Madison Wisconsin Real Estate News - April, 2016

Lake Life Can Mean Many Different Things

There’s nothing quite like the lifestyle afforded by living on a lake – a lifestyle intertwined with nature. If you enjoy boating, lakefront property is ideal for you. But, even as investment property, lakefront homes offer a lot to the buyer, fetching top dollar as a vacation home or as a full-time rental.

Like any unique setup, however, lakefront property does come with a few disadvantages. It can be demanding to those who are not prepared. However, if you love nature or are looking for a good investment, lakefront real estate does not disappoint.

Your backyard

Scientists have been telling us for years how much healthier it is living within view of a body of water, but that’s not all lakefront property affords. Your backyard becomes your…

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An Easy and Fast Way to Sell your House in Madison

Once you make the decision to sell your Madison house the need for speed sets in. Most of my clients are anxious to move on to the next phase in their life and, although they want top dollar for their homes, they also want the process to be quick and easy.

Let’s take a look at what goes into speeding up the sale process with the least amount of discomfort.

The real estate agent

The most difficult and time-consuming way of selling a home is to sell it by owner, also known as the FSBO, for For-Sale-By-Owner. You’ll need to know how to price the home, stage the home, market it, field calls from potential buyers and be available on a moment’s notice to show the home.

Then, there’s the paperwork. Locating it, learning what you need, how to…

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What Should You Never Say to a Buyer When Selling a Home?

I don’t mean to be rude, but why you’re selling your home is nobody’s business and, the reason why may be used against you in negotiations. It’s my job as your agent, therefore, to ensure that your privacy is protected and I take this part of my job very seriously. You need to do the same.

One of the things I hear most frequently from my buying clients is “Why are they selling?” Maybe they’re just curious, I think to myself. But, maybe, just maybe, they want some ammo to use in beating you up on the price. Hey, it’s not far-fetched; I see it frequently.

Suppose you and your husband are divorcing. You’re driving each other crazy living in the same home and all the two of you want to do is get out of the marriage, out of the house and into…

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Three Must-Visit Madison Museums

Get ready to explore Madison in 2016! Our city is always offering new experiences, exhibits and opportunities. It’s difficult to take advantage of it all, but, fortunately, you’re sure to find something exciting at these museums… no matter when you visit.

Chazen Museum of Art – Affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this is one of those brilliant community resources you shouldn’t forget. The museum is open every day of the week except Monday, and admission is free (donations are, of course, always welcome). Throughout the year, the Chazen Museum presents between 10 and 12 different exhibits to explore.

You can find the museum at 800 University Avenue. If you need more information, check the website or call (608) 263-2246.

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Lakefront Property: Important Things to Consider When Buying a Lake Home

Living by the lake is dream for many Wisconsinites and for good reason – it’s relaxing. That’s not just an opinion, either; it’s a fact: “Studies indicate that being in a coastal or marine setting causes a six point increase on the 100-point happiness scale compared to urban settings. This is a greater happiness boost than reported at other nature settings such as farms, mountains, or woods,” says Zachary Slobig, writing in Psychology Today.

 Think a lakefront home is out of your budget? You might be surprised how affordable, with low mortgage rates to help, your dream of a stress-free life may be.

 Lake home buying, however, does have its share of special considerations, and it’s important to consider these to make the best choice when you…

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Tips to consider when selling your Lake Mendota home

The busy spring and summer home selling season is about to hit and buyers can’t wait. Right now we have a list of folks who are craving lakefront living and Lake Mendota is the one Madison lake that's most frequently mentioned. There’s a lot to consider when you decide to sell waterfront property so if you’ve decided that 2016 is the year you’ll sell your Lake Mendota home, read on.

Pricing your Lake Mendota home

The method real estate agents use to determine a property’s current market value won’t work with waterfront property. It can’t – it involves comparing one home to others that are similar in age, size, amenities and location, among other criteria. Waterfront properties aren’t tract homes, so how does one compare the incomparable? From the…

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Where are the Best Steakhouses in Madison, WI Found?

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I crave a good steak and, luckily, Madison has a number of excellent steakhouses where I can feed that craving. We’ll be skipping the national chain restaurants in this list and sticking to our very own homegrown, amazing steakhouses.

Tornado Steak House – 116 South Hamilton St.

Whether you prefer an early, full-service dinner or something to soak up the cocktails after a night of clubbing, head downtown to Tornado Steak House. Diners that arrive between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. get the classy treatment with white-linen tablecloths and award-winning food. After 10 you can order from the late-night menu and you’ll be relegated to the bar and lounge area for the slightly less formal service.

The late-night…

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5 Reasons to Sell your Madison Home NOW!

Read the blogs of real estate agents across the country and you can’t help but feel pity for us. While the strong sellers’ market is a boon to homeowners (who deserve a break after bearing the economic brunt of the recession) it’s devastating to our home-buying clients. It’s not so much the type of market, however, as it is the sheer volume of homeowners who are, for some reason, resistant to sell right now that is troubling the market. We do expect this to change, somewhat at least, when school lets out for the summer and parents are more inclined to uproot the family.
In the meantime, real estate agents, such as myself, are trying to educate homeowners on why this is such an amazing time to sell a home in Madison. Check out some of the reasons…

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