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Wayne Martin
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Alan May
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Cook County, IL Real Estate News

By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
What Sold in Your North Shore Village in November 2022?Check out the median year-to-date number below where I've indicated where it was in January (in italics.)  Prices have risen considerably over 2022 and while most pundits don't think housing prices will rise, I'm pretty certain that in 2023 they will most likely remain steady.  WINNETKAClick here to see all Winnetka homes sold in November 2022Homes for sale:  23Private network homes for sale:  8Median price year-to-date:  $1,555,000 (was $1,330,000 in January)Current month's supply of inventory:  1.3See Winnetka homes for saleSee Winnetka condos for saleSee Winnetka townhouses for sale WILMETTEClick here to see all Wilmette homes sold in November  2022Homes for sale:  22Private network homes for sale:  6Median price year-to-date:  $...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Hubbard Woods Winnetka IL Real EstateNovember 2022There were 3 closed sales and one new listing in November. Of the 3 sold homes, one sold well below the list price, while the other 2 went over the list price. The one new went under contract very quickly. As long as inventory is this low, mortgage rates won't have too much of a damper for certain buyers. There were no new listings entered in the Private Network in November.  SOLD WINNETKA PROPERTIES IN NOVEMBER  260 WoodlawnList price: $1,100,000Sold price: $860,000Days on market: 126(This home sold previously in June 2022 for $945,000 after 7 days on the market) 1225 Pine List price: $1,795,000 Sold price: $1,800,000 Days on market: $1,800,000 110 N. SheridanList price: $1,995,000Sold price: $2,108,000Days on market: 5  NEW HUBBARD WOO...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Glenview, Northbrook, Evanston IL Condo Report 2022 The three villages of Glenview, Northbrook, and Evanston have the largest inventory of condos on the North Shore. Wilmette has a good number but nearly not as many as these three.Many Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, and Glencoe residents have moved to these areas in search of one-level living that is in short supply.The three colored charts below show condo sales from 2019 to year-to-date 2022. There is nothing shocking about these numbers which, I believe, show a steady and robust market. Condo prices have risen particularly in 2020-2021. Also during those two years,  total sales rose. In 2022, sales dipped in Glenview and Evanston but rose in Northbrook. Days on market have significantly come down as well. The condo market in Wilmett...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Hubbard Woods Winnetka Real Estate in October 2022Most of the data below mirrors that of exactly one year ago - October 2021. The big change in home buying is the rising mortgage interest rate which, to date, has not impacted Winnetka and Hubbard Woods sales. The trade-off is the low inventory. Rising rates vs. low inventory and while the market is slightly cooling, clearly, low inventory is keeping prices high.   New Hubbard Woods Listings in October 888 Forest Glen - $1,049,000 1139 Oakley - $1,265,000 (under contract) 1225 Pine - $1,795,000 (under contract) 110 N. Sheridan - $1,995,000 (under contract)   Closed Hubbard Woods Listings in October 1044 Tower RoadList price: $650,000Sold price: $628,000Days on market: 6 1153 AsburyList price: $660,000Sold price: $760,000Days on market: 2...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
What Sold in Your Winnetka North Shore Village October 2022The statistics in this report reflect sales in September 2022. Many of these stats are almost exactly the same as they were in March 2022, when the market was very hot and mortgage rates had not yet risen.There are a few notable changes in some villages from March until September: Winnetka's median price rose by 7%, Wilmette's median price rose by 6%, Kenilworth's by 31% (remember, a small village with fewer statistics), Glencoe's rose by 15%, and Northfield's was unchanged. The months-of-inventory numbers have stayed almost exactly the same, meaning that inventory is still very low. Mortgage rates (for a 30-year conventional fixed-rate) have increased by 87%. March rates were 3.875% vs. 7.25% today. This has not, as yet, impact...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Halloween in Winnetka and the North Shore On a particularly mild Chicago afternoon, I grabbed my bike and camera and rode around the North Shore. I snaked by through Kenilworth, Wilmette, Winnetka, and finally Glencoe. I hadn't set out to photograph Halloween decorations, but they were (as always) so fun I had to!North Shore residents take their holiday decorating seriously. Halloween decor starts showing up in the third or fourth week of September. And Christmas/Hannukah decorations are often displayed before Thanksgiving and can stay up for months afterward. So here's my array of the local Halloween scene covering all tastes: scary, sweet, gory, whimsical, and funny. See the whole array of photos at Winnetka & North Shore Halloween Photos While you're here, please see all North Shore ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Midwest Outpacing the Coasts as Housing Cools Just a few years ago the Midwest lagged behind every real estate market in the country. As home prices rose to astronomical heights elsewhere, we were struggling with long market times and slumping prices.  Now, according to a report:  "Redfin reports Chicago, Albany, and Milwaukee are among the housing markets holding up better than others as the U.S. faces high mortgage rates and an uncertain economy"Nine of the 10 housing markets that are holding up best are located in the Midwest or the East Coast. Redfin also said:"Lake County, IL—located about 45 miles north of Chicago—is holding up better than any other metro in this analysis. It’s followed by Albany, NY, and Chicago. Rounding out the top 10 are New Haven, CT; Milwaukee; New Brunswick...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Hubbard Woods Winnetka Real Estate September 2022It was a quiet September in Hubbard Woods which reflects lower sales in late summer. Just two closing in September and one new listing that is already under contract. There are just 7 homes for sale right now in Hubbard Woods. Three of those are proposed new construction, and one is a teardown home. The remaining 3 have been on the market for a good amount of time. Essentially, there are no homes for buyers in the under $1 million range. NEW HUBBARD WOODS LISTINGS  1044 Tower Rd. (under contract)$650,000  NEW HUBBARD WOODS PRIVATE LISTING 1139 Oakley - $1,265,000  CLOSED HUBBARD WOODS HOMES 1381 AsburyList price: $1,495,000Sold price: $1,330,000Days on market: 42 1134 TaylorsportList price: $6,900,000Sold price: $6,280,000Days on market: ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
 What Sold in Your Winnetka North Shore Village Not much has changed since last month's report. Total sales, homes for sale, median price, and month's supply of inventory have stayed stable.  WINNETKAClick here to see all Winnetka homes sold in September 2022Homes for sale:  26Private network homes for sale:  7Median price year-to-date:  $1,575,000Current month's supply of inventory:  1.3See Winnetka homes for saleSee Winnetka condos for saleSee Winnetka townhouses for sale WILMETTEClick here to see all Wilmette homes sold in September 2022Homes for sale:  41Private network homes for sale:  11Median price year-to-date:  $903,000Current months supply of inventory:  1.4See Wilmette homes for saleSee Wilmette condos for saleSee Wilmette townhouses for sale KENILWORTHClick here to see all K...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
What is the Private Listing Network in Winnetka & the North Shore TWO THINGS HAPPENED IN REAL ESTATEIn 2018, our Northern Illinois Multiple Listing Service (MRED) introduced the “Private Listing Network” (PLN) to real estate agents.  Then, in November 2019, the National Association of Realtors banned the use of “pocket listings.”  The ban has been challenged but stands for now.  WHAT IS A POCKET LISTING?First, what is a pocket listing and why is it problematic? A pocket listing (sometimes called an exempt listing) is an agreement between the home seller and real estate agent (more specifically, the brokerage) that the house will not be listed on the  Multiple Listing Service (MLS,) but rather sold behind the scenes. There are multiple reasons sellers might not want their homes publicly ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
See What Sold in Your North Shore Village in August 2022Inventory came down some more in August in Winnetka, Wilmette, and Glencoe, but stayed stable in Kenilworth and Northfield. Homes that sold in August did not have as many homes selling "over list price" but they were very close. Some of the stats don't always make a lot of sense. The market was on fire in 2021, yet homes are going under contract much faster this August than in August of 2021. The lack of inventory is clearly still having an effect on the market. As an example, 29 homes are currently for sale at this time in Winnetka. Last August, there were 49 and that was considered low. Wilmette currently has 34 homes for sale, and last year it was double with 69 homes for sale. WINNETKASee all Winnetka homes and condos that sold...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Hubbard Woods Winnetka Real Estate in August 2022Hubbard Woods had just 2 new listings in August, which is 2 less than July. Five homes closed compared to 12 in July. And the median price of homes rose from $1.5M in June to $1.515M in July, to $1,660M in August.   HUBBARD WOODS 2 NEW LISTINGS - AUGUST 1485 Scott - $1,199,000 (under contract) 921 Fisher - $2,999,000   HUBBARD WOODS 2 NEW PRIVATE LISTINGS - AUGUST  1153 Asbury - $660,000 (under contract) 814 Boal Pkwy.$3,150,000   HUBBARD WOODS 5 SOLD HOMES - AUGUST 1330 AsburyList price: $1,625,000Sold price: $1,700,000Days on market: 4 838 LocustList price: $1,595,000Sold price: $1,765,000Days on market: 6 681 WaldenList price: $1,899,000Sold price: $1,800,000Days on market: 20 940 Private LnList price: $4,250,000Sold price: $3,900,000 ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
What's Ahead for Winnetka & North Shore Real Estate?There are so many differing opinions about where the real estate market is headed. This is what I know and what I've gleaned from the real estate sources I follow. After having a super hot market for almost two years, change is definitely in the air. We see it locally with three markers: price reductions contracts falling apart longer days on market Inventory is still historically low but slowly, very slowly, creeping up. Conversely, mortgage rates have risen since June, and fallen again. It's a concern for some buyers who have decided to wait it out on the sidelines.This slowdown does not mean that we're in a depreciation phase - but rather a deceleration phase. Some real estate insiders think the market will pick up later this year a...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Here is What Sold in Your North Shore Village in July 2022Nationally, changes are happening a bit faster than here on the North Shore. These changes include price reductions, increased market times, and contracts falling through. In other words, the usual.In spite of these changes starting to occur here, the numbers from July 2022 were very strong. Of course, these statistics are lagging indicators since they went under contract several months ago. Inventory is up in all villages from the previous month (which I have indicated, below) and this is good for buyers looking in our area. The median price has also risen across the North Shore.  WINNETKAClick here to see all Winnetka homes that sold in July 2022Homes for sale: 37 (29 last month) Private network homes for sale: 5Median price ye...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Hubbard Woods Winnetka Real Estate in July 2022July's real estate statistics reflect sales dating from February to July, with six sales in April. For the most part, these numbers are lagging and don't reflect the changes we're seeing in the real estate market. Just four new homes came on the market last month with 12 closed homes. Of those 12 sales, 2 sold for less than listing price, 4 sold at list price, and 6 sold for over list price. The median price of a Hubbard Woods home has risen 59% since 2021. I checked the number twice it's so incredible. I think we've peaked as mortgage rates and reality are settling in.  4 NEW HUBBARD WOODS LISTINGS IN JULY 2022 1381 Asbury - $1,345,000 1240 Tower - $1,468,000 1016 Westmoor - $2,599,000 1330 Westmoor - $4,795,000   12 CLOSED HUBBARD WOODS L...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Where to Find the Cheapest Gas in Winnetka and the North Shore Gas prices! Whatever can be done? There's no place to escape to - it's expensive everywhere.I drive a lot - it's an occupational hazard.  But what about you - have you tried to cut back by walking or biking (okay for a few summer months) or combining errands (good for those that can remember things and are organized.)I'm usually on fumes when I pull into whatever station is nearest - and they're all too expensive right now in Winnetka and Wilmette, or even Glenview and Northbrook. So here's a little help for your starved wallets - Gas Buddy - a good site to just plug in your zip code and be directed to the cheapest local gas prices in the area. There are other sites like this one but what I like about Gas Buddy is that ther...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Wilmette IL Condos for Sale at 1616 Sheridan Road1616 Sheridan Road is a condo building located on the lakefront in the area known as No Man's Land. It is conveniently located right across the street from shopping, restaurants, medical, and dental offices.The building was built in 1961 and has 10 stories and 83 units. They range in size from 1-bedroom up to 3-bedroom and are always on one level (no stairs.)  1616 Sheridan is one of the few buildings along the lake to allow a few rentals.The building does not have a doorman and residents use key fobs to enter the building.  Most do this through the garage, entering within a secure area of the building. There is an on-site manager, garage man, and maintenance staff.The amenities include an outdoor pool, private beach, guest suite, party r...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Winnetka North Shore Condo Report Jan-June 2022Condo and townhouse sales have been robust in the North Shore villages of Winnetka, Wilmette, Glencoe, Northfield, Glenview, and Evanston.Evanston has the highest inventory and thus the largest number of sales. Conversely, Glencoe doesn't have the condo inventory of other towns but what they do have sold quickly and for slightly over the asking price. Going back to 2019 (chart below) it's interesting to see that while sales are generally lower, the median price ranges back and forth from higher to lower. The one constant is that the average market time was higher and the list-to-sell ratio was lower in 2019. Note that in 2019, Glencoe condo sales were dismal. They had long market times and sold for much less than the list price. And a compl...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
See What Sold in Your North Shore Village in June 2022 WINNETKAClick here to see all Winnetka homes that sold in June 2022Homes for sale: 36 ($650,000 to $16,000,000)Private network homes for sale: 9Median price year-to-date: $1,500,000Current supply of inventory: 1.4 monthsSee all Winnetka homes for saleSee all Winnetka condos for sale WILMETTEClick here to see all Wilmette homes that sold in June 2022Homes for sale: 40 ($385,000 to $3,200,000)Private network homes for sale: 8Median price year-to-date: $895,000Current supply of inventory: 1.1 monthsSee all Wilmette homes for saleSee all Wilmette condos for sale  KENILWORTHClick here to see all Kenilworth homes sold in June 2022Homes for sale: 11 ($900,000 to $14,000,000)Private network homes for sale: 3Median price year-to-date: $2,100...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
The Hubbard Woods real estate market still isn't "balanced," if there is such a thing in home inventory nowadays. This past June, 8 homes closed in; last June the number was an incredible 19. Would our number be higher now if there was more inventory? I think so.Look at the median price over the past three Junes:June 2022 - $1,500,000June 2021 -  $1,305,000June 2020 - $965,000That's a 55% increase in the median price over 3 years. Below you'll see that most (not all) homes are still closing at higher than the list price. A year ago almost all of the 19 homes sold below list price and still had long market times. 6 NEW LISTINGS IN HUBBARD WOODS JUNE 2022 941 Tower  $1,089,000under contract 260 Woodlawn $1,100,000 1305 Asbury $1,100,000 1291 Forest Glen $1,599,000under contract 812 Hibbar...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
 Winnetka and North Shore Dog Beaches You don't have to have a dog that loves the water - or even one that chases balls and sticks. Winnetka and North Shore dog beaches are open for all dogs that want to cool off and socialize. And do something different than laze around the backyard on a hot day.The dog beaches require pets to be up-to-date on vaccinations and there are rules that must be followed, which are outlined on the websites (listed below.)  Along the North Shore, there are four easily accessible dog beaches.Winnetka -  Centennial Park BeachLocated on Sheridan Road just south of Elder (Elder Beach for humans is next door.)  The cost for residents is $35 for one dog and $15 for additional dogs.  Non-resident fees are much higher at $170.00 for one dog.  The Winnetka dog beach ha...
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