Do you have a favorite contractor or business owner who you trust and respect more than any other? Someone who follows up on their commitments and always strives to do the right thing?  We're always seeking to grow our network of professionals who do business on a handshake. So if you know someone we should meet, we would love an introduction. Thank you, and wishing all of you a happy spring :) Your friends at Mad City Dream Homes ..read more

Wouldn't it be wonderful to create the type of business where you didn't need to rely on expensive online ads, daily social media posting, and constant self-promotion?  And wouldn't it be nice to have the type of business where you met most of your new clients because they chose to pick up the phone and call you?  This is the type of practice that all of us at Mad City Dream Homes are striving for, and it's such a rewarding way to approach our work.   ..read more

If you're a buyer, you love a quiet sale because with a quiet sale you don't need to compete.  As a seller, you might choose a private sale if you'd prefer to sell your home to someone you know, or if you want the convenience of working with only one buyer.  BUT, if your primary goal is to maximize your return on investment, then fully marketing your home and exposing it to the entire market is the clear choice. Here's why.  ..read more

Being a nice person who strives to be of service to others may be necessary for a rewarding career in real estate, but it's not sufficient. You also need to have a plan that you're willing to embrace over the long run.  If you're a realtor, and you'd like some help identifying a plan that's a good fit for you, please feel free to contact us. We'd be happy to meet with you and offer you a little outside perspective.  ..read more

Recently I started helping my friend who has been looking for a cute little condo on the west side of town. And we came across the perfect match. Two bedrooms. Full of natural light. And walkable to all of the shops and restaurants in the area.  And we wrote a great offer, too. But unfortunately there were 8 other offers and my friend's offer was the runner-up.  This was a huge disappointment to my friend...BUT...after we absorbed the setback, we came out of our conversation with a little more knowledge and a renewed commitment to her goals.  Next up, we'll be sending ..read more

Dane County condo prices rose from $200 per square foot in March of 2023 to $223 in March of 2024. That's a 12 percent year-over-year increase. Note the price per square foot is up 13 percent through the first 3 months of the year.  Prices were up by other measure, too:  The average price grew from $295,361 in March of 2023 to $332,689 in March of 2024 -- up 13 percent.  The median price grew from $276,500 to $311,000 -- moving 12 percent higher.    New condo listings Condo listings increased for the second straight month. This is an ..read more

In our latest real estate careers article we cover the basics of growing and nurturing your database, or "sphere of influence". Growing and nurturing your database is the single most important thing you can do to guarantee a rewarding and long-lasting career in real estate. Many agents are intimidated by this task, but the good news is our team offers a ton of support in this area. You can also make the "nurturing" part of your database a lot of fun - by staying in touch with your database in ways that are authentic to your personality.  What is a real estate database? Your real esta ..read more

Madison area home sales continued to lag in March.  While condo sales were lower, too.  And due to low supply, both home and condo prices were noticeably higher. Stay tuned for our complete updates on the Dane County home and condominium markets, which we'll be publishing real soon.  ..read more

One proven way to enjoy a long-term career in real estate is to make a habit of helping other people, and to help other people without any expectation of receiving anything in return.  So, if someone I know wants to know what their home is worth, even though they have no plans to sell, I help them. If another person wants to know how much they can rent their home for, I help them, too. And if another person I know wants help finding a trusted contractor to remodel their bathroom, I help them find a good contractor.  I gladly help all of these people even though th ..read more

One clear sign of someone who's devoted to their craft is their willingness to do the inconvenient. Not because it's to their advantage to do so. But because they want to. Because it's worth it to them, and because in their mind doing the inconvenient thing is the right thing to do.  A few examples:  A teacher who builds community in the classroom, who gives each student their individual attention, and who helps each child feel worthy and valued.  A doctor or a nurse who attends to you with kindness, empathy and patience -- knowing that you are likely to have ques ..read more