While every real estate situation is unique, our team has noticed that sellers often view offers from buyers more favorably if they’re working with a local lender -- especially someone who takes the time to vouch for them. Even if your offer isn’t the highest or it includes financing or has other contingencies, having a local lender as part of the transaction can help distinguish your offer in a competitive market. Online or out-of-state lenders can cause listing agents to worry about appraisers, communication, and accountability. Sellers want a smooth closing, and a local, knowledgeable, and service-minded mortgage lender can help pave that path early on. 

For example, the determining factor in Mad City Dream Homes REALTOR Jake Johnson’s clients

Spring is in the air, and that has golfers eager to hit the links! Golf course communities have long been attractive places to buy or build a home due to the on-site amenities and sweeping views. Below we round up 15 neighborhoods that are within a short distance of a golf course in the Madison area. Click on the community name to read our full neighborhood profile and see current listings.

Bergamont - Located in Oregon, this community surrounds the Legend at Bergamont 18-hole golf course. In addition to great views, the community has many amenities including a restaurant, fitness center, and a swimming pool. Homes in this neighborhood are upscale and many have unique features like home theaters and chef-quality kitchens.

Bishops Bay - Along the

Having weathered a year of the COVID pandemic, it's not hard to see the many ways our lives have been affected. For some homebuyers, job changes or furloughs may have decreased the amount of home they can afford. Other potential buyers have shifted to more self-employment work and aren't sure how that affects their financing. Patrick Averill of Thompson Kane has been helping many of our clients secure financing during this unique time. He recently shared a few insights with us about the current lending climate.

Q: How has the lending market changed with COVID? Is it more difficult to secure a loan?

Patrick: Due to COVID, underwriting guidelines have become more strict than they used to be. More up-to-the minute income information is required

At some price points, cash offers and escalating prices have made it more difficult for financed buyers to be competitive - especially if they’re only able to put 3-5% down. But, there are ways buyers can stand out in this situation. One way to appear more competitive in a tight market is through your lender. Dave Grauwels of Guild Mortgage helps many of our clients. He recently chatted with us to share how he and his team help his customers go through the offer process with a competitive edge. Read his top three strategies below.

Dave's Tips for Being Competitive as a Financed Buyer

1. Get your pre-approval underwritten so your offer is nearly as appealing as cash. If a buyer starts the pre approval process early in their search, we can

Madison mortgage rates keep falling, and are now at their lowest levels since November of 2016. Check out this chart from Freddie Mac, which shows how interest rates have trended over the last 3 years. 

Locally, some Madison area lenders are publishing rates for a 30-year fixed rate loan as low as 3.5%. 

How do lower rates help you right now? 

If you're planning to buy right now, here are the two big benefits:

First, today's low rates give you more homes to choose from by lowering your monthly mortgage payment, which is a big plus in our low inventory market. 

Second, the timing of this rate drop is very beneficial to anyone who's serious about buying right now. That's because many sellers are becoming more flexible with their pricing

Mortgage rates were projected to rise in 2019, but they continue to defy all of the projections put forward by industry experts at the end of last year. In fact, as of this writing, rates are at their lowest levels in a long time. Thirty-year fixed rate loans are currently running around 3.75%, and 15-year fixed rate loans are trending around 3.25%. 

This chart from Freddie Mac shows how mortgage rates have fluctuated over the last year. As the graph shows, rates have improved by more than a full percentage point since last November. 

How do lower mortgage rates impact you? 

For starters, if you've purchased a home or condo in the last couple of years, now is a good time to check with your lender and see if it makes sense to refinance. Ask

The Mad City Dream Homes team believes local lenders are the most ideal partners to help you with your home purchase. Why? It’s because they often have more flexibility and a quick turnaround time, which can be the keys to a successful real estate purchase in the current, fast-paced market.

The team has worked with all kinds of lenders, and has learned a few things along the way. “I’m always amazed when we have to chase down a loan commitment,” says Chris Venden. This has happened when working with lenders that aren’t local.  They don’t always understand the quick turnaround needed in the Madison area, and they sometimes have multiple layers of red tape that need to be worked through before they can make a commitment. "There is nothing more

In the age of online everything, home buyers may be tempted to use online lenders. These lenders offer online mortgage applications and approvals, and claim to offer the best rates for your home purchase. But they may not be your best option. Karen Wedvick, a mortgage lender at Johnson Bank, explains why local lenders are best equipped to help you with your home purchase. "When buying the biggest purchase of your life, you might want some local advice. There are lots of things that kill deals besides your credit rating and interest rates," she says. Wedvick suggests buyers consider the advantages of a local lender:

1. Local Decision Making. A lender at a local bank is well-versed on the local market. They often approve their own loans (or have

In a hot real estate market, making a strong offer to purchase is the key to success. If you include a contingency to sell, it can be enough to prevent you from obtaining an accepted offer. Because there are a limited number of properties available this spring, we encourage our buyers to do everything they can to avoid having a sale contingency on their offer.

Karen Wedvick, of Johnson Bank, offers a few suggestions to help buyers have a good offer ready, without selling first.

1. Get a Home Equity Line of Credit BEFORE you List your Home.  A line of credit allows you to use your home equity to work for you, including the option to use it for a down payment. This option can be appealing, because it typically allows you to access 90% of your current

Sit down with Steve Hansen at Summit Credit Union, and he will put you right at ease. He's the kind of lender that listens to you, partners with you, and helps to prepare you for a home purchase. "I really want to be an adviser to my clients,” he says.  “I can look at their goals and help them develop strategies to meet them." Sometimes this involves identifying the best mortgage options available. Other times, it can be figuring out how to reduce debt and save for a down payment.

"Having a down payment isn't always required, but it certainly makes the home buying process easier," he says. But so does having a pre-approval letter prepared for the moment you make an offer. "In this market, you have to move fast. If you have the pre-approval in hand,