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

As many of you know, we offer Debbie Lea's staging services free of charge when you hire us to sell your home. Over the years we've developed a fantastic partnership with Debbie and a strong appreciation for all that she does for you and our team. In this season of gratitude, we'd like to share with you a few of the reasons why we're grateful for our partnership with Debbie.

Why we love working with Debbie Lea

#1: Debbie is kind and thoughtful with her approach.

If you're like most homeowners, you will feel a little anxious and overwhelmed when you think about preparing your home for sale, and Debbie gets this. Debbie will help you envision your home's potential and give you a sense of confidence as she transforms your property into a

Technology makes it so easy to connect with friends and family. But there’s something really special about receiving a handwritten note. When we receive a personal note, we feel supported, appreciated, and cared for. The words mean more to us when someone takes time to put pen to paper and share their good wishes with us.  

Try a 30-day personal note challenge.

If receiving a handwritten note is something you really appreciate, then why not get in the habit of sending personal notes yourself? For the next month, try this daily challenge: Send one personal note each day to a friend or a loved one. Be genuine and generous with your words. Then take time to notice how this habit impacts you and your relationships. If you immerse yourself in this

Dane County condo sellers continue to enjoy a very favorable fall market as we approach the holiday season. Here's our latest condo market update covering prices, sales, inventory, days on market, and more. 

Dane County condo prices

The average price per square foot increased by 9% in October and by 12% through the first ten months of the year. The median price was up 7% for the month, and the average was up by 4%. 

Dane County condo sales

Although condo sales decreased from last October's unusually strong market, sales were still very strong -- registering the 3rd highest total on record for the month. 

Accepted offers

Contract signings decreased by 19% from last October, but still came in at the second highest total on record

October was yet another record-setting month for the Dane County single family home market. Here's our latest update covering all of the most important trends. 

Dane County home prices

Madison area home sellers continue to lock in record-high prices this fall. The average price per square foot rose by 14% from last October and by 12% over the first 10 months of the year. The median price was up by 6% in October, and the average price up by 4%.  

Dane County home sales

Madison area home sales decreased 13% from last October's record-setting pace. Even so, sales were very strong from an historical perspective, registering the second highest total on record for the month. 

Accepted offers

Contract signings were also very strong in

It's been another very rewarding year for the agents on our team, all of whom will earn well over six figures in profit in 2021. Five of the 6 realtors who have been with us all year will make well over $150,000, while 3 of 6 will make well over $200,000. The question is, how do they do it?

How to earn $150,000+ on our team

Earning a great living in real estate really boils down to 3 simple steps which have stood the test of time for every agent on our team:

• Serve your clients, community and team members generously. 
• Work hard. 
• And be a professional. 

When you focus on serving, putting in the work, and being a professional, your income will grow predictably over time. Just like it has for every agent on our team. Here's a