Whether your bathroom is large or small, updated or not, you have some simple ways to create a more inviting space in preparation for your photos and showings. Soft artwork, freshly folded towels, low profile greenery, decorative soap dispensers, and white waffle weave shower curtains all help to create a softer and cozier space. 

Here are some recent examples from Shelley's portfolio, which demonstrate a few easy ways to dress up your bathroom. Call us when you'd like some assistance with your own staging plan. We'd love to help you. 

 ** Thank you as always to Step Inside Media for your beautiful listing photos. We love working with you. **

Not too long ago, I published my 1000th article to the Mad City Dream Homes blog. As I reflect on my writing, I admit my first article was nothing spectacular, and I've published plenty of unspectacular articles since then. 

What I've learned, though, is that writing as a daily habit has served me well -- and in some subtle and surprising ways. Writing as a daily practice has forced me to ask questions, to think, to research, to struggle a little bit, and to publish. Most important, embracing my practice has helped me to clarify my philosophies and challenged me to keep learning. 

So, is there a daily practice that you've been meaning to start? I believe you have everything to gain by going for it. Just like me, you may not become world-class in

What do you do with a vacant bedroom before you list your home for sale?

One option is to use an 18" or 20" inflatable mattress as a substitute for a real bed. Here's a recent example by Shelley, who transformed this once empty room into a warm and cozy bedroom. 

Another option is to combine an inflatable mattress with a collapsible bedframe. In this example, Alan presents this small space as a bedroom that's large enough to accommodate a twin-sized bed. 

What staging challenges do you need to address prior to selling your home? 

We can help you implement creative and effective solutions that maximize your return on investment. Call us when you need a little expertise and hands-on help. It would be our pleasure to assist you. 

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We're super excited for our client, Debbie, who along with her parents just had her offer accepted on a beautiful new construction home. The home is perfect for them. Beautiful finishes, open concept, and main level living where everything Debbie's parents need is all on one floor. Soon all three of them will be moving in together, and Debbie will be able to care for her parents as her parents age gracefully in their new home. 

Mad City Dream Homes has been with Debbie and her parents throughout their search, introducing them to different ranch style homes, and guiding them to their best fit. Even better, we were able to negotiate the addition of brand new appliances into the price before their offer was accepted. 

What new real estate goals do you

People are living in their homes much longer than they used to, and when they do eventually move, they're moving for a variety of reasons. The NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers shines a light on a few key trends. 

Seller trends

• The typical seller in 2024 was 63 years old, the highest age on record.  
• The median number of years that a seller lived in their home was 10 years (up from 6 at the beginning of the century). 
• And the number one reason people chose to move in 2024? To be closer to family and friends. 

Other big motivations for moving included: the need to "upsize" into a larger home, the need to "downsize" into a smaller home, and the desire to live in a different neighborhood.  

One other clear trend

With people

It happens all of the time. There's this trap that many realtors who go on a good run fall into: They relax. They develop a false sense of security. They forget about the focus and the habits that are required of them to enjoy a prosperous career. And before they know it, they're drifting, living paycheck to paycheck, wondering if they'll be able to stick with the real estate profession. 

Fortunately, for all of us who are in the profession, we can avoid this trap by remembering a few simple practices. If we embrace these practices day after day and year after year, we can enjoy a long and prosperous career. 

3 simple practices

1. Meet people. 
2. Help them. 
3. Stay in touch with them, and keep helping them, as the generous professionals that we

Young people are being squeezed out of the real estate market, which the recent NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers makes abundantly clear. According to the survey: 

• The median home buying age in 2024 was 56 years old, the highest on record. 
• The median first-time home buying age was 38 years old, an all-time high. 
• Only 24 percent of all buyers in 2024 were first-time buyers, an all-time low. 

Until our local home supply significantly improves, buying a home will continue to be a challenge for many people, especially young people who are working hard to grow their income and save up for their down payment.

Despite the challenges, we want you to know there are still opportunities for first-time home buyers in this market. And

If you're a homeowner in the Madison area, you've probably received a few postcards from realtors saying they've got a buyer for your home. The prospect of a quiet sale might sound like a gift to you, a little bit like pressing the easy button.

But before you go ahead and say yes to a postcard buyer, here are two truths to remember:

1. The buyer benefits from the quiet sale, 
2. The seller benefits from competition. 

So as the seller, you get to choose: You get to choose whether you want to participate in an open market or a closed market. Two very distinct options, with each option offering a different experience and a different outcome. Choose wisely. 

It's becoming more and more common for large real estate teams, and even entire real estate brokerages, to promote their private listing programs. The pitch for a private listing goes something like this: if you're someone who's interested in a discreet sale, the team or brokerage will help you by marketing your home to their buyers. 

But wait. Before you sign up for a private sale, it's important to ask two questions: 

1) What are the advantages and disadvantages for you, the seller, when you sign up for a private listing? 

2) And how does the brokerage benefit by promoting their private listing program? 

As always, focus on the financials. 

Dane County condo prices rose last month, across the board, for all 3 measures. Here's our full report on the Madison area condo market for the month of March, 2025.

Dane County condo prices

Three condo price statistics:

• The price per square foot increased from $222 in March of 2024 to $234 in March of 2025, an increase of 5 percent.
• The average price grew from $333,793 to $347,144, an increase of 4 percent.
• The median price changed from $311,000 to $316,250, up 2 percent.

We do expect Dane County condo prices to remain elevated throughout the year, based on current supply and demand trends. 

New MLS listings

A total of 149 Dane County condos were listed for sale in March, which was the lowest for any month of March