Fewer Homes for Sale.
Resilient Prices.
What September's market activity means for buyers, sellers and homeowners in Chicago's Near North Side, Lincoln Park, Lakeview and North Center.
The market in 30 seconds
Available inventory remains limited, while median prices are higher than a year ago. Buyers are active, but conditions vary across neighborhoods and price ranges.
Source: published October 2026 market analysis, reporting September 2026 activity. Aggregate figures do not indicate appreciation for an individual property.
One market. Three perspectives.
Whether you're preparing to sell, looking for your next home, or simply keeping an eye on your investment, these numbers offer different insights.
Inventory is down 21.5%, which may reduce direct competition. Pricing and presentation still matter in a market with fewer completed sales.
Fewer listings can limit choices, but slower closings do not necessarily mean every home is receiving multiple offers. Compare properties carefully and be ready when the right one appears.
Median pricing is up 5.9% year over year, but that isn't the appreciation rate of your home. Watch your own neighborhood and property type to understand long-term trends.
Explore a neighborhood
Choose a neighborhood to see all six September 2026 market indicators compared with September 2025.
September market change by neighborhood
2026 vs. 2025Percentages are year-over-year changes. Months of supply uses percentage change, not the number of months. Median pricing is not individual home appreciation.
Explore a neighborhood
Source: neighborhood figures from the supplied September 2026 market worksheet.
Explore a price point
Different price ranges tell different stories. Select a price point to compare September 2026 activity with September 2025 across all six market indicators.
September market change by price point
2026 vs. 2025Percentages are year-over-year changes. Months of supply uses percentage change, not the number of months. Median pricing reflects the mix of homes sold and is not individual home appreciation.
Explore a price point
Select a price range to see how sales, contracts, inventory, supply, median pricing, and listings compare with last September.
Source: September 2026 price-point figures in the supplied October market worksheet. Values shown are rounded to one decimal place.
How to use this month's report
Compare your home with active listings and recent sales in its precise neighborhood and price tier. Limited inventory can help, but it doesn't replace realistic pricing.
Identify your priorities, study comparable sales and understand the competition. Limited selection rewards preparation and patience.
Use these monthly trends to monitor your neighborhood and make informed decisions about renovations, equity and future plans.
Whether a move is six months or several years away, a property-specific discussion is more useful than applying a regional average to your home.
Six market indicators in one chart
Compare September 2026 with year-to-date results through September. Both series show percentage changes from the equivalent 2025 period.
September and year-to-date values are year-over-year percentage changes. Months of supply was 1.8 in the September report; the bars show its percentage change, not the number of months. Gold = September; gray = year to date.
For full historical interactive charts, visit the original October 2026 report.
Questions about your next move?
Market statistics provide context. Whether you're buying, selling or simply following the value of your home, your next decision deserves a property-specific perspective.
I'd be happy to discuss neighborhood trends, recent comparable sales, and what they may mean for your plans.
CONTACT JOHN IRWIN →