When I was a kid, my mom loved going antiquing.
I hated it.
I was probably in fifth or sixth grade. If I didn't have a baseball or hockey game that weekend, there was a pretty good chance I was getting dragged along on one of my mom's antique adventures.
And these weren't quick trips.
We'd pile into her old Buick and drive what felt like halfway across the state to some antique store in a town I'd never heard of.
I had no idea where we were going. I had no idea how long we'd be there. And I definitely had no idea when we were coming home.
When you're 11 years old, a 45-minute car ride might as well be a trip to California.
My mom, meanwhile, was having the time of her life.
She'd walk into these places like she owned them. She knew everybody. Or at least acted like she did. She'd start talking to whoever was working, laughing, asking questions, and wandering around looking at everything.
She had more energy than anybody I knew.
And I was completely embarrassed by it.
Some of these antique stores were dark, dingy buildings filled with what looked like absolute garbage.
Old furniture. Random dishes. Weird lamps. Things hanging from the ceiling. Stuff piled on top of other stuff.
Nothing matched. Nothing made sense.
And my mom loved every second of it.
She'd call me her "little helper."
Which was a pretty generous job title considering my main contribution was asking when we could leave.
I remember one time she found this old Chinese dragon chair.
I swear we went back to that store a hundred times because of this chair.
To this day, I couldn't tell you what she paid for it. I couldn't tell you if it was some priceless antique or a complete piece of junk.
But I can tell you that ridiculous chair is still in the house today.
Meanwhile, I'd be sitting on some bench in the corner, staring at the clock, wondering if time had actually stopped.
And to make matters worse, sometimes that old Buick would break down.
We'd be stuck on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck.
My mom had a broken car to worry about.
I had a much more important concern.
Was I still getting my comic book?
Because my mom and I had a deal.
If I went antiquing with her, afterward we'd stop at a comic book store, and I could spend $20.
And let me tell you, that $20 was the only thing keeping me alive during some of those Saturdays.
I was a huge X-Men fan growing up. I loved the characters, the artwork, the stories, everything.
I even had subscriptions to the new comics. Back then, you could subscribe, and they'd actually mail them to your house.
But I didn't want the new ones.
I wanted the old ones.
The back issues.
I'd read Wizard Magazine, which was basically the bible for comic book collectors back then, and study which issues were worth something.
First appearances of major characters. Rare covers. Old storylines. Anything I thought might become valuable someday.
I loved finding issues from storylines like Days of Future Past or stumbling across the first appearance of some character I knew was important.
And because my mom was dragging me all over the state, I'd get out the phone book and figure out which comic book stores were near whatever antique shop we were visiting.
No Google Maps. No internet searches.
Just an 11-year-old kid with a phone book, trying to figure out where he could find some old X-Men comics.
When we finally got to the store, I'd start digging.
Boxes and boxes of old comics.
I'd flip through every one. Looking at the artwork, checking the condition, trying to find something special.
And I would take FOREVER.
Which is pretty funny when you think about it.
I'd just spent the entire afternoon complaining about my mom taking too long looking through old junk.
And now here I was doing the exact same thing.
Except her junk was furniture.
Mine had Wolverine on the cover.
And my mom never complained.
Sometimes she'd come inside. Sometimes she'd wait in the car. Sometimes she'd drop me off and run an errand.
She just let me look.
And I wasn't about to waste my $20.
If I found something I really wanted that was priced above my budget, I'd try to negotiate.
I'd tell the guy behind the counter that the comic had probably been sitting there for who knows how long. Who knew when somebody else was going to come along and buy it?
But I was standing there right now with $20.
We could get this done today.
Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didn't.
I was probably the only fifth grader in Illinois trying to explain market conditions to a comic book store owner.
And when I finally found the right comic, I'd get one of those protective plastic bags for it.
On the drive home, I'd carefully pull it out and read it from cover to cover. I was so paranoid about damaging it that I didn't even want to wrinkle a page.
I'd read it a few times, admire the artwork, and then put it away like I'd just purchased a priceless piece of art.
I still have every one of those comics.
They're sitting in the bedroom I grew up in.
I probably haven't looked at them since I was 14 or 15 years old.
And looking back, those Saturdays I couldn't wait to be over are some of the ones I remember most.
The old Buick. The dusty antique stores. My mom talking to everybody. And me waiting for my $20.
And the funny thing is, I still spend most of my days doing exactly what I was doing in those comic book stores.
Looking through inventory. Trying to figure out what's worth the money. Negotiating with people who think what they have is worth more than somebody else is willing to pay.
But right now, most buyers only want the new issue.
Something hits the market on Thursday, everybody wants to see it that weekend.
But let that same property sit for 60 days?
"What's wrong with it?"
I'll ask why they think something's wrong.
"Well, it's been sitting."
That's it. That's their entire reasoning.
People have gotten so used to properties selling immediately that when something doesn't, they assume there's a problem.
And here's where it gets interesting.
We're seeing more deals fall apart right now. A buyer might have been willing to pay a certain price for a property when somebody else wanted it.
But then that deal falls apart, the property comes back on the market, and suddenly they don't want it anymore.
Same property. Same kitchen. Same location.
Except now they might be able to buy it for LESS than they were originally willing to pay.
And they're nervous.
It's almost like some people need somebody else to want something before they can see the value in it themselves.
Meanwhile, we're seeing some properties that are a little dated, or started out overpriced, now selling for considerably less than they might have commanded in the spring.
Some of these are genuinely good properties. They just need a little work, or a seller who's finally come around on pricing.
And that's where I think the opportunity is.
When I was 11, I never cared how long that X-Men comic had been sitting in the box.
In fact, the back issues were exactly what I was looking for.
I just wanted to know if it was the right comic and whether I could get it for my $20.
And for sellers, remember who I was in that comic book store.
I was the kid telling the owner it had been sitting there forever.
Every buyer who walks into your property on day 60 is that kid.
And the longer it sits, the better their argument gets.
Sometimes nothing about a property changes.
Only the people looking at it do.
Although I'm still not convinced anybody needed that dragon chair. |
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Buyer Demand: Pretty much even with last week, maybe a slight dip with Halloween weekend.
Inventory: Down a bit. We're starting to see more sellers pull their properties off the market as we head into the holidays.
Mortgage Rates: Down a little from last week.
Multiple Offers: About the same as last week, but almost exclusively on new listings. Properties that are priced right and fresh to the market are still getting attention.
Contracts: Down week over week. Not surprising as we wrap up October and head into November.
Price Changes: A decent amount this week, especially on properties that have been sitting for 30–60 days. Sellers are starting to adjust their expectations. |
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Deals Are Dying Faster
We're seeing more buyers make a bigger deal out of inspection items and walk away from contracts faster than they were earlier in the year. Some of these properties are coming back on the market, and buyers are getting nervous simply because a previous deal fell apart. That doesn't always mean there's something wrong with the property. It's creating some interesting opportunities for buyers willing to take another look.
The Holiday Buyer Is About to Emerge
Over the next week or two, we'll start seeing a different type of buyer. These are people who want to get something done before the end of the year, whether it's because of a lease, relocation, or simply wanting to get ahead of the spring market. There may be fewer buyers out looking, but the ones who remain tend to be much more serious.
Inventory Is Heading Into Hibernation
We're already seeing more sellers pull their properties off the market rather than sit through November and December. Others are choosing to wait until after the first of the year to launch. Expect fewer options as we head into the holidays, especially in neighborhoods where inventory is already tight. |
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Single Family Homes
Not a ton of new inventory this week, and expect even less as we head into the holidays. More sellers are choosing to test the private market and wait until after the new year to go public. The buyer pool is shrinking as people put moving plans on hold for the holidays, but well-priced homes are still flying off the shelves. The high-end market is softening a bit, but with so few options available, sellers still have the upper hand. Hardcore seller's market.
Lincoln Park, Lakeview, North Center, Roscoe Village
Inventory remains extremely limited, especially at the entry-level price points. Demand is still incredibly strong, but buyers are becoming more price-conscious. We've actually seen a few overpriced properties sit and, believe it or not, even some price reductions. Sellers reaching too high are starting to feel it, while correctly priced properties are still going absolutely insane. Expect more listings to go private rather than accumulate market time. Hardcore seller's market.
West Town, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square, Avondale
Not a ton of new inventory this week, but we did see some price reductions on properties that have been sitting. The market is still hot, just not stupid hot. Buyers know what things are worth, and sellers can't reach on pricing this time of year and expect people to bite. We're also seeing more two-flats and townhomes head to the private market as the buyer pool thins out. Seller's market, just not as aggressive as earlier in the year.
Old Town
Old Town continues to perform very well, especially walk-ups and luxury properties. Inventory is limited, and demand remains strong, but buyers aren't willing to pay just anything anymore. High-rises with higher assessments or no in-unit laundry continue to struggle. It's November, so a little slowdown is expected, but the good stuff is still moving quickly. Hardcore seller's market.
West Loop
A little new inventory hit this week, but we saw more price reductions than properties going under contract. Dated units with high assessments and step-up properties are having the toughest time. High-end new construction is doing okay, but nothing spectacular. More sellers are testing the private market first, and buyers are taking their time deciding what's actually worth the asking price. Demand is decent, just not great. Slight buyer's market.
South Loop
A decent amount of inventory hit this week, but properties really need to be priced right and show well to sell. More price reductions, and we're seeing sellers throw in the towel, pulling their listings and waiting for a better time. Buyers are especially selective here and seem more pessimistic than in other neighborhoods. The high-end market continues to struggle. There may be some value sitting on the shelves, but buyers aren't rushing to grab it. Buyer's market.
New East Side & The Loop
A little new inventory hit, but we're seeing more sellers pull their properties and plan to relaunch in the spring. More price reductions than contracts, and inventory will likely shrink as sellers step away for the winter. Buyers are pessimistic and looking for deals, especially on properties that have been sitting for a while. Just because something hasn't sold doesn't mean it isn't worth buying, but the price has to make sense. Buyer's market.
River North, Streeterville, Gold Coast
Some new inventory this week, but plenty of sellers are calling it quits for the year and waiting until spring. Price reductions continue as buyers become pickier and take longer to make decisions. Inventory should start shrinking as more listings disappear from the public market. There are opportunities for buyers who know what they're looking for, but not everything sitting on the shelf is a bargain. Slight buyer's market. The Big Picture: Outskirts: It remains a seller’s market across all categories, Downtown Core: Is feeling more like a balanced market.
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Matt Laricy & Susana Mendoza on Chicago’s Mayoral Race | Laricy Live E214
Matt Laricy sits down with Susana Mendoza to discuss Chicago’s future, the potential mayoral race, property taxes, public safety, housing affordability, and the city’s biggest challenges. From the local economy to the issues impacting Chicago homeowners and businesses, this conversation explores the policies, leadership, and decisions that could shape the future of Chicago real estate and the city as a whole |
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Q3 2026 Real Estate Numbers - Closings, Market Time, Months of Inventory & Prices | Laricy Live E215
This week on Laricy Live, Matt Laricy breaks down the Q3 2026 Chicago real estate market data and what the numbers reveal about where the housing market is headed for the remainder of the year and into 2027. |
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