Madison home prices will rise again in 2017 because inventory remains low and there is a large pent up demand for real estate. Despite modestly higher interest rates, expect a Spring market full of bidding wars and listings that sell in a matter of days or even hours.

If you're a serious buyer, begin your search in December or January rather than delay until the Summer or Spring. The competition for housing will become very fierce very soon. 

If you're a committed seller, know that in today's market you don't need to list in the Summer or Spring in order to have a successful sale. You can list in early 2017 and achieve positive results. The data below demonstrates why the market favors you.  

Signs of a Seller's Market

We just completed a

When you think about updating your home, maybe you think about granite counter tops? Flooring updates? Bathroom remodels?  While all of these updates can help you net more for your home, they also require cash up front.

What if you want to sell, but don’t want to put substantial money into these updates? Debbie Lea of Showcase Home Stagers says you can still improve your home’s visual appeal and perceived value. Debbie works with each of our clients, and her staging services are included as part of our marketing plan. Her innovative ideas, and eye for design have greatly enhanced our listings.

Debbie recommends looking at your home the way it will appear in the online listing. After all, your home’s online photos will be your first showing. Does

The Mad City Dream Homes mobile search app is the best app around for searching Madison area listings on the go. We've put a lot of thought into the design, which includes some great features you won't find anywhere else. Download our free app using the links below, and read on for a list of handy features. 

Mobile App Search Features

• Search Nearby Listings
• Search Polygon
• Search Radius
• Exclude Accepted Offers
• Search School District
• Search Open Houses
• Search by Days on Market
• Search Garage and Parking Spots
• Search by Location
• All Purpose Search Tools

Discover Which Nearby Listings Have Accepted Offers

Which listings are selling in your neighborhood? Our "nearby" feature provides answers by automatically

We've added a lot of features to our website which make it easy to focus your search on the properties that are still available for sale - in other words, the listings which don't yet have an accepted offer. Now all of our community, neighborhood, and condo association pages show these listings at the top of each guide. 

"Active, Newest 1st" Sort Order

Now all of the listings without accepted offers are shown at the top of the list with the newest listings shown first. Take a look at this example below from our Wexford Village real estate guide. The first two listings shown have a status of "active" (no accepted offer) with the listings sorted from lowest to highest days on market. The third listing shown is a listing with the status of "offer-show"

It's that time of year- when frantic shopping trips and holiday parties fill the schedule. But it's also a time to swing by area attractions, slow down, and enjoy the season. As Madison prepares to celebrate the holidays, there are several stops worth visiting. Take a drive through town and enjoy the lights, and don't miss these must-see events along the way:

Olbrich Botantical Gardens Holiday Express opens December 3, and features electric trains, provided by the Wisconsin Garden Railway Society, intricate Lego creations made by the Wisconsin Lego Users Group (WisLUG), and, of course, beautiful flowers and plants. Walk through and enjoy the pirate village, dragon and other creations. The trains change regularly, as different volunteers bring their own

It goes against convention, but the month of December is an excellent time to buy a home. Why? There are far fewer buyers to compete with in the wintertime, and sellers tend to be more motivated during the holiday season. This means the deals are better in December and January. If you're looking to get a fair deal on a nice home or condo, the winter season is an excellent time to buy. Of course every situation is different. Feel free to contact us to discuss your individual situation. 

Here are more specifics on why right now is an excellent time to buy in Madison and the surrounding Dane County area. 

Buyers Have Less Competition in December

It's much easier to get an offer accepted in December because there are fewer competing buyers. The MLS