Published October 4, 2026 in Market Update

River Forest moved faster even as sales volume fell

By Thurston Gayle

Real estate, River Forest

The number that matters most right now: the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted a median of 39 days on market in River Forest for the three months ending July 31, 2026. That is 7 days shorter than the same period a year before. Fewer homes closed, but the ones that did moved faster.

Nationally, Redfin reported that 21% of sellers cut their asking prices during the four weeks ending September 20. Realtor.com put that figure at 20.8% for September, the highest share since October 2022. River Forest did not follow that pattern. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows homes here averaged 101.1% of list price at closing, up 0.7 points from a year before.

Sales fell, but speed held

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 55 homes sold, down 19.1% from the same three months in 2025. That is a real drop. At the same time, Realtor.com reported mortgage rates surged above 7% for the first time since January 2025. Fewer buyers could close, and that shows in the count.

But the homes that did sell did not sit. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows 48.9% of River Forest homes went under contract within two weeks of listing, up 2.6 points from a year before. Nearly half of listings found a buyer in two weeks or less.

Above-list closings rose, not fell

The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows 41.8% of River Forest homes sold above their list price, up 2.1 points from a year before. That is not a market where sellers are chasing buyers. It is a market where correct pricing still brings competition.

Supply ticked up, but stayed tight

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 35 homes for sale, up 2.9% from a year before. New listings rose too, 52 in the period, up 8.3%. Months of supply came in at 2 months, up 0.5 months. More choices than a year ago, but still a thin shelf.

For context, Realtor.com reported active listings nationally grew 5.5% year over year, topping 1.16 million homes. River Forest's 2.9% inventory gain is smaller than the national pace.

A word on taxes: River Forest property tax bills are the biggest sticker shock for buyers coming from Chicago. Cook County reassesses both townships in 2026, so bills may change. Verify current figures with your own research before you budget.

One more note for buyers: River Forest restricts overnight on-street parking. If a listing does not include off-street parking, ask before you make an offer.

These are ZIP-level numbers. One street in River Forest can read very differently from the whole 60305 picture. If you want to know what the data says about your block, reach out.