Just over 20 miles west of Madison along Hwy. 14 are two suburbs with a lot in common: Black Earth and Mazomanie.

Established as villages in the 1850s, nearly 1,500 people now call each of these places home. And it doesn't take long to understand why.

With rolling hills, historic downtowns and plenty of room to breathe, you'll be drawn to the beautiful views that surround these close-knit communities.

They are both located near a railroad and Black Earth Creek (a hot spot for trout fishing), on either side of Lake Marion and south of the Wisconsin River. They are also covered by the local newspaper, Star News, and share a school district, Wisconsin Heights, that boasts small class sizes for K-12 in the countryside.

This summer, families

Realtor.com says Baby Boomers are a major cause of the housing shortage in the US. According to these recently released survey results, Boomers are generally satisfied with their current home and reluctant to move onto a new setting. This generational trend, according to the survey, is keeping listing inventory low and freezing would-be buyers out of the market. Among the survey findings:

• 72% of Boomers say their home meets their current needs.
• 85% of Boomers don't plan to sell in the next year.
• Up to 33 million properties are being withheld from the market due to this generational trend. 

There's much more to the story than this. 

The survey makes it clear Baby Boomers are generally content to stay put in their current home, but it

This week from sunrise to sunset, The Friends of Pope Farm Conservancy in the Town of Middleton invites the public to attend its annual Sunflower Days. 

Bring the whole family and your camera to the free event, which runs from Aug. 12-20. Just be sure to leave your dog at home and refrain from touching the flowers.

Hundreds of thousands of sunflowers grew on the 9-acre field between Old Sauk and Blackhawk roads on a hill that overlooks Lake Mendota in the distance.

While most people pick a direction and walk around the field, this year there is also a trail that carves into one of the corners so they can get a closer look.

From a distance it may seem like all the sunflowers are alike, but as you walk the perimeter you'll notice

We recently added a section to our blog focused on real estate careers. In this article, we cover 8 ways our team is growing for the long term. We feel very fortunate to know our business is growing at a healthy pace, even though inventory is low and sales in the larger market are decreasing. 

This says a lot about our agents - Chris, Shelley, and Tammy - who are all receiving awesome client feedback. Their consistent focus on customer service has attracted a lot of loyal fans who are happily referring their friends and family to our team. 

Our growing client base has created an opportunity for a new agent to join us in 2017. The next agent to join us will have the same client focus as Chris, Shelley and Tammy. Our next agent will also embrace our

Ask Kari Apel, CPA, what her perfect client looks like, and she'll tell you, "It's the one who values what we're doing, and partners with us for their own success." Apel enjoys working with clients that are dedicated to making sound financial decisions, and who are ready and willing to let her and her team help with the process. "We've found that the investment in working with a good accountant is easily recouped in the tax and other financial savings our clients receive," Apel says.

Apel's focus is helping clients in all areas of their life. She knows that many times the business and the personal finances overlap. In these situations, she can help clients determine their tax options, including whether a home or other property can be listed as a

Growing up in the country, I spent many summer days chasing swallowtail and sulphur butterflies through the hay fields. But one of Wisconsin's most recognizable butterflies, the monarch, has been facing a population decline over the last decade.

Some city neighborhoods, including many along bike paths in Madison, have established gardens with prairie plants like milkweed to try to bring back the orange and black beauties and other insects. If you're having trouble spotting them on your own, Olbrich Botanical Gardens on the east side offers a Blooming Butterflies exhibit that features thousands of butterflies for the public to see from mid-July to mid-August.

While some butterflies are naturally drawn to the outdoor gardens at Olbrich, the indoor

On a sunny August morning, Val Murphy tends the flowers around her nearly vacant home on Madison's west side.

Having spent over 30 years in the Parkwood Hills neighborhood with her family, she's ready to downsize -- but she's taking decades of memories with her.

"We loved the neighborhood the whole time through," she said.

The Murphys moved into their first house in 1986 on South Yellowstone Drive, but they outgrew it when their third child was born. So in 1993 when their daughter was 6 months old, they found the perfect spot to continue raising their family: just a few blocks away on a quiet, tree-lined street at 310 Everglade Drive.

"There's tons of space," she said. "And it's a great house for kids."

Now they want another family

Many of those living in the Parkwood Hills neighborhood on Madison's west side view it as the total package.

"It's very social and welcoming," said resident Peter Zarov. "I've been here for 14 years now and still love it."

Close to parks, a pool, community center and four schools, you'll often see families greet each other while walking along the quiet, tree-lined streets. And even though it's just around the corner from West Towne Mall and other stores and restaurants near Mineral Point and Gammon roads, it still has a small-town feel.

Kimberly Cowles, who has lived next to Everglade Park for the past six years, said her family is "very lucky" to have found a neighborhood that is "friendly and approachable."

"People will be walking

It's a grueling test of athleticism, physical fitness and endurance. The Reebok CrossFit Games attracts competitors from around the globe. Now, after 10 years of games in California, the CrossFit Games have moved to Madison. The games open today at Alliant Energy Center, and feature the top 40 male and the top 40 female athletes from around the world. In addition, a masters competition and a teen competition have opened the doors to more competitors. 

It seems appropriate for Madison to host the CrossFit Games. Fitbit did a study of the fitness information recorded by its users. After measuring all the data, it named Madison the fittest city in the United States.  Livability ranked it #3 in its list of top 10 healthiest cities. Other sources have

The most rewarding part of real estate is knowing you helped someone reach an important goal and that they genuinely appreciate you for your efforts. That, and knowing in the process you've gained a new friend. More than anything else this is what we work for on our team.

Chris Venden, Shelley Lazzareschi, and Tammy Steiner are all receiving some very rewarding feedback, which is a direct reflection of their commitment to their clients. Here are a few recent examples that have been posted by their clients online. 

Chris Venden

"Chris was amazing! Buying our condo with her was a walk in the park. She went above and beyond the call of duty in every regard and made the whole process smooth and efficient. Every time we had a question or needed help,