We're more than a month into this pandemic and we're learning many of you are still moving forward with your plans to buy your dream home. You have important, personal reasons for buying at this time, and you're committed to buying in a manner that respects social distancing. As we continue to assist many of you during the pandemic, we thought it would be interesting to share why some of you are choosing to buy right now, at a time when others are putting their plans (or being forced to put their plans) on hold.

Why you're buying a home or condo during the pandemic

Here are some of the main reasons why many of you are choosing to buy right now, even though there's so much uncertainty in the world around us. 

1) You want your own safe haven

When you think of closing on your home, you might envision yourself signing paperwork around a big conference table, followed by getting the keys to your new home. Just like most parts of the real estate buying and selling process, the closing process has been adjusted to keep you safe. Read below for the many options Homestead Title is giving our clients for closings. They also have shared tips for buyers and sellers who will be closing soon.

A new venue for closing - your car!

Some title companies have made minor adjustments to the closing process by offering clean pens, scrubbed tables, more distance between parties, and limiting the number of people attending closings. Homestead Title has gone a step further to protect clients, offering

When it comes to saving money, reviewing your insurance may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Dennis Cliff of Cliff Insurance Agency thinks differently. Insurance is one of those things that most people set and forget. But, there are often opportunities to save, or increase coverage if your situation has changed. Even during this time of social distancing, Dennis and his team can help you evaluate your options.

Dennis got into insurance after a family member had worked in the industry. He felt it could be a good fit for himself. Dennis purchased the former Wilson-Boylan Agency in 2003, after working for a decade at MetLife.

When it comes to insurance, the sweet spot is finding the best coverage at a reasonable cost. Cliff Insurance

Real estate practices and consumer expectations have shifted dramatically over the last few weeks, and we're learning almost every aspect of the buying and selling process can be done virtually. The real estate market is changing for sure, but buyers are still buying, and sellers are still selling. Many of our clients are still achieving all of their dreams and goals; they're just going about the process in a whole new way. 

Do you have questions about buying or selling during these turbulent times?

Whether you need to buy or sell right now, or you just want to start planning for the future, we can help you move forward with your goals as we practice social distancing. You're likely to have a lot of questions, so please reach out to us and

Even during these uncertain times, we're learning there are a lot people in the Madison area who have a very strong need to buy a home or condo. They have important personal or family reasons for buying at this time, and they're moving forward with their dreams and goals.

It also goes without saying that most buyers want to purchase their home in a manner that respects social distancing. We've been working in this mode for a few weeks now, and we have some case studies to share with you about our clients who are buying their home virtually. As you can see from the examples below, we're representing our clients in some new ways during this time of change. 

Buying a home virtually during coronavirus/COVID-19

Chris Venden recently wrote an

Real estate practices are evolving quickly as we all adjust to a world with coronavirus/COVID-19. One new practice that is coming soon is the digital closing. In a digital closing, the parties to a transaction sign their paperwork via e-signature from the comfort and safety of home. To learn more about how a digital closing works for buyers and sellers, please check out this article from the Homestead Title real estate blog. Thank you Peter Zarov for being a leader in the real estate field and for helping to spread the word about this important development.

We're all adjusting to new ways of living, and for our clients and team, new ways of buying and selling real estate. During this period of social distancing, here are a few of the measures that we're evaluating and implementing in order to protect the health of our clients, staff, and the larger community. We understand we'll need to continually evolve our practices as we adjust to the events around us. 

How we're practicing real estate and social distancing

Working remotely and meeting virtually

Our agents and staff are now working from home and using conference calls and Zoom to conduct our team meetings. We're also carrying out buyer and seller consultations with conference calls and Zoom. 

Using technology to conduct staging consultations

Imagine a new property has just hit the market and you know as soon as you view it online it's the perfect house for you. It has the dream kitchen you've been waiting for, a beautiful and private yard, and the perfect location in your ideal neighborhood. The only problem is you know there are dozens of other buyers out there who are fawning over this house just like you. So how do you get your offer accepted when there are so many other buyers in love with the same property? Read on for our 5 tips that will help you successfully buy your dream home in 2020. 

5 tips that will help you buy your dream home in 2020

1) Be the first to visit the property and the first to write an offer. 

Sometimes getting your offer accepted is all about being the

This year is another year of low mortgage rates and low inventory in Dane County, so 2020 is already proving to be another very competitive year for local home and condo buyers. With this in mind, here are our do's and don'ts for buyers in this year's fast-moving market.

Three don'ts for Madison area buyers in 2020

1) Don't wait for the weekend open house to tour a property

Instead, rely on your buyer agent to schedule a private showing as soon as each property hits the market. Many properties are selling right away and aren't lasting until the open house. 

2) Don't call the listing agent to arrange a showing. 

By the time you reach the listing agent, there's a good chance the property is already sold to another buyer. You're better off

The spring real estate market will be heating up soon. Are you thinking of making 2020 the year you buy or sell a home? There are things you can do now that will help you stay competitive in what’s expected to be another busy real estate market this spring. Read on for tips from our team for ways you can prepare, and then contact us for a consultation. We can help you achieve your buying or selling goals.

Looking to sell?

1. If you’re thinking about selling your home, be proactive. You’ll set yourself up for a better home-selling experience if you begin planning and preparing right now. Many people feel stressed when they have to rush through the process, and planning ahead can make the whole experience much easier. Reach out to schedule a