Many Madison area home buyers gravitate toward bank owned properties and short sale listings. In the right situation, an REO or short sale property can offer the prospective buyer an incredible value. We've assisted many clients with their purchase of a foreclosed home or condo, and we've seen our buyers achieve some amazing deals. But there are some caveats related to buying foreclosures in Madison. If you've been thinking of buying a distressed property, here are five things for you to keep in mind.

Before you Buy, Keep these 5 Things in Mind:

1. Distressed properties represent only one piece of the market, and the supply of foreclosures is decreasing. If you limit your search to REOs and short sales, you're missing out on the possibilities that

Searching for a Madison home or condo? Our new polygon search tool allows you to customize your property search according to the boundaries that you define on our MLS map.

Our polygon search works in conjunction with all of the other search settings that we make available, so you can customize your search by property type, price range, and size - along with the map boundaries that you specify. Even better, you can save your polygon search settings and receive email updates new listings hit the MLS and when existing listings undergo a price change.

Try our property search now. Or sign up for our home finder, and we'll locate your properties and coordinate your showings for you. We're here to help!

Downtown Madison condos are on the rebound. Prices in Madison's Downtown dropped by 20% from 2006 to 2011. In 2012, Madison buyers responded to lower prices and returned to the downtown condo market in a big way. As you'll see from the graph at the bottom of this post, the price per square foot actually increased in 2012, as the market settled into a much better balance between supply and demand.

This is welcome news for buyers and sellers alike. Sellers have been waiting for a bottom to the condo market, while buyers have been seeking some reassurance that their investment will hold its value over time.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about condos in Downtown Madison, Wisconsin. We can help you better understand the

Buying a home in the Madison area and in need of a loan? We've worked with hundreds of buyers over the years, and we've collected their feedback about the lenders who assist them with their mortgages. Over time we've developed a network of service-oriented lenders who are universally loved by their clients for their exceptional service. Each of these lenders has different strengths and areas of expertise, so we're happy to refer you to a lender who is a good match for you and your specific situation. Just let us know how we can help!

One of our preferred lenders who consistently receives raving feedback is Great Midwest Bank, where John Schroder works out of the Odana Road office on Madison's west side. Below are a few reasons why our buying clients

Home values on the near west side have weathered the real estate downturn like no other area of Madison. Classic west side subdivisions like the Hill Farms, Westmorland, Sunset Village, Nakoma, and Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhoods have always been in high demand, and will continue to be highly coveted in the years ahead. 

Why is this side of town so popular? A large contingent of buyers prefers the construction from the early to mid 1900s, back when many local, highly-regarded architects left their imprint on Madison's real estate landscape . The near west side is also conveniently located near many of Madison's largest employers, including: UW Health, Meriter Hospital, St Mary's Hospital, the VA Hospital, CUNA Mutual, UW-Madison, and the State of

Prices are rising again in Madison. All real estate is local, and in many Madison neighborhoods we're seeing houses selling for prices that weren't realistic two years ago. Our Madison "price per square foot report" puts our day-to-day observations to numbers.

Our latest look at the numbers shows the Madison price per finished square foot increased in the last quarter of 2012 after increasing in the second quarter as well.

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For the entire 2012 year, the Madison price per finished square foot was down by only a dollar, or less than 1%.

The numbers show a movement toward price stabilization in 2012, and we fully expect Madison home values to rise in 2013. With increased demand, and less supply, the market has turned in a favorable

Buying a home in Madison? With low rates and lower prices, many other buyers have decided to jump into the market, too. Home and condo sales are way up; and inventory is at its lowest level in several years.The good news for buyers is prices are beginning to rebound in many Madison area neighborhoods. The challenge for buyers is many homes are being snatched up very quickly, even within days of going on the market.

The real estate dynamic has changed in Dane County. Gone are the days of touring over 30 different homes over a three week stretch, and then returning to your favorite to submit your offer. In today's market, your favorite home likely won't last that long.

This year's home seekers are learning they need a solid plan in place in order to

The Bentley Green Condominiums on the far west side of Madison offer an abundance of space, tranquility, and modern conveniences. Our featured end-unit at 9052 Paddington Parkway offers an incredible value as well. This 3 bedroom, 3.5 unit with over 3,000 finished square feet has it all. A modern, open layout with a great room that features a dramatic 2 story ceiling. Granite counter tops and high-end stainless steel appliances. Hardwood floors. A large master bedroom suite with a walk-in closet and master bath with tile shower surround. A cozy lower level family room with custom built-ins and gas fireplace. At $315,000 this unit has all the features you expect in a modern, luxury condo - except for the price. This is the best-priced condo in Bentley

Madison, WI condos are very popular for many reasons. As the baby boomers age, more and more are choosing the easier condo lifestyle as an alternative to the high-maintenance single-family home lifestyle. But how does moving into a condo affect your life on a day-to-day basis? Of course, the largest change you'll have to make is living in a smaller space. However, you might be surprised at how large some Madison condos are. There are many available at affordable price ranges with over 2,000 square feet. We've put together a few points of consideration for those moving into a condo from a detached home, and even those just downsizing to a smaller abode. These are potential pros and cons you might not think about when downsizing.

1. The kitchen in your