If you’re married, and an American, you have a 30 to 50 percent chance that your marriage will end in divorce. If you live in Wisconsin, you may end up among the nearly 15,000 divorce cases here every year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Dane County couples come in second on the list of most divorces in the state – 1,232 in 2015 (the last year for which we have statistics).

So, ok, you’re a statistic. Once the shock wears off it’s time to consider the process of separating the marriage assets. It can be a rancorous and ugly process, but he sooner the two of you begin discussing it, the easier it will be.

What will we do with the house?

Since the marital home is typically the couple’s largest investment, it’s the…

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July 1

3rd Annual Fourth Fest

It’s a celebration of America and it’s happening at The Edgewater (1001 Wisconsin Place, downtown). Enjoy live music, grilled food, craft beer, fun for the kids and more. Admission and all shows are free. Get there by 2 p.m. and stay until 9. Get details online at theedgewater.com.

 

July 1 and 2

BrickUniverse LEGO Fan Experience

Fans of LEGO need to get to Monona Terrace on either Saturday or Sunday to participate in the amazing fan experience. You’ll enjoy LEGO attractions and hands-on activities. Check out the fabulous LEGO creations and build one of your own. Guest speakers will be on hand and vendors will be selling LEGO sets, figurines and more. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on both…

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Dejected: That feeling you get when you finally find a home you want to purchase and your agent tells you that there are multiple offers on it. You’re not alone; there are plenty of dejected homebuyers in the current Madison real estate market.

Here it is only June and yet the nation’s housing market is hotter than July. And, although buyers across the country are having a tough time of it, they should be thankful they aren’t looking for a home in Madison.

After all, they have about 103 days to look before homes are snatched up, according to The Capital Times’ Lisa Speckhard. Here in Madison? Move quick because homes priced less than $250,000 are being scooped up within 10 days of being listed.

By the way, although this is bad news for…

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Strong job growth, a confidence-inspiring economy and even the lowest mortgage interest rates in decades aren’t enough to boost home sales in Madison. Why?

Because there aren’t enough homes available to satisfy the demand. In fact, at the end of April (the latest month for which we have statistics), there were only 1,079 homes for sale in all of Dane County. This represents a 1.62-months’ supply of inventory. A 6-month supply, by the way, indicates a balanced market.

With supply and demand at work here, home prices are escalating quickly, while the number of closed sales are dropping.  How did we get here and what, if anything, can be done to ease the pressure on the market?

Interest rates beckon

Despite recent hikes, interest rates…

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Not to be snarky, but there are a whole lot of people who don’t work in the real estate industry who think they know everything there is to know about buying and selling a home – from the lending process to the closing. Most of them gleaned this vast knowledge base from having bought or sold a home in the past.

I’ve had my hair cut and car repaired in the past but still know little about the intricacies of either. Maybe it’s just me . . .

What real estate “experts” don’t know, however, could end up costing them, dearly. Do yourself a favor. When you’re working with a real estate agent, use him or her for all he or she is worth. Pick their brains, down to the last bit of gray matter. If in doubt about anything, ask, regardless of how “stupid” you…

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Wow – it’s June already! The kids will be out of school soon and summer will be heating up. There are lots of ways to get out and enjoy Madison, so circle some dates.

June 1 – June 3

WIAA Boys Individual Tennis State Tournament

Come cheer on your favorite athlete in the High School State Championships! It happens at Nielsen Tennis Stadium, Near West Side (1000 Highland Ave.). Get details by calling 715-344-8580.

 

June 1 – June 15

Friends of Olin-Turville: Spring Concert Series

A family-friendly event, the spring concerts at Olin Turville Park (1156 Olin-Turville Ct.) start at 6 p.m. and typically wrap up at around 8 p.m. You’re welcome to bring a picnic as you enjoy some amazing music. And, admission is free.

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On Saturday, we celebrated Armed Forces Day across the country. Here in Wisconsin, home to nearly 900,000 U.S. veterans, the day was noted with a Harley-Davidson Support the Troops Ride, military displays, a 21-gun salute and Echo Taps and more. A couple hours north of Madison, Fort McCoy held an open house celebration.

California’s attorney general Kamala Harris sums it up when she said “We owe our vets the support and benefits they earned while wearing a uniform.” We all know about the shoddy medical support these men and women have been subjected to. What may come as a surprise to you, however, is how few of our nation’s heroes understand the home loan benefit to which they are entitled.

Of our 21,369,602 military veterans, only 2.4 percent…

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A couple of weeks ago we discussed ways to remain in Madison after you retire and, as promised, this week we’re going to help you find a neighborhood in Madison.   

While experts are quick to designate cities as ideal retirement havens, narrowing down your choice of neighborhood will be a bit more challenging. Thankfully, we have you covered here, and we’ve categorized them according to what our older clients say they’re looking for.

I don’t want to live around old folks

“I’m retired, not dead,” is a common refrain we hear and we get it. The last thing most 60-somethings want is to be put out to pasture, doing arts and crafts in a community room at a senior center. So, ok, check out Sunset Village. Yes, there is a senior center in the area…

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Did you know that Anna Jarvis, the woman who lobbied so hard for Mother’s Day to become a holiday, eventually tried to have it rescinded? In fact, from the day that retail hijacked the holiday (which happened almost immediately upon its inception) until the day she died she protested it, even getting arrested a couple of times.

Sadly, like most of our holidays, retail still dictates what gifts we receive on Mother’s Day. That candy-flowers-card routine isn’t exactly what we want, but retailers have everyone thinking it is.

Well, they’re wrong. In fact, a RetailMeNot survey of a few years ago proves that what Moms want, they rarely get. So, skip the retail-inspired lists of the must-give gift this Mother’s Day and read on for some ideas about…

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There is so much going on this month in Madison, what with Mother's Day, Memorial Day and the Kentucky Derby. Circle some dates and enjoy May in Madison!

Through May 7, 2017

Madison Craft Beer Week

Each year at this time we celebrate Mad City’s craft beer culture. The celebration brings beer lovers from all over the state to attend beer dinners, brewery parties, beer walks and more. Get details on all the events online at madbeerweek.com.

 

May 4

Fitchburg Farmers Market

You know that spring is well underway when the Fitchburg Farmers Market opens for the season. Starting today and every Thursday through October 26, you can shop for your favorite locally-grown goodies at the Agora Pavilion (5511 E. Cheryl Parkway in Fitchburg). The…

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