Last year was a roller coaster ride, for sure. But in 2023, rates have fallen more than a full percentage point below the 2022 peak. In fact, as of this writing, a 30 year fixed rate mortgage from UW Credit Union is now available for as low as 5.75%

How much home can you buy in 2023?

Reach out to our realtor team if you're curious about your purchasing power in today's market. We'll connect you with a local lender who will help you make sense of your current financial position -- and pre-approve you for your mortgage, too. A lender who will give you all the time you need on the phone, and if you wish, even meet with you in person. Now there's a novel concept :)

You have a few dozen 55 plus communities to choose from in the Madison area, but in a low inventory market like ours, the number of listings available at any given point in time is relatively small.

So, if you're in search of a 55+ condo, our advice to you is don't confine your search to a 55 plus community. Instead, try expanding your search by focusing on the condominiums that will help you live the lifestyle you're seeking. When you adopt this approach, you'll discover you have many more condos to choose from. 

Two helpful resources

Two great resources are our Madison and Suburban Madison condo guides. Our guides offer an excellent introduction to hundreds of condominium associations in the Dane County area, and can help you identify the

How did the stock market perform compared to the Dane County real estate market in 2022? This chart says it all. 

And where will the market go from here?

Based on what we see in the market right now, we're predicting another year of strong real estate prices here in Dane County. For more information, we invite you to check out our 2023 predictions, where we cover many of the current trends in the Madison area. Or talk to your preferred Mad City Dream Homes realtor. We're always available to talk about your future, and the future of real estate, too. 

These last few weeks we've heard from dozens of friends who are eager to write their next chapter through the gift of real estate. 

Here are just a few of our clients who are working on their dreams right now:

• Our friend, Jennifer, who is excited to make the jump from apartment-living to homeownership. 
• Emily and Eric, who are ready to become first-time homeowners and build wealth through real estate. 
• Mark and Myah, who are excited to lay down their roots and start their family. 
• Simona and Dylan, who are eager to buy their first home for Little Baby Mila. 
• John and Elizabeth, who are excited to move up to a larger home for their growing family. 
• Tom and Lisa, who are scheming to relocate to Madison and be close to loved ones. 

Designer and color consultant, Wendy Broadhead, has been working in the home decor field for over 25 years, so she has a lot to offer on this topic. According to Wendy:

"Selecting your main home color can be daunting, but getting the right color makes everything else just fall into place. Whites and Off-Whites are so versatile, looking elegant and classic or rustic and relaxed."

(Swiss Coffee from Benjamin Moore -- photo from Benjamin Moore)

Choosing the right colors

Before you take on any large scale painting projects, Wendy recommends choosing your main color first. Some of her favorite colors include Benjamin Moore colors Simply White (OC-117, soft, slightly creamy), Swiss Coffee (OC-45, a touch of warm gray), and Chantilly Lace (OC-65,

If you could imagine a better future for you and your loved ones, 

If you could envision peace of mind, 

And if you could afford it right now,

What would you do?

Would you buy your dream home today? Or would you delay your purchase and wait for a different kind of market?

We're always available to talk about your future and the future of real estate, too. So please reach out to our team whenever you're in need of a real estate conversation. We'll share our honest insights and opinions with you, and help you choose the path that's the right one for you. 

Are you getting ready to begin the home-buying process? Realtor Max Woods has a weekly video series that simplifies the home-buying process for you. In one recent video, Max covers three great tips for anyone who's just getting started with their search.

3 showing tips from realtor Max Woods

Tip #1: Treat your showing as an opportunity to learn more about the surrounding area by going for a short walk or a short drive around the neighborhood. Who knows, you might even meet a few friendly neighbors?

Tip #2: Use your showings as a time to refine and clarify what you're looking for -- as you and your realtor discuss the features and finishes of each property you tour. 

Tip #3: Be mindful of home surveillance systems. Many homes are

In a market like ours, it's whenever the perfect opportunity presents itself. It could be in the heart of the spring selling season, during the cooler fall season, or in the quiet of winter. You just never know when. 

Our clients Roger and Jennifer just learned this lesson when their perfect home became available right before the Thanksgiving Holiday. Their home search took a few weeks longer than they were planning for, but they're so glad that they remained patient and focused and had Chris Venden guiding them along their journey.

As Jennifer told us the other day, "Our new home is absolutely perfect for us. We're so glad that we didn't settle, this home is so worth the wait."

So, if you're planning to buy your dream home in 2023, here are

Don't confine your search to the springtime.

Instead, act as if your search is a 12-months-out-of-the-year endeavor. Because in a market like ours, you just never know when your dream home will become available. It could be in the heart of the spring selling season, during the cooler fall season, or in the quiet of winter. There's no telling when the perfect opportunity will present itself, and you want to be prepared to act as soon as your dream home hits the market.

Do you have questions about buying or selling a home in the Madison area? Please reach out to us whenever you're in need of a real estate conversation. We're here to be a resource for you and help you plan for your future.

Your friends at Mad City Dream Homes

It's that time of year for our annual real estate predictions. Here are 7 key reasons why we see low inventory and strong prices for Madison and Dane County in 2023. 

On the demand side

Population growth

Dane county is already the fastest-growing region in the state, and according to the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission that trend will continue. The Commission projects our population will grow by more than 200,000 residents over the next 30 years. 

National reputation

For the second straight year, the city of Madison has been named by Livability as the #1 place to live in America. It's rankings like these that have put Madison on the map. And in a mobile culture like ours, where people can choose to live and work from just