Data sourced from Altos Research. Updated every Tuesday.
The Story This Week
If you’re watching the housing market right now, it feels like a puzzle with plenty of moving pieces — not just a single trend. Across our region, homes are selling, choices are limited in key price ranges, but there are interesting opportunities for buyers emerging even as sellers still hold the upper hand overall.
Here’s what we’re seeing:
- Under $900K, buyers still face competition, but not frenzied, chaotic bidding wars. Well-priced homes are moving quickly, yet we’re also seeing more active inventory than a few months ago, meaning buyers can actually compare and choose.
- In the $1M–$2M range, buyers aren’t absent they’re choosing. Homes that show well and are fairly priced are getting major traction; homes that need updates or push value expectations sit longer. That tells us buyers are confident but discriminating.
- Above $2.5M, it’s a market of selectivity. Some days feel slow, but serious buyers are present for homes that check a lot of boxes. That means negotiation strength exists when comfort isn’t sacrificed for urgency.
The common theme this week? Inventory remains modest, but buyer behavior is becoming more strategic and savvier. They want the house, but they’re not afraid to sit back and make thoughtful decisions.
What This Means to You
For Buyers
- This isn’t a market where you have to rush blindly. You have to act informed.
- Be ready with pre-approval and a clear price boundary.
- When you find a home that checks the boxes, move with clarity.
- If a property sits over its first 30–45 days, it’s negotiation territory, not a lost cause.
For Sellers
- You have leverage. Depending on the suburb, you’ll have more leverage than others.
- Sharp pricing + quality presentation wins.
- Expect buyers to compare objectively, and in some cases, emotionally.
- In higher tiers, patience can bring stronger offers.
What the Data Looks Like
Here’s how our nine key single-family markets shaped up this week:
Highly Competitive
- Wilmette – strong seller conditions, low inventory, homes still moving fast
- Buffalo Grove & Deerfield – solid demand, especially under the mid-price range
- Winnetka – active with choice inventory moving when priced right
Balanced & Disciplined
- Glenview & Highland Park – seller-leaning, but buyers choosing confidently
Opportunity Emerging
- Northbrook, Lake Forest, Glencoe – more inventory and some longer market times give buyers windows to negotiate
This tells a cohesive story: sellers lead, but buyers with strategy and patience are finding room to make smart plays.
Mortgage Rate Update
Current U.S. Mortgage Rate Snapshot
- The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is about 6.05% as of March 4, 2026 — up modestly from recent days but still historically moderate.
- Daily data sources also show 30-year fixed rates in the low-to-mid ~6.0%+ range this week, including around 6.07%.
- Weekly averages (Freddie Mac PMMS) from late February showed a slight dip to ~5.98% from ~6.01% the prior week, indicating recent volatility but overall, near 3-year lows.
Mortgage rates have hovered around 6.0%–6.1% this week, with recent data showing them slightly lower than earlier in the year but edging back up as markets react to broader economic signals.
What this means:
- Rates are still below the highs seen in 2023–2024 and remain relatively buyer-friendly in the context of the current economic cycle.
- Fluctuations week-to-week are common. Rates can drift with bond market moves, inflation expectations, and geopolitical pressures, but buyers active now are entering a market with reasonable borrowing costs by recent standards.
The Takeaway
- This market isn’t about wild swings. It’s about strategic momentum, smart positioning, and timing with clarity.
- Buyers who are ready and informed are finding opportunities. Sellers who understand buyer selectivity are still getting results, and some are significant.
- And as we move deeper into the spring cycle, that quality of decision matters more than the pace of the market.
- Stay tuned — next week we’ll break down how inventory rhythm, days on market, and rate trends are influencing buyer behavior across price tiers.
Be Wise About the Market.
