Michael Steber: Keller Williams North Shore West

09/23/2026

NEW POST ➡ You Can't Afford the New House Until You Sell the Old One. Here's What to Do About It.

Thinking of buying a new home before yours sells? Here are the four ways Lake County, IL homeowners do it, current market numbers, closing-timeline math, and a step-by-step playbook.

09/17/2026

The Condo Financing Rules Just Changed: Here's Where the Real Discount Is Hiding

New Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac condo rules are reshaping financing and dues in Lake County, IL — and creating a real discount for buyers who know where to look.

09/13/2026

There are 1,098 single-family homes for sale in Lake County right now — down 3.6% from a year ago. Months of supply has dropped to 1.6, down almost 6% year over year. New listings are essentially flat, so the homes that would normally replace what's selling just aren't showing up in the same numbers.

For anyone who assumed fall automatically means more breathing room to shop — that's not really what's happening this year. Anyone else feeling this out there, buyers or sellers?

09/12/2026

There's a common assumption that the housing market automatically cools off once fall hits. In Lake County, the trailing 12-month data through August 2026 tells a different story: median price up 5.8%, inventory down 3.6%, and homes selling 8% faster than a year ago.

If you've been waiting for things to slow down before you make a move — as a buyer or a seller — what's actually happening might be worth a second look. What's your read on it?

09/11/2026

The average 30-year mortgage rate was sitting around 6.7% in early September 2026 — slightly higher than a year ago. And yet closed sales in Lake County have stayed relatively steady, down just 1.6% year over year on 8,205 closings.

That suggests a lot of buyers have stopped waiting for rates to move and are making decisions based on their own timeline instead. Has that been true for you or anyone you know house-hunting right now?

09/11/2026

Fall market update for Grayslake, Libertyville, Gurnee, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Waukegan, Zion, Round Lake, Winthrop Harbor, Wadsworth, North Chicago, and the rest of Lake County: median price is up 5.8% year over year to $410,000, inventory is down 3.6%, and homes are selling in a median of 23 days.

These numbers are countywide — if you're curious how your specific neighborhood is tracking, drop a comment or send a message and I'll pull the local numbers for you.

09/10/2026

Lake County single-family homes are tightening again this fall — here's what the trailing 12-month data means for buyers and sellers before the holidays.

Discover what fall 2026 means for Lake County, IL home buyers and sellers — trailing 12-month MRED data reveals rising prices, tightening inventory, and faster sales.

09/09/2026

Thinking about listing this fall or waiting until spring? Lake County's data might change your mind.

Inventory is down 3.6% from a year ago, homes are going under contract in a median of 23 days (8% faster than last year), and it's taking just 9 showings to get an offer. That's a tighter market than a year ago, not a looser one.

What's holding you back from listing right now — timing, moving logistics, or something else? Curious what other Lake County homeowners are weighing.

08/26/2026

New post is up! If you're thinking about buying, selling, or just want to understand what's happening in the Lake County market right now, this one's worth a read: What Lake County Buyers and Sellers Need to Know Heading Into Fall

What Lake County, IL buyers and sellers need to know this fall: stricter condo financing rules, a new Illinois property tax law, and whether the post-Labor Day market bump is happening this year.

08/25/2026

The condo and townhouse market is cooling this year, shifting to a calmer, more balanced pattern compared with the earlier frenzy. Median condo/townhome price is $300,000, a 4.0% year-over-year increase, signaling steady appreciation rather than sudden spikes. Price per square foot rose to $201, up 4.7%, reflecting modest gains in unit value even as overall momentum slows.

Closed sales have dipped 4.9%, pointing to slightly weaker buyer demand, while inventory holds near 236 active listings — supply hasn’t surged but hasn’t tightened either. That represents about 1.4 months of supply, well below the six-month equilibrium, so the market still leans toward sellers. Average time on market is roughly 35 days (about five weeks), giving sellers decent exposure but longer selling windows than during peak bidding-war periods.

Homes continue to sell close to asking, averaging about 99.4% of list price, so sellers generally capture most of their price with smaller concessions. Notably, bidding wars have eased, creating more room for buyers to negotiate on price, closing schedules, inspection contingencies, or seller credits for repairs or closing costs. Right now, buyers have the most leverage in this segment; sellers still benefit from a seller-favored market but should price realistically and stay flexible.

Buyers and sellers should monitor inventory and days on market—small shifts can quickly flip negotiating power—and pay attention to local micro-markets where conditions may differ.

Condo and townhome market softens — median +4%, bidding wars ease, buyers gain negotiating room.