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Friday, July 25. 2008
Traditional media such as newspapers and TV are supposed to inform. Most media outlets seem to only report bad news, or at least there seems to be more bad news than good. When the opportunity comes to put a positive spin on a bad fact, the media just doesn't do it. So we are left to try and do it ourselves and hope we make a point with readers who are online and looking at real estate. What we are talking about is the screaming headlines about foreclosures up 79%, 121%, 89% etc. etc. etc. While it is the sad truth, screaming disaster like that is not helping the housing market get any better. Why not look at those numbers a different way like foreclosures in Wisconsin amount to only 1.017% of households?! Or 99% of households are NOT in foreclosure. That is the truth too. (Milwaukee, per RealtyTrac.com) Encouraging people to buy homes at historically low rates and at lower prices would help the housing market. Only 1% of households in Milwaukee are in foreclosure. 99% are not. Don't be afraid if you are thinking of jumping into the market. Get a good REALTOR and a good Loan Officer, buy within your means, stay put for a few years, pay your bills like any responsible person would and be one of the 99%. Ready when you are!
Thursday, July 24. 2008
Interesting slide show comparison of $220,000 homes in different cities across the country from msn.com. After a quick look through - Texas seems to be perhaps the best value or maybe Iowa. Wisconsin is a decent value too. For $220,000 homes in Wisconsin search here. I would love the weather in San Diego but would not want to buy a home there. What about you?
Thursday, July 24. 2008
The management team of First Weber Group Realtors got together yesterday in Madison for an annual retreat. Over 100 managers from across the state attended. Why should you care? A few reasons, I think. 1. Our coverage across virtually the entire state is impressive. We can help you pretty much anywhere in Wisconsin. I can't believe it myself sometimes when I see all the management in one room like that. Big organization and lots real estate experience behind every transaction! 2. We are excited about future home buyers and sellers and are focusing on the future! We explored for the differences in generations: Traditionslist - Boomer- Xer and Millennias. Fascinating. (Which one are you or are you a little of several?) 3. Some good news was shared... - Managers reported statewide that they are seeing multiple offers on well priced properties! - There was a report of a home sold in just 3 weeks thanks to staging and correct pricing - One manager even reported an Accepted Office in 45 minutes - for over list price! This buyer received an automated email with new listings matching their criteria and acted right away. If you want to sign up for a service like this, please do so here So... did you care about that? Hope the reports of some good news regarding sales at least was worth the read. The right price is still very important.
Tuesday, July 22. 2008
National survey of real estate brokers in the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (which First Weber Group is a part of) shows market improvements in 59% of respondants. Yipee!! You can read the whole article here.
Tuesday, July 22. 2008
Reader Question: If a lakefront home built in Gordon WI on Crystal lake in 2000 was assessed at $395,000 would it seem odd to you that 8 years latter it was assessed at only $485,000? In 2007 it recieved a new 22X32 Garage- sauna- and electric heated three season porch that faced a great view of Crystal Lake. The cost of this new construction with all cedar outside & white cedar inside as well as cedar siding on a detachted 2 car garage to match house and new building was $74,000. It would seem to me that our appraiser thinks this house has appreciated only .125% over 8 years. My sister is looking at buying this property, and I would like to sell. Does this sound like I may need another opionion from you or someone else?First Weber answers: It sounds like the assessor may have increased your assessment only by the amount of the improvements you made to the property in 2007. If other properties in your township have not been reassessed, the assessor would not change your value other than to increase it by the amount stated on your building permit. The assessed value on your tax bill is just an estimate used by the assessor to allocated taxes. This value can be higher or lower than actual market value. To find out what the current market value is you would want a local realtor to do a market analysis or get an appraisal. The market analysis or appraisal will use recent sales to determine the current value of your property. Sandy Ebben
Vice President
First Weber Group If you have a real estate question, please submit it and we will do our best to provide an answer.
Thursday, July 17. 2008
Check out this slide show from msn. Inventions for the home. Some very interesting and useful... DO you have a favorite?
Thursday, July 17. 2008
Do you wish you had a little guy like this in your neighborhood? I do. Good for him! I also live on a 25 speed limit street that gets abused. I live near a high school and most of the speeding seems to be done by the young drivers. Give them some tickets early on in their driving careers and maybe, just maybe they will learn something from it. It takes a lot of hours working at the hardware store or McDonalds to pay a ticket of $100 (or whatever a speeding ticket costs these days ) Has anyone been involved in a local effort to slow down traffic in your local neighborhood? Please share your ideas! Or are you one of the guilty ones...
Tuesday, July 15. 2008
Great article on ten facts you should know about the Wisconsin real estate market from WRA and First Weber agent Pamela Meller Are you in the market? We are all over Wisconsin so when you want to make your move, please contact First Weber Group.
Monday, July 14. 2008
Wow. This makes you feel good if you are a resident of Ozaukee or Waukesha County. Big selling point in homes for sale in these areas. Forbes' "Best Places in the U.S. to raise a family" list gave top 10 billing to two Wisconsin counties! From Forbes.com : "2. Ozaukee County, Wis. Population: 86,321 Originally settled as a stop on the old dirt trail between Green Bay and Milwaukee, Ozaukee is now the wealthiest county in Wisconsin and earns top marks for its low crime and high graduation rates. Port Washington, the county seat, is just 25 miles from Milwaukee. It's situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, and its Port Fish Day is reputed to be the world's largest one-day outdoor fish fry." There are more than 600 single property homes and more than 250 condos for sale in Ozaukee County at this time. Prices are low, selection is high, get into this top rated community soon if you are thinking of buying. "8. Waukesha County, Wis.Population: 380,985 Once called "Cow County USA," Waukesha is now home to some of Milwaukee's most prosperous western suburbs. Residents are treated to a short commute and great education. With a 96% high school graduation rate, the county has produced such luminaries as Les Paul, inventor of the electric guitar." There are more than 2600 single property homes and almost 1000 condos for sale in Waukesha County at this time. Prices are low, selection is high, get into this top rated community soon if you are thinking of buying.]
Monday, July 14. 2008
Positive national news about Milwaukee, Wisconsin's largest city, is good news for all Wisconsin residents. On July 9, Forbes listed Milwaukee as #9 in it's "Best Cities for Young Professionals" list. A number nine ranking puts Milwaukee ahead of other major cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, Atlanta in terms of attracting top business talent of the next generation with economic opportunities. Rankings were based on number of large companies in the area, cost of living, and the all important social characteristic... how many young unmarried people lived in in the area. Quote below from Forbes "9. Milwaukee, Wis.Surprised to see Milwaukee here? Don't be. It has the fifth-highest concentration of top companies in the country, by our count. And those jobs pay. Despite a below-average cost of living, salaries paid to professionals are comfortably above the national average, at $54,169. Sweetening the deal further, the city is in the top quartile for its population of never-married citizens between 20 and 35." Read the whole article here at Forbes.com
Thursday, July 10. 2008
I wonder how a condo project like this would sell in Wisconsin... independently revolving floors, different views at different times of day. (Read the original post and additional artcles at the sellsius blog) Pretty well probably - changing views ...it is just too cool not to like! (in my opinion). What do you think? I learned of this project at real estate undressed who found it at the popular blog sellsius. Read the original post and additional artcles at the sellsius blog
Thursday, July 10. 2008
According to PMI Housing Mortgage Review June 2008: House value change 1st quarter 2008 vs 1st quarter 2007 U.S. average: -3.07% Worst: California -19.14% Best: North Dakota 6.56% Right in the middle: WISCONSIN at 0.23% It's not much, but at least it is a positive number.
Thursday, July 10. 2008
Cities where owning a home make sense. This is an interesting article found at msn.com and a must read for renters considering buying real estate while the prices are low. Excerpts below... "In 66 of the top 100 markets, you'd be in the black in four years should you buy a low-priced home today." (Milwaukee made the list) "I wouldn't want anybody to interpret this data as saying here's where you should put your money," Pelletiere says. "What I am saying is, if you want to put your money into a home, these are the cities where owning makes sense."
Now I am no statistician and the following is not a verified fact, just a conjecture ... but Wisconsin as a whole has been less volitile than the rest of the country and if the ranking here went beyond the "top 100 markets", there would be many more mentions of Wisconsin in the list. Are you thinking of buying and just waiting for what you feel is the right time?
Thursday, July 10. 2008
Findings contradict what the media is perpetuating. A study done by Architectural Digest and Sotheby's results in a really positive article about how holding real estate creates wealth. Interesting that 50% of respondents in the survey say they believe the media exaggerates conditions to make the market seem worse than it is. I read a different article once about how real estate companies had to "be the media" to paint an accurate picture and help people understand that the sky is not falling. That's what we are trying to do with this blog. Your comments are always welcome.
Thursday, July 3. 2008
 This is not related to real estate, but we should all share things we learn that could help one another. We all know about the Nigeria email scam, there was a new Yahoo UK one in my in-box today. Some scams you can smell from a mile away.
I recently got several messages on my phone that I disregarded as just junk, but looks like they really were attempted scams. If you get a message from a credit card company saying "your account is fine, but we can lower your rate if you press 1" or something along those lines, you will be contected to a live operator who can "help you" with that. SCAM! Obvious to some, but tempting for some... Just be aware and read the whole article here at biztimes
Thursday, July 3. 2008
Happy Fourth of July weekend! Have a safe one. Have gas prices changed your plans for the holiday weekend? Personally, not mine. It is just going to cost me. But being in Door County is worth it. That is some great Wisconsin real estate.
Tuesday, July 1. 2008
Great article about downtown Milwaukee condo market as featured in My Midwest/Midwest Airlines newsletter. (author Jeanette Hurt)  A developer is interviewed as well as Heddy Humcke of First Weber Milwaukee's Jeff Lien Team. Stats, pictures and insight. Click here for the full article and here are a few excerpts from Jenette Hurt's interview/article below. "I think that is just tremendous, and it's very exciting for buyers," Humcke says of the fact that there were almost 900 active condo properties for sale in March, with half new construction and 20% with lake or river views.
Also says Humcke "Our market has not overinflated as many East and West Coast markets have. What we have seen is a correction, and we have seen a reduction in value, but one that is not as dramatic as the rest of the country. In fact, I'm starting to see an increase in volume, and our spring market has really picked up."
Hurt says high quality developments are surviving without price reductions and Developer Joseph Grasch, also interviewed, agreed saying "Developers who know they have a strong product and not dropping their prices because people are still coming in the door." Some of First Weber's current Milwaukee condo projects can be found here.
Tuesday, July 1. 2008
This information was passed along by Waukesha County Emergency Management and the Oconomowoc Chamber of Commerce but is applicable to almost anyone in Wisconsin since as of this writing 28 counties in Wisconsin have been declared federal disaster areas. If you have flood damage and want to register FEMA assistance, reporting your damages to your local municipality is not enough! To register for FEMA assistance call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or complete forms online at http://www.fema.gov/ Only those who register with FEMA, receive an application number and who submit an application will receive assistance from FEMA or the Small Business Administration. The Waukesha County Disaster Recovery Center opened last Friday and FEMA representative are on hand. County representatives are also on hand to distribute private well test kits, tetanus shots, flood clean up information and more. Find out more from Wisconsin Emergency management here including links to other Disaster Recovery Center information. Here's hoping for a safe rest of the summer and a safe Fourth of July weekend.
Tuesday, July 1. 2008
This msn article discusses what the term "100 year flood" really means. I learned something and hope you do too. They should really come up with a different terminology.
Monday, June 30. 2008
Looking for a fun weekend? Visit Wausau for the Balloon Rally in Downtown Wausau. This fun event begins with a Friday night balloon glow. Events throughout the weekend include a pancake breakfast, plane and helecopter rides. Saturday evening balloon launch and glow, live music and to top the evening.......fireworks. Admission is free. Visit www.wausauareaevents.org
Thursday, June 26. 2008
Moving can definitely be bittersweet. Here is a blog post from a realtor (calls herself the HouseChick) leaving her home, sharing the memories she had while living there, fixing things, making it her own. Do you have a story like this to share?
Thursday, June 26. 2008
Now might be the time to buy that future retirement home. Wisconsin has plenty of those options - search vacation homes at first weber.com here. Love the pictures in the original post here from the Real Estate Undressed blog. The last one looks like it could be in Wisconsin.
Wednesday, June 25. 2008
A question was posted to the First Weber blog and we are happy to provide the answer. Question: How can I locate the same kind of staistics for the Green Bay area? I am specifically interested in average home sales trend over the last 3 months average home selling time (list to close) Answer: (Provided by Scott Swick, Owner and manager of First Weber's Fond du Lac office) For the last 3 months, namely March, April and May, using only residential sales information (no lots, multi-family etc) for the Greater Green Bay area: Average Sales price has moved from $141,213 to $155,825 Average days on market (how long from list to sell) started at 148 days in March and ended at 138 days in May Homes sold in March were 262 and by May the numbers were 399 sold. At that sales rate, Green Bay's absorption rate is 11.7 months. To give some perspective on how this measures up to previous years: | Year | Annual Sales | DOM | Ave Sales price | | 2004 | 4215 | 144 | $151,926 | | 2005 | 4399 | 137 | $160,440 | | 2006 | 4243 | 121 | $159,498 | | 2007 | 3818 | 135 | $160,102 |
If you have a real estate question that needs answering, just let us now and we will try and help. (Annual sales 2007 corrected to 3818 on 6/26)
Thursday, June 19. 2008
While location, location, location has always been important in real estate, it usually was not related to the price of gas. Now that gas costs is so high, are you looking to buy closer to town/work/public transportation than you were before?
Wednesday, June 18. 2008
Lots of data, a few charts, and encouraging news about the affordability of homes these days and how decreasing mortgage rates and price corrections positively affect monthly mortgage payments. Click here for the story from Dr. Steve Sjuggerud Daily Wealth blog. Thanks to the Real Estate Marketing Blog for the tip.
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