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        <title>Mad City Dream Homes Real Estate Blog, Madison WI</title>
        <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/</link>
        <description>Your Madison WI real estate blog. News &amp; views about Madison area homes, condos &amp; South Central Wisconsin real estate. Questions? Call 608-852-7071</description>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/madison-area-condo-market-trends-for-june-2026.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/madison-area-condo-market-trends-for-june-2026.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Madison area condo market trends for June, 2026</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Dane County condo prices were mixed in June, while new listings decreased and accepted offers increased. Here's our deep dive into the June Madison area condo market. Note: All of our data is sourced directly from the South Central Wisconsin MLS. 


What questions do you have about buying or selling a condo in the Madison, Wisconsin area? Reach out to one of our condo experts for a helpful consultation. 


Dane County condo prices 


 


June Madison area condo prices




The price per square foot was $256, up 8 percent from $236 in June of 2025.


The median price decreased from $329,250 in June of 2025 to $325,000 in June of 2026, down 1 percent. 


The average price increased from $366,065 to $377,877, up 3 percent. 




Year-to-date condo prices through June




The price per square foot decreased from $239 in 2025 to $237 in 2026, down half of a percent. 


The median price decreased from $327,900 to $315,000, down 4 percent. 


The average price decreased from $370,100 to $359,553, down 3 percent.  




A few comments about Madison area condo prices this summer


Some condos continue to sell very quickly this year and for record-high prices within their association. Conversely, some condos are selling for lower prices while taking longer to find the right buyer. 


One reason for this is condo inventory quietly continues to grow, giving buyers more options to choose from in 2026. More on this later in our report.  


Another big reason for this is this year's buyers are more selective compared to buyers in previous years. They're more hesitant to take on the costs of repairs and updates when they also consider their monthly mortgage payment, condo fees, and property taxes. However, they're also willing to pay a premium for the condo where all of the repairs and updates have already been addressed for them. 


Also note from the chart above, condo prices are up 64 percent from the 2019 pre-COVID market, and up 138 percent from the most recent market bottom in 2012. If you've purchased a condo in the last 5 to 15 years, you've likely accumulated a significant amount of equity in your investment.


Reach out if you'd like some help determining how much equity you have in your condo. We'd be happy to assist you with this exercise. 


 


New condo listings 


Condo listings increased in each of the first five month of 2026, but dipped lower in June. A total of 172 Madison area condos were listed for sale in June, down 9 percent from the 190 condo listings in June of 2025. Through the first six months of the year, condo listings are up 8 percent from the year before. 


 


 


Accepted offers 


A total of 126 Madison area condos went under contract in June, up 12 percent from the 113 in June of 2025. Through the first six months of the year, accepted offers are up 6 percent from the year before. 





 


Dane County condo supply 


As of July 10th, a total of 291 Madison area condos were available for purchase (without an accepted offer), up 20 percent from the 243 condos at the same time last year. Dane County currently has 2.5 months of condo inventory on the open market, compared to 1.8 months of single family home supply. 


Note the seasonality of condo supply in the chart below. Condo supply will increase throughout the summer and into the fall season (as it does every year), creating more opportunities for buyers who remain patient and committed to their search. 





 


Competing offers


Competing offers are trending lower in 2026 and are now below pre-pandemic levels. According to our preliminary numbers for the month of May: 




25 percent of all Dane County condo contract signings involved multiple offers in May of 2026.


In May of 2025, the percentage was 33 percent.  


In May of 2021 (the peak pandemic market), the percentage was 50 percent. 


In May of 2019 (the pre-pandemic market), the percentage was 34 percent. 




We view the trend toward less competition as a healthy one, one that ultimately creates more opportunities for first-time buyers and downsizers who have been struggling to purchase the right condo in Dane County's tight market. 





 


Expired condo listings


Expired listings (listing contracts that don't result in a successful sale) are clearly trending higher in 2026. According to our MLS data for the first half of the year, a total of 174 Dane County condo listings expired without selling in the first six months of the year, compared to just 63 last year.


The 174 expired listings through the month of June is the highest we've seen in Dane County since 2014. This is a clear sign that our local condo market is becoming more balanced, with buyers and sellers operating on a more level playing field in 2026.


For condo sellers, focusing on the basics of sound pricing, staging, and marketing is key to achieving a successful sale in our more balanced market. 


 


Check back soon for the rest of our June update...
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:02:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/no-registration-required.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/no-registration-required.html</link>
        <author>amanda@madcitydreamhomes.com (Amanda Verbrick)</author>
        <title>No registration required</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 


At Mad City Dream Homes, we’re allergic to “forced registration.” We do not require you to give us your contact information to see our website’s resources and guides. And we never require you to sign a contract to get to know us.


We encourage you to peruse our online profiles or call us to join you for a cup of coffee — there is no contract, fee, or obligation as you do your research. 


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:52:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/recommended-vendor-mike-austin-epic-electric.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/recommended-vendor-mike-austin-epic-electric.html</link>
        <author>amanda@madcitydreamhomes.com (Amanda Verbrick)</author>
        <title>Recommended Vendor: Mike Austin, Epic Electric</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
We recommend Mike Austin at Epic Electric for your electrician needs. Mike has proven to be a great communicator and an expert in his field. While diagnosing an issue, he offers clear explanations and transparent pricing.We encourage you to reach out to Mike, whether you’re looking to take care of a small repair or have a panel replaced at mike.austin@epicelectricmadison.com or 608-445-1497.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:53:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/recommended-vendor-tend-native-plants.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/recommended-vendor-tend-native-plants.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Recommended vendor: Tend Native Plants</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
We recently recommended K&amp;A Greenhouse as a wonderful resource for your gardening needs. Another excellent resource is Tend Native Plants out of Blue Mounds, just a short drive from Madison. 


If you're interested in converting some of your yard to a pollinator friendly habitat, Tend Native Plants is a wonderful place to start. Sarah, the owner, clearly has a passion for native plants and wildflowers. She's been a tremendous resource for my family, as we convert more and more of our yard to native wildflowers, sedges, and grasses.


Just like our family, you'll be amazed by how much you learn — and by all of the birds, bees and butterflies that flock to your yard — as your native plants take root. 





(Bee Balm is easy to grow and a favorite for bees and butterflies.)
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:20:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/its-not-goodbye-its-call-anytime.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/its-not-goodbye-its-call-anytime.html</link>
        <author>amanda@madcitydreamhomes.com (Amanda Verbrick)</author>
        <title>It's not goodbye, it's call anytime</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
When the closing paperwork is signed and we hand you the keys, it's not &quot;goodbye&quot; — in fact, we'd love for you to call anytime.Call us if you need a repair completed and don't know where to start. Call us when you need a second opinion on a home improvement project's return on investment. Call us after the big storm if you're unsure if there's damage to your property. Call us when you can't remember how to reprogram the garage door opener. And call us when you or a loved one is making a move.We want to be your one-stop shop for real estate questions — if we don't know the answer, we'll find someone who does for you.


What questions are on your mind?



 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:23:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/madison-area-single-family-home-trends-for-june-2026.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/madison-area-single-family-home-trends-for-june-2026.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Madison area single family home trends for June, 2026</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Dane County home prices moved higher in June, as new listings, accepted offers, and home sales all increased. Here's our mid-year review of the Madison area single family home market. Note: All of our data is sourced directly from the South Central Wisconsin MLS. 


Dane County home prices





June Madison area home prices




The price per square foot increased from $258 in June of 2025 to $261 in June of 2026, up 1 percent. 


The median price increased from $501,250 to $537,300, up 7 percent. 


The average price increased from $587,341 to $613,752, up 4 percent. 




Year-to-date prices through the month of June




The Dane County price per square foot increased from $249 through June of 2025 to $257 through June of 2026, up 3 percent.


The median price increased from $476,000 to $500,000, up 5 percent. 


The average price increased from $557,334 to $582,682 up 5 percent.  




A few comments about home prices this summer


The well-prepared and properly priced homes continue to sell quickly and for record-high prices in 2026. At the same time, buyers are also more sensitive to costs this year. Homes that are priced too aggressively and needing significant repairs and updates tend to sit on the market and undergo price reductions. Consequently we are seeing more single family home listings expire without selling in 2026. More on this later in our report. 


Also note from the chart above, Dane County home prices are up 61 percent from the 2019 pre-COVID market, and up 115 percent from the most recent market bottom in 2012. If you've purchased a Madison area home in the last 5 to 15 years, you've likely accumulated a significant amount of equity in your investment.


Reach out if you'd like some help determining how much equity you have in your home. We'd be happy to assist you with this exercise. 


 


New listings 


A total of 658 Madison area single family homes were listed for sale in June, up 8 percent from the 611 listings the year before. Year-to-date, new listings are up 4 percent compared to the first six months of 2025. The 658 homes listed for sale last month was the highest June total in the last 4 years.  





Accepted offers


Accepted offers also increased. A total of 520 Dane County homes went under contract in June, up 2 percent from the 509 homes in June of 2025. Year-to-date, accepted offers are up 7 percent from the year before. 





 


Dane County home supply 


As of July 7th, a total of 773 Madison area homes were available for sale (without an accepted offer), up 4 percent from the 742 homes at the same time last year. Right now Dane County has the equivalent of 1.8 months of single family home inventory (compared to over 2 months of supply for condos). 


Note the seasonality of home supply in the chart below. Supply will increase throughout the summer and into the fall season (as it does every year), creating more opportunities for buyers who remain patient and persistent with their search. 





 


Competing offers


Competing offers in 2026 are tracking closely to last year's market. According to our preliminary numbers for the month of May: 




37 percent of all Dane County single family home contract signings involved multiple offers in May of 2026.


In May of 2025, the percentage was 34 percent. 


In May of 2021 (the peak pandemic market), the percentage was 57 percent. 




Note the seasonal pattern in the chart below. Competing offers will trend lower throughout the summer and for the remainder of the year, creating more favorable market conditions for buyers in the months ahead. 





 


Expired listings


A total of 412 Dane County single family home listings expired without selling through the month of June, up 19 from the 346 expired listings last year. Note from the chart below, expired listings are the highest since 2019. 


For home sellers, this means the fundamentals of professional pricing, staging, and marketing are essential for achieving a successful sale this summer. 





 


Days on market


The average days on market in June was 23 days, the same as last June. Year-to-date, the average days on market was 33 days, up from 30 days last year.


Note from the graph below that days on market are increasing off of the rock-bottom lows of the pandemic market. Even so, marketing times remain quite low when compared to most other years this century. 





 


Dane County home sales 


A total of 652 Madison area homes sold via the MLS in June, up 20 percent from the 544 home sales in June of 2025. Through the first six months of the year, home sales are up 7 percent from the year before. 





What to expect from the market this summer


As we recently shared in this blog post, plenty of Madison area homes will sell this summer, but the pace of the market will moderate compared to the fast-paced market this spring. Buyers and sellers will be operating on a more level playing field this summer. 


If you're planning to buy or sell a home in 2026 or 2027, reach out to one of our full-time realtors. We'll help you make good decisions and create a solid plan that addresses all of your real estate goals — and never with any sales pressure or spin. 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 07:18:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/unconventional-realtor-marketing-that-actually-works.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/unconventional-realtor-marketing-that-actually-works.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Unconventional realtor marketing that works</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
If you scroll through most real estate marketing right now, you'll see many of the same things on repeat: another &quot;Accepted Offer&quot; graphic, another social media story set to music, another automated caption that could've been written for any agent in any market. It works, on the surface — it's getting the agent's name and face out there. But if everyone's doing the same thing, no one's really standing out.


We believe what actually builds a sustainable business looks a little different, and a little slower. It means putting your client's experience ahead of your social media presence, getting crystal clear on who you love working with, and creating content that's yours — not outsourced or automated. Here are four unconventional habits worth building into how you market yourself and serve your clients.


1) Make serving your clients your first priority.


It's become a best practice in our industry to post every accepted offer on social media as proof of a successful business. But from the client's perspective, a public celebration of their accepted may feel inappropriate and premature. After all, they haven't even had their inspection, and the closing is 30 days out. 


When we leverage the client's accepted offer for our own marketing purposes, the client may feel that we're thinking more about ourselves than we are about them. So, we encourage you not to adopt this practice. Instead, keep your focus on serving your client and keep giving them your best all the way through closing. 


When your clients know that they are always your top priority — and when you stay in touch with them long after the sale — they'll spread the word about your work to their family and friends. And it's this word-of-mouth marketing that will be your best foundation for a long and prosperous career. 


 2) Identify your ideal client, and work to attract them.  


Many realtors focus on doing as much business as possible with as many people as possible. Practiced over the long run, chasing every type of sale from every type of person can be draining and lead to burnout. It's a trap many of us have fallen into. 


To avoid this trap, we invite you to slow down and think about the traits of your ideal client. When you focus on traits, think about the personal characteristics and aspirations of the people you wish to serve. 


Ask yourself: what kind of person do you do your best work for? For many of us on our team, the answer is people who are a positive influence on us — clients who become friends, who bring generosity, hard work, and humility to their own lives and relationships. People who strive to be a positive influence in their day-to-day relationships and in the wider community.


With these traits in mind, your focus is clear: to bring a strong sense of generosity, humility and enthusiasm for your work to your client care and marketing. When you have a clear and consistent focus, you will attract more of your ideal clients, who in turn will refer you to their friends and family, who will become your ideal clients, too. 


3) Have something to say, and author your own marketing. 


The industry trend right now is to be visible online, all-the-time, on as many social media platforms as possible. Very often this leads to realtors automating or outsourcing their marketing to people (or machines) who have no clear sense of what type of client they're seeking to attract.


The outcome of this is approach is marketing that often feels generic and spammy, amidst a sea of other social media posts that feel the same. It's hard to stand out online when everyone else is doing the same thing as you. 


A good alternative is to create content based on your work in the community, marketing that is genuinely helpful and interesting to your ideal client. A few examples:




Share your buying and selling tips and insights on the latest market trends.


Highlight a local contractor who does amazing work.


Spread the word about a local non-profit that is making a difference in the community.


Create a puzzle or a game where the winner receives a gift certificate to a local small business. 




Once you're in the habit of authoring your own marketing, go deeper with your sharing. Repurpose some of your content by creating a monthly or quarterly newsletter, or by creating downloadable buying and selling guides on your website. When you consistently and generously share your insights with your ideal client in mind, trust will follow. 


4) Be consistent and play the long game. 


It can be tempting to follow the industry trend and mass-produce quick social media posts in an attempt to gain likes and followers. Once again we invite you to avoid this trap and be more purposeful with your approach: 




Identify your ideal client. 


Give them your best. 


Each week, author your own marketing and run your business with your ideal client in mind. 




When we cut to the chase, this is the unconventional part: while many other realtors are thinking about their next quick post, you're building something that lasts — your reputation with your ideal audience. That's a trade worth making. 


For more more thoughts on building a productive and sustainable career in real estate, check out our careers blog here. 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 08:39:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/blue-skies-on-any-day.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/blue-skies-on-any-day.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Blue skies on any day</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
We can't control our unpredictable Wisconsin weather, which is one of the reasons why we love partnering with Step Inside Media for your listing photos. Even on cloudy days, the Step Inside team consistently delivers beautiful and realistic blue-sky photos, like the photo below. 


This level of consistency and predictability allows you, the seller, to keep your timeline on track when you have so much riding on your sale. Your marketing materials, your go-live date, your showings, and your open house all hinge on having beautiful photos first. 





(photo courtesy of Step Inside Media)


At the end of the day, it's one less thing to worry about in a process that already has plenty of moving parts. If you're thinking about selling, we'd love to help you keep the whole timeline—photos and all—running smoothly. Reach out whenever you're ready for a helpful consultation. 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2026 06:25:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/an-early-read-on-june-listings1.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/an-early-read-on-june-listings1.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>An early read on June listings</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Madison area single family home listings increased last month; condo listings decreased. Here's our quick overview of Dane County listing activity for the month of June, 2026. Note: all of our numbers come directly from the South Central Wisconsin MLS. 


Dane County single family homes 


A total of 655 Dane County single family homes were listed for sale in June, up 8 percent from the 609 homes listed for sale in June of 2025. Year-to-date, single family home listings are up by 3 percent from the year before. The 655 homes listed for sale last month were the highest for any month of June in the last four years. 


 


Dane County condos


Condo listings decreased for the first time this year. A total of 172 Madison area condos were listed for sale in June, down 9 percent from the 190 condos in June of 2025. On a year-to-date basis, condo listings are up 8 percent. 





What this news means for Madison area buyers and sellers


Dane County home and condo listings are trending higher through the first 6 months of the year -- and in fact are the highest in 3 years -- leading to more purchasing opportunities for buyers this summer. In some cases, this means buyers have a better ability to negotiate terms and price. 


For sellers, more listings means the fundamentals of pricing, staging, and marketing are more important in 2026. Because buyers have more options, we recommend consulting with a real estate professional who will help you create a good plan for a successful sale in this year's market. 


Check in with our blog soon for more updates on the June Madison area real estate market. Of course you can also reach out to one of our real estate professionals with all of your buying and selling questions. We'd love to be a resource for you and help you plan for your future. 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 06:19:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/what-to-expect-from-the-dane-county-real-estate-market-in-july-2026.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/what-to-expect-from-the-dane-county-real-estate-market-in-july-2026.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>What to expect from the Dane County real estate market in July, 2026</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
The Fourth of July holiday is upon us, which means we're transitioning into a more mellow summer market. Here's our quick preview of what buyers and sellers can expect from the Madison area real estate market this July. 





 (Marshall Boats in Middleton) 


Expectations for buyers this July


New listings will enter the market at a more moderate pace, but buyers will benefit from a noticeable decrease in competition. More properties will undergo price reductions and sit on the market longer -- making this an excellent time for buyers to find the right home before the start of the new school year. 


Expectations for sellers


Sellers should be mindful that the peak spring market has passed, which means buyer showings, accepted offers, and competing offers will moderate throughout the summer. Plenty of homes will sell in July. Even so, sellers should work with their realtor to ensure their pricing, staging, and marketing are appropriate for a more relaxed summer market. 


Here are a few seasonal patterns from our historical data: 


Listing activity will trend lower in July. 


 


Buyer showings will moderate over the course of the summer.   





Accepted offers will drop well below peak levels. 


 


Competing offers will decrease noticeably in July. 



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    <pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 05:55:00 -0500</pubDate>
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