We posted earlier this year how Downtown Madison condo prices were set to rise in 2013. As we make our way into the Spring buying season, we are in fact seeing prices rise in many areas of Madison, and especially downtown. The inventory of condos for sale in Downtown Madison is much lower than in previous years, and sales are up significantly. Consider these numbers for the first 3 months of 2013 which come from our review of data from the South Central Wisconsin MLS:

Dane County condo sales were up by a whopping 59% from the first 3 months of 2012, but even more startling downtown sales were up by 89%.  That's right, during the January through March time period, downtown condo sales totaled 34 purchases versus 18 the year before. We expect this pace

Thinking of building a new home in Madison, Wisconsin? You're not alone. Housing starts in the Madison area are up by more than 75% through the first two months of 2013. And we see the trend toward more home-building continuing throughout the year.

Here are a few reasons why:

1. The inventory of existing homes is at its lowest point since 2005.
2. Foreclosures continue to decline rapidly, which well help to keep inventories of existing homes low.
3. Demand is high. Madison homes are selling at their fastest pace in the last 6 years.
4. There is a large, pent-up demand for real estate, which suggests we'll continue to see robust sales in the year ahead. Contrast this to the last several years when home sales were at depressed levels and consumers

We have two Verona homes for sale with our newest listing at 913 Maple Road in the popular Cross Country Heights neighborhood. Just down the road from the Epic Systems campus, this 3 bedroom/ 2 bath tri-level home is value priced at $230,000.

It features a sunlit living room, kitchen with breakfast bar, a dining area that exits to the rear deck and fenced in back yard, a family room with wood-burning fireplace, plenty of storage, and an attached 2 car garage. Don't miss out on this opportunity to own this great Verona home at a fantastic value. Take a short video tour of this wonderful home, and contact us for your own personal property tour.

Contact us for a tour of 913 Maple Raod and for all of your home buying and home selling needs in Verona,

Homes in the Village of Shorewood Hills are among the most highly valued in all of Dane County. Why is Shorewood Hills real estate held in such high regard? It begins with the properties themselves. Original. Historic. Diverse. Picturesque. All of these terms apply to the wide assortment of houses in Shorewood Hills.

For most buyers the attraction to Shorewood Hills is about much more than real estate. It's also about the natural setting that the Village offers. Perched up against the Lake Mendota shoreline, the Village of Shorewood Hills offers an amazing variety of natural spaces and inspiring views. If you like hiking, biking, swimming, boating, fishing - or simply a quiet walk and a lakefront sunset - Shorewood Hills offers plenty of shoreline,

You're not alone. Verona real estate is in high demand. Home sales are off to a good start in 2013 after increasing by more than 25% in 2012. With just over 5 months of inventory, many homes in Verona are selling quickly. Verona building contracts are on the rise, too.

What makes Verona WI homes so popular?

Many buyers appreciate the city's small town charm and convenient location just outside of Madison. Verona is also home to Epic Systems, one of South Central Wisconsin's largest employers. Many of the employees from this fast-growing company choose to lay down their roots in Verona, where there's a diverse selection of mid-century and new construction homes.

We expect 2013 to  be a good year for Verona home sellers. With lower inventories and

The houses for sale on the north side of Madison offer the most home for the money compared to the real estate in any other side of town. As you'll see from the graph below, the north side "price per square foot" for single family homes was only $93 in 2012. This represents a 27% decrease from the peak year of 2006, when the average was $128 per square foot.

Many of the homes on Madison's north side were built in the middle of the century, a time when many high-quality, moderately-sized houses were constructed. If you're a buyer seeking an old-fashioned bungalow or ranch-style house at a reasonable price, the northeast side of town offers a good selection of real estate for your review.

Today's lower prices, low interest rates, and rising rents are

Many Madison area home buyers gravitate toward bank owned properties and short sale listings. In the right situation, an REO or short sale property can offer the prospective buyer an incredible value. We've assisted many clients with their purchase of a foreclosed home or condo, and we've seen our buyers achieve some amazing deals. But there are some caveats related to buying foreclosures in Madison. If you've been thinking of buying a distressed property, here are five things for you to keep in mind.

Before you Buy, Keep these 5 Things in Mind:

1. Distressed properties represent only one piece of the market, and the supply of foreclosures is decreasing. If you limit your search to REOs and short sales, you're missing out on the possibilities that

Searching for a Madison home or condo? Our new polygon search tool allows you to customize your property search according to the boundaries that you define on our MLS map.

Our polygon search works in conjunction with all of the other search settings that we make available, so you can customize your search by property type, price range, and size - along with the map boundaries that you specify. Even better, you can save your polygon search settings and receive email updates new listings hit the MLS and when existing listings undergo a price change.

Try our property search now. Or sign up for our home finder, and we'll locate your properties and coordinate your showings for you. We're here to help!

Downtown Madison condos are on the rebound. Prices in Madison's Downtown dropped by 20% from 2006 to 2011. In 2012, Madison buyers responded to lower prices and returned to the downtown condo market in a big way. As you'll see from the graph at the bottom of this post, the price per square foot actually increased in 2012, as the market settled into a much better balance between supply and demand.

This is welcome news for buyers and sellers alike. Sellers have been waiting for a bottom to the condo market, while buyers have been seeking some reassurance that their investment will hold its value over time.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about condos in Downtown Madison, Wisconsin. We can help you better understand the

Buying a home in the Madison area and in need of a loan? We've worked with hundreds of buyers over the years, and we've collected their feedback about the lenders who assist them with their mortgages. Over time we've developed a network of service-oriented lenders who are universally loved by their clients for their exceptional service. Each of these lenders has different strengths and areas of expertise, so we're happy to refer you to a lender who is a good match for you and your specific situation. Just let us know how we can help!

One of our preferred lenders who consistently receives raving feedback is Great Midwest Bank, where John Schroder works out of the Odana Road office on Madison's west side. Below are a few reasons why our buying clients