POPLAR GROVE, Ill. (WIFR) – The Rockford region is back among the nation’s hottest housing markets, and local real estate professionals say buyers are looking beyond the traditional Chicago suburbs for affordable lakeside living.
In Boone County’s Candlewick Lake community, demand is surging from buyers seeking a balance of community and affordability.
“I think that the Chicago suburbs have always been attracted to Candlewick, even more so now,” Real Estate Broker Michelle Huber said. “They realize that they can get a lot more home in a really great location.”
According to data from Realtor.com, the median list price for homes in Winnebago, Boone, and Ogle counties climbed to approximately $250,000 in June. Despite the rising prices, inventory remains extremely tight, with properties typically sitting on the market for only a couple of weeks before being snatched up.
For many buyers, particularly those relocating from the Chicago area, the draw of lakefront living, without being too far from home, is a major selling point.
“There is a demand for new construction homes and not just any new construction home, like quality new construction at an affordable price,” Floor It Remodeling Owner Chad Kariolich said.
Some prospective buyers hesitated to move to the area due to a perceived lack of nearby amenities. However, that landscape has changed significantly.
“People used to fear moving out here because there really wasn’t anything around, right?” Huber said. “Now there’s gas stations, restaurants, fast food, all right outside the community.”
Beyond everyday convenience, today’s homebuyers are placing a high priority on hobby space. Huber noted that homes with extra space for hobbies rank highly on buyers’ wish lists.
Both Kariolich and Huber have first-hand experience with the area’s appeal. Both chose to relocate from the Chicago suburbs to Candlewick Lake for their own homes.
Huber believes the gated lakeside community has been somewhat overlooked in the past but is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
“I think that Candlewick Lake has always been a desirable place, maybe a little bit underrated because people don’t know all about it,” Kariolich said. “There is a really, really good, strong sense of community here.”
With inventory levels remaining low across the region, building new homes is critical to meeting the ongoing demand.
“Building homes is what worked in every other market,” Huber said. “By building new construction, we are helping balance out the inventory that we’ve been lacking for so long.”
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