Why do so many people choose to buy a home in the Madison area? Below we share some of the big themes that we keep hearing from our clients year-after-year. Some of these reasons are due to the attractions and reputation of our region, while others are more personal and matters of the heart. 

Top 10 reasons for buying a home in Madison

#1) Quality of life 

The city of Madison has established a national reputation for being a great place to live, and for a host of reasons. Our lakes, parks, bike trails, festivals, restaurants, entertainment venues, the arts, and the many educational opportunities that are available through the University -- all of these are big draws to the Madison area.

#2) Alignment of values

Our local culture is known

How can we live our lives in a manner that is productive, meaningful, and fulfilling? One way is to view ourselves and others as being a contribution. A contribution to our friends, family and neighbors. A contribution to our community. And a contribution in our professional lives, too. 

Being a contribution is one of 12 transformational practices emphasized in the book, The Art of Possibility, by Rosamond Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander, two gifted storytellers with an inspiring outlook on life. According to the authors, playing the "contribution game" has "remarkable powers for transforming conflicts into rewarding experiences".

In order to play the game effectively, Roz and Ben encourage us to declare ourselves as being a contribution, and to

As the Madison area real estate market continues to evolve this summer, we'll be publishing some new predictions for the rest of 2022. Our first prediction is the return of the unique, hyperlocal market.

Here's a little context.

For the last two years, when mortgage rates were historically low and demand was historically high, inventory was depleted to rock-bottom lows throughout all of Dane County. For awhile, no matter where you lived, it seemed you could sell your home in a matter of days or hours and for an incredible price. There wasn't much differentiation between local markets. Every location, every price point, and every type of property was hot.

But now, as demand is mellowing and inventory is increasing, we are once again beginning

The summertime is usually a time of transition for the Madison area real estate market, and this summer is no exception. Here's a quick look at a few key trends that provide some good perspective on what's going on in the market right now.

Showing activity is trending lower this summer, and is well below the levels from the previous 3 summers.

Take a look at our data through the month of July. Showings last month were down 14% from July of 2021, 26% from July of 2020, and 7% from July of 2019. Property showings will continue to trend lower throughout the summer and the fall, as they typically do during the second half of the year.

Accepted offers are trending lower this summer, too.

Signed contracts for single family homes decreased by 10%

As mortgage rates have risen in recent months, many buyers are now turning to the Adjustable Rate Mortgage (or ARM) in order to lock in a low interest rate over a five, seven or ten year period. As many as 40% to 50% of all buyers are now choosing an ARM over a fixed-rate mortgage, based on our recent conversations with local lenders.

Why would you choose an adjustable rate mortgage?

An ARM allows you to lock in a lower monthly payment during the initial period of your loan. For example, with a 7-year ARM, during the first 7 years of your loan you would lower your interest rate by a full percentage point compared to the traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage. After the initial 7 years is up, your rate would adjust subject to market conditions

School’s out for summer! While that can be a welcome break for some kids, others who rely upon school lunches may feel differently. That means it’s the busiest time of year for The River Food Pantry’s mobile meals program, Munch. 

“The River Food Pantry launched Munch in 2016 to bridge the gap that exists when school lunch is not available,” said Helen Osborn-Senatus, The River’s Director of Operations. 

The program initially began with a focus on serving school-aged children eligible for free or reduced school lunch, and since then has expanded to anyone facing food insecurity. This year another stop was even added at a southside apartment to serve seniors and individuals with disabilities who aren’t physically able to visit a food pantry. Still,

No doubt, there is some fear in the world of real estate right now: Fear about world events. Fear about inflation. And fear about higher interest rates, to name a few.

And because we're human, that fear can cause us to hesitate and put our dreams on hold. But on the flip side of fear, is opportunity. And the market does offer some real opportunities for those of us who are are able to hold onto our aspirations and keep working on our real estate goals.

For example

If you've been frustrated by a lack of supply, selection is improving...And you have opportunity.

If you haven't been able to compete, competition is decreasing...And you have opportunity.

If you need to sell in order to buy, home sale contingencies are back...And you have

Congratulations to our clients Beckie and Eli, who recently closed on a beautiful property so they can expand their Montessori school and childcare offerings starting this fall! This is the second time that agent Chris Venden has helped the couple secure additional real estate for their growing business on Madison’s far east side. 

The stars seemed to align over the last 7 years for all of these adjacent properties near Milwaukee St and Sprecher Rd, in part because each of the neighbors wanted their 5-acre parcels to remain wild, natural spaces as opposed to being developed when they decided to sell. Beckie and Eli share that philosophy when it comes to their educational programs, which “focus on a natural environment and the natural growth and

At Mad City Dream Homes, we're now offering an annual Home Equity Checkup to all of our friends who have owned their home, condo or investment property for a year or more. You can think of this as similar to the annual meeting that you would have with your financial advisor.

During our meeting we'll cover all of the following:

• Your home's current market value and your current equity position.
• Where we see the market going in the year ahead.
• Low-cost home improvement projects that will substantially increase your home's value.
• Reputable contractors who can help you with your projects around your home and yard.
• And any questions that you have about the world of real estate.

We're not trying to sell you anything, just offer

Condo sellers continued to cash in on historically high prices in the month of June. At the same time, we're seeing clear signs of a mellowing market. Here's our latest Dane County condo market report -- covering the month of June, 2022.

June Dane County condo prices

The price per square foot increased by 7% in the month of June and by 8% year-to-date. Compared to June of 2020, the June price per square foot was up by a whopping 30 percent. To put this in perspective: if you purchased a condo for $200,000 just two years ago, you same condo is now worth approximately $260,000. 

Condo inventory as of July 22nd

As of July 22nd, 156 condominiums were available for sale -- without an accepted offer -- in Dane County. Although inventory is still