Wisconsin Real Estate & Wisconsin Living presented by First Weber Group

A Culture  of Giving

Giving is a large part of the First Weber culture, as evidenced by the formation of the First Weber Foundation in 2005 which, since inception, has donated over $600,000 to a variety of Wisconsin charities.  Our offices get involved in a wide variety of charities and community service projects and here are just a few recent examples we’d like to share.

Souper Tuesdays for the Berlin Food Pantry

This spring, members of First Weber’s Berlin office took turns making soup for lunch, calling their community service project “Souper Tuesdays”. Each week, 2 people made soup and dessert and collected $5 from everyone. A cookbook sale also added to the total. To date, a total of $325.00 was raised to donate to the Berlin Food Pantry. That amount will be matched through the Feinstein Challenge. Alan Shawn Feinstein has pledged $1,000,000 to communities that raise money or collect canned foods from March 1st thru April 30th. There is a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $35,000 that can be collected thru his organization.

Attached is a photo of the check presentation.

From left to right: Billi Kaufman, Scott Bauer, Reverend Jo Ann Schoblaski, Gi Hietpas, Susan Hietpas, Jan Ewald, Jeanne Fitzgerald, Sheri Irish, Pat Bartol

Nice job, Berlin gang!

Volunteering at the Samaritan House of Marshfield

The entire Marshfield office recently volunteered at the Samaritan House of Marshfield’s weekly dinner for the less fortunate. Provided were desserts, juice and milk and the office also assisted in preparing, serving and cleaning up after the meal. Everyone enjoyed the experience so much they are planning on going back at least once per quarter.

First Weber Group believes it is important to get involved in local causes to make a difference, get to know people and simply help out.  We hope you enjoyed learning just a little about First Weber agents doing good deeds. When you need a Wisconsin real estate broker, why not work with one who is involved in the community.  Thanks for reading the First Weber Wisconsin real estate & Wisconsin living blog. If you have real estate questions or needs, please contact First Weber. There’s bound to be a First Weber office near you.

Wisconsin home sales continue to improve, with March sales being up 25% over March 2011, according to the Wisconsin REALTORS Association.  South Central WI and Metro Milwaukee real estate also showed large growth in home sales.

While the milder winter may have contributed a bit to the growth in sales, it is important to note that home sales have been on the rise in Wisconsin for the last nine months.  All areas of Wisconsin have seen great improvement.

Take a look at home sales and prices by Wisconsin region during the first quarter compared to last year’s first quarter:

Southeastern Wisconsin (Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha Counties)

Sales up 20.8%, median price down 4.2%

South Central WI (Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock, Sauk Counties)

Sales up 19.8%, median price down 3.4%
Northeast WI (Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menomonee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawno, Waupaca, Winnebago Counties)

Sales up 26.3%, median price up 2.7%

Central WI (Adams, Clark, Juneau, Marathon, Marquette, Portage, Waushara, Wood counties)

Sales up 14%, median price up .2%

Northwoods Wisconsin (Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Vilas, Washburn counties)

Sales up 12.4%, median price down 6.6%

Months of inventory is down, affordability index also down

In addition to increased sales over the last nine months, months of inventory is down and the affordability index is also down by 20 points from last month.  Make sure your home is priced just right and presents very well to take advantage of this increased buyer activity!  To see what homes have sold for in your neck of Wisconsin, please do a sold search at firstweber.com.  (Because of Multiple listing service rules, some MLS systems require yo to register for a free myFirstWeber account before viewing sold data. )

Thanks for reading the First Weber Wisconsin real estate & Wisconsin living blog for an update on the Wisconsin housing market. To find a First Weber agent or office, or search for Wisconsin real estate for sale, please search firstweber.com

Throughout Wisconsin, home sales are on the rise. February, 2012 was the eighth month of rising sales in Wisconsin, with a 15% increase over last February.  Home sale prices were very moderately down, just 1.7%. Sales started increasing last summer and thankfully, have continued their upward pace. The great spring weather helped. If you are a seller, do everything in your power to take advantage of buyer activity. If you are a buyer, you may have more competition.  Many areas of the country have seen a shift in the market. It will make its way to Wisconsin.

Each region in Wisconsin performed well in February, with Southeast Wisconsin leading the over 20% increase.

Sales by reqion: (source WRA)

Southeast Wisconsin (Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Waukesha and Walworth Counties)

Sales up 22.6%, median price down 4.1%

South Central Wisconsin (Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock and Sauk Counties)

Sales up 12.9%, no change in median price

Northeast Wisconsin (Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawno, Waupaca, Winnebago Counties)

Sales up 16.3%, median price up 1.3%

Central Wisconsin (Adams, Clark, Juneau, Marathon, Marquette, Portage, Waushara and Wood Counties)

Sales up 6.3%, median price down 2.5%

Northwoods, Wisconsin (Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Vilas and Washburn Counties)

Sales up 1.8%, median price down 5%

Another interesting trend is the number of new listings, the number of unsold homes on the market and the months supply of inventory are all down.  Combine this with a higher rate of sales and we should begin to see a more balanced market emerge.

For information on specific regions of Wisconsin, here is an update on South Central WI and on Metro Milwaukee real estate sales.

Thank you for reading the First Weber Wisconsin real estate & Wisconsin living blog.

To see Wisconsin real estate for sale, please see firstweber.com where you can also search Wisconsin sold property data to see what that house down the street sold for. In some areas, a free MyFirstWeber account may be needed to view sold data due to MLS rules.

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Our success is not possible without our clients customers and of course, our agents. We are proud to recognize the achievements of these agents in First Weber’s Northern/North Central Region in 2011.

While many awards were handed out, below are the top producers and service awards winners for 2011. More can be found at First Weber’s Sales & Awards page.

Bob & Cheryl Bushman are Sales Associates of the Year

Pam Larkin of First Weber’s Wausau office was awarded the Chairman’s Award of Recognition for outstanding service to First Weber Group and th local community in 2011.

President’s Club achievers were:  Bob & Cheryl Bushman, Ron Skagen & Christy Elliott, Victoria Schultz, Margie Zschernitz & Julie Simek-Heggebo Karen Harvey, Pam Larkin, Sue Hansen, Mike Spranger, Janna Hamann, Rick Mullen, The Bird Team, Diane Jahn, The Zoerb Team, Steve Lane and Heath Tappe.

Quality of Service Award winners (awarded based on client response) were Karen Harvey and Michelle Dins.

Tom Holster was named Rookie of the year.

More can be found at First Weber’s Sales & Awards page.

Our success is not possible without our clients, customers and hard working agents.  Here’s to an improved 2012!

To see additional photos, please visit  First Weber on Facebook.

Thank you for visiting the First Weber Wisconsin real estate & WIsconsin living blog to see our Northern region real estate award winners.  To search for a real estate agent in northern Wisconsin please do so at firstweber.com.

Wisconsin home sales in January of 2012 rose almost 11% above sales last January, with 2,862 home closings versus 2,584 closing last January. That is a very encouraging number since January is usually the slowest month of the year for closings.  While the number of Wisconsin home sales has risen, prices have declined 7% over the same time period.

Most regions in Wisconsin showed solid growth in home sales over the last year.

South Central WI: sales up 16.7% over last January, prices down 7.5%

Southeast Wisconsin/Metro Milwaukee: Sales up 10.1% over last January, prices down 7.6%

Northeast Wisconsin: Sales up 22% over last January, prices down 3.6%

Central WI: Sales down 6.7% and prices down 9.9%

Northern Wisconsin: Sales down 1.6% and prices down 22.7%

data source WRA

While there is a still a high inventory of homes for sale, that number is down as are the number of new listings.  If this trend continues, it will help to balance the market in terms of supply and demand.

When selling a home, the market determines the price.  Keeping a close eye on what homes like yours are selling for will enable you to position your property to be attractive to buyers.  In the current market, that may mean a lower price than you desire.  However, keep in mind if your goal is to move up to a bigger house, your money will go much further in that purchase.  Ask your real estate agent for frequent updates on the competition or keep an eye on it yourself with a free My First Weber account. With a My First Weber account you can track price changes, new listings in your area and also see market statistics in real time. You don’t need to be working with a First Weber agent to set up an account, either!  Go ahead and check out what you can do with a My First Weber account and contact First Weber for your real estate questions and concerns.  There’s a First Weber office near you.

Thank you for reading the  First Weber Wisconsin real estate & Wisconsin living blog.  To search for Wisconsin real estate for sale, please visit firstweber.com

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