O'Neil Property Group
Live DeKalb listings updated daily from the MLS — plus what local buyers should know before making a move.
The $500K–$750K band is the very top of the DeKalb market — a segment measured in single listings, not pages of them. What appears here is distinctive: large custom builds, premium Bridges of Rivermist homes with every option taken, properties on acreage at the city’s edges, and the occasional in-town landmark home. With the citywide median near $265K, a $600K DeKalb property is roughly 2.3 times the median — the same relative position an $900K home holds in the Tri-Cities. Buyers at this level get what the rest of the corridor cannot offer at any price close to it: space, land, and new-or-nearly-new construction without compromise.
Looking for help narrowing down your search? Call or text Kealan at 630-381-4995 for a personalized list of homes that match your budget and priorities.
Active listings pulled directly from the MLS.
Expect 3,000+ square feet, three-car garages, finished basements, and either a premium subdivision lot or genuine acreage. Custom builds dominate — expect quality that varies with the original builder, which makes inspections and comparable research matter more, not less. Fully optioned new construction can also reach this band with a walkout lot and upgrades.
There is no single luxury neighborhood in DeKalb; the upper market is scattered. Bridges of Rivermist produces the most consistent examples, edge-of-town acreage properties in Afton and DeKalb townships add the rural entries, and the occasional historic home near the Ellwood House district brings character you cannot rebuild. Each pocket trades differently — acreage properties especially can sit, then sell suddenly to exactly the right buyer.
Appraisals deserve attention here: comps above $500K are thin in DeKalb, so work with an agent who can assemble the comparable case before you list or offer. On acreage properties, budget diligence for well, septic, and outbuildings. And if you are choosing between a top-of-market resale and building new, run both numbers — at this budget a fully custom Finney build is often on the table.
Patience is the strategy on both sides. Sellers should expect a smaller, slower buyer pool than the frenzy below $300K — pricing on real comps, not aspiration, is what gets top-of-market homes sold. Buyers should watch consistently, because the right property may appear twice a year. We keep a standing watchlist for this band; tell us your spec and we will flag matches the day they list.
Whether you are just starting your search or ready to schedule a showing, Kealan O’Neil is here to help you every step of the way.
