What's happening in Real Estate? April 2011

Madison Property Tax assessments are in, what to do if you disagree!

If you are a property owner in the city of Madison you will have received a white post card in the mail this last weekend. 

It is the 2011 Assessment of your property.  It tells you how much value the city places on the property. 

Of the things it is not:    It is not an accurate estimate of value. 

Just as Zillow estimate, it is based on statistics, and once in a while a city employee will enter each property. (every 20 years?).   Most assessors do not sell homes.

The true measure of a home is what a buyer is willing to pay at any particular time, and what the seller is willing to part with it.   

That straight!  There is a possibility that your assessment is wrong!!! Imagine!  In these days of falling prices, it is likely that the city is too high.  (and maybe reluctant to lower values because of the tax base).

Although a high assessment may help you when selling, a high assessment will also increase your tax bill unequally. 

If you feel your assessment is more that you could sell the property for, then the one thing you can do is challenge the city.

Challenging the Assessment

This is not as difficult as it sounds.  And it starts with a simple phone call to the city.  (in Madison 608 266 4531)  Tell the clerk that you wish to “Object”  to the value.  You should have some sort of reason, but it does not really have to be much.  This phone call needs to be before May 9^th 2011.

This simple call will start a process that causes the assessment to be reevaluated.  (in my experience they usually reduce by a few thousand.)

If that is satisfactory you leave it at that.  If you are still not happy, the next phase is to file a written objection with the board of review.  You can find out from the clerk what you need to do.  (it is also on the back of your assessment card.)

If you need city data, the easiest way is to go to our web site www.RealEstateGuy.Net and complete a “how much is my home worth?” or market snapshot form. 

While you are at it, here is our latest search technology.   Search homes for sale Madison Wi

RealEstateGuy has been a full time, full service Realtor since 1993. He is dedicated to helping people achieve their Real Estate Goals and dreams.  In order to provide more specialized service, Guy selected a team of specialists. Guy believes in constantly learning more, so regularly attends national seminars and trainings. Guy has been a top producer, leader in his office, a president of the Wisconsin chapter of CRS, and has spoken at State Realtor Conventions. 

Get a chuckle. Watch Real  Estate Guy video. 30 seconds Search all area homes for sale Madison Wi  RealEstateGuy.  Madison Wisconsin 

Top Home selling team shares comparative advantage

In this day and age,  when it  is tough to sell a home,   if you are a home seller, you want the very best.  At RealEstateGuy Team we strive to go that little bit further to make the sale  more successful. 

These things make my team stand out.  To make sure this is clear, these things are above and beyond the regular listing services that some of the best offer.  MLS, Virtual Tours, Regular feedback and follow up calls, great photos, home books, open houses, buyer consultations, closing services, etc.


First, is marketing, the more you have the more people get to see a home (see below).
Second, is negotiating, I have a lifetime of negotiating skills.  This will ensure that once we receive an offer, that we get the home sold at the best price.

Marketing,    There are 3 major items that distinguish ourselves from the competition.

1) Website SEO ranking.   IREG ranks far higher on many search terms than just about any other agent and often higher than any company.  That gives us more web traffic.
More traffic comes directly from my social networking and blogging activity.   This means more exposure for your home.  

2) KWLS.   Keller Williams has it's own listing service.   8 million listings.   As a company we have negotiated special terms with 330 sites that host web searches.  including Yahoo, Google, Zillow and Trulia.  yes 330!

3) Brand new system which includes a home search and google ads.   The back end of the system matches new prospects with our listings so we make sure they know about them.  In the first 3 weeks we have had over 2,000 his and 75 sign-ins'.  
search is here http://www.homesforsalemadisonrealestate.com/.  And a screen print of the activity generated on the search system i mentioned.  This number of leads will come in every 3 weeks and compound. http://screencast.com/t/f9z9Y5xAyA

 
Although we are not alone, we pay for upgraded listings on Realtor.com.   This is how the listings look.  Upgraded listings get upwards of 5,000-10,000 hits per week.  Check out the listing here.
Realtor.com upgraded listing http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1325-Waldorf-Blvd_Madison_WI_53719_M88959-55485

This is why we sell so many homes, and we want to sell yours. 

History says, now is the time to buy a home in Madison Wi

We have written many times over the last 48 months
that now is the time to buy a home. Now the case can be made, if you own 1, buy
2 more too, such is the opportunity. Of course what we have been saying has
been correct all along.   If you had bought a home in Madison Wi over
the last 2 years you could not go wrong.  But now the proof is mounting
that this elongated opportunity is closing fast.

Let’s start with home sales:
nationally they are trending up to 5.28 million from a low of 3.84 back just 6
months ago. (annualized figure) So Sales are up.

Let’s look at affordability! 
Homes are more affordable that they have ever been, based on price and interest rates against household earnings.  Household income to home price fell to 13% in 2010.

Let’s look at interest rates:
They have gone up almost 1% from all time lows just 3 months ago.  Hovering just below 5% for a 30 year, and predictions they will be at 5.6% later in the year.
Every 1% hike in rates is like adding 10% to the price of a home.
  
How long before we get to a historical average of 8.9% It is
likely, due to increased activity, prices will go up soon, and higher interest
rates will make buying a home less affordable.  I ask you:  Can you
hear me now?  Start here now. Search all Madison Wi Area homes for sale.

If you are underwater in your home, a short sale may
be for you.  About short sales Madison Wi.   

To help in the decision process, watch this series of short
Videos: Sell My Home Madison.  It will help
you decide if you are really a home seller.

If you would like a snapshot of homes sales in your
neighborhood.

RealEstateGuy has been a full time, full service
Realtor since 1993. He is dedicated to helping people achieve their Real Estate
Goals and dreams.  In order to provide more specialized service, he
created a team of hand picked specialists. Guy believes in constantly learning
more, so regularly attends national seminars and trainings. Guy has been a top
producer, leader in his office, a president of the Wisconsin chapter of CRS,
and has spoken at the Realtor Conventions.

Get a chuckle. Watch Real  Estate Guy video. 30 seconds Search all area homes for sale Madison Wi

receive a birds eye view of sales in
your neighborhood