This past weekend, I made an impromptu stop into Wisconsin Cutlery & Kitchen Supply. When I entered, I was quickly greeted by a friendly sales associate but felt the need to preface, "I have the worst knives, they are just random ones from online, I don't know much about all this." Immediately, the saleswoman pointed to a playful sign hanging over the counter that said "No Knife Shaming." 

She explained that no one is to feel embarrassed or ashamed of what kitchen tools they have; we all start somewhere! She was eager to teach me the basics and left me feeling confident about next steps I could take to maintain the knives I had and pursue a better set.

This interaction left me feeling that some aspects of our professions weren't so dissimilar.

Through helping many buyers find their new homes, we have collected some "less common considerations" when searching for your next house. 

• Layout: Do you prefer a ranch home or two-story? Would you enjoy a split-level home (which can make a layout feel bigger but comes with extra stairs)? How will accessibility or work-from-home privacy needs play into your decision? 

• Maintenance: Owning a home comes with new maintenance muscles to flex. Consider if you're open to maintaining wooden siding, a wooden deck, or wooden exterior trim. How much snow removal or yard maintenance would you enjoy? Similarly, mature trees are beautiful but come with trimming chores.

• Traffic: During a showing, you are only visiting a home during a

Being a conscientious consumer has become increasingly challenging. We don’t always have the resources, time, or knowledge to evaluate if a product was made ethically. This is why Ethical Trade Co is such a necessary and impressive local nonprofit organization. Ethical Trade Co’s mission is to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to work in a safe and ethical environment - making it easier for Madison shoppers to feel good about their purchases.

Ethical Trade Co has both an online store and Madison storefront at 3565 Tulane Ave near Olbrich Gardens. They sell beautiful, handcrafted goods that are made with fair trade standards. You can shop confidently knowing their two founders, and handful of volunteers, have been hands-on in

Open houses are far from antiquated and offer many benefits to a seller, which is why it's a standard part of our marketing plan. Open houses offer:

• Longer viewing opportunities for buyers
• Questions to be answered in real-time by the Mad City Dream Homes agent hosting
• An opportunity to present the property in a curated way: turn the fireplace on, open the blinds, play some ambient music, have the hot tub running
• A time for longer-form marketing materials (like the homebook created for 5809 Dawley Dr pictured below)
• A sense of urgency for buyers to make an offer when they see others considering the same home

Do you have an idea of how to best present your home at an open house? We'd love to hear about it. 

If you’ve enjoyed an afternoon on Willy Street, you’ve likely passed by Luke House. Their mission is simple: to feed the hungry no questions asked. If you haven’t heard of Luke House, it is because they go about their mission work quietly, serving free meals nine times a week, year-round, rain or shine. At each meal Luke House serves between 60 and 120 guests. All guests and volunteers are treated with dignity and respect, a major value of the Luke House. This organization has been feeding Madison’s hungry since 1986. Guests show up and are fed, no questions asked. The facility is set up like a restaurant with volunteers serving a healthy meal and beverages to guests.

The atmosphere is very pleasant, and the guests have a chance to socialize.

Written by Sarah Linn, Development & Marketing Special Projects Coordinator at DCHS

Animal shelters play a crucial role in our community. When you think of Dane County Humane Society (DCHS), you probably think of dog and cat adoptions first. And rightly so. In 2023, DCHS found new homes for 1,241 dogs and 1,728 cats. But that’s just one of the ways DCHS serves the animals at the shelter and in our community. Additionally, DCHS provides care for thousands of native wild animals who are injured, sick, or orphaned, rehabilitating them with the goal of releasing them back to their habitats. DCHS also provides humane education programs for learners of all ages, teaching community members about everything from animal care to empathy. Their Pets for

While we can’t deny that the spring and summer markets are historically the busiest, there are unexpected benefits to selling your home in the winter if it makes sense for your situation.

1. Serious buyers: Quite literally, fairweather buyers aren’t looking for a home in the winter. Your winter listing will more likely attract more serious buyers who are committed to moving.

2. Chance to highlight ‘cozy’ features: Showcase a lovely fireplace, fun theater room, or sunroom that brings in light year-round. 

3. Less competition: Winter may bring fewer buyers, but fewer homes are for sale too. This means your listing will have less competition. 

4. (A different type of) beautiful photos: A snow-covered setting can be beautiful

Written by Amber Kolner, Communications and Stewardship Manager of Madison Area Community Land Trust

Madison Area Community Land Trust (MACLT) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing affordable and sustainable homeownership opportunities for low-income families in Dane County. MACLT is Dane County's only non-profit focused on permanently affordable homeownership, and part of a movement of over 300 community land trusts across North America. 

Through their innovative land trust model, MACLT helps individuals and families purchase homes at below-market rates, while preserving long-term affordability of the homes in the land trust. MACLT’s resale formula ensures that these homes remain affordable for future generations, which helps to

We can’t believe we’re nearing the end of 2024 already - time seems to move so quickly. If you’re planning on purchasing a home “next spring” or “sometime in 2025,” that timeframe surely has the potential to sneak up on us too.

We’d love to help you get a concrete plan in place so you’re well-prepared to meet your home-buying goals on your schedule. We find that our clients who have reviewed their finances and have ample time to discuss the transition with their partners, friends, family, and workplace tend to enjoy their move more - with less stress and uncertainty, and more excitement.

Online real estate platforms can be filled with industry jargon and terminology often varies from site to site. So, what do all these statuses mean?

For Sale / Active:
This seller has not yet committed to a buyer and is still looking to enter into a purchase contract. The home is “on the market,” and the seller is likely welcoming buyers for showings or an open house.

Pending / Contingent / Offer-Show / Offer-No Show:
This seller has chosen a buyer and is committed to moving forward with that purchase contract in good faith. However, they have not yet signed the final paperwork to transfer ownership. The seller and buyer may be using this time to work through agreed-upon contingencies, arrange funds, or prepare to move. Often the seller is no longer welcoming