Be Wise About the Market
The North Shore housing market continues to show something buyers and sellers feel every week — demand is steady, but inventory remains selective. What’s happening right now is less about a single “market trend” and more about micro-markets inside each community.
Some homes are sitting. Others are attracting intense competition within days. The difference almost always comes down to pricing discipline and product quality. And across most North Shore communities, when the right house hits the market at the right price — buyers move fast.
The Big Picture
Across the eight markets we are tracking this week — Highland Park, Deerfield, Northbrook, Glenview, Glencoe, Lake Forest, Winnetka, and Wilmette — the overall story remains consistent: Inventory is still limited relative to buyer demand.
Many buyers have been searching for months, losing multiple offers and expanding their search criteria. That dynamic creates bursts of competition whenever a desirable listing appears. The result is a market that doesn’t always look hot on paper — but feels competitive in real life.
Where Competition Is Strongest
Deerfield
Deerfield has become one of the tightest markets in the North Suburbs, with demand significantly outpacing available homes. Inventory is extremely limited, and buyer activity has accelerated — pushing the market deeper into seller territory. Well-priced homes are drawing strong interest quickly, particularly in the mid-range family home segment, where many buyers are competing for limited options.
Highland Park
Highland Park continues to show healthy buyer demand with moderate inventory growth, keeping pricing stable but competitive. Buyers looking between roughly $900K and $1.5M remain the most active, and homes in this range are moving quickly when priced correctly. The luxury segment above that level is more selective — but still active when homes are updated and well positioned.
Glenview
Glenview continues to attract steady buyer demand driven by schools, location, and newer housing options. Even with slightly increased inventory, sales activity remains strong enough to maintain upward pricing pressure if supply does not expand further. Homes that combine modern updates with realistic pricing are continuing to move quickly.
The Luxury Market
Glencoe
Glencoe remains one of the most supply-constrained luxury markets on the North Shore. There are only a handful of homes available, which means each listing can have an outsized impact on the market dynamic. Because of the price points involved, luxury homes often take longer to transact — but limited inventory keeps pricing support strong.
Lake Forest & Winnetka
These two markets continue to operate in a selective luxury environment. Buyers are active, but they remain highly focused on location, architecture, and condition. Properties that meet those expectations often generate strong showing activity early in the listing cycle.
Wilmette
Wilmette continues to benefit from strong demand driven by schools, commuting convenience, and proximity to the lake. Inventory remains relatively tight, particularly for updated homes under the luxury price tier.
Mortgage Update
Mortgage rates moved slightly higher over the past couple of weeks, after briefly dipping near 6% earlier this year. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is currently around the mid-6% range, nationally, depending on lender and borrower profile.
While that is a modest increase from earlier in the spring, rates remain lower than this time last year, and buyer demand has continued despite the movement. The key takeaway right now is that rates are still in a range where many buyers are willing to act — especially given the limited inventory across much of the North Shore. As a result, competition for well-priced homes remains strong even with mortgage rates in the mid-6% range.
What This Means for Buyers
Many buyers across the North Shore are experiencing the same pattern:
- They’ve lost multiple offers,
- They’re expanding search areas, and
- They’re becoming more decisive
When the right property appears, hesitation can mean missing it. Preparation and strategy matter more than ever.
What This Means for Sellers
For sellers, the market continues to offer an important advantage — but only when listings are positioned correctly. The homes generating the most activity right now share three characteristics:
- Realistic pricing from day one
- Strong presentation and preparation
- Clear value relative to competing listings
Homes that miss on those factors can sit — even in a seller-leaning market.
The Strategic Takeaway
The North Shore housing market is not a runaway seller market — but it leans that way in key price segments. Inventory remains the central story. Until supply meaningfully increases, well-positioned homes will continue to attract strong buyer attention across communities like Highland Park, Deerfield, Northbrook, Glenview, Glencoe, Lake Forest, Winnetka, and Wilmette. Opportunity still exists for both buyers and sellers — but strategy matters.
