The Net Gain Realty Blog

Chicago home-selling guides, real market data, and what it costs to sell

Neighborhood-level MLS numbers and straight answers on commission, pricing, and what you actually keep at closing.

The Commission Bill

Lincoln Park Sellers Paid an Estimated $16.4 Million in Listing Fees in the First Half of 2026

609 single-family sales, $656.8 million in closed volume, and an estimated $16.4 million listing-fee bill at an example 2.5%. The Commission Bill for Lincoln Park, computed from closed MLS data.

July 10, 2026
Cost to Sell

What Is the Cheapest Way to Sell a House in Chicago? Every Option Ranked (2026)

The cheapest way to sell a house in Chicago is a $100 to $500 flat fee MLS listing, if you do the agent's job yourself. Every option ranked by real cost, and where cheap backfires.

July 3, 2026
Commission

How Much of Your Equity Does a Realtor Commission Really Take? (Chicago, 2026)

A realtor commission is a percentage of your whole house, but it is paid out of your equity. On a $600,000 Chicago home with $150,000 of equity, an example 2.5% listing fee is 10% of the money that was actually yours. Here is the math, and the flat-fee alternative.

June 28, 2026
Commission

Do You Still Pay a Realtor Commission in Illinois After the NAR Settlement? (2026)

Do Illinois sellers still pay a 6% commission after the NAR settlement? No. What changed in 2026, who pays the buyer's agent now, and the real cost to sell a house in Chicago.

June 18, 2026
Neighborhood Market Report

Lake View Condo Market 2026: $580K Median, 6 Days, 72% Over Ask

Lake View condos in 2026: $580,000 median, 6 days to contract, 72% selling over ask. Real MLS data plus what it costs to list flat fee vs commission.

June 17, 2026
Cost to Sell

What It Costs to Sell a 2-Bed Condo in Lincoln Park (2026)

What it actually costs to sell a 2-bed condo in Lincoln Park in 2026: real MLS market data, every closing cost, and what you keep at a flat fee versus a traditional 2.5% commission.

June 15, 2026