Martin Menocal is more than a photographer; he's an artist. Martin's attention to detail and dedication to his craft are truly remarkable, which is why Martin is one of our preferred photographers. Here are just a few examples of Martin's work from some of our recent real estate listings. 

Interior photos by Martin Menocal

Exterior and outside photos

Photos are the most important part of every listing

A listing with beautiful photos receives more looks and clicks online, which leads to more requests for showings, more buyer competition, and a higher price on the sale of the home. Remember, we don't have a set budget for our listings. This philosophy allows us to work with the best

The spring real estate market will be heating up soon. Are you thinking of making 2020 the year you buy or sell a home? There are things you can do now that will help you stay competitive in what’s expected to be another busy real estate market this spring. Read on for tips from our team for ways you can prepare, and then contact us for a consultation. We can help you achieve your buying or selling goals.

Looking to sell?

1. If you’re thinking about selling your home, be proactive. You’ll set yourself up for a better home-selling experience if you begin planning and preparing right now. Many people feel stressed when they have to rush through the process, and planning ahead can make the whole experience much easier. Reach out to schedule a

What are the keys to a successful negotiation? Here are our tried and true philosophies for negotiating a great price and great terms on the sale of your home. 

Our six negotiation tips for sellers

1) Create a beautiful real estate listing. 

One of our first goals early on in the listing process is to create a solid partnership between you, our stager, our photographers, and our creative team. Working together, we create a beautiful real estate listing with eye-popping photos and plenty of marketing materials which highlight the benefits of your home. Beautiful listings receive more online interest, more showings, and more offers - all of which give you more leverage when it's time to negotiate. 

2) Ensure your listing receives full

What started as a visit to Dane County’s newest gem, Morton Forest near Mazomanie, turned into a “bucket list” of parks for one Madison couple. 

(Michael and Jeanne Mraz stopped at Ferry Bluff State Natural Area after their Dane County Parks adventure, and they continue to explore the beautiful parts of our county and state.)

Jeanne and Michael Mraz have always enjoyed outdoor activities, especially mountain biking at CamRock County Park in Cambridge, hiking at Indian Lake County Park near Cross Plains, and cross-country skiing.

But the lack of snow in recent years meant they had to get creative finding fun, healthy things to do together in the winter. 

So when they saw a newspaper article about Morton Forest, they decided to explore its

November was another solid month for the Dane County real estate market, with single family home prices and accepted offers reaching a new high. Here's our short review of the latest real estate trends impacting buyers and sellers in the Madison area. 

Accepted offers

A total of 377 single family home listings received accepted offers in November, which was a new high for the month. A high number of accepted offers in November means home sales will be solid in December and January. 

Ninety-eight condos received accepted offers in November, which was the 6th highest total over the last 20 years. 

Sold listings

In November, 473 single family home listings sold to new owners. This was the second-highest total on record for the

The month of December has arrived, which means it's time for our annual real estate predictions. Below we've identified 8 key market trends for the coming year. For a look back at our 2019 predictions, check out this article which we published at the end of last year.

Our 2020 Madison real estate predictions

#1: Mortgage rates will remain well below 5 percent.

We're not economists and we're not experts in the mortgage market, but we do know 2020 is an election year. Because of this we expect mortgage rates will remain near historically low levels throughout all of 2020. 

#2: Inventory will remain low.

Dane County's growing population needs housing, but the pipeline of new listings and new construction homes isn't sufficient to meet the

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter made headlines for rallying volunteers and building Habitat for Humanity homes into his nineties and even after a recent fall. 

It’s a reminder that regardless of age or ability, there are several ways you can contribute to causes that are close to your heart -- just like Habitat is for several members of the Mad City Dream Homes team. 

Take Maureen Moran, a Realtor who joined our team last summer, for example.

Maureen moved from New York to Middleton last July, and by the following month she was already volunteering with the Habitat ReStore, which sells used and new donations of furniture, doors, wood, cabinets, electrical, appliances, building supplies, lights, and fans. According to Habitat for Humanity,

Most of the real estate reports put out by the media focus on active listings (inventory) and sold listings (number of sales, median price, and days on market). Expired listings are another key part of the market that often get overlooked. You might be asking, so what is an expired listing, anyway? An expired listing represents a listing contract between a seller and real estate brokerage which does not result in a successful closing. In other words, a listing that runs its course and "expires" without selling. 

More about expired listings 

In a buyer's market, a large number of listings expire because there are more sellers than buyers. In a seller's market, a low number of listings expire, because there are more buyers than sellers. The 2

Over the years we've assisted hundreds of homeowners with their sale, and along the way we've observed a few key reasons why some sellers succeed (and others do not). Below we cover 4 key traits which our most successful sellers tend to exhibit. 

Four traits of successful sellers

1) They have a positive mindset about their sale

Our most successful sellers have positive expectations for their sale. Working side-by-side with our stager and our real estate team, they commit to doing all of the little things that will lead to multiple offers, a high price, and a quick closing. They know that by taking all of the right steps upfront they are positioning themselves for a successful sale and a smooth closing. 

2) They are proactive with their

Most of us don't associate the month of December with buying a home, but the holiday season is actually one of the best times to be shopping for real estate. That's because there's much less competition from other buyers during the month of December, and some sellers become very motivated during the holiday season. Plus, new listings do enter the market each week, even when it's cold outside and most people are focused on the holidays. Last, there's the added bonus of lower moving costs. Many moving companies offer better pricing when business slows each winter. 

Have you been thinking about buying a home in 2020? 

Give us a call and tell us more about your dream home. We'll send you the listings that match your criteria, and if you'd like,