“We’re seeing similar pressures across the country, which is why the National Association of Realtors wants to create incentives for homebuilders to help meet the growing housing demand.” — MORe CEO John Gormley

“May’s strong increase in transactions — following April’s decline, as well as a sudden erosion in home affordability — was indeed a surprise. The housing market is attracting buyers due to the decline in mortgage rates, which fell below 3%, and from an uptick in listings.” — NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun

The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of May was 330,000, representing a supply of 5.1 months at the current sales rate, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development reported.

Market competition has eased up recently, but seven in 10 buyers still face bidding wars, according to a new report from Redfin.

On a year-over-year basis, new-home mortgage applications were down 5.9% in May, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported, citing its Builder Application Survey.

Inventory levels rebounded last month, finally showing signs of recovery following a year of historical declines. 

The typical increase in home sales as summer approaches failed to materialize nationwide last month, with average sales dropping 0.2% from April to May, but month-over-month sales in Chicago bucked the trend, climbing 4.3%, according to the RE/MAX May National Housing Report.

Illinois is the 18th-best state to live in the country, according to WalletHub’s 2021 Best States to Live In list. 

Although pending sales are up 29% from last year, they are starting to slow down, dropping 9.7% from their peak four weeks ago.

CoreLogic says the boost in equity will help stave off foreclosures, but the share of homes underwater in the metro Chicago area was at 6.1% at the end of the first quarter of 2021, outpacing the national rate of 2.6%.

Some cities fared better than others with the global pandemic and Chicago is one of them, according to The Economist’s 2021 Livability Index’s ranking of the most livable cities in the world.

Rising property values had homeowners cashing out of their existing residences to buy bigger homes in less-expensive areas last year.

High-end home sales surged in the three months ended April 30 as prices also rose and listings increased.

Detached single-family homes listed in the Chicago area are selling faster than ever, spending an unprecedented average of 53 days on the market in April, according to a report from the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors (MORe).

Houses in today’s market are selling in days, and Chicago sellers wanting the best chance for a quick sale should list on a Thursday before Labor Day, according to a new analysis from Zillow. 

Home-price growth remained in double digits for the 10th straight month in May as inventory lows pushed the median listing prices up 15.2% from last year.