Are you putting off your home-buying plans until the market becomes less competitive? You could end up waiting a long time. We anticipate 2022 will be extremely competitive for Madison area home and condo buyers, much like the market we've experienced in 2021. 

Our rationale?

The percent of listings receiving multiple offers right now is off the charts compared to prior years, which suggests to us that there is still a very large pent up demand for real estate in the Madison area. Here's some historical context:

2019

The chart below shows the month of April was the most competitive month for home buyers in 2019, with just under 36% of all single family listings receiving multiple offers. Up until 2019, this was a pretty typical pattern, with

Conventional wisdom says to buy a house in the springtime, as the weather warms and when new listings become more plentiful. But this traditional way of thinking could be misguided if we consider how competitive our real estate market becomes each spring. 

Each spring our market is flooded with a huge influx of buyers that far exceeds the supply of available homes and condos. We read articles in the media and we hear stories from friends about bidding wars, insane prices, and missed opportunities. "Buyer burnout" has become so commonplace in the springtime. And yet we always seem a little amazed and somewhat surprised that this cycle repeats itself year-after-year.

You don't need to buy with the herd

If you are planning to buy a home in the

It's been a crazy year for real estate, especially for buyers who entered the fray this spring. So many buyers were forced to endure bidding wars earlier this year, with sometimes as many as 20 or more other buyers competing for the same home. A lot of buyers ended up feeling discouraged and burnt out, and some put their homeownership plans on hold. This was especially true for buyers who needed to sell their current home in order to buy a new one. They felt that they just couldn't compete with a home sale contingency. 

Reasons for optimism this fall

If you are one of those discouraged buyers we want you to know that there is hope for you this fall. That's because the market has cooled since this spring, and were are seeing more balance as we

Over the years we've had the pleasure of photographing some amazing kitchens! Here are a few of our favorite kitchen shots from the last few years. Thanks to our stager, Debbie Lea, and to our marketing team for making these photos possible. And of course, thank you to our wonderful clients!

350 S Hamilton St #204

350 S Hamilton St #901

927 Rumley Run

1110 Red Tail Drive

1880 Deer Haven Trail

3080 Yarmouth Greenway

2205 Town Hall Rd

4322 Rolla Lane

5035 Enchanted Valley Rd

Are you in search of your dream kitchen? 

We can help you find and buy your next home that comes with your dream kitchen already built. Give us a call and tell us about your dream home. We'll work closely with you and

Inventory is increasing across the country and it's rising locally, too. As of this writing, there are almost 600 Dane County single family homes listed for sale on the MLS without an accepted offer. Earlier this spring, during the height of the home buying frenzy, there were only 300 homes available.

With more homes available for sale, the market is becoming more hospitable for Madison area home buyers. Generally speaking, there are fewer competing offers and fewer bidding wars right now compared to the height of the spring buying season. More opportunities are opening up for buyers who are staying in the game and who are staying committed to their search. 

Are you still searching for your dream home? 

We are here to help you with all of

As listing agents we're able to observe and interact with many different buyer agents with each property we sell. And one trend we've been noticing lately is a surprising number of offers being written where the buyer agent assumes -- rather than verifies -- that a listing is receiving many offers.

What this means for some buyers is that they are paying way more than they need to for their home. As an example, our team recently sold a home for more than $30,000 above the list, even though only one offer was submitted for the listing. Unfortunately for these buyers, they could have purchased their home for a much lower price if their agent had invested a little more time and thought into their offer.

The market is always in flux

Our late

While every real estate situation is unique, our team has noticed that sellers often view offers from buyers more favorably if they’re working with a local lender -- especially someone who takes the time to vouch for them. Even if your offer isn’t the highest or it includes financing or has other contingencies, having a local lender as part of the transaction can help distinguish your offer in a competitive market. Online or out-of-state lenders can cause listing agents to worry about appraisers, communication, and accountability. Sellers want a smooth closing, and a local, knowledgeable, and service-minded mortgage lender can help pave that path early on. 

For example, the determining factor in Mad City Dream Homes REALTOR Jake Johnson’s clients

Do rising prices have you on the fence about buying a home this year? Reflecting on these 3 questions will help you evaluate whether or not it's the right time for you to pursue your dream home. 

Three key questions for home and condo buyers in 2021

#1: Would you have peace of mind if you found the right home in 2021? In other words, would moving to a new home eliminate a worry in your life and put your mind at ease? 

#2: Would you have financial peace of mind? Put another way, could you comfortably handle your monthly payment at this year's prices? 

#3: Would you be excited? Would your heart sing with joy even though you're paying more for your home than you hoped for? 

If you can answer "yes" to all three of these questions then

Congratulations to Dan Miller's friend, Lois, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday! Lois stays positive and active but she also credits her ability to stay in her home - her sanctuary - as key to her longevity and health.

The real value of homeownership

Owning a home is about more than owning property. It’s about quality of life and quantity of life, too. 

Do you know someone who’s in search of their dream home? Our team is here to help you, your friends, and your family live out your dreams at every stage of life. Let’s have a conversation about your real estate dreams and goals. We'll help you explore all of the possibilities!

Madison area home prices are rising by double-digits in 2021, which has some first-time home buyers sitting out this year's market with the hope that prices will be falling significantly soon. We don't believe this is likely to happen. 

Local trends favor more appreciation

Based on local supply and demand trends, we see prices rising. On the demand side, our population of home buyers keeps growing year-after-year, as Dane County consistently ranks as the fastest growing region in the state. Persistently low supply also points to higher prices: Dane County home building has been operating at subdued levels for the last 15 years, while new condo construction has been almost non-existent. 

Building a home has also become a much more expensive