The month of December has arrived, which means it's time for our annual real estate predictions. Below we've identified 8 key market trends for the coming year. For a look back at our 2019 predictions, check out this article which we published at the end of last year.

Our 2020 Madison real estate predictions

#1: Mortgage rates will remain well below 5 percent.

We're not economists and we're not experts in the mortgage market, but we do know 2020 is an election year. Because of this we expect mortgage rates will remain near historically low levels throughout all of 2020. 

#2: Inventory will remain low.

Dane County's growing population needs housing, but the pipeline of new listings and new construction homes isn't sufficient to meet the

Most of the real estate reports put out by the media focus on active listings (inventory) and sold listings (number of sales, median price, and days on market). Expired listings are another key part of the market that often get overlooked. You might be asking, so what is an expired listing, anyway? An expired listing represents a listing contract between a seller and real estate brokerage which does not result in a successful closing. In other words, a listing that runs its course and "expires" without selling. 

More about expired listings 

In a buyer's market, a large number of listings expire because there are more sellers than buyers. In a seller's market, a low number of listings expire, because there are more buyers than sellers. The 2

Over the years we've assisted hundreds of homeowners with their sale, and along the way we've observed a few key reasons why some sellers succeed (and others do not). Below we cover 4 key traits which our most successful sellers tend to exhibit. 

Four traits of successful sellers

1) They have a positive mindset about their sale

Our most successful sellers have positive expectations for their sale. Working side-by-side with our stager and our real estate team, they commit to doing all of the little things that will lead to multiple offers, a high price, and a quick closing. They know that by taking all of the right steps upfront they are positioning themselves for a successful sale and a smooth closing. 

2) They are proactive with their

There are many reasons why Dane County property owners can feel good about their investment. Here are 5 big reasons why the greater Madison area is one of the best places in the country to own a home, condo, or investment property. 

5 reasons why Madison is a great place to own real estate

Strong local employers

The greater Madison area is blessed with many thriving businesses and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Innovative companies like Epic Systems, Exact Sciences, and others are fueling growth by adding a variety of new, high-paying jobs to our economy. 

A high quality of life

The Madison area has a strong reputation throughout the country for being a great place to live and work. The University of Wisconsin, a

The Dane County real estate market is always changing, but one dynamic we can continue to count on is low inventory. Here are a few reasons why the supply of Madison area homes and condos will remain low for the foreseeable future. 

Why Madison area housing supply will remain low next year

1) A low supply of new construction homes and condos

Although it may seem like there are a ton of new construction homes and condos being built in Dane County, much of the new construction growth in the area has been for commercial space and apartments. New home construction has been running well below historical highs for the last 14 years (see graph below). New condo construction has been very scarce and insufficient to meet the demand in the

Jennifer and Jordan Hegerfeld worked with Maureen Moran as they were getting ready to buy their first home. The couple found themselves with an accepted offer on their ideal condo, but there were hitches with securing the mortgage. Read on for the story of how Maureen’s persistence helped these first-time homeowners successfully purchase their new home.

Ready to become homeowners

Jennifer and Jordan began searching for their first home in March of 2019. They were ready to have a place of their own with more space, in a great school district for their child. At first, they considered single family homes, but most of the properties in their price range were fixer uppers and not in move-in condition. They found themselves looking for condos, which

Imagine you and your buyer agent have been looking for the right home for the past few months, and now you know you've found the right one. You're excited by the possibilities of owning your next home, but you realize you need guidance on how to structure and negotiate your offer to purchase. Here are five great questions to consider before you and your agent draft your offer. 

5 questions to ask before writing your offer 

1) What is important to the seller?

Having your buyer agent ask the listing agent this simple, open-ended question can reveal so much about the seller's priorities. And usually, you will learn there are factors very important to the seller that have nothing to do with price. For example, the seller may prefer a specific

As we near the season of Thanksgiving we'd like to express our gratitude for a few people who are amazing at what they do. If you've been a client of our team, you no doubt have worked with a few of these folks as part of your purchase or you sale. All of these people have played a huge role in our clients enjoying a successful year of buying and selling in 2019. 

Our marketing team

Thank you to our marketing team - Joe Molloy, Samantha Haas, and Tracy Kapela - who continually experiment with new and creative projects that benefit our clients and our team. You are a huge reason why our clients love their listings and why we love our jobs. Thank you also to Laura Kocum and Sara Ifert for the excellent writing projects you contribute to our team.

Here's our latest summary of the Dane County real estate market. For more information on the market in your particular neighborhood or condo association, please reach out to your favorite Mad City Dream Homes agent. 

Accepted offers 

Mortgage rates dropped in August and Madison area home buyers responded. September of 2019 was the third most active month of September on record. A total of 438 Dane County single family home listings received accepted offers, which was up 9% year-over-year.  

Condo accepted offers decreased, but still came in at the 6th highest level on record for the month of September. Inventory is especially tight in the Madison area condo market, and is limiting buyer activity in 2019. We cover condo supply a little later

We've summarized our latest snapshot of the Madison area single family home and condo markets below. For more thoughts on the opportunities available to buyers and sellers this fall, check out this recent blog post. 

August home and condo prices

Dane County home prices are at an all-time high and have risen 2 percent through the month of August. 

Dane County condo prices are also at an all-time high and are 3 percent higher through the month of August. 

August accepted offers

Dane County home buyers were active in the month of August. Accepted offers rose by 3% for the month and were lower by 4% year-to-date. 

Accepted offers in the condo market were lower by 11% in August and by 9% year-to-date. A lack of affordable