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The Importance of Staging

Despite the slower paced real estate market here in Wisconsin, there are still many viable home buyers available.  A major difference between today’s market and that of a couple of years ago, is that the property inventory levels in the Madison and Middleton areas are high.  This means that prospective buyers have plenty of choices.  Madison area buyers are therefore looking at a large number of properties before deciding to make an offer.  If you want your home to be well remembered and stay on top of their list, then the first impression is crucial. 

In order to make a strong first impression, you need to properly stage your home before making it available for showings to all the Madison and Middleton area prospective buyers.  A few key staging items are in the bathroom and kitchen.  In the bathroom, be sure to avoid having grimy walls or shower doors.  Also, if you have any outdated tiles, find a paint that is appropriate for tile and add some modern colors to the room.  This, along with replacing an outdated vanity with a pedestal sink, will give the bathroom a fresh face at a low cost.  In the kitchen, consider making low cost updates by staining old cabinets instead of painting them.  Newer appliances are also key as they scream clean!!  Buyers look for clean kitchen and bathrooms, so keep those rooms show ready at all times in order to make the best impression possible.  The HGTV site has even more great staging techniques.  I would encourage you to take a look for ideas and to call me in for some suggestions.  I have great experience and success staging homes, and I work with Madison and Middleton area buyers on a regular basis.  I therefore have firsthand knowledge to many of their likes and dislikes.  So don’t hesitate any longer, give me a call and I’ll gladly come by to help you get your home show ready!!

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Madison Home Builders Going Green

The Madison real estate market has been going through a number of changes as it begins to re-stabilize itself into a more normal market. Middleton and Madison home buyers have more inventories to select from and a bit more time to consider their decisions. This is really great for Madison area buyers, despite the headlines that continue to haunt of a real estate crash. This is not the only the change that we are seeing in Madison real estate though. A new series of projects has recently begun in an attempt to transform some of Madison’s homes into more energy efficient living spaces. Some of our local builders are going green and providing Green Built Home Makeovers that will make homes 50 to 75 percent more energy efficient. Recently, a $100,000 remodel was done as a donation on the east side of Madison. The group is planning to do one donation project a year in the Madison area in an attempt to raise awareness of this important cause. Some of the modifications made were hybrid heat pump systems, modern electrical systems, rooftop solar panels, and energy efficient appliances. The donation project was organized by Project Home which is a non-profit organization that works towards bettering housing for low to moderate income residents in Madison and surrounding areas. They mostly concentrate in the Dane and Green counties. If this causes a chain reaction, this great cause could truly change the face of Madison area real estate.

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Freakfest 2007

I am a realtor that not only loves selling homes in the Madison area, but also loves living here.  I therefore am always looking for great events that showcase some of the fun in our community.  One that is coming up this weekend is especially fitting in light of the nearby Halloween holiday.  Freakfest 2007 is sure to be a great time. It is being held on State St. and will feature 3 stages of live music.  The party will go on from 7:30 PM to 1:30 AM with very reasonable ticket pricing.  I’ve attached the link with all the event details.  So grab your costume and head on down to State St. for the annual Freakfest.  Be Safe and Happy Halloween!!!!

http://www.channel3000.com/freakfest/index.html

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Timing Your Real Estate Purchase

I know it is difficult to sort out all the real estate headlines that hit the press on a daily basis.  Foreclosures, dropping prices, and daily decreases in sales volume!  Many people are asking themselves, “is it ok to buy a home with all of this swirling?”  Absolutely!!  With the shift that has occurred in this real estate market, we are definitely in the midst of a buyer’s market.  There are greater prices today than what we have seen in years, and these prices are paired up with fantastically low-rate mortgages.  Many speculators believe the Federal Reserve will cut the rate again by another quarter point at the end of this month.  This potentially means even better interest rates during a time when buyers have great negotiating ability.  My recommendation is to get a head start on your property search so that you are ready to take advantage of these great rate offerings.  This is a perfect time to step into home ownership and investment opportunities.

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2007, Fifth Highest Year on Record for Existing Home Sales

Although the real estate market has been slowing over the last 2 years, it is very important to note that 2007 will still be the fifth highest year on record for existing home sales. The National Association of Realtors has recently released reports providing evidence that people are still buying homes at historical levels and that the favorable mortgage rates are still in play for prospective home buyers. One out of every 16 American households will buy a home this year, with the expected total of existing home sales to be around 5.78 million for the year. This is compared to 6.48 million total sales in 2006, which is believed to be an unsustainable level by experts. With greater inventory levels, and more reaction time in the absence of bidding wars and panic among buyers, now is an ideal time to consider homeownership in the Madison and Middleton areas. For more details on this report by the National Association of Realtors, please send me your questions and visit their site.