Leap Day

It’s Leap Day!  Every four years we are blessed with an extra day of the year.  It has something to do with the calendar and the rotation of the sun, or maybe it’s the rotation of the earth.  All I know is it’s an extra day.  So on this leap day, do something special; something you wouldn’t normally do.

• Jump in a puddle
• Kiss a baby
• Say hello to stranger
• Let someone cut in front of you in line at the store
• Eat a piece of cake
• Don’t honk at the bad driver.
• Have an extra splash of cream in your coffee
• Put a smile on your face and enjoy the day.

Be happy. Today is an extra day.  Make it count.

Happy Leap Day!

January 2016 Home Sales

As the temperature rises and the days become longer, you can almost feel spring!  That feeling is true in the Madison Real Estate market, too.  The market is HOT!!  Buyers have ventured out earlier than usual this year.  With inventory in short supply, which was also the case last year, it may turn into a seller's market again this year.  Stay tuned...

In the meantime, you can see what sold in January and early February on the near west side.

 

5202 Pepin Pl Madison, WI

Sold: $255,000

3 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 1959
Sold On 01/19/16	1876 sqft
Price/sqft: $136

 

3701 Zwerg Dr Madison, WI

Sold: n/a

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1950
Sold On 01/19/16	1876 sqft
Price/sqft: n/a

 

4105 Hillcrest Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $265,000

2 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1941
Sold On 01/19/16	1510 sqft
Price/sqft: $175

 

3617 Odana Rd Madison, WI

Sold: $241,000

5 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 01/11/16	2594 sqft
Price/sqft: $93

 

2259 Regent St Madison, WI

Sold: $252,000

3 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 1909
Sold On 01/07/16	1971 sqft
Price/sqft: $128

 

733 Copeland St Madison, WI

Sold: $450,000

2 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 01/05/16	919 sqft
Price/sqft: $490

 

151 Lathrop St Madison, WI

Sold: $540,000

0 Bed, 0 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 01/05/16	1 sqft
Price/sqft: n/a

 

5002 Holiday Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $289,900

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1956
Sold On 01/05/16	1668 sqft
Price/sqft: $174

 

10 S Owen Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $277,500

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1942
Sold On 01/04/16	1272 sqft
Price/sqft: $218

 

5137 Pepin Pl Madison, WI

Sold: $300,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1959
Sold On 01/04/16	1880 sqft
Price/sqft: $160

 

2842 Barlow St Madison, WI

Sold: $179,550

2 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1950
Sold On 12/30/15	876 sqft
Price/sqft: $205

 

617 Copeland St Madison, WI

Sold: $275,000

3 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 1930
Sold On 12/28/15	1194 sqft
Price/sqft: $230

Is Loyalty Alive?

With all the Super Bowl hoopla, I was thinking the other day about loyalty.  Undoubtedly, people are loyal to their favorite sports teams.  The bead-wearing, face painters love their sports teams!  Of course people are also loyal to family and friends and their place of worship.  But are people really loyal?  Overall, my initial assessment is no, people are not loyal.

Then a few weeks ago I received an e-mail from a friend and client that changed my mind.  I helped them sell their house and purchase a new one.  The sale of their house went smoothly.  The purchase of the new house was a different story.  It was fraught with frustration.  There was lots of negotiating, five counter offers (yes, FIVE!) and several times we didn’t think it would work out.  It did and they are all settled.

Fast forward to the e-mail I mentioned earlier.  This is what it said:

“Hi 

We received your solicitation mail today.  We have no interest in using your services and ask that you not send us any more mail.

Kathy Epping was (and will be in the future if needed) our realtor from Restaino and not even your offer of $1000 closing credits is enough to entice us to switch.”

Wow!  My heart sang and I smiled from ear-to-ear.  Maybe people are loyal!  Maybe if you are honest, have integrity and do the right thing, people remember.  This client did.

So I’ve changed my mind.  Not only are people loyal to their Alma mater and their church, but people are also loyal to those they appreciate.

So as you settle into your easy chair to watch the Super Bowl fanfare on Sunday, think about your allegiances.  Do you appreciate the people that help you?  It doesn’t matter what that journey is.  Perhaps it’s better health, dealing with adversity or buying a house.  Whatever it is, appreciate those who lend a helping hand.  It will pay dividends down the road.  I promise! 

Future is Rosy...for Real Estate

With January behind us, it's becoming clear that the outlook for the Real Estate market for the foreseeable future is pretty rosy!

One example of a healthy market can be found in the fact that foreclosure inventory is dropping as the national economy is improving. On a nationwide level, only 3.4% of homes are in serious delinquency, and 29 states, including Wisconsin, have a foreclosure inventory rate lower than the national average.

Because of the low foreclosure inventory, the average home values have been on a steady increase. It should be noted, however, that homes across the country are appreciating at different rates.

With increased home values and interest rates continuing to hover around four percent, now may be an extremely attractive time for perspective buyers and sellers to make a move. Financially speaking, it is a good idea to keep a close eye on mortgage rates, as it remains difficult to predict with any certainty what the future will hold. Again, they appear to be holding steady for the time being, but an increase has been forecast for some time.

One thing that is certain not to change in 2016 is my commitment to YOU!  I look forward to helping you buy or sell or answer any questions you may have.  I'm here to help!