If you're planning to sell your home in 2022, one of the best things you can do prior to putting your home up for sale is complete the painting projects that will make your home shine when it hits the market. Based on our experience, painting a home is an inexpensive investment compared to most other projects, and it always benefits the sale.

Of course, who you hire for your painting work can make all the difference. If you're in need of a reputable painting company, we recommend giving Five Star Painting a call. We've been receiving a lot of great feedback from our clients, our team members, and our stager about their professional and reliable staff. And everyone reports that the quality of their work and communication have been excellent.

November was another great month for Madison area condo sellers, who continued to benefit from record-high prices. Here's our latest Dane County condo report covering all of the latest price, sales, accepted offer, inventory, and days on market trends.

Dane County condo prices

The price per square foot increased by 12% in November and by 12% through the first eleven months of the year. The median price was up 7% for the month, and the average was up by 10%. Where do we see prices heading in 2022? Check out our annual predictions, which we recently published to our blog.

Dane County condo sales

Madison area condo sales were down compared to each of the last two years, but were still high from an historical context, registering the 6th

Have you been thinking of donating your time, talent or money to an initiative that's near and dear to your heart? There are so many committed organizations that are tackling important issues in the Madison area, and they need our support. Below we've highlighted just a few of the organizations that our team members are actively supporting right now. Perhaps one of these local community groups, or one with a similar mission, will inspire you to get involved in 2022? 

12 local organizations receiving our support

Defending Black Girlhood

• https://lilada.org/defending-black-girlhood-podcast/ 

Home Buyers Round Table

• http://www.homebuyersroundtable.org/ 

Foundation for Dane County Parks

November was another very active month for the Dane County single family home market. Here's our update on all of the current single family home trends in the Madison area.

Dane County home prices

The average price per square foot set a new record for the month of November and rose by 6% year-over-year. Year-to-date through the first 11 months of the year, the average price per square foot was up 9%. The median price was up by 6% in November, and the average was up by 2%. Could these numbers be foreshadowing a moderation in price growth in the year ahead? Check our our 2022 Madison real estate predictions for our thoughts on this topic.

Dane County home sales

Madison area home sales decreased 12% from November of 2020, but were still very

As building, lumber, and construction costs rise -- which leads to rising replacement costs to your home -- it’s important to make sure your property is fully covered.

What would it take to rebuild your home if something happened? The average inflation rate in Wisconsin this past year was about 10% and material costs were up about 14% in 2021 from early 2020, and “that’s where the rebuild costs get out of whack really fast,” said Steve Aune, an agent with American Family Insurance in Madison.  

People typically review their policy and coverage every few years to make sure their income and assets are protected. This can prevent them from being underinsured. Aune said some reasons to revisit it include if you: 

• Make material changes to

As we turn the page on 2021 and get ready for 2022, many of us are working on our goals for the new year. And for most of us, our goals usually fall into one of a few different categories. For example:

• family and relationships
• health and well being
• financial health
• and career-related goals

Another goal area that many of us are exploring right now is the area of community service. But with so many community service paths to consider, it can be hard to know where to begin. 

If you're feeling a little unsure about how to begin yourself, we have an exercise for you that will help you get started with your service journey. With this simple exercise you'll be able to choose your path by reflecting on 3 simple questions. 

Three

We'd like to offer a quick shout out to Shelley Lazzareschi and Christine McCorvie for their recent examples of strong buyer advocacy in a seller's market.

First, our kudos to Shelley, who recently helped her client Travis achieve an accepted offer on a home that never hit the open market. Because of Shelley's hustle and legwork, Travis was able to submit his offer without any bidding wars and without any competition. A stress-free offer is such a nice way to buy in this year's ultra-competitive market. 

And congrats to Christine, who just helped her clients Sarah and Jason negotiate $20,000 worth of concessions after a few surprises popped up during their home inspection. By scheduling contractors, obtaining estimates, and effectively

The month of December is upon us, which means it's time for our annual real estate predictions. Below we've identified 8 key real estate trends for the coming year. For a look back at last year's predictions, check out this article from our blog. 

Our 2022 Madison real estate predictions

 #1: Demand will be strong in 2022 and for the long-term. 

Dane County is already the fastest-growing region in the state, and we expect this trend to continue for the foreseeable future. Retirees, who have the freedom to live anywhere, will choose Madison for its variety of amenities and access to good healthcare. Employees, who have the flexibility to work remotely, will relocate to Madison for the same reasons. Out-of-state investors will continue to

What started as a Kiwanis Club service project in the 1950s to support young people has grown into the largest neighborhood center for all ages in Madison. The Goodman Community Center has been serving the community -- predominantly those living on the northeast side of the city -- for the last 70 years. Through the connected values of integrity, respect, caring, equity, and trust, Goodman’s mission is to strengthen lives and secure futures. 

“The way I think about that is helping folks in the here and now and setting folks up for long-term success as well,” said Jon Lica, Director of Corporate & Community Relations. Programs range from urgent services such as the food pantry to those that “help young folks build themselves into the adults they

We're growing, and we're ready to hire the next person to join our team! Here are ten great reasons why you should consider a career with Mad City Dream Homes.

10 reasons why you should join Mad City Dream Homes

#1: Growth

You have a passion for real estate, you love serving others, and you want to surround yourself with people who are wired in the same way. You want to work in an environment where you are encouraged to grow personally and professionally throughout your whole career -- through coaching, training, and professional development. 

#2: Balance

You want to make a great living, AND you want to enjoy your life away from work. At Mad City Dream Homes, we believe you should be able to take weekends off and have your vacations,