Hold Period — Cities of Illinois
Cities of Illinois ranked by average flip hold-period.
Fastest-flip states (shortest avg hold)
Longest-hold states
City ranking — Illinois (avg hold period)
Cities in Illinois (sample ≥ 20 flips)
Sorted shortest to longest| # | City | Avg hold (yrs) | Avg hold (mo) | Avg gain % | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cahokia | 0.53 | 6.4 | +170.8% | 26 |
| 2 | Savoy | 0.64 | 7.8 | +431.6% | 100 |
| 3 | Silvis | 0.68 | 8.2 | +125.2% | 27 |
| 4 | West Peoria | 0.71 | 8.6 | +69.9% | 27 |
| 5 | Hanover Park | 0.72 | 8.8 | +60.6% | 139 |
| 6 | Olympia Fields | 0.72 | 8.7 | +105.8% | 39 |
| 7 | Broadview | 0.73 | 8.9 | +88.6% | 47 |
| 8 | Hillside | 0.74 | 9.0 | +101.7% | 45 |
| 9 | Palos Hills | 0.74 | 9.0 | +60.4% | 76 |
| 10 | Elk Grove Village | 0.75 | 9.1 | +51.8% | 49 |
| 11 | University Park | 0.75 | 9.1 | +150.4% | 67 |
| 12 | Country Club Hills | 0.76 | 9.2 | +121.9% | 260 |
| 13 | Mount Prospect | 0.76 | 9.2 | +55.7% | 154 |
| 14 | Woodridge | 0.77 | 9.4 | +77.7% | 97 |
| 15 | Mascoutah | 0.77 | 9.3 | +261.5% | 48 |
| 16 | South Holland | 0.77 | 9.4 | +116.5% | 235 |
| 17 | Lynwood | 0.78 | 9.5 | +110.5% | 51 |
| 18 | Peoria Heights | 0.78 | 9.4 | +103.1% | 24 |
| 19 | Summit | 0.78 | 9.5 | +152.5% | 31 |
| 20 | Dunlap | 0.79 | 9.6 | +228.1% | 57 |
| 21 | Glenwood | 0.79 | 9.6 | +92.6% | 75 |
| 22 | Caseyville | 0.79 | 9.6 | +428.0% | 34 |
| 23 | Mahomet | 0.79 | 9.6 | +350.8% | 105 |
| 24 | Dupo | 0.80 | 9.7 | +208.2% | 21 |
| 25 | Chillicothe | 0.80 | 9.8 | +111.3% | 34 |
| 26 | Berkeley | 0.80 | 9.7 | +132.6% | 36 |
| 27 | Homer Glen | 0.80 | 9.7 | +194.6% | 31 |
| 28 | Burnham | 0.80 | 9.8 | +141.1% | 32 |
| 29 | O'Fallon | 0.81 | 9.9 | +288.9% | 195 |
| 30 | Hometown | 0.81 | 9.8 | +73.4% | 23 |
| 31 | Darien | 0.81 | 9.9 | +70.5% | 69 |
| 32 | Wheeling | 0.81 | 9.9 | +71.4% | 107 |
| 33 | Calumet City | 0.81 | 9.8 | +167.5% | 341 |
| 34 | Palos Heights | 0.82 | 10.0 | +49.8% | 23 |
| 35 | Matteson | 0.82 | 10.0 | +99.7% | 143 |
| 36 | Posen | 0.82 | 10.0 | +181.6% | 27 |
| 37 | Addison | 0.82 | 10.0 | +79.6% | 105 |
| 38 | Westchester | 0.83 | 10.1 | +70.8% | 91 |
| 39 | Bartlett | 0.83 | 10.1 | +69.5% | 95 |
| 40 | Bartonville | 0.83 | 10.1 | +73.9% | 21 |
| 41 | Crete | 0.83 | 10.2 | +149.1% | 72 |
| 42 | Hazel Crest | 0.84 | 10.2 | +119.9% | 178 |
| 43 | Markham | 0.84 | 10.3 | +156.8% | 92 |
| 44 | Fairview Heights | 0.84 | 10.3 | +130.2% | 79 |
| 45 | Niles | 0.85 | 10.4 | +51.3% | 63 |
| 46 | New Lenox | 0.85 | 10.4 | +147.9% | 102 |
| 47 | Milan | 0.85 | 10.4 | +103.5% | 42 |
| 48 | Joliet | 0.85 | 10.4 | +102.6% | 356 |
| 49 | Roscoe | 0.85 | 10.4 | +133.0% | 66 |
| 50 | Dolton | 0.85 | 10.4 | +168.3% | 307 |
What hold period tells investors
Short average holds (under 2 years) indicate a liquid market — properties trade often, exit timing is flexible, and capital recycles quickly. Long holds (5+ years) suggest fewer buyers, slower exits, and higher carry-cost risk.
Markets where typical investors hold 3–9 months are dominated by fix-and-flip operators. Markets averaging 5–10 years are dominated by buy-and-hold landlords. Choose the strategy that matches the market — don't fight it.
This metric reflects only properties that resold. True buy-and-hold landlords who never sold during the data window are invisible here. Treat the numbers as a relative ranking across states, not an absolute hold-period truth. Source: public record. Data through July 2024.