First-time homebuyers

Today Inman News announced the results of its 10 U.S. hotspots for smallest house sizes. Included in its top ten list were six cities located in the Midwest, notably the great state of Wisconsin. The list was based on the median square footage of homes listed for sale on Realtor.com during the month of September 2011. Note: not all homes for sale are listed on Realtor.com. Realtor.com reported that the median size of homes for sale in Wisconsin was the 10th smallest in the country for the month of September 2011, at 1,669 square feet. Like the other top ten finishers (with the exception of our nation's capitol which only has two), Wisconsin's homes have a median of three bedrooms. In addition to Wisconsin, the other Midwestern states…

Any way you slice it, 2970 Milwaukee St is a terrific buy at $109,900! Cute as a button, this character-filled 1 bedroom, 1 bath Madison bungalow situated right on the bike path is perfect for first-time buyers, singles, and couples alike. And because it sits on a huge lot, there's plenty of room to put on an addition or start over and build your dream house.

Nowadays the trend is toward downsizing your house and right-sizing your lifestyle. That means you too can live well in less than 1,000 square feet. Living small allows you to have more free time, pursue more of your interests, and get healthier in the process - so start by living on one of Madison's beautiful bike paths!

For photos and a complete description of this charming East Side Madison

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Take a moment to relax and unwind by watching this short video of our newest residential listing on the East Side of Madison. Located in the quiet neighborhood of John M. Tilton, this classic 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath, 1,640 square foot Cape Cod was professionally designed with feng shui principles in mind. This home has an addition that makes the Master bedroom and kitchen unusually spacious. Perfect for first-time buyers and empty nesters alike, this updated and well-maintained home will amaze and inspire you with its oversized rooms, vibrant colors, and cool retro vibe. Have you ever used Feng Shui to design a space or stage a home? Where did the inspiration to do so come from? Was the outcome what you expected? Tell us about your experience and what kind of

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Are you interested in selling your Madison WI home? If you are ready to make a move, you are likely planning to hire a Realtor to help you with the process. After all, Realtors are experts in the industry and, as such, should be able to help you sell your home more quickly and efficiently. Before you hire a Realtor, however, it is important to know more about how to choose your Realtor.

Experience

While it is certainly possible for a Realtor with little experience to do a great job with selling your home, you are more likely than not to get the results you are looking for when you hire a Realtor with experience. In addition to asking about the Realtor's general experience in the industry, you should also ask about his or her experience selling in your

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Perfect for the first-time homebuyer or someone looking to trade up to a larger home, this charm-filled 100 year-old 2-story home located at 508 W. Sherman Avenue in Fort Atkinson features a large living room, huge eat-in kitchen, main floor bedroom with private half bath (currently used as a family room), plus two oversized bedrooms upstairs that share a second bathroom. Both upstairs bedrooms feature walk-in closets and there is more than ample storage throughout the rest of the home including a wide, deep pantry in the kitchen, spacious basement, and large attic space accessible from the staircase. This home also features original woodwork, hardwood floors and all new windows throughout.

This delightful Fort Atkinson home is punctuated by beautiful

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Parenting magazine just released a list of the top places to raise a family and Madison Wisconsin snagged third.

According to Parenting magazine, Madison Wisconsin is the third best city in the country for families.

Here are the results of the cities that made it into the top 10:

1. Arlington, VA
2. Austin, TX
3. Madison, WI
4. Ann Arbor, MI
5. Lexington, KY
6. Portland, OR
7. Spokane, WA
8. Scottsdale, AZ
9. Omaha, NE
10. Raleigh, NC

How did Parenting magazine determine the top 10? They surveyed mothers nationwide to determine the factors Mom consider to be most important when deciding where to make a home. Then they compiled a list of the top 100 cities by population according to the U.S. Census. Over 5,000 data points were gathered in 52 different categories

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Here's your opportunity to snatch up a well-priced 3 bedroom, 1.25 bath pre-foreclosure with 1.5 garage in the low tax Town of Blooming Grove. Located at 304 Memphis Avenue in the Fair Oaks subdivision on Madison's East Side, this home requires some TLC and yet boasts some expensive updates: a new roof on both the house and garage, some newer mechanicals, new hand-crafted 6-panel doors, and new wainscotting in the finished lower level. Note: the formal dining room is being used as a third bedroom which is also handicap-accessible. This home features a large eat-in kitchen, ample overall square footage, a flexible floorplan, and is located on a quiet sidestreet across from Worthington Park and within walking distance to the Hawthorne library, a fitness

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Today is the deadline for participating banks and mortgage servicing companies to implement the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program, otherwise known as HAFA. Starting today, the HAFA program may make a short sale (or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure) a much more viable option than ever before for homeowners who are "upside-down" on their homes. Will HAFA merely shine a ray of hope on the glut of short sale inventory or will it be a panacea for most short sales?

A short sale is a transaction in which the lender (or lenders) agree to accept less than the mortgage amount owed by the homeowner, thus potentially enabling a homeowner to avoid foreclosure. The HAFA Program, which takes effect today, April 5 2010, and sunsets on December 31st 2012,

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For those who have been considering buying a house, the month of April is shaping up to be the best time to do it. In fact, those who purchase a home in April are poised to save thousands or possibly tens of thousands of dollars when compared to those who wait until May. Therefore, for anyone who has been thinking about purchasing a home, April is the month to make it happen.
 
There are many reasons to seriously consider purchasing a home in April, but perhaps the biggest is the Home Buyer Credit. For those who qualify, the program can provide up to $8,000 worth of tax credits. Although the program has been extended through the month of June, homebuyers need to sign a purchase contract by the end of April in order to receive the credit. Since most buyers

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Affordably priced at just $154,900, this charming, unspoiled Maple Bluff bungalow is the perfect starter home! It features a large screened-in front porch, beautiful original woodwork, oak and maple hardwood floors, a full basement, a fenced-in yard, and a one car garage. Originally a two bedroom home, a generous Master suite was added to the upstairs. It boasts a full tiled bath with jetted soaking tub, sitting area, recessed lighting, new windows and a second egress. The main floor bathroom has been tastefully remodelled and features beautiful iridescent tile. The kitchen comes with a full suite of appliances including a newer gas range. There is also a separate formal dining room located just off the kitchen adjacent to the living room. The house has

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