March into Spring

March is one of those months I never really know what to do with.  It's not really winter anymore, but it's not spring yet either.  In recent years, I have pushed the envelope so it feels more like spring than winter.  Here are a few things that help me March into Spring:

Daylight Savings Time:  Hurrah!!  Finally after dark evenings, we will be treated to more sunlight...always a good thing in my life.  Remember to turn your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday March 11th before going to bed.  Spring ahead!


Spring Flower Show at Olbrich Gardens: Get a taste of spring at the Olbrich Spring Flower Show March 11th-26th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.  Using a culinary theme, the horticulture staff cooked up something special to give visitors a delicious taste of spring. 

What's on the menu? Creatively constructed representations of culinary delights using an array of dried plant materials. Furniture, antique kitchen cabinetry, cookbooks, and "plant-able" ware were sourced through collaborations with local businesses and private collectors to create each dining vignette. Featured in the center as the heart of the show: a kitchen display, where the magic of every dining experience begins!

Beekeeping for Beginners:  For those with no experience in beekeeping, the class will touch on everything you need to know to get started, including:

• Elementary bee biology
• What about the neighbors?
• What to do about swarming.
• Equipment and protective gear.
• Harvesting the honey and tips on selling.

A lecture-style class with props, pollen tasting, honey sampling and plenty of time for questions.

Classes are held from 9 am - 4 pm. at the Lyman Anderson Agricultural & Conservation Center, 5201 Fenwick Dr. in Madison.  Cost is $50.  Contact Jeanne Hansen for more information,  jeanniealabeannie@yahoo.com

Hope these ideas help you March into Spring, too!

Midvale Heights Charmer

 It's the perfect little ranch! Snuggled on a quiet street in Midvale Heights this darling charmer is close to everything! Walk or bike to Sequoya Commons, Hilldale, parks, coffee shops and restaurants. 



The house boasts hardwood floors, large updated eat-in kitchen, cozy lower level family room, and a wonderful covered patio to enjoy the large fenced backyard. Adorable backyard garden shed, too! Garden space? Yep! Fire pit? You bet!  Space for chickens? Of course!  It is Perfect!  To see more, call me for a private showing at 608.333.4406.

December 2016 Home Sales

2017 was a wonderful year in the Real Estate world. Seller's sold and buyer's who were savvy and on top of the happenings of the market got what the wanted, too.

Now a full two months into the new year, and it's again shaping up to be a crazy year.  If you are thinking of selling this year, better get going!  To whet your selling appetite, take a look at what sold on the near west side of Madison in December 2016.

408 Orchard Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $338,000

4 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1960
Sold On 12/22/16	2150 sqft
Price/sqft: $157

4630 Tokay Blvd Madison, WI

Sold: $248,600

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1955
Sold On 12/22/16	1690 sqft
Price/sqft: $147

421 S Segoe Rd Madison, WI

Sold: $285,000

4 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 1968
Sold On 12/21/16	2170 sqft
Price/sqft: $131

1822 Van Hise Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $425,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1913
Sold On 12/21/16	1660 sqft
Price/sqft: $256

1114 S Whitney Way Madison, WI

Sold: $505,500

3 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 1968
Sold On 12/20/16	2802 sqft
Price/sqft: $180

2650 Mason St Madison, WI

Sold: $435,000

4 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 1942
Sold On 12/20/16	2032 sqft
Price/sqft: $214

5006 Milward Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $335,000

4 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 1959
Sold On 12/20/16	2260 sqft
Price/sqft: $148

1610 Madison St Madison, WI

Sold: $482,500

3 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 1902
Sold On 12/19/16	1604 sqft
Price/sqft: $301

725 Huron Hl Madison, WI

Sold: $600,000

4 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 1937
Sold On 12/19/16	2941 sqft
Price/sqft: $204

915 S Midvale Blvd Madison, WI

Ask agent for price (?)

Listed On: 09/13/16
Listed For: $269,000
Sold On: 12/19/16

5021 Regent St Madison, WI

Sold: $295,000

3 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 1959
Sold On 12/19/16	1609 sqft
Price/sqft: $183

4333 Herrick Ln Madison, WI

Sold: $243,500

4 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1955
Sold On 12/16/16	1348 sqft
Price/sqft: $181

1504 Capital Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $243,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1956
Sold On 12/16/16	1984 sqft
Price/sqft: $122

14 S Midvale Blvd Madison, WI

Sold: $240,000

4 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1952
Sold On 12/16/16	1567 sqft
Price/sqft: $153

2102 Keyes Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $406,000

3 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 1916
Sold On 12/16/16	1487 sqft
Price/sqft: $273

1309 Drake St Madison, WI

Sold: $445,000

3 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 1928
Sold On 12/15/16	1774 sqft
Price/sqft: $251

1832 Summit Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $900,000

5 Bed, 4 Bath	Built in 1928
Sold On 12/14/16	3582 sqft
Price/sqft: $251

4329 Travis Ter Madison, WI

Sold: $255,775

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1954
Sold On 12/14/16	1890 sqft
Price/sqft: $135

5013 Holiday Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $262,900

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1956
Sold On 12/13/16	1700 sqft
Price/sqft: $155

1018 Shorewood Blvd Madison, WI

Sold: $416,666

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1939
Sold On 12/13/16	1508 sqft
Price/sqft: $276

3601 Gregory St Madison, WI

Sold: $229,000

2 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 1939
Sold On 12/12/16	875 sqft
Price/sqft: $262

5810 Suffolk Rd Madison, WI

Sold: $244,000

4 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 1965
Sold On 12/12/16	1945 sqft
Price/sqft: $125

5214 South Hill Dr Madison, WI

Sold: $252,000

3 Bed, 1 Bath	Built in 1959
Sold On 12/09/16	1754 sqft
Price/sqft: $144

113 N Spooner St Madison, WI

Sold: $400,500

4 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1916
Sold On 12/09/16	1947 sqft
Price/sqft: $206

5145 Loruth Ter Madison, WI

Sold: $254,900

3 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 1961
Sold On 12/06/16	2920 sqft
Price/sqft: $87

709 Anthony Ln Madison, WI

Sold: $312,000

4 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1956
Sold On 12/06/16	1806 sqft
Price/sqft: $173

2015 Van Hise Ave Madison, WI

Sold: $633,000

4 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1915
Sold On 12/05/16	3010 sqft
Price/sqft: $210

5617 Varsity Hl Madison, WI

Sold: $267,500

3 Bed, 3 Bath	Built in 1963
Sold On 12/05/16	2230 sqft
Price/sqft: $120

2033 Frazer Pl Madison, WI

Sold: $170,000

3 Bed, 2 Bath	Built in 1991
Sold On 12/05/16	1160 sqft
Price/sqft: $147

Tiny House Revolution

When I was very young, I lived in a “tiny house”.  In those days, they were called trailers.  The tiny houses of today are nothing like the trailers of yesterday.  Today’s tiny house can be as small as 140 square feet and are often outfitted with all the amenities of homes much larger. 

If you are like me, you have seen the television shows and the new articles about this newest trend in housing.  What surprises me is how popular they have become.

Not long ago, I listed a “tiny house”, but it wasn’t the typical tiny houses we see in the media.  This one was built in 1928 and is a whopping 652 square feet of character and charm (see my post from Dec. 22, 2016).  I’m not surprised that this house sold; it is cute as a button.  What intrigued me is the number of people who were interested in buying it!  I could have sold that house five times!  We had multiple offers and I had three phones calls after the accepted offer from buyer’s who wanted me to contact them if the transaction didn’t come together.  And this was all happening in late December, not typically a strong season for Real Estate sales.

Not that long ago, McMansions were the trend.  The bigger the better and the more bells and whistles the more popular they were.  It seems that trend may have reversed itself, at least for some people.

It will be interesting to watch the tiny house revolution to see where it goes. They are certainly a far cry from my trailer days!

Spread the Love - Random Acts of Kindness Week

We could all use a little love.  And sometimes the smallest gestures have the biggest impact on someone’s day.

February 12-18^th is Random Acts of Kindness Week.  Take some time during the week to make someone’s day a little brighter.   Here are a few ideas that take little time or money:

• Pay it forward by buying a cup of coffee for the person behind you at the coffee shop. 
• Return someone’s shopping cart. 
• Hold the door for someone.
• Say “please” and “thank you”.
• Buy the crossing guard a cup of Hot Chocolate.
• Wave at Police Officers and Firefighters.
• Put a note in your kid’s lunchbox or tuck a note into the pocket of your significant other.
• Let someone cut in line at the grocery store.

For more ideas and to get inspired, visit the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

I’ll be out there spreading the love.  Let me know how it goes for you!

Badgers and Snow

Wisconsin LOVES it's Badgers.  It seems we also like snow, usually anyway!

The heavy wet snow of a week or so ago was perfect for making snowmen and I've seen plenty around town.  But the creativity of some west side Madisonian's caught my eye as I drove past a Badger made of snow!  It's a bit dragon-like with a long spikey tail but the red and white paint and the unmistakable Badger face make it clear that this creature is a Badger! 


 As we head into the second month of 2017, we all know there is plenty of winter left in Wisconsin, so have fun with it! Get outside for a walk or a snowshoe excursion.  Lace up your skates and glide around on one of Madison's ice rinks.  And if it snows again (more likely than not), get creative with snow sculptures.  I promise it will put a smile on your face and a skip in your step!

Who's Buying in 2017?

2017 is off to a robust start!  This year will undoubtedly see some changes - both large and small - across the economic and social-political spectrums.  Some have already taken place!                       Predicting whether those changes will be for better or worse remains difficult.

The good news is that there doesn't seem to be a lot of change on the horizon as far as Wisconsin's real estate market. Inventory will likely remain low and home prices will remain strong. New home construction will remain fairly stagnant and foreclosure rates continue to diminish. The only real change in the foreseeable future is that interest rates will increase, but analysts predict those rate increases will come in small increments.

So, what are some other trends we may see as we  move into 2017? Don't be surprised to see Millennials and Baby Boomers dominating the housing market. It seems a little odd, but the market will probably will be led by these two demographically diverse groups for the next decade.

Speaking of Millennials in the marketplace, cities in the Midwest are predicted to continue to beat the national average in millennial home purchases in 2017. Madison, Wisconsin is leading the pack, followed by Columbus, Ohio, Omaha, Nebraska. Des Moines, Iowa and Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2016, the millennial market share in these areas was a whopping 42 percent!

Nationally, baby boomers will make up about 30 percent of all buyers in 2017. Despite the anticipated interest rate increase, the Boomer market will remain strong because this demographic is less dependent on financing.  Stay tuned as we move into 2017!