SOLD!

Early Fall in Madison remained a busy Real Estate Market.  Interest rates continued to stay low and although inventory was still in short supply compared to a "normal" year, many buyers were able to find exactly what they were looking for on the near west side of Madison.  In fact, a total of 47 homes sold from the end of August to mid-September in the Westmorland, Sunset Village, Hill Farms and Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhoods.

Here's a list of some of the recent sales through the middle of last month.  Perhaps one was your neighbor!

Address                Sold Price            Closing Date

217 E Sunset Ct	$290,000	09/11/2013
239 Standish Ct	$205,000	08/29/2013
4210 Mineral Point Rd	$199,900	09/09/2013
4005 Birch Ave	$272,000	08/29/2013
2 Birch Cir	$310,000	09/30/2013
302 Waverly Pl	$205,000	09/05/2013
3901 Birch Ave	$355,000	09/04/2013
4026 Saint Clair St	$280,000	09/04/2013
53 S Midvale Blvd	$164,000	09/06/2013
458 Glenway St	$297,000	09/09/2013
301 N Hillside Ter	$229,400	08/29/2013
58 Merlham Dr	$261,000	09/16/2013
3709 Zwerg Dr	$219,000	09/12/2013
230 Saint Croix Ln	$350,000	09/09/2013
314 N Owen Dr	$210,500	09/19/2013
555 Glen Dr	$255,000	09/06/2013
506 Togstad Glenn	$285,000	09/17/2013
2715 Van Hise Ave	$380,000	09/11/2013
306 N Segoe Rd Unit 102	$127,500	09/04/2013
616 Glenwood St	$375,000	09/06/2013
2929 Stevens St	$183,500	09/20/2013
713 Glenway St	$212,500	09/16/2013
4725 Lafayette Dr	$405,000	08/29/2013
2643 Van Hise Ave	$485,000	09/20/2013
2914 Barlow St	$231,000	09/06/2013
3545 Lucia Crst	$165,000	09/18/2013
2846 Stevens St	$255,000	09/06/2013
4910 Marathon Dr	$240,000	09/12/2013
625 N Segoe Rd Unit 511	$325,000	09/17/2013
625 N Segoe Rd Unit 1100	$839,900	09/09/2013
2514 Commonwealth Ave	$275,000	09/25/2013
625 N Segoe Rd Unit 602	$335,000	09/04/2013
2339 Monroe St	$287,600	09/24/2013
5018 South Hill Dr	$295,000	09/16/2013
3519 Tallyho Ln	$455,000	09/11/2013
3329 Tallyho Ln	$427,000	09/20/2013
836 Woodrow St	$280,000	09/16/2013
3215 Topping Rd	$570,000	09/11/2013
840 Woodrow St	$379,000	09/16/2013
2211 Keyes Ave	$620,800	09/25/2013
5109 Shawano Ter	$229,660	09/16/2013
110 Marinette Trl	$494,245	09/04/2013
113 Bascom Pl	$190,000	09/20/2013

A Better, Safer Madison

The City of Madison plans to purchase the property of the former Mt. Olive Lutheran Church on Mineral Point Rd. to build a Midtown police district.  The Mayor has earmarked $1.2 million in the 2014 capital budget for the purchase of the property.

It's been about a month since the news broke about the proposed use of the property, so this isn't new information.  However, in light of the lock down of a neighborhood school today due to a suspected armed man in the area, I think it's relevant to applaud the Mayor and the City for understanding the need for a better, safer Madison.

Car break-ins in the Sunset Village neighborhood over the past year and more recently the armed robberies closer to campus in the Vilas neighborhood clearly indicate a need for more police presence on the near West Side.  The West police district is located near Elver Park, which currently covers far too much geographic area to provide the kind of service and coverage Madisonians deserve.  Please don't misinterpret that to mean the Madison Police aren't currently doing a great job, they are.  But think about how much better and safer we would all be with a station a little closer to home.

It will be several years before the new Midtown police district will be built.  But we are on the right tract.  Kudos to the Mayor and the City of Madison for recognizing, and acting on, the need!

Frightful Finds

The days are getting shorter, the leaves are turning, and the apples are ripe; all signs that fall has arrived.  Now that we are fully entrenched in October, thoughts of pumpkins, Halloween and all things ghoulish come to mind.  Here are a few ideas to get you in the Halloween spirit:

A Terryfing Tour!
Tour a corn maize, Port Huron Brewing tour and Ghost Outpost Haunted Mansion in Wisconsin Dells on October 19th.  Terrifying!

Great Pumpkin Giveaway
Enjoy free pumpkins, refreshments, horse and carriage rides at Oak Park Bank on McKee Rd. in Fitchburg on October 19th.

Horror in the Dark at Olin Park
Tour a haunted house at Olin Park every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7-10 p.m. until October 26th.

Downtown Madison Family Halloween
Enjoy Halloween magic shows, musical performances, hayrides around the square and more from 2-5 p.m. on October 25th on State Street and the Capitol Square at the family Halloween event. 

Here's to a safe - but spooky - Halloween!

Local Lore

Looking to learn more about local lore and history?  Then consider taking in the Talking Spirit Cemetery Tour at Forest Hill Cemetery on Sunday October 6th.

Sponsored by the Wisconsin Veteran's Museum, the 15th annual tour will focus this year on Civil War-era figures buried at Forest Hill Cemetery.  Local actors will portray some of these local historical individuals.

The 90-minute walking tours will leave every 20 minutes between noon and 4 p.m.  Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children.  Forest Hill Cemetery is located at 1 Speedway Rd. near Madison West High School.

Seems like a good way the begin the scariest month of the year with Halloween just a few weeks away.

For more information, visit the Wisconsin Veteran's Museum website.