The Dane County real estate market isn't completely predictable, but there is one thing we can predict: the rise and fall of inventory (the number of homes for sale) throughout the year. 

As the graph below shows, inventory gradually rises as we enter the colder months and bottoms out in spring. This happens every year, and this general trend is predictable.

High inventory means buyers have more choices, and offers may face less competition. To stand out, sellers need to price correctly and choose an agent with honed marketing efforts. Low inventory means buyers have fewer choices and may have to make more concessions to obtain the house they like, leading to an easier and more lucrative sale for the seller.

Inventory is rising; what does this mean for your

When browsing homes online, you may find that some listing photos strike you more than others. But sometimes it’s hard to put into words exactly what that magic is. There is more to creating a stunning photo that captures buyer attention than meets the eye. Here are a few tricks you may never have thought of:

• Avoid tall plants, decorations, or lamps that block the view of the rest of the room

• Update light bulbs to all the same type of warm or cool light

• Hide all cords, even if that means unplugging TVs and appliances

• Remove all nods to cleaning, like garbage cans, paper towel, and laundry supplies

• Take down window treatments — let that natural light flow in!

National data from Keeping Current Matters (KCM) recently reported that 63% of buyers consider a “good” interest rate to be less than 5%. So, what is a good interest rate from a realtor’s perspective?

One way to approach that question is to look at average rates over time. Mortgage interest rates have been between 5% and 10% nearly sixty percent of the time over the last 50 years (KCM). Current rates reflect a return to “normal” in a balanced real estate market. There’s definitely some “good” in that.

The other way to look at the question is what works for you and your family. Do current interest rates help you meet your goals, financial and otherwise? Do they work within your budget? “Good” may be a personal opinion, and in

As real estate agents, our jobs take us to many different areas of town — maybe ones we’d never have an excuse to visit otherwise. We experience diverse landscapes each neighborhood offers firsthand, including those with acres of nearby farmland. These dairyland vistas are often beloved by homeowners and prospective buyers who enjoy some visual elbow room. 

Not only beautiful, Wisconsin’s land is also precious. Glaciers helped shape the rich soils that make much of our state well suited for agriculture — from growing crops and produce to supporting livestock. And between 2001 and 2021, Dane County lost more than 76,000 acres of agricultural land to development — an area roughly one and a half times the size of the City of Madison.

Our Nonprofit

Everyone deserves a little recognition, especially those working in the nonprofit sector. The Nationwide Trophy Recycling Program is a “pay-it-forward” nonprofit that collects and refurbishes old trophies to then be given to nonprofit organizations around the country for their recognition and awards ceremony needs.

The program was humbly started 40 years ago at a small trophy shop in Poynette. Patrons would bring in their old trophies in hopes they could be reused. For years, the shop created new trophies for nonprofits that did not have the funds to buy new trophies. In 2007, the program went nationwide, collecting and distributing trophies from all over the US. And, due to the overwhelming influx of trophies during the pandemic, the Nationwide Trophy

Is a home inspection pass/fail? The short answer is no: a home inspection in a residential real estate transaction is not pass/fail.

Unlike a building code inspection when a new home is being built, the home inspection during a home inspection contingency is not completed by the municipality, but by any Wisconsin-licensed home inspector that the buyer chooses. This is a time for the buyer to learn about the home, including defects, needed repairs, and ongoing maintenance items. The inspector will also provide a detailed report after the inspection.

The inspector will not give a Pass/Fail grade on the home, but rather provide the buyer with thorough information for them and their Mad City Dream Homes agent to use during negotiations.

At Mad City Dream Homes, we’re allergic to “forced registration.” We do not require you to give us your contact information to see our website’s resources and guides. And we never require you to sign a contract to get to know us.

We encourage you to peruse our online profiles or call us to join you for a cup of coffee — there is no contract, fee, or obligation as you do your research. 

We recommend Mike Austin at Epic Electric for your electrician needs. Mike has proven to be a great communicator and an expert in his field. While diagnosing an issue, he offers clear explanations and transparent pricing.

We encourage you to reach out to Mike, whether you’re looking to take care of a small repair or have a panel replaced at mike.austin@epicelectricmadison.com or 608-445-1497.

When the closing paperwork is signed and we hand you the keys, it's not "goodbye" — in fact, we'd love for you to call anytime.

Call us if you need a repair completed and don't know where to start. Call us when you need a second opinion on a home improvement project's return on investment. Call us after the big storm if you're unsure if there's damage to your property. Call us when you can't remember how to reprogram the garage door opener. And call us when you or a loved one is making a move.

We want to be your one-stop shop for real estate questions — if we don't know the answer, we'll find someone who does for you.

What questions are on your mind?

We admit it: getting preapproved isn’t the most exhilarating process. No one is excited to dig up their 2024 tax return. But this step is vitally important to having a smooth, informed, and more enjoyable home-buying experience. Even if you anticipate the preapproval process to be hiccup-free, here are a few reasons why it pays to get preapproved early, before you start looking at homes:

• You can compare rates, services, and personality fits across different lenders. It’s important to trust the lender you are working with, since they will be guiding you through (possibly) your biggest financial investment.

• Many lenders offer educational sessions as a “first step,” which you may miss if the process is rushed or