Selling a Condo or Townhome in Naperville, Lisle and the Western Suburbs: What to Know in 2026
Selling a condo or townhome works a little differently from selling a house. Buyers compare you against the units for sale in your own complex, lenders look at the association as well as the unit, and Illinois law requires paperwork from your HOA before closing. Here’s what to expect, with 12 months of MLS numbers for the 14 western suburbs I cover.
By Jake Kilts, HomeSmart Realty Group · Published October 2026
How condos and townhomes are selling, town by town
| Town | Sold in 12 months | Average price | Average market time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheaton | 176 | $333,061 | 26 days |
| Geneva | 93 | $420,688 | 29 days |
| Lisle | 171 | $275,981 | 31 days |
| Glen Ellyn | 124 | $367,790 | 33 days |
| Aurora | 520 | $310,781 | 35 days |
| Oswego | 237 | $322,272 | 36 days |
| Naperville | 603 | $397,638 | 36 days |
| Plainfield | 510 | $348,790 | 37 days |
| Woodridge | 195 | $377,581 | 41 days |
| Downers Grove | 221 | $296,217 | 43 days |
| Bolingbrook | 195 | $303,795 | 46 days |
| Lombard | 279 | $290,278 | 49 days |
| St. Charles | 199 | $418,952 | 51 days |
| Yorkville | 194 | $295,462 | 52 days |
Across these towns, 3,717 condos and townhomes closed in the last year. Wheaton, Geneva and Lisle were the quickest, at about 26 to 31 days on average. Lombard, St. Charles and Yorkville were the slowest, at 49 to 52 days. In Yorkville and other towns with a lot of new townhome construction, resales compete with builders, so pricing against the newest sales matters even more.
1. Your real competition is inside your complex
Buyers shopping for a townhome almost always look at every unit for sale in the same development, and appraisers lean on sales in the same complex first. Before you pick a price, I look at the last few sales of your exact floor plan, what’s active right now, and what’s under contract. A unit priced even slightly above an identical one down the street usually sits until it’s reduced.
2. Order your association documents early
Illinois requires condo sellers to give the buyer a resale disclosure package (often called the 22.1 package, after Section 22.1 of the Illinois Condominium Property Act). It includes the declaration, bylaws and rules, the current budget and reserves, any special assessments, pending lawsuits against the association, and insurance information. Townhome associations under the Common Interest Community Association Act have a similar requirement.
- The association or management company has up to 30 days to provide the package, and most charge a fee. I have sellers request it the week we list.
- Your attorney will also need a paid assessment letter before closing, showing your dues are current.
- If a special assessment is coming, buyers will find out. It’s better to know the number up front and decide who pays it.
3. The association affects the buyer’s loan
For condos, the lender reviews the building, not just the buyer. Things like the share of units that are rented, delinquent dues, reserves and pending litigation can limit which loans work. If a building has trouble getting approved, it narrows the buyer pool, so I check this before we list rather than finding out three weeks into a contract.
4. What buyers pay attention to
- Monthly dues and what they cover. Put it in writing: snow removal, landscaping, exterior maintenance, water, insurance on the building.
- Parking and storage. An attached garage or a deeded space is a real selling point; note it in the first photo captions.
- Light and layout. End units and units with fewer shared walls usually sell faster.
- Updates. Fresh paint, new light fixtures and a clean kitchen matter more in a townhome, where buyers are comparing identical floor plans side by side.
5. Timing
Condos and townhomes follow the same spring rhythm as houses, but with a bigger share of first-time buyers and downsizers, both of whom shop year-round. See the best time to sell and what it costs to sell in Illinois for more.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 22.1 disclosure in Illinois?
It’s the set of association documents a condo seller must give the buyer under Section 22.1 of the Illinois Condominium Property Act: the declaration, bylaws, rules, budget, reserves, special assessments, pending lawsuits and insurance details. The association must provide it within 30 days of your request and may charge a reasonable fee.
Are condos and townhomes harder to sell than houses?
Not necessarily. In Wheaton and Geneva they sold about as fast as single-family homes last year. In Yorkville, St. Charles and Lombard they took about 50 days. Pricing against the most recent sales in your own complex is the biggest factor.
Who pays a special assessment when a condo is sold?
It’s negotiable. Assessments due before closing are usually paid by the seller, and the contract can split later installments. Your attorney will handle the details.
Thinking about selling?
Request a free Private Pricing Review and I’ll send you a realistic price range within 24 hours, based on recent sales in your own complex. You can also reach me here or call 630-487-1896.
Selling in your town
Lisle · Naperville · Aurora · Downers Grove · Wheaton · Plainfield · Bolingbrook · Oswego · Woodridge · Lombard · Geneva · St. Charles · Yorkville · Glen Ellyn
Jake Kilts, HomeSmart Realty Group · 630-487-1896
About this data
Source: MRED multiple listing service, Market Trends reports, October 2025 through September 2026, pulled October 2026. Averages are weighted by the number of sales each month. Market time is the MLS days-on-market measure for homes that closed. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Talk with your attorney about your situation.
