Why Right Now (December 2025) Is the Best Time in Years for Chicago-Area Veterans to Buy a Home
Veterans, Active-Duty, Guard & Reserve — listen up.
The stars are aligning for military buyers in Chicagoland in a way we haven’t seen since 2020–2021. If you’ve been waiting for the “perfect” time to use your VA loan, this is it.
Here’s the data (not hype) as of mid-December 2025:
1. Interest Rates Just Dropped Again
The 30-year fixed VA rate is now sitting at 5.75%–5.99% for most full-entitlement borrowers with 700+ credit. That’s a full 1.25% lower than the peak in 2024. Translation: Your buying power just jumped ~$75,000–$100,000 overnight with the same monthly payment.
2. Inventory Is the Highest It’s Been in 4 Years
Over 18,000 active listings in the 9-county Chicago metro (up 38% year-over-year)
Homes in the $250k–$500k range (prime VA territory) are taking 45–65 days to sell
Price reductions on 42% of listings — sellers are getting realistic again
3. Sellers Are Paying Closing Costs Like It’s 2021
Average seller concession in November 2025: 2.8% of purchase price VA allows up to 4% — plenty of room to have the seller cover your funding fee + prepaid items
4. Winter Buyers = Less Competition
Most civilian buyers hibernate from Thanksgiving to Super Bowl. Military buyers who are relocating on PCS orders or getting out in 2026? You now have the upper hand.
Hot Winter Deals We’re Seeing Right Now (Real Examples from the Last 30 Days)
2023-built 4-bed in Plainfield: Listed $489,900 → Closed at $465,000 + $14,000 seller credit to veteran buyer
New construction in Yorkville: Builder paid full 2.5% VA funding fee + gave $15k in upgrades
Townhome in Schaumburg near the old Motorola campus: Seller paid 4% concessions and fixed every appraisal item
The 2026 Spring Rush Is Coming — Beat It
Come March 2026, rates will still be low, but:
Inventory gets swallowed up
Multiple offers return in Naperville, Arlington Heights, and Lake County
Concessions dry up
Buy in January–February 2026 and you close by St. Patrick’s Day as the only game in town.
Your 3-Step Winter VA Game Plan
Pull or update your Certificate of Eligibility today (we do it free in 2 minutes)
Get a rock-solid VA pre-approval that shows sellers you’re stronger than a cash buyer
Let us match you with a Chicago-area lender who has closed 50+ VA transactions in the last 12 months
You’ve waited long enough. Rates are down, inventory is up, and sellers are motivated.
Lock in your rate before the spring crowd shows up.
Call or text us 24/7 at (773) 861-5115 or start here: chicagovabuyer.com
The market just handed you the best Chicago VA buying window in years. Let’s go get your house.
From one veteran-friendly team to another — thank you for your service.
The Chicago VA Buyer Team Serving Chicagoland’s heroes!
