Madison Area Real Estate News

Jacci & Rachael See/The See Team Receives 2021 Best of Middleton Award MIDDLETON November 6, 2021 -- Jacci & Rachael See/The See Team See Madison Realty has been selected for the 2021 Best of Middleton Award in the Real Estate Agents category by the Middleton Award Program. Each year, the Middleton Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Middleton area a great place to live, work and play. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2021 Middleton Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Middleton Award Program and data provided by third parties. About Middleton Awa...

RIS Media,  by Marcie Geffner, March 3, 2014 An FHA loan is a mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration, a government agency within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Borrowers with FHA loans pay for mortgage insurance, which protects the lender from a loss if the borrower defaults on the loan. Because of that insurance, lenders can, and do, offer FHA loans at attractive interest rates and with less stringent and more flexible qualification requirements. 1. Less-than-perfect credit is ok: The FHA doesn't mandate a minimum credit score. Instead, each borrower's creditworthiness is considered in context. Some leeway is allowed. Lenders can, however, overlay their own requirements on top of the FHA's guidelines. Some lenders might require a minimum credit score. 2. Minimum down payment is 3.5 percent: That is a fraction of the percentage typically required on most other loans. 3. Closing costs may be covered: The FHA allows home sell...

RIS Media, Top Trends in Real Estate for 2014,  by Jeff Collins, January 11, 2014 Economists predict 2014 will see more buyers putting roofs over their heads, home prices are expected to stabilize, and homebuilding will be more frenetic. "The housing market has staged a spectacular recovery over the past year," Cal State Fullerton economists Anil Puri and Mira Farka wrote in their 2014 economic forecast. "More recent data, however, point to a softening of these trends." 1. More Inventory: You can expect to see more people putting their homes up for sale this year, as rising prices bring new equity to underwater homeowners. Other property owners also may take the opportunity to get their lives off hold and take advantage of higher home prices. "I'm hoping that, since interest rates are still low, it's a better opportunity not only to sell, but to rebuy," said homeowner Donald McCray. Another factor: New home construction is expected to incre...

RIS Media, Today's eNews,  October 15, 2013 Increasingly, homeowners around the nation are investing in their outdoor living space. Investing in outdoor living provides a good return on investment for most people, making it an ideal home improvement project. 1. Resale value  HGTV claims that homeowners recoup 65 – 90 percent just by adding a deck. Experts agree that investing in outdoor living space will add to the value of your home and a lot of the cost will come back to you when it is time to sell your home. 2. Personal enjoyment  Having a relaxing outdoor living space will create an environment where the family can relax together and enjoy each other's company. 3. Save money  Create the environment you are seeking in your own backyard, and save the gas and fees of taking your recreation elsewhere. 4. Entertaining opportunities  Having an ideal outdoor living space creates an oasis for entertaining. Whether hosting a holiday gathering, Friday night s'...

Statewide, year long sales were up almost 11% over last year and median prices increased 7.2% over last year.  ”Strong sales dominated 2013, which is remarkable given that this is compared to 2012, which was also a very good year for the housing market”, said Steve Lane, chairman of the WRA Board of Directors. Lane noted that housing sales were strong despite rising interest rates and prices. “Mortgage rates have increased a full percentage point since January, and median prices have grown consistently throughout the year,” Lane said.  While they have risen lately, rates remain affordable historically. Wisconsin Home Affordability index is currently at 227. This is a big decrease in affordability since an index of 274 seen last December. HOWEVER, to put things into perspective, the National Home Affordability index is 170. Regionally, here the real estate sales recap comparing 2013 to 2012: (Source WRA) Southeast Wisconsin/Metro Milwaukee real estate statistics ...

Wisconsin REALTORS® Association, 2013 October Home Sales Report,  November 18, 2013 Wisconsin's red-hot real estate market cooled in October, with sales of existing homes nearly identical to October of last year, according to the most recent housing report issued by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association. October sales were just 0.1 percent lower than last October, representing the first time since July of 2011 that monthly sales did not increase over the previous year. The median sales price however continued to rise, increasing 5.6 percent to $142,500 in October relative to October 2012. On a year-to-date basis, median prices increased 7.5 percent compared to the first 10 months of 2012. "While somewhat surprising, these numbers are not totally unexpected," said Steve Lane, Chairman of the WRA board of directors. "We are comparing sales between two very strong years and two very healthy markets," said Lane. Year-to-date sales in the state are 12.4 percent h...

Allow us to provide you with our professional services to help you move on, move up, move out and reach your real estate goals. Studies show that homes sold using a Realtor sell for a higher price. That and having the hassle, negotiation, marketing and legalities handled by your Realtor while you go about your business… well worth it. Less FSBOS, even with internet Real estate has changed dramatically since the internet came about, with much  property info available on sites such as firstweber.com.  Yet, studies also show that people are using Realtors more, not less.  The information on a house is now readily available and just the very tip of the iceberg in terms of a real estate transaction.  It is our job to interpret data and guide you through a complicated series of deadlines and events that lead to a home sale. First Weber is the Human Side of Real Estate. Your guide and trusted advisor. The See Team is the premiere real estate team in the g...

This chart shows that a very small percentage of Americans expect home prices to fall in the next 12 months. By a good margin, continued increases are expected. This is good news to everyone with a hand in real estate – even homebuyers. Why homebuyers? The buyer’s market is gone and they will pay more. Rising home values has long been an expectation of homowners – a given! The last few years took away some of that security. Rising home prices expected so widely should make a buyer feel secure in investing in real estate, even if it is at a higher price.  Rising values is what everyone wants in real estate. To Buy or Sell real estate in Wisconsin To sell your property in Wisconsin with excellent care contact The See Team. To buy a home, sit down and talk with The See Team to discuss your options and talk about Wisconsin buyer agency ( http://www.firstweber.com/ buying/buyer- agency.php ). Either way, First Weber can help. We are the Human Side of Real Estate. The See Team is the...

Wisconsin REALTORS® Association, 2013 August Home Sales Report,  September 23, 2013 Home sales and median prices both grew at a healthy pace in August, continuing the hot real estate market in Wisconsin, according to the most recent housing report from the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). Existing home sales were up 13.7 percent in August compared to last August, closing out a very strong summer for home sales and 26 straight months of sales growth. Home prices showed similar strength with the median price rising 6.3 percent to $152,000 in August. Median prices have been up 17 of the last 18 months. "This has been a very strong summer for home sales, which is important for a state like Wisconsin where there are strong seasonal sales patterns," said Steve Lane, broker with First Weber Group REALTORS® in Stevens Point and the new Chairman of the WRA board of directors. He noted that in a typical year, about 42 percent of home sales in the state take place between ...

RIS Media, by Jack Guttentag,  September 4, 2013 It is easier to sell a house that is attractive to potential buyers, which means that you spend a little time and money on cosmetics. This is partly just a matter of making sure the house is clean, the yard is neat, the driveway is swept, bushes pruned and so on. Easily fixed structural defects, like a loose shingle, should be fixed. Houses almost always look better when furnished than when empty—and they also look larger. If you are moving to another residence and plan to take your furnishings with you, try to arrange to show the house before you move out of it. But if your house also has structural defects that are costly to fix, the challenge is in deciding whether or not to fix them before sale. Every house has defects, some obvious and others hidden. Both types will affect the price a buyer is willing to pay. It is a mistake to think that a potential buyer will assume that the only defects that exist are those that are ...

The months supply of single family homes and condominiums for sale in Dane County is down to 4.81 months –  6 months generally indicating a balanced market – and is down from 7.75 months of inventory last August. Source SCWMLS ( http://www.scwmls.com/ public/stats/ stat_search/ monthly_co... ) Elsewhere in the South Central Wisconsin real estate market, August sales met or exceeded last August’s sales in these counties: Columbia, Iowa, Rock and Sauk. Median sales price increased everywhere during August except in Iowa County.  Year to to date, median sale prices are up in all counties but Grant which is down 4%. South Central Wisconsin real estate remains very affordable. Of the almost 10,000 properties currently for sale, the price category with the most homes for sale – 1,096 – is $200,000-$249,999.  There are over 2,000 homes for sale priced below $100,000.  And, for those with more to spend, there are over 2,500 listings for sale in South Central Wisconsin pric...

Existing home sales were up almost 14% compared to last August, closing out a very strong summer for Wisconsin real estate sales. Median prices also gained traction with a 6.3% rise during the past year. This is the 26th month of home sale gains in Wisconsin. “This has been a very strong summer for home sales, which is important for states like Wisconsin where there are strong seasonal sales patterns,” said Steve Lane, broker with First Weber Group and the new Chairman of the WRA board of Directors. All regions of the state were up. Southeast Wisconsin/Metro Milwaukee real estate statistics Sales up 14.5%, Median sales price up 6.6% South Central Wisconsin/Madison area real estate statistics Sales up 18.4%, Median sales price  up 10.2% Northeast Wisconsin/Fond du Lac/Appleton area real estate statistics Sales up 9.9%, Median sales price up 1.9% Central Wisconsin/Wausau  area real estate statistics Sales up 23.2%, Median sales price down 3.8% Northwoods Wisconsin real estate...

Wisconsin REALTORS® Association, News,  July 22, 2013 Wisconsin home sales rose an impressive 11.4 percent in the first six months of 2013 compared to last year, according to recent statistics compiled by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). In June alone, Wisconsin home sales were up 3.1 percent relative to last June, posting the 24th straight month of positive sales growth in the state. Median prices also continued to increase year-to-date, rising 7.7 percent to $140,000 compared to the first half of 2012. In June, prices were up 12.3 percent to $159,500 compared to June 2012. According to WRA numbers, sales for the most recent six-month period are up 33.1 percent over the first half of 2011—an increase of more than 8,700 additional home sales. Moreover, construction of new homes is showing signs of solid improvement as well. "The rebound in building is a very positive sign for our markets in Wisconsin," said Renny Diedrich, WRA board chairman. Unique foreclosu...

Here are a few important things sellers should know when it comes to working with current homebuyers. 1. Price is king.  Buyers are still wary about the market and overpaying for a home. They know many buyers overpaid in the mid 2000s and then found themselves underwater when home prices dropped. They also know others who have bought foreclosure or short sale properties more recently. Yes, neighborhoods and school districts matter greatly, but the ultimate filter will be price. 2. Buyers begin their shopping online.  According to the 2012 Profile of Buyers and Sellers from the National Association of Realtors®, for 41% of homebuyers, their very first stop in the home buying process is the Internet. In their search, they set filters for homes they want to see, such as price, bedrooms, and garage spaces. That is wonderful news if a seller's home is priced correctly—it will come up in the initial search. However, it also means that if a property starts out overpriced to "test...

State Street in  Madison, WI , makes both a symbolic and literal connection between a university and its city. Set in the city's historic downtown, on an isthmus between two scenic lakes, the iconic street is lined with shops, galleries and restaurants, and links the University of Wisconsin to State Capitol Square. Students, residents, and tourists frequent this pathway of commerce and entertainment. State Street gives visitors a taste of the city's cultural and epicurean offerings, which include craft beer pubs,  music venues , art galleries and shopping centers. Madison's high concentration of independent restaurants helped it land on our  Top 10 Foodie Cities 2013  list. University officials strongly support a tradition known as the Wisconsin Idea, which stems from a political philosophy that education should improve people's lives beyond the classroom, and have embarked on a mission to incorporate community partnerships into course work. The university's Morg...

Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA), 2013 April Home Sales Report,  May 20, 2013 Wisconsin existing home sales jumped 9.2 percent in April 2013 compared to April 2012, representing 22 straight months of positive sales growth in the state. Median prices climbed by a solid margin, growing 7.8 percent over the past year to $138,000, according to the most recent statistical report released by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). "This is a solid but sustainable pace of sales," said Renny Diedrich, chairman of the WRA board of directors. This continues the modest growth established in the first quarter of the year nationally in which sales were up 9.8 percent, as well as for Wisconsin, where revised figures show that sales rose 11.7 percent compared to first quarter of 2012. "It looks like the first quarter trends are continuing into the prime selling period of the year, which is very encouraging," Diedrich said, noting that in a typical year, about 60 perc...

Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA), Latest News, HousingWire, Real Estate, S&P/Case-Shiller: Home Prices Continue to Strengthen,  by Megan Hopkins, April 30, 2013 Home prices continued their upward trajectory according to data released in the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices. With prices appreciating throughout the country and buyers facing multiple offers on homes, many are wondering if we are in another bubble. Redfin's Chief of Real Estate Operations, Scott Nagel, says this is a question his agents are constantly asking. "The catastrophic bubble that popped five years ago was plagued with faulty loans," said Nagel. "In contrast, today's rapidly rising home prices are largely driven by the abundance of all-cash offers and a lack of inventory. And when the home purchases are financed, appraisals and other tight lending practices are keeping home prices more in check." Analysts at Econoday agree, noting that the Case-Shiller report onl...

The See Team has been named #1 out of the top #100 realtors at First Weber Group for the third straight month.  Madison, Middleton, Fitchburg, Verona, Wisconsin are all prime real estate territories that have been bucking the downward trend in the real estate market. The See Team has been the leader in sales and listings for the better part of 2011 for the south central Wisconsin First Weber market.  We specialize in single family and condo sales.   For information on finding real estate, including the perfect home in the Madison, Middleton Wisconsin areas, consult the See Team:   http://www.seemadisonrealty.com

2nd Annual Children's Dyslexia 5K Walk Henry Vilas Park Shelter House 7:30 am Check-in/Registration 8:30 am Start Event Day, On-Site Registration Fee $20.00 www.walkfordyslexiamadison.org This event is to raise money to support the Children's Dyslexia Center-Madison and its purpose of helping children with dyslexia learn to read and write. For information on finding real estate, including the perfect home in the Madison, Middleton Wisconsin areas, consult the See Team:   http://www.seemadisonrealty.com