Faith
Guiding my business with honesty and care.
Integrity
Straight answers and the same numbers I'd give my own family.
Service
Your goals come first, from first call to closing.
Community
Invested in Peoria and Central Illinois, not just in transactions.
Your Move Matters
Find your next move.
Answer a few quick questions and I'll point you in the right direction.
Step 1 of 5
Market updates
Peoria area market update.
Teri publishes regular market briefings for Peoria and Central Illinois using local listing data from RMLS Alliance, not national averages. The briefings cover home values, inventory, and what the numbers mean for buyers and sellers, explained in plain language.
Reviewed October 22, 2026 · September 2026 Data
Peoria County median sale, September 2026
Down 1.4% from a year ago (RMLS Alliance)
Homes sold in September
Up 6.7% from a year ago (RMLS Alliance)
Months of supply, single-family detached
Unchanged from a year ago (RMLS Alliance)
Average 30-year fixed mortgage
Freddie Mac Oct 15 survey, held a second week; MBA Oct 21 survey eased to 7.41%
Local Market Update – September 2026, Peoria County. Provided by RMLS Alliance, LLC. Current as of October 5, 2026. All data from RMLS Alliance. Report © 2026 ShowingTime Plus, LLC. Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, October 15, 2026, with the Mortgage Bankers Association's October 21 weekly survey easing to 7.41%.
Your Move Matters.
Every decision carries a personal story, a financial impact, and a vision for the future. That is why I help you move forward with confidence.
The difference
Uncertainty into clarity.
Strategic thinking, genuine empathy, and strong client advocacy. That is the deeper meaning behind "Your Move Matters."
Most people do not need more options. They need someone to make the options make sense. That is where I spend my energy: translating market data, loan math, and property condition into decisions you understand and own.
Strategic
Every number put in front of you, explained in plain language.
Genuine
The same care I would want for my own family's move.
Advocacy
Your interests, held firmly and calmly, start to close.
How I help
One client at a time, every type of move.
First-Time Buyers
From pre-approval numbers to closing day, a patient, educational walk through your first purchase.
Start hereHome Sellers
Strategic pricing and positioning so you do not leave money on the table in a tight market.
Start hereInvestors & Commercial
Cash flow math, property evaluation, and commercial guidance grounded in local data.
Start hereMilitary & Veterans
VA loans, PCS timelines, and honest guidance for service members and their families.
Start hereRelocation
A clear, side-by-side read on neighborhoods, schools, and commute across Central Illinois.
Start hereMove-Up & Downsize
Whether growing or simplifying, guidance that keeps the numbers, timing, and loan in step.
Start here
The consultation first
Every buyer gets a real buyer consultation. No exceptions.
Before we ever write an offer, we sit down and work through your numbers: what you can truly afford, what the loan requirements actually are, and what a realistic timeline looks like. The goal is that no one feels rushed, pressured, or surprised at the closing table.
Affordable should never mean unacceptable. That rule shapes every search I run.
See the buying guideTeri reviewed each home I asked about and gave me the pros and cons. She was patient, knowledgeable, and worked very hard to make sure I was given the best price. Thank you, Teri, for your professionalism, knowledge, and patience. WOOHOO, I'm home!
Syble P.
First-time homeowner, Peoria, Illinois
Market report
What the Peoria numbers say right now.
Peoria's market is still competitive, with low inventory and homes selling quickly. The takeaway is not rocket science, it is strategy. Sellers who price to the evidence attract the buyers, and buyers who bring prepared numbers can still win.
Peoria County median sale, September 2026
Down 1.4% from a year ago (RMLS Alliance)
Single-family detached homes sold in September
Up 6.7% from a year ago (RMLS Alliance)
61615 typical home value
Up 7.5% year over year, Zillow
Average 30-year fixed mortgage
Freddie Mac Oct 15 survey; MBA Oct 21 survey eased to 7.41%
From the blog
Straight answers to the questions buyers ask first.
Peoria Market Update: October 22, 2026, Rate Report
The October 22 rate day, reported as promised: daily trackers put the 30-year fixed near 7.31%, down about 14 basis points from a week earlier, the MBA's October 21 survey eased to 7.41%, and Peoria County's September median holds at $175,000.
Read the article 02The Full Lender Comparison: Rate, APR, Points, Credits, and Cash to Close
The lowest rate is not always the cheapest loan. Compare lenders on the whole Loan Estimate: rate vs APR, origination and underwriting fees, points, lender credits, and the full cash-to-close, with current Peoria numbers.
Read the article 03Peoria Market Update: October 22, 2026
Reviewed October 22, 2026: the September county median still stands at $175,000, the fresh Q3 county read comes in at a $160,000 median, up 10.3% from a year ago on 775 sales, and the first easing signal of the fall arrived in the MBA's October 21 weekly rate survey.
Read the article 04How to Compare Lender Costs
The lowest rate is not always the cheapest loan. Compare lenders on the whole Loan Estimate: rate vs APR, origination and underwriting fees, points, lender credits, and the full cash-to-close, with current Peoria numbers.
Read the article 05Peoria Market Update: Buyer Questions, Answered with the October 19 Numbers
Reviewed October 19, 2026: is the Peoria market slowing, do buyers have more negotiating power, is renting still cheaper than buying, and should buyers wait for rates, answered with the September county numbers, the 7.40% rate survey, ZIP and Dunlap trends, and the rent-versus-buy math.
Read the article 06Two Loan Estimates, Side by Side: How to Find the Cheaper Loan
How buyers should compare lenders on the whole Loan Estimate: rate vs APR, origination and underwriting fees, discount points, lender credits, and the full closing costs and cash-to-close, with a worked example showing the lowest rate is not always the cheapest loan.
Read the article 07Peoria Market Update: October 19, 2026
Reviewed October 19, 2026: county median $175,000, down 1.4%, inventory at 1.5 months of supply, the 30-year fixed holding at 7.40% in Freddie Mac's October 15 survey after seven straight weekly increases, and the weekly reported-sales read at a $145,000 median for the week ending October 10.
Read the article 08Peoria Market Update: Four Buyer Questions, Answered with the October Numbers
Reviewed October 15, 2026: is the Peoria market slowing, do buyers have more negotiating power, is renting still cheaper than buying, and should buyers wait for rates? Answered with the September numbers, the 7.40% rate survey, ZIP and Dunlap trends, and the property tax context.
Read the article 09Which Lender Is Cheaper? A Buyer's Loan-Estimate Checklist
The lowest rate is not always the cheapest loan. Rate vs APR, origination and underwriting fees, points, lender credits, and the full cash-to-close on each Loan Estimate, with a worked example.
Read the article 10Peoria Market Update: October 15, 2026
Reviewed October 15, 2026: county median $175,000, down 1.4%, inventory at 1.5 months of supply, rates at 7.40% in Freddie Mac's October 8 survey the seventh straight weekly increase, with the October 15 rate survey scheduled to land today.
Read the article 11Peoria Market Update: October 13, 2026
Reviewed October 13, 2026: county median $175,000, down 1.4%, inventory at 1.5 months of supply, rates at 7.40% in Freddie Mac's October 8 survey, the seventh straight weekly increase, with the next rate survey due Thursday, October 15.
Read the article 12Cash to Close: Which Lender Is Really Cheaper?
The lowest rate is not always the cheapest loan. Cash to close is the one line on the Loan Estimate that tells you which lender is cheaper: rate vs APR, fees, points, credits, and closing costs explained.
Read the article 13Peoria Market Update: October 12, 2026
Re-verified October 13, 2026: county median $175,000, down 1.4%, inventory at 1.5 months of supply, rates at 7.40% in Freddie Mac's October 8 survey, the seventh straight weekly increase and the highest level since 2023, and the PAAR regional snapshot effective September 30 showing 514 closed sales and 39 average days on market.
Read the article 14Choosing a Lender: Compare the Loan, Not Just the Rate
The lowest rate is not always the cheapest loan. Rate vs APR, origination and underwriting fees, points, lender credits, and cash-to-close on each Loan Estimate, with current Peoria numbers.
Read the article 15Peoria Market Update: Late October 2026
Reviewed October 12, 2026: county median $175,000, down 1.4%, inventory at 1.5 months of supply, rates at 7.40% in Freddie Mac's October 8 survey, and the fresh PAAR regional snapshot effective September 30 showing 514 closed sales and 39 average days on market.
Read the article 16Same Rate, Different Costs
Two lenders can quote the same rate and still cost you thousands apart at closing. Rate vs APR, Section A fees, points, credits, and cash-to-close on each Loan Estimate.
Read the article 17Peoria Market Update: Mid-October 2026
Reviewed October 8, 2026: county median $175,000, down 1.4%, inventory at 1.5 months of supply, ZIP-level trends in 61615 and 61614, the Dunlap market, and rent vs buy answered with current data.
Read the article 18The Loan Estimate, Line by Line
A page-by-page walk through the Loan Estimate: rate vs APR, origination and underwriting fees, points, lender credits, and cash-to-close. The lowest rate is not always the cheapest loan.
Read the article 19Peoria Market Update: Early October 2026
Reviewed October 8, 2026: county median $175,000, down 1.4%, inventory at 1.5 months of supply, and the fresh regional snapshot showing 577 closed sales and 32 average days on market.
Read the article 20Fall 2026 Events in Peoria and Central Illinois
Upcoming October and November events across Peoria and Central Illinois, from trunk-or-treat nights and fall festivals to the Festival of Lights, with homebuyer education resources.
Read the article 21The Lowest Rate Is Not Always the Cheapest Loan
Rate vs APR, points, lender credits, and cash-to-close on each Loan Estimate. How to compare lenders the right way, in plain language.
Read the article 22Peoria Market Update: A Look Ahead to November 2026
County median $175,000, down 1.4%, inventory at 1.5 months of supply, with the REALTORS' Q2 report showing the pace cooling.
Read the article 23What to Compare When Choosing a Lender
Rate vs APR, points, lender credits, and cash-to-close on each Loan Estimate. The lowest rate is not always the cheapest loan.
Read the article 24Peoria Market Update: October 2026
County median $175,000, down 1.4%, inventory at 1.5 months of supply. Slowing pace, steady values, and what buyers and sellers should do about it.
Read the article 25Which Lender Is Cheaper? Rate, APR, Points Explained
The lowest rate is not always the cheapest loan. What to compare on each Loan Estimate, in plain language.
Read the article 26Strategic Pricing for Peoria Sellers
Why the right list price is the strongest negotiation you will make, and how to avoid leaving money on the table.
Read the article 27Should You Buy or Keep Renting in Peoria?
Peoria is one of the few U.S. cities where buying can be the cheaper monthly move.
Read the articleCommon questions
Answers to the questions buyers ask first.
Is the Peoria housing market slowing down?
In pace and volume, yes; in price, no. Peoria County's September 2026 median sale price was $175,000, down 1.4% from a year earlier, with 208 single-family detached homes sold in the month, and the fresh Q3 county read put the median at $160,000, up 10.3% from a year ago on 775 sales, down 15.1% in volume. Some overpriced listings sit longer and sellers are taking more price cuts, but this is still a competitive market with low inventory, not a buyer's market.
How much are Peoria home values increasing?
Gently and unevenly. The freshest Q3 county read puts Peoria County's median at $160,000, up 10.3% from a year earlier, while the September 2026 median is $175,000, down 1.4% per the RMLS Alliance Local Market Update, and the Peoria city median is up about 2% year over year on Redfin's three-month measure. Faster submarkets like Dunlap, Richwoods, and Washington run above the county number, so your neighborhood matters more than the headline.
Is renting cheaper than buying in Peoria?
Usually the reverse. The widely reported comparison puts Peoria's median monthly mortgage payment at about $990 against a median monthly rent of about $1,133, making buying roughly 12.6% cheaper each month. The honest caveat is that taxes, insurance, and maintenance are on you as an owner, and the real barrier is usually the down payment.
What is Teri Shepherd's brokerage and license?
Teri is a Broker Associate with Keller Williams Premier Realty at 2426 W. Cornerstone Ct. in Peoria, Illinois, holding Illinois Broker license 475.135244. She has more than 10 years of residential and commercial real estate experience across Peoria and Central Illinois.
Does Teri help buyers relocating to Peoria from out of state?
Yes. Teri works with relocating buyers across Central Illinois, often before they arrive. She builds a short list of neighborhoods from your schools, commute, and budget, sends live video walkthroughs, and can handle showings, offers, and inspections, and even closing, on your timeline and remotely.
Your Move Matters
Let us plan the move together with clarity and confidence.
Whether you are buying your first home, selling a longtime family property, or weighing an investment, the first conversation costs nothing and changes everything.