Why Move-Up Buyers in Lisle Should Start Planning Their 2026 Move Now

DT Lisle

Move-up buyers—families who need more space, better schools, or a long-term home—are facing a marketplace that has fundamentally changed over the past five years. The pre-COVID playbook no longer works. The post-COVID frenzy has cooled, but the structural changes it created are still shaping how families should think about moving.

If you live in Lisle, Naperville, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, or Aurora, and you’re planning a 2026 move, the smartest thing you can do is start preparing now.

Here’s what today’s market tells us, and how it impacts your strategy.

1. Inventory Levels Are Low — And Will Stay Low

Lisle and the surrounding western suburbs aren’t dealing with a temporary supply issue. We’re seeing a structural shortage driven by five key factors:

• Homeowners who refinanced into 2–3% rates are staying put

• Aging-in-place trends reducing turnover

• Fewer new builds compared to demand

• Persistent move-up buyer demand

• Tight rental markets keeping renters from converting

Move-up families need to think differently today:Waiting until you “need” to move guarantees you compete with the crowd.

2. Families Have Already Started Planning for 2026

Spring 2026 will be driven by families who are already quietly evaluating neighborhoods today. They are:

• Touring schools

• Tracking neighborhood inventory

• Evaluating commute changes

• Searching for more space

• Watching the affordability trends

If you think you’re early… you’re not.You’re right on time.

3. Neighborhood Micro-Markets Matter More Than Ever

Lisle isn’t one market — it’s 10+ micro-markets.Examples:

• Steeple Run: high turnover + family demand

• Arbor View: stable, under-marketed, strong upside

• Lisle East: value-driven, school-sensitive

• Village Green (Aurora): consistent entry-level demand

Buyers are no longer saying:

“We just want Lisle.”

They are saying:

“We want a specific street, specific school boundary, specific community feel.”

This is why home prep, pricing strategy, and neighborhood positioning matter more in today’s move-up market.

4. Timing Matters More Than Pricing in 2026

Most families mistakenly think the most important decision is price.It’s not.It’s timing.

If you want top dollar, the real strategy is:

• Identify your target move window

• Understand the inventory patterns

• Prepare your home early

• Make decisions based on data, not emotion

• Align timing with buyer demand cycles

Move-up families who start planning in 2026 are already behind today’s families who are thinking ahead.

5. Your Home Value Has Changed — But Not How You Think

Values have risen, but not uniformly.Factors impacting your home's true 2026 value:

• Condition vs. neighborhood norms

• School boundaries

• Age of major systems

• Lot size + privacy

• Inventory patterns

• Competing listings

• Micro-market demand

A move-up strategy in 2026 needs a data-driven valuation, not an estimate from a generic website.

Final Thought

If you're a family planning a 2026 move, you have a unique opportunity:

Start early, plan intentionally, and make decisions based on real data — not headlines.

The families who prepare now will win on:

• Timing

• Pricing

• Stress reduction

• Opportunity

And they’ll be positioned to upgrade on their terms, not the market’s.

About Jake Kilts

Jake Kilts is a top-performing real estate agent serving Lisle and the surrounding western suburbs. Known for his hyper-local market expertise, data-driven strategies, and family-first approach, Jake has helped hundreds of families navigate buying and selling with clarity and confidence. He specializes in move-up buyers, neighborhood-specific pricing analysis, and taking the stress out of timing the market.

If you’re planning a move in the next 12–24 months and want a straightforward, no-pressure breakdown of what your home is actually worth in today’s market, Jake is always available for a conversation.