Have you been considering a housing change? Maybe you've been in your starter home for a while, and you're ready for more space, and higher end amenities. This fall is the perfect time to make that change, with the best opportunity to both sell high, and purchase at a competitive price. Let me explain.

How the Starter Home and Move Up Markets Vary

There is a shortage of affordable housing in Dane County. Homes priced under $250,000 are selling quickly due to a limited supply of listings on the open market. For example, right now there are only 1.8 months of inventory in all of Madison. For homes in the $200,000 to $250,000 price range, there are only 1.4 months of supply. Homes that fall within this price range sell rapidly, and often at or

The Mad City Dream Homes app is designed to make property searching easy. You can find the app in both the Apple App Store and Google Play by searching "Mad City Dream Homes."  

There is no charge for this app, and it takes up very little memory on your phone or device. Once downloaded, we think you'll be pleased with its features and capabilities. For now, let's look at the "nearby" search option. This is especially helpful if you are:

1. Trying to get current sales information for your neighborhood:

The app allows you to view all listings within a short radius of your home. These listings will appear on the map, with their asking price. This is useful if you're trying to determine your own home's value. 

2. Targeting a specific part of

Madison is home to all kinds of non-profits and charities. The generous spirit of the city means more than 6,100 nonprofits exist, just within Dane County. From causes helping animals and the environment to victim advocacy and empowerment, there is no shortage of ways to give back. This weekend, we highlight two opportunities for giving, right in town.

Dogtoberfest

In true Wisconsin fashion, raising money for the Dane County Humane Society includes a beer at a local brewery. Bring your dog to Capital Brewery on Sunday afternoon. Dogtoberfest attracts about 500 guests and their four legged companions. Event organizers ask that animals be friendly and remain leashed throughout the event. Admission is a $10 donation at the door, and Capital Brewery's

Who is ready for some good eating? The Labor Day weekend brings a welcome break to many and, in Madison, that also means a break from cooking. Just grab your favorite foodies and head downtown to the 34th annual "Taste of Madison."  The event circles the Capitol Square, and includes more than 80 restaurants, 200 menu items, and 3 concert venues. And, since the Badgers play on Saturday, WKOW-TV and TDS are hosting "Wisconsin's Largest Tailgate Party" on West Washington Avenue beginning at 2:30. The game will be broadcast on a giant screen. Admission to the Taste of Madison, and all the associated entertainment venues is free of charge.

I see a few great things about Taste of Madison:

It's affordable:  Every item is priced between $1 and $4, so it's