Ideas for the Persnickety

The Holiday shopping days are winding down.  If you are still unsure what to get that persnickety person on your list, I have a few ideas for you.  These are not in any particular order, but offer something unusual for the hard to please.

Wingra Boats Gift Card

• These can be used for classes, boat rentals or towards a membership to Wingra Boats.

 Olbrich Botanical Garden Membership

• Membership has it's privileges and there are several membership levels.  Discounts at the gift shop, pre-event membership previews and discounts on classes, to name a few of the benefits.

 EVP Coffee House Gift Card

• For a morning pick-me-up that can be used anytime!

 Donation to a charity in the name of the recipient

• Two of my local favorites are Lily's Fund for Epilepsy and Gio's Garden

Event Tickets

• The Overture Center and the Barrymore Theater, as well as other venues have shows throughout the year.

Willy St., Monroe St. and Middleton also offer many local shops where you can find unique gift ideas for everyone on your list.  Season's Greetings and Happy shopping!

Fall Home Sales

Late Fall continued to be a strong Real Estate market on the near west side of Madison.  While interest rates inched up somewhat and this year's inventory remained low, buyers were persistent.  Here's a list of recent home sales.  Maybe one was your neighbor!

Address                                  Sold Price        Closing Date

701 Gilmore St $525,000 11/18/2013 206 N Owen Dr $200,000 11/15/2013 5109 Shawano Ter $182,500 11/13/2013 444 Hilltop Dr $235,000 11/12/2013 701 Seneca Pl $390,000 11/12/2013 4809 Holiday Dr $477,200 11/08/2013 4022 Saint Clair St Not Disclosed 11/08/2013 225 Westmorland Blvd $250,000 11/04/2013 5302 Burnett Dr $267,000 11/04/2013 5062 La Crosse Ln $279,000 11/04/2013 2228 Monroe St $379,000 11/01/2013 517 Charles Ln $290,000 11/01/2013 113 Richland Ln $294,000 11/01/2013 625 N Segoe Rd Unit 907 $275,000 11/01/2013 555 S Midvale Blvd Unit 225 $220,000 10/31/2013 4609 Keating Ter $324,100 10/30/2013 470 S Segoe Rd $240,600 10/29/2013 2103 Commonwealth Ave $259,900 10/29/2013 2141 Hollister Ave $272,500 10/29/2013 4518 Wakefield St $280,000 10/25/2013 3918 Saint Clair St $213,500 10/22/2013 309 N Owen Dr $225,900 10/21/2013 477 Hilton Dr $189,000 10/21/2013 422 Glenway St $110,000 10/15/2013 4905 Waukesha St $279,644 10/10/2013 4330 Odana Rd $165,000 10/09/2013 11 Larkin St $395,000 10/08/2013 555 S Midvale Blvd Unit 323 $237,000 10/04/2013 2928 Mckinley St $291,500 10/03/2013 2118 Regent St $405,000 10/02/2013 602 Sheldon St $398,500 10/01/2013 630 Constitution Ln $189,000 10/01/2013 2 Birch Cir $310,000 09/30/2013 2211 Keyes Ave $620,800 09/25/2013 2514 Commonwealth Ave $275,000 09/25/2013 2339 Monroe St $287,600 09/24/2013 714 Huron Hl $575,000 09/23/2013 113 Bascom Pl $190,000 09/20/2013 2643 Van Hise Ave $485,000 09/20/2013 2929 Stevens St $183,500 09/20/2013 314 N Owen Dr $210,500 09/19/2013 3545 Lucia Crst $165,000 09/18/2013 625 N Segoe Rd Unit 511 $325,000 09/17/2013 506 Togstad Glenn $285,000 09/17/2013 713 Glenway St $212,500 09/16/2013 58 Merlham Dr $261,000 09/16/2013 840 Woodrow St $379,000 09/16/2013

Reasons to Buy

I was at a seminar recently and part of the subject matter was what motivates a person to buy a house?  While the reason is often very personal and depends on many scenarios, I think the answers to the question may surprise you.

Based on a Fannie Mae survey, here are the top 5 reasons Americans buy a home:

• A better place to raise their children
• A place their family can feel safe
• Ability to have more space
• Freedom to renovate to their taste
• Owning is a better investment.

Interestingly, the financial reality of a home purchase is at the bottom of the list.  For most Americans it's a lifestyle choice before a monetary one.  Of course, price comes into play, but it's not one of the top four reasons cited.

Even when owning is still 35 percent cheaper than renting, it's the lifestyle choices that really move people to purchase.