Illinois housing market
Statewide listing data for September 2026, the latest month Realtor.com® Economic Research has published, with two years of history. Checked October 8, 2026.
Illinois at a glance
MidwestSource: Realtor.com® Economic Research (Illinois, September 2026). Asking prices and active listings, not closed sales.
What the data says
- The number of homes for sale in Illinois is about the same as a year ago.
- The median asking price is up 2.7% from a year ago.
- 17% of active listings have had at least one price reduction.
- The typical listing spends 39 days on the market, 1 day shorter than a year ago.
Repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, published quarterly with a lag of about two months.
Two-year trend
Median listing price, Illinois
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2024-09-01 | $325K |
| 2024-10-01 | $315K |
| 2024-11-01 | $303K |
| 2024-12-01 | $292K |
| 2025-01-01 | $289K |
| 2025-02-01 | $291K |
| 2025-03-01 | $300K |
| 2025-04-01 | $313K |
| 2025-05-01 | $320K |
| 2025-06-01 | $325K |
| 2025-07-01 | $323K |
| 2025-08-01 | $320K |
| 2025-09-01 | $317K |
| 2025-10-01 | $309K |
| 2025-11-01 | $300K |
| 2025-12-01 | $288K |
| 2026-01-01 | $280K |
| 2026-02-01 | $289K |
| 2026-03-01 | $299K |
| 2026-04-01 | $312K |
| 2026-05-01 | $320K |
| 2026-06-01 | $330K |
| 2026-07-01 | $327K |
| 2026-08-01 | $329K |
| 2026-09-01 | $325K |
Homes for sale, Illinois
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2024-09-01 | 22K |
| 2024-10-01 | 22K |
| 2024-11-01 | 22K |
| 2024-12-01 | 19K |
| 2025-01-01 | 17K |
| 2025-02-01 | 16K |
| 2025-03-01 | 16K |
| 2025-04-01 | 17K |
| 2025-05-01 | 19K |
| 2025-06-01 | 20K |
| 2025-07-01 | 21K |
| 2025-08-01 | 21K |
| 2025-09-01 | 23K |
| 2025-10-01 | 23K |
| 2025-11-01 | 22K |
| 2025-12-01 | 19K |
| 2026-01-01 | 18K |
| 2026-02-01 | 17K |
| 2026-03-01 | 17K |
| 2026-04-01 | 17K |
| 2026-05-01 | 18K |
| 2026-06-01 | 19K |
| 2026-07-01 | 21K |
| 2026-08-01 | 21K |
| 2026-09-01 | 23K |
Listings follow a seasonal pattern each year; compare a month with the same month a year earlier.
Illinois compared with the U.S.
Compare with another state| Measure | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median listing price | $324,950 (+2.7% y/y) | $419,250 (−1.4% y/y) |
| Homes for sale | 22,584 (+0.2% y/y) | 1,161,615 (+5.4% y/y) |
| Median days on market | 39 days (−1 day y/y) | 61 days (Unchanged y/y) |
| Listings with a price cut | 16.9% (+0.9 pts y/y) | 20.8% (+0.9 pts y/y) |
| Median list price per sq ft | $187 (+1.0% y/y) | $223 (−1.7% y/y) |
Sources: Realtor.com® Economic Research (Illinois, September 2026); Realtor.com® Economic Research (United States, September 2026). “y/y” is the change from the same month a year earlier.
An affordability illustration
Run your own numbersThe inputs
- Median listing price (September 2026)$324,950
- Down payment20% ($64,990)
- Loan amount$259,960
- Rate: 30-year fixed, national (Week of Oct 1, 2026)7.28%
- Median household income, Illinois (2025)$93,270
This is an illustration, not a lender calculation. It leaves out property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance and HOA dues, which can add several hundred dollars or more a month. The rate is a national average for strong-credit borrowers; your rate may differ.
Sources: Realtor.com® Economic Research (Illinois, September 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (United States, Week of Oct 1, 2026); U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (Illinois, 2025).
Editor’s notes on Illinois
Written March 2026; conditions may have changedIllinois presents a tale of two markets: Chicago (and its affluent suburbs) versus downstate. The Chicago metro is genuinely competitive, with the city's core neighborhoods — Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Bucktown — attracting strong demand despite the state's fiscal headwinds. Downstate markets offer extraordinary affordability but face demographic and economic challenges. Property taxes are the defining issue for Illinois buyers — among the highest in the nation, they materially affect monthly costs and resale values.
For buyers
Do the property tax math before falling in love with a home. Illinois property taxes can add $500–$1,500/month to your effective housing cost. Compare net cost to ownership, not just purchase price.
For sellers
Be realistic about property tax headwinds. Buyers do the math. Competitive pricing that accounts for high taxes will outperform wishful pricing every time.
These notes are background written by our editors in March 2026, before the data above. Where they differ, the dated figures on this page are more current.