Week of March 10, 2026 (Data sourced from Altos Research. Updated every Tuesday.)
Here is this week’s Lyn Wise Group Market Intelligence for the North Shore and North Suburbs.
Every week we step back from the headlines and look at what the housing data is actually saying. And right now, the story isn’t just tight inventory — it’s a market that’s quietly strengthening in several areas at once. Some towns are heating up quickly. Others are stabilizing after a slower winter. But across the North Shore and North Suburbs the overall theme is the same: buyer demand continues to absorb the homes that do come to market.
Inventory remains limited, but something important is happening beneath the surface — more listings are beginning to appear. That doesn’t mean a flood of supply. It means opportunities are gradually returning for buyers who are prepared.
The spring market is starting to take shape.
The Big Picture
Across the region, most markets remain firmly seller-leaning, but the intensity varies by community.
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Buffalo Grove and Wilmette remain extremely competitive with strong buyer demand and limited homes available.
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Highland Park, Deerfield and Glenview are showing strengthening activity as the spring season approaches.
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Northbrook and Lake Forest are more balanced right now, with homes taking longer to sell but inventory still relatively limited.
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Glencoe and Winnetka, the higher-price luxury markets, continue to move at a slower pace simply because fewer buyers operate in that segment.
What’s notable this week is that several markets show strengthening buyer activity even as inventory ticks up slightly.
That combination is exactly what typically marks the early phase of the spring housing cycle.
What We’re Seeing Across Local Markets
Buffalo Grove
The strongest momentum in the region right now. Inventory is extremely limited and homes are still moving quickly when priced correctly.
Wilmette
Demand remains very strong. Homes are selling quickly and new listings are being absorbed rapidly.
Highland Park & Deerfield
Both markets are showing increasing buyer activity as the season shifts toward spring.
Glenview
Demand is strengthening but prices appear to be stabilizing for the moment — something that often precedes the next upward move.
Northbrook & Lake Forest
More balanced conditions. Homes can take longer to sell, particularly in higher price ranges, giving buyers more negotiating room.
Glencoe & Winnetka
Luxury markets continue to move at a slower pace simply due to price point, but supply remains limited relative to demand.
What This Means for Buyers
The biggest misconception about tight inventory is that buyers have no opportunity. In reality, this is exactly when preparation matters most.
More listings typically begin appearing between March and May. Buyers who are financially ready and watching the market closely often find the best opportunities during this early phase — before the broader market becomes more competitive later in spring.
What This Means for Sellers
For sellers, conditions remain favorable across most price ranges. Limited inventory means properly priced homes continue to attract strong interest. However, buyers today are more sensitive to pricing and condition than they were a few years ago.
Homes that are priced correctly and presented well continue to sell quickly. Homes that overshoot the market are sitting longer and adjusting later. Strategy matters.
Mortgage Update
Mortgage rates moved back a little above the 6% range this week, with most national lenders quoting 30-year fixed rates in the low-to-mid 6% range.
Rates have been moving within a relatively narrow band recently, and the market continues to adjust to this “new normal” compared with the ultra-low rates of previous years. For many buyers, the key factor right now isn’t the absolute rate — it’s stability. When rates stabilize, buyer activity typically increases.
That appears to be happening as we move into the spring season.
Bottom Line
The spring market is beginning to take shape across the North Shore and North Suburbs. Inventory is still tight, but buyer activity is increasing and new listings are gradually appearing. For buyers, preparation creates opportunity. For sellers, the window remains strong — but pricing strategy is critical.
The market is moving. The advantage goes to the informed so Be Wise About the Market.
