Chicago, IL market overview / Market Report
Chicago, IL Housing Market Report and Selling Costs
Use the Chicago market measures as context, then compare listing, repairs, an as-is sale, and waiting against the costs and timing for your own house.
USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in Chicago, Cook County, and DuPage County. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
Call 888-274-5006 to talk about the property.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the property address, condition, occupancy, and timing you are considering.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
Recent local measures
Chicago housing market numbers
The shared display keeps each measure's source, Chicago geography, and period beside the figure. Read those details before comparing a citywide number with one address.
Housing prices and selling conditions
These measures describe housing prices and selling conditions for the areas and periods shown. Compare them alongside repair costs, your mortgage payoff and selling costs.
| Measure | Value | Source and area | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $425,000 | Redfin · Chicago, IL | Three months ending August 2026 |
| Median days on market | 49 days | Redfin · Chicago, IL | Three months ending August 2026 |
| Homes sold | 7,439 homes | Redfin · Chicago, IL | Three months ending August 2026 |
| Typical home value (Zillow ZHVI) | $334,030 | Zillow · Chicago, IL | As of August 2026 |
| For-sale inventory | 5,576 homes | Zillow · Chicago, IL | As of August 2026 |
Include utilities, other bills and any mortgage payments while waiting to sell. Allow time for closing, too.
What the numbers mean
A citywide figure does not price your particular house
Condition, needed repairs, access, and cleanout can change what a buyer compares with a market measure. A tenant or other occupant can affect access and timing. Your payoff, liens, and sale terms matter too.
A citywide median is a reference point from a group of homes, not a quote for your address. Compare the options using the house's condition, occupancy, costs, and the time you have.
We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. You can compare that route with listing or waiting without treating the citywide data as your property's value.
Local selling costs
Illinois transfer taxes depend on the property and sale
For a taxable transfer, Illinois charges 50 cents for each $500 of taxable value, or part of $500. That is $100 in state tax on $100,000 of taxable value. A county may add 25 cents per $500; if it does, the state and county amounts together would be $150 per $100,000 before any city tax. Chicago has a city transfer tax too. Exemptions, taxable value, and the property's actual county and city affect the amount and who is responsible for it.
- Illinois Department of Revenue transfer-tax information →
- Illinois statute, 35 ILCS 200/31-10 →
- Chicago Municipal Code §3-33-030 →
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the Illinois state, county and city transfer taxes.
Your mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes remain separate settlement items.
What you may keep
Sale price and money left after costs are different numbers
Start with a realistic sale price or written offer. Subtract your mortgage payoff, liens, repairs and cleanout, applicable selling costs, and the bills you carry while waiting. Listing costs belong in the listing comparison; your actual net depends on your property and settlement numbers.
Compare what you may keep with the Chicago calculator →Just an estimate — the actual number could be more or less depending on the home's condition.
Testimonials are real, from our transactions, verified and approved by our attorneys. Each review keeps its own location; a nearby seller's experience is not presented as a Chicago sale.
What sellers say about USA Home Buyers
Here's what sellers have said about working with us.
“We had a grease fire in the kitchen that spread to the wall and the cabinet above the range before we got it out. Insurance gave us actual cash value — $19,000 on a kitchen that would cost $35,000 to rebuild. I wasn't going to fight that for six months. USA Home Buyers bought the house as-is in nine days.”
“I worked at the Amazon distribution center in Kenosha and took a medical leave for six months. Fell behind on payments, the bank filed in Kenosha County Circuit Court — Wisconsin judicial foreclosure. USA Home Buyers explained exactly where the timeline was and moved fast. Written offer in twenty-four hours, closed in eleven days. Foreclosure dismissed.”
“We owned our Lakeview property for twenty-six years and the property taxes hit $6,400 this year. Both retired, two incomes gone to one Social Security check. The house had too many stairs for my husband's knees anyway. USA Home Buyers gave us a fair number and closed in seven days. We moved to a one-floor condo in Waukegan.”
Chicago market report questions
Do Chicago market numbers tell me what my house is worth?
No. Citywide figures describe a broad market and period; they do not price your particular house. Condition, repairs, occupancy, title, payoff, and timing can change the comparison for your address.
How do Illinois transfer taxes affect a Chicago sale?
For a taxable transfer, Illinois charges 50 cents for each $500 of taxable value, or part of $500. A county may add 25 cents per $500, and Chicago has its own city transfer tax. The state tax alone is $100 on $100,000 of taxable value; if a county adds 25 cents per $500, the state and county amounts together would be $150 before city tax. Exemptions, taxable value, and the actual property determine the amount.
When I sell to USA Home Buyers, who pays transfer taxes?
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the Illinois state, county and city transfer taxes. Your mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate settlement items.
What changes the amount I keep after a sale?
Start with the sale price or written offer, then account for your mortgage payoff, liens, repairs and cleanout, selling costs, and the bills you carry while waiting. If you list, include the listing costs and any work needed for that route. The calculator lets you change planning assumptions for your own comparison.
Do I need to repair or clean out the house before asking for an offer?
No. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
How can I compare an as-is sale with listing or waiting?
Compare written terms against the price you might list for, the repairs and selling costs, the payoff, and the time and bills involved in waiting. Condition, tenant occupancy, access, and your preferred timing can all affect which option fits.
Compare your Chicago house-selling options
Share the address and what matters about condition, occupancy, and timing. You can also call 888-274-5006.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the property details you want us to review.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.