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

Growing up in the country, I spent many summer days chasing swallowtail and sulphur butterflies through the hay fields. But one of Wisconsin's most recognizable butterflies, the monarch, has been facing a population decline over the last decade.

Some city neighborhoods, including many along bike paths in Madison, have established gardens with prairie plants like milkweed to try to bring back the orange and black beauties and other insects. If you're having trouble spotting them on your own, Olbrich Botanical Gardens on the east side offers a Blooming Butterflies exhibit that features thousands of butterflies for

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

On a sunny August morning, Val Murphy tends the flowers around her nearly vacant home on Madison's west side.

Having spent over 30 years in the Parkwood Hills neighborhood with her family, she's ready to downsize -- but she's taking decades of memories with her.

"We loved the neighborhood the whole time through," she said.

The Murphys moved into their first house in 1986 on South Yellowstone Drive, but they outgrew it when their third child was born. So in 1993 when their daughter was 6 months old, they found the perfect spot to continue raising their family: just a few blocks away on a quiet,

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

Many of those living in the Parkwood Hills neighborhood on Madison's west side view it as the total package.

"It's very social and welcoming," said resident Peter Zarov. "I've been here for 14 years now and still love it."

Close to parks, a pool, community center and four schools, you'll often see families greet each other while walking along the quiet, tree-lined streets. And even though it's just around the corner from West Towne Mall and other stores and restaurants near Mineral Point and Gammon roads, it still has a small-town feel.

Kimberly Cowles, who has lived next to Everglade Park for the

It's a grueling test of athleticism, physical fitness and endurance. The Reebok CrossFit Games attracts competitors from around the globe. Now, after 10 years of games in California, the CrossFit Games have moved to Madison. The games open today at Alliant Energy Center, and feature the top 40 male and the top 40 female athletes from around the world. In addition, a masters competition and a teen competition have opened the doors to more competitors. 

It seems appropriate for Madison to host the CrossFit Games. Fitbit did a study of the fitness information recorded by its users. After measuring all the data, it named Madison the fittest city in the United States.  Livability ranked it #3 in its list of top 10 healthiest cities. Other sources have

The most rewarding part of real estate is knowing you helped someone reach an important goal and that they genuinely appreciate you for your efforts. That, and knowing in the process you've gained a new friend. More than anything else this is what we work for on our team.

Chris Venden, Shelley Lazzareschi, and Tammy Steiner are all receiving some very rewarding feedback, which is a direct reflection of their commitment to their clients. Here are a few recent examples that have been posted by their clients online. 

Chris Venden

"Chris was amazing! Buying our condo with her was a walk in the park. She went above and beyond the call of duty in every regard and made the whole process smooth and efficient. Every time we had a question or needed help,

Over the years we've noticed some relatively common mistakes home owners make when putting their property up for sale. Unfortunately, each of these mistakes can cause a property to sit on the market and sell for well below its potential. Even worse are the emotional consequences that follow as a result. A bad listing experience can be emotionally draining and a huge source of anxiety and stress. 

The good news is all of these mistakes are preventable. You can avoid all of these common pitfalls by consulting with your agent well before you plan to list. Seek some proactive and professional guidance, and make the right choices that will lead to a successful sale.

Five Common Home Seller Mistakes

Below are 5 common pitfalls to avoid when selling

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

Just about 150 years ago, Frank Lloyd Wright was born right here in Wisconsin. He went on to become a renowned architect, and many of his unique homes and buildings can be found in Madison. His belief that structures should be designed in harmony with the environment influenced other architects to adopt a "modern" style after World War II.

Many of these mid-century modern homes were built from the 1940s-60s, with an emphasis on being open and functional. They can often be identified by their flatter roofs, asymmetrical exterior and large windows that make nature the focal point.

The mid-century modern style

Through the first half of 2017, the Dane County real estate market is setting new records in a continuation of the trends we shared earlier this Spring. Dane County properties are selling quickly. Inventories are low, and prices are increasing. Sales are declining in most locations due to low supply. Here's our market summary covering a few of the county's largest communities. 

Home Price Per Square Foot

The price per square foot is our best statistic for measuring property value because it's adjusted according to the square footage of each sold listing. As you can see in the table below, home values are historically high in every community we track. Prices are increasing by some large amounts, especially in Cottage Grove, Madison, and McFarland -

There is a lot of discussion presently about green energy, and the use of renewable energy sources is increasing in the Madison area. One option available to homeowners is solar energy. Solar panels are being included in many new construction homes, but they can also be added to existing structures. It can make sense for a homeowner, especially if the roof faces south, and is not heavily shaded. 

"The cost for solar energy has dropped about 75% over the last 5 years," says Chris Collins, Regional Project Developer for SunVest Solar Inc.  "Many customers choose to amortize the cost of the solar installation into their mortgage. Customers who do amortize the cost of a solar electric system often find that their payments are less than what they would pay

We recently blogged about the shifting summer real estate market, and how buyers and sellers should adjust their expectations accordingly. This confuses some people, because media headlines can lead us to believe the market is always in a crazy, hyperactive state. The truth is the market is constantly changing throughout the year.

Another thing to keep in mind about real estate headlines is most of the time they're based on old data. For example, very soon we'll be reading about the latest market data for closings that occurred in the month of June. The important thing to remember about the June data is it's based on offers that were written in the months of April and May. By default, most of the headlines we read are the result of market dynamics