When you look at the last eleven years of real estate in Wisconsin for several counties, it is an eye opening story.  We'll try and put things in perspective.  Yes, today is not the height of the real estate market in Wisconsin by any means.  But historically, we are truly not in a bad place.

Take a look at Waukesha and Dane Counties below

Waukesha County, Wisconsin

2007          Number of Home Sales     4647

2006          Number of Home Sales     5107

2005          Number of Home Sales     5287

2004          Number of Home Sales     4869

2003          Number of Home Sales     4590

2002          Number of Home Sales     4697

2001          Number of Home Sales     4518

2000          Number of Home Sales     3860

1999          Number of Home Sales     4287

1998          Number of Home Sales     4756

1997         Number of Home Sales      3995

More homes were sold in 2007 than 5 out of the last 11 years

Waukesha County, Wisconsin

2007          Median Sales Price     $250,000

2006          Median Sales Price     $253,100

2005          Median Sales Price     $250,000

2004          Median Sales Price     $238,100

2003          Median Sales Price     $220,000

2002          Median Sales Price    $202,600

2001          Median Sales Price     $185,500

2000          Median Sales Price    $177,700

1999          Median Sales Price    $167,900

1998          Median Sales Price     $160,200

1997          Median Sales Price     $155,600

Sales price has risen dramatically over the last 11 years, even through this current downturn. 

Dane County, Wisconsin

2007          Number of Home Sales     6468

2006          Number of Home Sales     6841

2005          Number of Home Sales     7503

2004          Number of Home Sales     7154

2003          Number of Home Sales     6704

2002          Number of Home Sales     6519

2001          Number of Home Sales     5900

2000          Number of Home Sales     5238

1999          Number of Home Sales     5654

1998          Number of Home Sales     5603

1997         Number of Home Sales      5594

In the last 11 years, 2007 was the sixth best year for number of home sales in Wisconsin

DaneCounty, Wisconsin

2007          Median Sales Price     $218,700

2006          Median Sales Price     $214,600

2005          Median Sales Price     $208,700

2004          Median Sales Price     $196,900

2003          Median Sales Price     $183,100

2002          Median Sales Price    $172,000

2001          Median Sales Price     $158,900

2000          Median Sales Price    $149,800

1999          Median Sales Price    $141,100

1998          Median Sales Price     $135,300

1997          Median Sales Price     $124,800

Sales price has risen dramatically over the last 11 years, even through this current downturn. 

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~Katie Huebschen, Data compliments of WIsconsin REALTORS Association

By now, everyone has probably HEARD of Home staging. It certainly helps to sell vacant homes, as well as spruce up homes for sale that are maybe just too cluttered, need a fresh look etc.   Staging, although an expense, is much less expensive than a price reduction in your home if your home does not sell right away. Why not present your home professioanlly staged to attract the most buyers right off the bat?

Finding a home stager is just one more thing to do!  You can click the links below or just contact us and we can get you set up. First Weber Group's Concierge desk has several stagers available to help get homes staged for sale.

You can contact them through clicking into a region of our Concierge desk here and visit their websites.

You may or may not believe in the art of Feng Shui, but if you are selling your home, you should try everything possible. The following article from RIS Media highlights 8 Feng Shui mistakes to avoid while selling a home.  Sounds interesting... My house could use some help, I'm sure.

In 1882 the Rhinelander Flowage was formed when a mud and timber dam was constructed on the Wisconsin River to form a holding pond for lumber being floated down the river.  At that time there were 8 sawmills in Rhinelander and the pond was named Boom Lake. By the early 1900’s the dam was rebuilt to generate power for the paper mill.

Today the Rhinelander Flowage is known as the Rhinelander Chain of Lakes and consists of Boom, Bass, Thunder and Lake Creek and extends from Rhinelander up to the wooden bridge in Newbold Township.   It is considered one of the best fishing destinations in Northern Wisconsin and hosts the famous Hodag Muskie Challenge.

Data provided by SCWMLS

South Central WI MLS SOLD RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS

Jan 1, 2008- Jan 31, 2008

PRICE CLASS/TYPE	0-2 Bedroom	3 Bedroom	4+ Bedroom	Condo/co-op
less than $30,000	6	2	1	0
$30,000-$39,999	3	6	1	0
$40,000-$49,999	1	1	2	0
$50,000-$59,999	6	5	0	0
$60,000-$69,999	6	3	0	1
$70,000-$79,999	6	8	1	1
$80,000-$89,999	1	7	2	1
$90,000-$99,999	1	8	2	4
$100,000-$119,999	13	20	4	7
$120,000-$139,999	10	28	8	9
$149,000-$159,999	8	23	11	5
$160,000-$179,999	7	29	7	13
$180,000-$199,999	1	29	9	5
$200,000-$249,999	4	29	19	8
$250,000-$299,999	3	12	20	6
$300,000-$399,999	2	10	15	3
$400,000-$499,999	1	4	10	4
$500,000-$749,999	1	3	3	0
$750,000-999,999	0	0	2	0
Over 1,000,000	0	0	0	1
TOTALS	80	223	117	68
Average SOLD Price	$129,592	$170,585	$248,079	$201,456

PMI Mortgage Insurance Company recently published a report called United States Market Risk Index.  In it, the 50 largest metro areas (MSAs) across the country are given a US Market Risk Index score which predicts the probability that house prices will be lower in 2 years than they are at the time of the report.  The worst markets, including Las Vegas and Phoenix, have a Risk rank of 1, or High.  Their PMI US Market Risk indexes (percentage of probability that prices would be lower two years from now) were 91.9% and 84.0% respectively

Milwaukee/Waukesha/West Allis Metropolitain Statistical area (the only statistical area in Wisconsin tracked in this report) received a risk rank score of 5 = Minimal risk. 

The PMI US Market Risk Index for this area was just 1.5%.  In other words, according to this report, there is less than 2% chance for price declines in Milwaukee/Waukesha/West Allis MSA the next 2 years.

That's the best news I have heard in a long time and hopefully the last piece of the puzzle for any buyer wondering if buying real estate in Wisconsin is a good idea.  To move ahead, please contact First Weber Group, we sell real estate all over Wisconsin and can help.

This article at Freshome reminds me of old Scooby Doo movies with hidden passages and revolving bookcases.  Very cool. I did not know that there were companies that do this kind of stuff for real but there are. 

I can see something like this being valuable in high end homes - providing a very secret place to hide the bags of money and other valuables.  Have you ever seen something like this is a home in Wisconsin?

Thanks to Athol Kay's Connecticutt Real Estate Agent blog for pointing it out.

~ written by Nancy Kuczmarski  Rhinelander Office 

It seems like it’s everyone’s dream to own a ‘wild’ 40 in Northern Wisconsin.  Demand for 40’s remains strong, especially since thousands of acres of what was once paper company land has been sold off to private individuals.  These parcels used to be open to the public for hunting and other recreational activities.  There’s lot of questions you need to ask yourself and the following are just a few:

• What do I want to use the land for?  Zoning might be very important.
• Do I plan on building on the property?  Road access & access to power are important considerations.  Will the soils perc for a conventional septic system? 
• Does the owner know where all the property lines are or are they just approximate locations?
• Are there any easements to or through the property?
• Is the road servicing the property a Town, County or State Road or is it a private road?  Road maintenance can be costly.
• Is the property in Managed Forest Crop?  Very important to check on this as you may be restricted for future development unless you pay a hefty tax.
• Is there marketable timber on the property? 
• Who owns neighboring property?  Noise & odor could be a problem. 
• Does anyone have permission to use the property?  Seller may have given someone hunting rights.  This is becoming more common.
• Are there any environmental hazards associated with the property?  Be aware of abandoned wells, buried tanks and old dumps/landfills.

Bottom line….It’s best not to go it alone when considering a vacant acreage purchase.  Hire a REALTOR® who understands ‘Vacant Land’ so you make an informed Buying decision. Your REALTOR® should be willing to walk the property with you and answer these questions.   It might not be a bad idea to look for taxidermist art in their office.  This is usually a pretty good sign they know about vacant land!