Chicago's Hottest Neighborhoods 2026

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Some will appreciate this list because it represents what is considered to be the hottest neighborhoods in Chicago. Other people will find this list helpful because it will help define their expectations in finding a home within these neighborhoods. The following list ranks Chicago MLS areas by percentage of homes that have closed above asking price over the last 30 days. Please note that this is the percentage of homes that sold for above ask, NOT the percentage of price above the asking price.

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Does a property that sells above asking price always do so as a result of a bidding war? It actually does not. Some close above ask due to a credit while others may have received a strong initial offer to avoid a bidding war. 

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Does this mean you should price high if you live in one of these neighborhoods? I would say no. You'll notice that some properties sell above ask, but after a couple of price reductions due to a lack of attention while the property was listed at the higher prices. Buyers are doing their homework. Many looking in these neighborhoods have been looking for a long time and they know how far their money should go. Well cared for homes that are move in ready will go fast, while homes that will require a lot of time, energy, and money to attend to general maintenance items or dated finishes will require additional market time.

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This list was constructed on February 17, 2026 and contains data from the last 30 days.

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