Relocate to Wisconsin

      My father dutifully filled baskets and hid them when we were little...one was always in the milk chute (a first time buyer asked me what that hole in the wall with a door was the other day..) one behind the chair and my sister's always in the bath tub.  My Dad would have been 87 on Easter Sunday,...I was with him every day for the last 3 months of his life...most of it spent in intensive care trying to battle the devasting effects of a staff infection and guilliam barre syndrome.  I miss him every day....but holidays are especially difficult.

    He was a distinguished looking man....quiet...people sometimes mistakenly took him for a local newscaster or a former Wisonsin Governor...he didn't correct them, he just smiled politely and we all enjoyed the mistake, It was amazing how much better the service got in a restaurant when the staff thought you were in the company of the "semi-famous".

    Dad used to say that no child of his was going to be dumb enough to believe that this super sized rabbit somehow broke into the house and delivered chocolate eggs,,..,.My mother however, came from the "IF you don't believe, You don't receive" school.....so sugar hounds that we were, we "believed" long after other kids had abandoned the tradition under the guise that my younger sister and then younger brother still believed so we HAD to have a basket.

     We wish you all a very sweet holiday....as sweet as the memory I have of my Dad dutifully hiding the baskets.

    We recently had a couple with 3 showings on our listing....they LOVE it....they are working with a very professional co-broke who told us they are transferrees from the east coast...and after having their house ont he market for over a year, have an offer and will close at the end of the month....great cause for celebration !

      During this year on the market, they had been "low balled" had buyers express interest, but until now, had not gotten the price they wanted. They told their agent, our listing was NUMBER 1 on their list and were prepared to write a "low ball" offer. Despite being a buyers' agent reminded them how they felt when they got an offer that was ridiculously low. She reminded them again of how well maintained the property was..how Mrs. Seller cleaned as meticulously as Mrs. Buyer..how they had seen the comps and know it to be the best priced, newest, best maintained, largest, most featured home on the market...not only in that neighborhood...15 minute commute from Mr. Buyer's employment...BUT in the whole suburb.

    "Do Onto Others" she preached.....writing pens are supposed to come out this weekend....stay tuned...will Mr. and Mrs. Buyer write as their reminded consciences dictate....OR will ethics and common sense be tossed aside despite what their agent has told them ?

   There has never been a better time to be a winner in Southeastern Wisconsin Real Estate !!  As a first time buyer or a move up buyer,....you can win the trifecta that the market has to offer ! Right now....there is absolutely the best combination of conditions for you to buy. The interest rates are outstanding...bouncing below 6%  with good credit ...the bigger your down payment the better. The selection is outstanding...if you haven't found a house...you need to talk with an experienced realtor. Maybe you aren't looking in the right area for what you want..a good realtor can tell you what to expect for your pre-approved price range. The third condition is that homes are now priced at their very most reasonable and realistic bottom with few exceptions. Find a good buyers agent with experience and let he/she guide you to the very best purchase of your lifetime.  You can win this rare real estate trifecta...great rates, outstanding selection and reasonable prices...it just doesn't get any better than this...you can win this one...race on over to your nearest and most qualified realtor's office and hang on for the ride of a lifetime !

 Are you Confused about What is Realistic in this market ?   Do you know what "I am not Paying....(Fill in the blank...) will cost you in the end ?

We recently had a buyer visit our website who later told me via e-mail that they would be putting down 3% and by the way, they weren't paying closng costs or PMI.....hmmmm...sounds like some internet guide "How to Get a Real Bargain in Today's Housing Market" as written by Joe Clueless.

Before you decide what you are and are not paying for....Find out your options.

Did you know that the definition of "closing costs" varies from lender to lender ?

Did  you know that no matter what they are calling them...or where they are putting them...while there may be limited time offers on some of them...you ARE paying for some in some way or another.

If you don't have 20% down..what are your choices ?  The 80/20 2 mortgage options are rapidly disappearing. One reasonable interest rate and one several points higher for the PMI you didn't pay and could have deducted.  You aren't paying closing costs...and so I suppose you believe the lender ads that advertise "no closing costs" ? Then the lender will call them by other names...appraisal fees, credit reports,  title insurance, recording fees, flood certification, underwriting fees, prepaid interest, application fees,...be sure and ask for a truth in lending statement...you may find one lender not charging for one thing and charging thousands for another...there is no uniformity and unless you compare them next to each other...or better yet, have a realtor or someone who is used to looking at these forms "translate" them for you...it becomes a sea of numbers....no PMI and no closing costs ?  Then check out your interest rate....you will be paying that for the life of the loan...and it will be points higher than a lender who spells out the charges.

Sorry....no free lunch...no free closing costs...no PMI without 20% down....Trust an experienced lender who has nothing to gain but your happiness with a great rate and reasonable closing costs....you'll be glad you did. 

          The Wisconsin Realtors Association recently supplied us with with a capsule of real estate knowledge that I thought was appropriate to pass along to anyone looking for real estate in the Badger State !

                  Come on in....the buying's fine !

	Over the past 30 years home values have risen more than 6% annually. On average, home values nearly double every 10 years.
	Wisconsin is one of the most stable real estate markets in the Midwest. Wisconsin continues to outperform most other states.
	Homes sold with the help of a real estate professional in 2006 sold on average for 32 percent more than FSBO sales.
	60% of the average homeowner's wealth comes from their home's equity.
	There is no such thing as a national real estate market. Markets vary and are highly localized.
	2007 saw a 7% drop in the number of consumers who plan to buy or sell their homes themselves.