Do you have a preferred condo association that you would love to live in? You and your buyer agent can find the right condo by sending an authentic letter to all of the owners in the association. In our experience, the more low-tech the approach, the better. 

Here's our simple 3-step approach: 

1) Hand address each envelope and write your return mailing address on each envelope, too. 

2) Make the letter from you, the buyer, not your buyer agent. A letter written by the buyer will receive a much better response than one that is written by the buyer agent. 

3) Make it easy for the reader of each letter to contact either you or your buyer agent. Your letter should include your phone number and email address, and the number and email address

We found these questions interesting to ponder, and thought you might find value in exploring a few of them, too. Do any of these questions help you clarify how you might make positive changes in your own life? 

10 questions for 2025

#1) What new hobbies or interests would you like to explore in the new year? 

#2) When do you find yourself feeling most content and at peace? 

#3) Where have you found inspiration and meaning in the last year? 

#4) Who are the people in your life that you are interested in knowing better? 

#5) Who are the people who inspire you? What is it about them that you find inspiring? 

#6) What can you do to better live within your means and contribute to your financial peace? 

#7) How might you invest in

We recently shared our 2025 Madison area real estate predictions, and we feel it's important to share that we also expect homeowners insurance, property taxes, and the cost to maintain a home to rise in the new year. 

Climate change is having a real impact on insurance premiums and the cost to maintain municipal services, while a tight labor market is contributing to higher wages for contractors and the tradespeople who help us take care of our homes. 

Does this mean you should abandon your real estate goals for the new year? Absolutely not. There's still no place like home, and here in Dane County real estate will continue to be the best investment around. 

But, it would be wise for all of us to live within our means and to create a budget for

Here are our top 3 real estate resolutions for the new year: 

#1) Get your real estate advice from a reputable professional. You can find all kinds of information online. Some of it is helpful and accurate, much of it is not. A trusted professional will help you make the right decisions when it comes to buying, selling, and investing in real estate. 

#2) Take care of your property. There is no better investment than real estate. So protect your investment for the long-run by staying on top of your home maintenance projects. 

#3) Ask us for referrals to trusted contractors. We're here to connect you with contractors who will help you properly maintain your home and for a fair price. Reach out when you need a little advice and direction. It would

Too often realtors treat the other party in a negotiation as an adversary, which can create ill will and cause harm to their own client's best interests. Negotiations are not the time for ego, drama and spotty communication. 

The most effective negotiators actively engage with the other party, and always treat the other party with respect. The simple truth is we're able to most effectively advocate for our clients when we adhere to these basic principles. 

Written by Sarah Linn, Development & Marketing Special Projects Coordinator at DCHS

Animal shelters play a crucial role in our community. When you think of Dane County Humane Society (DCHS), you probably think of dog and cat adoptions first. And rightly so. In 2023, DCHS found new homes for 1,241 dogs and 1,728 cats. But that’s just one of the ways DCHS serves the animals at the shelter and in our community. Additionally, DCHS provides care for thousands of native wild animals who are injured, sick, or orphaned, rehabilitating them with the goal of releasing them back to their habitats. DCHS also provides humane education programs for learners of all ages, teaching community members about everything from animal care to empathy. Their Pets for

The winter season is an excellent time to schedule your interior painting projects. Painters generally have good availability in the wintertime, and rates may be a little more affordable, too.

Contact us if you'd like to be connected with a quality local painter, and stay tuned for our upcoming article on the latest color trends. 

We're receiving excellent feedback about Tyler Sabroff and his home remodeling team. From kitchen and bathroom remodels, to large window replacement projects, Tyler and his team are receiving rave reviews for their craftsmanship, customer service, and communication. To schedule your own home remodeling consultation, we encourage you to call Tyler at 608-445-9780. You'll be glad you made the connection. 

Madison area condo prices continued to rise in November, and by all three of our statistical measures. 

• The condo price per square foot grew from $217 in November of 2023 to $225 in November of 2024, up 4 percent. 
• The average condo price grew from $313,410 to $342,417, an increase of 9 percent. 
• The median condo price grew from $270,000 to $306,500, a jump of 14 percent. 

New condo listings

November was a slow month for Madison area condo listings. Only 70 Dane County condos were listed for sale in November, down from the 85 condos in November of 2023. Our feeling is some people were feeling a little uncertain about their real estate plans due to the recent elections. We do expect listing activity to pick up once again in early

The truth is buying a home is more challenging than it was 5, 10 and 20 years ago. And we want you to know that we fully embrace this challenge; we love helping our clients take their leap into homeownership.

So, if you have a friend or family member who is aspiring to become a homeowner in 2025, please know we would love to help them. We're here to give them all of the time, attention and support that they need to make this important, life-changing event happen.