Published October 18, 2026 in Market Update

Prices and sales both rose in West Loop and Near West Side

By Thurston Gayle

Real estate, West Loop / Near West Side

The number that matters most here is not the price. It is that both price and volume rose together. When prices climb on thin sales, it can be noise. When more homes close at higher prices, that points to real demand.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows ZIP 60607 ran well ahead of that national pace, up 15.5% in median sale price over the same stretch.

More homes went above asking price

That share is up 16.5 points from the same months in 2025, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. The average sale-to-list ratio hit 101.5%, up 1.3 points year over year. Sellers in this ZIP were collecting more than their asking price, on average.

Nearly half of homes went under contract within two weeks

Still, the median days on market was 55 days, which is 5 days longer than the same period in 2025. Not every home moved fast. Pricing and condition still decided which homes crossed the finish line quickly.

Supply tightened even as new listings rose

More sellers listed, but homes sold faster than they piled up. The result was fewer total homes for sale and less than three months of supply. Nationally, Realtor.com reported active listings grew 5.5% year over year, topping 1.16 million homes. ZIP 60607 moved in the opposite direction.

Rates are a real headwind nationally

Realtor.com reported mortgage rates topped 7% for the first time since January 2025. Fannie Mae, as reported by CNBC, forecasts the 30-year fixed rate at 7.5% for all of 2027. Those rates raise monthly costs for buyers. West Loop and Near West Side still posted strong numbers this period, but rates are a factor every buyer carries into any offer.