Week of June 2, 2026 · Single-Family Homes
THE LINE HAS BEEN CROSSED — WHAT EVERY BUYER AND SELLER NEEDS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW
For weeks we've been tracking a North Shore market that was splitting — strong seller conditions at one end, softening luxury at the other. This week that story reached a turning point. One of our five primary communities has officially crossed into buyer's market territory for the first time in this cycle, with prices already moving lower. At the same time, two markets are accelerating at a pace we haven't seen in months. The gap between the strongest and weakest markets on the North Shore and North Suburbs is now wider than at any point this year. Here's exactly what's happening — and what it means for you.
AT A GLANCE — ALL FIVE COMMUNITIES
June 2, 2026 · Single-Family Homes · MAI above 50 = Seller's Market · below 50 = Buyer's Market
MARKET BY MARKET
GLENCOE · IL 60022 ⚠ BUYER'S MARKET · MAI 38 ▼
Median List Price: $2,874,000 | Median Days on Market: 39 | Inventory: 16 | MAI: 38 (down from 45)
This is the story of the week — and it matters. Glencoe's Market Action Index fell from 45 to 38 in a single week, crossing below the 40-point threshold, well below the 50 midpoint and approaching buyer's market conditions. Prices are moving lower and demand is low relative to available inventory.
Glencoe's Market Action Index fell from 45 to 38 in a single week, crossing below the 40-point threshold that defines a buyer's market. The Altos narrative is unambiguous: demand is low relative to available inventory, prices have begun moving lower, and a persistent shift in market action will be needed before prices plateau or rise again. New listings are coming in at $3,495,000 — above the market median — meaning sellers haven't fully adjusted their expectations yet. That gap between seller expectations and buyer reality is exactly what creates negotiating opportunity. Three of the four price segments had zero absorption this week.
For buyers: This is the most significant buyer's opportunity on the North Shore right now. With a MAI of 38, prices moving lower, and zero absorption in three of four segments, you have leverage that hasn't existed in this market in years. Patient, well-advised buyers can negotiate meaningfully — particularly in the $2M–$3.5M range where inventory is sitting with no takers.
For sellers: Honest counsel matters more here than anywhere else this week. The market has crossed the line. If you need to sell, pricing below the market median is the only path to a transaction right now. If you can wait, the data suggests patience until the MAI shows a persistent recovery above 40.
For first-time buyers: Glencoe's entry segment at $1.975M is not traditional first-time buyer territory, but for buyers stretching to enter this community, current conditions are as favorable as they've been in this cycle. Prices are moving lower and sellers are more motivated than they've been in years.
NORTHBROOK · IL 60062 ★ Hottest Market This Week · MAI 65
Median List Price: $1,300,000 | Median Days on Market: 28 | Inventory: 29 ▼ | Price Increases: 3%
Northbrook has now posted three consecutive weeks of MAI increases — 51, 61, 65 — and this week added a detail that rarely appears in this data: 3% of listings saw price increases. That is sellers gaining confidence to test higher ground because the market is supporting it. Inventory decreased to 29 homes — the lowest of any market we track. The mid-market segment around $849,900 had four new listings and eight absorbed — buyers are doubling sellers at the most active price point.
For sellers: Three weeks of acceleration, shrinking inventory, and sellers raising prices. If you've been waiting for the ideal moment to list in Northbrook, this is it. Come to market prepared and priced right — the demand is there to meet you immediately.
For buyers: With only 29 homes available at a MAI of 65, this is not a market where you deliberate. Pre-approval in hand, criteria clear, ready to move the same day you see the right home.
For first-time buyers: The $629,900 entry segment had one new listing and four absorbed. This is one of the strongest entry-level opportunities on the North Shore — the price point is accessible and the community quality is exceptional. Move fast and have your pre-approval ready before stepping foot in a showing.
DEERFIELD · IL 60015 | Strong Seller's Market · MAI 59 ▲
Median List Price: $1,093,684 | Median Days on Market: 35 | Inventory: 33 | Price Reductions: 15%
Deerfield's MAI is now at 59, up from 57 last week and 55 the week before. The market keeps getting hotter — more sales demand, fewer homes listed, no sign of the trend reversing. The entry segment had new listings at a median of $560,000 with three new listings and four absorbed. Supply is tightening at every level below $1.1M.
For sellers: Three consecutive weeks of MAI gains with no sign of reversal. The 15% price reduction rate tells you correctly priced homes are transacting without adjustments. The runway ahead looks clear.
For buyers: The mid-market in Deerfield is tightening fast. Get your pre-approval current and move with intention. Waiting for more inventory is a strategy the data doesn't support right now.
For first-time buyers: Deerfield's $560,000 entry point is one of the most compelling first-time buyer stories on the North Shore this week. Three new listings, four absorbed — more buyers than sellers. This community offers incredible long-term value and the entry level is genuinely competitive right now.
HIGHLAND PARK · IL 60035 | Strong Seller's Market · MAI 56 ▲
Median List Price: $1,294,500 | Median Days on Market: 28 | Inventory: 38 | Price Reductions: 18%
Highland Park's MAI climbed from 54 to 56 — four consecutive weeks of upward momentum. The median price of new listings this week: $662,400 — dramatically below the $1,294,500 market median. The most active new inventory is entering at the accessible end where competition is fiercest. The $550K entry segment had three new listings and four absorbed.
For sellers: Four weeks of consecutive MAI gains is a trend. Upward price pressure is building. The 29% relist rate tells you sellers who didn't price with discipline are paying for it. Come in right and this market rewards you.
For buyers: Highland Park offers the most choice of any seller's market this week — 38 homes. Use that inventory advantage strategically, but move decisively when you find the right home.
For first-time buyers: New listings at a median of $662,400, an entry segment at $550K, and more total inventory than any other market we track. Highland Park is one of the best first-time buyer opportunities on the North Shore right now.
LAKE FOREST · IL 60045 | MAI Holding at 45 · Upper Tiers Stalled
Median List Price: $2,525,000 | Median Days on Market: 42 | Inventory: 38 | Relisted: 26%
Lake Forest is officially still a seller's market but the data beneath that label is complicated. The MAI has been trending lower for several weeks and downward price pressure is likely if inventory continues to grow. Both the $2.75M and $3.72M segments had zero new listings and zero absorption this week — completely frozen. The $925K entry level absorbed in just 14 days.
For sellers: Tier matters enormously. At or below $1.75M there is a functioning market. Above $2.75M, the data is stark — zero transactions this week in both top segments. Pricing strategy and presentation are not optional here — they are the entire game.
For buyers: Lake Forest above $2.75M is the second-best negotiating environment on the North Shore behind Glencoe. Zero new listings and zero absorption in the top tiers means motivated sellers and limited competition. If you've been watching a property here, now is the time to have that conversation.
For first-time buyers: The $925K entry absorbed in just 14 days — fastest of any tier in this market. For buyers with the financial foundation, Lake Forest's schools, lifestyle, and long-term appreciation make it a compelling entry-level play. The window is narrow — move with urgency when something appears.
MORTGAGE UPDATE
The 30-year fixed rate continues to hold in the mid-6% range. In Northbrook, Deerfield, and Highland Park, buyers have psychologically adjusted to current rates and rate stability is fuel for demand. In Glencoe and upper Lake Forest, buyers transacting at $2.5M–$4M+ are less rate-sensitive and more sensitive to market conditions and negotiating leverage. Rate stability at the luxury end means less. Market conditions mean everything.
Final Thoughts
Three weeks ago we called the North Shore market "divergent." Two weeks ago we said "momentum is building." This week the story has a sharper edge. Glencoe has officially started to get closer to buyer's market territory — the first of our five communities to do so in this cycle. Simultaneously, Northbrook just posted its third consecutive week of MAI gains and now sits at 65 with price increases appearing in the data for the first time in months.
The gap between the hottest and coolest market we track is now 27 MAI points. That is not a subtle difference — it is a completely different set of rules depending on which community you're operating in.
The common denominator across all five markets remains the same: the best outcomes go to the best-prepared. Sellers who price with data, not hope. Buyers who know their market, have their financing ready, and move with conviction when the right opportunity appears. That is what it means to Be Wise About the Market — and it has never been more relevant than it is right now.
Be Wise About the Market. 🏡
Questions about what this week's data means for your home or your search? The Lyn Wise Group is here — reach out directly.
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Lyn Wise Group | www.lynwisegroup.com | (312) 860-7294
