We've all seen stories in the media and social media about how hot the real estate market is in Madison. But when is the market the hottest, and when are bidding wars most common? Here's a quick look at the numbers which offer some good insight into our local market. 

Bidding wars are most common in March, April, May and June. 

Take a look at these numbers from 2019, which show the percent of listings that had competing offers for each month of the year. These numbers are consistent with our own experience: The spring months are the busiest months of the year, and these are the months when multiple offers and bidding wars are most common.

Bidding wars are also very common for properties priced under $300,000. 

Competing offers are also

The mission of Waunakee Neighborhood Connection is to provide programs and resources that engage neighbors to support and empower one another. It is best known for its “free store,” which graciously accepts certain clothing items, accessories, shoes, games, books, media, and other household goods and cleaning supplies. 

COVID-19 Updates 

• (3/25/2020): Waunakee Neighborhood Connection is working with Waunakee EMS to coordinate a supply drive for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). If you or your company have any masks, face shields, paper gowns, or cloth gowns that could be donated for use by our healthcare providers and first responders, email at wncteam@waunakeenc.com or leave a message at (608) 849-5740. Please share your name, address, phone

A staged home sells much faster than a vacant home, because it helps buyers imagine their belongings and lifestyle there. Sometimes, staging a home is not possible when the home has been vacant for some time. That was the case with a recent condo listing. The sellers were not living in the area, and their daughter had been living in the condo. After she moved out, they were ready to put the condo on the market.

Maureen Moran met with the sellers to see the unit. The unit was nicely maintained, but had the risk of presenting as bland or too small because it was empty. Based on the price point, it wasn’t financially feasible to furnish the unit before putting it on the market. Maureen suggested virtually staging the condo. Our team took photos of each of

Imagine a new property has just hit the market and you know as soon as you view it online it's the perfect house for you. It has the dream kitchen you've been waiting for, a beautiful and private yard, and the perfect location in your ideal neighborhood. The only problem is you know there are dozens of other buyers out there who are fawning over this house just like you. So how do you get your offer accepted when there are so many other buyers in love with the same property? Read on for our 5 tips that will help you successfully buy your dream home in 2020. 

5 tips that will help you buy your dream home in 2020

1) Be the first to visit the property and the first to write an offer. 

Sometimes getting your offer accepted is all about being the

If you're buying in 2020, your offer to purchase will likely be up against offers from other motivated buyers. Below are 22 ways you can make your offer stand out from the competition and be the one that gets accepted. Of course the strategies you use will depend a lot on the type and condition of the property, your level of motivation, and how much competition you have from other parties. 

22 Ways to Write a Winning Offer

#1: Submit your mortgage pre-approval from a reputable, local lender. A pre-approval from an out-of-town or big box lender can create doubt in the mind of a seller. For example, we've seen sellers disregard offers from buyers who are pre-approved by an internet lender. Give your seller every reason to believe your pre-approval is

It's only Valentines Day but the market is already heating up, especially for some of the more affordably-priced properties in the Dane County area. For example, in the last week, one of our clients received 3 competing offers on their new listing, while another client received an amazing 13! Here's a quick look at the price points that are receiving the most interest from buyers in early 2020. 

The hottest homes in the Madison area

Right now the hottest homes in the Madison area are those priced under $300,000. As you can see from the data below, well over 50% of these more affordably-priced listings are under contract with an accepted offer. If you think of this another way, it's like browsing for properties on a website like Zillow and

January was another solid month for the Madison area condo market. Here's our latest update based on data sourced from the South Central Wisconsin MLS.  

Dane County condo prices

The average price per square foot in January was the second-highest on record. With low interest rates, low inventory, and strong buyer demand - we fully expect Madison area condo prices to reach new highs in 2020. 

Dane County condo sales

Condo sales (or closings) dipped in January, but were still strong compared to most other years dating back to the year 2000. We expect low inventory levels to restrain condo sales throughout all of 2020. For more information, check out our inventory summary later in this post. 

Accepted offers

Despite low supply, the

January was another strong month for the Dane County single family home market. Here's our latest update from the South Central Wisconsin MLS:

Dane County single family home sales

January home sales reached the second highest total on record and were up 14% from the sales levels in January of 2019. 

Dane County home prices

The price per square foot reached a record high in January, setting the stage for more strong price growth in 2020. Prices were up 5% year-over-year in January. 

Dane County accepted offers

Accepted offers were down from each of the last 2 years, but were still strong compared to most other years dating back to the year 2000. 

New MLS listings

New listings continue to enter the market at a slow pace.

Hundreds of homes are sold each month in Dane County, but if your goal is to sell when the market is hottest, then you should list your home during the 4-month window that spans from March to June. Take a quick look at the market data below. Year in and year out, the months of March, April, May and June have more buyers writing offers than any other month of the year. 

If you're planning to sell in 2020...

Then right now is the time to schedule a consultation with your favorite Mad City Dream Homes agent. Have a quick conversation about timing, pricing, staging, and marketing -  as well as the low-cost improvements that will add real value to your home. Our team is well-equipped to help you make the most of your investment in this year's

COVID-19 Updates

While the Lussier Community Education Center’s normal operations are suspended until at least May 1, 2020, its mission is still to be a place for people from different walks of life to come together, share gifts, and build community. That typically includes enrichment activities for all ages, games, art, tutoring, hot meals, a food pantry, farmers market, job clinic, radio shows, activism opportunities, and more. During these times, LCEC is practicing social distancing and social solidarity by continuing its food pantry program in a modified way. 

• (3/27/2020): LCEC received a COVID-19 relief grant to make sure food keeps moving to families in these challenging times. The Center is already using the grant to replace single-use