The month of December is upon us, which means it's time for our annual real estate predictions. Below we've identified 8 key real estate trends for the coming year. For a look back at last year's predictions, check out this article from our blog. 

Our 2022 Madison real estate predictions

 #1: Demand will be strong in 2022 and for the long-term. 

Dane County is already the fastest-growing region in the state, and we expect this trend to continue for the foreseeable future. Retirees, who have the freedom to live anywhere, will choose Madison for its variety of amenities and access to good healthcare. Employees, who have the flexibility to work remotely, will relocate to Madison for the same reasons. Out-of-state investors will continue to

As many of you know, we offer Debbie Lea's staging services free of charge when you hire us to sell your home. Over the years we've developed a fantastic partnership with Debbie and a strong appreciation for all that she does for you and our team. In this season of gratitude, we'd like to share with you a few of the reasons why we're grateful for our partnership with Debbie. 

Why we love working with Debbie Lea

#1: Debbie is kind and thoughtful with her approach.

If you're like most homeowners, you will feel a little anxious and overwhelmed when you think about preparing your home for sale, and Debbie gets this. Debbie helps you envision your home's potential and gives you a sense of confidence as she transforms your property into a showcase

For many of us the holiday season is a time for reflection and resolutions. It's also the season when we start making our homeownership plans for the coming year.

What are your real estate goals for 2022?

Do any of these goals speak to you? 

#1) You have some home improvement projects in mind and you need recommendations for reputable contractors. You'd also like some insight into which home improvement projects offer the best return on investment.

#2) You've been dreaming of a new home and you need some guidance on how to make it happen. Inventory is tight right now, and you need help finding the home that's the right fit for your lifestyle and your stage of life.

#3) You'd like to meet with an expert about your home's current market

Congrats to our clients at 6713 Colony Drive who recently received a very quick, strong and clean offer for their home! Their success was due in large part to their commitment to the staging process, under the guidance of our stager, Debbie Lea, and listing agent Alan Feder. Working together as a team, our clients, Debbie and Alan set the stage for some amazing listing photos that were the key to this successful listing.

Killer kitchen photos

These shots show off the character and quality of this thoughtfully designed kitchen. 

Gorgeous family room photos

These pics display all of the natural elements in this unique and beautiful family room. 

Alan's plan included beautiful exterior shots, too.

These photos

If you're a reader of our blog it's no surprise to you how much our clients love our stager, Debbie Lea. Debbie has a gift for transforming homes into showcase properties. And thanks to Debbie, our clients feel a tremendous amount of pride when they take part in the transformation and view their finished product online. 

What may come as a surprise to you is that we often hire a moving company to help us implement Debbie's vision. And General Purpose Movers is the one company we rely on as a consistent staging partner. Time and time again GP Movers has proven that they are willing to do the little things in order to help our clients experience big results (this beautiful listing below is just one example). 

How can GP Movers help you implement

It's been a crazy year for real estate, especially for buyers who entered the fray this spring. So many buyers were forced to endure bidding wars earlier this year, with sometimes as many as 20 or more other buyers competing for the same home. A lot of buyers ended up feeling discouraged and burnt out, and some put their homeownership plans on hold. This was especially true for buyers who needed to sell their current home in order to buy a new one. They felt that they just couldn't compete with a home sale contingency. 

Reasons for optimism this fall

If you are one of those discouraged buyers we want you to know that there is hope for you this fall. That's because the market has cooled since this spring, and were are seeing more balance as we

Over the years we've had the pleasure of photographing some amazing kitchens! Here are a few of our favorite kitchen shots from the last few years. Thanks to our stager, Debbie Lea, and to our marketing team for making these photos possible. And of course, thank you to our wonderful clients!

350 S Hamilton St #204

350 S Hamilton St #901

927 Rumley Run

1110 Red Tail Drive

1880 Deer Haven Trail

3080 Yarmouth Greenway

2205 Town Hall Rd

4322 Rolla Lane

5035 Enchanted Valley Rd

Are you in search of your dream kitchen? 

We can help you find and buy your next home that comes with your dream kitchen already built. Give us a call and tell us about your dream home. We'll work closely with you and

While many of our clients live in the homes they are selling, we also work with out-of-town owners who are ready to let go of their investment properties or second homes. We are proud to offer sellers -- whether they’re nearby or far away -- peace of mind during the entire process. 

For example, when LouAnn H. chose our team to sell her Jamestown Newbury condo, she entrusted us with her keys and we took care of the rest. Agents Jake Johnson and Dan Miller collaborated to co-list the 2 bed/1 bath property, which had multiple offers and sold above asking price. 

2150 Allen Blvd #1, Middleton

Listed for $145,000 and sold for $150,000 -- $5,000 above the list.

Rather than having LouAnn spend two hours driving one way to open up her condo for

At Mad City Dream Homes, we don't have a budget for our real estate listings because customized marketing always helps our clients achieve the best results. Chris Venden's newest listing at 7538 Fallen Oak Drive is a great example. Here are just a few of the marketing pieces from Chris's latest luxury listing. 

Over 160 professional photos

For this nearly 10,000 square foot home we captured over 160 interior, exterior, and aerial photos. 

A video tour and doll house tour

Our marketing partner, Shutterzone Media, also produced a 4-minute video tour and a self-guided doll house tour for the home. You can click on the images below to view each tour. 

Floor plans for each level of the home

Tracy Kapela from our marketing

Low appraisals have become more common in the Madison area due to home and condo prices rising at an accelerated pace. If you're planning to sell your home soon, you should know this year's market can be tricky, because a low appraisal can potentially sidetrack your transaction, resulting in either a negotiated price reduction or even a canceled offer. 

Fortunately there are a few things you can do to protect your listing from appraisal issues. Below we share 7 ways you and your real estate agent can work together to prevent a bad appraisal from derailing your listing. 

7 ways to protect your listing from a low appraisal

1. Choose a listing plan that's designed to attract multiple offers. Your odds of receiving an offer with no appraisal