If you're buying in 2021, your offer to purchase will likely be up against offers from other motivated buyers. Below are 26 ways you can make your offer stand out from the competition and be the one that gets accepted. Of course the strategies you use will depend a lot on the type and condition of the property, your level of motivation, and how much competition you have from other parties. 

26 Ways to Write a Winning Offer

#1: Submit your mortgage pre-approval from a reputable, local lender. A pre-approval from an out-of-town or big box lender can create doubt in the mind of a seller. For example, we've seen sellers disregard offers from buyers who are pre-approved by an internet lender. Give your seller every reason to believe your pre-approval is

A great perk of living the condo lifestyle is that you can swap outdoor chores like snow removal and yard work for getting outside for fun. There are many great conservancies and parks with endless opportunities to hike in the Madison area, and some condo communities are lucky enough to have them right outside their door. For some buyers, having easy access to beautiful outdoor spaces is a must-have item on their wish list. Below is a roundup of some of our favorite condo communities that happen to be a short walk to a conservancy or hiking spot.

Do you need help finding a condo that best suits your lifestyle? Contact one of our experienced agents.

Harbor Village - Explore the oak savanna and wetland prairies at Pheasant Branch Conservancy,

Now that we're on the other side of the holidays, we're seeing new listings enter the market at a much faster pace. And the pace will accelerate as we get closer and closer to Spring. As more and more new properties hit the market, we'll see more and more new buyers competing for these properties, too. 

Buying your dream home in 2021

This year's real estate market will be very competitive. So, if you're serious about buying your dream home this year, please reach out to your favorite Mad City Dream Homes realtor for a short consultation. We'll discuss your goals for buying your dream home, your financing plans, and how we can work together to make your dream home happen in 2021. 

Last year we helped more people achieve their home ownership

Many buyers have a preferred neighborhood or condo community in mind when they start searching for a home. However, there are not always homes for sale on the market that match their criteria. How do you find an unlisted home in that oh-so-perfect neighborhood or condo community? Our agents have been successful in helping our clients discover these properties with letter writing campaigns. A letter writing campaign is a targeted marketing strategy that can connect buyers with their ideal home - before it comes on the market. Read on for tips from Maureen Moran and Dan Miller on how to leverage this strategy.

Why do letter campaigns work? They often provide a benefit to both the buyer and seller, and lead to an easier sale.

Maureen: Receiving

The home inspection is an important milestone in the home buying and selling process, and sometimes it can be a big sticking point. It’s not uncommon for a home inspection to reveal a few issues that buyers feel need to be addressed and the sellers say, “no way.” How can buyers and sellers work through this apparent impasse? A few of our realtors share some of the strategies they have used to help buyers navigate their inspection contingency - without jeopardizing the sale.

Five ways we help buyers navigate tricky inspections

1. Be professional

Sometimes inspections bring forth issues that sellers weren’t aware of, or disagree with. Sellers can even be offended by the results. We help by focusing the conversation on issues that negatively

Falling in love is part of the home buying process for many. You walk into a home and you just know it’s the one. Interestingly enough, a “love letter” can sometimes seal the deal for prospective buyers. In the context of real estate, a love letter is a letter penned from the buyer to the current owner of their dream home. Not all sellers are swayed by these letters, but in some situations a love letter can tip the scales in the favor of that buyer. Even when there are multiple offers. In this article, our team of Realtors share their insights about love letters, and how they can help you buy your dream home.

Chris Venden has often encouraged buyers to write love letters to sellers since she got into real estate 15 years ago. “I think it helps

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest decisions in your life. With so much on the line, you owe it to yourself to hire a REALTOR who is personally invested in you and your aspirations. How can you tell if you're working with an agent who is highly committed to you? It’s really about the way in which your agent shows up each day, attending to all of the details of your purchase or your sale, that has a huge impact on whether or not you achieve your goals.  

Here are 8 signs you're working with an agent who is personally invested in you.

• When you’re pricing your home, your agent does their homework and clearly articulates their reasons for their recommended list price. Your agent also recommends simple cosmetic updates that will

If you take some time to browse a few local realtor websites you might come away with the impression that buying a home in this market is easy. For example, one local real estate website says they make buying "easy and comfortable". And another says "we make real estate easy". 

While every good realtor should work to simplify and streamline the real estate experience, we believe you should know that buying a home in this market can be a lot like embarking on a journey, too. And sometimes the journey is filled with a few twists and turns, obstacles, and challenges. 

Common buyer challenges in 2020

Many buyers this year are facing a hyper-competitive real estate market, inspection surprises, and logistical and safety concerns created by the

The real estate market continues to be competitive for buyers in Dane County. With low inventory and low interest rates, there are plenty of buyers looking to buy their dream home. Our full time Real Estate Agents have time-tested strategies to help their clients stand out from the competition. Mad City Dream Homes REALTORs Ann Raschein and Maureen Moran share a few of their favorite tips and tricks to get their buyer clients into a new home.

Strategy 1: Personalized Outreach

Sometimes a well-crafted letter to the right potential seller can lead to a perfect real estate match. Maureen and Ann have both used this strategy, either to find a yet-to-be-listed property or to augment an offer.

Maureen: I have had buyers know exactly which condo

If you've been having a hard time finding your dream home, you may want to consider building your next house. There are plenty of builders in the Madison area who would love to work with you, and we can help you choose the one who's the right fit for your tastes and budget. We can also help you find and purchase the lot or land that your new dream home will be built on.

To learn more about the home-building process, please reach out to one of our real estate professionals. We'll help you understand how the process works and lay out a plan for building a beautiful home. 

If you'd like to learn more about locations with new construction properties in the Madison area, check out our blog for our list of emerging neighborhoods. Or, just reach out to