How’s the Market — North Suburbs Residential Market Update

Week of November 18, 2025
(Data sourced for single family homes from Altos Research, updated every Tuesday)

📊 Big Picture

The North Suburbs saw a mixed but steady week. A few towns cooled slightly, a few firmed up, and overall, we’re still operating in what I’d call a “strategy market” — where subtle shifts in inventory and buyer activity matter a lot more than they did over the summer.

Across the board, inventory remains tight, and Market Action Indexes (MAIs) stayed firmly in seller territory, though week-over-week direction varied. Prices also stabilized, with most of the movement this week coming from changes in the mix of active listings rather than a shift in buyer demand.

The big story?
Buyers are selective. Sellers still have the edge. And the gap between the hottest and calmest suburbs widened slightly this week.

📈 Suburban Trends

Mid-Priced Suburbs — Still the most active, with subtle shifts

Buffalo Grove — MAI held at 59 (same as last week). Inventory dipped again to 19 homes (-2), and the median list price nudged down to $535K. This remains the most competitive market in the North Suburbs.

Deerfield — MAI rose slightly to 47 (up from 45 last week). Inventory fell to 21 (from 26). Median list price dipped to $789,900 (from ~$799K). Strong sellers’ conditions remain with very limited supply.

Glenview — MAI stayed at 47 for the second week in a row. Inventory held at 43 (same as last week). Median list price increased slightly to $1,199,000 (from ~$1.145M). Glenview remains a steady, fast-moving market.

📌 Takeaway:
These three suburbs continue to act like micro-seller hot zones. Low inventory plus high absorption rates mean well-prepped listings still move quickly — especially under $1M.

Balanced-to-Upper Tier — Some cooling, but still seller-leaning

Highland Park — MAI pulled back to 40 this week (from 43), while inventory ticked up to 38 (from 37). Median list price is $1.297M vs. last week’s ~$1.27M. Softening, but still seller favored.

Northbrook — MAI held at 35 (same as last week). Inventory rose slightly to 47 (from 44). Median list price fell to $1.479M (from $1.72M), driven by a shift in the active listing mix.

Glencoe — MAI increased to 37 (from 38 last week — a slight dip compared to our weekly number but up vs. last month). Inventory fell to 12 (from 13). Median list price sits at $3.192M, essentially unchanged.

📌 Takeaway:
Upper-tier markets continue to be healthy but slower, with long days on market and highly discerning buyers. Glencoe is the firmest of the group this week. Northbrook is seeing the most cooling.

Lake Forest — Still stable, but slow

Lake Forest — MAI sits at 35 (unchanged vs. last month but slightly softer than last week’s broader trend). Inventory is 48, up from 45 last week. Median list price is $1.922M, down slightly from ~$1.95M. Slow but stable.

📌 Takeaway:
Activity remains slow, but consistent. The broader luxury market remains patient.

💰 Mortgage Rate Update (This Week)

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate this week is ranging roughly between 6.62% and 6.78% depending on lender, points paid, and credit tier. That’s essentially flat week-over-week, but noticeably below the highs we saw in mid-2024.

The steady rate environment is helping stabilize buyer activity — especially in the $600K–$1.2M range, where borrowers are most rate-sensitive.

🔍 This Week’s Quick Stats (Week of Nov 18 vs. Last Week)

🧭 Final Thoughts

As we head toward Thanksgiving, the market is behaving exactly how late fall typically behaves — selective buyers, motivated sellers, and very little excess inventory.

For sellers:
Pricing and presentation matter more than ever. The towns with lower MAIs are showing buyers have options — and overpriced listings will sit.

For buyers:
Inventory is tight, but not frozen. When the right home hits, you’ll want your plan in place.

If you want suburb-specific one-page or full reports updated every Tuesday, visit lynwisegroup.com and click How’s the Market Reports.

As always — Be Wise About the Market.