We recently recommended K&A Greenhouse as a wonderful resource for your gardening needs. Another excellent resource is Tend Native Plants out of Blue Mounds, just a short drive from Madison. 

If you're interested in converting some of your yard to a pollinator friendly habitat, Tend Native Plants is a helpful place to start. Sarah, the owner, clearly has a passion for native plants and wildflowers. She's been a tremendous resource for my family, as we convert more and more of our yard to native wildflowers, sedges, and grasses.

Just like our family, you'll be amazed by how much you learn — and by all of the birds, bees and butterflies that flock to your yard — as your native plants take root. 

(Bee Balm is easy to grow and a favorite for bees

When the closing paperwork is signed and we hand you the keys, it's not "goodbye" — in fact, we'd love for you to call anytime.

Call us if you need a repair completed and don't know where to start. Call us when you need a second opinion on a home improvement project's return on investment. Call us after the big storm if you're unsure if there's damage to your property. Call us when you can't remember how to reprogram the garage door opener. And call us when you or a loved one is making a move.

We want to be your one-stop shop for real estate questions — if we don't know the answer, we'll find someone who does for you.

What questions are on your mind?

Dane County home prices moved higher in June, as new listings, accepted offers, and home sales all increased. Here's our mid-year review of the Madison area single family home market. Note: All of our data is sourced directly from the South Central Wisconsin MLS. 

Dane County home prices

June Madison area home prices

• The price per square foot increased from $258 in June of 2025 to $261 in June of 2026, up 1 percent. 
• The median price increased from $501,250 to $537,300, up 7 percent. 
• The average price increased from $587,341 to $613,752, up 4 percent. 

Year-to-date prices through the month of June

• The Dane County price per square foot increased from $249 through June of 2025 to $257 through June of 2026, up 3 percent.

If you scroll through most real estate marketing right now, you'll see many of the same things on repeat: another "Accepted Offer!" graphic, another social media story set to music, another automated caption that could've been written for any agent in any market. It works, on the surface — it's getting the agent's name and face out there. But if everyone's doing the same thing, no one's really standing out.

We believe what actually builds a sustainable business looks a little different, and a little slower. It means putting your client's experience ahead of your social media presence, getting crystal clear on who you love working with, and creating content that's yours — not outsourced or automated. Here are four unconventional habits worth building

We can't control our unpredictable Wisconsin weather, which is one of the reasons why we love partnering with Step Inside Media for your listing photos. Even on cloudy days, the Step Inside team consistently delivers beautiful and realistic blue-sky photos, like the photo below. 

This level of consistency and predictability allows you, the seller, to keep your timeline on track when you have so much riding on your sale. Your marketing materials, your go-live date, your showings, and your open house all hinge on having beautiful photos first. 

(photo courtesy of Step Inside Media)

At the end of the day, it's one less thing to worry about in a process that already has plenty of moving parts. If you're thinking about selling, we'd love to help

Madison area single family home listings increased last month; condo listings decreased. Here's our quick overview of Dane County listing activity for the month of June, 2026. Note: all of our numbers come directly from the South Central Wisconsin MLS. 

Dane County single family homes 

A total of 655 Dane County single family homes were listed for sale in June, up 8 percent from the 609 homes listed for sale in June of 2025. Year-to-date, single family home listings are up by 3 percent from the year before. The 655 homes listed for sale last month were the highest for any month of June in the last four years. 

Dane County condos

Condo listings decreased for the first time this year. A total of 172 Madison area condos were listed for sale

The Fourth of July holiday is upon us, which means we're transitioning into a more mellow summer market. Here's our quick preview of what buyers and sellers can expect from the Madison area real estate market this July. 

 (Marshall Boats in Middleton) 

Expectations for buyers this July

New listings will enter the market at a more moderate pace, but buyers will benefit from a noticeable decrease in competition. More properties will undergo price reductions and sit on the market longer -- making this an excellent time for buyers to find the right home before the start of the new school year. 

Expectations for sellers

Sellers should be mindful that the peak spring market has passed, which means buyer showings, accepted offers, and

Dane County home supply is rising right now, as it does every summer, making this a good time for buyers in search of a home before the school year begins. Here's a quick overview of local neighborhoods with some of the best availability in the area. 

(Buyers have options for higher-end homes; listing photo courtesy of Step Inside Media)

Madison East 

• Grandview Commons 
• Sherman Village 
• Village at Autumn Lake 

Madison West

• Acacia Ridge 
• Blackhawk 
• Eagle Trace 
• Fox Knoll 
• Hawks Landing 
• Midpoint Meadows 
• Nakoma 

Cottage Grove 

• Quarry Ridge 
• Shady Grove 
• Westlawn 

Cross Plains

• Creek Crossing 
• Scenic Valley 

Fitchburg 

• Harlan Hills 
• Highfield Reserve 

We admit it: getting preapproved isn’t the most exhilarating process. No one is excited to dig up their 2024 tax return. But this step is vitally important to having a smooth, informed, and more enjoyable home-buying experience. Even if you anticipate the preapproval process to be hiccup-free, here are a few reasons why it pays to get preapproved early, before you start looking at homes:

• You can compare rates, services, and personality fits across different lenders. It’s important to trust the lender you are working with, since they will be guiding you through (possibly) your biggest financial investment.

• Many lenders offer educational sessions as a “first step,” which you may miss if the process is rushed or

Dane County condo supply is improving, with a number of local condo associations offering multiple units to choose from right now. We've highlighted a few of these developments for you below. 

(Fourth Ward Lofts in Downtown Madison; photo courtesy of Step Inside Media) 

Downtown Madison

• 4th Ward Lofts 
• Bedford Court 
• Capitol West 
• Metropolitan Place 
• Nolen Shore 

Madison East 

• Cherokee Condos 
• Holborn Village 
• Stonebridge Condos 
• Town Center 

Madison West

• Bentley Green
• Greystone Condos 
• Marbella Condos
• Sequoya Commons 
• Stratton Glen Condos 
• Tamarack Trails 
• The Vue 
• Weston Place 

Cottage Grove

• Cottage Grove Commons 

Deerfield 

• Drumlin Woods