One-day wonders It took only hours to sell 6,189 homes

Thousands of Chicago area houses are selling so fast that realestate agents don't even have time to post "for sale" signs.

It took less than a day to sell 6,189 homes in the year endingAug. 3 - that included 30 houses going for more than $1 million, aswell as others selling for much less.

"When you're a buyer, you don't have the luxury of time in thismarket," said John Andrus of the Chicago Association of Realtors.

Consumer confidence, a healthy economy and big demand arecombining to produce a seller's market, in which some houses areselling before they are even listed in the multiple listing serviceused by real estate agents, Andrus said.

"People feel good about the economy," he said, "and they're in themarket to buy homes." Details, Pages 8-9A