Inventory Remains Tight.
Buyers Have Fewer Choices.
What October'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
Inventory and new listings remain below last year, while pending contracts fell sharply. Median pricing edged lower in October, with substantial differences by neighborhood and price range.
Source: supplied October 2026 market worksheet, compared with October 2025. 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 20.6%, which means fewer competing listings. However, contracts are down 20.0%; careful pricing and presentation remain important.
Available homes are down 20.6% and new listings fell 18.0%. Prepare financing and compare neighborhood-level opportunities; conditions vary significantly by price tier.
Median pricing declined 1.3% year over year in October, although the year-to-date median remains 9.7% higher. Neither figure measures the change in value of an individual home.
Explore a neighborhood
Choose a neighborhood to see all six October 2026 market indicators compared with October 2025.
October market change by neighborhood
OCT 2026 vs. OCT 2025Percentages are year-over-year changes; the selected summary also shows actual months of supply. Median pricing is not individual home appreciation.
Explore a neighborhood
Source: supplied October 2026 worksheet. Overall activity totals are recalculated from the four neighborhood rows; inventory totals 1,054 in 2026 (not the handwritten 1,050).
Explore a price point
Different price ranges tell different stories. Select a price point to compare October 2026 activity with October 2025 across all six market indicators.
October market change by price point
OCT 2026 vs. OCT 2025Percentages are year-over-year changes; the selected summary also shows actual months of supply. 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 October.
Source: supplied October 2026 worksheet. Price-point subtotals are 451 sales, 397 contracts, 1,049 active listings and 647 new listings in 2026. These do not match neighborhood subtotals; original row counts are unchanged. Verify MLS category boundaries before publication.
Six market indicators in one chart
Compare October 2026 with year-to-date results through October. Both series show percentage changes from the equivalent 2025 period.
October and year-to-date values are year-over-year percentage changes. Months of supply was 1.7 in October; the bars show its percentage change, not the number of months. Gold = October; gray = year to date.
For additional historical market information, visit the historical charts.
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.
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 →