It can be tempting to stay indoors this time of year. Evenings are darker, weather is colder, and home is just cozy. But Madison Magazine has come up with a very good reason to get out. Winter Restaurant Week is happening right now, offering a delicious variety of meals at some of Madison's finest restaurants, and all for the low price of $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner. That's not just for the main plate. That's for a meal AND dessert at lunch, or for 3 courses of mouth watering goodness at dinner.

Madison Restaurant Week is in its 12th year. The idea was born after Madison Magazine staff attended a conference in San Diego. The conference included discussions about the success of such events in different cities around the nation. Madison locals

The 2018 home buying season is ramping up in Madison and Dane County, so right now is the perfect time to share some of our recent articles written for local buyers. All of these articles were written within the last year and offer some great tips for anyone looking to buy a home or condo in 2018.

10 articles for Madison area home and condo buyers

#1: Our predictions for the 2018 real estate market

Read our predictions for this year's real estate market and you'll understand that taking a casual approach to your home search won't get the job done in 2018. You'll need to be very proactive with your search and hire a good buyer agent to represent you.  

#2: 15 ways to write a winning offer

Inventory remains tight throughout all of Dane

We had some beautiful snow this week. If you haven't been out yet, this weekend is the perfect chance to enjoy the winter weather at one of Madison's many city parks. 

The Parks Department provides a wide range of activities to be enjoyed all season. There are 12 outdoor ice skating rinks, 22 miles of cross-country skiing trails (only Elver Park is open now, due to the lack of a solid snow base), 10 parks with hills recommended for sledding, a snow mini-golf course, a winter disc-golf course, and additional trails for snow-shoeing, hiking and just enjoying the beauty of winter in Wisconsin.

Tonight, the City of Madison Parks Department kicks off its Groove and Glide party series. The ice skating fun travels around town, with a stop at each rink

Why do you absolutely need a good buyer agent in the 2018 Madison real estate market? The answer comes down to three words: Historically Low Inventory. As our latest home report shows, Madison single family home supply is now below 1 month of inventory.

In the Madison condo market, inventory is down to a historically low 1.2 months of supply. 

How does historically low inventory impact buyers? 

In a low inventory market, the best properties sell very quickly. That means in today's market the buyers who rely on their own internet searches to find properties and schedule showings usually miss out on the opportunity to buy. Very often they're distracted by properties that already have an accepted offer (hint: this is a very common theme for

Binoculars, iPads, smartphones, and telephoto lenses were all pointed toward the sky as two large raptors soared above the water.

Their dark, speckled plumage suggested they're immature bald eagles. Across the bank of the Wisconsin River perched at the top of a tree was an adult -- unmistakable by its stark white head and tail feathers.

These magnificent birds of prey are drawn to the open water for fishing in winter, and there are some great spots to watch them in Sauk City and Prairie du Sac. This gathering place of sorts is the impetus behind Bald Eagle Watching Days, held January 12-13, 2018 in the Sauk Prairie area just north of Madison.

Earlier this week, dozens of people hoped to catch a glimpse of the eagles before the crowds

It's the time of year when some get restless, and need a place to burn off some steam, or get their creative juices flowing. This weekend, there are a few opportunities to get out of the house, and enjoy some indoor time with the family.

Friday, January 12: Warner Park is hosting their Family Fun Night from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The event is planned by Madison Parks and the Warner Park Community Recreation Center.  Families can pay $5 for admission, and enjoy a wide range of activities.  There will be bouncy houses, an imagination playground, and fitness activities planned to help energetic kids burn off steam and keep moving through the winter. Then, check out the winter themed crafts, pottery projects with MSCR (Madison School and Community

A 3 dimensional "dollhouse" tour is a wonderful way to show off a luxury property or perfectly staged home. In a dollhouse tour, the viewer uses the arrow keys on a computer keypad to navigate the property virtually, glimpsing 360 degree views of every room. For some recent examples from our own listings, take a look at the 3 dollhouse tours below, all of which were produced by Justin Lackner.

9th floor Nolen Shore Condo

This dollhouse tour does an excellent job of conveying the panoramic Lake Monona views spanning the dining room, living room and master bedroom of this perfectly staged condo. Take control of this tour yourself and try zooming into the lakefront view. With this up-close look, you're able to obtain a very realistic view of Lake

Home and garden projects can be daunting, especially when you're unsure how to start. Madison offers five winter expos to get you informed and connected with professionals before the construction and landscaping season really takes off.

Thousands of people will flock to these convention centers to get advice from experts, brainstorm project ideas, and learn about the latest design trends and products. Follow the links to see a schedule of seminars and list of exhibitors in the home building, remodeling, design, and landscaping industries.

Madison Home Expo

When: 2-8 p.m. Friday, January 5; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, January 6; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, January 7
Where: Monona Terrace Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Dr., Madison
Admission: $5 for

In a previous real estate careers post, we covered why our team prefers to "attract" new clients versus trying to "buy" or "hunt" for leads online. For our team, attraction marketing is about building trust and having a contribution mindset. It's a very rewarding way to approach our daily work, and it's the main reason our business keeps growing.  

At Mad City Dream Homes, we attract new clients in two main ways;

1. By growing and nurturing our database of friends, family members, business associates, and former clients. This is our tried and true way of creating repeat and referral business. 
2. By publishing helpful content for the general public, which is an excellent source of new  business . 

Regardless of the source, when a potential

Thinking of selling your Madison area home or condo in the coming year? Here are 3 resolutions that will help you have a happy new year in 2018. 

#1: Hire the listing agent who will net you the most at the closing table

A beautiful visual presentation is a requirement for a successful listing, so choose an agent who provides professional staging and professional photography (at a minimum) as part of their marketing plan. Your listing agent should also offer guidance on the low-cost improvements that will increase your home's value and reduce its time on the market. Last, your agent should demonstrate the negotiation skills you need to achieve the highest possible price for your home. When all is said and done you'll be glad you hired an agent