The market update is back — and September's story in one number: homes that closed in the last 30 days went under contract in a median of 8 days. Eight. Anyone waiting for the fall slowdown to go bargain-hunting should read that twice.
The numbers
Our nine core towns — Prospect Heights, Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Rolling Meadows, Elk Grove Village — straight from the MLS:
633 homes actively for sale — and 448 of the actives hit the market in just the last two weeks, so fresh fall inventory is genuinely arriving.
499 more already under contract — nearly as many homes are spoken for as are available, which is what a seller's market looks like in the data.
Median asking price: $425,000 · Median sold price (last 30 days): $410,000
413 closings in the last 30 days, down from 488 the month before — the seasonal cooldown is real, but it's showing up in volume, not price: the median sale actually ticked up $5,000 month-over-month.
What it means if you're buying
An 8-day market doesn't wait for your second showing. Get pre-approved before you tour, and let the machines watch for you — save a search and we'll email you the moment a match hits the MLS, or search by monthly payment to know your real number before you fall in love.
What it means if you're selling
Demand hasn't left — but with closings down 15% month-over-month, the buyers still out there are decisive and selective. Priced right, you're under contract in a week; priced wrong, you're the listing that watches everyone else sell. That first number is the whole game — see what your home is actually worth.
Dig into your own town
Our live market reports run these numbers per-town all day, and the town comparison tool puts any two side by side.
Sold and listing data courtesy of MRED as distributed by MLS GRID, as of September 16, 2026. Aggregate market statistics — individual homes vary; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.