The elections may be having an effect on the real estate market in the suburbs, says Catherine Terpstra, president of the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors.

“Some consumers may be putting their home buying and selling on hold as we wait to see who will lead our country and make the policies that influence the economy, the job market, the nation’s health care system and the housing market,” she said.

The suburban housing market experienced a slight slowdown in sales in September, according to information provided by Midwest Real Estate Data LLC. The number of single-family homes sold in September in MORe’s region — which includes about 200 communities in DuPage, Lake and suburban Cook counties — was down 1.3 percent compared to September 2015, to 3,291 homes sold. However, sales prices continue to climb.

Despite the uncertainty that may be caused by the election, many of the communities in MORe’s region still saw an increase in the number of houses sold compared to this time last year. Communities that recorded notable growth in the number of houses sold last month include Buffalo Grove (26.5 percent), Downers Grove (26.5 percent), Hoffman Estates (15.2 percent), Mundelein (31.4 percent), Oswego (52.5 percent) and Orland Park (75.9 percent).

Other key market statistics for September show prices increasing along with the demand for inventory. The median sale price was up 6.4 percent to $235,050, and the average year-to-date sale price was $284,218, up by 4.4 percent from this same time last year. Market times for homes dropped, down 4.3 percent to 89 days.

“We keep saying that housing inventory is low, driving the prices up and market times down. That fact remains true. Consumers may be exercising caution before the Nov. 8 elections, but it’s still a strong sellers’ market,” said Terpstra. “Even though inventory is down, buyers should make their moves now to purchase their dream homes while mortgage interest rates remain low.”