you with analysis of the market changes and opportunities all REALTORS® should be prepared for.
Cost to attend is $35/person.
Registration will close at 5:00pm on Monday, January 12, 2026 or when we have reached 450 participants- whichever occurs first. This event will not be recorded or made available for viewing at a later date and time.
9:00am – 9:40am: Economic Forecast with Jessica Lautz.
NAR economist Jessica Lautz will provide a national and statewide economic overview and her forecast of what to expect in 2026.
9:40am – 10:15am: Current and Upcoming Colorado Economic Developments with J.J. Ament.
J.J. Ament, CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and expert in finance, public policy, and economic development, will provide an insight into current and upcoming economic development projects across Colorado, with an emphasis on Colorado’s commercial sector.
10:15am – 11:30am: State of Housing with Cooper Thayer.
REALTOR® Spokesperson and market trends expert Cooper Thayer will delve deeper into the data and reveal his predictions for the 2026 Colorado housing market, including in-depth regional analysis of unique markets across the state.
This is a fundamental opportunity for REALTORS® who are looking to stay ahead of the curve in the upcoming year!
*Please note no classes are for CE credit.
J. J. Ament is the president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the leading voice for Colorado’s business community. He is focused on effectively advocating for small and large businesses in our region. Before being appointed to his current position, he served from 2017 to 2021 as the chief executive officer of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation. With experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, J. J. brings a unique combination of expertise to the role.
An investment banker for most of his career, he participated in more than $15 billion of transactions for governments and public-private partnerships throughout the U.S. before leaving the industry in 2016. J. J. has been a member and chairman of the Colorado Economic Development Commission, where he considered state economic development incentives, grants and tax credits for business and tourism projects statewide.
Dr. Jessica Lautz is the Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at the National Association of REALTORS®. She has been with NAR since 2007. The core of her research focuses on analyzing trends for both NAR members and housing consumers. She is in demand as a speaker and by major media outlets to provide commentary on the real estate market. Jessica received her Doctorate of Real Estate from Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom. She also holds a Master’s in Public Policy from American University and undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Law and Justice from Central Washington University.
Cooper Thayer is a residential-focused real estate broker and emerging leader in the Colorado real estate industry. Inspired by his parent’s passion for their careers, he obtained his real estate license just days after turning 18 years old and began working concurrently with his college education. He attended the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder, graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration with dual emphases in Finance and Real Estate, and a minor in Economics.
Cooper joined his family’s top-producing real estate team full-time in 2022 as a Broker Associate. Cooper currently serves as a market statistics expert and legislative advocate for the Colorado Association of REALTORS®.
