Illinois home sales up 64.0 percent statewide in November. Pent-up buyer demand plus low interest rates and the homebuyer tax credit incentive yielded a second month of double-digit gains for Illinois home sales in November, according to the latest IAR home sales report. Total home sales were up 64.0 percent statewide and 71.6 percent in the Chicago region. Get market talking points and U of I forecast.