Sometimes your life’s work happens almost by accident. For Doreen Meland, designing and staging homes came naturally, even before she knew it could be a business. “I didn’t know I was doing it, but I was. A Realtor came through our home, and asked if I staged homes. After thinking about it, I decided it would be fun. My business has grown from there,” she says.

Doreen’s work covers a broad range of projects. She has a natural ability for interior design, and is a gifted landscaper. Both interior and exterior projects fill her portfolio.  She has helped clients efficiently stage their homes for sale. But she has also worked with clients who require a more thorough decluttering.

Doreen loves organizing. Recently, she assisted clients who needed to

In our competitive real estate market some buyers accomplish all of their real estate goals, while others seem to continually miss out. Why is it that some buyers succeed and others do not? Below we share a few thoughts and observations on this topic. 

Why some buyers succeed in Madison's tight real estate market

1) They have a clear picture. Some buyers have a very clear picture of what type of property they want to buy, when they want to buy, where they want to buy, and for what price. When it comes to features,  they know their list of "must haves" and "nice to haves". They've done their homework, and they have a good understanding of the inventory in their preferred location and price range. Buyers with a clear picture have a great chance of

The condo lifestyle is in high demand. From millennials making their first purchase to baby boomers down-sizing into a new setting, people of all ages are embracing condominium living.

The market has changed a lot over the last few years, and today's buyers are learning it's highly competitive. One outlet for buyers is the new construction condo market. As a general rule it's easier to purchase a new construction condo because this segment of the market has fewer competing buyers.

If you've been having a hard time finding the right condo in our low inventory market, check out the new construction options below. You might find the perfect fit in one of these growing condo communities.

Do you need help finding the right condo? Contact one of our

The Mad City Dream Homes team works in a unique way. While many Realtors work independently, our team works together, combining our unique skills and abilities to best serve clients’ needs.

Our buying and selling team

Tammy Steiner serves as a showing agent. She makes her schedule available, days, nights and weekends, to make sure buyers can attend showings as soon as properties are listed. “In this market, getting in the door quickly can be the key to actually finding, and getting an accepted offer on your property of choice,” she said.

Shelley Lazzareschi, Dan Miller, Maureen Moran and Chris Venden fill the roles of all-around agents.  Any member of the team is available to bring clients to showings, coordinate contracts, and provide

When deals need to be made, it all comes down to trusted relationships. You can buy and sell homes in Madison, but to do it well, you will need a Realtor who values relationships and brings solid negotiating skills to the table. This adds some strength to your real estate plan, and it helps remove some of the emotion that could otherwise cloud the negotiations. The Mad City Dream Homes Team can help you look at the big picture, and they have enough history in the business to creatively problem-solve, and get you the best deal.

"Our team places a high-value on quality communication, " says Maureen Moran. "We can gather so much more information about the sale for our clients, simply by picking up the phone and talking with the other agent." 

We've learned over the years that some folks can get a little confused about assessments, inspections, and appraisals - and the role each plays as part of the buying and selling process. If you're a little unclear yourself, this short overview will answer a lot of your questions.  

Assessments

An assessment refers to the "value" that the local taxing authority assigns to your property. Your local assessor assigns an assessed value to your property each year, that along with the mill rate, determines the amount of property tax you owe.

As a general rule of thumb you shouldn't use your property's assessed value to approximate how much it can sell for on the open market. That's because in most cases your local assessor has never been to your

It can be easy to watch the market reports, and to obsess over the mortgage rates rising or falling. But Laurie Ellis-McLeod of AERIE Preferred Financial Group, LLC, says the market isn't the most important thing to consider. "Your purchase will ultimately be more dependent on factors you can control, like your credit score, or the amount you've saved for a down payment."

The credit score is key to getting the best rates, and it can be improved. Do you have debts? Do everything you can to pay them off, or develop a plan to do this efficiently. Avoid making large purchases, or opening (or closing) credit card accounts. Your credit score has great impact on the mortgages and other loans for which you can qualify. Do everything you can to pay your bills

You have made an offer to purchase and are going through the property inspection. The inspector finds an issue with the property, and now you, as the buyer, need to determine the next steps. I asked the Mad City Dream Homes team how they handle these situations, and they shared good advice for buyers to consider.

First: Know what matters.

Not every issue raised is worth pursuing with the seller -- especially in a fast-paced market, with low supply. “In some cases, buyers need to have a plan in place for simple repairs. The quick fixes are rarely worth risking the sale, especially when there is a line of buyers behind you, ready to buy the property,” says Tammy Steiner.

Maureen Moran agreed. “You really need to consider, what is a significant

In the current economy, much is being said about rising interest rates. This has home buyers wondering what a mortgage will look like 3 or 6 months down the road. While you may hear conversation about climbing rates, this isn't time to be discouraged. Karen Wedvick, VP and Senior Loan Officer at Johnson Bank, says, "Mortgage rates are at such great levels. It's an excellent time to buy." 

Wedvick understands the fears buyers have about rising rates. She has watched the rates closely, and insists that they are still near historic lows. If you look at rates beginning in the 1970s, and compare them to current years, the evidence is clear. Even so, Wedvick's office has tools available to help bring more certainty to the buying process. Johnson Bank offers

This year is shaping up to be a great year for people who wish to sell their starter home and buy a larger, more expensive property. The reason is the market for starter homes is very hot and very favorable for sellers right now, while the market for higher priced properties is more balanced and a little easier on buyers. 

How the Madison real estate market varies by price range

Take a look at this market data for Madison single family homes. Right now, 60% of all listings priced under $300,000 are under contract with an accepted offer. Above $300,000, only 30% of the listings are under contract. The market clearly favors sellers under the $300,000 price point. Above $300,000, there's less competition for listings, and buyers are having a much