~ Take a tour of the old world at the annual Amish Quilt Auction. Bid on hundreds of handmade quilts, Amish made furniture, collectibles, and even horse implements. Bake sale and hand made ice cream made with a diesel engine featured. The auction is on Saturday at the Amish Schoolhouse - corner of Hwy. 104 and Atkinson Rd. ~ Turn your trip to the auction into an adventure. Bicycle there by joining the ride sponsored by Bombay Bicycle Club, and the Earth Rider van will bring your purchases back for you. Meet at Earth Rider in Brodhead at 8:00am for the ride. Pace 12-14 mph; Distance: 24 miles; Route: Moderate. ~ Come to New Glarus on Saturday to celebrate the 108th Anniversary of the New Glarus Fire Department. This fundraising event will feature bucket brigades, water fights, children's... 07/28/2010

Local shutterbugs, it is time once again for the annual Monroe Arts Center Photography Contest and Exhibit. Everyone is welcome to enter, and there are two classifications this year, Junior (under 18) and Adult. This year’s contest and exhibit will feature three categories, which are Landscape, Portraits, and Unclassified. Participants may enter no more than two categories and a total of two photographs. All photographs must have been taken after January 1, 2009. They must be a minimum of 8 x 10, a maximum of 16 x 20, and must be framed and suitable for hanging in MAC’s Frehner Gallery. The entry fee for this contest is $20 per photographer and the deadline to enter is Friday August 20, 2010. Participants are not required to be Wisconsin residents. Photographs entered in this contest wi... 07/27/2010

There have been a couple email rumors going around regarding new federal legislation and the potential consequences for home owners. We thought it would be helpful to address these issues on our blog today. Rumor: The new federal health care bill requires an additional 4% transfer tax on homes sold. Fact: The new federal health care bill has a 3.8% Medicare tax for some high-income households with net investment income. Starting in 2013, this tax applies only home households with adjusted gross incomes of over $250,000 and would only be charged on home-sale proceeds that exceed the capital gains exclusion of $500,000. If filing individually, these figures change to incomes over $200,000 and home sale proceeds over $250,000. Rumor: The energy bill that Congress is working on would requir... 07/27/2010

Congratulations on becoming the newest owner of a building in Monroe's Historic Downtown, Faustino! Marc, congratulations on selling your building, and best of luck with your next endeavor! It was great to work with both of you. Whether you are hoping to sell something like Marc or are looking to purchase just the right property like Faustino, give Brenda or Luis a call or check out our website to send us a message. We are here to help with all of your real estate needs in the Green County area. 07/27/2010

Regarding the number of single family homes that sold in Green County in June of 2010: 29 homes sold in June of 2010,The homes were on the market for an average of 106 days, The average sale price was $143,386, The median sale price was $128,000, The highest priced property sold was $322,000, The lowest priced property sold was $27,000.Let's compare with June of 2009: 32 homes sold in June of 2009,The homes were on the market for an average of 159 days,The average sale price was $148,459,The median sale price was $140,957, The highest priced property sold was $375,900, The lowest priced property sold was $43,000.Many of the numbers are holding steady against this month last year, but it is great to see that the average days on market is significantly lower again. Six homes in the over $... 07/27/2010

Congratulations on your first home, Cori! We hope that you will spend many happy years there. If you dream of a photo of standing in front of your first home in the Monroe, WI area, give Brenda or Luis a call or check out our website to send us a message. We will be happy to work with you to help you find just the right home, whether it is your first home or if you are upsizing or downsizing. 07/27/2010

Scott Larson SRES | Towne Square Realty | (608) 214-9844 N3992 Balls Mill RD, Monroe, WI 4BR/3BA Single Family House offered at $219,900 Year Built 2006 Sq Footage 2,565 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 6.5 acres HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Welcome to the country. Relax on you 6.5 ac. 4br, 3bath, piece of paradise. Plenty of room for the whole family in this spacious open floor plan. Stand out features: 1st floor Master bedroom with whirlpool tub, 1st floor laundry, all appliances inc., wood and tile floors, and large raised deck. Heating is a snap with your LP furnace or outside wood stove. This home was built to last and you won’t be disappointed. Priced to sell see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Central A/C - Central h... 07/15/2010

It's time for a visit to the Farmer's Market located on Monroe's historic square. (Northside) Every Wed. 2-5:30 pm and Sat. 8-1pm. After you fill your bag with wonderful produce, then stop at my office and see about a home to cook up those veggies. Many new listing. From Scott Larson of Towne Square Realty in Monroe, Wisconsin "Your Realtor of the Region" E- Mail scott@greencountyhomeguide.com On the web at www.greencountyhomeguide.com I think you will be surprised how affordable the Dairyland is, so come to my land of cows and plows and visit for a day, but stay for a lifetime 608-2124-9844 Direct 06/30/2010

    Communicate with your Realtor If you have hired an agent hopefully you hired one that you can communicate with effectively. A good Realtor listens to their client and their needs. However, it is also our job to manage your expectations. Alot of sellers think their homes are worth more than they really are and buyers generally always want more than they can afford. Not always but often. Some calls from prospective buyers looking for that dream property encounter the problem  that they want to spend much less than what is necessary to get that property. This is where good communication is necessary. Some Realtors are afraid to let you down and will try to find the impossible. This is just a waste of you and your Realtors time. Let your agent know how you want them to communicate with ... 06/17/2010

  Strong pet odor can ruin a showing, so what can you do to avoid this problem? First the bad news: Not all urine stains are removable. The types of damage caused vary according to the urine content. This is determined by the pet's diet, age, sex, and any medications being taken. If it is removable, the following steps may get it out. 1. Blot up the urine as soon as you discover it. Use plain white paper towels to avoid dye transfer. 2. Mix 1/4 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent (non-bleach and non-lanolin) in a cup of warm water. Apply this to the spot. 3. Blot up the moisture, rinse with warm water, and apply more of the detergent mixture. Rinse, and continue the process until you don't see any urine transfer to the paper towels. 4. Mix two tablespoons of ammonia in a cup of water.... 06/15/2010

Scott Larson SRES | Towne Square Realty | 608-214-9844 2630 22nd Ave, Monroe, WI Elegance on the Golf course 3BR/3+1BA Single Family House offered at $344,900 Year Built 1988 Sq Footage 2,735 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 12,512 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Stately elegance is found in this immaculate home located on the golf course. Rich walnut, maple, and oak are used to create a warm & inviting atmosphere. The fine marble entry flows into the expansive living room w/fireplace. Enjoy your designer kitchen and relax in the sunroom dining area. The deck overlooks the fairway, the hot tub make it you special retreat. 3Brs, 31/2 baths w/ a luxurious master bath. Storage is phenomenal. Study from your den. 1st floor private bed & ... 06/11/2010

    Becky Robertson May 19 at 12:39pm The sale of our home with Scott Larson was an amazing experience. Before we had even met he had pages of comparative market research done on our home which allowed us to compare our home with others for sale in the area. That was helpful to us as we decided on an asking price for the home. During the first meeting he was also extremely helpful in explaining to us all the details of selling a home. We had sold a home before and yet, after our first meeting with Scott, we realized that we didn't understand a lot of what happened with the sale of our first home. Scott also explained to us the numerous routes he would take to market our home; routes which included various online websites, as well as newspaper ads and word-of-mouth networking. The latte... 06/08/2010

  My family recently visited this beautiful oasis. About a 1/2 hour trip from Monroe, WI. Rotary Botanical Gardens, Janesville, Wisconsin, a 20-acre non-profit botanic garden, is home to many dramatic and themed gardens.  Some have an international focus, such as the Japanese, Scottish, French Formal, Italian and English  Cottage Gardens.  Also included are less formally-structured gardens including one of very few Fern and Moss gardens recognized by the Hardy Fern Foundation in the United States, as well as Shade, Prairie and Woodland Gardens.  On-site are also a visitor center, gift shop, and a beautiful facility that may be rented for wedding receptions, reunions, meetings, etc.  The gardens are open from dawn till dusk while the visitor center hours vary by season.  Guided group to... 06/08/2010

We knew that April was shaping up to be a great month for single family home sales here in Green County, but it ended up exceeding our expectations, to be honest! Regarding the number of single family homes that sold in Green County in May of 2010: 37 homes sold in May of 2010,The homes were on the market for an average of 111 days, The average sale price was $150,139, The median sale price was $132,000, The highest priced property sold was $425,000, The lowest priced property sold was $20,000. Let's compare with May of 2009: 33 homes sold in May of 2009,The homes were on the market for an average of 96 days,The average sale price was $157,000,The median sale price was $425,000, The highest priced property sold was $765,000, The lowest priced property sold was $75,000. Two very expensiv... 06/07/2010

This week's featured property is a three bedroom bungalow in Monroe. Traditional home with all the updates! If you love the grace and charm of an older home, but worry about updating one, look no further. This 3 bedroom home has the gorgeous woodwork and details of yesteryear, but everything has been updated or redone in the last ten years: roof, Energy Star furnace, high efficiency central air, vinyl siding, energy efficient windows & more. You'll have plenty of room for your family in the 1800+ square foot home. The eat in kitchen transitions to a light-filled sunroom, perfect for enjoying a winter morning. The formal dining room has the built-in hutch that adds so much charm to homes of this era. The formal living room is expanded by a clever under-staircase nook. Upstairs, you will ... 06/07/2010

The Monroe Concerts on the Square start this week. The Thursday evening concert series will happen every other week all summer long. The concerts kick off this week with a performance by Beth Kille. Beth has treated Monroe to some great concerts in the past as part of Clear Blue Betty. She gives a great concert with a combination of rock, country, folk and blues. The concerts start at 6:30 pm. Bring your chair and pack a picnic supper. You can also order a boxed supper from some of Downtown Restaurants. Come on Downtown for a great evening of entertainment! 06/07/2010

Scott Larson SRES | Towne Square Realty | 608-214-9844 2630 22nd Ave, Monroe, WI Elegance on the Golf course 3BR/3+1BA Single Family House offered at $344,900 Year Built 1988 Sq Footage 2,735 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 12,512 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Stately elegance is found in this immaculate home located on the golf course. Rich walnut, maple, and oak are used to create a warm & inviting atmosphere. The fine marble entry flows into the expansive living room w/fireplace. Enjoy your designer kitchen and relax in the sunroom dining area. The deck overlooks the fairway, the hot tub make it you special retreat. 3Brs, 31/2 baths w/ a luxurious master bath. Storage is phenomenal. Study from your den. 1st floor private bed & ... 06/04/2010

  12  Things a Burglar Won't Tell You   Number 8 just happened to one of my clients, have you warned yours? 1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator. 2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier. 3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste … and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.   4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it. 5. If decorative... 06/01/2010

  Photographed at the Green County, Wisconsin Fairgrounds in June 2007 at the annual hot air balloon rally in Monroe, Wisconsin.  The Monroe Balloon Rally celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary this year!  Join the Monroe Balloon Rally Facebook Fan Page for all the details on this homegrown event.  All rights are reserved. 05/27/2010

Memorial Day Weekend is almost upon us. Where has the time gone this year? If you don't have plans yet for the weekend, here are a few options for you: ~ Sky Vu Drive-In is open! Shrek: 4 Ever After and Iron Man 2 are playing this weekend starting at approximately 8:45 pm. This year marks 56 years of continual operation for the local drive in theater. ~ There is a 3-D archery shoot at SLICE this weekend. The qualifying shoots start on Thursday evening, and the final is on Sunday. Call Boog at 817-243-9244 for more information; all ages are welcome. ~ New Glarus host a music festival this weekend. Brianna Hardyman, Swiftkick, Raindogs, 2nd Thought, Super Tuesday, Greenfield Brothers, Amber Skies, The Invaders, The Jimmys, Wildheart, New Glarus High School Jazz Band, Madison College Jazz ... 05/27/2010