Our circumstances in life are always changing. For example, the events of the world. The state of the economy. Changes in our family. And changes in our personal life, too. 

But regardless of what is happening in the world around us, we all need a place to call home. And more than that we all desire a place that truly feels like home. A home that enhances our sense of wellbeing and our feeling of belonging. That belonging could be the connection we feel with our neighbors, the connection we feel with our community, and the connection we feel with the natural world that surrounds us. 

Do you find yourself dreaming about your next home? A home that enhances your sense of wellbeing and belonging? We would love to explore the possibilities with you

As we return to a more balanced market, the art of negotiation is making its return, too. And it has been a long time coming. For the last three years, so many buyers have felt like they were at the mercy of sellers, where virtually every aspect of the offer to purchase was about buyers giving and sellers taking. But now, with the market mellowing, many buyers and sellers are realizing that they are on a much more level playing field when it comes time to negotiate. 

Now all of these terms are open for negotiation once again:

The price.

The inspection.

The appraisal. 

The home sale contingency.

And a host of other contingencies, too.  

Do you need help negotiating our changing market? 

Reach out to your preferred Mad City Dream

In a previous article we highlighted the incredible work of JustDane’s Healing House, which opened in 2019 to give people experiencing homelessness a place to heal after surgery. Soon, the Madison area will be able to house some of the most vulnerable people in our community during their final stage of life thanks to the efforts of another local nonprofit, Solace Friends, Inc.

The mission of Solace is to provide dying people with a “place of compassionate, safe, comfortable presence and caregiving,” particularly those who are “experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, extreme poverty, mental/emotional health issues, substance abuse disorders, and/or social isolation.” 

Realtor Ann Raschein first learned about this group through her

Do you need help with cosmetic updates and work around your yard and house? Here are 5 contractors who are serving our clients with excellence in 2022.

Luis Rios Yard Care (262-844-1768)

Luis does any type of yardwork you need in the spring, summer, and fall. This includes lawn mowing, gutter cleaning, leaf raking, mulch spreading, weeding, brush removal, and the removal of fallen tree limbs. Luis is also available for light home repair and painting projects. 

Hellenbrand Painting (608-220-8222)

We're receiving excellent feedback from our clients about Dennis and his crew. They've taken on some challenging projects this year and have completed all of them with skill and care. 

Wendy Broadhead, Color Consultant (608-235-8623)

We

How do buyers benefit in a more balanced market? Here are 5 big reasons why many buyers will enjoy shopping for their dream home in the summer of 2022.

Five ways buyers benefit in a more balanced market 

1) More selection

The selection of homes and condos is rising in Madison and across all of Dane County. So, if you're someone who hasn't been able to find your dream home yet, there is still hope for you this summer. You'll have more properties to choose from if you hang in there and stay committed to your search.  

2) Less competition

Fewer buyers are searching for homes and condos right now, which means we'll experience fewer bidding wars in the weeks ahead.  

3) Better terms

More selection and less competition will lead to better

You can stage your home before you place the for sale sign in the yard, or you can stage it virtually like the owners of this home. 

Virtual staging offers an excellent way to showcase your home if it's vacant or sparsely furnished. Of course you can stage your vacant home with real furniture and real art, too.

What makes the most sense for your home? Call us for your own staging consultation. We're always ready and available to help.   

Dane County condo prices increased by 2 percent in May and by 8 percent through the first 5 months of the year. We do expect condo prices to continue to increase this summer due to the low inventory in and around Madison. Stay tuned for our regular blog updates, which will offer plenty of market insight in the months ahead.

Accepted offers

Accepted offers were quite strong in May, given the recent rise in mortgage rates. Signed contracts were lower by 2 percent year-over-year and by 14% year-to-date.

New condo listings

New condo listings came in at the lowest total since 2003. Listings were lower by 13% year-over-year and by 8% year-to-date.

Available inventory

Only 119 listings and .8 months of supply were available for sale

Dane County home prices reached a new high of $219 per square foot in May, which was up 17% from $188 per square foot in May of 2021. Year-to-date, prices are up 15% from the prior year. Price increases will moderate in the coming months as inventory increases and competition decreases. Stay tuned for our monthly reports, which will always be up-to-date with the latest trends in the Madison area market.

Accepted offers

Buyer activity in May was actually quite strong even though interest rates have been rising. Accepted offers decreased 5% from the previous year and were lower by 14% year-to-date.

New MLS listings

New single family home listings were up slightly year-over-year, but remained low from an historical context. Low listing

It is absolutely still a seller's market when we consider the prices our listings are attracting in the month of June. So far this month we have multiple clients receiving full-price offers and other clients receiving offers for more than $30,000, $50,000, and even $65,000 above the list.

Prices are still rising in Dane County, but at a slower pace compared to the first few months of the year. If you're hoping to sell your home, condo, or investment property this year, please reach out to us for a planning session and an insightful view of the market. We're here to help you make good decisions in 2022, and over the long run, too. 

Interest rates have been rising, but for those buyers who stay in the market, there will be many more opportunities to purchase for the remainder of the year. Inventory is steadily moving higher, and it's just a matter of time before Dane County breaks the 500 listing mark for the first time in 2022. 

At the same time inventory is rising, showing activity is decreasing. This means buyers will have fewer competing offers to contend with in the weeks and months ahead. 

The market is becoming more balanced.

And buyers will benefit by having more properties to choose from, more time to search, and more room to negotiate.

So, what questions do you have about buying a home in the Madison area? We would love to be a resource for you as more