The M Nack Team at Compass

09/17/2026

Lincoln Square single-family homes closed at a median of $1.23 million over the past year, up 19.7%.

That's the number every seller sees in their comps. It's also a rear-view mirror.

The current read says something else. Buyer demand in 60625 has dropped two months in a row, from 77 in mid-July to 52 today on Altos Research's Market Action Index. Single-family homes still on the market have been sitting an average of 102 days. 38% have cut their price, and not one has raised it.

It's still a seller's market. It's just not the market your comps recorded.

My September update covers what that means if you're selling this fall, and why buyers have more room than the headlines suggest:

https://mnack.com/chicago-northside-market-update-september-2026.html

08/16/2026

Chicago leads all twenty Case-Shiller metros in home price growth — 6.9% over last year, while the national index rose 1.1%.

So why are so many Northside listings sitting?

Because tight inventory and eager buyers aren't the same thing. Prices here are up because there's almost nothing to buy, not because buyers are feeling bold. And a cautious buyer will pass right by a home that's priced like it's July.

My August market update looks at what the numbers actually say — and why, in the tightest market in the country, the smart move is still to price conservatively and let buyers set the number.

Tight inventory and eager buyers are not the same thing. Why the July headlines are already out of date — and what that means for your list price.

08/05/2026

Do you like geeking out on numbers like I do? Chief Economist @ Compass Mike Simonsen looks housing supply. (Spoiler alert: Chicago has the highest shortage of inventory in the country!)

Mortgage rates finished the week near their highs for the year, and...

07/30/2026

30-year mortgage rate are the highest of the year @ 6.7% primarily due to the price of oil driving up inflation.

Key takeawaysThe average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.66% this week, its highest level of 2026.Economists say the recent rise in mortgage

07/27/2026

A few weeks ago, I was on a podcast with the developer of Foundry Park (the site formerly known as Lincoln Yards.) He is very bullish on Chicago and Chicago's labor force - crediting them with having a great work ethic. In development, time is money - and having a project come in on time is critical to its success. He is not the first developer I have heard say that about Chicago's laborers. In recent years, some well-known Chicago developers have turned to the sunbelt states because of the favorable development climate. But they don't have Chicago's workers! I was thinking about that today when I took this photo of the construction site across the street. Pouring down rain and they're shoving dirt (or rather MUD!) around!! No matter the weather. Canadian wildfires. Torrential downpours. Tornado warnings. -10* or 90* They are out there working! Don't ever say these guys don't work hard!! ♥️🇺🇸 ✶✶✶✶

07/10/2026

This Block Club Chicago story reminds me: in the mid-90's I had the Louis Sullivan building listed for sale at 4611 N Lincoln in Lincoln Square (The Krause Music Store - his final commission designed in 1922. Photo is below). The owner showed me some blocks like these ones that were parked in the backyard - apparently unused remnants from when the building was built. !! Can you believe it? I had it listed for $475k and couldn't sell it because it was overpriced. !! (It ended up selling in 1998 @ $425k - I wasn't involved in the sale.) It was most recently listed in 2022 @ $1.8mm. It STILL didn't sell. It's one of those properties that takes an architectural aficionado to see its value and is typically sold off-market by word-of-mouth. 💖
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/08/artifacts-of-louis-sullivan-building-demolished-in-the-50s-are-protecting-south-shores-lakefront/

06/30/2026

The builder of hosted Compass agents at their amazing sales center last month. He said that the city is now discouraging builders from providing so many parking spaces since it only encourages more car ownership. (Not sure the logic follows.) Here is a BisNow Article that seems to support what he was saying:

Developers are seeking to capitalize on the cost savings to buildings that come with less parking.

05/28/2026

YAY Summer and Farmers Markets! Download my app now for a listing of all the markets in the region! Just click on this link using your phone and 'share it' to your homescreen. https://mary-nack-markets.netlify.app

05/20/2026

Memorial Weekend!

04/03/2026

LM Deli Building is under contract! (LM Deli has a long-term lease and isn't going anywhere.) They have been trying to sell it on/off for a number of years. Let's hope (for the seller's sake) that it closes!

4363 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 is a mixed use property listed for sale at $2,395,000 and is pending. This is a 0-bed, 0-bath property.