Dane County housing starts decreased from 43 in February of 2011 to 40 this February, a drop of 7%. Although sales of existing homes are picking up, housing starts remain stuck at historically low levels. This graph shows the number of Dane County housing starts for every February dating back to 1999. The 40 housing starts recorded this February are just above the 37 recorded in February of 2009, the lowest February on record. You'll find our full Dane County housing start report on the Market Trends menu at DaneCountyMarket.com. Dan Miller, Realtor, Keller Williams Realty and www.DaneCountyMarket.com www.HowWeHelpYouSell.com www.HowWeHelpYouBuy.com www.OurRecentSales.com www.DaneCountyMarketSnapshot.com www.SearchDaneCounty.com www.DaneCountyForeclosureSearch.com 03/20/2012

The Dane County Distressed Property Index was 28.5% in February. February was the second month in a row with a reading below 30%. Note, however, Dane County foreclosure filings are still trending along historically high levels, and there are still many Madison and Dane County foreclosures for sale. Here's how the distressed property index has been trending since 2006. If you are interested in purchasing a distressed property, we have five foreclosure search tools to assist you with your bank owned (REO) and short sale property search. All five tools are available on our property search menu as well as our foreclosures menu at DaneCountyMarket.com. Dan Miller, Realtor, Keller Williams Realty and www.DaneCountyMarket.com www.HowWeHelpYouSell.com www.HowWeHelpYouBuy.com www.OurRecentSales.... 03/19/2012

A Little St.Patrick's Day Advice To Save You From Looking As Silly As A Leprechaun! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ With all the texting, blogging, e-mails and other forms of (sometimes way toooooo casual) writing, many of us (not me of course) tend to make several mistakes in grammar and spelling that just simply make us look as silly as a Leprechaun (oh am I going to get pinched for that comment)!  In order save you from these dastardly deeds, I have copied this wonderful set of graphics for you to view!  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <----------Looks like a leprechaun played a trick on me here!  My fun photo has completely disappeared!  However, if you click on this smaller version you will be able to view it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For the blog in it's entirety written by c... 03/17/2012

Are you planning to buy your first home in Madison, WI? We've covered how getting your mortgage pre-approval and hiring the right buyer agent are two important steps in your journey toward home ownership. Another important step is to hire the right home inspector. Your home inspector should be extremely thorough and willing to share his knowledge about maintaining a home. Your inspector should use the latest technologies, such as a thermal imaging camera. A thermal imaging camera can detect moisture problems that can't be seen by the naked eye. Your inspector should also document all defects with a digital camera. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Sellers are more likely to agree with a finding when a picture clearly exposes the defect. The photos will help your b... 03/15/2012

   A Record High Temperature or How To Put 200,000 In A Good Mood.     It's a record! Temp of 82 degrees marks earliest 80-degree day ever in Madison Wisconsin reports The Wisconsin State Journal today.  Here is the article in it's entirety.     The all-time record for the earliest 80-degree day in Madison has just been broken, according to Jonathan Martin, chair of the UW-Madison Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies. As of 6 p.m., the official Madison temperature had reached 82 degrees, Martin said, eclipsing the previous first 80-degree day by two weeks. Prior to Thursday, the earliest day to see 80 degrees in Madison was on March 29, 1986, he said. The hot spell — which is expected to last well into next week — prompted UW-Madison to hasten its normal schedule for putting ou... 03/15/2012

Dane County foreclosures increased in February for the second month in a row. This graph shows the number of Dane County foreclosures filed in every February dating back to 2004. The 118 foreclosures filed in February of 2012 were up by 1% from the 117 filings last year, and up by 281% from the 31 foreclosures filed in February of 2004. Foreclosures in 2012 are currently ahead of last year's by pace by more than 10%. For our full Dane County foreclosure report, please see the new foreclosures menu at DaneCountyMarket.com . Our report also has information on foreclosure filings for the State of Wisconsin. If you are interested in buying a foreclosed home, please see these 5 foreclosure search tools, also on our foreclosures menu. Dan Miller, Realtor, Keller Williams Realty and DaneCounty... 03/14/2012

There are still many foreclosures for sale on Madison's east side.   Click for bank-owned and short sale foreclosure listings on Madison's East Side    Click the map for all REO and short sale foreclosure listings on Madison's East Side.      You can begin your search for a Madison East Side foreclosure by using our map search tool at www.SearchDaneCounty.com. In all we have 5 foreclosure search tools for Madison and Dane County homes. One of our most popular is our "foreclosure quick search" for 90 local communities. You can find this tool at www.DaneCountyForeclosureSearch.com. Do you need help buying your next home? Feel free to contact us. We are a full-service real estate team with 5 dedicated agents and ready to serve you.   Click to contact the DaneCountyMarket.com real estate te... 03/10/2012

If you are a first-time home buyer seeking to buy a home in Madison WI, one of the very first things you should do is get your mortgage pre-approval. When you have your financing plans in place, then it's time to look at homes. This is where your buyer agent comes into play. A great buyer agent will help you in a number of different ways. These include: Simplify the home buying process by implementing a plan that keeps you focused and saves you time, as you go about the process of finding the right home at the right price. Introduce you to the communities and neighborhoods that are of interest to you. Schedule and coordinate all of your showings. Help you obtain answers to all of the questions you may have about an individual property and the home buying process as a whole. You will hav... 03/10/2012

The foreclosure map below shows there are still plenty of foreclosure listings on Madison's west side. You can begin your search for a Madison West Side foreclosure by using our map search tool at www.SearchDaneCounty.com. In all we have 5 foreclosure search tools for Madison and Dane County homes. One of our most popular is our "foreclosure quick search" for 90 local communities. You can find this tool at www.DaneCountyForeclosureSearch.com.   Bank-owned and short sale foreclosure listings on Madison's West Side - Click for listings.     Click the map for all REO and short sale foreclosure listings on Madison's West Side.    Do you need help buying your next home? Feel free to contact us. We are a full-service real estate team with 5 dedicated agents and ready to serve you.   Click to ... 03/09/2012

What:                  FREE Home Buyer Education Classes Where:                Project Home’s Training Center                              1922 S. Stoughton Road Madison WI When:                 Tuesday March 13th AND March 20th, 2012   6:00 pm to 9:30 pm Reservations:      Space is limited.  Please call Project Home @ 608-246-3737 for more information or to register. Cost:                     FREE  The First Time Home Buyer Education classes offered by Project Home and GreenPath, Inc. allow first time home buyers to learn about homeownership in an environment that encourages questions and protects the potential home buyer from being solicited. They learn about the pros and cons of home ownership, money management skills, credit issues, how to choose a realtor and lender, down payment a... 03/06/2012

FREE Loan Modification and other Options Workshop Thursday March 8, 2012 6 pm to 8 pm For any and all homeowners who are looking for help with their mortgage and/or property taxes. What: FREE Workshop – Learn about Loan Modifications and Other Options Where: Madison College (MATC) – Madison Truax Campus (near the airport)                  3550 Anderson Street, Room 217 (at the top of the escalator)                  (Free Parking in the Student Parking Area off Wright Street.) When: March 8, 2012    6:00 pm to 8:00 pm (may go past 8 pm)                 (Please allow time to walk from parking to the class room.) This is a recurring workshop and takes place on the 2nd Thursday evening of every month. Call: Reservations are appreciated but not required. Please call Bethany Nelson @ (608) 26... 03/05/2012

If you are a first-time home buyer seeking to buy a home in Madison, one of the first things you should do is get your mortgage pre-approval.  As you go about this your lender will educate you on the home loan process, and you will learn about the home loan programs that are a good fit for your personal situation. The question is which lender should you choose? The answer depends a lot on your personal finances and the type of property you wish to buy. There are many excellent lenders to choose from, but you will want to select a lender who has the experience and the knowledge to deliver the loan program that is the best fit for you. For example, if you are someone seeking down payment assistance, you will want to select a lender who is well-versed in the variety of down payment assista... 03/04/2012

Just How Important is Staging-Fur Goodness Sake! Take a look at these before and after photos of this home for sale at 322 Acadia Drive, Madison WI  in the Parkwood Hills subdivision on the West side in Madison Wi.   Living room photo:  BEFORE.                                     Living room photo: AFTER                               Dining Room photo: BEFORE                                 Dining room photo: AFTER                                     What is this seller of 322 Acadia Drive, in Madison WI going to get back?  His listing MLS #1633936  has already had more showings and two parties who are ranking it in their top 2 or 3 favorites.   And what did the seller offer me for my help in making his listing show to his best advantage A full length mouton fur coat-that's what! This w... 03/04/2012

Parkwood Hills is one of the most popular neighborhoods on Madison's West Side. One key reason is it is one of the only neighborhoods in Madison where families can easily walk to all three neighborhood schools - Muir Elementary, Jefferson Middle School and Memorial High School. The neighborhood association in Parkwood Hills is very active. Parkwood Hills is also home to the Parkcrest Pool, a great recreational resource and meeting place for the residents of the neighborhood. You can begin your search for a Parkwood Hills home by clicking the map below. Or visit the neighborhood search feature at www.SearchDaneCounty.com.   Click the map for all Parkwood Hills homes for sale, Madison.  Click for all Parkwood Hills homes for sale, Madison Brought to you buy the DaneCountyMarket.com real e... 03/03/2012

Here are some useful articles for anyone buying a home in Madison WI. These articles are especially helpful for first-time home buyers. Don't let your dream home slip through the cracks Finding the best deals in our market The importance of a mortgage pre-approval The importance of choosing the right home inspector Home buyers, be prepared to act quickly How we help you buy Our Madison and Dane County map search tool is another great resource, which you'll find at www.SearchDaneCounty.com. You can begin your home search by clicking the map below. Click the map for all Dane County and Madison WI homes for sale.  Brought to you buy the DaneCountyMarket.com real estate team at Keller Williams Realty, Madison, WI. http://www.danecountymarket.com/ http://www.searchdanecounty.com/ http://www.... 03/03/2012

Here is today's market listings update for Active short sale single family homes located in Madison Wisconsin. This information was pulled from the South Central Wisconsin MLS on 3/2/2012 at 10:00 A.M. 54 total short sale homes are currently listed in Madison, WI Low listing price: $69,900 High listing price: $650,000 Average listing price: $181,519 Median listing price: $159,900 Average days on the market: 194 Of course these numbers change on a daily basis, so to obtain the most up to date information on current short sales for sale, please contact us directly at 608-921-8536. We would be happy to customize the search further for you to find the home that is just right for you. As an extra benefit to Rock Realty home buyers, we offer a 1% broker commission rebate after closing. This ... 03/02/2012

Dane County home and condo sales increased in February, and this trend will continue throughout the Spring buying season. Our latest pending home sales report shows Dane County pending home sales are up 38% from last year. Pending condo sales are up 15%.   Much of the new momentum in this year's market is coming from the first-time home buyer. Consequently many homes priced at $250,000 and under are receiving multiple offers from competing parties - and selling very quickly. If you are in the market for your first home, be prepared to act quickly. Get your mortgage pre-approval, and work with a full-service buyer agent who will implement an organized and efficient home buying plan for you. Otherwise you risk missing out on the home that is the perfect fit for you. Dan Miller, Realtor, K... 03/01/2012

According to our recent review of MLS data, the peak year for Dane County home prices was 2006. In 2011, the average Dane County home sold for 11.6% less than its 2006 value. The results of our study also include the following: Prices continued to trend lower in 2011. Home values in 2011 decreased by 2.2% from 2010.  The average bank-owned foreclosure sold for 28.4% less in 2011 when compared to its previous sale price. The average short sale home sold for 24.7% less in 2011 when compared to its previous selling price. Price trends vary a lot by location. Prices have been very stable in some areas. For example, home values in many of Madison's near-west side neighborhoods have held up very well. You can view the full report here, as well as download an Excel spreadsheet which allows you... 02/29/2012

02/29/2012

View all Nakoma homes for sale on the Near West Side of Madison WI. The Nakoma neighborhood is known for its classic homes and architecture. Nakoma offers a fantastic location, with easy access to the Univerity of Wisconsin and Downtown Madison.    Click the Nakoma map for all neigborhood homes for sale.      Brought to you buy the DaneCountyMarket.com real estate team at Keller Williams Realty, Madison, WI   http://www.danecountymarket.com/ http://www.searchdanecounty.com/ http://www.howwehelpyoubuy.com/ http://www.howwehelpyousell.com/   02/27/2012