Home-Buyers Post COVID Wish List

COVID, COVID, COVID.  Most people are tired of hearing about, reading about and talking about the COVID-19 pandemic.  It has consumed our work and home lives for weeks.  Now, as the grip begins to loosen, we are on to new adventures and a small return to "normalcy".

Yes, I have said this before, but here it is again.  Real estate never really took a break.  Sure, there was a bit of a slow down but buyers and sellers were still buying and selling.  We are now seeing an uptick in the market as more home sellers are listing their homes for sale.  In the last two weeks alone, Restaino & Associates listings have doubled.  I expect that to continue.  So what are buyers and sellers looking for after weeks of being homebound?  About what you would expect!  More space, inside and out, larger cooking and meal prep space and a home gym.

What are you looking for?  I can help!

Downtown Madison Living

Downtown living at it's finest!  Take in all that the Isthmus has to offer, art galleries, Overture Center, Farmer's Market and festivals when all these events resume and the establishments reopen, of course! 

This sweet condo lives like a house with plenty of space for entertaining and great light.  At night, the downtown lights are spectacular!

One short block to the square and two blocks to James Madison park.

The Color of Eggs

Aren’t these eggs beautiful?  The are different shapes and colors, but on the inside, they are all the same; the only difference is the color of their shells.

Of course, this made me think about the unrest of the last several days.  And more importantly, what to do about it.  I’ll be honest, I’m not sure what to do.  When in doubt, education is my first “go to”.  In recent days, I’ve listened to podcasts about racial justice and anti-racism.  I’m slowly and gawkily taking baby steps into conversations about race, with friends, co-workers and my family.  I’ll start at home and expand as I can.

I hope that by taking these baby steps to educate myself, how I can help will become more clear as time moves on.

While you typically receive Real Estate information or communication on events and activities in Madison, this message was different.  I hope you understand and can join me in trying to be part of the solution, however that looks.

Here’s an idea to get you started, if you are so inclined.  Read this article 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice. 

We gotta start somewhere because the eggs are beautiful and all the same.

We are Opening!

Slowly, slowly, slowly, the world is beginning to open again.  As we enter into Phase 1 of the reopening, some retail stores, restaurants and even bars are reopening with limited capacity and safety protocol restrictions.

As a Real estate professional, we have been open all along!  Sure the procedures have changed, but the process is the same.  Viewing property (many times virtually), counseling clients (via phone or virtually), writing offers (digitally) and negotiating.  Safety practices are in place to be sure all involved in the process, both buyers and sellers, feel safe.  And it works!

As we begin to reopen the rest of the world, the Real Estate market will also open wider.  More sellers will feel safe putting their homes on the market and an increased number of buyers will begin the process of looking for their next home.  If you are one of those people who have been waiting on the sidelines, step right up!  But hire a Realtor!  In this tight market, you should have someone in your court advocating for YOU!  Hit me up and let's have a conversation!

Covid Recovery? Madison ranked in Top 10

Siting a study by Moody's Analytics, Forbes Magazine reports Madison will be one of the top 10 cities to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic! Cities that were fast-growing pre-coronavirus will continue their rise. According to the study, One of the biggest impacts the country might witness, post-coronavirus, is a migration away from living in big cities.   Good news for Madison!

Real Estate is expected to help drive that recovery.  While inventory remains at an all-time low, buyer showings of houses are up 5% from a year ago.  A sure sign the Real Estate market is strong in south-central Wisconsin!  Hit me up if you are looking to buy or sell. Now is a great time to jump in!

House Search From Home

When you’re in the market for a home, finding the right neighborhood is super important. But how do you find the right place during the Safer at Home protocols?  

There is a wealth of information online that can be found while sitting on your living room couch.  Grab your laptop and see what I mean!

1. Check out neighborhood publications and local social media

An active neighborhood community will sometimes have a print publication or local social media groups that connect residents. These can provide information on local events and activities that will give you a better feel for the neighborhood. Social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter offer lots of info, too.

2. Go on a "Google walk"

You don't have to leave you house to take a "walk".  All properties listed on Realtor.com offer a Google street view that allows you to see the street view for the address.

3. Check out the Schools

Need info on neighborhood schools? The Madison Metropolitan School District's website provides info on staff, schedules and educational data. 

4.  Amenities

Need to know how close a property is to amenities?  Checkout WalkScore, which provides info on the "walkability" of a neighborhood including distances to grocery stores, parks and restaurants.

5. Contact a Realtor

It’s also a good idea to get in touch with a tech-savvy real estate agent.  In today's world, virtual and digital is where it's at.  

As always, I'm happy to help!

Pricing Strategy

There’s a big buyer demand for homes in today’s market, but that doesn’t mean you should price your home sky high when you’re ready to sell. Here’s why making sure you price it right is key to driving the best price for the sale.

There is a strategy to home pricing.  Setting the price at or slightly below market value could actually increase the visibility of your home and drive more buyers your way. Why does this happen? When potential buyers look at your listing and see a great price for a fantastic home, they’re probably going to want to take a closer look. This means more buyers are going to be excited about your house and more apt to make an offer.

When this happens, you’re more likely to set up a scenario with multiple offers, potential bidding wars, and the ability to drive a higher final sale price. At the end of the day, even when inventory is tight, pricing it right makes a big difference.

Here’s the other thing: homeowners who make the mistake of overpricing their homes may eventually have to lower the prices anyway after they sit on the market for an extended period of time. This leaves buyers wondering if the price drops were caused by something wrong with these homes when in reality, nothing was wrong, the initial prices were just too high.