Here’s something strange about this housing market: people feel a lot worse about it than the numbers say they should.
I caught Dr. Lawrence Yun — NAR’s chief economist — break down the national picture earlier this month, and one chart stuck with me: consumer sentiment is sitting near its lowest point in 25 years. And yet the stock market just hit record highs, Chicagoland jobs are at an all-time high, and homeowners keep building wealth. The mood and the math don’t match.
That gap is exactly what’s keeping good people in Wheaton, West Chicago, Warrenville, and Carol Stream parked on the sidelines. So this week, let me use Yun’s national numbers to clear up four myths — and then show you what’s actually happening on your block.
Myth #1: “I’ll wait until rates drop to 5%.”
Yun’s 2026 forecast puts mortgage rates at 6.5% — and he made a point of saying not 6%. Rates are settling into the 6s and staying there. Around here, that hasn’t slowed buyers down a bit — well-priced homes in our towns are still moving in days, not weeks. Waiting for a “5” isn’t a plan; it’s just lost time and lost equity.
Myth #2: “A 2008-style crash is coming.”
Not even close. Back in 2008–2010, about 9% of mortgages were seriously past due. Today it’s roughly 1% — near a historic low. Our neighbors have real equity and locked-in payments, and NAR’s headline forecast literally reads “No Recession.” This is not 2008.
Myth #3: “Renting is the smarter move right now.”
This is the one that quietly costs people the most. Nationally, the median homeowner’s net worth is about $430,000 — versus about $11,000 for the median renter. Homeowners are projected to add another $16,000 in 2026 alone. That’s roughly a 39-to-1 gap, and it widens every single year. Now look at what owning in our area has done lately…
Myth #4: “Prices are about to fall, so I’ll wait to list.”
Nationally, Yun forecasts prices up 4% in 2026. Right here at home, it’s even stronger:
• Wheaton — median price $487,000, up 7.6% from a year ago. Homes selling in 7 days at 100% of asking, with just 1.3 months of supply.
• Carol Stream — $370,000, selling in 9 days at 100% of list, 1.5 months of supply.
• West Chicago — $390,000, 12 days on market at 100% of list, 2.4 months of supply.
For perspective: a balanced market carries 5–6 months of supply. Our towns are sitting between 1 and 2.5. Homes are selling in a week or two, at full asking price, with almost nothing for buyers to choose from. That’s not a market about to drop — it’s a market starving for inventory, and that shortage is exactly what keeps a firm floor under your home’s value..
So here’s the takeaway.
If you’ve been waiting for a “sign” to list here in DuPage, fast sales at 100% of asking is it. We’ve still got real runway in the summer season — but the window to catch peak demand doesn’t stay open forever.
If you’ve ever wondered what your Wheaton, West Chicago, Warrenville, or Carol Stream home would actually sell for in today’s market, that’s the easiest conversation in the world for me to have. Just reply or give me a call — no pressure, no pitch, just honest numbers for your specific street.
Talk soon,
Andy
Andy Pupius, REALTOR® · Southwestern Real Estate
Sources: National Association of REALTORS® — Dr. Lawrence Yun, Real Estate & Economic Outlook (June 2026); MRED / InfoSparks, rolling 12-month data through May 2026.