We're excited for our clients Connor and Hyeree, who just moved into their first home, a sweet little house in Midvale Heights. Connor and Hyeree's purchase never would have happened without their agent, Alan Feder, who negotiated over $32,000 in seller concessions following their home inspection. 

Buyer negotiation isn't easy in a sellers' market, but it becomes a heck of a lot easier when you have a skilled buyer representative guiding you. And Alan Feder is an example of just that. Thank you Alan for your service and professionalism. 

Dane County condo prices were mixed last month. We don't see this as a sign of falling prices. Rather, it's a reflection of a small data set. The months of January and February traditionally have a low number of closings. Prices at the beginning of the year can experience large swings with either a few high-priced or low-priced sales. 

Here's our full report on the Madison area condominium market.

Dane County condo prices

The price per square foot decreased, while the average and median price increased. 

• The price per square foot decreased from $228 in February of 2024 to $218 in February of 2025, a drop of 5 percent.
• The average price jumped from $325,685 to $330,840, an increase of 2 percent.
• The median price grew from $290,000

Dane County home prices rose once again last month, and by all measures. Here's our full report on the Dane County single family home market. 

Dane County home prices

The price per square foot, average price, and median price all rose last month. 

• The price per square foot increased from $242 in February of 2024 to $251 in February of 2025, an increase of 4 percent.
• The average price jumped from $494,776 to $546,940, a jump of 11 percent.
• The median price grew from $452,650 to $473,700, up 5 percent.

We do expect prices to continue to rise this year, based on current supply and demand trends. 

New MLS listings

The number of new listings entering the market was lower in February, decreasing by 8 percent from the year

Recently we met with new buyer clients, and our meeting included three different agents from our team. Three agents because our clients' search covers locations in northern Dane County, southern Dane County, and the west side of Madison. Each agent in our group of three lives in one of these locations, so we have the right team assembled to show our clients any property in the county. 

This is just one small example of how we collaborate as a team to serve our buyers. When you buy with Mad City Dream Homes, you'll never miss out on viewing a property or writing an offer because your agent is unavailable. We'll always be here to serve you with the timely and professional care you need, and always with dedicated, full-time agents.

We're excited for our clients, who are moving into their dream home this spring thanks to their sight unseen offer. 

What's a sight unseen offer?

It's when a buyer writes an offer without having seen the home in person and before showings for the general public begin. Once the offer is accepted by the seller, the buyer then tours the home and decides whether or not they want to cancel their offer or keep moving forward with their contract. 

There are some pros and cons to this approach, but one big plus is that by writing a sight unseen offer a buyer is usually able to avoid competition from other buyers. Writing a sight unseen offer can be a really smart play during a hot spring market, when competition is highest. 

Of course, you should

This may seem hard to believe, but the majority of agents who are writing offers for their buyers in 2025 are doing so without ever calling the listing agent. Unfortunately for their clients, this puts them at a huge disadvantage. 

Why calling the listing agent is so important

Buyer agents who call the listing agent are able to clearly articulate their client's interest in the property. They're able to learn more about the seller's goals for their sale. And they're able to better discern the amount of competition for the home. All of which they use to help their client put forward a better offer. 

Digital messaging is a fact of daily life, but there's still no substitute for a conversation. One of the best decisions you can make as an aspiring

February home and condo listing activity remained relatively light in February. Here's a quick look back at last month's numbers. 

Dane County single family home listings

A total of 450 Dane County homes were listed for sale in February, down 8 percent from the 490 homes listed in February of 2024. 

Dane County condo listings

A total of 138 Dane County condos were listed for sale last month, down 12 percent from the 156 condos listed for sale a year ago. 

What to expect for the spring market

We're expecting continued strong prices and a very competitive market overall, but with a little less buyer competition compared to recent years. Buyers who remain persistent and focused will be the ones who find opportunity in the year

This past weekend, I made an impromptu stop into Wisconsin Cutlery & Kitchen Supply. When I entered, I was quickly greeted by a friendly sales associate but felt the need to preface, "I have the worst knives, they are just random ones from online, I don't know much about all this." Immediately, the saleswoman pointed to a playful sign hanging over the counter that said "No Knife Shaming." 

She explained that no one is to feel embarrassed or ashamed of what kitchen tools they have; we all start somewhere! She was eager to teach me the basics and left me feeling confident about next steps I could take to maintain the knives I had and pursue a better set.

This interaction left me feeling that some aspects of our professions weren't so dissimilar.

There's an old saying that goes something along the lines of "if you really need to get something done, hire a busy person". When it comes to buying or selling a home, this saying packs a ton of wisdom. 

Perhaps you're aspiring to buy your first home in a competitive market. Needing to sell your home in order to buy your next one. Or maybe you need to sell but only after making important repairs and updates.

When you're facing a challenging situation like one of these, it makes a lot of sense to work with a busy realtor. Not a busy and overwhelmed real estate agent, but a busy and productive professional who has a track record of getting things done. 

A productive realtor knows how to prioritize their work and manage their time. They're eager to