Thinking of selling your Madison area home or condo in the coming year? Here are 3 resolutions that will help you have a happy new year in 2018. 

#1: Hire the listing agent who will net you the most at the closing table

A beautiful visual presentation is a requirement for a successful listing, so choose an agent who provides professional staging and professional photography (at a minimum) as part of their marketing plan. Your listing agent should also offer guidance on the low-cost improvements that will increase your home's value and reduce its time on the market. Last, your agent should demonstrate the negotiation skills you need to achieve the highest possible price for your home. When all is said and done you'll be glad you hired an agent

There are many ways to ring in the new year in Madison. If you're looking for some grown up entertainment, the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau has a link to a wide range of options.  But, if you're looking to incorporate a younger audience into the mix, Madison is ready to prove it's a family friendly city. There are several fun activities to be found, and all end with a big celebration at an age appropriate time.

First- the Madison Children's Museum has a family dance party planned for New Year's Eve. Visitors are invited to enjoy the museum during the day. At 3 p.m. visitors should head to the art room. The music will start and a dance party will ring in an early New Year. There will be a countdown at 4 p.m., complete with confetti,

Our most recent single family home report shows 2018 is shaping up to be another strong year for sellers in the Madison area. Right now there is only 1 month of home supply in Madison, which is about as low as it can go for our market. 

A closer look at inventory shows how supply has tightened over the last year:

• In December of 2016, a total of 438 Madison single family homes were listed for sale on the MLS. In December of 2017, that number dipped to 376 (a decrease of 14%). 
• In December of 2016, 33% of single family home listings had an accepted offer. In December of 2017, the percentage increased to 39%. 
• In December of 2016, 1.4 months of supply were listed for sale. In December of 2017, supply decreased to just one month. 

As you ring in the New Year, it's the perfect time to reconsider your financial plan. Laurie Ellis-Mcleod, president of AERIE Preferred Financial Group, offers five resolutions to make for 2018:

1. Have a Tax Strategy:  If you already have one, you're ahead of the game, but it should still be reviewed. Tax strategies can change based on your projected income. Maybe your new job will increase your tax bracket. Or, perhaps retirement will move you to a lower bracket. Either way, you should talk with a financial professional that specializes in tax strategies and issues. This is especially true if you have a complicated tax filing. Qualified tax professionals are CPAs who are well versed in the current (and changing) laws, and can make recommendations

Lake View Hill Park: the name says it all. Overlooking Lake Mendota on the highest point on Madison's north side, it has been a place of reflection, recreation, and even healing.

Now a 27-acre conservancy that surrounds the Dane County Human Services building along Northport Drive, you are likely to find people walking their dogs, hiking, or watching wildlife through the wooded trails. And on the great lawn you can usually see a trio of cranes or, when it snows, kids sledding.

But there's more than meets the eye on this piece of land. Dane County Parks installed several historical displays throughout the park to help explain its storied past, which includes remnants of a 20th century sanatorium all the way back to boulders from glaciers

Dane County's hot housing market often makes headlines, but there's another side to the real estate climate that deserves attention: the housing gap. The housing gap, as defined by the Dane County Housing Initiative (DCHI), is the difference between the amount of income people earn and the house they could afford and the number of units available at that price point.

To help educate the community and policymakers about this issue and why it matters, DCHI recently released a short video called "Minding the Gap: The Housing Crisis in Dane County." Several area residents, an employer, a workforce housing developer, and a housing expert weigh in on the topic in this 7-minute film, which is definitely worth watching here.

Although the affordable housing

The Madison real estate market will once again be very competitive in 2018. We're predicting another year of low inventory and rising prices for all of Dane County. If your goal is to buy in the new year, then right now is the time to start planning for your purchase. Here are our 6 new years resolutions that will help you successfully buy your dream home in 2018. 

#1: Get pre-approved with a reliable local lender

Work with a proven, local lender who gives you the personal attention and service you need in today's competitive market. Some of the big box and internet lenders have a tendency to miss deadlines and issue bad appraisals. If you value good communication and reliable service, then go local with your mortgage. Ask us for a referral to a

As the area gets teased with traces of snow, there's still not enough on the ground to trade your hiking boots for snowshoes or cross country skis. But in Wisconsin that could quickly change, so be prepared for all sorts of weather conditions for these free outdoor nature events at local parks in Madison. After many of these leisurely and family-friendly walks, warm up by the campfire and sip hot chocolate. Don't forget your binoculars or camera!

Bird and Nature Outing
When: 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, December 16
Where: Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa St., Madison
What: Hike the bike trails and paths next to Starkweather Creek Area.
Photo (above) credit: Goodman Community Center

Candlelit Hike
When: 4:30-8 p.m. Saturday, December 16
Where: Aldo

Thanks to all of you who have referred your friends and family to us in 2017, this last year has been a year of growth for our team. We truly appreciate your trust in us, and we'll do our best to keep earning it - one client at a time. Thank you for making 2017 our best year ever :)

As you've helped our business grow, we've been growing in other ways that will help us serve you better in the coming year. Here are a few of the ways we've grown for the better in 2017.

2017: A year of Growth for Mad City Dream Homes

#1: We've hired Kara Thomas as the newest agent on our team. Kara is an experienced, hard-working and service-oriented agent who has proven to be a great addition to our group. We now have 5 very capable agents on the team who work

It's no secret Madison is growing. But how and where it should grow is up for debate. To try to tackle one component of this matter, the Cap Times recently held a panel discussion about "How can Madison build more great neighborhoods?" You can listen to the podcast about the Cap Times Talk here.

Moderated by city government reporter Abigail Becker, the panel included the following members: David Mollenhoff, Madison historian who helped revitalize the Marquette neighborhood in the 1960s; Heather Stouder, city of Madison's planning division director; Tariq Saqqaf, city of Madison's neighborhood resource coordinator; Sheray Wallace, Meadowood neighborhood activist; and Michael Ford, Madison College instructor known as the "Hip Hop Architect."