Tornado in Huntley, AAA Bond Rating… It's Been a Week

Last week's storms didn't mess around. A tornado touched down near Huntley, trees came down across Elgin and the Dundee areas, and thousands lost power. But tucked into the same 24-hour news cycle? S&P Global just upgraded Huntley's bond rating to AAA. Chaos and fiscal gold stars — welcome to the NW suburbs.

Let's start with the part that wasn't fun. A severe storm system rolled through Chicagoland Wednesday night, and the National Weather Service confirmed at least one tornado touched down near Huntley. Video from the area showed debris getting lofted near a narrow funnel cloud — the kind of footage that makes you want to relocate your car to the center of a concrete bunker. The storm's path continued toward Bartlett, where Streamwood took some of the worst of it.

Meanwhile, NBC Chicago reported "several downed trees" across multiple suburbs, and the Dundee and Elgin areas saw significant tree damage and power outages. The Chicago Tribune confirmed the Elgin and Dundee areas were hit. And this comes just weeks after a tornado struck near Bartlett — 2026 is already on track to shatter Illinois's annual tornado record. The National Weather Service has tracked 151 tornadoes in the state so far this year, already past the previous record of 142 set in all of 2024. There are still six months to go.

What storm season means if you own a home here

Twenty years in this business and I'll say it plainly: severe weather season is now a factor in the real estate conversation in a way it wasn't a decade ago. If you own a home in the NW suburbs, here's your homework list before the next storm warning drops:

Check your homeowner's insurance — specifically your deductibles for wind and hail damage, and whether you have actual cash value or replacement cost coverage for your roof. (Spoiler: you want replacement cost.) Make sure your sump pump is working and that you have a battery backup — power outages and basement flooding tend to happen in the same event. If you have mature trees near your house, get an arborist assessment before a 70 mph wind gust makes the decision for you.

For buyers touring homes right now: don't skip the attic during showings. Post-storm repairs aren't always permitted and aren't always disclosed. Your inspector will check, but your eyes matter too.

Now for the good news: Huntley just hit AAA

Here's the wildly unexpected coda to this storm story. In the same 24-hour news cycle, S&P Global announced it was upgrading the Village of Huntley's long-term bond rating from AA+ to AAA — the highest possible rating. The reason cited? Improved economic conditions and a stable fiscal outlook.

For anyone who thinks municipal bond ratings are boring: they're not, and here's why they matter for real estate. A AAA-rated municipality has better access to low-cost borrowing, which means it can fund infrastructure, parks, roads, and community amenities without straining taxpayers. It signals that village finances are well-managed. And well-managed local governments tend to produce stable, desirable communities — which is exactly what sustains property values over time.

So yes, Wednesday night was rough. But the bigger picture for Huntley? A tornado warning and an AAA bond rating in the same week is, if nothing else, very on-brand for a village that keeps quietly outperforming expectations.

Stay safe out there, trim your trees, and maybe let your insurance agent buy you lunch. — Jenny

--- POST: The Housing Bill That Almost Was — and What It Means for NW Suburb Buyers FILE: 2026-06-26-chicagoland-housing-road-act.html

The Housing Bill That Almost Was — and What It Means for NW Suburb Buyers

A bipartisan housing affordability bill made it through Congress — a minor miracle in itself — and President Trump was set to sign it. Then he wasn't. He pulled out at the last minute, saying he'd only sign if Congress first passed a voter ID bill. So now Chicago buyers are still stuck with rising prices, scarce listings, and a federal government that can't quite get out of its own way.

Let's unpack what's actually going on, because there's some signal buried in all this noise.

What was in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act?

The legislation, backed by members of both parties, was designed to address the national housing shortage by incentivizing local governments to loosen zoning restrictions that limit new construction. The idea: more housing supply, lower prices over time. Axios reported that Chicago-area buyers are already struggling — prices keep rising as listings remain scarce, pushing homeownership further out of reach for a lot of people.

The ROAD Act wasn't a silver bullet, and I'll be straight with you: federal housing legislation moves at geological speed. Even if it had been signed, the effects on our market wouldn't have shown up for years. But the signal matters — it was a rare moment of Washington acknowledging that the housing shortage is a real, structural problem that can't be wished away.

Then Trump tied his signature to the SAVE America Act (a voter ID measure), effectively killing the momentum. FOX 32 and CBS News confirmed he publicly canceled the signing ceremony via social media. The bill is in limbo. Buyers are not.

So what does this mean if you're trying to buy in the NW suburbs?

Here's the frustrating truth: don't hold your breath for Washington to solve your inventory problem. The NW suburbs — Algonquin, Huntley, Crystal Lake, Woodstock, the Dundee corridor — have their own supply dynamics, and they're more local than national. We've been running lean on listings for two years, and that isn't going to change because of a bill that may or may not get signed.

What can change your individual situation? A few things. First, expand your search radius by even five miles — you'd be surprised what opens up. Second, look at contingent listings that other buyers passed over. Not every contingency is a red flag; sometimes it's just an opportunity dressed up as a complication. Third, talk to a lender now, not when you find a house. Pre-approval in hand is still the single most useful thing a buyer can walk into a showing with.

The Illinois REALTORS® Relief Foundation, for its part, has been busy offering aid to tornado victims downstate (a tornado hit Streator recently). A good reminder that our professional organization has its head in real-world housing issues even when the political class is busy playing leverage games in D.C.

The bottom line

Prices are up, inventory is tight, and the cavalry from Washington isn't coming anytime soon. That's annoying, but it's not a reason to sit on the sidelines. People who waited in 2023 for the market to "correct" are now paying more than they would have then. The market has been saying the same thing for two years: it's not getting cheaper. Eventually that message lands.

Don't wait on D.C. to fix your housing situation. That's what I'm here for. — Jenny

--- POST: Woodstock's Big Downtown Bet: Benton Street Closure, Parking Study, and a $615K Sale FILE: 2026-06-26-woodstock-downtown-benton-street.html

Woodstock's Big Downtown Bet: Benton Street Closure, Parking Study, and a $615K Sale

Woodstock is making moves. A new downtown plan could partially close Benton Street to traffic, and a parking study is in the works. Meanwhile, a home on Galloway Drive just sold for $615,000 — which tells you something about how buyers are already valuing this market. When a town invests in its downtown, the real estate follows. Every time.

Shaw Local reported this week that Woodstock is embarking on a fresh round of downtown planning, including what sounds like a pedestrianization push on Benton Street — potentially closing it partially to through traffic to make the Square area more walkable and livable. The city is also launching a downtown parking study, and Illinois Route 25 could be reduced to one lane as part of related street improvements.

Before you panic about traffic, let's put this in context. This is exactly the kind of planning move that signals a city is serious about its downtown — and serious downtowns are good for property values. We've watched this play out in Woodstock repeatedly over the last several years. The Square has evolved from a charming but sleepy historic district into a legitimate dining and event destination. The Woodstock Independent summed it up well this week: "Chicago's the party, Woodstock's the community." That framing isn't wrong, and it's catching on.

What a partial street closure actually means

When municipalities close or reduce traffic on downtown streets, the research is pretty consistent: foot traffic goes up, sales tax revenue increases, and the walkable corridor becomes more desirable as an address. Think of it as converting a street from a car thoroughfare into a people amenity. Outdoor dining expands. Farmers markets get better real estate. Festivals have more room to breathe.

Woodstock has already been hosting events on the Square — including an art fair that drew strong crowds earlier this month. A more pedestrian-friendly Benton Street corridor extends and amplifies that. It's an investment in quality of life that shows up, eventually, in sales prices.

Exhibit A: $615,000 on Galloway Drive

Consider the timing. A single-family home at 1312 Galloway Drive in Woodstock changed hands on June 9 for $615,000. That's not a starter home number — that's a buyer who saw Woodstock and said "yes, that's where I want to put over half a million dollars."

Woodstock has historically been one of those markets where buyers got more house for the money than closer-in suburbs, accepting a slightly longer Metra commute in exchange for a genuinely charming town. What's changing is that the "charming town" premium is now baked into the price. The discount is shrinking. That's good news if you already own here, and a clear signal if you're considering buying.

Woodstock keeps finding new ways to be worth it. That's not an accident — it's planning. — Jenny

--- POST: Your July 4th Weekend Fireworks Guide for the NW Suburbs FILE: 2026-06-26-crystal-lake-july4-fireworks.html

Your July 4th Weekend Fireworks Guide for the NW Suburbs

July 4th falls on a Saturday this year, which means the NW suburbs are gearing up for a full-blown holiday weekend. The anchor event? The Fest at The Dole in Crystal Lake is launching fireworks on Sunday, July 5 — because apparently we're celebrating freedom for at least 48 hours. Fair enough. Here's where to be and why this kind of thing matters more than people think.

Multiple Google Alerts lit up this week with the same event: fireworks at Crystal Lake's Lakeside Festival, displayed from the grounds at The Dole. The display will be launched on Sunday, July 5 — one day after the Fourth — which is actually smart scheduling that lets you enjoy the Fourth in your neighborhood and then do the big lakeside show the next day without the crowds doubling up.

Why community events are a real estate factor (I'm serious)

I know what you're thinking: Jenny, this is a fireworks post. Yes. But hear me out for thirty seconds, because this actually connects to something I talk to buyers and sellers about all the time.

One of the most underrated factors in neighborhood desirability is what I call "the Saturday morning vibe" — farmers markets, community festivals, summer concerts, Fourth of July fireworks you can walk to. It's the stuff that doesn't show up on a listing sheet but absolutely shows up in how happy people are to live somewhere, and eventually in how much they'll pay to be there.

Crystal Lake's lakeside is not an accident. It's an asset the city has cultivated deliberately, and it draws people to the community every summer. Those people — some of them — eventually become buyers. Woodstock's Square is the same story. East Dundee's Wine Down Wednesdays series. These events build community identity, and community identity drives long-term demand.

What else is happening this weekend

If you've got family in town or just want to make the most of the long weekend across the NW suburbs, there's plenty happening beyond Crystal Lake. Check your village's website for local parades and neighborhood fireworks — most of the communities in our area do something on the Fourth itself, and many of them are the kind of small-town celebrations that remind you why people move out here in the first place.

The July 4th weekend is also, quietly, one of the better times to tour homes. Inventory tends to stay put over the holiday (sellers don't want strangers in their homes while they're hosting cookouts), but serious buyers who are out looking get less competition for the houses that are available. Just saying.

Happy early Fourth. Go see some fireworks. Eat something on a stick. And if you're thinking about making a move this summer, let's talk. — Jenny