Listings: We can see there is more inventory  in late 2007 than 2005, yet not as much as 2006. Sales activity: We were down in sales in the last 3 months of last year. Price: Still increases...  This is difficult to understand, it certainly is not my experience! Days on Market:  This is still a very reasonable time frame of 2.5 months! Despite what the press dumps on us each and every day, our market is really not too bad.  I look forward to another record breaking year of helping buyers and sellers make their moves. 01/30/2008

Madison, WI Skyline-What a long, strange trip it's been.And it ain't over yet.Our journey continues: Theresa, my wife, got a horrifically great job offer about nine years ago after looking around on the internet.She was due.The offer to become the design and operations manager for a start-up furniture company in Madison, Wi. was the brass ring.We were living in Quakertown, PA, then, about 30 miles from Philly, just far enough to be out of the worst of the traffic and still have easy access to the Eagles, tomato pie, cheesesteaks, Nockamixon state park and Yuengling ale.We were married in a colonial church in Dublin, PA.She was partnered up, had two antique stores and a thriving furniture restoration business. And there were the friends she had made over a lifetime in Philly and Upper Bu... 01/26/2008

My friend (and AR member) Steven Stearns will be hosting an outstanding seminar for real estate agents on January 29, 2008 in Madison, Wisconsin.  The seminar is entitled "The New Marketplace: Hard Knowledge for Soft Skills" and will feature a discussion on blogging, social networking and online communities.  Today, I had the pleasure of chatting with Steven about his upcoming event.  We ran into each other at the Wisconsin REALTORS Association (WRA) Winter Convention in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin! You can read all about this seminar on Steven's blog: http://activerain.com/blogsview/338499/Soft-Skills-for-Hard Steven is an AR member who is passionate and knowledgeable about blogging and its potential for people in the real estate industry.  He works as a Real Estate Marketing Consultant... 01/21/2008

Activity Report for Crestwood, Glen Oak Hills, Merrill Crest, Hill FarmsWeek Ending Jan 21, 2008StatusMLS #AddressBEDBaths SqFt Price  Original Price DOMAcpt Offer15047825725  FORSYTHIA PL310101872$209,900.00 $209,900.00 0New1501261545  D'Onofrio Dr11000718$69,900.00 $83,900.00 0New1507355101  Horseshoe Bend421002878$349,900.00 $349,900.00 0New1506850402  Bryce Canyon Cir411102973$399,900.00 $399,900.00 0New1479941511  N Gammon Rd421103895$535,000.00 $579,900.00 0Pending14961495513  Marconi St310101496$209,900.00 $214,900.00 0Price Drop15067146514  OFFSHORE DR320101938$174,900.00 $174,900.00 0Sold1471004218  GRAND CANYON DR210011773$116,500.00 $142,000.00 295Sold2566835909  S HILL DR312002922$240,000.00 $229,900.00 6 01/21/2008

      Monday, January 21, 2008week#3Inventory20082007%ChangeDowntown Houses2531-19%Downtown Condos178290-39%West Houses633698-9%West Condos8521032-17%East Houses5385008%East Condos414439-6%Total Houses11961229-3%Total Condos14441761-18%Grand Total26402990-12%Market IndicatorsUWCU 30 Mortgage Rate5.75%6.13%-6%Keller Williams Listings4364106%# of showings on KW Listings14512516%3 week trend1167751%6 week trend102NANA% of listings with showings33.26%30.49%9%Av DOM for KW Listings200NANAClosings mtd116259-55% 01/21/2008

Keller Williams Realty West will be taking part in a service project which collects and distributes suitcases, duffel bags, and backpacks for foster children in the Madison area. Last year we had the most suitcases gathered from any single real estate office and we plan to do it again. All donations will be accepted from now until March 13th. Full information for the drive is included below. For more information on how to get involved in this Madison area charity, please give me a call. 608-444-6831. Thank You!! Returning to the Blitz: Suitcases for Kids "In 2006, RASCW joined the national service project designed to collect and distribute new and gently used suitcases, duffel bags and backpacks for foster children who are frequently forced to move from home to home. Since that time, we... 01/17/2008

      Monday, January 14, 2008week#2 Inventory20082007%ChangeDowntown Houses2428-14%Downtown Condos171306-44%West Houses606710-15%West Condos856992-14%East Houses5254985%East Condos413466-11%Total Houses11551236-7%Total Condos14401764-18%Grand Total25953000-14% Market IndicatorsUWCU 30 Mortgage Rate5.63%6.13%-8%Keller Williams Listings4314086%# of showings on KW Listings12710225%3 week trend68NANA6 week trend96NANA% of listings with showings29.47%25.00%18%Av DOM for KW Listings200NANAClosings mtd45259-83% 01/14/2008

Activity Report for Crestwood, Glen Oak Hills, Merrill Crest, Hill FarmsWeek Ending Jan 14, 2008StatusMLS #AddressBEDBaths SqFt Price  Original Price DOMActive1505824325  S YELLOWSTONE DR11000850$94,900.00 $94,900.00 0A/O & Pending1488513401  N Rosa Rd411001733$210,000.00 $219,900.00 0A/O & Pending14860105909  Driftwood Ave520102595$279,900.00 $289,900.00 0Sold14529915601  Varsity Hill Dr411103060$290,000.00 $299,900.00 7Expired1479941511  N Gammon Rd421103895$535,000.00 $579,900.00 0 01/14/2008

Here's an idea. You're trying to sell your home and have reduced the price once or twice already. You feel the price is where it should be but yet showings are still minimal and you have no action, no offers and you don't think it would be fair to reduce anymore because you are at or nearly at what you paid for your house 3 years ago. What you need is a 'buyer incentive.' You need something to make your home pop! Try a offering a 'point concession.' It is more money that will come out of your proceeds at the closing table but it is cheaper than making payments on your house all year or continually reducing your price with no change in action. By offering points you will be marketing your home as 'smaller payment' then the next guys. The buyer will be able to buy their mortgage rate down... 01/10/2008

I've come across another simple marketing implementation that would cost you the seller nothing and may increase some traffic flow towards inquiring on your home more. Put a 100% financing sign in the yard. I have a very successful relationship with Cheryl Slezewski of Park Bank and working together we can try to get buyer's who don't have down payments into your house. Some criteria for this to be beneficial to you is that your home is priced below $200,000 and the reason being is that most 1st time home buyers purchase their 1st home in that range, especially if they are doing so without a down payment. Basically the 100% financing is a tool to bring a buyer through the door. Unless they contact us we have no idea they are out there or how to assist them.  More at www.tornowrealestate... 01/10/2008

The NAR (National Association of Realtors) is pleased to announce the 2008 Public Awareness Campaign. This year's campaign aims to give consumers the facts about the long-term value of real estate and current market conditions to balance the sometimes incomplete and sensational information presented in the national media.The campaign launches nationally on January 14. The TV and radio ads will air more than 10,000 times on national TV and radio outlets from January through November, continuing the campaign's on-air presence for 11 months of the year. This is huge for anyone that is selling a house. Regardless of whom you are working with, Realtor or FSBO, this campaign will start to influence the consumer to see the houseing market for what it truly is. As talked about below by John Dei... 01/10/2008

Existing-Home Sales Expected in Early 2008, then Gradual RiseOver the next few months, existing-home sales are expected to hold fairly steady as indicated by pending sales activity, then rise later in the year and continue to improve in 2009, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there is a pull and tug exerting itself on the market.  "On the one hand, we have a pent-up demand from the four million jobs added to our economy over the past two years of sales decline," he said.  "On the other, consumers continue to wait for additional signs of market stabilization.  There are more people with financial capacity now than in 2005, but many are trying to market-time their purchase."NAR also encourages the Fed to make ... 01/09/2008

Existing-Home Sales Expected in Early 2008, then Gradual RiseOver the next few months, existing-home sales are expected to hold fairly steady as indicated by pending sales activity, then rise later in the year and continue to improve in 2009, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there is a pull and tug exerting itself on the market.  "On the one hand, we have a pent-up demand from the four million jobs added to our economy over the past two years of sales decline," he said.  "On the other, consumers continue to wait for additional signs of market stabilization.  There are more people with financial capacity now than in 2005, but many are trying to market-time their purchase."NAR also encourages the Fed to make ... 01/09/2008

Existing-Home Sales Expected in Early 2008, then Gradual RiseOver the next few months, existing-home sales are expected to hold fairly steady as indicated by pending sales activity, then rise later in the year and continue to improve in 2009, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there is a pull and tug exerting itself on the market.  "On the one hand, we have a pent-up demand from the four million jobs added to our economy over the past two years of sales decline," he said.  "On the other, consumers continue to wait for additional signs of market stabilization.  There are more people with financial capacity now than in 2005, but many are trying to market-time their purchase."NAR also encourages the Fed to make ... 01/09/2008

Existing-Home Sales Expected in Early 2008, then Gradual RiseOver the next few months, existing-home sales are expected to hold fairly steady as indicated by pending sales activity, then rise later in the year and continue to improve in 2009, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there is a pull and tug exerting itself on the market.  "On the one hand, we have a pent-up demand from the four million jobs added to our economy over the past two years of sales decline," he said.  "On the other, consumers continue to wait for additional signs of market stabilization.  There are more people with financial capacity now than in 2005, but many are trying to market-time their purchase."NAR also encourages the Fed to make ... 01/09/2008

Existing-Home Sales Expected in Early 2008, then Gradual RiseOver the next few months, existing-home sales are expected to hold fairly steady as indicated by pending sales activity, then rise later in the year and continue to improve in 2009, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there is a pull and tug exerting itself on the market.  "On the one hand, we have a pent-up demand from the four million jobs added to our economy over the past two years of sales decline," he said.  "On the other, consumers continue to wait for additional signs of market stabilization.  There are more people with financial capacity now than in 2005, but many are trying to market-time their purchase."NAR also encourages the Fed to make ... 01/09/2008

Existing-Home Sales Expected in Early 2008, then Gradual RiseOver the next few months, existing-home sales are expected to hold fairly steady as indicated by pending sales activity, then rise later in the year and continue to improve in 2009, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there is a pull and tug exerting itself on the market.  "On the one hand, we have a pent-up demand from the four million jobs added to our economy over the past two years of sales decline," he said.  "On the other, consumers continue to wait for additional signs of market stabilization.  There are more people with financial capacity now than in 2005, but many are trying to market-time their purchase."NAR also encourages the Fed to make ... 01/09/2008

      Monday, January 07, 2008week#1Inventory20082007%ChangeDowntown Houses2627-4%Downtown Condos166302-45%West Houses616675-9%West Condos855961-11%East Houses5104982%East Condos404460-12%Total Houses11521200-4%Total Condos14251723-17%Grand Total25772923-12% Market IndicatorsUWCU 30 Mortgage Rate5.88%6.13%-4%Keller Williams Listings4324096%# of showings on KW Listings7632433%3 week trend66NANA6 week trend98NANA% of listings with showings17.59%0.73%2298%Av DOM for KW Listings197NANAClosings mtd45259-83% 01/07/2008

Activity Report for Crestwood, Glen Oak Hills, Merrill Crest, Hill FarmsWeek Ending Jan 7 2008StatusMLS #AddressBEDBaths SqFt Price  Original Price DOMA/O & Pending14860105909  Driftwood Ave520102595$279,900.00 $289,900.00 0Expired15034276410  Offshore Dr311101690$199,900.00 $199,900.00 0 01/07/2008

 Price Range (000's)ListingsAVG DOMListingsAVG DOM$0-99919412186$100-125194111231111$125-150379110414112$150-17546210252172$175-2005879764070$200-2255408458673$225-2504228746590$250-2752838830988$275-3002058521094$300-3251448113970$325-3501007312766$350-4001799217771$400-50017011618878$500-6009111910494$600-700589867113$700-800171362677$800+40943566Year ListingsAVG DOMMedian PriceAverage PriceMaximum PriceMinimum Price20073,96295$212,500.00 $246,764.00 $1,863,750.00 $46,000.00 20064,36083$211,500.00 $243,975.00 $1,900,000.00 $57,000.00 Difference-10%13%0%1%-2%-24% 01/02/2008