One of the most common requests we get from newcomers to Madison is about our lakes, and how to buy a home on one of them. By far, Lake Mendota, the city’s largest lake, seems to be the most popular and most homebuyers assume you need at least $1 million to buy lakefront property.

Au contraire, our water-view lusting friends. Just today, we’ve found three homes and a gorgeous buildable lot for sale on Lake Mendota that you can purchase for less than $650,000 – two of them for a lot less!

$320,000

Condo living does offer perks, and a condo at The Cove offers more than most. How does private lake access and a boat slip right on Lake Mendota sound? But, that’s only the beginning of what this home has to offer.

Lake views, underground

We get a number of calls and emails from homebuyers who want to live the lifestyle inherent in the City of Four Lakes moniker. In other words, they want lakefront living and contact us for advice on which lake is the best, which has homes in certain price ranges and more.

We’ve found it impossible to name which lake is the best – they all have their advantages. One of the most popular lakefront neighborhoods however, at least among our clients, is Spring Harbor.

Tucked onto the southwest shores of Lake Mendota, and up against the City of Madison’s western boundary, the more-than 400-acre Spring Harbor neighborhood is an active lakefront community with a lot to offer.

History buffs – listen up

Hickory Hill House was established as an

When you have a schedule that accommodates staycations far better than vacations, you may be the perfect candidate for a second home in Madison. Think “Lake Mendota” instead of “Lake Como,” and you’ll see where I’m going with this. Not only will you not need to learn to speak Italian, but you’ll be lounging around your lake home instead of spending hours in an airplane.

Many Americans with the means to do so are finding that “getting away” doesn’t have to mean “far away,” according to the Wall Street Journal’s Candace Taylor. The trend toward buying a vacation home in the same general area as the permanent home makes perfect sense to some. “They say the key to relaxation is a change of scenery, even if it’s just a few miles from where they normally

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

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

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

This beautiful photo of Lake Kegonsa in all its fall glory was taken last weekend from the clear blue waters of Barbers Bay near Colladay Point on the western side of Lake Kegonsa in Stoughton WI. I was struck by how calm the waters were and how clear the skies were - an absolutely perfect day for a lake excursion in what is not quite the middle of October. Pretty amazing considering some of my friends and clients have already stored their boats away for the winter.

A few things you'll want to know about Lake Kegonsa: Lake Kegonsa is located a mere 15 minutes from downtown Madison WI at the end of the chain of lakes. It is 3,209 acres in size with a maximum depth of 31 feet and boasts some of the best fishing in the area including Muskie, Northern Pike,

The Dane County Waterbody Classification Project (aka "Shoreland Zoning") is a county effort that could impact approximately 57,000 properties located throughout Dane County. It would impose new regulations, higher costs to property owners, and possible negative impacts on property values for all properties located within a defined area known as "the shoreland zone". The shoreland zone in Dane County's villages and cities would be extended from 75’ from the water to 1000’ from lakes and ponds and 300’ from rivers and streams. This initiative would also impact the way Realtors represent properties and provide proper disclosure. The County is continuing with this effort despite the lack of good data that it will have a significant benefit to the lakes and

Lake & City Homes is proud to announce (albeit belatedly) that we've added some wonderful new functionality to our Property Details page: Microsoft Bird's Eye View. Microsoft Birds Eye View is a terrific tool that provides an aerial (or "bird's eye") view of any property for sale in the South Central WI MLS. Take my newest listing located at 5209 Burnett Drive in Madison, for example. Microsoft Bird's Eye View shows you where properties are situated in relation to each other, in relation to streets and avenues, and gives you an aerial overview of the density of trees and other greenery in any given area. You also have the ability to zoom in and out.

Microsoft Bird's Eye View is an especially good tool for looking at Madison lakefront homes or real

Lake & City Homes Realty is proud to announce a new page called All Today's New Listings designed to help you quickly focus in on the newest listings to go on the South Central WI MLS during the previous 24 hours. Simply go to the Listings tab (or the Buyers tab) at the top of the home page and choose "All Today's New Listings" from the drop-down menu or choose the link entitled "ALL Today's New Listings" under Popular Searches on the right-hand side of the home page.

Be sure to check this new listings page frequently - that way you'll be one of the first to know about the latest property listings (homes, condos, and other real estate for sale) to go on the South Central WI MLS and you'll be seeing those listings before they hit the national listings