Kurt Clements Realtor Exp Realty

10/16/2026

Zoom out to all of Chicagoland and the market looks steady. Zoom in, and it's a completely different story.

More listings, more homes under contract, prices holding close to flat, that's the region-wide picture, and it looks calm and steady from that angle. But zoom into Aurora, Naperville, Oswego, or Plainfield individually, and you'll find four genuinely different stories, some towns moving fast, others giving buyers more breathing room than they've had in months. The region-wide numbers are a useful starting point, but they're not the whole picture for your specific situation. That's really the whole reason I break these town-by-town updates out every week, because real estate is local, and the details matter.

If you're thinking about making a move, feel free to reach out, happy to look at the numbers for your specific town.

Kurt Clements | eXp Realty | kurtclementshomes.com

📊 Data: June–July 2026

10/16/2026

Hoping mortgage rates will come down soon? The latest inflation report just made that outlook a little more complicated.

Inflation climbed to 3.7% in September, higher than economists expected. And while rising gas prices were a big driver, costs increased across several other categories too.

Why does that matter for housing? Because stubborn inflation makes it harder for the Fed to justify lowering their Federal Funds Rate. It could even increase the chances of another hike.

Now, the Fed doesn't directly control mortgage rates. But inflation and Fed expectations influence them, which means there's no guarantee mortgage rates will move lower anytime soon.

If you're planning to buy or sell, don't let a hoped-for rate drop be the only thing driving your timeline.

Let's look at what today's market means for your move and build a plan around the numbers you can actually work with.



For more information, reach out!

10/15/2026

Here's the regional pricing picture across Chicagoland, and it points toward more balance.

Median list price eased slightly, from $389,000 to $385,000, while price per square foot held flat at $216. Months of inventory ticked up from 1.8 to 2, still a fairly tight market overall, but clearly drifting toward more balance than we've seen in a while. Real estate is always local, so that shift plays out differently depending on exactly where you're looking, but the broader trend is worth understanding whether you're buying or selling this fall. Balance tends to be good news for both sides of a transaction.

Follow Kurt Clements Homes for weekly updates on the far west suburbs of Chicago.

Kurt Clements | eXp Realty | kurtclementshomes.com

📊 Data: June–July 2026

10/15/2026

Home sales may be slower than last year. But that doesn't mean buyers have disappeared.

At the current pace, almost 4 million homes are expected to sell this year. That's about 11,000 each day, 450 an hour, and nearly 8 every minute.

Why? Because even in this market, there are still buyers out there who have a reason to move.

People get new jobs, families grow, people retire, downsize, and move closer to the people they love. And those changes create buyers and sellers in every kind of market.

In fact, the latest report from NAR shows sales actually ticked up slightly in September, even though they're still below last year's pace.

So, don't let a headline convince you no one is buying. You don't need every buyer. You just need the right one – and a strategy that helps your house get their attention.

If you're thinking about selling, let's talk about how to make yours one of the homes that sells.



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10/14/2026

If you own a home anywhere in the Chicagoland area, here's the good news for sellers.

Homes under contract jumped from 19,900 to 21,300 region-wide, and days on market held steady at 28, even with more inventory hitting the market. That tells us buyers are still moving quickly on the right homes, demand simply hasn't backed off. Real estate is always local, so your specific town's pace may look a little different, but sellers who price competitively are still seeing strong activity across the region as a whole. This isn't a market where sellers need to worry, it just rewards realistic pricing more than it did a few months back.

Questions about your local market? Drop them in the comments.

Kurt Clements | eXp Realty | kurtclementshomes.com

📊 Data: June–July 2026

10/14/2026

Want to move but don’t want to give up your current low rate? This is for you.
Data shows homeowners with a mortgage have an average of $310K in equity right now.

And that means if you've been putting off a move because you don't want to give up the mortgage rate you locked in a few years ago, your equity could help.

You could use it toward a bigger down payment and borrow less at today's rates.

Or, if you're downsizing, you might even be able to buy your next home in cash. No mortgage. No worrying about today’s rates.

Want to know how much equity you have and what it makes possible for you? DM me, and I'll help you find out.



For more information, reach out!

10/13/2026

If you're house hunting anywhere across Chicagoland this summer, buyers have more to work with than they did a few months ago.

Active listings across the region climbed from 13,300 to 14,400, and homes with price reductions jumped from 4,161 to over 5,000, a 21 percent increase. That means more homes to choose from and more room to negotiate on price. Real estate is always local, so what this looks like in your specific town can vary quite a bit, but region-wide, the leverage has genuinely shifted toward buyers right now. If you've felt priced out or squeezed for options earlier this year, this is worth a fresh look.

If you're thinking about making a move, feel free to reach out, happy to look at the numbers for your specific town.

Kurt Clements | eXp Realty | kurtclementshomes.com

📊 Data: June–July 2026

10/13/2026

Do You Know How Much Equity You Have?

The low mortgage rate you locked in a few years ago might make moving feel off the table. But your equity could put it back on.Homeowners with a mortgage have an average of $310K in equity right now. That could go toward a bigger down payment, so you borrow less at today's rates. Or, you may be able to buy your next place in cash – without needing a mortgage at all. So, don’t write off a move just yet. Let's find out how much equity you have and what it could do for you.



For more information, reach out!

10/12/2026

Why Most People Are Still Glad They Bought a Home

Don’t let today’s uncertainty make you lose sight of what homeownership can do over time. Most homeowners say they’d make the same choice again. And decades of home-price growth help explain why.
If you’re wondering whether buying makes sense for you right now, let’s look at the numbers together – and what owning a home could mean for you in the years ahead.



For more information, reach out!

With everything going on, it’s understandable if you’re wondering if you’d regret buying right now.

10/11/2026

The Fed is raising the Fed Funds Rate to cool inflation, and that can keep upward pressure on mortgage rates for a while. But you can still make a move that works for you.

It just takes the right strategy.

Buyers need to know their real budget at today's rates. Sellers need a price and plan that fits what buyers can afford right now.

Relief on rates could take some time. If you're thinking about a move, let's put together a game plan built for today's rates, so you'll know your next step.



For more information, reach out!