Food for Thought on Interest Rates

Looking back over the last 6 months, I have mentioned several times that I believe interest rates will be heading up soon and that buyers need to put every effort possible into buying a home. "Preaching to the Choir" would be a fair assessment of responses received from home buyers in a market that regularly produced multiple offers on homes listed, and many cases where offer price exceeded asking price. So why do I devote yet more space to this "old" story?

  I want to address the other side of that broken record.

Namely, those of you who already own your home and feel content that you have secured a living environment that will be "adequate" for the next several years. For those who think they may have one more move in their future, serious consideration to moving needs to be front and center for you right now. History has shown us that interest rates regularly cycle from high to low and back again. The last time rates were this low? The 1960s...yes, over 50 years ago. If rates do start heading up, (which is actually quite possible in December) it is not likely that most of us will be able to wait 50 years before moving again.

Just some food for thought as the year winds to a close.  Do your thinking now.   Another spring Real Estate season will be here before you know it!

September 2015 Home Sales

I know, I know...this topic is everyone's favorite: area home sales!  Well, here's the list of what SOLD on the near west side of Madison in September.  Recognize any??

4109 Mandan Cres Madison, WI

Sold: $1,300,000

5 Bed, 4 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/18/15	4594 sqft
Price/sqft: $283

201 Larkin St Madison, WI

Sold: $186,000

1 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/18/15	870 sqft
Price/sqft: $214

3809 Meyer Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $330,000

4 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/17/15	1204 sqft
Price/sqft: $274

118 S Whitney Way Madison, WI

Sold: $295,000

4 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/16/15	2011 sqft
Price/sqft: $147

4329 Somerset Ln Madison, WI

Sold: $286,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/16/15	2062 sqft
Price/sqft: $139

23 Walworth Ct Madison, WI

Sold: $230,000

3 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/15/15	1648 sqft
Price/sqft: $140

3926 Nakoma Rd Madison, WI

Sold: $365,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/15/15	1945 sqft
Price/sqft: $188

3805 Meyer Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $299,250

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/14/15	1788 sqft
Price/sqft: $167

3507 Gregory St Madison, WI

Sold: $275,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/14/15	1372 sqft
Price/sqft: $200

646 Anthony Ln Madison, WI

Sold: $294,000

4 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/11/15	1787 sqft
Price/sqft: $165

257 S Segoe Rd Madison, WI

Sold: $298,900

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/11/15	1876 sqft
Price/sqft: $159

2246 Rowley Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $566,580

4 Bed, 4 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/10/15	3020 sqft
Price/sqft: $188

5321 Manitowoc Pkwy Madison, WI

Sold: $260,000

3 Bed, 4 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/09/15	2439 sqft
Price/sqft: $107

305 S Segoe Rd Madison, WI

Sold: $268,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/09/15	1840 sqft
Price/sqft: $146

225 Westmorland Blvd Madison, WI

Sold: $268,900

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/09/15	1778 sqft
Price/sqft: $151

663 Pickford St Madison, WI

Sold: $425,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/08/15	2178 sqft
Price/sqft: $195

2215 Rowley Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $362,500

3 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/08/15	1326 sqft
Price/sqft: $273

4154 Manitou Way Madison, WI

Sold: $575,000

4 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/08/15	2196 sqft
Price/sqft: $262

3972 Plymouth Cir Madison, WI

Sold: $510,000

3 Bed, 4 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/02/15	3054 sqft
Price/sqft: $167

633 Sprague St Madison, WI

Sold: $325,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/02/15	1281 sqft
Price/sqft: $254

2105 Keyes Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $389,000

4 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/02/15	1823 sqft
Price/sqft: $213

1826 Rowley Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $402,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/02/15	1517 sqft
Price/sqft: $265

871 Waban Hl Madison, WI

Sold: $165,000

3 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/02/15	2187 sqft
Price/sqft: $75

206 Richland Ln Madison, WI

Sold: $335,900

4 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/02/15	2204 sqft
Price/sqft: $152

3411 Sunset Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $855,000

5 Bed, 4 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/02/15	4480 sqft
Price/sqft: $191

917 Hampshire Pl Madison, WI

Sold: $245,000

4 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/01/15	2150 sqft
Price/sqft: $114

401 Hilldale Ct Madison, WI

Sold: $164,000

2 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/01/15	871 sqft
Price/sqft: $188

1121 Sunridge Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $301,500

3 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 09/01/15	2636 sqft
Price/sqft: $114

Java Wednesday

Java Wednesday!  What's that??  Well, every Wednesday morning I'm at EVP Coffee House on Mineral Point Rd. from about 8 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Join me to talk about the neighborhood, the housing market in Madison, buying or selling a home on the near west side of Madison or just to chat.

I meet new people there every week, and sometimes I visit with old friends.  For more than four years I've been writing this Blog and going to EVP on Wednesdays.  I've learned a lot and met lots of new friends.  Over the course of that last few years I've been able to keep track of neighborhood planning issues, learn about what's occurring in my neighbor's lives and gain insight into neighborhood hapenings  I've also  learned I REALLY like iced coffee.

Join me on Wednesday.  I look forward to seeing you!

Did You Know?

Now that the days are shorter (really short, actually!), we begin to think about hunkering down for the winter.  We rake leaves, dig out our winter coats and mittens and find the snow shovels in preparation.  Here are a few other things to consider:

Leave the Leaf:

Madison leaf collection has already begun, but there is a new program called Leave the Leaf that encourages homeowners to manage leaves on their own property. Leave the Leaf, is designed to reduce phosphorus runoff from leaves, improve the quality of area soil and lawns, and reduce the need for more leaf collection trucks and staff.

The 20th Century attitude towards leaves was that once they fell they created lawn litter and had to be removed. It’s a new day, and time for some new thinking. It is time to view leaves as an asset that can be used to improve your lawn and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. Leaves also make great mulch, garden cover or rich compost.

Alternate street parking:

·        Alternate Side Parking is in effect from November 15 - March 15, seven days a week, regardless of weather conditions.

·        Park on the EVEN house numbered side of the street on even numbered days from 1-7am.

·        Park on the ODD house numbered side of the street on odd numbered days from 1-7am.

·        Violations of the Alternate Side Parking rules are subject to a fine of $20 when a Snow Emergency has NOT been declared.

Safe Communities:

An organization in Madison offers a program to help prevent the elderly and all Madison residents from falls.  More area residents land in the hospital after a serious fall than from any other injury cause.  In 2011 alone, 1,700 Dane County residents - most of them older adults - were hospitalized after falling. Safe Communities of Dane County provides programs to help prevent falls.

We all know that Madison is a great place to live, work and play. The city also offers lots of resources to make the city even better!