John McGleam - Realtor

11/04/2026

Mortgage rates have moved down for the second consecutive week.

According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 7.24% as of October 29.

That's welcome news for buyers, but here's something worth keeping in mind: a lower rate doesn't automatically mean a home is affordable for your particular budget.

The more useful question is what the entire monthly payment looks like, including property taxes, insurance and any association fees.

Especially here in the western suburbs, those additional costs can make a meaningful difference.

Here's the latest rate update:

The Freddie Mac 30-year mortgage rate dropped 8 basis points this week, from 7.32% to 7.24%, in conjunction with the 10-year Treasury yield, which averaged about 5.02% in the past week compared to 5.13% the week prior.

11/03/2026

Sometimes the question isn't whether you can afford to move. It's whether your current home will continue to work for the way you want to live.

For homeowners planning their next chapter, there are often two possibilities worth comparing: renovate the home to better meet future needs, or move to a property that already does.

That might mean thinking about stairs, bathrooms, yard maintenance, accessibility and the ongoing work of caring for a larger property.

Renovating can be the right decision. So can moving.

The goal isn't necessarily to find a smaller home. It's to find the living arrangement that makes the most sense for the years ahead.

You've spent years making your house feel like home, celebrating milestones, making each room your own, and turning neighbors into friends. As you look ahead to the next chapter of your life, it's natural to wonder if this is still the place you want to spend it.

11/03/2026

October 2026 Housing Market Update | Will County, Illinois

How has the housing market changed in Will County and the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois? Will County's rolling 12-month median sale price was $375,000 through October 2026, compared with $364,000 through October 2025 (+3.0%).

This month's market carousel includes Plainfield, Bolingbrook, New Lenox, Joliet, Mokena, Romeoville, Lockport. New Lenox recorded a $446,450 rolling median sale price and averaged 28 days on the market.

Swipe through to compare median sale price, average market time, percentage of original asking price received, showings to contract, and months of housing supply. Whether you're selling, buying, or moving within the southwest Chicago suburbs, the figures for your community matter more than a countywide headline.

Changes in the median sale price do not measure the appreciation of an individual home. A property-specific market analysis can help you make a more informed decision.

John McGleam | john greene Realtor
630-930-8881
Source: MRED InfoSparks | Rolling 12 months ending October 2025 vs. October 2026.

11/02/2026

October 2026 Housing Market Update | Kendall County and surrounding Illinois communities

How has the housing market changed in Kendall County and the surrounding southwest and far-west Chicago suburbs of Illinois? Kendall County's rolling 12-month median sale price was $395,000 through October 2026, compared with $380,000 through October 2025 (+3.9%).

This month's market carousel includes Oswego, Yorkville, Montgomery, Plano, Minooka, Newark. Oswego recorded a $427,995 rolling median sale price, while Montgomery averaged 31 days on the market.

Swipe through to compare median sale price, average market time, percentage of original asking price received, showings to contract, and months of housing supply. Whether you're buying, selling, or relocating within Kendall County and nearby communities, the figures for your community matter more than a countywide headline.

Changes in the median sale price do not measure the appreciation of an individual home. A property-specific market analysis can help you make a more informed decision.

John McGleam | john greene Realtor
630-930-8881
Source: MRED InfoSparks | Rolling 12 months ending October 2025 vs. October 2026.

11/02/2026

October 2026 Housing Market Update | Kane County and Fox Valley, Illinois

How has the housing market changed in Kane County and the Fox Valley area west of Chicago, Illinois? Kane County's rolling 12-month median sale price was $396,000 through October 2026, compared with $376,750 through October 2025 (+5.1%).

This month's market carousel includes Aurora, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Elgin, South Elgin. Geneva recorded a $551,500 rolling median sale price, while Batavia averaged 29 days on the market.

Swipe through to compare median sale price, average market time, percentage of original asking price received, showings to contract, and months of housing supply. Whether you're buying, selling, or relocating within the Fox Valley area, the figures for your community matter more than a countywide headline.

Changes in the median sale price do not measure the appreciation of an individual home. A property-specific market analysis can help you make a more informed decision.

John McGleam | john greene Realtor
630-930-8881
Source: MRED InfoSparks | Rolling 12 months ending October 2025 vs. October 2026.

11/02/2026

October 2026 Housing Market Update | Eastern DuPage County, Illinois

How has the housing market changed in Eastern DuPage County and the western Chicago suburbs of Illinois? DuPage County's rolling 12-month median sale price was $440,000 through October 2026, compared with $415,000 through October 2025 (+6.0%).

This month's market carousel includes Addison, Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Burr Ridge, Darien. Hinsdale recorded a $1,467,500 rolling median sale price, while Clarendon Hills averaged 28 days on the market.

Swipe through to compare median sale price, average market time, percentage of original asking price received, showings to contract, and months of housing supply. Whether you're selling, buying, or rightsizing in the eastern DuPage suburbs, the figures for your community matter more than a countywide headline.

Changes in the median sale price do not measure the appreciation of an individual home. A property-specific market analysis can help you make a more informed decision.

John McGleam | john greene Realtor
630-930-8881
Source: MRED InfoSparks | Rolling 12 months ending October 2025 vs. October 2026.

11/02/2026

October 2026 Housing Market Update | Central and Western DuPage County, Illinois

How has the housing market changed in Central and Western DuPage County in Chicago's western suburbs? DuPage County's rolling 12-month median sale price was $440,000 through October 2026, compared with $415,000 through October 2025 (+6.0%).

This month's market carousel includes Carol Stream, Warrenville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Lisle, Naperville, Woodridge. Naperville's rolling median sale price reached $607,700, while Wheaton's average market time was 24 days.

Swipe through to compare median sale price, average market time, percentage of original asking price received, showings to contract, and months of housing supply. Whether you're selling, relocating, or rightsizing in the central and western DuPage suburbs, the figures for your community matter more than a countywide headline.

Changes in the median sale price do not measure the appreciation of an individual home. A property-specific market analysis can help you make a more informed decision.

John McGleam | john greene Realtor
630-930-8881
Source: MRED InfoSparks | Rolling 12 months ending October 2025 vs. October 2026.

11/01/2026

What changed in the Eastern DuPage County housing market?

The county's rolling 12-month median sale price reached $437,000 in September 2026, compared with $413,000 one year earlier — a 5.8% increase.

But price is only part of the picture.

This month's market carousel compares Addison, Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Burr Ridge, and Darien. Swipe through to explore market time, percentage of original asking price received, showings to contract, and housing supply.

A change in median sale price doesn't mean every home's value changed by that amount. If you're considering selling, rightsizing, or moving within the western suburbs, I'd be happy to help you understand what these numbers mean for your particular home.

John McGleam | john greene Realtor
Source: MRED InfoSparks | Rolling 12 months ending September 2025 and September 2026.

10/28/2026

Your Home Payment Is More Than the Mortgage

One of the most important numbers for a first-time home buyer isn’t necessarily the price of the house.

It’s the total monthly cost of owning it.

Your housing payment may include principal and interest on your mortgage, property taxes, homeowners insurance and possibly HOA fees.

But even that doesn’t tell the whole story.

You may also have utilities, routine maintenance and the occasional repair that comes with owning a home.

That’s why I don’t want buyers deciding what they can afford based only on a purchase price—or even just the principal and interest portion of a mortgage.

Instead, look at the bigger question:

What will this home actually cost me each month, and does that number comfortably fit my life?

A house can technically fit within a loan approval and still create a monthly budget that feels uncomfortable.

Understanding the full cost before you start shopping gives you a much better target.

10/21/2026

How Much Home Can You Actually Afford?

One of the easiest mistakes a first-time buyer can make is starting with the price of the house.

Instead, I’d start with this question:

What monthly housing payment would comfortably fit into your life?

A lender can help determine how much you may qualify to borrow. That’s important.

But qualification doesn’t know everything else you want your money to do.

You may have a car payment or student loans. You may want to keep traveling, save for retirement, build an emergency fund or simply make sure you still have money left at the end of every month.

That’s why I separate qualifying from affording.

Qualifying asks what you may be allowed to borrow.

Affording asks what payment lets you own a home while still living the life you want.

Find that monthly number first.

Then work backward toward a realistic home price.