Chicago home prices remained steady with solid year-over-year gains, while a small drop in sales and inventory is keeping competition balanced. 

Many Americans are planning a move this year, driven by lifestyle changes, family needs and homeownership goals, according to the 2026 State of Moving Forecast Survey by American Home Shield. 

Existing-home sales decreased by 8.4% in January, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ Existing-Home Sales Report.

U.S. home sales declined 6% year over year and 32% month over month in January, according to the latest REMAX National Housing Report.  

Affordability continues to be a challenge in housing, and a new report from the National Association of Home Builders shows how that’s influencing both buyers and builders in 2026. 

After five years of worsening, housing affordability has finally started to improve, according to a new Redfin study. 

With mortgage rates approaching 6%, 5.5 million additional buyers that could not qualify for a mortgage one year ago would qualify at today’s lower rates, the National Association of REALTORS® said. 

In a rare housing market shift, newly built homes saw price reductions more frequently than existing homes in late 2025 for the first time in recent history, according to a new report from Realtor.com.  

Chicago’s multifamily market entered 2025 with limited new inventory, and that scarcity only increased throughout the year. 

As the housing market continues to adjust, design and community strategy have become drivers of buyer preference, according to Jenni Nichols, vice president of design at John Burns Research and Consulting.

Zillow’s Home Value Index shows that in 13 of the past 20 years, home values in the metro area of the Super Bowl champion grew faster than the national average.

The broader Chicagoland area, meanwhile, saw a slight uptick in sales during the year. 

Several suburban communities experienced significant declines in prices during December, however.

Affordability challenges continue to bedevil homebuyers, despite mortgage rates falling to a three-year low, the National Association of Home Builders reported. 

Research showed a disproportionately high share of foreign-born workers active in the construction trades nationally in 2024.

Sales of existing homes jumped 5.1% month over month, topping analyst expectations.