Selling your Chicago area home during the holidays can attract buyers, because buyers are looking for holiday-ready homes! About 60% of surveyed Gen Z and Millennial buyers said that finding space for holiday gatherings influenced their home search. About 47% of Gen X buyers thought space for holiday hosting was important, and about 30% of Baby Boomers agreed. Overall, the Realtor.com survey revealed that the holidays are on the minds of most buyers as they explore the market.
Having ample space for entertaining is just part of the picture. Forget tiny-home living, the survey says that buyers are starved for living space! The top home features on the buyer wish list include:
- Large family room
- Large kitchen
- Large dining room
- Guest bathroom
- Large outdoor space
Also on the wish list: an extra bedroom and an extra bathroom for overnight guests. What the survey does not reveal, is the price these buyers are willing and able to pay for a spacious home. HGTV-level amenities can have eye-popping price tags.
But here in the Chicago area, buyers looking for holiday-friendly homes are in luck! The median home sale price in Chicago was $360,000 as of September 2025, which is lower than many major cities. An article by Consumer Affairs named Chicago as one of the “most affordable markets” in the U.S., based on median incomes compared to median home prices. That doesn’t mean homes are cheap in the Chicago area, but they are not completely out of reach.
If you are a homeowner who is waiting to sell until after the holidays, you might want to reconsider! Your cozy abode, decorated for the season, could be just what someone is looking for.
Happy Holidays from StartingPoint Realty!
StartingPoint Realty has served the Chicago area since 2004! We offer free, first-time home buyer seminars every month! We offer free home selling seminars too! Contact us for your free home buying or home selling consultation! We look forward to helping you.
Ryan Gable Broker/CEO Starting Point Realty
Phone: 847.348.1154
Email: RyanGable@startingpointrealty.com
https://startingpointrealty.com/
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