Welcome to Open Houses This Weekend in Southern Illinois — every Thursday we sweep the whole region (Williamson, Jackson, Franklin, and Union counties) so you can plan your weekend house-hunting in one read. The verdict for September 5–6: it's a quiet open-house weekend in our four counties — and that's actually an opportunity. Here's everything on the calendar, plus a few worth a short drive.
📍 Jackson County
🏡 Murphysboro — $398,000 (just reduced $30K)
The one and only open house inside our four counties this weekend — and it's a good one. Nearly 3,000 square feet on almost two acres just outside Murphysboro, with a fresh $30,000 price improvement. If you've been waiting for acreage plus space at a serious discount to new-construction prices, put Saturday morning on the calendar.
📍 Williamson · Franklin · Union Counties
Zero open houses scheduled this weekend. Not one in Marion, Herrin, Carterville, West Frankfort, Benton, Anna, or anywhere in between. Here's the part most buyers miss: the homes are still there, and so are we. A quiet open-house weekend means less foot traffic, less competition, and sellers who are extra glad to see a serious buyer walk in with an agent. Any active listing in the region can be toured privately with a SIRE broker — often same-day. Skip the crowds on purpose.
🚗 Worth the Short Drive
⭐ Du Quoin — $195,000 (just reduced · a SIRE listing!)
Full disclosure: this one is ours — listed by our own Carbondale office, and we'll have the door open Sunday afternoon. Three bedrooms, two baths, 1,500+ square feet, and a price that just improved. Come say hi, tour the home, and ask us anything about the Du Quoin market while you're there.
🏠 Du Quoin — $190,000
Make it a Du Quoin double-header: this one runs 12–2, ours runs 1–3, and they're minutes apart — you can comfortably walk both in one Sunday outing and compare notes on the spot.
🏠 A little farther out
For the dedicated: a $130,000 3-bed in Sparta holds a Friday-evening open house (Sept 4, 5:00–8:00 PM), and a brand-new $189,900 3-bed listing in Chester opens Sunday 11 AM–1 PM. Both are about an hour from Marion — day-trip territory if the price fits your budget.
What Greg Holthaus Tells Buyers About Open Houses
Here's my honest take: in Southern Illinois, open houses are the appetizer, not the meal. Our market moves on private showings — that's why a quiet weekend like this one doesn't mean nothing's for sale. There are hundreds of active listings across our four counties right now. The buyers who win here aren't the ones waiting for a sign in the yard on Saturday; they're the ones with an agent who calls Tuesday morning when the right home hits the market. Go see the Murphysboro home this weekend — and then let's talk about what you actually want, because I promise it's out there whether it's hosting an open house or not.
💰 Touring This Weekend? Know Your Number First.
Walking into an open house pre-qualified changes everything — you shop with confidence and sellers take your offer seriously. Free, no-pressure pre-qualification with Jarod Sanders, SIRE's in-house lender. Zero-down VA & USDA options available.Jarod Sanders · CrossCountry Mortgage · NMLS #2337228
Open House FAQ
Should I bring my own agent to an open house?
What if the home I want isn't holding an open house?
Do I need to be pre-qualified before touring?
🔑 Want In? Let a SIRE Agent Open the Door.
Whether it's one of this weekend's open houses or a home with no open house scheduled at all — tell us what you want to see and a SIRE broker will set up your tour, on your schedule.
📱 Got a Question About This Market? Text Greg.
Buying? Selling? Not sure where to start? Text Greg Holthaus directly — just tell him you saw his blog. He'll help you think through your decision, match you with the best broker for your situation, and point you in the right direction. He's open to a text any time.
Text Greg · 618.925.8654
Who is Greg Holthaus?
Greg Holthaus is the Owner and Designated Managing Broker of Southern Illinois Realty Experts, with 25+ years in Southern Illinois real estate and more than 10,000 transactions closed. He leads a full-service operation — home sales, mortgage, title, and property management under one roof — with offices in Marion, Herrin, and Carbondale. Meet Greg ›
About this list: Open-house dates, times, and listing details come from local MLS listing data as of the morning of September 3, 2026. Listings are represented by various brokerages; open houses can be added, changed, or canceled at any time and homes can go pending or sell before the weekend — if you're planning a visit, reach out and we'll confirm it's still on. Nothing here is a loan offer, rate quote, or guarantee.