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.

…

1588 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Lake Mendota pier

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…

17916 Views, 10 Comments

Read Full Post


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…

1661 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

 

 

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…

5145 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

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…

1435 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Hired - Image Credit: https://pixabay.com/en/users/geralt-9301/

It's been said that the only real estate transaction that is more confusing for the first-timer than buying a home is selling one. While some folks are determined to do it themselves, the complexity of the process makes most of them give up and hire an agent. Now, not all real estate agents are equal. The bar for entry into the world of real estate sales is quite low, so you'll find brand new agents, part-time agents, and, like me, veterans, Since your home may be your largest investment, choose your real estate agent carefully. In fact, do yourself a favor and interview two or three so that you can compare what each offers. You will pay the same commission for the novice or the part-timer as you will the pro, so ask the right questions in the…

2001 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

When it comes to enjoying the beauty of Wisconsin without having to give up the amenities of the city, Cottage Grove Wisconsin is the place to be! With 189 acres of open space and 10 parks to explore, residents of this small community have plenty of opportunity to hike and play within a beautiful setting. At the same time, with the capital city of Madison located just five minutes away, residents can easily take in some great live theatre performances, enjoy a fine dining experience, or shop to their heart’s content.

Those who are interested in living an active lifestyle will want to learn more about available Cottage Grove WI homes for sale. Not only are their plenty of opportunities for canoeist and tubers within the area, but those who might…

1793 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post


The final walk through: sounds rather ominous, doesn’t it? In all honesty, it’s probably high on the list of the most important aspects of buying a house in Madison. After all, this is your last chance to view the home before it belongs to you, warts and all.

I’ve noticed that far too many of our clients try to rush through the process. Sure, I get that they’re excited – closing is typically a day or two away. So, I try to slow them down and explain to them just how important the final walk through is.

What is it?

This is your last chance to ensure that the home is in as-agreed on condition. Did the seller replace the carpet as promised? Did he make the required repairs? Did he ding the walls as he was moving out? Did he take items that were…

1435 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

spring break camps madison

Working moms and dads in Madison: Do you realize that we’re only one week away from Spring Break in Madison? It’s a pity that we don’t’ get a break as well, but that’s the reality and most of us scramble to find a way to keep our children busy and safe during this week. I’ve scoured the Internet to find some ideas for you. Hope they help!

Wisconsin Youth

Combining learning with fun is always a good idea and the folks at Wisconsin Youth are experts at it. Enroll the little ones in the Inventor’s Workshop, held at Thoreau Elementary. The all-day program (7:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.) runs from March 21 to the 25th. On the 23rd, they’ll go on a field trip to the UW Physics Museum. Learn more and register a.s.a.p. online at WisconsinYouthCompany.org.

…

1712 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The quality of a school has a direct impact on nearby home prices. Sure, it isn’t the only predictor of a neighborhood’s home values but it’s pretty important. So important, in fact, that a full 35 percent of homebuyers with school-aged kids claim that their ideal home would sit in a neighborhood served by a good school district. Only 18 percent of those without children said the same.

Furthermore, when given a list of factors on which these buyers were willing to compromise, only 4 percent would do so when it comes to the quality of nearby schools, according to a National Association of Realtors 2015 survey.

Since schools are so important to nearby home values, all buyers, whether they have kids or not should research the neighborhood’s schools…

2816 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post