Madison Wisconsin Real Estate News - Jolenta Averill

Which Home Buying Mistakes Should You Avoid?

When searching the Internet for home-buying advice, how many times have you been met with claims that the process is challenging, difficult, scary and complicated? It’s almost as if the agents who write these things want to scare you out of buying a home.

If you’ve chosen your agent wisely, the process of buying a home won’t be a mystery because you’ll know what to expect. Then, you can relax and enjoy the ride. This isn’t to say that there aren’t potholes in the road to homeownership, just that if you know about them ahead of time you can veer around them. So, today let’s take a look at mistakes uninformed homebuyers make so you can avoid them.

Buying the wrong home

One of the things I’ve learned in my business is that what many buyers…

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Where can you Go Shopping in Madison, Wisconsin?

Whether you need to find a gift for a special occasion or you just want to treat yourself, it can be challenging to know where to find the best shopping in in Madison. Sure, we have our fair share of shopping centers and malls, but there are other areas of Madison in which you can shop to your heart’s content. Here’s a look at both. 

Hilldale Mall

Located on Madison's West Side, Hilldale Mall is one of Madison's hottest shopping venues. It was completely redone in recent years and is now home to high-end eateries and designer stores, such as Kate Spade, Michale Kors and others. Check out the directory here. While you're there, be sure to stop in at Bowl of Heaven and say hello to my friend Celia Garcia. Hilldale Mall is located at 726 N Midvale…

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Rolling greenbelts out your front door: Life on Madison’s golf courses, Part 2

For golfers, it’s a no-brainer to buy a home on or near a favorite golf course. But golf course living attracts non-golfers as well. In fact, only 25 percent of golf course homebuyers join the club on which they live, according to David Koeppel with the The Fiscal Times. Can you blame them? Golf course scenery can be breathtaking and it’s always well-maintained.

We’re rather proud of our golf courses and communities here in Madison, so today we dive into part II of Life on Madison’s Fabulous Golf Courses. (Read part I here.)

Glenway Golf Course

A 9-hole, par-32 executive course, Glenway Golf Course features small greens and gorgeous fairways. Because it’s a muni course, you’ll find amazingly low green fees but challenge enough for even the…

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5 ideas to celebrate Madison dads

This coming Sunday is Father’s Day and, I don’t know about the dads in your life, but most seem so easy to please that it’s hard to find a way to celebrate them that they wouldn’t enjoy. We’ve put together some ideas we think he might like.

1. Dinner and a show

Grab Dad and head straight into the past – to the Capital City Theatre’s presentation of “Gypsy.” A classic of American theatre, the story revolves around “America’s Most Celebrated Stripper,” Gypsy Rose Lee and her quintessential stage mother, Rose. If he loves classic theatre music he will be tapping his feet and singing along to “Let Me Entertain You,” “Everything’s Coming up Roses,” and more. Gypsy hits the stage Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18 at the Overture Center for the…

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Restaurant Spotlight: The Free House Pub

I don’t know about you, but when I’m thinking of where to go to dinner in Madison I typically check my ideas against Yelp reviews. Sure, sometimes they get it wrong, but most of the time I’ve found that an eatery with a four or five star rating from Yelp reviewers is worth visiting.

The caveat here is to check the dates of the ratings. Sometimes a restaurant will go through a change in ownership or management and go to ca-ca before people have had a chance to review it. So, make sure reviews are current.

Now, on to today’s post on The Free House Pub.

With a four-star rating from Yelp users, there is no ca-ca at Free House Pub, just consistently decent service, good food and an amazing beer selection. Since the weather is warming, we recommend…

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Life on Madison’s Fabulous Golf Courses

What’s not to like about a rolling greenbelt out your living room window? Life on or next to a golf course does have its perks. Even if you don’t eat, breathe and sleep golf, a golf course home may be for you. First, these homes tend to hold their value better than homes in other areas and, second, you’ll never have to worry about someone building a big box store next door.

If golf course living is in your future, Madison is your perfect location. Across the city you’ll find spectacular golf courses – both private and public -- on which to live and play. Over the next few months we’ll feature the various courses. Today, we start with one public and one private course and the fabulous homes that surround them. Next week we'll give you Part 2 with even…

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Liberty Place Home For Sale 4809 Freedom Ring Rd in Madison WI

Pride of Ownership Shows in this Liberty Place Home for Sale

Ever wish people would take care of their home the way you would? Well this is an example of homeowners who went above and beyond to improve and maintain their first home!

Over $63K in updates, move in ready!!! You’ll love this 4 bedroom Veridian model home in Liberty Place subdivision on Madison’s East Side. Very well cared for and clean home that shows pride of ownership throughout! This home features an open floor plan with customizations throughout including finished basement, theatre room with Sony SXRD HD projector and professional 110” screen valued at $30K (included in the sale), egress window, full bath with 2-person whirlpool air-jetted tub, paved patio, professional…

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Why Should you Use the Mortgage Lender your Agent Recommends?

What comes first, a lender or real estate agent? That’s a common question and the answer is easy: a lender! Of course, that begs the question: How do I find a mortgage lender? If you have a real estate agent he or she will be happy to refer you to a lender that is well-versed in the type of loan program you're pursuing.  

Does the agent get a kick-back for referring a lender?

The answer is no, because this is not in sync with the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, or RESPA for short. An agent cannot take any type of compensation for referring a potential client to them. This doesn't just mean monetary compensation, but anything of value. 

Why should a buyer take an agent’s recommendation?

Don't rely only on the agent's recommendation,…

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Fun things to do in Madison in June

Wow, that month flew by, didn’t it? June is staring us in the face and if you won’t be vacationing we’ve rounded up a couple of ways to have fun right here in Madison.

JUNE 4

Komen Madison Race for the Cure

Run or walk (5K) through the Bay Creek neighborhood and help raise money to fight breast cancer. After, celebrate the disease’s survivors with entertainment by Charizma and at the Kids for the Cure area. Everything gets underway at 8:20 a.m. at Willow Island at the Alliant Energy Center, Downtown. Get details online, here.

10th Annual Cars on State

The highly anticipated classic car show returns to Madison’s State Street for its 10th year and, as usual, admission is free. Drool over the more than 100 autos and trucks that will be…

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Why do Home Buyers Sometimes Get Cold Feet?

Buyer’s remorse – it can happen to anyone, especially when what you’re buying costs a whole lot of money. And, yes, it happens to homebuyers, more often than you may realize and especially during buyers’ markets when there are more homes for sale than buyers in the market. Psychologists even have a term for this: The paradox of choice. They say that when the number of choices available increases, so does the buyer’s stress level.

Think back to the last time you shopped for a car. Unless you knew exactly what car you wanted, you may have gone back and forth, weighing the pros and cons of different models. When you finally settled on one, did you have that little voice nagging you – “What if I’m making a mistake? Maybe I should’ve bought the…

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