In our competitive real estate market some buyers accomplish all of their real estate goals, while others seem to continually miss out. Why is it that some buyers succeed and others do not? Below we share a few thoughts and observations on this topic. 

Why some buyers succeed in Madison's tight real estate market

1) They have a clear picture. Some buyers have a very clear picture of what type of property they want to buy, when they want to buy, where they want to buy, and for what price. When it comes to features,  they know their list of "must haves" and "nice to haves". They've done their homework, and they have a good understanding of the inventory in their preferred location and price range. Buyers with a clear picture have a great chance of

The condo lifestyle is in high demand. From millennials making their first purchase to baby boomers down-sizing into a new setting, people of all ages are embracing condominium living.

The market has changed a lot over the last few years, and today's buyers are learning it's highly competitive. One outlet for buyers is the new construction condo market. As a general rule it's easier to purchase a new construction condo because this segment of the market has fewer competing buyers.

If you've been having a hard time finding the right condo in our low inventory market, check out the new construction options below. You might find the perfect fit in one of these growing condo communities.

Do you need help finding the right condo? Contact one of our

Have you ever looked around your home and wondered who else has enjoyed the beautiful view from that kitchen window or warmed up to that cozy fireplace? Unless you have lived there since the house was built, you might only know the names of the people who sold it to you or your family.  

There are several resources that can help you uncover the history of your home, and not just about who previously owned or occupied the house. You may also be able to research who owned the land before it was developed, when and for what price your house was built, the architect and specific house style, if it’s part of a historic district, and when major additions or renovations were completed, among many other fascinating tidbits.

Perhaps you want to find out

The Mad City Dream Homes team works in a unique way. While many Realtors work independently, our team works together, combining our unique skills and abilities to best serve clients’ needs.

Our buying and selling team

Tammy Steiner serves as a showing agent. She makes her schedule available, days, nights and weekends, to make sure buyers can attend showings as soon as properties are listed. “In this market, getting in the door quickly can be the key to actually finding, and getting an accepted offer on your property of choice,” she said.

Shelley Lazzareschi, Dan Miller, Maureen Moran and Chris Venden fill the roles of all-around agents.  Any member of the team is available to bring clients to showings, coordinate contracts, and provide

Late last year we released our predictions for the 2019 Madison real estate market. Here's our short review of how well those predictions have held up through the first half of the year. 

#1: Mortgage rates will rise above 5%

We, and just about everyone else, whiffed on this one. Rates for 30-year fixed rate loans have dropped to well below 4 percent. This graph from Freddie Mac shows how mortgage rates have trended over the last year. 

#2: Home and condo prices will rise 2 to 3 percent

Madison home prices have increased by 4% through the first 6 months of the year. 

Madison condo prices have increased by 2 percent. 

#3: Foreclosures will rise

Madison area foreclosures have actually decreased through the month of

Few neighborhoods in the Madison area offer the variety of homes that appear in the Nakoma Historic District, where one of our newest listings is located.

Among the hilly, curvilinear streets just west of the UW-Arboretum you’ll find numerous Tudor Revival and Colonial Revival styles as well as a smattering of Mediterranean Revival, Norman Revival, Dutch Colonial, French Provincial, Arts and Crafts, Prairie School, Craftsman Bungalow, Modern, and International styles.

Some of the best local architectural firms of the 20th century, including Henry Dysland and Law, Law, and Potter, designed these homes, which were built between 1915-1946. This time period was one of immense growth and greater mobility in Madison from streetcars to automobiles,

We loved working on our most recent west side listing, which just sold yesterday to a new home owner. This listing was actually a project that we had been working on for a long, long time. It all started almost 4 years ago when we hired a photographer to capture exterior photos of the property. We knew we'd use the photos someday - we weren't sure when - so we collected some nice exterior pictures on a beautiful summer day. 

Working proactively for a successful listing

We were optimistic our clients would experience a successful sale due to all of the great work they had been putting into their listing. Here are a few of the things we worked on together over the last few months and years. 

• First, we kept our clients up-to-date on the

When deals need to be made, it all comes down to trusted relationships. You can buy and sell homes in Madison, but to do it well, you will need a Realtor who values relationships and brings solid negotiating skills to the table. This adds some strength to your real estate plan, and it helps remove some of the emotion that could otherwise cloud the negotiations. The Mad City Dream Homes Team can help you look at the big picture, and they have enough history in the business to creatively problem-solve, and get you the best deal.

"Our team places a high-value on quality communication, " says Maureen Moran. "We can gather so much more information about the sale for our clients, simply by picking up the phone and talking with the other agent." 

With over 60 community gardens around Madison, there is a wide range of plot sizes and amenities to suit anyone's needs. All of the gardens have a different feel, and with varying degrees of involvement from each community they can serve as a hub for social, educational, and family activities. Below, we highlight five of the most unique community gardens in the Madison area.

Atwood

The Atwood garden has 110 plots and works with the Goodman Community Center to offer youth programming. Located along the Isthmus bike path between Jackson St. and Waubesa St., this is one of the oldest community gardens in Madison. 

Bock

Located north of Middleton on the southeast end of the Bock Community Forest, this land was acquired for

Monona is conveniently located just 15 minutes from downtown Madison with beautiful sunset views of the Capitol over the lake and close proximity to the Beltline and Hwy. 51. Even though its roughly 3 square miles are completely surrounded by water or land owned by other municipalities, Monona is carving out its niche as a small waterfront community with easy access to amenities. 

“It’s the best kept secret in Dane County,” said Kathy Thomas, who has served on Monona City Council for about 35 years.  

Thomas moved to Monona in 1969, the same year it became a city. Monona was incorporated as a village in 1938 when more housing and businesses started taking over the farmland that was previously part of the town of Blooming Grove. Her husband