We welcomed Wendy Broadhead from Benjamin Moore to a recent team meeting. Wendy is an expert color consultant who helps our clients find interior and exterior paint colors that make their home "sing" (as Wendy puts it). She updated us on 2024 trends and insights: creamier, 'boho' neutrals are in; nothing beats having wallpaper professionally hung; and green is nature's neutral. Thank you for your time, Wendy. We had fun learning from you! 

Do you have a color decision that Wendy may be able to help with? We'd love to connect you. 

(photo by Step Inside Media with staging by Debbie Lea and Alan Feder) 

Unexpected water issues can be stressful for homeowners and can potentially lead to a canceled sale. This was the problem our client faced, when she realized she had a water issue shortly after she accepted an offer for her home. 

Our client was concerned, and her buyers were concerned, too. The fix wouldn't be an easy one. It required the work of a skilled contractor, and most of the good contractors already had full schedules. 

So Mad City Dream Homes hit the phones and reached out to every reputable contractor we could think of. We called 15 contractors in all. In the end, we found a contractor who had the expertise to tackle the project, and who could complete the work on a timeline and a budget that were acceptable to both parties. 

The

We’ve been busy helping our clients troubleshoot repairs in 2024, especially water issues due to this year's heavy rains. But not every repair needs to be addressed prior to sale. 

At Mad City Dream Homes, we’re here to help you determine which repairs are absolutely necessary to address, and which ones are not. We're also here to connect you with reputable contractors who will do a great job for you and for a reasonable price.

Just reach out to your Mad City Dream Homes realtor to get started. It would be our pleasure to serve you. 

Our clients are enjoying a tremendous amount of success this year, even in this low inventory market. Through the first six months of 2024 we've helped our clients through 76 closings and pending sales. 

Do you know someone who could use our help buying or selling in the coming year? We're always available for a helpful consultation, and never with any sales pressure or spin. Contact your Mad City Dream Homes realtor to make an introduction. 

We appreciate your continued trust in our team. 

Repairing, cleaning, and (when needed) replacing your carpet will improve your home's aesthetic appeal and maintain its market value. Here are a few carpet care contractors who have capably served our clients over the years. 

• Terry Buechner, for re-stretching rolled-up and "wavy" carpet. Call Terry at 608-212-8705. 
• Stephen Meyer at Phenomenal Carpet Care for all of your carpet cleaning needs. Call Stephen at 608-520-3085.   
• CTW Flooring (608-222-5071), Floors for Less (608-442-1200), and Coyle Flooring (608-509-9437) for new carpet selection and installation. 

As always, we are here to help you make the right connections for any type of project around your home. Call your Mad City Dream Homes realtor whenever you need a little help.  

We've been sharing how Dane County home and condo inventory is quietly rising and how buyers who stay the course will find more opportunities to purchase in the months ahead. However, in the big picture, inventory remains low. Here's a quick look at Dane County home and condo supply as of June 27th, 2024. 

Single family homes 

As of June 27th, a total of 580 Dane County homes (or 1.5 months of supply) are available for sale without an accepted offer. Months of supply are low in all price ranges, especially in the sub $400,000 price categories. 

Condos

As of June 27th, 181 condos (or 1.6 months of supply) are available for sale without an accepted offer. Some newer condo developments are improving options for buyers, but inventory remains

It's getting to the point where we need to question nearly everything we come across online. Adding to the problem is the explosion of AI generated content. Some are predicting that as much as 90% of all online content will be produced by non-humans by the year 2026. As Seth Godin puts it, we're entering a new era of SPAM. 

Our response to the explosion of mass-produced content is to simply stay the course. We'll continue to publish our own articles and market updates, and share our tips and recommendations that come from our own experiences out in the field. 

We're not writers by trade, and our content won't be winning any awards, but we promise you it will always be authentic...

While many of us enjoy backyard gardening, not everyone has access to land to grow their own gardens and there are barriers to successful community-based gardening efforts. Rooted, a local nonprofit based in Madison, is helping to create “healthy, equitable, and sustainable neighborhoods'' that embrace the positive impact of sharing fresh, quality food through community gardening. Rooted’s Community Gardens Network is just one of the organization’s programming efforts focused on food, land, and learning.

The Community Gardens Network is a partnership between Rooted, UW Madison Extension Dane County, and the City of Madison that connects people with the land, education, and resources to create and sustain community gardens. There are 72 gardens in the

Be careful what you wish for. Your real estate dreams just might come true. Here are a few happy endings from the first half of 2024 that we'd like to share with you. 

Dreams coming true in 2024

Congratulations to Chris & Maddie, who are purchasing their first home as a newly married couple. Chris and Maddie are excited to be be building equity in their new home and to have plenty of space for their pup! 

To Harsh and Madison, who are elated to be starting their family in their new home, and to be living near loved ones. 

To Kasey and Matthew, who recently drove by a home in the country and fell in love with it from the road. Two days later this home hit the market! Kasey and Matthew will be moving into their dream home later this summer. 

We love helping each seller create a presentation that makes them feel proud of their listing, no matter the price point. With staging, cosmetic updates, photography, video, and professional marketing of the home and neighborhood -- we have so many wonderful opportunities to create a showcase listing. 

(photo by Step Inside Media with staging by Debbie Lea and Alan Feder)

Have you been wondering about the possibilities for your home? Contact us for a helpful consultation. We're here to help you plan for your future and prepare for an amazing return on your investment.