Who's selling? 

Right now we're seeing most of our sales centered around major life changes. Changes like downsizing into a smaller home and relocating to a new city. And unfortunately, events like death and divorce, too. 

And who's not selling? 

We aren't seeing as many "move-up" sellers as we have in the past. These are the people who are outgrowing their current home and wanting to move up to a larger one. We're learning that many of these folks are choosing to stay put for now, as they consider the impact of higher mortgage rates on their monthly budget.

What's your motivation to sell?

And what questions do you have about the market? Our team is always available for an open and honest conversation, and never with any sales pressure or

Owning a home is about more than having a place to live. It’s an investment, too. And at Mad City Dream Homes we are here to help you make smart decisions when it comes to your real estate investment.

For example

We are here to help you choose the home improvement projects that will provide the best return on investment, and help you select the right contractors, too. 

We're here to advise you as to whether or not you should buy an individual property, and share our opinion on its resale value. 

And of course, as students of the market, we're always available to share our perspective on all of the latest trends in Dane County.

So, whenever you have any financial concerns about any aspect of real estate, we invite you to please reach out

How did the stock market perform compared to the Dane County real estate market in 2022? This chart says it all. 

And where will the market go from here?

Based on what we see in the market right now, we're predicting another year of strong real estate prices here in Dane County. For more information, we invite you to check out our 2023 predictions, where we cover many of the current trends in the Madison area. Or talk to your preferred Mad City Dream Homes realtor. We're always available to talk about your future, and the future of real estate, too. 

It's time for a big shout out to our clients, LeAnn and Roger, who just sold their Madison home for $620,000 after paying $550,000 for it just over a year ago. That's 13% more than their original investment. Not bad at all for the cold month of January. 

The keys to success? Here are a few insights:

#1) Smart cosmetic updates

A little fresh paint, some new cabinet hardware, and a few new light fixtures -- all based  on the recommendations of the Mad City Dream Homes team. Mad City Dream Homes provided the contractor recommendation, too. 

#2) Professional staging

Thanks to the artistry of Debbie Lea and Shelley Lazzareschi, LeAnn and Roger's home stood out as a showcase listing and attracted a tremendous amount of traffic during the holiday

Designer and color consultant, Wendy Broadhead, has been working in the home decor field for over 25 years, so she has a lot to offer on this topic. According to Wendy:

"Selecting your main home color can be daunting, but getting the right color makes everything else just fall into place. Whites and Off-Whites are so versatile, looking elegant and classic or rustic and relaxed."

(Swiss Coffee from Benjamin Moore -- photo from Benjamin Moore)

Choosing the right colors

Before you take on any large scale painting projects, Wendy recommends choosing your main color first. Some of her favorite colors include Benjamin Moore colors Simply White (OC-117, soft, slightly creamy), Swiss Coffee (OC-45, a touch of warm gray), and Chantilly Lace (OC-65,

Congratulations to our clients Roger and Jennifer, who just sold their longtime home and bought their new dream home all on the same day!  

So much collaboration and teamwork went into making this move possible.

• Debbie Lea and Shelley Lazzareschi took the lead on the staging plan and made sure Roger and Jennifer's home looked its very best. 
• Grant Priehs addressed a few minor repairs and light cosmetic updates. 
• Hellenbrand Painting touched up a few spaces inside the home. 
• Arran Krantz produced the beautiful listing photos, interior video, and neighborhood video. 
• Tracy Kapela produced the floor plan, neighborhood guide, and guide to Roger and Jennifer's home. 
• Dan Miller oversaw the sales strategy, marketing plan, and all of the

We recently shared 5 simple cosmetic updates that add instant value to your home and help it sell for a tremendous price. Another simple and very effective update is to deep clean your home. Specifically, these four things:

Clean all of the hard surfaces inside your home. 

Your home will shine when you clean your countertops, your cabinets, your appliances, and your hardwood and tile flooring.

Clean your windows

Spotless windows let the light pour and make each room feel bigger and brighter. 

Clean your carpets

Clean carpets help buyers see your home as one that has been properly cared for and well-maintained.

Clean your siding

A good painting company will wash your siding for an affordable price and add instant curb

Are you getting ready to sell your home in 2023? There are so many simple and affordable ways to improve your home's value. For starters, here are 5 quick updates, which when done in the right way, always provide a great return on investment:

#1) Brighten your space with a fresh coat of paint. 

#2) Replace dated flooring with a modern and inexpensive flooring product.

#3) Jazz up your kitchen with new cabinet hardware. 

#4) Swap out old light fixtures with new and affordable light fixtures. 

#5) Remove dated curtains and blinds and let the natural light pour in. 

We're always available for a complimentary cosmetics consultation. And we're here to help you select finishes, choose colors, and connect you with quality contractors, too. Just

Invest in your sale.

By investing in your sale, we mean:

• Investing your time to study your market and select the right price. 
• Investing your resources into professional staging and smart cosmetic updates. 
• Investing your creativity into beautiful visual media, online media, and printed materials, too.
• And investing your expertise into an effective negotiation strategy.

Or you can hire a professional who will make all of these investments for you.

At Mad City Dream Homes, we help you sell your home for top dollar while making your experience as stress-free and as worry-free as possible. So we encourage you to call on us whenever you're in need of some guidance and support. We're here to serve as a resource for you and help

It's that time of year for our annual real estate predictions. Here are 7 key reasons why we see low inventory and strong prices for Madison and Dane County in 2023. 

On the demand side

Population growth

Dane county is already the fastest-growing region in the state, and according to the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission that trend will continue. The Commission projects our population will grow by more than 200,000 residents over the next 30 years. 

National reputation

For the second straight year, the city of Madison has been named by Livability as the #1 place to live in America. It's rankings like these that have put Madison on the map. And in a mobile culture like ours, where people can choose to live and work from just