The mission of Czar’s Promise, a volunteer-run nonprofit, is to provide funding for companion animal cancer research at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and pediatric cancer research at American Family Children’s Hospital, as well as to provide emotional, educational, and financial support for families whose companion animals have been diagnosed with cancer.

COVID-19 Updates

• (3/16/2020): Czar’s Promise made the decision to reschedule its spring Inspiring Hope Dog Walk fundraising event to the fall, so please consider marking your calendars for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, October 3, 2020, at Winnequah Park, Monona. In the meantime, donations can be made here.
• (3/10/2020): Czar’s Promise is in need of items used for Woof Packs, customized

Imagine you and your buyer agent have been looking for the right home for the past few months, and now you know you've found the right one. You're excited by the possibilities of owning your next home, but you realize you need guidance on how to structure and negotiate your offer to purchase. Here are five great questions to consider before you and your agent draft your offer. 

5 questions to ask before writing your offer 

1) What is important to the seller?

Having your buyer agent ask the listing agent this simple, open-ended question can reveal so much about the seller's priorities. And usually, you will learn there are factors very important to the seller that have nothing to do with price. For example, the seller may prefer a specific

As we near the season of Thanksgiving we'd like to express our gratitude for a few people who are amazing at what they do. If you've been a client of our team, you no doubt have worked with a few of these folks as part of your purchase or you sale. All of these people have played a huge role in our clients enjoying a successful year of buying and selling in 2019. 

Our marketing team

Thank you to our marketing team - Joe Molloy, Samantha Haas, and Tracy Kapela - who continually experiment with new and creative projects that benefit our clients and our team. You are a huge reason why our clients love their listings and why we love our jobs. Thank you also to Laura Kocum and Sara Ifert for the excellent writing projects you contribute to our team.

Here's our latest summary of the Dane County real estate market. For more information on the market in your particular neighborhood or condo association, please reach out to your favorite Mad City Dream Homes agent. 

Accepted offers 

Mortgage rates dropped in August and Madison area home buyers responded. September of 2019 was the third most active month of September on record. A total of 438 Dane County single family home listings received accepted offers, which was up 9% year-over-year.  

Condo accepted offers decreased, but still came in at the 6th highest level on record for the month of September. Inventory is especially tight in the Madison area condo market, and is limiting buyer activity in 2019. We cover condo supply a little later

We've summarized our latest snapshot of the Madison area single family home and condo markets below. For more thoughts on the opportunities available to buyers and sellers this fall, check out this recent blog post. 

August home and condo prices

Dane County home prices are at an all-time high and have risen 2 percent through the month of August. 

Dane County condo prices are also at an all-time high and are 3 percent higher through the month of August. 

August accepted offers

Dane County home buyers were active in the month of August. Accepted offers rose by 3% for the month and were lower by 4% year-to-date. 

Accepted offers in the condo market were lower by 11% in August and by 9% year-to-date. A lack of affordable

The mission of NAMI Dane County is to provide education, support, and advocacy for people affected by mental illness in Dane County with a vision of ensuring a stigma-free community where all people affected by mental illness find the help, hope, and support they need.

COVID-19 Updates

• (4/2/2020): A free 24/7 helpline sponsored by Safe Communities MDC is available for Dane County residents thinking about using alcohol and/or other substances or struggling with substance use issues during the coronavirus epidemic. Call (608) 228-1278
• (4/2/2020): How to protect your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak. Learn more here. 
• (3/23/2020): If you need crisis support, text NAMI to 741741. Find more resources for people affected by mental

As we shared in a recent article there is still time to sell your Madison area home before the snow starts flying. And even if you don't plan to sell until 2020, this fall is the perfect time to start working on your sale. Here are a few things you and your listing agent can work on right now in preparation for your upcoming listing. 

Planning and preparing for your real estate listing

1) Learn your home's current market value

Mad City Dream Homes will complete a market analysis for you and help you understand your home's value on the open market. At the same time we'll share our recommendations for minor cosmetic updates which will help you sell your home quickly and for top dollar. Of course we'll re-visit your market analysis once your

The mission of the Foundation for Dane County Parks is to strengthen the endowment fund, grow and support the volunteer program, and fund projects that ensure our Dane County parks, trails, and open spaces are cared for, not only today but for generations to come. 

COVID-19 Updates

• (4/3/2020): Explore Stewart Lake County Park virtually through a Foundation grant-funded Watershed Explorers Series hosted by the USRWA at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 4th.
• (3/21/2020): Tag @DaneCountyParks or use #danecountyparks to show creative ways for how you are protecting yourselves out in the parks. Here is an example.
• (3/19/2020): Getting outside is good for mental and physical well being, but please practice the following park safety tips from Public Health

The fall season is a real estate market unto itself, with its own unique dynamics and opportunities. Below we share a few aspects of the autumn market that are good for buyers and sellers to know. 

Opportunities for buyers in the fall market

Right now is a great time to be shopping for a home, and here are two big reasons why:

There are fewer buyers to contend with in the fall

Take a look at this chart below, which shows Dane County buyer activity throughout the calendar year. Right now there are roughly 40% fewer offers being accepted compared to the peak months of March, April, May and June. The pace of the market is slower in the fall, and easier on buyers. 

There are fewer multiple offer situations and bidding wars in the fall

Cheese curds aren’t the only byproduct of cows that we have an excess of in the Madison area. There are also phosphorus-rich turds. And unfortunately when it’s raining, some of that fertilizer runs off farm fields and into our groundwater. 

“Over the last few decades, the phosphorus concentrations of the Yahara chain of lakes (Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, Kegonsa) have led to an increase in the frequency and extent of algae blooms, creating green, slimy lakes and beaches,” according to the Dane County Land and Water Resources Department.

But cows are hardly the only ones to blame for the Dairy State’s environmental woes. For that, we can take a look in the mirror and reflect on how we handle our own messes. 

Even though 94% of Wisconsin