Relocate to Wisconsin : December 2011

  This is to us, an outstanding message of the season....to all of you ...your family and friends...all the best of this season and may you know the warmth and depth of the feeling this video expresses...today and all year long. I can imagine in my mind's holiday eye that this video could be done by all our friends, everywhere....one voice to the world in glorious harmony....wow ! Our wishes for the healthiest, happiest and most prosperous of the New Year to you all.

  Sooo....didn't want to give you any more hints....you have to  cut and paste this

 to your browser:      

           http://youtu.be/SXh7JR9oKVE

Re-Blog Please….

             Your Community Thanks You !

       K Mart opens at 6 am today and will be open until 11:45 pm...Holiday hours may vary by location , so please go to www.KMart.com before you hitch up your sleigh and venture out to the store.

   While we have all blamed the media for spreading bad news....this is a time we can applaud them loudly...and the folks at KMart as well for the efforts made at making the season merrier for families across the country.

   Layaway purchases have been a thing of the past for many retailers for years.  This year, KMart, recognizing tight holiday budgets for families, revived that plan. 

        The Secret Santa began in Nebraska....an anonymous donor paid off the layaway account for a family that could barely afford the presents and clothes for their children.....and the word spread....the media reported....the warm hearts and generous souls across the country responded.....and now....there are Secret Santas everywhere lining up at the Customer Service Counter to pay off layaway accounts and give families in their communities a merrier Christmas.   

    We are going to KMart after 6 am...Don't let your kind heart and gentle spirit be a secret...make like Nike...Just Do It.....Merry Holidays...Hansons Both.

 Matt Anderson thinks he is a

         Business Owner…..

We know that Matty…aka Matt Anderson … does own a business of course…Matty’s Bar is a favorite for all things…Sports Bar…Burger….Pizza….and savory soups…scrumptious salads…amazing appetizers…and liquid libations of all kinds alcoholic and not….you can find Matty’s easily…we say it is around the corner from “cow corner” ….a mini farmette at the corner of College and Sunny Slope in New Berlin.

Matt Anderson loves his business...and it shows...he has a sharp, attentive staff...a menu that is always full of new ideas...and special attention to challenging diets...i.e. Gluten free entrees

Lots of businesses jump on the “holiday bandwagon” of giving and “doing the right thing” for their communities by having a barrel for food donations or a box for toys….a canister for this or that cause…a Giving Tree that lets you sponsor a gift for someone in need….and those are all the “normal and seasonal” things that businesses do….and they are certainly to be commended for their efforts.

Matt Anderson gives a new meaning to going “above and beyond. “ His charitable giving and community spirit doesn’t know a season ….or a conventional method of raising money for worthy causes.  He knows and shows us how to put the FUN in Fund raising !

   This month at Mattys…..Children’s Hospital will benefit from a toy drive that has a Ladies Nite Glitzy Theme….not your same old “drop the toy in the box” approach…Give and Glo…will feature everything from skin consultation and massages while sipping wine and tasting appetizers to  a dazzling show of jewelry custom made by local ladies.

The chill of February weather is warmed by the annual Polar Plunge that finds brave souls dipping into the lake in Muskego and the party that benefits the Special Olympics

The Kidney Foundation is a special beneficiary of FUN raising events at Matty’s which have included a golf outing, a/k/a The Greater Matty’ Open, the infamous Favre-a-Que…how soon we forget….A golf  tournament for the Heart Association

The List goes on and the creative giving continues….Matt Anderson thinks he is a Business Owner….we know better…he is one of the best examples of a humanitarian who puts into practice every day and every way…the fine art of giving back...paying it forward…being a steward of a larger community. For being all those those examples…you have our respect, admiration and every best  wish for the happiest, healthiest and most prosperous of new years for you…your family and the many charitable organizations that benefit from your generous spirit and not sooo random acts of kindness.

  It's that merry time of year when the phone is jing jingling too....and after exchanging what sounds like a little bit nervous pleasantries ....the caller....a buyer who we have had the pleasure of selling a home to during the year has just gotten their tax bill which of course runs from January 1st.....and they know that they bought their new home in......name that month....so how could they possibly owe taxes on a house that they didn't live in...had never seen...and golly gee whiz....

        We wait a minute or two while the new homeowner catches their breath...."Remember at closing...." the conversation begins...of course they don't.....closing a home...especially for a first time or even not frequent buyer, is an "out of body experience. Heads are everywhere but in the room...they are moving, imagining the furniture, planting the landscaping...painting the walls really not in the room except to hear the drone of "sign here, date there".

            There was a line that on your closing statement that showed the taxes that had accumulated from the first of the year until the closing day...that number was subtracted from the amount you owed for the house...you were given a credit. That credit was so that now....when you receive the tax bill,...you are responsible for payment of the entire bill.

    "Oh....." sigh....is usually the response. The Mother and Father of real estate...whoever they were ....long ago and far away figured out that it was easier to do a credit at closing than it was for the new owner to be found and have them pay the taxes for the part of the year that they lived in the house...pure genius....and easier....Soooo...sorry...the bad news is that the bill is all yours...the very good news is that you need to save a copy and take it to your tax prepaperer or use it yourself because now...as a homeowner, that tax bill is a deduction...congratulations !

   Including Short Sales in the practice of real estate should not be an area taken lightly...studied briefly or done occasionally.  We believe that it is an area of concentration and specialization that requires a combination of discipline and consistent education and a team of dedicated people inclusive of experienced title and legal professionalsto be successful. We have built a team that we are proud of and has earned the respect of other agents and allied professionals...many of whom refer business to us.

   We  had a Seller who engaged the services of his own attorney....which is fine of course...however, this attorney was not a real estate attorney...his practice was primarily bankruptcy. Brief conversation told us that his short sale experience was either very limited or non existent.

   We explained as a part of the process that the Sellers would be expected to provide financial documents...we gave them an outline and forms that we use as CDPE agents.  We further explained that the lender may well have additional information that they require...their own forms which will have some of the same and likely some additional financial data required.

   "NO....I will instruct my clients not to provide any of that financial information as the bank is likely to use it against them," the "Don't know what you Don't know" Lawyer insisted.

   Now there's a good idea !  Ask the bank to forgive tens of thousands of dollars in debt with no financial back up...gee that would make short sales shorter...and there will be lenders everywhere who we are sure will be happy to approve short sales....oh yes...wait...it DOES get better...also without an offer....and grant a "no deficiency" magic spell. 

   Consumers often assume....someone with the educational credentials of a lawyer MUST know more than a Realtor...and we can really understand that....in this siutuation it is our short sale opinion....based on significant successful experience that no lender will...or should...approve a short sale without financial documentation.  Lawyers, Realtors, Doctors....whatever the profession need to know what they don't know and limit their practice to what they do know....

   Quite sure we will see the property foreclosed....as well as it should be....and that could well have been avoided...knowing what you do know....and what you do not.

   If YOU or anyone you know is unable to pay their mortgage for reasons of hardship...call us and we will be happy to refer you to a qualified professional in your area...who will know what there is to know about short sales.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS....GRAB A GAL PAL ....and Celebrate the Season !

  Admission: 1 Unwrapped Toy $20 Value and Join the Fun...

   You can see why we call Wisconsin Home...Tiz the Season and Giving is at all time HIGH !

Get High on Giving....to Children as we send them healing wishes for the holidays....grab some glitz of your own with services provided by Glo10 Spa and Salon of Muskego and Jewelscapes Custom Jewelry Designs...!

                                                           970 Silver Mist Court

                                                       Brookfield, WI   53005-4116

                                                                   MLS 1232302

                                                                         $388,777

              4-5 bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Guest quarters - lower level - 3 car attached garage

 TAKE A TOUR ! CLICK CLICK !

  If you are looking for a cookie cutter floorplan....you need not come to this home.....IF you are looking for imaginative design with versatile use..gourmet granite and stainless kitchen..first floor laundry, formal dining room, first floor master, office space with storage.a finished lower level with guest quarters...full bath and kitchenette...patio, attached 3 car garage and coveted culdesac location...Look no further...RUN to the phone...and Call the Hansons: 414-525-0563...let us show you the home that does not disappoint and answers all these dreams and more.

  There was a time when the only place any bride to be went to look for a wedding dress was Mitchell Street...it was "Bridal Row" and the streets were lined with bridal stores featuring every dress you could ever dream of....with bridesmaid and mothers dresses....it was a trip to Fantasy Land.  Little girls often dream of the day they walk down the aisle with the dress they have always imagined....somehow it is akin to finding the house of your dreams..."you just know" when you have found the right one. It's your day to be the "cover girl", star quality attraction at the ceremony and dance the night away with your Prince at the reception....it is your day to live your own Fairy Tale.

   Weddings are expensive....from the invitation to the dresses, formal wear, reception, music, attendants' gifts...the list goes on and on.....and for some brides, the dream has to take a detour when funds are not available to make the day quite the way she may have imagined.

    Times change....many of the Bridal stores that lined Mitchell Street moved to the suburbs and the malls and no longer anchor "Bridal Row" ....the concentration of business is not the same as it was before.

   
  For nearly three decades Croatian refugee Rosi Serci and owner of Apollo Bridal Fashions at 12th & Mitchell Streets, has helped brides find the dress of their dreams at her store. We share the same ethnic heritage and I am so proud of her stewardship to the less fortunate in the community. It's a bittersweet goodbye to a business she's spent years building. Instead of selling the thousands of gowns in her inventory, she's donating them to St. Vincent DePaul as she retires this year.  The business and the community have been good to her...."It's time to give back."   She is giving back in BIG way.....donating her inventory of over 1,000 dresses to St. Vincent DePaul to help them raise money next year.

   There will be many brides in southeastern Wisconsin with tears as they walk down the aisle...not only for the celebration of that special "always dreamed of" day but because Rosi Serci has a big heart....and helped to make it even more special.

Everyone LOVES a Parade....Enjoy....Give Back...See Santa.. Light the Tree...Taste the Season

   Our Primary "Charity of Choice" is The Womens Center in Waukesha.  One of our goals in helping them throughout the year, is to introduce their organization to others and make them the "charity of choice" for for other people as well.  The Womens Center serves the surrounding communities in a number of ways...from the crisis line to the shelter, the highly skilled and compassionate staff helps women and their families transition from an abusive home to a healthy independent living environment.

    Every year at this time, there is a "Secret Gift Shop" where the children can choose gifts for their Moms from the items that have been donated for this cause.  We dropped off the items we purchased for this event over Thanksgiving weekend and if you are unable to get to the Center, located at:505 North East Avenue, Waukesha, WI,  give us a call...we'll pick up your donation and deliver it for you.

Here are some items for the Center's Wish list for Mom's:

Gift Cards from local discount & dept Stores                   Body Lotion/Bath Gels                  Curling Irons

Perfume/Cologne                                                            Manicure/Nail Sets                Hair Care Products

Cosmetic Bags - Makeup                                                  Blank Journals                       Picture Frames

Jewelry - Watches                                                           Flavored Coffee/Tea                 Movie Passes

PJ's, robes, slippers (All sizes)                                         Alarm Clocks               Bath Towels/Wash Cloths

Stationary/Stamps                                                          Umbrellas                            Winter Gloves

              It will warm your heart to know that you have helped to make a holiday...a day in the life of someone else...a little bit better....warmer, happier....Paying it forward to those who need it most. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.