Is winter a good time to sell a home on Chicago's North Side, or should you hold off until spring? Both can work well. Homes listed in April 2026 saw the most bidding wars but also faced the most competition, while homes listed in January and February still did well with far fewer similar homes on the market. Based on my search of the MLS, 60% of the single-family houses and 55% of the condos and townhomes listed in January that sold went for their full asking price or more.
Many sellers assume winter is the slow season and that the only smart move is to wait. In my experience, that is not the case on the North Side. January can be very competitive, because many of the buyers out in the snow are the ones who lost bidding wars in the spring and summer and are ready to move. Here is what the 2026 numbers show, and how to decide what fits your plans.
I looked at every single-family house, townhome, and condo listed from December 2025 through May 2026 in ten North Side MLS areas: Lake View, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, North Center, Uptown, Edgewater, Irving Park, Avondale, Logan Square, and the Near North Side. Then I checked how the ones that sold compared with their list price.
Single-Family Houses by Month Listed | New Listings | Sold Above List Price | Sold At or Above List Price |
|---|---|---|---|
December 2025 | 53 | 36% of sales | 44% of sales |
January 2026 | 100 | 33% of sales | 60% of sales |
February 2026 | 132 | 47% of sales | 66% of sales |
March 2026 | 142 | 51% of sales | 71% of sales |
April 2026 | 176 | 65% of sales | 76% of sales |
May 2026 | 179 | 60% of sales | 72% of sales |
Condos and Townhomes by Month Listed | New Listings | Sold Above List Price | Sold At or Above List Price |
|---|---|---|---|
December 2025 | 345 | 32% of sales | 56% of sales |
January 2026 | 808 | 37% of sales | 55% of sales |
February 2026 | 905 | 50% of sales | 66% of sales |
March 2026 | 1,167 | 52% of sales | 70% of sales |
April 2026 | 1,238 | 59% of sales | 73% of sales |
May 2026 | 1,144 | 54% of sales | 71% of sales |
Source: MLS (Midwest Real Estate Data LLC), listings by month listed, December 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026, in the ten MLS areas above, with sale results through October 22, 2026. "Sold at or above list price" includes homes that sold for exactly their asking price. Both columns use the final list price. At the time of research, deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Spring brings the most bidding wars, but it also brings more homes for sale, so you are competing against more listings for the same buyers. Of the homes listed in April that sold, 65% of houses and 59% of condos and townhomes went over asking.
February came close. About half of the February listings that sold went over asking, and two out of three sold at or above their full asking price, for houses as well as condos and townhomes. February sellers also faced about a quarter fewer new listings than April sellers, so their homes had less competition for attention.
December and January listings did well too. They sold over asking about a third of the time, and in January most still sold at or above their full asking price.
The biggest difference is competition. From January to April, new house listings went from 100 to 176, about 76% more, and new condo and townhome listings went from 808 to 1,238, about 50% more. A house listed in January had far fewer similar homes to compete with than the same house listed in April.
These are homes I listed in the middle of winter. A condo I listed on Irving Park Road in February 2024 sold almost 4% over its asking price. A condo I listed on Hoyne Avenue in Lincoln Square in February 2025 sold about 2% over asking, and a high-rise condo I listed on Marine Drive in Uptown in December 2024 sold at its full asking price. In 2026 so far, my sellers have received 105.07% of their original asking price on average.
People do not tour homes in January for fun. Many winter buyers are the ones who lost out in the spring and summer and do not want to wait another year. Others are relocating for a job that starts early in the year, have a growing family, or have a deadline of their own.
That makes winter showings fewer but more focused. You may have fewer people through the door than in April, but the ones who come are usually pre-approved and ready to write an offer on the right home.
The right answer depends on your home and your plans more than the calendar. A house with a beautiful garden or a townhome with a large roof deck may show better in spring, while a well-updated home that is ready now can stand out in a winter market with fewer choices. Here is how I help sellers think it through.
Listing This Winter May Fit You If... | Waiting for Spring May Fit You If... |
|---|---|
You want to buy your next home in spring and need your sale done first | Your home's best features are outdoors, like a yard, garden, or roof deck |
You are relocating for a job that starts early in the year | Your home needs repairs or updates you cannot finish before January |
Your home shows well inside and is ready now | You have no deadline and want the most buyers possible looking |
You would rather face less competition from other listings | You are comfortable competing with many more homes for sale |
If you are planning to buy and sell at the same time, timing matters even more. Selling in winter can let you shop in spring with your sale done and a clear budget. My page on selling and buying a home at the same time walks through the options.
Price it strategically for the winter market. Winter buyers watch the market closely and know what a home is worth, so an overpriced home stands out for the wrong reason. But pricing well below value in the hope of starting a bidding war is a risk in winter, because fewer homes sell over asking than in spring and many sell close to their list price.
The goal is a price that draws serious buyers right away without leaving money on the table. My post on how to price your home to sell in Chicago explains how I set the number.
Make it warm, bright, and easy to walk into. Keep the walks, steps, and driveway or garage approach clear and salted, put down a good mat, set the heat a little higher for showings, and turn on every light, because it gets dark early. Have your photos taken on a clear day, ideally around midday when the light is best.
Plan around the holidays. New listings roughly doubled from December to January in 2026 as sellers came back after the holidays, and listing in early January puts your home in front of buyers before the spring listings arrive. For more ways to get the most for your home in any season, see my posts on how to get top dollar selling a Chicago home and selling a house in Chicago in the fall.
When you choose an agent to sell your home, look for numbers you can verify. Here are mine:
You work with me directly from the first call to the closing table, and I will tell you honestly whether your home is better listed now or in spring.
No. On Chicago's North Side, 60% of the single-family houses listed in January 2026 that sold went for their full asking price or more, based on MLS data. Winter sellers also face far fewer competing listings than in spring.
In 2026, North Side homes listed in April saw the most bidding wars: 65% of houses and 59% of condos and townhomes that sold went over asking. But April also brought about 76% more houses for sale than January. February listings came close, with about half selling over asking and about a quarter fewer competing homes on the market.
Not by much on the North Side. Two out of three houses, condos, and townhomes listed in February 2026 that sold went for their full asking price or more. Spring listings were more likely to sell over asking, so in winter it is important not to underprice a home expecting a bidding war.
It depends on your home and your plans. Waiting can make sense if your home's best features are outdoors, like a yard, garden, or roof deck, or if it needs work. Listing in winter can make sense if your home is ready, you want less competition, or you need to sell before buying in spring.
I am Dee Savic, a Chicago Realtor® with Baird & Warner. In 2026 my sellers have received 105.07% of their original asking price on average. I have more than 24 years of experience, more than 300 closed transactions, and more than 190 five-star reviews across Google, Zillow, Realtor.com, and FastExpert. You can reach me directly at 773.719.0989.
Find out what your home is worth today with my free home valuation, or schedule a complimentary and confidential consultation and we will look at your home, your plans, and whether winter or spring gives you the better result. You can also call or text me directly at 773.719.0989.
Market data from my search of the MLS (Midwest Real Estate Data LLC), listings from December 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026, with sale results through October 22, 2026. Results for my own listings are from the MLS. Accurate at the time of research, deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Dee Savic is a Chicago Realtor® with Baird & Warner, working out of 4553 N. Lincoln Ave. She helps buyers, sellers, and relocation clients across Chicago, including Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, North Center, Roscoe Village, Andersonville, Uptown, Bucktown, Wicker Park, and the Gold Coast.
Dee Savic
Realtor® | Baird & Warner
4553 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
773.719.0989
[email protected]
deesavic.com
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I'm Dee Savic, your trusted Chicago real estate expert, and I'm here to guide you through your relocation journey. Discover why Chicago is the perfect city for you; from its diverse neighborhoods to its cultural vibrancy, Chicago offers an unmatched urban experience. Together, we'll find a community and home that fits your lifestyle and aspirations.
