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Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Friday, June 25, 2021
There's a race to buy lakefront properties in Northern Wisconsin, with sales up nearly 30%
The normally slow-moving rural real estate market is seeing properties sell nearly as quickly as popular urban markets. A waterfront property won't stay on the market more than a week. Sales of homes are up 27.7% in northern Wisconsin counties from this time last year, according to data from the Wisconsin Realtors Association. That's the largest regional uptick in the state.
By this time last year in Price County, just 48 homes had been sold. In the first three months of 2021, 100 homes have sold in the county — a 108% increase. The 18-county north region covers popular destinations like Superior, Bayfield, Hayward, Merrill and Eagle River.
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Wisconsin's home sales market is red hot. Buyers scramble to outbid each other, offer $20,000 over asking price, scrap inspections...
Alexa and Jeff Schmitz knew the real estate market was moving fast. However, they didn't realize just how fast until they decided to sell their three-bedroom Milwaukee house to buy a "forever home."
Their house was open for showings for a single weekend. The house was shown more than 50 times over three days. By Monday, the Schmitzes had 24 offers. "It blows my mind," Jeff Schmitz said.
Wisconsin's housing market is hot with prices increasing around 10% over the last year. The number of days a property is on the market has dropped. The number of offers a buyer makes before getting a home has increased. What the Schmitzes experienced isn't unusual and it has led to a scramble on the part of buyers, sellers and agents.
Schmitz paid roughly $115,000 for the ranch-style home with a fenced-in yard and detached garage on the western edge of Milwaukee in 2012. He didn't put a lot of money into the house. He upgraded the fence, replaced the water heater and air conditioning.
He thought maybe the property would sell for $150,000 — it's a seller's market, after all. They listed the home at the end of February for $169,900 with guidance from their Realtor.
As the offers rolled in, would-be buyers tried to stand out. Some offered to speed the sale by waiving a home inspection or appraisal, another said they would cover up to $5,000 if the inspection showed a need for repairs. One offer was over $200,000.
"I was a little in shock," Jeff Schmitz said.
The house sold for about $20,000 over asking with no home inspection and no appraisal contingency.
Friday, June 18, 2021
76 all-cash offers on one home.
The housing madness shows no signs of slowing...
Ellen Coleman had never received so many offers on a house in her 15 years of selling real estate.
She listed a fixer-upper in suburban Washington, DC for $275,000 on a Thursday. By Sunday evening, she had 88 offers.
"The offers just kept coming," she said. "I felt like Lucy with the chocolates. I'm thinking, 'This is just out of control.'"
Of those 88 offers, 76 were all-cash, said Coleman, who works for RE/MAX. There wasn't even enough time for all of the bidders to visit the property. Coleman went on to say, 15 offers were sight unseen.
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Choosing The Right Couch For Your Home
As one of the integral furniture pieces you will be purchasing for your home, selecting the right couch for you is incredibly important.
Here are five aspects to consider when looking for the lounger of your dreams.
Size. The first thing to consider is how much seating you need. If you have a large family (or planning to grow yours) or have plans to host friends for movie nights or the big game, you should look at larger sectionals. If you live alone or don’t have children, you can opt for something a little smaller.
Shape. To determine the couch shape, you’ll need to examine the size of your living room and determine how you want the area divided. If you want your couch to be the focal point and fill most of the room, an L-shape is a great option, but if you are interested in incorporating more chairs or recliners then a 3-seater sofa might get the job done.
Color. If you have children or pets, will be hosting gatherings where people may eat or drink in your living room, or you just love a good movie and snack night, you may want to choose a darker couch.
Fabric. Similar to choosing a color for your couch, selecting a fabric comes down to who will be using your couch and how. Cotton, linen, and chenille are usually better suited for a slightly-used couch while fabric like leather, microfiber, and polyester is easy to clean and durable.
Filling. Foam is a commonly used cushion material and generally offers more support and lasts longer with little maintenance, while feather- or down-filled cushions provide that soft, sinking comfort, but require more maintenance.
Thursday, June 10, 2021
How To Keep Your Utility Bills Low
The seasons are changing once again, additional water will be needed to maintain the yard, the doors are opening and closing as you spend more time outside and then... the A/C will start to run. Costs can really start to add up, so it never hurts to take measures to help you reduce your monthly utility bills. Here are a few ways to do just that...Electricity Bill
Saving money on your electricity bill can be done multiple ways. Some easy changes include running appliances, like the stove, dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer, at night, opting to air dry clothes, or cooking meals in a crockpot or toaster oven. Set aside time throughout the year to inspect the areas around doors and windows and seal any cracks with caulk or weather stripping. Additionally, make sure to unplug electronics when not in use or use a power strip to turn them all off at once.
Water Bill
Your monthly water bill can sneak up on you, but small changes can be made to cut costs. Install WaterSense-certified faucets and shower heads and convert toilets to low flow to reduce the amount of water used. Make sure to regularly check toilets and sinks for leaks and repair them. Opt for using your dishwasher instead of hand washing and ensure its a full load each time. Also, don’t forget to turn off water while brushing your teeth and shaving.
Gas Bill
Investing in some changes up front can make a difference on your natural gas bill long term. Add insulation in your attic and around your water heater and pipes. Make sure to repair any leaks in your ducts, inspect your furnace regularly, and check your home for any blocked vents that could cause your gas heating system to work overtime. You can also reduce the temperature of your water heater.
Monday, June 7, 2021
Interior Designers Share The Best Home Renovation Ideas For 2021
The relationship we all have with our living spaces has changed significantly in 2020. As things get back to "normal", it’s time to re-evaluate how we live in our homes. But if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that the future is impossible to predict. However, the one thing we can be sure of is that the impact of the pandemic will last for years to come.
There are two factors to consider when it comes to renovations right now— what needs to be done to make your home as comfortable as possible for the immediate future and what investments make the most sense for re-sale value. Not sure where to begin? Here are the renovations that experts and interior designers suggest seriously considering for 2021 and forward...
Thursday, June 3, 2021
SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN: SUPPORT OUR RESTAURANTS
DOWNTOWN DINING WEEK: SUMMER EDITION
JUNE 3 - JUNE 13, 2021
Milwaukee's Favorite Feast Returns!
Get a flavor for downtown Milwaukee by sampling the city's top steakhouses, bistros and ethnic eateries. For eleven days, you'll enjoy multi-course meals priced at $13 for lunch and $25 or $35 for dinner. Just pick your entrée and sides from a list of chef-selected options, then enjoy your culinary tour of our world-class city.
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