2nd Quarter Homes Sales

I had a conversation with a buyer at an open house recently who said she hasn't been able to purchase a house, not because she can't find one she likes, in the right location at the right price, but because the ones she has found already have offers.  Quite a change from a year ago at this time!

Media reports indicate that home sales have not reached "normal" levels after the housing collapse of the last few years.  That may be true, but on the west side of Madison, sales have been steady with some houses selling at or above the asking price.  We may not be back to bidding wars, but we are in a better place that we have been for some time.

Buyers are still looking for a good deal and they are persnickety, but less so recently.  Here's what happened on the near west side during the second quarter:

  Sunset Village Home Sales - 2nd Quarter 2012

Address	1st Price	Last Price	Sold Price	SP/FP	SP/LP	Cum. Days of Market	# Days From Last Price Change Until Offer
34 Hillside Ter.	$190,000	$190,000	$190,000	100%	102%	1	1
322 S. Owen	$205,000	$205,000	$203,000	99%	97%	3	3
18 S. Meadow	$224,900	$219,900	$206,000	91%	94%	42	15
3705 Zwerg	$229,900	$219,900	$217,000	94%	98%	131	20
3533 Heather Crest	$220,000	$220,000	$222,000	101%	99%	5	5
214 N. Meadow	$234,900	$234,900	$225,000	96%	96%	29	29
4210 Bagley	$242,000	$242,000	$230,600	95%	95%	13	13
317 S. Owen	$239,900	$239,900	$234,129	97%	97%	10	10
329 E. Sunset	$244,000	$244,000	$244,000	100%	100%	27	5
301 N. Owen	$249,900	$249,900	$249,900	100%	100%	11	7
4333 Felton Pl.	$274,900	$269,900	$270,500	98%		30	10
4312 Upland Dr.	$360,000	$244,000	$325,000	90%	94%	209	150
Average Total	$242,950	$239,950	$234,761	97%	98%	43	22

Westmorland Home Sales-2nd Quarter 2012

Address	1st Price	Last Price	Sold Price	SP/FP	SP/LP	Cum. Days of Market	# Days From Last Price Change Until Offer
591 Toepfer	$214,000	$185,000	$177,400	83%	96%	108	17
449 Toepfer	$197,500	$197,500	$195,000	99%	99%	9	9
609 Frederick	$200,000	$200,000	$205,000	103%	103%	5	5
4210 Somerset	$255,000	$255,000	$249,400	98%	98%	14	14
4104 Paunack	$269,900	$269,900	$260,000	96%	96%	60	30
3805 Paunack	$259,900	$259,900	$267,000	103%	103%	22	7
454 Holly	$340,000	$319,900	$301,000	89%	94%	41	19
602 Frederick	$349,900	$332,500	$337,500	96%	101%	53	23
3 Frederick Cir.	$389,900	$379,900	$365,000	93%	96%	174	25
Average Total	$275,122	$266,622	$261,922	96%	98%	54	16.5

Dudgeon-Monroe Home Sales- 2nd Quarter 2012

Address	1st Price	Last Price	Sold Price	SP/FP	SP/LP	Cum. Days of Market	# Days From Last Price Change Until Offer
610 Gilmore	$225,000	$225,000	$216,000	96%	96%	1	1
3314 Gregory	$250,000	$224,900	$230,000	92%	102%	46	6
607 Copeland	$259,900	$259,900	$245,000	94%	94%	46	6
502 Leonard	$310,000	$299,000	$295,000	95%	99%	173	29
749 Baltzell	$425,000	$425,000	$425,000	100%	100%	8	8
616 Pickford	$435,000	$435,000	$435,000	100%	100%	1	1
Average Total	$317,483	$311,467	$307,667	96%	98%	46	8.5

"The Fixer"

I like to read.  If you have read any of my posts, you'll notice I've written about the new Little Library's as well as local (neighborhood) authors.

I just finished a book by Madison psychologist and author Teri Woods called "The Fixer".  It's a murder mystery based in the Pacific Northwest and it has twists and turns that will keep you on your toes!  It also recently received acclaim from Kirkus Reviews, the self-proclaimed "World's Toughest Book Critics". 

Kirkus called "The Fixer" a "first rate chiller” with “solid characters, unpredictable twists and excellent plotting; a must-read for those who enjoy crime fiction.”

I couldn't agree more!  "The Fixer" is available on Amazon.com  You can find out more about the author and "The Cruelest Cut", her upcoming sequel to "The Fixer" at www.tewoodswrites.com

Let me know what you think of the book.  Happy reading! 

Walkability

My house has a walk score of 60.  What's a walk score?  I'm glad you asked!  As the website explains, your Walk Score answers two questions:  "What can I do to improve my personal health?" and "What can I do to improve the health of the planet?"  Two pretty important questions!  Your walk score takes into account where you live and determines how far you have to walk to certain amenities.  With that information, a walk score is assigned.

From my house, I can walk to the library, church, the coffee shop, three parks, the ice cream shop and the gas station in 10 minutes or less.  If I'm really ambitious, I can walk further and hit the grocery store, a major shopping area and several local restaurants.  For me, that's a pretty walkable neighborhood.  If you live in the Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhood your score shoots up to 70 or more!  My old neighborhood on the near east side has a walk score of 75!  And of course, if you live downtown, you can expect and even higher walk score.  Add biking to your repertoire of transportation and you can cast an even wider net.  You can find out your Bike Score at Walk Score, too.

Proximity to amenities is an important aspect of how people decide where to live.  It's especially significant in an active community like Madison.  The near west side and the near east side neighborhoods lend themselves to walking and biking.  These neighborhoods are also within close commuting distance to the University and downtown.  As the Walk Score website says, Drive less. Live more.  What's your Walk Score?