📊 Big Picture
This week’s data reinforces a clear theme across the North Shore and North Suburbs: the market remains seller-leaning overall, but conditions vary meaningfully by suburb and price point.
Mid-priced communities continue to show the strongest demand relative to inventory, while upper-tier and luxury markets remain steady but selective. Inventory levels are still low in most areas. However, traditionally, inventory begins to increase for the spring market after the Super Bowl. We anticipate this will occur this year as well.
This remains a strategy market, not a momentum market yet, but that could change soon.
📈 Suburban Trends
Mid-Priced Suburbs — Demand Still Leads
Buffalo Grove • MAI: 56 (slightly lower than last month) • Inventory: 7 homes • Median List Price: $540,000 --- Buffalo Grove continues to operate as a strong seller’s market. Inventory is extremely limited, and homes priced correctly are still moving quickly. Pricing has plateaued short-term, but demand remains firm.
Deerfield • MAI: 48 (up from 43 last month) • Inventory: 17 homes • Median List Price: $799,000 ---- Deerfield strengthened again this week. Rising MAI confirms increasing buyer demand, even as inventory ticked up slightly. This remains one of the most competitive markets in the region.
📌 Takeaway: Buffalo Grove and Deerfield continue to offer sellers the strongest leverage, particularly below $900K.
Balanced Markets — Seller-Leaning but Price-Sensitive
Glenview • MAI: 44 (down slightly from last month) • Inventory: 23 homes • Median List Price: $1,149,000 --- Glenview continues to cool gradually but remains seller-leaning. Buyers are active, but pricing precision matters more than ever — especially above $1M. We anticipate inventory to increase in Glenview shortly.
Highland Park • MAI: 42 (up from 41 last month) • Inventory: 24 homes • Median List Price: $1,199,900 --- Highland Park remains stable with modest strengthening in demand. Inventory is low enough, but increasing, to support prices, but buyers are selective and value focused.
Northbrook • MAI: 39 (up from 36 last month) • Inventory: 20 homes • Median List Price: $1,662,500 --- Northbrook showed improving demand paired with slightly declining inventory. Still a slight seller’s market, though buyers have more leverage here than in neighboring towns.
📌 Takeaway: These markets reward realistic pricing and strong presentation. Overpricing leads to extended days on market.
Upper-Tier & Luxury — Slow, Stable, and Selective
Glencoe • MAI: 29 (up from 27 last month) • Inventory: 12 homes • Median List Price: $3,244,500 --- Glencoe remains a buyer-leaning luxury market by MAI, despite rising prices driven by higher-quality inventory. Longer days on market are common, and pricing remains fragile.
Lake Forest • MAI: 33 (down slightly from 34 last month) • Inventory: 26 homes • Median List Price: $1,949,750 --- Lake Forest remains steady. Inventory is low enough to support pricing, but buyers are patient and deliberate, especially above $2M.
Luxury Standouts — Tight Supply Still Matters
Wilmette • MAI: 58 (up from 56 last month) • Inventory: 13 homes • Median List Price: $2,200,000 --- Wilmette strengthened this week. Demand remains high, inventory increased slightly but is tight, and pricing has not yet adjusted despite early signs of cooling.
Winnetka • MAI: 47 (down from 49 last month) • Inventory: 13 homes • Median List Price: $1,795,000 --- Winnetka remains a strong seller’s market, though prices have softened slightly. Inventory has increased, giving buyers more choice, but demand still outpaces supply.
💡 Key Insights This Week
• Strongest seller leverage: Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Wilmette • Most balanced conditions: Glenview, Highland Park, Northbrook • Most buyer leverage: Glencoe, Lake Forest • Inventory remains historically low across most suburbs • Pricing strategy matters more than speed
🧭 Final Thoughts
This week made one thing clear: there is still no “average” market across the North Shore and North Suburbs. Some areas reward speed. Others reward patience. Understanding which market you’re in — and how buyers are behaving there — is the real advantage right now.
