Relocate to Wisconsin

              Real estate is alive and well in Waukesha County....We recently sold 2 homes in less than 70 days....Part of the "secret" is  preparing the house for sale....whether you call it the shiniest penny, most appealing in terms of condition, decor.....your house has to be the best...the best condition, the most eye appealing and the sharpest price when compared to other homes buyers will be seeing on their tour...maximize the positive.....and price it to sell.                

                   Rates are wondeful....prices are exceptional....first timers are going to reap a $7500 tax benefit....If you are a buyer....what tremendous opportunity you have the good fortune to enjoy in terms of both price and selection.

                If you are moving up...larger...more features....it is a wonderful time to do it at a great price.

              Come on in....the Buying is Fine....Celebrate the market with a new home for the holidays !

       IF you are looking for that rare wine.....a different after dinner drink...OR maybe a non-alcoholic mixer or a beer flavor no one ever heard of....there is just one place to go....

                                                                          CONSUMER BEVERAGE

                                       HALES CORNERS PLAZA                            5313 South 108th Street

                                                                                       Hales Corners, WI

                                                                                          414-425-1550

     If you are shopping for someone who enjoys a glass of wine...or would like to sample the newest variety..OR you don't know a Chardonnay from a Pinot,....you have come to the right place...for both variety and advice.  They not only have whatever you wish....they KNOW what they have...how fruity, how dry....compared to this it's more this and less that....it goes well with this entree...if Uncle Joe likes this he will LOVE that......everything you wish you knew...and can pretend you can when you give it as a gift this holiday season.

                                                                                                               The Pradel Family...Mike and Libby and their daughters have been in business since 1963 and can ably answer any questions or make wonderful suggestions for a picnic, party...any kind of celebration !

    Whether your bubbly is alcoholic or not ...you will find a HUGE assortment of all things liquid at Consumer Beverage. Give your coffee a new flavor....make your spirits bright with new additions to that blemded ice or ice cream drink....garnishes like olives stuffed with bleu cheese or who knows what pickled delicacies.....and what about those teeny little bottles of spirits to trim a package...or sample a new flavor or brand of whatever vodka, scotch, brandy, whiskey....it's all at Consumer Beverage.

  Start Celebrating Monday- Saturday 9  - 9 and on Sundays 9:30 - 4 p.m.

                Bring on the Bubbly....Toast the New Year....Do it with Consumer Beverage !

We have been on several pre-listing SHORT SALE appointments in the last week on houses that had been listed from $200-$800,000 and in most cases, the sellers had no idea that they were "upside down" .  The re-curring theme with these sellers was home equity loans....after all a year ago...two years ago...the bank told them that their home "Appraised for $X...." and even allowing for little appreciation...or even some depreciation....they believed their homes would still sell for more than they owed....they would just break even or make less profit 

           A bank appraisal to withdraw equity a couple years ago...and today's values may be and unfortunately, usually ARE a whole different story....Understand Mr., Ms or Mrs. Seller....the bank appraised your home for the purpose of lending you money....for updating, repairs, using the equity to buy, update or repair another property.....and they had a vested interest in having the property be valued at a as high a number as possible.  In addition to that, the prices in the market a while ago and the prices today are usually lower.... combine those two factors. Now, when you thought you were taking SOME EQUITY our of your home...the SOME may be MORE THAN ALL in Today's market.  IF you don't HAVE to sell and the payments are affordable...sit tight...it may be a while but the market will come back.  If you are having to sell and your equity is gone...your income reduced due to death, divorce or loss of your job....you may well be a candidate for a short sale.

   Don't guess...don't imagine what the consequences are...Learn from an expert...give us a call,..no matter where you are in the country....we will find you someone in your market to help you determine your best avenue of pursuit....and if it is a short sale, know that they will offer you the guidance you need and get your home sold without the hassle of foreclosure that will follow you for years to come, could be potentially expensive and worrysome on a lot of levels.

     Toll free: 877-525-0563, locally in southeastern Wisconsin: 414-525-0563 OR e-mail: Experts@WeSellUpsideDownHomes.com.  We don't just list short sales...we close them.

  Do You Hear What I Hear ?

         Mortgage  Rates Are Sliding Down....

        Home  Prices  Are Better than They Have Ever Been....

      Qualified Veterans Can STILL buy with no money Down...

      First time Buyers Get Tax Credits....

      Home Selection is OUTSTANDING....

                  On Your Mark...Get Set...WRITE !!!!

   You deserve a little pampering this busy holiday season…and EVERY season…be good to yourself..and Pro Nail is just the place to go to do just that !

                  Pro Nail Salon

               Hales Corners Plaza

              5301 South 108^th Street

              Hales Corners, WI

                (414) 427-1697

   ( A squidge south of Edgerton and North of Grange on highway 100)

Decorate ALL your digits…fingers AND toes ! Whether you want a French manicure, brightly colored holiday polish, a hint of glitz or an artistic air brushing…you can have it all. Tri and Minh Nguyen and their able and friendly staff will insure that your manicure and pedicure leave you feeling relaxed and “glammed “ for the upcoming hectic holiday social season.

                                    You May choose From

     Glamourous Holiday Colors or Glitz to French Manicures, Relaxing Pedicures or Artistic Airbrushing with a variety of different techniques. Mmmm....soooo many choices !

          Their hours are many and sure to fit your schedule….Walk Ins Are Welcome, though you may wish to call ahead and make an appointment to minimize your waiting time.

   Mon- Fri.: 9:30 am – 8 pm  Sat: 9am – 6 pm  Sun 10am-3 pm

  You will know someone soon, if you do not already has missed a couple mortgage payments...OR is borrowing money to make mortgage payments....from friends, relatives, robbing the charge card, home equity....whatever it takes to get the payment made....Stop, Stop, Stop....Show them this blog and maybe, just maybe, they will realize that getting deeper in debt is not the best way to deal with a cash short situation and that there are alternatives.

  If your finances continue a downward spiral due to divorce, illness, job loss or some combination of financial problems and you see no relief any time soon, a short sale is a viable alternative...and foreclosure is not....and here are some of the reasons..

•  The credit recovery from a short sale can be 2 years; a foreclosure on a credit record can take 7, 10 or more years.
• A short sale costs you nothing as a homeowner...not when you sell it and more importantly not later...your wages will not be garnisheed and you will not be charged with the deficiency caused by "shorting" the lender(s). With a foreclosure, you can expect all of the aforementioned consequences.
• If you have or ever will have a career requiring security clearance in the military, the government or law enforcement,..a foreclosure can prevent you from getting that clearance, a short sale cannot.
• More and more often credit ratings come in to play with employment applications, a short sale never appears on a credit report.

   These are just some of the very important reasons that a homeowner should consider a short sale rather than wait to be run over by the proverbial foreclosure bus.

        If you or someone you know has these kinds of financial stresses...due to either residential or commercial real estate...tell them to call us...no matter what their situation or where they live...we can find a short sale expert to help...call us locally: 414-525-0573 or Toll Free: 877-525-0563.

               We don't just DO Short Sales...We CLOSE THEM !!!

MERRY Bling Days !

     What a wonderful way to celebrate the season…with a sparkle, a tick-tock, a gleam, a glitter….mmmm….choose jewelry from

                                 Lampone Jewelers

                              5393 South 108^th Street              

                               Hales Corners, Wisconsin    

                                       (414) 529-3515

               Greg                    Cass                        John

                         Holiday Hours : Monday – Friday 10 am – 7 pm

                                                 Sat.: 10 am -3pm

(Hales Corners Plaza Shopping Center south of Edgerton and North of Grange on the west of the street)

        Lampone Jewelry began in 1946 with 3 brothers, Sam, Joe and Steve and locations throughout the greater Milwaukee area.  Now, Sam’s children, Cass and John and their cousin Greg, Joe’s son, have carried on the family tradition of service and quality at this conveniently located Hales Corners location.

  .

          Lampone’s is one of the very few jewelers who actually does their own work which can include everything from watch repair and ring sizing to custom design and engraving.  Greg is both a gemologist and goldsmith and can ably assist you with any design or custom creation.

           Whether you want to surprise your Sweetheart with a pearl or a diamond, give your Dad or your brother a watch, your sister a pendant…add a charm to your Mom’s bracelet announcing that new Grandchild…you will find it all at Lampone Jewelers.  Or you can ask Lampone’s “What’s New?...” they will know the answer !

              The Lampone Family has been our family jeweler for generations… come on in and meet the family, you will want them to be your jeweler too !

  More than once while we have talked with sellers who are in a short sale position....we hear "Our realtor didn't tell us we could do a short sale  OR a realtor who lists a property without knowing what the seller owes...." Sometimes sellers don't realize that whenever they have used the equity in their home for the car loan...the summer home...the winter condo....they don't look at it as the "minus side of the ledger" when it comes to selling their home.  It is up to the realtor to determine ALL the indebtedness of the seller when a home is listed. If the seller is "upside down" and owes more than the appraisal will be....the seller has a choice.  If selling is a  "gotta be"....unemployed or under-employed....divorce, illness or some combination of hardship situations....a short sale IS the answer. If  payments are managable and you as a seller don't HAVE  to sell now...your house is just not worth what you paid for it....don't sell....wait it out. The market will be back. 

   If you are selling your home...be sure your agent does a Net Proceeds Sheet....tell her/him EVERYTHING you owe and ask her/him to show you the costs of selling....title, taxes if they apply and commission and any other costs associated with closing your side of the transaction, If adding those costs and the mortgage balance put you "upside down" and you HAVE to sell....be sure your realtor has short sale experience and isn't using your listing to GET experience.  Don't let someone gamble with your credit. Whether the agent is a friend, relative or neighbor...ask them if they have

SUCCESSFUL SHORT SALE EXPERIENCE.  If not....call us no matter where you are in the country, we can find you an experienced short sale realtor. You probably wouldn't go to a doctor for surgery if your badly needed operation was a first for him/her.....or go to a trial with a recent law school grad for the murder you didn't commit,,,,don't let someone handle your real estate and risk foreclosure who has never done a short sale.

When you are writing out your holiday greetings,

 To your extended family, friends, business associates...your sphere...you may want to add one more name to the list. It's one that you will probably never meet and a smile that you will not see that may last all day when the person receives your greeting and knows that you took the time to remember them this holiday season.....do it now...

                       
                                                                    It will be the most important greeting you extend all season

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

   And to all a good night.....Happiest of Holidays....Hansons Both

Give the gift of blogging to your market this holiday season !

       Your local retailers may be finding the holiday season this year a little more challenging in the sales department….and you can help them with your gift of blogging.  When you make it “about them” you are doing your part to help your market….the economy and making a happier holiday season for everyone. It’s easy and fun…..Let’s begin….

      First make a list of the local merchants that you will blog…you can include anything and everything from the coffee and donut shop to the dentist, chiropractor, nail and beauty salon….note addresses and hours of business (those may expand during the season…check with the merchant) and then get out your digital camera…if you don’t have one yet…invite Santa to come early and go and get one..you can add the camera store to your gift of blogging list !  

Think about the kind of pictures you want to take at each location…outside, inside…a notable street sign or mall sign….note those on your list. Call the owner, manager, etc.  and ask if you may have 10 minutes of their time to interview them about their specials for the holidays. 

 Add the appointments to your well booked calendar and be punctual for your appointment. In addition to your camera and notepad or laptop,  I suggest you take one of the calendars you had printed with your name, website, blog, picture and attach a candy cane as a thank you for their time. (If you forgot to get one done or missed the deadline, go to your local printer or office supply and they can help you….add them to your gift of blogging list.)

       Listen carefully, take your pictures…do the blog, put it in Localism…print it….you may choose to frame it in an inexpensive frame with a caption: Find us at: YOUR BLOG
TITLE and perhaps the merchant’s website address if they have one.  List their specials and holiday hours,  include a link to a map for ease in finding them….Voila… !

 Your gift of blogging  is complete JUST  DO    IT !!! 

 You’ll feel warmer than a steaming cup of hot chocolate all  season knowing you did your part to make the season happier for your community.  Happiest of Holidays !

  We know several people who are or who have been self-employed and do not have health insurance. It is expensive...hard to get...they have prior conditions the company won't insure...they can't join or don't qualify for a group plan.  There are lots of reasons....and the problem is that if you have no health insurance....just a slip down the stairs...a car accident...whatever the catastrophe....it can take you down the "over your head in medical debt" road in a real hurry.

    Realtors of course are self-employed....and while some associations and chambers of commerce offer plans, age, prior health conditions, cost etc. may be obstacles in becoming insured.

      In Wisconsin, we are very lucky....we have two plans for which people may apply....and it is because of one them that I have insurance. As a type 2 diabetic, and self employed...no insurance company wanted to insure me. I know all the side effects that diabetics can and do have....they can be serious, expensive and disabling.  I have health insurance through the state of Wisconsin...it is called HIRSP. HIRSP  is insurance for people who have been refused by at least two companies...that is not at all difficult with my health history...and not difficult for lots of people who may have something as common as high blood pressure. Don't let no health insurance cripple you financially if you should have a health problem....if you are a Wisconsin Resident...go to: www.Hirsp.org and you will learn the rates...they are only based upon age and sex and not your health history.

   If you qualify financially, you may also look into Badger Care....this can help children in need of health care coverage in Wisconsin, go to: http://www.badgercareplus.org/core.

   Be smart...be financially safe...take care of your health !

       For all the little folks on your holiday list....or as my 87 year old Mother STILL says...."Those who don't believe, don't receive"... suggest that they visit http://www.SantaClaus.net  what a wonderful site to play on !

   Give your name to Santa and his "Naughty or Nice" meter will tell you how good you have been all year ! I learned I was "Very Nice"...(no surprise there of course !) but my husband had "3 more points to go to be perfect"... gee Santa...wanna check your math on that one again ?

        Visit the reindeer...choose an Elf to talk to...check out the weather at the North Pole...leave a letter for Santa....it is just delightful and really in the spirit of the fast coming season...Enjoy...a very merry and prosperous holiday season to you all !

      As you read blogs, write comments and wander thru the Rain...know that it is the time of year when we all should be doing an evaluation of where we are....where we have been and where we want to go...and this is such a rich forum of ideas...what better place to go to start making your list...AND probably checking it MORE than twice...Let's begin our review...

• Where did your sales come from last year ?

                       - The source, the neighborhood, the price range

• What marketing programs did you execute that were most effective ?

                         - What did your website, open houses, print ads, SEO contribute to your bottom line ?

• How could you improve the programs that worked...eliminate those that did not and discover WHY

               -If a program didn't work.;did you do it enough;was it the right time or best market to use it

• What skills did you learn this past year...which areas to you want to improve in next year ?

• Have you determined what your market niche is and how you will further it ?

           This is just the beginning of the thought process that should be unfolding for you for next year's career success....more later in the Rain....Every Prosperous Wish !

 Reality is that everyone who knows anyone will know someone that is or will be upside down with their mortgage sometime within the next 12 months if you don't already.  Tooo many no money down deals...too much unemployment, divorce, lack of health insurance, adjustable rates that adjusted out of an affordable category...combinations of life's misfortunes that make dealing with a mortgage payment one more thing that just can't be done.

My heart aches for anyone in this position....and while of course we make money doing short sales, it is not the fastest or least time intensive way to sell real estate. While a "normal transaction" may have 25-30 pieces of paper...offer, ammendments, condition report, etc.....a Short Sale package that is sent to a lender or lenders usually has hundreds.  We are asking the lender to forgive debt...and now we have to show them why that is necessary....and black and white reasons...not just that the payment got to be more than you thought...you wanted to move to a warmer climate....etc.

           We believe that the AFTER CARE of a short sale seller is a very important part of the service we provide. Losing a home, like having a horrible illness...traumatizes a seller....paralyzes and depletes credit scores....lowers self esteem....can cause depression. We aren't here to diagnose a state of mind, give you budget guidelines, or repair the damage to your credit that a short sale will cause. We know what we know....but what we can and DO provide are resources for you to remedy all the ills that a short sale can cause...and know that these treatments are available to you and that there are better days ahead.

       You do know someone...you will know someone...with a short sale...call us..a short sale costs the seller NOTHING...our consultation to see if you qualify for a short sale is FREE....and we can help you no matter where you are, anywhere in the country....we will refer you to a LOCAL expert...not 1-800-We HelpU...but someone who knows and understands your local market and situation. Call us Toll FREE: 877-525-0563 or locally in southeastern Wisconsin: 414-525-0563...whether you have residential or commercial, single family or multi family properties that need assistance...help is just a phone call away...prompt service/proven results.

  We had an ambitious list of things scheduled for Friday,...typically we have a list of "His, Hers and Theirs" and decide who will do what when every day. Friday....the list got turned upside down as a stabbing pain woke me at 5 am....the kidney stone scheduled to be laser zapped next week had decided to be a problem. People who have been thru childbirth, car accidents, mutliple illnesses and injuries will tell you that there is no worse pain....Can't say I have experienced all of the above....but I can tell you that you would really have to hate your worst enemy, in-law, competitor, former spouse, nasty neighbor....a whole big bunch to wish that pain on them...OUCH !

     My husband called the Urologist and he had me pre-admitted to a local hospital while I struggled to get out of bed and find something to wear easy on and off...no fashion statement....just comfort, In the car....to the hospital...quickly to my new "home" for the next 18 hours and an IV drip of wonderful pain medication....ahhh....that great little black button...push, push, push....no pain and off to La La Land... one of my favorite places in this condition.

   ALMOST everyone was "above and beyond" in the caring and helpful department...most especially Sarah, who was the transport gal...who anticipated my every need, ache and pain...pillow, ice pack...what a sweetie. She is going to take her M-Cat and go to medical school...I am sending her a note...if she sets up a practice here...I will be her first patient. Such caring when you feel like___________(fill in the blank) is so much appreciated.

     Then....the only person who was "not so much" in the customer service department was the nurse on duty who announced I would be having lab work done...no problem....been there and expected that....and that will include a pregnancy test....I laughed for the first time in a while....and waited for a smile in return and instead got a swift retort "It's hospital policy....you MUST have it !" Having had a hysterectomy over a dozen years ago...I think not....I told her not to have it done, I wasn't paying for it AND my insurance should not be billed for it.  She paraded out of the room.

        I checked with the pre-op nurse later....sure enough, a pregnancy test WAS done....! She had the "last word"....aned contributed, perhaps in a small way, but contributed to the rising cost of health care...and now off to e-mail the insurance company.  Maybe after the hospital...or better yet, the nurse, "eats" enough test costs...they will re-think their mandatory policy and replace it with common sense,

 In conversation with other realtors the other day..someone asked the usual "How's business ?" question. We said "GREAT !" We had a number of short sales closed or closing "shortly"...(forgive the pun.)  "Oh yes,...EVERYONE is doing Short Sales."  Maybe....especially from what we see on Active Rain....Everyone should not be doing short sales...because:

     1)  "Everyone" can LIST a short sale...Can Everyone Market a short sale ?

     2) If I were either a seller or a referral source...

                                           Ask  the Realtor ...Have  you actually CLOSED a Short Sale ?

                                             3) Is there more than one lien holder ? We see "rules" from realtors who limit

                                      the number of lien holders to one, maybe 2.....if you have a large home,

                                       were or are self-employed and may have more than one...don't go there...go

                                       to someone who HAS CLOSED  a short sale...residential or commercial OR

                                       both with multiple liens...Harder...more time consuming...and more skilled..

          Don't trust your credit future to "anyone".....trust a professional with experience in Short Sales. We can help you in southeastern Wisconsin or refer you to someone else anywhere in the country..for both residential and commercial short sales. Trust people who know...people who care...toll free: 877-525-0563 or 414-525-0563 locally....you will get our promise of prompt service and proven results

I have a phone conference scheduled with a short sale seller...we have  had lengthy discussions, left literature, referred blogs and websites to help him gain a better understanding of the whole process....and of of course, are available for phone calls whenever necessary.  I still hear the "When we buy our next home...." creeping into the conversation. Oh YICKS !

    We have explained over and over that more and more the very first thing a lender will look at is a credit score....the credit score was already dismal when we met after 2 years on the market with an over priced house....and debts and taxes continuing to accumulate. While a short sale is an improvement over a foreclosure...it does not "forgive your past credit sins" and....will in fact add to the dings already in your credit score. Add...but not as much or as long as a foreclosure action. That is the word for now...Could that change ? Sure....the financial requirements and lender guidelines, loan programs change all the time. When we get lender questions...we refer them to lenders....know what you don't know....

       If you think Mr./Ms Short Sale Seller that you will be buying a home soon....at this point, we can almost safely say "Not for several years". So if you are stashing cash for that down payment thinking this will be a miraculous and easy transition...sorry...very sorry....but it doesn't work that way. It is like a physical illness...you didn't get it over night...you won't fix it over night...adjust your thinking...be realistic. Better days will be ahead....but a new house.? Not just yet.

   If you or someone you know, is behind on their mortgage payments...anywhere in the country, have them give us a call...toll free: 877-525-0563 or locally: 414-525-0563 and we will be happy to help or refer them to an expert in their area,

I am not really a turkey fan....and traditionally prepare a leg of lamb for those of us who want something else to be thankful to eat.  The table is always decked with every kind of vegetable besides the traditional mashed potatoes....cauliflower, broccoli, squash, roasted red peppers....brussel sprouts...asparagus...ust whatever looks good....and my Mother always says I cook enough for the four county area...and that is probably true.  At our Thanksgiving table there are always the people who are newly divorced, have family too far away or no family at all...everyone is welcome and no one ever leaves without a bag of leftovers and a satisfied appetite.        We always have leftover vegetables which I usually serve steamed. The next day, after spending the night "under wraps"....plastic wraps...in the fridge....the vegetables all jump into the blender....until they are smoothly blended into soup....choose to add cream to thicken or broth to thin....take a taste and add more of another vegetable or some dill, chives, or just warm it and decorate with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of paprika, chives, parsley...whatever works for you. It's Thanksgiving Soup and it tastes different every time depending on what was left over and how much....it's a tradition....one we are now sharing with our AR family and anyone reading this blog....welcome to a Hanson Thanksgiving tradition...it's mmmmmm sooooo good ! Have a Happy Everyone !

 A condo to call your own in the very best complex in New Berlin...sooo much space, you won't know you ARE in a condo !  Spacious first floor unit...the only first floor available in the complex....the BONUS is this one has an exposed lower level....a whole second living level with a bedroom, full bath, HUGE rec room/family room with patio doors and a monster amount of storage...!  The first floor level has a first floor laundry....open concept kitchen with snack bar...all appliances AND washer and dryer are included. Gas fireplace...master suite has walk in closet, patio doors to a private deck, soaking tub, ceramic tile, separate shower....neutral decor....and an attached 2 car garage....it doesn't get better than this....!  If you want to beat the crowds...give the Hansons a call for a private showing .

          This gorgous unit is in Jacob's Ridge....turn west at Calhoun and Lincoln and the first right in less than half a mile will take you to Jacob's Ridge....turn right and you will see the Clubhouse which residents use for their entertainment pleasure....curve to your right and you will see the very best unit in the complex - 17874 West Jacob's Drive.....3 bedrooms and 3 baths for only

                                                                           $255,555  !!!!

                               HURRY AND MAKE THIS YOUR NEW HOME   !!!!

   A recently divorced friend called the other day upset because his wife had put their former (now her) homestead on the market for $100,000 more than it was worth. 

                  "How can the realtor do that...? Isn't it Unethical ? 

   I Can't  report her for an ethics/moral/professional violation ?"

     The divorced friend had to quit claim the house to his ex-wife and still "has an interest" in the house. He knows that starting at such a ridiculous price will mean that the house will be on the market forever and not only not sell at THAT price...but likely a much lower one than it would have sold at had it been priced correctly in the first place.

           If there were Real Estate Police...how many fewer realtors would be in YOUR market...would you be one of them ?  As a seller...don't try to set a price...don't list with the realtor who gives you the highest price,...look at the actual SOLD homes in your neighborhood of COMPARABLE homes...it's ever sooo hard to be objective about your own home...ask your best "Devil's Advocate" friend to help you if you don't think you are being objective...or don't like what the realtor is telling you....Ethical realtors wish there WERE Real Estate Police....police your own market...and your listing...price it correctly.