Experts shared modestly bullish expectations for Chicago’s real estate market in 2026 at recent industry events.

Hear Gardner’s takes — and a few predictions of his own — in this exclusive interview.

Slow but steady improvement in inventory, sales and affordability is the consensus outlook for residential real estate in 2026. 

Chicagoland experts in real estate, lending, building and development offer their insights on 2026 in our annual predictions issue.

We asked, you answered! Local agents from around Chicagoland share their real estate predictions for 2026.

Leaders from CENTURY 21 Circle, Compass, RE/MAX Premier, Baird & Warner and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices share their Chicagoland real estate predictions.

Leaders from Chicagoland lenders Rate, A&N, Chase and Wintrust Mortgage share their mortgage-lending predictions.

Leaders from Chicagoland developers Lexington Homes and AK Custom Homes share their construction predictions.

Driven primarily by the construction boom during the pandemic, the housing market has seen some improvements in affordability, but homes remain out of reach for many would-be buyers.

Chicago Agent asked some of Chicagoland’s top brokerage executives, mortgage lenders and developers for their real estate predictions.

Leaders from Engel & Völkers, BHHS Chicago, @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, Ani Real Estate and Fulton Grace share their Chicagoland real estate predictions.

Leaders from Rate, Chase Home Lending and Wintrust Mortgage share their real estate and lending predictions.

Leaders from Chicagoland developers Lexington Homes, Crescent Heights and Wolf Development Strategies share their construction predictions.

Brokerage executives share their national real estate predictions for 2024.

Chicago real estate has been marked by low inventory, rising prices, challenging mortgage rates and industry-shifting lawsuits. That’s a lot of change in one year, so how can we anticipate what’s next? We asked the experts.

These local brokerage executives offer their Chicagoland real estate predictions for the overall Chicagoland market as we enter 2024.