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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
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
Winnetka North Shore Home Sales Summary for 2021Record sales and record prices were the norm for almost all North Shore villages in 2021 compared to 2020.. The only exceptions were Glencoe and Evanston which had fewer home sales in 2021. But - prices rose across the North Shore.  While 2020 is not the best year to compare to, it did make an incredible comeback as soon as the lockdown was lifted. So I'll proceed with the following numbers comparing total sales and prices of 2020 vs 2021:   Total Sales Increase/Decrease Home Price Increase Winnetka +12% +18% Wilmettte +13% +8% Kenilworth +38% +12% Glencoe -12% +23% Northfield +16% +18% Glenview +16% +11% Northbrook +18% +9% Evanston -6% +8%  How Low is Inventory in the North Shore VillagesWhile inventory is always down in January, this ye...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
2021 was a big year for condo sales in the North Shore. Many sellers downsized and moved into small condos and townhouses throughout the area. And there seemed to be many condos for sale to accommodate them. Currently, inventory is very low.  Compared to 2020, every town had an increase in the number of sales.Winnetka sales up 86% (22 sales in 2020)Wilmette sales up 23% Glencoe sales up 60%Northfield sales up 28%Evanston sales up 39%Glenview sales up 24%Northbrook sales up 28%In spite of high sales, the median sale price did not rise in every village. Northfield saw the highest jump in price with a 47% increase.  Glencoe had a huge drop at 35% lower than 2020 but it has the smallest sampling and so the data is not as accurate.Total sales for all seven villages was 1,724. 8 were studios1...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
Simply put - there's not nearly enough housing inventory to go around. Of course, this is January when inventory is always at its lowest.  Winnetka, for example, has just 28 homes for sale. Here's what I wrote in 2010 during the recession:"197 homes for sale in Winnetka, Illinois."This tight market will ease up in the following months leading up to spring as it always does. We'll just have to wait and see how many Here is what sold in your village in December:WINNETKAClick here to see all  25 Winnetka homes that sold in DecemberHomes for sale: 28   ($490,000 to $5,995,000)Private network homes for sale: 15   ($945,000 to $9,995,000)Under contract or pending: 30Median price in 2021:  $1,300,000Current supply of inventory: 1.9 monthsSee all Winnetka homes for saleSee all Winnetka condos f...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
HUBBARD WOODS DECEMBER 2021The year end in Hubbard Woods saw no new listings in either November or December, except for several in the private Multiple Listing Service.Of the 6 closed sales in December, closed sales show that prices have remained strong:2 sold under list price2 sold over list price2 sold at list priceInventory is very low at this point of the year. I expect that to change in the next few months as spring gets closer.NO NEW HUBBARD WOODS LISTINGS IN DECEMBER 20213 NEW PRIVATE LISTINGS  260 WoodlawnList price: 945,000 1310 ScottList price: $1,539,000 1171 WhitebridgeList price: $6,250,000  6 CLOSED HUBBARD WOODS HOME SALES  1469 ScottList price: $819,000Sold price: $747,000Days on market: 77 1408 AsburyList price: $1,195,000Sold price: $1,255,000Days son market: 9 1496 Sc...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
Whenever you think of how low inventory is, remember that there are homes available on the Private Network. This is particularly true in Winnetka and Wilmette where there are approximately 50% more homes available that are not being marketed publicly. It's less so in Glencoe, Kenilworth, and Northfield but they also have private inventory available.71 homes sold in the five villages of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield. Of those 71 homes:17 sold for over list price (the highest being 16.6% over list)49 sold for under list price (the lowest being 22% under list price)9 sold for list priceThere is always a lag in these numbers since a majority of these homes would have gone under contract in September and October. It will be interesting to see if the numbers hold up ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
Homes sales in Hubbard Woods are not much different since last month. Few sales, and no new listings. Our inventory (all through the North Shore) has dwindled and anxious buyers will need to wait until the spring market.This chart shows the drop in inventory from February 2020 to the present:  NEW HUBBARD WOODS LISTINGS NOVEMBER 2021No new homes were listed in Hubbard Woods in November. SOLD HUBBARD WOODS LISTING NOVEMBER 2021Six homes closed in November in Hubbard Woods. As you can see, none sold for over list price and one sold for the list price. Also unusual this year, only two sold in less than a week while the rest had lengthy sale times.  1318 Forest GlenList price: $1,349,000Sold price: $985,000Days on market: 135 1183 ScottList price: $1,495,000Sold price: $1,288,893Days on mar...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
After three decades, Don Juan's Restaurant in Chicago closed at the end of 2020. A great institution and local treasure was gone. Sort of.Don Juan's Cantina and Taqueria opened in July just a mile away - and will continue their tradition of great food, drinks, and service! Same owners (with a new investor) Maria and her son Jacob are back in full swing.With a smaller and refined menu, the emphasis is on fresh traditional and contemporary Mexican food. There is a large assortment of craft tacos made with organic masa plus old favorites like Hogan's oysters, Camarones Don Juan, 6-Chili Pollo, and Carne Asada Tampiquena.    They refer to their margaritas as "legendary" and I have to agree. I take mine with Mezcal, which imparts a smoky flavor that perfectly balances with the traditional ta...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
What Sold In Your North Shore Village in October, 2021Yes, the market has started cooling - which it always does this time of year. The "cooling" mainly pertains to the frenzied bidding that drove prices up with multiple offers.Fewer homes are now selling over the list price which has been common for the year to date. As before, inventory continues to be low, with just a few months of inventory in each village.Since January 1, four-bedroom homes in Winnetka sold for 98% of list price while 5+ bedroom homes averaged 96%.Wilmette homes of all sizes sold for 98% of list price.Kenilworth homes sold for 95-96% of list price.Glencoe homes sold for 97% of list price except 5+ bedroom homes which averaged a sale of 95% of list price.Northfield homes sold for between 94-9% of list price.If selli...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
If you've been listening or reading the news you know that the real estate market  has cooled down. This is normal at this time of year. The one difference is that that Hubbard Woods still has very low inventory.You can see below that there are only 9 homes for sale right now and 10 under contract. Compare that to:November 2018 - 41 homes for sale with 13 under contract November 2019 - 34 homes for sale with 14 under contract.Most pundits believe the market will again be tight and competitive in 2022, but not reaching the heights of 2021. If selling your home is getting close, consider 2022 as it seems impossible that these numbers will continue for too much longer. Particularly with talk of rising mortgage rates. CLOSED HUBBARD WOODS HOMES IN OCTOBER 1507 Tower RoadList price: $950,000...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
A PLACE WITH SPACE!Rarely does a condo this large come on the market anywhere in the North Shore. 5020 Arbor Lane, Unit 102 is one such home.Located on the first floor with views of the pond, it includes:3 bedrooms2 1/2 bathsLarge living roomLarge family room and dining roomEat-in kitchenLarge closetsIn-unit laundryElevator building2 indoor heated parking spots across from the elevatorIndividual storage room2,920 square feetPlus: clubhouse, indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, and outdoor gathering area.Meadowlake is located close to the Edens, Walgreen's, Mariano's grocery, many restaurants, and walking trails.Price: $599,000See all photos and information for: 5020 Arbor Lane, Unit 102, Northfield IL Additional Resources:All About Meadowlake (Arbor Lane) Condos
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
There were 7 homes that closed in Hubbard Woods in September. Three of them sold for over the list price, and four sold for below list price. All sold relatively quickly except for one that took many years. There were just two new listings both of which would be considered luxury homes with high prices.   SOLD HOMES IN HUBBARD WOODS September 2021   1381 Asbury List price: $549,000Sold price: $600,000 (9.2% over list)Days on market: 9 960 Old Green BayList price: $1,225,000Sold price: $1,187,500 (3% below list)Days on market: 74 1140 Chatfield List price: $1,599,000Sold price: $1,405,000 (12% below list)Days on market: 139 795 LocustList price: $1,345,000Sold price: $1,459,000 (8.5% over list)Days on market: 4 135 N. SheridanList price: $1,549,000Sold price: $1,500,000 (4% below list)Da...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
What Sold In Your North Shore Village in September 2021  Current Winnetka Real Estate MarketClick to see all Sold Winnetka homes in September Homes currently for sale: 45Private Network homes for sale: 20Under contract or pending: 42Current months supply of inventory: 2.3See all Winnetka Homes for Sale Current Wilmette Real Estate MarketClick to see all Sold Wilmette Homes in SeptemberHomes currently for sale: 56Private Network homes for sale: 11Under contract or pending: 44Current months supply of inventory: 2.0See all Wilmette Homes for Sale Current Kenilworth Real Estate MarketClick to see all Sold Kenilworth homes in SeptemberHomes currently for sale: 13Private Network homes for sale: 2Under contract or pending: 8Current months supply of inventory: 3.1See all Kenilworth Homes for Sa...
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By Terri Buseman, Downtown Chicago
(RE/MAX Premier Properties)
Parts of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs are experiencing record sales since the start of the pandemic. The overall real estate market in Chicagoland is strong. When putting your home on the market, you’ll want to do everything possible to make it attractive to buyers so you can get a good price and sell quickly. This will require a combination of making needed repairs, pricing it correctly, decluttering, and staging so it looks terrific for showings.Getting a home in ‘ready to sell’ condition is one of the most important steps to selling your home. No matter what market, there are key elements that should be addressed to position your home for success. These include: Price Condition Staging How Should you Price your Chicago Home?The first step in the selling process is figuring out...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
The median price of North Shore homes in the villages of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Northfield, and Glencoe dipped to $990,000 at the end of August. That was a 18% decrease from the previous month's median price of $1,210,000. The previous low median was $850,000 from April 2021.It's natural for home sales to dip at this time of year. Fewer buyers are looking now and many have decided to wait until the spring market of 2022. Inventory is still low frustrating everyone. Learn more about the North Shore real estate market: Median sales price:  Market time for home sales averages 40 days:  Under contract homes are decreasing - normal at this time of year:  New listings are also slowing as we head into fall: 168 homes for sale in Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield:  
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
There were 128 total single family home sales in August in Kenilworth, Winnetka, Wilmette, Glencoe, and Northfield (down from 142 in July.) The median price was $1,000,000 ($1,223,000 in July.)Sales are tapering off - a function of both the end of summer and continued low inventory. WINNETKASee all Winnetka property sales in AugustHomesCondosCURRENT WINNETKA REAL ESTATE MARKETYear-to-date sales: 246Homes currently for sale: 49Price range: $599,000 to $7,500,000Private network homes for sale: 21Condos for sale: 5Under contract or pending: 37Current months supply of inventory: 2.5See all Winnetka homes for saleSee all Winnetka condos for sale WILMETTEClick to see all Wilmette properties sold in AugustHomesCondosCURRENT WILMETTE REAL ESTATE MARKETYear-to-date sales: 353Homes currently for ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
You'll see that activity slowed way down in August - particularly with only one new home being listed. The good news is that there are four homes in the Private MLS which will eventually hit the market (unless they sell before that.)Two of the three closed homes sold for over the list price - we still don't have enough inventory to fulfill buyers' needs. I think many buyers have decided to wait until next year in the hope that they'll be a wider variety of homes come to the market.  3 CLOSED HUBBARD WOODS LISTINGS AUGUST 2021  1509 EdgewoodList price: $1,195,000Sold price: $1,165,000Days on market: 205 1468 ScottList price: $1,249,000Sold price: $1,326,000Days on market: 7 660 RosewoodList price: $4,100,000Sold price: $4,155,520Days on market: 78   1 NEW HUBBARD WOODS LISTINGS AUGUST 20...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
If you haven't heard yet, live music is returning to the North Shore!  Winnetka's Music Festival is back this year and being billed as "Emerge Winnetka." Emerging, as in the hope that life returns to some normalcy with and after Covid.The original two years of 2018 and 2019 (skipped in 2020) were held over two days in various spots throughout downtown Winnetka (as shown in featured photo, above.)  This year, the fest will be just one day and located at the Skokie Playfields in Winnetka (part of the Winnetka Park District.)The music fest will be held from 2pm to 11pm.This year's line-up includes  This year's venue offers approximately five acres of space - plenty for safe social distancing. There will be a food court with food trucks offering an array of foods plus wine and beer.Please n...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
In July, the North Shore villages of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield had 142 total home sales, just shy of June's 151 homes. The median sold price was $1,223,000. There were 123 total sales last July (actually a high number) but the median price was $1,000,000.Of the 142 homes sold in June, the average list to price ratio was 98% and the average days on market was 33. Still a strong seller's market without the frenzy of the spring market. You can also see that the current month's worth of inventory hovers between 2 to 3 1/2 months. Anything under 5 is a seller's market and and 2-3 is an extreme seller's market.  WinnetkaClick to see Winnetka sold homes in JulyCurrent Winnetka Real Estate MarketSold homes in July:49Year-to-date home sales: 232Homes currently for s...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
Have you wondered if the condo market has been as hot as the single-family home market during the past year? Well, it's been very good but not quite as fast as single-family homes have been selling. Every North Shore village except Glencoe saw higher prices, faster sell times, and better list-to-price ratios than the previous year. Although . . .  first six months of 2020 were a bad time for any type of sales. Nevertheless, let's take a look at each village: WINNETKASee all Winnetka Condos for Sale  WILMETTESee all Wilmette Condos for Sale  GLENCOESee all Glencoe Condos for Sale  NORTHFIELDSee all Northfield Condos for Sale  GLENVIEWSee all Glenview Condos for Sale  EVANSTONSee all Evanston Condos for Sale CONDO PRICES IN PAST 12 MONTHSUp 8.5% MONTHS SUPPLY - at 3.3 months, down from 5....
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
Fifteen homes closed this July compared to 19 in June. As you'll see below, 3 of the 6 new listings are already under contract, and 6 of the 15 closed listings went over the list price. So it's still a very good seller's market but the frenzy from the earlier part of the year has definitely dissipated. 6 NEW HUBBARD WOODS HOMES LISTED in JULY  1381 Asbury: $549,000 (under contract) 1507 Tower: $899,900 795 Locust: $1,345,000 (under contract) 700 Locust: $2,095,000 (under contract) 1304 Trapp:  $3,250,000     952 Pine Tree:  $4,195,000                2 NEW PRIVATE LISTINGS in HUBBARD WOODS  135 N. Sheridan: $1,549,000 720 Ardsley: $6,999,999    15 SOLD HUBBARD WOODS HOMES in JULY   1257 ScottList price: $799,000Sold price: 775,000Days on market: 8 1317 ScottList price: $850,000Sold price...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(Baird & Warner Real Estate)
What Sold In Your North Shore Village in June 2021 Record sales and closes in all North Shore villages in June. June saw a total of 151 units sold in all of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield. The median price was $1,125,000. The previous June (2020) had 88 total sales and the median price was $968,000. Although the comparison is a bit unfair since 2020 through June had several months of extremely low sales.The majority of homes have sold in under a month, with many in under a week. There are a few homes with long market times but those were overpriced to start and slow to reduce.  The links in blue (below) under the town's name show sales by address in each villages. WINNETKA Click to see all Winnetka Home Sales in June 2021 Current Winnetka Real Estate MarketSold ...
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