On a quiet cul-de-sac in Lincolnshire, the general manager of Chicago’s most-watched franchise is making a power move off the field. Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles and his wife, Katie, have put their modern farmhouse on the market for $2.95 million, a private, agents-only listing that’s already stirring chatter in an already-tight luxury market.

A high-end listing in Lincolnshire

The two-story, 5,200-square-foot residence—newly built in 2022 by Arthur J. Greene Custom Builders—checks the boxes for buyers who want space, modern finishes and turnkey amenities. The property traded in late 2022 for $2.077 million through a land trust, and private showings for the current offering are slated to begin Nov. 10, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Key features, per the Chicago Tribune:

  • 5 bedrooms, 5½ baths; approximately 5,200 square feet
  • Main-level study with built-ins; great room with fireplace
  • Kitchen with oversized island, large breakfast area, walk-in pantry and mud room
  • Three-seasons room; primary suite with sitting area and oversized walk-in closet
  • Finished lower level with exercise room, game area, family room with built-ins and fireplace, and a custom bar
  • Four-car garage with an electric-vehicle charging unit
  • Fenced backyard; professionally landscaped grounds
  • Custom patio with stone fireplace, pergola and built-in commercial-grade grill
  • 2024 property tax bill: $53,744
  • Purchase price in late 2022: $2.077 million (via land trust)
  • Currently in an agents-only private network; private showings start Nov. 10

For football fans, the listing adds a dash of public intrigue. Poles, 40, took the Bears’ top personnel job in January 2022 after more than a decade with the Kansas City Chiefs in scouting and player personnel roles; he played offensive line at Boston College and had a brief stint with the Bears in 2008, according to Wikipedia — Ryan Poles.

What the market looks like

The ask lands well above Lincolnshire’s median—but that’s the point. The suburb’s market has been pushing higher, giving top-tier listings a tailwind. In September, the median home sale price in Lincolnshire was about $665,250, up roughly 40.8% year over year, with homes spending about 81 days on market, according to Redfin. Looking across a full year, the median sits near $652,000 with an automated value estimate (AVM) around $716,500 and 119 residential sales recorded, data from Property Focus shows.

Competition flares in peak months. In June, 71.4% of Lincolnshire homes sold above asking, and every sale that month closed after fewer than 30 days on the market, according to Rocket Homes. That intensity dovetails with a broader scarcity story across the region’s higher end: inventory of luxury single-family homes priced at $850,000 and above is down roughly 16% to 18% year over year, even as sales volume is up about 9% to 10%, market analysis from StephanieTurnerChicago notes.

Why buyers are paying up

Lincolnshire itself is a draw. The village counts about 7,940 residents, a median household income of roughly $134,259 and a median family income near $150,598—markers of a stable, affluent buyer pool for large single-family homes, according to Wikipedia — Lincolnshire, Illinois. In prestige suburbs across the North Shore, high-net-worth buyers have been channeling capital into hard assets and gravitating toward well-located single-family properties as a hedge against volatility elsewhere, local observers told Chicago Star Media.

The city’s broader luxury narrative feeds that confidence. “We are a world-class city and I think there’s a shift in people’s thought process,” said Carrie McCormick, Broker, @properties Christie’s International Real Estate. Her view of evolving buyer preferences downtown—prioritizing quality and newness—has a suburban corollary: turnkey builds with thoughtful floor plans and outdoor amenities can command a premium when inventory is thin.

This listing checks those boxes. The home’s quiet-luxe profile—study with built-ins for work, a three-seasons room, an exercise space and game room downstairs, plus that pergola-framed patio with a stone fireplace—reads like a post-pandemic wish list translated into millwork and masonry. The four-car garage and EV charger don’t hurt.

Where this fits in the season

Beyond the celebrity sheen, Poles’ timing reflects a market that has rewarded quality listings even as borrowing costs and broader sales volume cool the middle tiers. Lincolnshire’s recent price gains and bouts of bidding over ask suggest a deep bench of buyers ready to move for the right house, per Redfin and Rocket Homes. Pair that with a tighter supply of luxury product across the metro, as outlined by StephanieTurnerChicago, and a private, appointment-only campaign makes sense for a property that sells lifestyle as much as square footage.

Whether the listing sparks a quick deal will come down to how many buyers want the full package—newer construction, generous spaces, polished outdoor living—and are comfortable stepping meaningfully above the village median to get it. With private showings set to begin Nov. 10 and local demand still proving resilient at the top, the next few weeks will be a telling barometer for Lincolnshire’s late-year momentum.