Then we invite you to try working by relationship instead. A relationship where generous and hardworking people come together in pursuit of a common goal. 

Here's what we keep learning about working by relationship, time and time again:

When like-minded people bring their best to each other -- and collaborate -- the results are often extraordinary. And in the end, every investment of time, attention, communication, creativity, problem-solving, and effort is worth it...and then some. 

It wasn't too long ago that you could sell your home without much fuss at all. You didn't need to address deferred maintenance or repairs. You didn't have to worry about cosmetics or staging. And you didn't need to mess with marketing. For awhile, it seemed all you really needed to do was take a few iPhone photos, choose whatever price you wanted, and load your listing onto the MLS. And then, wait for the offers to roll in. 

Well those days are pretty much over.

Now, many sellers are learning that buyers have become much more selective than they were just a few months ago. And that preparation and attention to detail matter. The repairs and maintenance. The cosmetics and staging. The photos and marketing. The pricing and negotiation. All of it

August was another month of high prices and low inventory for the Dane County condominium market. Here's our latest snapshot covering all of the key trends in the Madison area. 

Condo inventory

Available listings (those without an accepted offer) increased significantly this summer, but have since receded from the peak levels in July. Dane County currently has less than a month of inventory available for sale, which is one reason why we expect more price appreciation in the months ahead.

New MLS listings

Through the first 8 months of 2022, new condominium listings are entering the market at the slowest pace in 20 years. New listings decreased by 17% year-over-year in July, and by 22% in August. Listing activity will be low this fall, too,

Madison area home prices continued to reach new highs in the month of August, while days on market continued along record lows. Here's our latest update on the Dane County single family home market. 

Dane County single family home inventory

Active inventory increased dramatically in May and June, and then leveled off in July and August. Inventory remains very low from an historical perspective, which is one reason why we expect Madison area home prices will remain elevated in the months ahead.

Dane County single family home new listings

Inventory remains low because new listings are entering the market at a very slow pace. In July, new MLS listings decreased by 25% from the year before. In August, new listings decreased by 30%. Through the

With the market mellowing, the home-buying experience is changing.

Now, buying your dream home can be as simple as following these 3 basic steps:

#1: Hire a professional buyer agent who will help you stay on top of every new opportunity.

#2: When a new listing intrigues you, schedule your showing right away.

#3: If you absolutely love the home after seeing it in person, then write your offer immediately. It's possible that the seller will accept your offer as written, if you're the first one to write. 

Of course not every sale goes this way, but we're seeing more and more sellers accepting offers which don't involve any competition. Which means more homes and condos are selling for below the list price, and with inspection and appraisal

At Mad City Dream Homes, we're always seeking to meet new people who we can refer with confidence to our clients and friends. We love referring professionals in the trades, as well as service professionals like financial planners, accountants, attorneys, insurance agents, mortgage lenders, architects, interior designers, and so on.

So, we would absolutely love to meet a trusted professional in your life -- someone you admire and respect -- and get to know that person better. Just reach out to your favorite Mad City Dream Homes realtor to make an introduction.

Thank you for helping us better serve you, our clients, and our friends.

Sincerely, 

Your friends at Mad City Dream Homes

It's true, buyer activity has decreased in recent months, but seller activity has decreased noticeably, too.

Take single family homes, for example

Through the first 8 months of the year, new single family home listings are entering the market at the slowest pace since the year 2000, with the slowdown in new listings increasing noticeably in July and August.

And Dane County condos

Through the first 8 months of the year, new condominium listings are entering the market at the slowest pace since 2002. Similar to homes, the slowdown in new condominium listings has accelerated in July and August.

Where will the Madison area real estate market go from here?

We encourage you to read our blog post, Why Dane County real estate will remain

When we first sat down with Sarah and her family at her kitchen table, we understood it was time for Sarah to move closer to her family. We also understood that Sarah would need plenty of extra care and support along the way. So Dan and Shelley quickly created a plan and assembled all of the resources that Sarah would need in order to make her sale a smooth one. 

The plan

Professional staging

• Shelley Lazzareschi and Debbie Lea immediately went to work on Sarah's condo, using the furniture and accessories that Sarah owned. Then Shelley and Debbie brought in plenty of artwork and accessories from their own collections in order to round out their staging plan. 

Home repairs and updates

• Grant Priehs addressed a few small repairs,

We are excited to share that Solace Friends, Inc., the nonprofit we recently featured on our blog, has found a home and hired an executive director! 

Solace will soon be able to house some of the most vulnerable people in our community during their final stage of life in coordination with existing hospice and clinical care staff. The same week in June that Solace solidified a loan through Monona Bank and Forward Community Investments, Realtor Ann Raschein helped Solace submit an offer on 4142 Monona Dr, Madison – and it was accepted! 

Given how intense the real estate market was this summer, Board President and Founder Ann Catlett said in a recent newsletter update that they were “absolutely astonished to find a near-perfect home on the east

What is the definition of art? According to author Seth Godin, "Art is a human act, a generous contribution, something that might not work, and it is intended to change the recipient for the better, often causing a connection to happen."

Which leads us to a second question: Using Godin's definition of art, is it possible that our careers can serve as art, too? 

At Mad City Dream Homes, we believe practicing real estate as an expression of art is entirely possible. And in fact it's the only real option we have in a world that needs all of us to be a little more generous, to create more positive connections, and to influence more positive change. 

And so, we are faced with two choices. We can either view ourselves as workers and our careers as jobs