This is what our client Mark wrote in his review after buying his first home with Max. In his review, Mark also praised Max for his expertise, diligence and communication -- for making the entire process smooth and understandable. 

Buying your first home is exciting, and sometimes overwhelming. That's why we focus on giving you all the knowledge and personal attention you need to move forward with confidence.

So what questions do you have about buying your first home in the year ahead? We would love to be a resource for you, and help you take your first steps. Reach out for your own helpful consultation. 

What's in store for the 2026 Dane County real estate market? Here's our forecast for the year ahead. 

1) Madison area home supply will increase by 10 percent. Condo supply will grow by 20 percent. Inventory levels have been steadily improving over the last two years, especially in the condo market. With the growth in inventory moderating in recent months, we expect supply levels in 2026 to increase at a moderate pace, too. 

2) Thirty year mortgage rates will trend in the low to mid 6 percent range, well below where they were last year. This is consistent with recent forecasts by both Fannie Mae and the Mortgage Bankers Association. Assuming these projections hold up, we do expect more buyers and sellers to be entering the market in 2026. 

3) Home

This is what one of our recent clients had to say after working with Shelley on the sale of her condo. It was Shelley's expertise, professionalism, and communication that put her mind at ease as Shelley capably guided her through her sale. 

Like Shelley's client, you deserve to feel supported, not stressed. That's the difference you'll experience when you work with a professional who offers deep expertise and genuine care for your journey. 

"Little by little, one travels far." -- J.R.R. Tolkien

Whether you're working to build up your down payment, improve your credit score, or prepare your home for the market, you'll make amazing progress toward your goal by approaching it one step at a time, one day at a time. We've seen it play out over and over again, with hundreds of clients. The key is having the gumption to take that first step. 

At Mad City Dream Homes, we're here to help you take your first step, and keep making consistent progress toward your goals. We do this by helping you develop a good plan, by connecting you with helpful resources, and by working alongside you each step of the way. 

So what real estate goals are you hoping to accomplish in the year ahead? Call us for a

We are seeing more national headlines about real estate agents using AI to edit their sellers' listing photos, sometimes in a misleading fashion.

Our commitment to you is that we will always be transparent when we edit our photos with a "Virtually Staged" label in the corner. If we crop the photo, we'll add a new disclaimer back in. Buyers should feel inspired, not deceived, when looking through one of our listings. 

Virtual staging is a powerful marketing tool Mad City Dream Homes uses with the help of Step Inside Media. It is beneficial for buyers, so they can imagine what their belongings and lifestyle would look like in a vacant room, and beneficial for sellers who prefer to move out before getting photos taken.

Shelley's beautiful listing at

We've updated our buyer traffic data from Showing Time for the month of October, 2025: 

Single family homes 

This chart shows the number of showings per listing per month in South Central Wisconsin. Single family home showings in 2025 (the green line) are trending lower compared to the number of showings in 2024 (the blue line). Showings per listing dipped from 4.26 in October of 2024 to 4.0 in October of 2025, a decrease of 6 percent. 

Condos

For South Central Wisconsin condos, the decrease in showings is more pronounced. Showings per condo listing dipped from 3.65 in October of 2024 to 3.03 in October of 2025, a decrease of 17 percent. 

The big picture

The trend toward fewer showings is a sign of a market trending

Not every willing home seller has their home listed for sale on the open market. Some of the best buying opportunities aren't listed for sale at all. They're out there, but they're hiding in the shadows. 

One way to surface a hidden buying opportunity is to launch a letter campaign for your preferred neighborhood or condo community. This approach continues to work well for our clients. It's a proven, time-tested way to find a willing seller before their home hits the open market. 

Another proven approach is to scour expired listings. Expired listings are the properties that were once listed for sale on the MLS, but didn't end up selling. You won't find any of these properties on any website, but your buyer agent can easily identify the expired

Many of the best contractors are the small, mom and pop businesses run by owners who started their business from scratch. Think of the the painter who skillfully paints each surface and gives your home a fresh new look. The carpenter who follows through on their promises and remodels your kitchen with a special attention to detail. And the roofer who properly installs a new roof, with all of the correct ventilation and flashing, and for a fair fee, too. 

All of these contractors got to where they are today because they have a strong work ethic, because they take pride in their work. 

These are the exact traits that you want from the people who work on your home. And yet, it can be hard to find one of these contractors. And when you do find one, it

At Mad City Dream Homes, we continue to enjoy serving you as a team, so you receive the real estate service and expertise you need, when you need it: 

When you're buying, our entire team is here to serve you, so you always have a professional by your side for all of your showings, for your home inspection and negotiation, for your final walk-through, and for your closing.

When you're selling, we work collaboratively to help you repair and update your home, stage your home, price your home, market your home, and conduct open houses. 

And when you need the assistance of other reputable service providers, we bring in other collaborative professionals (lenders, title companies, insurance agents, contractors, stagers, and photographers) who work with

Amanda’s clients, Brent and Rachel, closed on their new home this summer. For these first-time homeowners, one of the most exciting parts of moving was having a yard for their adorable dog, Max. After years of apartment living, Max was ready to frolic on his own turf as he pleased, and the beautiful home they purchased on Madison’s west side allows him to do just that. On closing day, Max explored his new outdoor digs, complete with a fenced yard.

If you’re considering a new home, we’d love to help you find the right fit for your whole family - including your furry friends like Max.