Low inventory and rising prices continue to be the dominant themes in the Madison area real estate market. Here's our latest snapshot covering the month of April, 2021.

New MLS listings

Outside of last April's numbers (which were the result of the COVID shutdown), new MLS listings entered the market at the slowest pace since the year 2000. On a year-to-date basis, Dane County listings are down 10% from the year before. 

Inventory and percent of listings with accepted offers

As of May 5th, only half a month of single family home inventory was available for sale in Dane County -- which is the lowest level we have ever seen in our market. Overall, 67% of all listings are under contract with an accepted offer. The market for homes priced

What began in 2006 as a couple’s dream to feed 100 families a week on Madison’s north side has grown tenfold as the need to provide healthy food access has also increased over the last 15 years. With a vision to achieve a fully nourished community, The River Food Pantry is now South Central Wisconsin’s busiest food pantry and serves more than 1,000 families each week.  

Much like the body of water, The River is no stranger to adapting to change and charting a new course when faced with obstacles, especially those intensified by the pandemic. The River distributed 2.4 million pounds of food to less than 5,000 households in 2019, compared to a record 3.7 million pounds of food to over 6,000 households in 2020. Communications Manager Becca Carpenter

Home and condo prices surged once again in the month of March. Here's our quick snapshot of the latest real estate trends in Dane County. 

Single family homes

• As of April 6th, 65% of all Dane County single family home listings are under contract with an accepted offer and only .5 months of supply are available for sale. Both of these numbers are off the charts for our market. 
• New listings decreased 15% in March from the previous March. 
• Accepted offers decreased by 4%. 
• Home prices increased by 9% year-over-year. 

Condos

• As of April 6th, 69% of all Madison area condo listings are under contract with an accepted offer and only .6 months of supply are available for sale. 
• New listings in March were even with the new

Spring is in the air, and that has golfers eager to hit the links! Golf course communities have long been attractive places to buy or build a home due to the on-site amenities and sweeping views. Below we round up 15 neighborhoods that are within a short distance of a golf course in the Madison area. Click on the community name to read our full neighborhood profile and see current listings.

Bergamont - Located in Oregon, this community surrounds the Legend at Bergamont 18-hole golf course. In addition to great views, the community has many amenities including a restaurant, fitness center, and a swimming pool. Homes in this neighborhood are upscale and many have unique features like home theaters and chef-quality kitchens.

Bishops Bay - Along the

At Mad City Dream Homes, we're always sharing our knowledge and learning from each other. One of the ways we accomplish this is through our weekly meetings where we share our "learning moments" from the week before. Our learning moments offer a way for all of us to share our challenges and successes with each other so we're always enhancing our collective knowledge and furthering our professional development. 

Each week is full of new learning opportunities 

Our team meetings are resulting in some incredibly productive conversations that help all of us better serve our clients. For example, in one recent meeting Shelley Lazzareschi shared how she successfully negotiated a $7,000 credit for her buyer after a last-minute surprise popped up at the

Wonderful things happen when preparation and opportunity meet, which is certainly true for our home-selling clients who are focusing on the fundamentals during this year's favorable market. Here are three quick examples that show how our clients are experiencing some amazing results in early 2021. All three of these examples show how skilled staging, pricing, marketing, and negotiation always lead to the best results.

6 Shiloh Ct

Sold for $60,000 above the list. 

2205 Town Hall Rd

Sold for $25,000 above the list. 

805 Swallowtail Drive

Sold for $15,000 above the list. 

Skilled marketing, multiple offers, and effective negotiation

For each of these listings we worked closely with our clients to create a beautiful listing

When it comes to hiring the right realtor, it can be very beneficial to reflect on a few good questions before choosing your agent. By asking the right questions upfront, you can feel confident that you've chosen the right agent to guide you along your buying or selling journey. With this spirit in mind, here are 4 key questions buyers and sellers should be asking before partnering with a realtor in this year's complex market. 

Four key realtor interview questions in 2021

1) As a seller, how should I price and market my home in order to take full advantage of this year's market? 

2) As a buyer, how can you help me find my dream home when supply is so low? 

3) What strategies do you recommend for writing an offer to purchase in this year's

It’s no secret that many real estate agents are on call days, nights, weekends -- sometimes even while on vacation -- especially when the market is hot. 

That’s why it’s so important for agents to find a self-care routine and get in a groove that works best for them so they can best serve their clients and themselves, too.  

For Chris Venden, early mornings are for quiet, calm, and quality time with her spouse and dog. Even if she’s up late writing offers, Chris is an early riser and time blocks a couple of hours to prepare her schedule and set the tone for a positive, productive day.

As soon as Chris is awake she’ll do a quick check of her emails and texts, and if nothing is urgent she’ll ease into her morning routine at her countryside

The snow hasn’t all melted, but the spring season feels well underway for many community supported agriculture (CSA) farms. That’s because many farmers who are endorsed by the FairShare CSA Coalition have already sold out of their spring and summer shares of produce (either certified organic or in transition to organic certification). 

In the CSA model, purchasing a "share" in advance of the growing seasons helps to cover some of the farm operating costs, so members are directly supporting the farmers who grow their food. Consumers also seem to be eyeing up fall and winter holiday shares already, too. So if you’ve been on the fence about joining a CSA for the first time or selecting a new farm this year, best to snap to it. FairShare, a Madison-based

Madison area real estate prices are rising at the fastest pace we've ever seen, so your home or condo could be worth much more than you think -- even if you've only owned your property for a year or two. Check out our local price update below, and contact us for a complimentary market analysis. We can tell you how much your home is worth in this year's fast-moving market. 

Dane County home prices

February home prices rose 10% year-over-year and 9% year-to-date. Low inventory and high demand have been fueling price growth at an accelerated pace. 

Dane County condo prices

Condo prices jumped 13% in February and 8% year-to-date. With only .6 months of supply in the market, condo prices are poised to rise significantly throughout all of