What makes Madison, Wisconsin original and unique? The neighborhoods. Madison is home to an amazing variety of local settings, each with its own identity and character. There is no better example of this than the neighborhoods on Madison's Near East Side. Authentic. Ecclectic. Urban. Unique. All of these terms have been used to describe the neighborhoods on the Near East Side of Madison.

The real estate on Madison's Near East Side dates back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. With homes lining Madison's Isthmus and the city's two iconic lakes, the setting of the Near East Side is like no other in Madtown.

The Near East Side is home to Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Atwood Avenue, "Willy Street", James Madison Park, and Olbrich Gardens. It's the unique

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

The Bentley Green Condominiums on the far west side of Madison offer an abundance of space, tranquility, and modern conveniences. Our featured end-unit at 9052 Paddington Parkway offers an incredible value as well. This 3 bedroom, 3.5 unit with over 3,000 finished square feet has it all. A modern, open layout with a great room that features a dramatic 2 story ceiling. Granite counter tops and high-end stainless steel appliances. Hardwood floors. A large master bedroom suite with a walk-in closet and master bath with tile shower surround. A cozy lower level family room with custom built-ins and gas fireplace. At $315,000 this unit has all the features you expect in a modern, luxury condo - except for the price. This is the best-priced condo in Bentley

Madison, WI condos are very popular for many reasons. As the baby boomers age, more and more are choosing the easier condo lifestyle as an alternative to the high-maintenance single-family home lifestyle. But how does moving into a condo affect your life on a day-to-day basis? Of course, the largest change you'll have to make is living in a smaller space. However, you might be surprised at how large some Madison condos are. There are many available at affordable price ranges with over 2,000 square feet. We've put together a few points of consideration for those moving into a condo from a detached home, and even those just downsizing to a smaller abode. These are potential pros and cons you might not think about when downsizing.

1. The kitchen in your