Week of May 26, 2026 · Data: Altos Research · Single-Family Homes
MOMENTUM IS BUILDING AND ONE MARKET JUST MADE A BIG MOVE
If last week's story was divergence, this week's story is momentum. The Highland Park, Northbrook, Deerfield, Lake Forest, and Glencoe markets strengthened across the board for buyers and sellers in the under-$1.5M range — and one community made a move in the data that we haven't seen in months. Meanwhile the luxury market is sending mixed signals that deserve a close read. Here's exactly what's happening in all five communities.
AT A GLANCE — ALL FIVE COMMUNITIES
Data as of May 26, 2026 · Single-Family Homes
MARKET BY MARKET
NORTHBROOK · IL 60062 Real Estate Market | Biggest Move This Week · MAI 61 ▲
Median List Price: $1,044,500 | Median Days on Market: 21 | Inventory: 34 | MAI: 61 (up from 51)
This is the number that stands out above everything else this week. Northbrook's Market Action Index jumped from 51 to 61 in a single week — a ten-point move that signals a significant acceleration in demand relative to supply. Home sales have been exceeding new inventory for several consecutive weeks, and the data is now reflecting it clearly. New listings are coming in at a median of $869,000, well below the overall market median — suggesting fresh, accessible inventory is attracting immediate buyer attention. The $899,000 mid-market segment had five new listings and five absorbed this week — perfect equilibrium at the most competitive price point.
For sellers: Northbrook is your strongest call to action this week. A MAI of 61 is not a market that waits. If you've been considering listing, the demand is here right now — and the data suggests prices are close to turning back upward after a period of softening.
For buyers: Move quickly and come prepared. At 21 days median, well-priced homes are not lingering. Get pre-approved, know your number, and be ready to act. The mid-range around $899K is the most competitive segment right now.
For first-time buyers: Northbrook is one of the more accessible entry points on the North Shore this week, with homes in the $550K–$582K range still transacting. The lower segment had two new listings and four absorbed — more buyers than sellers at that price point. Have your pre-approval letter ready to attach to an offer the same day you view a home.
DEERFIELD · IL 60015 Real Estate Market | Strong Seller's Market · MAI 57
Median List Price: $1,093,684 | Median Days on Market: 28 | Inventory: 37 | Price Reductions: 14%
Deerfield continues to be a steady, dependable seller's market — MAI held at 57 despite a slight dip from last week's 58. The market narrative is clear: more sales demand, fewer homes listed, and a sustained run of increasing prices with no sign of that trend reversing. The luxury tier at $1.97M saw zero new listings but four absorbed — demand at the upper end is quietly outpacing supply even in Deerfield's higher price segments. Median days on market ticked up slightly to 28, but that's still a well-functioning, fast-moving market by any standard.
For sellers: Consistent and strong. The data continues to favor you — particularly in the mid-range. Price it well and you have multiple paths to a great outcome. The 14% price reduction rate is the lowest of the five markets this week, meaning correctly priced homes are not sitting.
For buyers: 28 days median gives you slightly more time to think than Northbrook, but don't mistake that for a slow market. The lower entry segment around $550K–$789K is highly active. Know what you want before you start looking.
For first-time buyers: Deerfield's lowest segment had two homes absorbed at a median around $550K with zero new listings this week — demand is clearly there at entry level. Have your pre-approval letter ready to attach to an offer the same day you view a home.
HIGHLAND PARK · IL 60035 Real Estate Market | Strong Seller's Market · MAI 54 ▲
Median List Price: $1,299,000 | Median Days on Market: 21 | Inventory: 43 | Price Reductions: 23%
Highland Park's MAI moved from 51 to 54 this week — a continuation of an upward trend that now puts it firmly in seller's territory with growing momentum. Sales continue to outstrip supply, and the data suggests upward price pressure is coming if the trend holds. The 23% price reduction rate is the highest of the three seller's markets this week and tells an important story: the market is bifurcated. Correctly priced homes are moving in 21 days. Homes that entered the market optimistically are getting repriced. New listings are coming in at a median of $862,500 — well below the overall market median — signaling that the most competitive new inventory is entering at the accessible end of the price spectrum.
For sellers: Momentum is on your side and it's building. But the 23% price reduction rate is a clear signal — pricing discipline is what separates sellers who win quickly from those who sit. Come in at the right price and the market will reward you.
For buyers: Highland Park has the most inventory of any market we track this week — 43 homes. That gives you real options to compare and evaluate. Use that inventory to your advantage, but don't confuse choice with time. At 21 days median, the right home doesn't wait.
For first-time buyers: Highland Park is genuinely worth a look this week. The entry segment around $565K had more absorption than new supply — seven absorbed versus four new. With 43 homes total on market, you have more to choose from here than anywhere else on the North Shore right now.
LAKE FOREST · IL 60045 Real Estate Market | Narrative Shift · MAI 46 — Watch Closely
Median List Price: $2,525,000 | Median Days on Market: 35 | Inventory: 38 | Relisted: 24%
Lake Forest has an interesting story this week — one worth reading carefully. The MAI held flat at 46, but the Altos narrative flipped from last week's cooling tone to something more optimistic: home sales are now outstripping supply, and the index has been moving higher for several weeks. The mid-tier segment around $1.72M was the most active — four new listings and seven absorbed — buyers at that level are moving decisively. New listings are coming in at a median of $1,749,000, well below the market-wide median, suggesting sellers who price accessibly are finding traction.
For sellers: Price point is everything here. The $1.72M segment is moving. Above $2.75M, the market is still patient and selective. If your home is in the sweet spot, present it well and price it honestly — the data shows buyers are ready at that level.
For buyers: The upper tiers above $2.75M still offer negotiating room — one absorption versus three new listings means supply is building. At the $1.72M level, the dynamic has flipped and you're competing. Know which tier you're in before making offers.
For first-time buyers: Lake Forest has an entry segment around $925K with two new listings and one absorbed — worth monitoring if this is your target community. Lake Forest's lifestyle and school district make it a long-term value play for buyers who can stretch to get in.
GLENCOE · IL 60022 Real Estate Market | MAI Sliding · 48→45 · Watch for Price Pressure
Median List Price: $2,736,500 | Median Days on Market: 32 | Inventory: 16 | Relisted: 25%
Glencoe's MAI slipped again this week — from 48 to 45 — continuing a multi-week downward trend now just five points above buyer's market territory. Prices haven't yet stopped falling, and if inventory continues to grow relative to demand, downward price pressure is the likely outcome. One absorption each at the $3M and $2.58M levels this week shows the market isn't frozen — it's selective. New listings are coming in at $2.46M, below the market median, suggesting sellers are entering at more realistic price points than in previous weeks.
For sellers: This is the market that most demands strategic counsel right now. The MAI trend is moving in the wrong direction for sellers. Pricing, preparation, and presentation are not negotiable here. If you're not willing to come to market right, wait until you are.
For buyers: Glencoe is quietly becoming one of the more buyer-friendly markets on the North Shore. The 25% relist rate, declining index, and sellers entering at lower price points all signal that negotiating room exists — particularly above $2.5M.
For first-time buyers: At a median of $2.74M, Glencoe is not a traditional first-time buyer market. However, the lowest segment came in around $1.97M — and with the market softening, there may be more flexibility on price than the list price sugges
NORTH SHORE & NORTH SUBURBAN MORTGAGE UPDATE
What This Week's Data Means for North Shore and North Suburban Buyers
The 30-year fixed rate continues to hold in the mid-6% range this week. Buyers across all five communities have largely stopped waiting for rates to drop before making decisions. The conversations we're having now are about inventory, value, and lifestyle — which is exactly how a healthy real estate market is supposed to work. For first-time buyers specifically, the stabilization of rates has made budgeting more predictable, which is often more valuable than a lower rate that could change next month.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The headline this week is Northbrook — a ten-point MAI jump in a single week is not something we see often, and it signals that demand is meaningfully outpacing supply in a way the data hasn't captured this clearly in months. Watch that market closely over the next two to three weeks. If the trend holds, price appreciation in Northbrook is not a question of if — it's a question of when.
The broader theme across all five communities is that momentum favors the prepared. Sellers who have priced correctly are winning. Buyers who have done their homework — pre-approved, clear on their criteria, working with an agent who knows the data — are securing homes. The people sitting on the sidelines waiting for perfect conditions are the ones who will look back in six months and wish they had moved when the data was this clear.
Be Wise About the Market. 🏡
Questions about what this means for your home or your search? Direct message me — I'd love to walk you through it.
