According to a recent article by the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission, Dane County added almost 10,000 residents in 2023, which once again made our county the fastest growing region in the state. 

We expect our strong local economy, our region's national reputation, and climate migration to fuel much more population growth in the years ahead. The demand for housing will remain strong, and we'll need to continue to build more homes, condos, and apartments to accommodate the influx of new residents. 

Foreclosure and short sale listings are uncommon occurrences in the Madison area, and continue to trend near historically low levels. As the chart below shows, a total of 214 Dane County foreclosures were filed through the first 10 months of 2024, compared to 1,475 through the first 10 months of 2010.

In other words, foreclosure filings this year are down 85% from the peak. 

We expect more of the same in 2025, which is just one more reason why we're predicting a competitive market with low inventory in the year ahead. 

While we can’t deny that the spring and summer markets are historically the busiest, there are unexpected benefits to selling your home in the winter if it makes sense for your situation.

1. Serious buyers: Quite literally, fairweather buyers aren’t looking for a home in the winter. Your winter listing will more likely attract more serious buyers who are committed to moving.

2. Chance to highlight ‘cozy’ features: Showcase a lovely fireplace, fun theater room, or sunroom that brings in light year-round. 

3. Less competition: Winter may bring fewer buyers, but fewer homes are for sale too. This means your listing will have less competition. 

4. (A different type of) beautiful photos: A snow-covered setting can be beautiful

New homes are popping up all over the Madison area, but the numbers show the pace of new construction is down by about 50% from the peak home-building years in the early 2000's. As the chart below shows, a total of 1,095 Dane County housing starts were initiated through the first 10 months of 2024, compared to 2,147 through the first 10 months of 2004.

At the same time, Dane County's population continues to grow faster than any other county in the state. This is one of many reasons why we expect 2025 to be another highly competitive market in the Madison area. We'll have more mini-market updates and more insight to share in the days ahead. Stay tuned...

A special thanks to Dan Lallensack from MTD Marketing Services of Wisconsin for sharing his

As we approach another holiday season we want you to know how much we appreciate you and your continued support of our team. Because of you, we're able to do the work we love, helping our clients reach their goals through changing markets and often challenging circumstances. 

Chances are you have friends and family who will need some real estate advice in the year ahead. We would be honored if you would recommend our team as a helpful resource. Of course we'll be happy to meet with your friends and family in person, learn more about their goals, and share our honest advice. 

Thank you again for all you do to support our business. We wish you plenty of peace, good health, and happiness this holiday season and in the new year. 

Your friends at Mad

Recently a friend asked us about our fee for a home-selling consultation. And he was surprised to learn that our consultation is free of charge. 

Our complimentary consultation includes all of the following: 

• An overview of the market and a professional evaluation of your home's current market value. 
• Our recommendations for repairs and updates that will help you sell your home for a better price. 
• Connections to reputable and reasonably-priced contractors who will help you carry out your projects. 
• Initial preparations for your marketing, including professional photos of your home's exterior -- and even your neighborhood -- to be used in your listing. 

When it comes to selling your home, there is no substitute for preparation,

Written by Amber Kolner, Communications and Stewardship Manager of Madison Area Community Land Trust

Madison Area Community Land Trust (MACLT) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing affordable and sustainable homeownership opportunities for low-income families in Dane County. MACLT is Dane County's only non-profit focused on permanently affordable homeownership, and part of a movement of over 300 community land trusts across North America. 

Through their innovative land trust model, MACLT helps individuals and families purchase homes at below-market rates, while preserving long-term affordability of the homes in the land trust. MACLT’s resale formula ensures that these homes remain affordable for future generations, which helps to

Here's our update on the Dane County condominium market, covering the month of October, 2024. All numbers are sourced from the South Central Wisconsin MLS.  

October 2024 condo prices

Madison area condo prices were relatively flat compared to the year before:

• The price per square foot was even at $223. 
• The median price grew from $295,000 to $301,500, an increase of 2 percent. 
• The average price rose from $344,161 to $358,852, an increase of 4 percent. 

We'll be monitoring condo prices closely in the months ahead. 

New condo listings

October was an encouraging month for our local condo market. A total of 150 Dane County condos were listed for sale last month, which was the highest for any month of October in the last 5

Here's our update on the Dane County single family home market, covering the month of October, 2024. All numbers are sourced from the South Central Wisconsin MLS.  

October 2024 home prices

Madison area home prices continued to rise by all measures:

• The price per square foot rose from $228 in October of 2023 to $231 in October of 2024, an increase of 1 percent. 
• The median price grew from $420,000 to $455,000, an increase of 8 percent. 
• The average price rose from $486,028 to $509,127, an increase of 5 percent. 

We'll be monitoring prices closely in the months ahead. 

New MLS listings

MLS listings were up significantly from each of the last two Octobers. A total of 470 Dane County homes were listed for sale last

Recently we met with some friends who asked us to pay them a visit at their home. We learned about their real estate goals, we toured their home, and we discussed the repairs and updates they should address before selling. 

On the topic of repairs, we learned that our friends were considering replacing their elevated wood deck with a new $30,000 composite deck. Their current deck is in good shape, though. All it really needs is a fresh coat of stain before it goes on the market. 

We spent a lot more time talking about their 18 year old roof. Roofs and insurance are hot topics right now, as changes in the insurance industry are making many older roofs uninsurable. Our friends weren't aware of these changes, but now they know they need to change their