Cook County, IL Housing Market Update: June 2026

Key Takeaways

• Cook County crossed a milestone in June: more than half of homes sold above their asking price for the first time since mid-2022, while national above-list rates remained near historic lows.
• The median sale price reached $398,875, up 6% year over year—triple the national rate of price growth.
• Pending sales jumped 9% year over year, signaling a burst of buyer activity heading into summer.

Cook County, IL Housing Market Snapshot

Cook County’s housing market shifted into a higher gear in June. Prices ran well ahead of the national pace, bidding wars crossed into majority territory, and pending sales posted their sharpest annual gain since early 2025. Even as more sellers listed, available inventory fell from a year ago. The overall picture was a market delivering stronger returns to sellers than any month since the pandemic-era surge.

Learn everything you need to know about the Cook County, IL housing market as we head into late summer, and what buyers and sellers can do to succeed.

U.S. Housing Market Snapshot

Nationally, home prices ticked up 2% and pending sales grew about 5%. Inventory barely moved. That national picture barely applied here: Cook County’s prices grew three times as fast, supply contracted while the rest of the country saw modest gains, and over half of homes sold above asking—more than double the national rate.

“June marked a bump in the road for the ongoing housing market recovery,” said Chen Zhao, Redfin’s head of economics research. “Prices climbed faster than in recent months, and economic uncertainty and rising mortgage rates tied to war in Iran spooked some homebuyers and sellers. On a positive note, home sales trended upwards, and affordability improved as wages rose faster than prices. There are pockets of competition in the Midwest, Northeast, and Bay Area, but in general, consumers are still struggling through a difficult period. Even so, economists still expect the market to slowly improve in the coming years.”

Cook County Prices Grew Three Times Faster Than the Nation

While national prices crept up just 2%, Cook County’s median jumped nearly 7%—the widest gap in over a year. The median sale price reached $398,875 in June, a nearly 7% increase from a year ago. Cook County has appreciated roughly 46% since early 2020, and the pace of growth re-accelerated after moderating earlier this year. The median price per square foot climbed about 6% year over year to $263, confirming that those gains reflected genuine value rather than a compositional shift toward larger properties.

Price cuts were rare. Only about 11% of active listings had reduced their asking price, down from 12% a year ago and well below the national average. The typical home sold for nearly 2% above its list price—up a full percentage point from last year. Sellers set ambitious prices, and buyers consistently matched or exceeded them.

Pending Sales Surged as Buyer Activity Picked Up

Pending sales in Cook County reached 6,486 in June, a nearly 9% jump from a year ago, about double the national growth rate of 4.5%. This was the strongest year-over-year gain locally since January 2025 and marked a sharp reversal from the flat-to-declining trend that defined much of 2025. Homes sold also rose about 4%, and new listings increased roughly 6%, indicating that more sellers entered the market but buyers absorbed supply even faster.

That surge in activity still left inventory tight. Active listings fell about 1% year over year to 21,303, and months of supply dropped to 2.5, well below the national figure of 3.7. The age of active inventory fell to 41 days from 45 a year ago, meaning lingering listings represented a shrinking share of the market. Buyers hoping for a summer slowdown encountered the opposite: demand accelerated while available options grew scarcer.

New Listings Surged as More Sellers Entered the Market

New listings in Cook County reached 6,705 in June, growing about 6% year over year—roughly 30 times faster than the national rate (essentially flat). Sellers returned to the market in greater numbers, pushing the monthly total to its highest June level since 2024. The influx coincided with rising prices and intensifying competition: even as more homes became available, demand outstripped the additional supply. National new listings, by contrast, barely moved—holding just above 395,000 after two years of stagnation.

The supply increase failed to relieve pressure on buyers. Active inventory actually fell about 1% year over year despite the listing surge, meaning homes were absorbed almost as quickly as they appeared. For sellers considering whether to list, the data sent a clear signal: new supply entered a market that consumed it rapidly, and the odds of attracting competitive offers remained high.

Upper Tiers Led Price Growth; Bottom Stalled Again

Redfin analysis of MLS data • Rolling three-month period (March-May 2026)

The high tier grew fastest at 6% year over year, with more than half of homes in that bracket selling above list price. Luxury homes ($1.54M median) saw a dramatic acceleration in above-list activity, surging 9 percentage points to nearly 45%—and sales volume grew about 5%, the only tier with meaningful gains. Both the luxury and high tiers sold faster, with days on market falling 3 to 5 days from a year ago.

At the bottom, prices were essentially flat and sales fell nearly 10%. Homes in that bracket sat for 69 days—28 more than the high tier, and fewer than a quarter sold above asking. Starter homes fell in between: prices rose about 4%, but volume dipped and above-list activity declined slightly. The split between tiers showed a market where competition concentrated in the upper half, while buyers at lower price points retained more room to negotiate.

How Buyers and Sellers Can Navigate Cook County’s Market

If you’re buying in Cook County, plan for competition at every step. Over 51% of homes sold above asking in June, and that figure ran higher still in the upper tiers. Secure financing before you start touring, set a firm ceiling, and be prepared to act fast—the median home went under contract in 47 days, and the quickest-moving properties disappeared within two weeks. If competition for upper-tier homes is out of reach, the starter and bottom segments still offered more negotiating leverage.

If you’re selling, conditions strongly favored you. The average home sold for nearly 2% above list, and fewer than 11% of listings required a price cut. Price accurately from day one and you’ll likely attract offers promptly. But don’t assume broad strength makes any listing bulletproof-bottom-tier volume fell sharply, and overpriced homes in any bracket still risked sitting idle while correctly priced competitors moved.

Cook County, IL Market Data by City

Rolling three-month period (April-June 2026). Cities with 50+ sales shown.

This article has been generated, in whole or in part, using generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology, with input from Redfin head of economics research Chen Zhao. While efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this information, you should independently verify all data, facts, and citations contained in this article before relying on it for any purpose. This information is not a substitute for advice from a real estate agent, financial advisor, or other licensed professional. County-level data is not seasonally adjusted. Check the Redfin Data Center for additional in-depth housing market data.