Key Takeaways
Lake County was one of the country’s more competitive housing markets in June. The median sale price climbed nearly 13% from a year earlier, close to six times the national pace.
Homes sold in about 30 days, roughly three weeks quicker than the national median, and inventory dropped about 6% even as listings nationwide stayed roughly level.
The lowest-priced homes appreciated most, and with roughly 2.1 months of supply the market stayed firmly in sellers’ favor.
Lake County, IN Housing Market Snapshot
Median Sale Price
Pending Sales
Active Listings
Days on Market
Sold Above List
$298,351 (+12.6% YoY)
672 (+0.6% YoY)
2,150 (-5.8% YoY)
30 days (-5 days YoY)
24.1% (-0.4 ppt YoY)
Lake County’s housing market tightened in June. Prices posted their strongest annual gain in about a year, homes changed hands about as rapidly as anywhere in the country, and the supply of listings shrank. Buyers had fewer options than a year ago, and whoever found the right home had little time to decide.
Learn everything you need to know about the Lake County, IN housing market heading into late summer, and what buyers and sellers can do to succeed.
U.S. Housing Market Snapshot
Median Sale Price
Pending Sales
Active Listings
Days on Market
Buyer-Seller Balance
$408,776 (+2.2% YoY)
349,254 (+4.5% YoY)
1,496,490 (+0.8% YoY)
49 days (+1 day YoY)
Sellers outnumber buyers by 48.5%
Nationally, the market ran at a gentler pace: Prices rose about 2%, pending sales climbed 5%, and the number of homes for sale barely budged. Lake County looked very different. Prices there increased nearly six times as fast, homes sold 19 days sooner than the national median, and inventory declined instead of holding flat.
“June marked a bump in the road for the ongoing housing market recovery,” said Chen Zhao, Redfin’s head of economics research. “Prices climbed faster than in recent months, and economic uncertainty and rising mortgage rates tied to war in Iran spooked some homebuyers and sellers. On a positive note, home sales trended upwards, and affordability improved as wages rose faster than prices. There are pockets of competition in the Midwest, Northeast, and Bay Area, but in general, consumers are still struggling through a difficult period. Even so, economists still expect the market to slowly improve in the coming years.”
Lake County Prices Jumped 13% Over the Year
The typical Lake County home sold for $298,351 in June, up almost 13% from a year earlier. That was close to six times the national pace of about 2%, and prices had not grown this rapidly in about a year. A gradual rise through the spring gave way to a steeper jump in June, pushing the median to its highest level in at least two years.
Higher prices did not hand sellers every advantage. About 24% of active listings carried a price cut in June, a bit more common than the 19% seen nationally, and the typical reduction ran roughly 4% of the original asking price. Well-priced homes sold within days, but the ones that started too high still had to come down.
Homes Sold Faster Than the National Market
The typical Lake County home went under contract in just 30 days, 19 days quicker than the national median of 49. More than 41% of listings found a buyer within two weeks, compared with 31% across the country. That speed reflected steady local demand running up against a short supply of homes.
Closed sales increased about 3% from a year ago to 663, while pending sales held roughly flat at 672. About a quarter of homes sold above their asking price, matching the national share, a sign that buyers competed for the best listings even as most deals closed at or below list. In such a brisk market, the best-priced homes rarely lasted long.
Fewer Homes for Sale Kept the Pressure On
The number of homes for sale fell about 6% from a year ago to 2,150, even as inventory nationally held roughly flat. New listings offered only modest relief, up about 2% to 720. With demand steady and fresh supply thin, the pool of available homes kept shrinking.
That imbalance left Lake County with about 2.1 months of supply, well under the 3.7 months nationally and firmly in sellers’ territory. A market is generally considered balanced at five to six months of supply, so 2.1 months meant sellers still set the terms. Until more owners list their homes, upward pressure on prices is likely to continue.
The Biggest Price Gains Came at the Bottom
Price Tier
Median Price (YoY)
Sold (YoY)
DOM (YoY)
% Above List (YoY)
Luxury (top 5%)
$768,749 (+7.0%)
69 (+3.0%)
54 days (-17 days)
13.0% (-12.3 ppt)
High (65th-95th%)
$410,583 (+1.6%)
470 (+16.9%)
47 days (+2 days)
17.7% (+2.2 ppt)
Non-luxury (35th-65th%)
$284,383 (+3.1%)
478 (-5.5%)
30 days (-11 days)
21.5% (-4.9 ppt)
Starter (5th-35th%)
$188,883 (+6.4%)
506 (-9.0%)
32 days (-13 days)
25.1% (-1.9 ppt)
Bottom (bottom 5%)
$46,309 (+17.7%)
111 (-5.1%)
20 days (0 days)
17.1% (-14.5 ppt)
Redfin analysis of MLS data • Rolling three-month period (March-May 2026)
The county’s least expensive homes led the way, with the bottom 5% up nearly 18% to a median of $46,309. Starter-home prices grew about 6% and luxury properties advanced 7% to $768,749, both outpacing their national counterparts, which advanced 1% and 5%. The high tier lagged, with prices barely 2% higher.
Sales volume told a different story. The high tier sold nearly 17% more homes than a year ago, while starter and non-luxury sales fell 9% and 6% as fewer mid-range listings reached the market. Homes sold at a brisker pace at almost every level, with luxury properties trading 17 days sooner than last year. Fewer than 70 luxury homes changed hands in the three-month window, so that tier’s figures reflect a small sample.
How Buyers and Sellers Can Navigate the Lake County, IN Housing Market
If you’re buying in Lake County, speed and preparation matter more than bargain-hunting. Homes went under contract in about a month, and the sharpest-priced ones went first, so getting fully underwritten before you tour puts you in a position to act when the right listing appears. Inventory is tight, but the small bump in new listings and the nearly one-in-four homes carrying a price cut mean prepared buyers can still find room to negotiate on the right property.
If you’re selling, the data rewarded realistic pricing over ambitious asking prices. With just 2.1 months of supply and homes going under contract in about 30 days, well-positioned listings drew immediate interest. Even so, nearly a quarter of active listings had already trimmed their price, so a home that starts too high tends to sit while sharper-priced competitors sell. Pricing close to recent comparable sales was the surest way to attract strong offers.
Lake County, IN Market Data by City
Rolling three-month period (April-June 2026). Cities with 50+ sales shown.
City
Median Sale Price (YoY)
Sold
New List.
Active
DOM
% Above
Supply
Gary
$129,929 (+52.9% YoY)
224
317
548
36
21.5%
3.6
Crown Point
$329,821 (+9.9% YoY)
175
238
354
31
17.0%
2.5
Hammond
$199,891 (+2.5% YoY)
171
174
273
17
33.6%
1.2
St. John
$448,596 (+4.3% YoY)
157
191
307
37
17.7%
2.9
Schererville
$350,309 (+3.0% YoY)
132
163
220
20
25.6%
1.9
Hobart
$255,226 (+11.0% YoY)
123
150
228
32
28.4%
2.0
Merrillville
$258,859 (+0.3% YoY)
112
138
212
28
28.5%
2.2
Cedar Lake
$338,166 (+17.9% YoY)
93
93
176
32
14.3%
2.7
Lowell
$358,705 (+15.0% YoY)
92
89
165
50
12.2%
2.1
Munster
$379,793 (+0.6% YoY)
89
97
150
32
17.3%
2.1
Highland
$265,874 (+1.5% YoY)
81
102
137
14
35.5%
1.8
Dyer
$310,331 (-8.1% YoY)
61
68
98
22
20.0%
1.3
Winfield
$412,901 (+0.7% YoY)
55
73
123
47
20.4%
3.5
Griffith
$264,856 (+3.9% YoY)
53
53
80
23
21.2%
1.2
This article has been generated, in whole or in part, using generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology, with input from Redfin head of economics research Chen Zhao. While efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this information, you should independently verify all data, facts, and citations contained in this article before relying on it for any purpose. This information is not a substitute for advice from a real estate agent, financial advisor, or other licensed professional. County-level data is not seasonally adjusted. Check the Redfin Data Center for additional in-depth housing market data.
