Buying a home is more challenging than it was 5, 10 and 20 years ago. And we want you to know that we fully embrace this challenge; we love helping our clients take their leap into homeownership.

So, if you have a friend or family member who is aspiring to become a homeowner in 2025, please know we would love to help them. We're here to give them all of the time, attention and support that they need to make this important, life-changing event happen.

Thank you for a wonderful 2024, we're grateful for your continued trust in our team.

We're excited for our clients Karen and Kurt, who just had their offer accepted for a condo in their preferred association. Karen and Kurt's condo search was a little unconventional. 

We found their condo by researching listings that had recently expired without selling, and this one met all of their most important needs. So we reached out to the previous listing agent to see if he could arrange for a showing. As it turns out, the owner was open to a showing, and our offer was accepted without any bidding wars or competition. 

As Kurt and Karen are picking out paint colors and getting ready for their move, we're reminded that scouring expired listings can be a great way to find an off-market property, especially during the winter season. More

Competing offers have subsided from record-high levels, but they're still common in Dane County's fast-moving real estate market. 

One way you can compete more effectively as a buyer is to write a "cash offer", or in other words an offer without a financing contingency. There are 2 key concepts to remember when you write your cash offer: 

1) Once your cash offer is accepted, you can still choose to close with a mortgage if you wish.

2)  You do need to provide documented "proof of funds" as part of your offer. 

What are some common sources that can be used as “proof of funds”?

Here are 3 different sources that you might consider: 

1) A letter from your banker or statements from your financial accounts. 

2) Verification of funds

As we approach another holiday season we want you to know how much we appreciate you and your continued support of our team. Because of you, we're able to do the work we love, helping our clients reach their goals through changing markets and often challenging circumstances. 

Chances are you have friends and family who will need some real estate advice in the year ahead. We would be honored if you would recommend our team as a helpful resource. Of course we'll be happy to meet with your friends and family in person, learn more about their goals, and share our honest advice. 

Thank you again for all you do to support our business. We wish you plenty of peace, good health, and happiness this holiday season and in the new year. 

Your friends at Mad

Be careful out there.

Fraudsters are targeting realtors, lenders and title companies by hacking into their email accounts and surreptitiously monitoring their communications with buyers who are getting ready to close on their home.

When closing day is near, the criminals will send the buyer a wiring instructions email that looks like it is coming from the title company. The fake email will ask the buyer to wire their closing funds to a fraudulent account, and the buyer who follows these instructions unwittingly becomes a victim of wire fraud. 

How can you make sure you don't become a victim of wire fraud?

Use your phone. If you would like to wire your closing funds, just call the title company to make sure you are speaking to the correct

Only a buyer agent can:

• Give a negative opinion or critique of a seller’s property beyond disclosing defects.
• Suggest an offer price or give you an opinion about whether a property is priced too high or too low. 
• Recommend and assist you with negotiation strategies for the best price and terms.
• Structure an offer and draft offer provisions with your best interests in mind.

You can learn much more about buyer agency and our approach to buyer representation here. 

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.

Is your realtor a consultant or a salesperson? Here are a few clues: 

At Mad City Dream Homes, we choose a consultative approach to real estate. 

A rise in hail and wind damage claims has led to some broad-based changes to homeowners insurance policies, specifically related to roofs. Here are a few important trends that every homeowner, buyer, and seller needs to be aware of: 

1) Premiums and deductibles are increasing. 

2) Reimbursement is moving toward a depreciated value model, resulting in smaller payouts for roof claims. 

3) Most insurance companies are no longer insuring homes with roofs that are 20 or more years old. Some companies are refusing to insure roofs that are 15 or even 10 years old. 

If you are planning to buy or sell your home in the near future, please call us to discuss how changes in the insurance industry could potentially impact your real estate plans. And

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