When it comes to selling your home, there's no substitute for planning and preparation. Our initial consultation is all about putting a good plan in place for your sale. During our planning meeting we learn why and when you plan to move. Then we outline the key steps for making your move happen.

For example, let's say your goal is to sell your current home and move into your new condo by August 15th. Your move plan could look a lot like this example below. 

Example Move Plan: Sell and Buy by August 15th

• Meet with our stager on June 1st
• Stage your home's featured space (for example a great room, sun room or kitchen) with our stager's assistance by June 4th 
• Mad City Dream Homes obtains professional photos of your featured space by June

Summer is finally here! It's time to explore and enjoy all that Madison has to offer. And if you live on the west side of town, there is no shortage to the opportunities! Here's our list of the top 10 things to enjoy on Madison's west side.

1. Check out a Festival

Of course, Brat Fest is this weekend, and is a must for anyone that wants to enjoy Wisconsin culture, live music, brats of course, and fun for the family. Saturday, June 24 offers fireworks at Lake Monona- called "Shake the Lake." Then, on August 4, Verona hosts a "National Night Out" party. Enjoy picnics, explore police and fire vehicles, spend time with the horse patrol and make connections with neighbors. This event is large, and always a huge success. End the Summer at the Middleton

If we were to choose one word to describe the spring real estate market, it would be "over-heated". The spring selling season has been full of bidding wars and huge price increases. If you know anyone who's bought or sold this spring, no doubt you've heard a few interesting stories about our crazy market. 

But real estate is all about the seasons, and right now our over-heated spring market is giving way to a more balanced summer market. As the graph below shows, buyer activity decreases in June from the peak months of March, April and May. Plenty of real estate gets bought and sold in the summertime, but at a slower pace compared to the spring season. 

How does this shift affect buyers and sellers?

If you're still planning to buy or sell in

Madison home and condo prices took a big leap in April. Here's a quick look at the April numbers. 

Home Prices

The price per square foot jumped by $22 from April 2016 to April 2017. That's an increase of 16%. 

Year-to-date, the price per square foot was up by $14 through the month of April - an increase of 10%. 

Condo Prices

The April condo price per square foot increased $16 year-over-year - an increase of 11%. 

Year-to-date the price per square foot was also up by 11%

What's driving prices higher? 

Increased competition. Amazingly, 47% of all single family homes that went under contract in March involved 2 or more competing offers. That's the highest percentage we've seen in the Madison market. Increased

As another entry in our series of neighborhood profiles, The Crossing, also known as Glacier Ridge, has earned the attention of families and professionals for its attractive setting within Madison city limits. Its appeal begins with the large amount of green space, and several large parks along its borders. The Crossing is the kind of neighborhood where you'll find residents strolling along the sidewalks each evening, and taking advantage of the expansive trail network along its western edge. 

The Ice Age Trail Park borders the community on the west side. This park provides beautiful space to hike and bike on wooded trails and natural prairies. We recently featured it here:

Mad City Dream Homes Neighborhood Tours - The Ice Age Trail from Dan

Some people just have an "eye" for capturing beautiful things. At Mad City Dream Homes, we've been working with Justin Lackner of Lackner Photography, because he has this "eye." Take a look at his photography, and you'll agree that he's gifted at finding and capturing Madison's natural beauty.

"I've always loved Madison. The more places I've been, the more I love this city. It has the amenities of a big city, but is so easily accessible by car, bike or public transportation. And the parks- they are beautiful- and there are plenty of them to explore and enjoy," he said. Lackner is responsible for the park photography we feature on our website. His talent for capturing these natural spaces is invaluable. "With nature photography, you have the time to sit

In a real estate market that proves to be highly competitive, we encourage our clients to work with lenders that provide high quality service and efficient results. One of our favorite lenders is Patrick Averill of Thompson Kane. Averill has proven himself as a lender who consistently puts his clients' needs first, and who ensures they understand the lending process from start to finish.

"I take what I do very seriously. This is my clients' largest purchase, and often their largest asset. I do everything I can to make the process go as smoothly and stress-free as possible," he says. Averill is familiar with the competition many buyers face to get their offers accepted. He educates his clients on their financial options, their approved purchase range,

Many buyers are getting sticker shock in this year's hot real estate market. They're realizing they can't get the home they were hoping for within their original budget. Some buyers are dropping out due to rising prices. Others are adjusting their expectations about the market and moving forward with their home-buying plan. They're doing this by "living in their payment, not their mortgage". 

Living in your Payment

"Living in your payment" refers to looking at your purchase in terms of your monthly payment, not the purchase price of your home. For example, suppose your original budget for buying a home was $300,000, but due to rising prices you're considering increasing your budget in order to find the right property. The chart below shows for every