We've written extensively about why we expect Madison area home and condo prices to continue to rise for the foreseeable future. But there's one underlying trend that we haven't really delved into, and that's the large number of millennials that are aging into their peak home-buying years. 

See the chart below from the economics blog, Calculated Risk, which shows the largest population groups by year using data and projections from the US Census Bureau. As the chart shows, a large number of millennials are aging into their 30's, and it's the 30 to 39 age range when most people take their leap into homeownership. 

Madison is already home to a large and thriving millennial population, which is just one more reason why we expect strong demand and

Madison area home and condo listings increased slightly in the month of April, but remained low by historical standards. And even though 30-year mortgage rates have moved above 7%, we continue to see more buyers than sellers in Dane County. We'll be releasing our full reports on the month of April real soon. Stay tuned. 

When you fully market your home and expose your listing to the entire market, you reap the benefits of competition. As an example, during the first four months of 2024, we have a large group of sellers who are accepting offers from 5 percent to as much 26 percent over the list price, with two homes selling for more than $100,000 above the list. 

The bottom line: Sometimes there are good reasons to consider a "quiet sale". But if your primary objective is to maximize your return on investment, then marketing your home to all potential buyers is the clear choice. 

Mad City Dream Homes accepted offers over the list (January 1st - April 30th)

• Property 1: 5%
• Property 2: 6%
• Property 3: 8% 
• Property 4: 8%
• Property 5: 10%
• Property 6:

Sunshine Place is proving we can accomplish more when we meet our neighbors’ needs with dignity and collaboration. This Sun Prairie-based organization is where families and individuals can come for help with food, housing, and other essential support. Sunshine Place is a “resource hub” for basic needs, offering its nine innovative programs plus subsidized space for other agencies. They currently host staff from Centro Hispano, Joining Forces for Families, RISE – Early Childhood Initiative (ECI), Dane County Madison Public Health, and Tenant Resource Center saving their visitors time, transportation, and childcare resources to access multiple services in one-stop. 

The largest of Sunshine Place’s programs is their Sun Prairie Food Pantry, open 6 days a

We've worked with many photographers over the years, and we're grateful for our current partnership with Step Inside Media, owned and operated by Kristine and Derek Marks. 

The Step Inside photographers are skilled in their craft. Just as important, their focus on communication and personalization is admirable at a time when many other companies are doubling down on automation and standardization. 

Thank you Step Inside for your approach to customer service. We appreciate you and your work! 

Seventeen years ago Chris helped her friends Dede and Dave buy their dream home in Fitchburg. And seventeen years later we're grateful to be helping Dede and Dave again as they prepare to move to their new dream home for their next season of life. 

Thank you to all of you who continue to trust us with your real estate needs. We appreciate each and every opportunity to serve. 

Recently, a friend needed some help diagnosing a roof leak. And so we referred her to Cody Helmer, one of our most trusted contractors. Our friend called Cody that morning, and Cody was there to help her by noon on the same day. 

We love working with Cody because he's the type of person who always strives to do the right thing. Cody and his team specialize in roofing, siding, home additions (including 3-season porches), and a variety of large home renovation projects.

If you're planning for a major home renovation that requires skill and craftsmanship, we encourage you to call Cody at 608-577-7041. You'll appreciate the peace of mind you feel when you trust a solid, locally owned business with your home. Many of our clients have worked with Cody and

Just a quick reminder that we have hundreds of neighborhood and condo association guides for you to peruse and use on our website. 

So, if you're in the mode of researching neighborhoods, our Madison and Dane County neighborhood guides are excellent resources for you. And if you're curious about condos, our city and suburban condominium guides offer a great introduction to hundreds of local associations.

If you'd like us to create a guide for your neighborhood or condo association, just let us know. We'd be happy to do this for you. 

Do you have a favorite contractor or business owner who you trust and respect more than any other? Someone who follows through with their commitments and always strives to do the right thing? 

We're always seeking to meet local business owners who take care of their customers. So if you know someone we should know, we would love an introduction.

We appreciate you keeping us in mind, and wish all of you a happy spring! 

Your friends at Mad City Dream Homes

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.