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!

August 2015 Home Sales

Well, you can feel it in the air and in the temperatures.  Fall has arrived.  And while there is typically a slow-down in the Real Estate market this time of year, that hasn't been the case in the last 6 weeks or so.  The market is still going strong!

Here's a sampling of properties on the near west side of Madison that have SOLD in August.

1015 Oakland Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $363,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/21/15	1350 sqft
Price/sqft: $269

214 Grand Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $366,500

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/21/15	1660 sqft
Price/sqft: $221

1005 Lorraine Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $160,000

2 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/20/15	942 sqft
Price/sqft: $170

1206 Edgehill Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $605,000

4 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/19/15	2715 sqft
Price/sqft: $223

625 Frederick Ln Madison, WI

Sold: $245,000

2 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/19/15	1316 sqft
Price/sqft: $186

4410 Hillcrest Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $272,550

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/19/15	1224 sqft
Price/sqft: $223

2154 West Lawn Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $462,500

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/19/15	1756 sqft
Price/sqft: $263

5405 Shaw Ct Madison, WI

Sold: $185,000

1 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/19/15	802 sqft
Price/sqft: $231

1201 Shorewood Blvd Madison, WI

Sold: $819,500

3 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/18/15	3300 sqft
Price/sqft: $248

3818 Cherokee Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $589,523

4 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/18/15	2881 sqft
Price/sqft: $205

4801 Woodburn Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $299,900

3 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/18/15	2847 sqft
Price/sqft: $105

402 S Segoe Rd Madison, WI

Sold: $245,000

4 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/18/15	2004 sqft
Price/sqft: $122

3606 Gregory St Madison, WI

Sold: $280,000

3 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/17/15	1423 sqft
Price/sqft: $197

634 Chatham Ter Madison, WI

Sold: $335,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/17/15	2112 sqft
Price/sqft: $159

5613 Westbury Pl Madison, WI

Sold: $270,000

4 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/17/15	1991 sqft
Price/sqft: $136

4348 Bagley Pkwy Madison, WI

Sold: $319,563

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/17/15	1564 sqft
Price/sqft: $204

66 S Midvale Blvd Madison, WI

Sold: $184,400

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/13/15	1328 sqft
Price/sqft: $139

485 Orchard Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $359,100

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/13/15	1935 sqft
Price/sqft: $186

742 Miami Pass Madison, WI

Sold: $535,000

4 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/11/15	3237 sqft
Price/sqft: $165

718 Briar Hill Rd Madison, WI

Sold: $239,900

2 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/11/15	1116 sqft
Price/sqft: $215

4108 Yuma Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $458,000

4 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/11/15	3306 sqft
Price/sqft: $139

521 Caldy Pl Madison, WI

Sold: $268,500

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/11/15	1757 sqft
Price/sqft: $153

3696 Lake Mendota Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $1,330,000

5 Bed, 4 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/10/15	5500 sqft
Price/sqft: $242

110 Standish Ct Madison, WI

Sold: $478,800

3 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/10/15	3224 sqft
Price/sqft: $149

207 Falles Ct Madison, WI

Sold: $370,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/10/15	2378 sqft
Price/sqft: $156

2222 Van Hise Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $525,000

4 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/10/15	2184 sqft
Price/sqft: $240

2508 Van Hise Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $421,500

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/10/15	1862 sqft
Price/sqft: $226

2928 Barlow St Madison, WI

Sold: $125,000

1 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/06/15	568 sqft
Price/sqft: $220

3 Courtland Cir Madison, WI

Sold: $250,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/06/15	1892 sqft
Price/sqft: $132

1822 Van Hise Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $389,900

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 0
Sold On 08/05/15	1660 sqft
Price/sqft: $235

Old and New

I grew up in Madison.  A lot of my grade school and high school classmates still live in town.  Surprisingly, I don’t run into many of them, however I did run into an old friend a year or so ago.  He mentioned he and his wife (also a former school mate) were looking for a cabin on a lake up north.

 

We exchanged lots of e-mails, phone calls, text messages and spread sheets to research Wisconsin lakes and locations.  We narrowed the search.  Time for a road trip…or several!  What could be better than spending a day looking at lake houses with friends!  We actually took several road trips that summer.

We narrowed the search even further and came up with two final contenders, each unique in their own way.  After another visit, a clear winner emerged.  An offer was submitted and accepted.  The usual course of action continued; inspection, appraisal, financing, etc.

And the financing brought in another former class mate...this transaction was turning into a class reunion.  It was awesome to get reacquainted with old friends!  At the closing table, we learned the sellers, also from Madison, knew many of the same people the buyers knew.  It is a small world.

This fall, I have been helping another friend and former classmate find a cabin in the woods.  It has been wonderful spending time with her family, getting to know her children and taking long walks in the woods.  We haven’t found their paradise yet, but we will!

One of the most rewarding aspects of selling Real Estate is the relationships formed and the friends made, both old and new.  I love helping my old friends, but I’m always looking to make new ones, too!  Perhaps you know someone who is trying to find that perfect piece of paradise.  Or maybe sell the paradise they now call home.  Have them give me a call, 333-4406.  As always, I’m happy to help!

A Change of Seasons

Fall is certainly upon us. Everything seems to slow down a bit, but that's OK. It's a perfect time to catch your breath from the hustle and bustle of summer and take a moment to inhale the crisp autumn air. This is also a perfect time of year to settle into new and different routines. Perhaps you can take on a new hobby. Or maybe you'll rediscover something you just simply haven't done in a while.

As someone with an interest in local real estate trends, one thing that I'd like to introduce you to is the Restaino & Associates online interactive map of the entire area Restaino & Associates serves. It's simple to find. Just log into the website,RestainoHomes.com, and click "Search by Interactive Map." Or for added ease of access to property and home listings, download the Restaino Interactive Map app from either the Apple App Store or Google Play!

From here, buyers, sellers, realtors, concierge service providers, relocation professionals, and anyone else who is curious about the region's property availability can get a quick education on what is happening in our market.

Via the "Search by Interactive Map" feature on RestainoHomes.com or through our app, everyone has the ability to search for homes available on the market in specific communities. We provide an in-depth look at where homes are located, but also community amenities such as schools, libraries, walking paths, proximity to places of business, etc. You can also view homes by the  MLS listing, active listing, new on the market, open houses and sold properties. It's a wonderful tool to get a quick snap-shot of the area.

So with the change in seasons, take some time to step into a new routine by learning what's happening in the real estate market in various local communities. You may be surprised by what you discover. That perfect home in an area you'd like to live might be available right now. And if you ever need more information about a home, a neighborhood or anything else real estate related, please contact me.

I am a housing expert, and I'm here to help!

Good Day, Bad Day

A few days ago, this was my day:
Be at home between 8:00 a.m. and noon for the cable guy.
Cable guy shows up at 12:10 p.m.
Cable guy walks around, in the basement, back upstairs, back to the basement then outside.
Cable guy assesses the utility pole at the edge of the property.
Cable guy says there are too many branches near the utility pole, he can't get up there.
Options? Trim the branches.  It's a safety issue.  No cable today. Reschedule Cable guy.

Now it's 1:30 p.m.  School begins the next day.  I have ZERO school supplies.
Drive to the store for school supplies.  Spend $138.00 on notebooks, pens, folders, binders, highlighters and calculators. Still need more supplies, but running out of time.  Will buy more supplies another day.  Head to my car.  NO KEYS!!  Look in the car window, there they are!! Hurrah!  Keys locked in the car.  Call my son to bring me spare keys.

On to the grocery store, since I am out of everything.  It's now 4:00 p.m., the bewitching hour at the grocer's.  Everyone jockeying for space and gambling on which checker will get them out the fastest.  I choose poorly.

This is turning out to be a bad day.  I think to myself, it's the bad days that make us grateful for the good days.  Chin up, Kathy! And then something miraculous happens.  I receive a call from a client who just called to thank me.  They have moved into their house and are getting settled.  They love the new house.  They are happy as can be...which of course, makes me happy!

This wasn't such a bad day after all!  Sometimes a multitude of "bad" things can be erased with just one "good" thing!  What a concept!

Hope your "good" days outweigh your "bad" ones!