Updated October 2026
Real estate teams usually advertise their list-to-sale price ratio when it goes up. Ours went down this year. In 2025, Camille Canales Group listings sold at an average of 101.8% of their original list price. So far in 2026, that number is 100.1%.
We're writing about it anyway, because a number that close to 100% is the clearest proof we have of the thing every seller cares about most: we priced their home right. If you're asking yourself "what is my home worth?", this post explains what that ratio really measures, what our 2026 numbers show, and how to get an accurate Chicago home valuation before you list.
What Is a List-to-Sale Price Ratio?
A list-to-sale price ratio compares what a home sells for to what it was listed for. A home listed at $500,000 that sells for $500,000 has a ratio of 100%. Sell for $510,000 and it's 102%. Sell for $490,000 and it's 98%.
Most people read a higher number as better, and in a sense it is: the seller got more than the asking price. But the ratio is really measuring something else. It measures how close the list price was to what the market was actually willing to pay. In other words, it's a report card on the home valuation.
- Well above 100% can mean strong demand and a bidding war. It can also mean the home was priced below its true value.
- Well below 100% usually means the home was overpriced, sat on the market, and needed price cuts.
- Right around 100% means the list price and the market agreed. The valuation was accurate.
Our 2026 Numbers: Accurate Pricing, Fast Contracts
Here's how Camille Canales Group listings that closed in 2026 (through October) performed:
Metric | 2025 | 2026 (YTD) |
|---|---|---|
Average list-to-sale price ratio (vs. original list price) | 101.8% | 100.1% |
Average gap between list price and sale price (either direction) | 3.8% | 3.0% |
Median days from listing to contract | 7 days | 6 days |
The second row is the one we're proudest of. Averages can hide misses: one home that sells 10% over list and another that sells 10% under will average out to 100%. So we also measured the average gap between list price and sale price, in either direction. In 2026 that gap shrank to 3.0%, down from 3.8% in 2025, and 9 of our 11 closed listings this year sold within 5% of their original list price.
Accurate pricing didn't slow anything down, either. Our 2026 listings went under contract in a median of 6 days. For comparison, homes across the City of Chicago averaged 27 days on market until sale through September 2026, according to Illinois REALTORS® data based on Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED).
Team figures are based on Camille Canales Group listing-side closed sales in the MLS, excluding vacant land and parking. Ratios use original list price.
Why Accurate Pricing Beats "Selling Over Asking"
Selling over asking makes a great headline. But a home that sells well over list price often tells you the list price was too low, and that's not a strategy every seller wants. Pricing too low can leave you depending on a bidding war that may never show up. Pricing too high is worse. Overpriced homes sit, collect days on market, and usually end in price reductions that signal weakness to buyers.
When the list price matches what the market will pay, sellers get:
- Predictability. You can plan your next purchase, your move, and your budget around a number that holds up.
- Speed. Well-priced homes attract serious buyers in the first week, when a listing gets the most attention.
- Stronger negotiating position. Buyers have less room to argue the price down when it's backed by the data.
- Fewer appraisal problems. A sale price grounded in real comparable sales is far more likely to appraise.
In 2026, Chicago home prices have kept climbing. The city's median sale price reached $403,000 year-to-date through September, up 6.9% from the same period in 2025. In a rising market, it's tempting to guess high. Our job is to know exactly where your home fits.
How We Determine What Your Home Is Worth
Online estimates are a fine starting point, but they can't walk through your home, see your renovated kitchen, or know that your block trades at a premium. Our home valuation process combines MLS data with years of on-the-ground experience in Chicagoland:
- Recent comparable sales. We pull closed sales from the MLS for homes that truly match yours: same neighborhood, property type, size, condition, and features, not just the same ZIP code.
- Active and pending competition. What's for sale right now and what just went under contract shows where the market is heading, not just where it's been.
- Micro-market trends. Logan Square, Lincoln Park, Bucktown, Wicker Park, and Andersonville each move differently. Days on market, price trends, and inventory are tracked neighborhood by neighborhood.
- Your home's details. Updates, layout, outdoor space, parking, light, and condition all change the number. We see them in person.
- Pricing strategy. Finally, we recommend a list price designed to attract the right buyers in the first week and hold up through appraisal.
That process is how a team gets to 100.1%. It isn't luck. It's data plus experience.
What Is My Home Worth? Get a Free Chicago Home Valuation
If you're thinking about selling in the next few months, or just curious what your home would sell for in today's market, start with a number you can trust. Request a free, no-obligation Chicago home valuation and we'll prepare a pricing analysis based on real MLS data and our experience selling homes across the city and suburbs.
Find out what your home is worth →
Prefer to talk it through? Reach the Camille Canales Group directly. We're happy to answer questions about your home's value, timing, and what it takes to sell in your neighborhood.
- Call or text: (773) 232-5282
- Email: [email protected]
Home Valuation FAQs
How accurate are online home value estimates?
Automated estimates use public records and broad sales data, so they can miss renovations, condition, and block-by-block differences. They're useful as a rough range. An agent's comparative market analysis, built from MLS comparables and an in-person look at your home, is much more precise.
What is a good list-to-sale price ratio?
A ratio close to 100% means the home was priced accurately. Ratios well above 100% often reflect underpricing or bidding wars, while ratios well below 100% usually mean the home was overpriced and needed reductions.
How long does it take to sell a home in Chicago?
Through September 2026, Chicago homes averaged 27 days on market until sale, according to MRED-based data from Illinois REALTORS®. Camille Canales Group listings that closed in 2026 went under contract in a median of 6 days.
Is a home valuation the same as an appraisal?
No. An appraisal is ordered by a lender during a purchase or refinance. A home valuation, or comparative market analysis, is prepared by a real estate team to help you set a list price. A well-priced home is more likely to appraise at its sale price.
How do I get a free home valuation?
Visit our home valuation page and share a few details about your property. We'll follow up with a pricing analysis tailored to your home and neighborhood. You can also call or text (773) 232-5282 or email [email protected].
Chicago market data: Illinois REALTORS® City of Chicago Local Market Update, September 2026, based in whole or in part on data supplied by Midwest Real Estate Data LLC. Team statistics are based on Camille Canales Group listing-side closed sales in the MLS through October 2026. Data deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
