Whether you enjoy running, walking, skating, or biking, the Madison area offers countless paths to explore.

Fitchburg is one of 18 communities in Wisconsin that has been named a Bicycle Friendly Community by The League of American Bicyclists since 2012. For a map of the trails in this growing city, click here.

Fitchburg is also home to the area’s first bike roundabout, which can be accessed from the Allied-Dunn’s Marsh Community near Arrowhead Park. Here you’ll have the option to connect to five paved trails depending on which direction you take from the roundabout.

• Badger State Trail (pass required): 40-mile trail from Fitchburg south to Illinois border

• Capital City State Trail (pass required): 17-mile trail from Fitchburg

The Village of Oregon is over 175 years old, but the last few years have been particularly noteworthy for the nearly 10,000 residents in this community just 10 miles south of Madison.

New building projects have been popping up all over -- from single-family homes on the south and west sides to the village’s first hotel in recent history on the east side. And downtown, several Main Street buildings have been refurbished while others have been cleared to make room for a high-demand apartment complex.

But perhaps the most memorable project has been the village’s new welcome center, located in the restored 1899 pump house beneath the “Tin Man” water tower on Janesville Street. Shortly after moving here around 2013 for the “small-town and

One of the unique traits of our real estate team is our true commitment to helping our clients achieve their home-selling goals. Here are a few examples from the last few months which show how our listing agents routinely go above and beyond to serve our clients. 

Home selling success stories

Shelley Lazzareschi: Shelley recently assisted a new client who was undergoing challenging family circumstances and whose listing had expired with another real estate brokerage. When Shelley toured the property she identified several inexpensive cosmetic improvements that would greatly benefit the sale of the home. Our client had already moved out-of-state, so Shelley secured a reliable and affordable contractor for our client and oversaw the completion of

You have made an offer to purchase and are going through the property inspection. The inspector finds an issue with the property, and now you, as the buyer, need to determine the next steps. I asked the Mad City Dream Homes team how they handle these situations, and they shared good advice for buyers to consider.

First: Know what matters.

Not every issue raised is worth pursuing with the seller -- especially in a fast-paced market, with low supply. “In some cases, buyers need to have a plan in place for simple repairs. The quick fixes are rarely worth risking the sale, especially when there is a line of buyers behind you, ready to buy the property,” says Tammy Steiner.

Maureen Moran agreed. “You really need to consider, what is a significant

Mortgage rates have plunged to their lowest levels in over a year. Check out this chart courtesy of Freddie Mac, which shows the average rate for a 15-year fixed rate loan dropped to 3.75%, while the average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage dropped to almost 4% at the end of March. 

Rates are very attractive right now as many buyers are gearing up to purchase a new home during the spring buying season. This is great news for sellers, too. Here are a few timely tips that will help sellers take advantage of lower rates in 2019. 

5 Tips for Sellers in 2019

1) Take advantage of the spring selling season while rates are attractive. Remember, the best months for sellers are typically March, April, May and June. Strong seasonal demand and low

In the current economy, much is being said about rising interest rates. This has home buyers wondering what a mortgage will look like 3 or 6 months down the road. While you may hear conversation about climbing rates, this isn't time to be discouraged. Karen Wedvick, VP and Senior Loan Officer at Johnson Bank, says, "Mortgage rates are at such great levels. It's an excellent time to buy." 

Wedvick understands the fears buyers have about rising rates. She has watched the rates closely, and insists that they are still near historic lows. If you look at rates beginning in the 1970s, and compare them to current years, the evidence is clear. Even so, Wedvick's office has tools available to help bring more certainty to the buying process. Johnson Bank offers

This year is shaping up to be a great year for people who wish to sell their starter home and buy a larger, more expensive property. The reason is the market for starter homes is very hot and very favorable for sellers right now, while the market for higher priced properties is more balanced and a little easier on buyers. 

How the Madison real estate market varies by price range

Take a look at this market data for Madison single family homes. Right now, 60% of all listings priced under $300,000 are under contract with an accepted offer. Above $300,000, only 30% of the listings are under contract. The market clearly favors sellers under the $300,000 price point. Above $300,000, there's less competition for listings, and buyers are having a much

The city of Verona has seen significant growth over the last few decades, but one thing that has been a constant reminder of its “Hometown USA” charm is the downtown grocery store.

Miller and Sons Supermarket has been the hub of the community for over a century, back when the population was less than 500. Now, more than 13,000 people call Verona home.

Miller's is a place where you can catch up with friends and neighbors, enjoy an old-fashioned sweet treat, support a local cause at a brat fry, and even get help taking your groceries to your vehicle.

The majority of Miller’s customers are regulars, like John and Carol McKinley, who have shopped here ever since they moved to Verona in 1974. Even if they just need to grab a couple of

The Madison area real estate market is super competitive right now, especially for buyers seeking an affordable property in a popular location. For example, we were recently involved with one local sale which received over 20 offers to purchase. Below we share a few highlights from this sale which show just how competitive the market can be during the spring real estate season. 

Signs of a competitive real estate market

Here are a few more highlights from this ultra-competitive listing:

• Every offer (except one) was for at or above the full list price. 
• One buyer submitted their earnest money with their offer. 
• Over half of the buyers who wrote an offer also wrote a personal letter to the seller. 
• One-third of the buyers specified

What are the hottest price points for Madison area real estate listings? We've taken a close look at the latest MLS statistics and there are 2 clear trends standing out in this year's market.

Madison single family home listings priced under $300,000 are super hot

Take a look at our snapshot below of the Madison single family home market. It shows properties priced under $300,000 have a very high percentage of listings with an accepted offer. Listings priced under $250,000 are especially hot, with over 60% of these properties currently under contract and scheduled to close soon.

What does this data mean for sellers and buyers in 2019? If you're selling a home for under $300,000 in the city of Madison, you have a great opportunity to leverage