While the numbers of listings have remained fairly consistent, however, in your neighborhood the homes sales have increased from 4 in August to 5 in September thanks to the 3 pending sales and 2 with accepted offers. With 4th quarter starting off with some great drops in interest rates, the housing market is expected to pick up. Here are your statistics for the Hawk's Landing Neighborhood for the month of September as well as a comparison of 2nd to 3rd quarter:  Residential Homes SalesActive Listings: 190 homes with accepted offersAverage Asking Price: $659,173Average Price per Square Foot: $152List Price Range: $1,245,000 (high) to $459,900 (low)1 Pending Sale at 629,900 September 2007 Sales: 5 SalesAverage List Price: $565,920Average Sold Price: $557,500Average List Price per Square F... 10/05/2007

With going back to school and other similar activities associated with September, its not surprising that September is one of the slowest months for home sales. While the numbers of listings have remained fairly consistent, the homes sales have dropped from 7 in August to only 1 in September. The condos sales have also dropped from 24 in August to 15 in September. With 4th quarter starting off with some great drops in interest rates, the housing market is expected to pick up. Here are your statistics for the Capital Neighborhoods for the month of September:  Residential Homes SalesActive Listings: 303 homes with accepted offersAverage Asking Price: $355,118Average Price per Square Foot: $179List Price Range: $1,500,000 (high) to $93,900 (low)2 Pending Sale averaging $482,450 September 2... 10/03/2007

With going back to school and other similar activities associated with September, its not surprising that September is one of the slowest months for home sales. While the numbers of listings have remained fairly consistent, the homes sales have dropped from 15 in August to only 3 in September. The condos sales remained the same with 3 sales both in August and September. With 4th quarter starting off with some great drops in interest rates, the housing market is expected to pick up. Here are your statistics for the Lake View Hills Neighborhood for the month of September as well as all of the 3rd Quarter.   Residential Homes SalesActive Listings: 783 homes under contractAverage Asking Price: $245,250Average Price per Square Foot: $140List Price Range: $999,900 (high) to $134,900 (low)5 Pe... 10/03/2007

Looking for a Great Way to Network here in Madison, Wisconsin?This Thursday, High Tech Happy Hour will be at Bourbon Street Grille from 5 to 7 pm. Its a great time and a great way to network and meet other professionals. Sponsored by Safe Bridge Solutions. To learn more you can visit www.HTHH.org  09/24/2007

Hawk's Landing Statistics Current Active Listings: 21, 2 with accepted offersAverage List Price: $645,957Average List Price/Square Foot: $152List Price High: $1,245,000List Price Low: $459,900 PendingPending Sales: 3Average List Price: $609,900Average List Price/Square Foot: $151List Price High: $559,900List Price Low: $669,900 August SalesAugust Sales: 4Average List Price: $933,419Average List Price/Square Foot: $174List Price High: $1,575,000List Price Low: $649,900Average Sold Price: $873.732Average Sold Price/Square Foot: $165Sold Price High: $1,350,000Sold Price Low: $643,000Days On Market: 31 July SalesJuly Sales: 2Average List Price: $564,375Average List Price/Square Foot: $148List Price High: $609,000List Price Low: $519,750Average Sold Price: $527,500Average Sold Price/Square F... 09/24/2007

While the media may be portraying the housing market in Madison as all doom and gloom, statistics are showing something quite different. While existing home sales in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2007 are down from 2006, according to the Wisconsin Realtors Association they are the 3rd highest on record. Median sale price on homes have also increased steadily over the past 10 years as well.  According to the National Association of Realtors, the 4th quarter of 2007 is projected to be the largest quarter for the year.  With interest rates dropping below 6.375%, they will help the softened market gain momentum. As for the Capital Neighborhoods, statistics are showing the following:  Residential Homes SalesActive Listings: 313 homes with accepted offersAverage Asking Price: $403,800Average Pr... 09/24/2007

So I've returned, actually had 3 weeks away, in England, with a side trip to France.  It was a wonderful break.  I was able to forget about the stresses of work, knowing I had a team to look after everything. My last job, yes a real paying salaried job, back in England, we got 6 weeks vacation.  With a stipulation that 2 weeks per year must be consecutive to ensure a complete rejuvenation.   My son Christopher with Emily, our family dog.Highlights of our trip: 6 days at my sisters farmette in France, 3 days in London, walking on the seashore with my son at low tide and exploring the tide pools.Highlight for my son:  Visiting Waterloo station and seeing the EuroStar High Speed Trains, and Paddington station to see the Heathrow Express and other HST'sUpon my return, I have never had such ... 09/16/2007

But it exists.   As part of the design for the Metropolitan Place Condominium in the central city in Madison, the development team designed a 1 acre private park that sits on top of the 6 story parking structure.  This park is accessed from within the 2 towers that make up Metropolitan Place Condominium.  There are raised planting beds, a gazebo, a crushed red granite walking path and park benches scattered throughout the park. The best feature, in my opinion, is the park creates a 120 foot buffer between both towers-much greater distance than any adjoining building in the central city. The residents are starting to utilize this "hidden" treasure as well.  This Thursday, September 6 there's an informal "Garden Party" gathering for all the residents of Metropolitan Place.  The weather lo... 09/04/2007

I've just pulled the stats for sales of home by professional.  The results are interesting, if not too surprising.The figures to look at are April -June of the 2 years.  East Madison, numbers of homes sold was down about 5%, days on market of the sold listings is about the same.  List price is down about 2% and Sale price down about 3%On the west side, Sales are down 20%, Days on the market at 59, is up from the 50 the year prior.  List price is down 7% and sale price down 10%.  For all that we read in the press that the market is terrible, things are not nearly so bad.  Sales and prices are down slightly.  I see this as a healthy correction.Notice the stats for the more recent sales show higher list and sale price.  I can only link that to the closings from the end of the spring market... 08/17/2007

07 August 2007 - Madison, WisconsinIn MovieLand, if a movie is good, a sequel is better - and a third is ALWAYS better.  Oh sure.  So, with that same fallible logic, I present the third installment of my mini-series on Home Inspections as perceived by me.  Third time's a-charmin'.In two previous blogs Home Inspection Tips and Cautions and For Your Vexation Get a Home Inspection I discussed my misadventures with the inspection process and invite participants to listen to a real pro from A-Pro.  Now I take the counsel of Kimberly St. Louis of A-Pro Home Inspection Services and add it to my biased opinion and give you the conclusions here.On Your Home-Your Money I asked Kimberly the following questions.  I will paraphrase the answers.Should the Seller be there during the inspection, especi... 08/07/2007

I just attended a networking social with International Professionals and I have to say I was entirely impressed with this fine establishment.  Actually this was the second event and each time I have been similarly impressed.First is has a wonderful setting in Machinery row at the Capital end of Williamson (Willy) Street.  This is a very tastefully refurbished warehouse, backing onto the Lake, Monona.  This is a very cool setting with a large bar.We were met personally with friendly, formally dressed wait-staff.   The are able to keep tabs on everyone, no matter which of the wait-staff served.   Everyone was friendly.  Then the management provided us with some incredible eats. Mussles, French cheese dishes, pate, salami, artichoke dips.  The beers were good, but what do you expect in dow... 08/01/2007

The Weary Traveler was a whim, an evening idea and simply a barricade between me and my summer evening wine.  It was recommended by a friend, apparently a very good friend and found its way to my table this evening.  I've driven past it a million times and glanced a decimal point short of that but, in my haste to experience life, never stopped to eat.I had Bob's Bad Breath Burger and a glass of Verace Pinot Noir.  It was a half pound burger, with tomato, cream cheese, pickapepper sauce and other random awe enticing ingredients (No Mushrooms though, yuggh Mushrooms).  It was served with greens and sliced roasted potatoes.  My good buddy Victor told me to stop at this place and have the burger which was to be the best in Madison by his account.  The Pinot was great, I went looking but had... 08/01/2007

Forget about the ability of the seller or the process, and their numerous required abilities and past experiences, the reach of the marketing.  All of which the common knowledge of why one would use an agent and not try selling on your own.  I have a graphic example of why is is just plain not a good idea.  And this is from myself, a top agent in Madison, Wisconsin.Over the years I have sold over 400 homes, I have the CRS designation, (actually serve as the Wisconsin Chapter President) I have been especially successful in this tougher market in counselling other sellers to sell their homes and getting results in days or weeks.  So in March this year, I decided to sell a home which was coming vacant.  (Frankly it is too nice to rent again).  So I put it on the market, April 1 for $259,90... 07/21/2007

Madison Wisconsin, Thursday, 12th 2007, A group of like minded Realtors met.  The common interest, the greening of Real Estate. The host was the new Green location of Home Savings http://www.linvillearchitects.com/homesavings.html a leader in the field, who hosted the program to introduce to a few Realtors, a mortgage program called Green Rewards a lower rate for green certified homes, and Green Remodelling likewise lower rates for home remodelling projects.We were also given a heads up on the Green certification program,  Wisconsin Energy Star Homes Program, (links to other state programs) This is the measure by which a home gets to qualify for the above loans.What was truly remarkable to me that what happened during following discussion.  Ideas were thrown out and discussed on how we ... 07/13/2007

12 July 2007 - Madison, Wisconsin      Can a person paid by one party perform a service involving a third non-paying party be totally objective?I just don't know about Home Inspectors.  I like them and believe they perform a valuable service, but what if the subject property were MINE and the inspector is hired by my Buyer?The following is for example purposes only - I'm not saying it happened, Maybe it did, maybe it didn't.  But it's food for thought:My house is a ranch-style with a walkout basement.  It's 15 years old, but well maintained - or so it seemed.  Here we are sitting pretty with a solid contract, thinking all is ripping toward closing, when I get a call that the Home Inspector wants to come over.  OK.  I know what they are looking for - more or less - and figure it'll be a ... 07/12/2007

One of my favorite entrepreneurial magazines, "Fast Company" recently recognized Madison, WI as one of the top 4 "Fast Cities" for start up companies in the world.We've been fortunate to have resources such as the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)to serve as an incubator for many Biotech companies as those great ideas the come from the research of of the University of Wisconsin Madison can get put into a business model that actually works.The upshot of all of this is what many of us in the real estate industry in Madison say makes Madison virtually "recession proof".  We're not a rust belt state, we don't depend on manufacturing for the bulk of the incomes our households earn.  This makes Madison and the surrounding area a great place to invest in real estate, raise a family o... 07/06/2007

On Market with largest company in Madison Wisconsin for 9 months.Then, Real Estate Guy has offer in 30 days, sold in 6 weeks  Ever Popular Heritage Heights Neighborhood.  Super Landscaped lot and a half.  This is a proud craftsman's home.  Attention to detail is incredible, as evidenced in the beautiful patterned hardwood floors.  Everything here is newer and updated, from the kitchen, bathrooms to the exterior, roof, siding and windows.  Include a heated pool which can be used from April to October, and a super deck living area, and you have a fine home.  Go here for a Virtual Tour We have placed a Range Price of $219,000 to 239,900 Explanation Check out our free mapping search function.  more homes for saleHomes Marketed by Real Estate Guy, Madison Wisconsin, http://www.realestateguy.... 07/03/2007

30 June 2007 - Madison, Wisconsin (If you haven't heard of THE SECRET, you will soon. THE SECRET refers to a few things - a website, a movie, a book, and a life-changing paradigm of self-fulfillment - all available at www.TheSecret.TV. The principles contained in the website and its outstanding video (and book) are the subject of this weekly (at first) TalkCast, where we will discuss the effects of the video, the philosophies, and the results of both on average people from a lay person's perspective - yours and mine.)  EPISODE8 - THE SECRET - Interview with a Believer - Darren Kittleson Recorded Time: 03/15/07 08:30 PM EDT Does have any real impact on lives? Is the Law of Attraction something we can really plug into? Well, tonight we'll talk with Darren Kittleson, an operating principal... 06/30/2007

I spent last night sitting in the Dane County Board of Adjustment meeting regarding an appeal that has been filed to a variance request I had been granted in February regarding construction on 2 platted buildable lots.  My case has highly publicized and incredibly politically charged.  Here are just a few of the press pieces on this issue:Arboretum Project Draws LawsuitsArboretum Residents Say No to New HomesArboretum Housing Battle is just Heating UpBoard OKs Plan Near ArboretumArboretum Protesters Could Pony UpAnyway, my point of this post isn't to complain about what's happening.  It's really to complain about how this government body has chosen to act.  The Dane County Board of Adjustment (BOA) meet 1 time each month on the 4th Thursday at 6:30 p.m.  Last night there were 8 agenda i... 06/29/2007

Splendid Highlands Neighborhood, 3 blocks from West High School.  Offer Accepted 7-26Here is your chance to acquire a piece of Highlands history with this 90 year old home.  The beauty of this is that it has been very lightly worn and little changed so there are many wonderful original features.Wonderful butler swing door, stairs, hardwoods through out.       Super tiled bath Spacious Bedrooms and a walk up attic for your future plans  Oh and an exterior picture!!We have placed a Range Price of $279,000 to 309,000 Explanation Check out our free mapping search function.  more homes for saleHomes Marketed by Real Estate Guy, Madison Wisconsin, http://www.realestateguy.net/  Email realestateguy@kw.com   Real Estate Guy is affiliated with Keller Williams Realty, Crossroads 06/28/2007