** This article was originally written by Samantha Haas while a member of our team. You can learn more about Samantha and her work here. 

There are more ways than ever this week in Madison to fill your brain with knowledge and curiosity. That's because the Wisconsin Book Festival and Wisconsin Science Festival are both being held throughout the city from November 2-5, which thousands of people are expected to attend.

This is the third year in a row that the festivals are happening at the same time, and there are over a dozen joint book events being held between the two, which the State Journal lists here. While the science festival events are also happening around the state, the book festival has grown so much in the past few years that other events

We recently noted in our October real estate update that there are only 1.7 months of supply in the Madison housing market. We're expecting more of the same for the foreseeable future, and here's why:

New home construction is low. 

Although there is a genuine need for more inventory, new housing starts remain about 50% below the peak levels from 2002 - 2005. One big reason for this is the last real estate downturn put many home builders out of business. With fewer builders in the marketplace, fewer homes are being built.

Housing starts for duplexes and single family homes have basically plateaued, as can be seen in this graph below. It's also important to note that new condo construction is at a virtual standstill and nowhere near the level

In this real estate careers post we cover closing gifts. For many people, the process of buying or selling a home can be an emotional experience. Closing day, in particular, can be a day when emotions run very high. After all this is the day that represents the closing of one chapter in life and the beginning of another. 

When we choose a closing gift, our goal is to give something that taps into our client's emotions. We try to select a gift that's meaningful to that person or symbolic of this important life event. Presenting a thoughtful gift is one of the most gratifying things we do in real estate. It can literally bring some clients to tears and cement relationships for life.

Here are a few of our favorite gift ideas for clients. 

** This article was originally written by Samantha Haas while a member of our team. You can learn more about Samantha and her work here. 

For sweeping views of the Wisconsin River Valley, head for the hills -- particularly at Brigham County Park.

It’s situated on over 200 acres in Blue Mounds, and on a clear day you can even see the Baraboo Hills in the distance.

While you can take in the scenery by car along County Hwy. F, it’s best to park, stretch your legs, and go for a walk around this beautiful park, which is just a few miles east of Blue Mound State Park.

There are nature trails that weave around the campsites at Brigham County Park and into a mature sugar maple forest.

The park was established about 65 years ago and is

Downtown Madison already had their Family Halloween earlier this week. Now, it's gearing up for its next big event: Freakfest.  The festival is an annual tradition, and has grown to become the largest Halloween party in the region. What once was just streets filled with costumed adults has become a vibrant festival, with three music stages, plenty of people-watching and good business for the downtown shops and restaurants. In addition, the safety of the event has become a key highlight.  The City of Madison stepped in and made it a ticketed event in 2006. Frank Productions added live music in 2007. Since then, the event has had a very good safety record, with Madison Police and private security on hand to ensure the event's success.

"Most of the

** This article was originally written by Samantha Haas while a member of our team. You can learn more about Samantha and her work here. 

With Halloween falling on a Tuesday this year, many events to mark the spooky occasion are being planned for the week before, including these places to trick-or-treat around Madison. And while State Street's Freakfest and many haunted houses are geared toward adults, here are three kid-friendly events the whole family can enjoy in Dane County.

"Creatures of the Night" Fall Fest
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, October 27
Where: Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 330 Femrite Dr., Monona
Entry: Free to the public (click the website to register)
Activities: Bring a flashlight along for these "not-so-scary" indoor and outdoor

We've updated our trend reports for the Madison single family home and condo markets, and the major theme continues to be low inventory. As of October 17th, only 1.7 months of supply are available for sale in the Madison single family home market. The single family market has now had less than 2 months of supply for 23 straight months. Inventory is especially tight for houses priced under $350,000. 

The condo market also has only 1.7 months of supply. Condos priced under $250,000 are in highest demand right now. 

Home Prices

In September, the Madison single family home price per square foot was $155, which was a record high and up 7% from last year. Year-to-date the price per square foot is up 10%. 

Condo Prices

The condo price

** This article was originally written by Samantha Haas while a member of our team. You can learn more about Samantha and her work here. 

It's easy to fall in love with Conservancy Place in DeForest, from its scenic views of the countryside to its beautiful homes.

The new development is all about "building community and “respecting nature," which is even more apparent when you visit these budding neighborhoods on the village's southwest side "where nature, work, home, and recreation come together."

Once completed there will be four residential areas (Hawthorn Point, Rivers Turn, Woods Glen, and The Knolls), an office and research area (Innovation Springs), and a retail, residential, and office area (The Promenade).

Winding through them is the

If you've helped a child get a Halloween costume, you know that they take great pride in their choice, and would enjoy wearing it more than once.  In Madison, you can celebrate Halloween all week long. Businesses, churches and schools often offer "Trunk or Treat" options around town, where costumed children can walk parking lots, enjoy decorated trunks and fill up on sugar.  The week leading up to Halloween, there are at least a few larger Halloween events, designed specifically for families:

1. Downtown Madison Family Halloween: Wednesday, October 25 from 3-6 p.m.

More than 75 downtown businesses will open their doors to welcome your kids and their costumes. Not only will they be able to enjoy some sweet treats, but you will also find other

It's hard to believe, but the holiday season is right around the corner. This means the best time of year for buying a home is right around the corner, too. To see why, take a look at the graph below, which shows accepted offer totals for each month of the calendar year. 

Year in and year out, November and December are the 2 slowest months for real estate in the Madison area. This market dynamic creates 3 big advantages for home buyers during the holiday season. 

3 advantages for holiday home buyers

First, there's much less competition from other buyers during the holiday season. Your odds of getting your offer accepted are much higher in November and December than in the spring and summer months. 

Second, buyers have the psychological