Living Near Metra: A Commuter's Guide to Chicago's North and West Suburbs

For many buyers moving out of the city, the train decides the search. Hybrid work has made the commute less of a daily grind, but being able to walk to a Metra station still adds value to a home. Here's how the suburbs we work in connect to downtown. North Shore: Union Pacific North (UP-N) The UP-N

Selling Your Chicago Home in Fall and Winter: What Actually Works

Spring gets all the attention, but plenty of Chicago-area homes sell well in October through February. Here's how we approach an off-season listing and why it can work in your favor. Why the off-season isn't a bad time Less competition. Fewer sellers list after Labor Day, so a well-priced home stand

Condo vs. Single-Family in Chicago: What September 2026 Sales Show

"Should we buy a condo or a house?" is one of the first questions we hear from buyers, and the answer depends a lot on where you're looking. Here's how September 2026 closed sales compared for single-family homes and condos/townhomes in the areas we cover. Citywide, condos and houses are closer than

Chicago Real Estate Market Update: September 2026

Every month we pull closed sales from the MLS for the City of Chicago and 19 of the neighborhoods and suburbs where we work most. Here's what September 2026 told us, and what it means if you're buying or selling this fall. The full interactive table is on our Chicago & Suburbs Market Report. The cit