A total of 11,375 homes, both single-family houses and condominiums, were sold in Illinois last month, a 4.6% rise from the 10,873 sold one year earlier.
According to data from Illinois Realtors, 22,845 homes were available for sale statewide last month, down 2.9% from the 23,522 homes available in September 2024. The monthly median price of $301,000 in September was 3.8% higher than $290,000 from one year before.
“Across Illinois, housing activity remained steady through September, a sign of continued buyer and seller confidence despite ongoing affordability challenges,” said Tommy Choi, 2025 Illinois Realtors president and co-founder and owner of Weinberg Choi Residential at Keller Williams ONEChicago. “What we’re seeing is a market finding balance. A market where preparation, pricing, and patience matter more than ever. While affordability remains a key concern, these steady gains show that Illinois buyers continue to believe in the long-term value of homeownership.”
Geoff Smith, executive director for the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University in Chicago, is predicting Illinois home sales will decline by nearly 4% year-over-year during the fourth quarter.
“While home prices are expected to follow typical seasonal patterns and soften through the end of the year, they are projected to remain strong overall ending December nearly 5% higher year-over-year,” Smith said. “In September 2025, single-family inventories declined year-over-year for the first time since April 2024, breaking a 16-month streak of gains and highlighting Illinois’ slow recovery toward pre-pandemic inventory levels. Continued price growth, despite economic uncertainty, highlights the role that persistent tight supply plays in shaping homebuyer affordability across the state.”
Photo by formulanone / Wikimedia Commons
