As small business owners we have the freedom to choose our values, and then we have the responsibility to live by them. And one of the responsibilities that we are choosing to live by is our belief that we are here to create good jobs for great people.

So, what is a good job? 

Ask ten different people and you'll probably get ten different answers, but for us a good job really comes down to 4 key traits. 

#1: A good job is one where we are encouraged to grow throughout our whole career.

When we choose to lean into our unique talents, and when we commit to daily and lifelong learning, we experience a level of accomplishment that we never imagined possible. We experience amazing, life-changing benefits when we set high standards for ourselves

If you're planning to sell your home in 2022, one of the best things you can do prior to putting your home up for sale is complete the painting projects that will make your home shine when it hits the market. Based on our experience, painting a home is an inexpensive investment compared to most other projects, and it always benefits the sale.

Of course, who you hire for your painting work can make all the difference. If you're in need of a reputable painting company, we recommend giving Five Star Painting a call. We've been receiving a lot of great feedback from our clients, our team members, and our stager about their professional and reliable staff. And everyone reports that the quality of their work and communication have been excellent.

November was another great month for Madison area condo sellers, who continued to benefit from record-high prices. Here's our latest Dane County condo report covering all of the latest price, sales, accepted offer, inventory, and days on market trends.

Dane County condo prices

The price per square foot increased by 12% in November and by 12% through the first eleven months of the year. The median price was up 7% for the month, and the average was up by 10%. Where do we see prices heading in 2022? Check out our annual predictions, which we recently published to our blog.

Dane County condo sales

Madison area condo sales were down compared to each of the last two years, but were still high from an historical context, registering the 6th

Have you been thinking of donating your time, talent or money to an initiative that's near and dear to your heart? There are so many committed organizations that are tackling important issues in the Madison area, and they need our support. Below we've highlighted just a few of the organizations that our team members are actively supporting right now. Perhaps one of these local community groups, or one with a similar mission, will inspire you to get involved in 2022? 

12 local organizations receiving our support

Defending Black Girlhood

• https://lilada.org/defending-black-girlhood-podcast/ 

Home Buyers Round Table

• http://www.homebuyersroundtable.org/ 

Foundation for Dane County Parks

November was another very active month for the Dane County single family home market. Here's our update on all of the current single family home trends in the Madison area.

Dane County home prices

The average price per square foot set a new record for the month of November and rose by 6% year-over-year. Year-to-date through the first 11 months of the year, the average price per square foot was up 9%. The median price was up by 6% in November, and the average was up by 2%. Could these numbers be foreshadowing a moderation in price growth in the year ahead? Check our our 2022 Madison real estate predictions for our thoughts on this topic.

Dane County home sales

Madison area home sales decreased 12% from November of 2020, but were still very

As building, lumber, and construction costs rise -- which leads to rising replacement costs to your home -- it’s important to make sure your property is fully covered.

What would it take to rebuild your home if something happened? The average inflation rate in Wisconsin this past year was about 10% and material costs were up about 14% in 2021 from early 2020, and “that’s where the rebuild costs get out of whack really fast,” said Steve Aune, an agent with American Family Insurance in Madison.  

People typically review their policy and coverage every few years to make sure their income and assets are protected. This can prevent them from being underinsured. Aune said some reasons to revisit it include if you: 

• Make material changes to

As we turn the page on 2021 and get ready for 2022, many of us are working on our goals for the new year. And for most of us, our goals usually fall into one of a few different categories. For example:

• family and relationships
• health and well being
• financial health
• and career-related goals

Another goal area that many of us are exploring right now is the area of community service. But with so many community service paths to consider, it can be hard to know where to begin. 

If you're feeling a little unsure about how to begin yourself, we have an exercise for you that will help you get started with your service journey. With this simple exercise you'll be able to choose your path by reflecting on 3 simple questions. 

Three

We'd like to offer a quick shout out to Shelley Lazzareschi and Christine McCorvie for their recent examples of strong buyer advocacy in a seller's market.

First, our kudos to Shelley, who recently helped her client Travis achieve an accepted offer on a home that never hit the open market. Because of Shelley's hustle and legwork, Travis was able to submit his offer without any bidding wars and without any competition. A stress-free offer is such a nice way to buy in this year's ultra-competitive market. 

And congrats to Christine, who just helped her clients Sarah and Jason negotiate $20,000 worth of concessions after a few surprises popped up during their home inspection. By scheduling contractors, obtaining estimates, and effectively

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

Dane County condo sellers continue to enjoy a very favorable fall market as we approach the holiday season. Here's our latest condo market update covering prices, sales, inventory, days on market, and more. 

Dane County condo prices

The average price per square foot increased by 9% in October and by 12% through the first ten months of the year. The median price was up 7% for the month, and the average was up by 4%. 

Dane County condo sales

Although condo sales decreased from last October's unusually strong market, sales were still very strong -- registering the 3rd highest total on record for the month. 

Accepted offers

Contract signings decreased by 19% from last October, but still came in at the second highest total on record