Published October 20, 2026 in Market Update

McHenry County still has a tight supply of homes

By Alison Aviles

Real estate, McHenry County

The one number every McHenry County homeowner should see right now: the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted just 1,101 homes for sale across the county in the three months ending August 31, 2026. More homes are coming to market, but buyers still do not have a lot to choose from. That keeps well-priced, well-prepared homes in a strong position.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 1,587 new listings county-wide in that same period. That is more supply than the 1,101 homes actively for sale, which tells you homes are moving. Still, supply has not built up enough to tip the balance toward buyers. Most ZIP codes sit well under 4 months of supply, which is the level where things start to feel balanced.

Months of supply by ZIP code

Fox River Grove (60021) is the tightest spot in the county. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted just 0.9 months of supply there, down 1.7 months from a year ago. Only 9 homes were for sale, a drop of 55% year over year. Homes that did sell went in 35 days at 101.8% of list price, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. That is a very thin shelf.

On the other end, Spring Grove (60081) had 4.1 months of supply, the most in the county, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Sellers there are still getting close to list price: the average sale came in at 99.9% of asking. But only 23.3% of homes sold above list, down 15.4 points from a year ago. Pricing carefully matters more there than in tighter ZIP codes.

Median sale prices across the county

Price moves were mixed. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows McHenry (60050) saw the biggest gain, up 19.9% to $350,000. Richmond (60071) jumped 47.4% to $460,000, though only 14 homes sold there, so one or two sales can move that number a lot. On the other side, Fox River Grove (60021) slipped 7.7% to $343,500, and Algonquin (60102) dipped 7.2% to $414,995. A small dip in one ZIP does not mean the whole county softened.

How fast are homes going under contract?

Across the county, buyers are moving quickly on the right homes. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows that in Cary (60013), 59.1% of homes went under contract within two weeks, up 2.5 points from a year ago. In Lake in the Hills (60156), 60.6% did the same. Not every home sold fast, though. In McHenry (60051), that share was 40.8%, down 3 points year over year.

A big change is coming to St. Charles

Just outside McHenry County, a large redevelopment is planned for the former Pheasant Run Resort site in St. Charles. The Daily Herald reported on October 19, 2026 that the project covers 33.7 acres. The Daily Herald also reported the overall construction cost is estimated at $70 million to $100 million, and the developer has asked St. Charles for $3.5 million in financial assistance. Shaw Local confirmed the same 33.7-acre size and the $3.5 million tax increment financing request. Separately, the Daily Herald reported on October 17, 2026 that a developer is proposing 44 apartments for seniors in nearby Geneva. New housing and investment near the county line can shape buyer interest in the broader area over time.

Meanwhile, the Federal Housing Finance Agency reported on September 29, 2026 that U.S. house prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026, and were up 0.3% from the prior month in July, seasonally adjusted. Nationally, Realtor.com reported on September 30, 2026 that mortgage rates surged above 7% for the first time since January 2025. Higher rates affect what buyers can afford, which is one more reason pricing your home accurately from the start matters in this market.

Sale to list price: sellers are still holding their ground

In 14 of 17 ZIP codes, the average sale price was at or above list price, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. That is a clear sign that well-priced homes are not leaving money on the table. Richmond (60071) was the only ZIP where sellers averaged noticeably below list, at 98.9%, though that market had just 14 sales.

Every ZIP code in this post is a snapshot of a larger picture. One street, one neighborhood, one style of home can tell a different story than the overall numbers. If your home is in Huntley, the story there may not match what is happening on your specific block.