Chicago Real Estate Market Update: September 2026
September brought another month of shifting conditions in the Chicago-area real estate market. While fewer homes sold compared to this time last year, home prices continued to climb, highlighting a market where both buyers and sellers need to be strategic. September 2026 By the Numbers According to September’s market report: 6.2% decrease in September’s closed-sales... More
Thinking About Selling Next Spring? Here’s Why You Should Start Planning Now
Spring is traditionally a popular time to list a home in Chicago. But if you’re thinking about selling next year, you don’t have to wait until spring to start preparing. In fact, some of the most important decisions happen months before your home ever hits the market. 1. You Have Time to Make Smart Improvements... More
The Best List Price Isn’t Always the Highest List Price
When you’re getting ready to sell your home, it’s natural to want to start with the highest price possible. After all, you can always come down later… right? Not necessarily. Sometimes, the strongest pricing strategy isn’t about asking for the most. It’s about choosing a price that creates the right buyer response from the beginning.... More
What Should You Fix Before Selling Your Home?
Getting ready to sell doesn’t mean fixing every imperfect thing in your house. In fact, spending money on the wrong projects can mean investing in updates that don’t make much difference to buyers. So, what is worth addressing? 1. Fix Things That Aren’t Working A broken garbage disposal, leaking faucet, door that won’t latch or... More
3 Things That Can Make a Home Harder to Sell—Even in a Good Market
A strong real estate market doesn’t automatically mean every home sells quickly. Even when buyers are active, certain things can cause a property to sit longer than expected—or make buyers hesitate. Here are three of the biggest. 1. The Price Doesn’t Match the Property Buyers have more information at their fingertips than ever. They’re comparing... More
Why Do Some Homes Sell Quickly While Others Sit?
Two homes can be in the same neighborhood, have similar square footage and offer many of the same features—yet one attracts immediate interest while the other sits on the market. Why? There are plenty of factors that can affect a sale, including condition, marketing, timing and location. But one of the biggest is how buyers... More
How Much Equity Do You Have in Your Home—and Why Does It Matter?
If you’ve owned your home for a while, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the term home equity. But do you know how much equity you actually have—or what you can potentially do with it? For homeowners thinking about selling, moving up, downsizing or simply planning for the future, understanding your equity is an important... More
How Far in Advance Should You Talk to a Realtor Before Selling Your Home?
If you’re thinking about selling your home, you may assume you should wait to call a Realtor until you’re ready to put your house on the market. But in many cases, the earlier you start the conversation, the better. You don’t need to have a moving date. You don’t need to have your house perfectly... More
5 Things Homeowners Should Know About Their Property Before They Decide to Sell
You don’t need to be ready to put a “For Sale” sign in the yard to start thinking about selling. In fact, some of the most useful conversations we have with homeowners happen months before they’re ready to list. Understanding a few key things about your property can help you determine whether selling makes sense,... More
Chicago Real Estate Market Update: August 2026
August brought an interesting combination of trends to the Chicago real estate market: fewer homes are selling, but prices continue to rise. In the Chicago metro area, the number of homes sold fell 11.3% compared with August 2025, while the median sales price increased 5.5% year over year. Statewide, Illinois followed a similar pattern, with... More
