My Monthly newsletter has timely information on reducing your energy bills from ... April Hayden-Munson  Brookfield Wisconsin RE/MAX Realty 100    Did you realize the majority of monthly energy expenses are associated with heating or cooling your home? Heating or cooling consumes 50% of the average monthly electric bill.    Here are some tips from the experts about how to save energy and reduce your energy bills--and help the environment at the same time.    * When replacing older appliances, especially refrigerators, consider more energy-efficient ENERGY STAR appliances. * Wrap heating and cooling ducts with duct wrap or use mastic sealant. * Set the furnace thermostat at 68 degrees or lower and the air-conditioner thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, health permitting. Three to five ... 07/12/2010

There were 43 sales with an average price of $287,251 with an average market time of 162 and a list to sales ratio of 95.57%.  There were also 19 accepted offers with future closing dates. In June 2010 there were 21 fewer sales than in 2009 and there were 40 fewer listings added this year in June. There are currenly 506 listings with an average time on the market of 247 days.   Year to date there has been 11 more sales in 2010 than in 2009.  So it will be interesting in the next months to see how the results of the two years will compare and the effect that the tax credit might of had on the brookfiled market.     07/04/2010

  Open House Brookfield Wisconsin Home for Sale  1885 Lone Oak CIR W    Call for directions or details 414-617-6728 Contact Info: April Hayden-Munson 414-617-6728 SRES,CDPERE/MAX Realty 100400 N. Executive Dr. #100Brookfield, WI 53005Phone: 262-787-3043Cell: 414-617-6728Fax: 262-784-7279Email: movewithapril@gmail.comWeb: http://www.MovewithApril.com Property Info: Open House Sunday June 27th $257,5001885 Lone Oak CIR W City of BrookfieldWisconsin 53045-5017 MLS #: 1144738 Property Type: Single-Family Bedrooms: 3 Baths: 2 / 1 Year Built: 1954 Sq. Ft.: 2,180 # of Rooms: 8 Taxes: $4,564 / 2009 Lot Size: F129X136XR129 / 1/4 less than 1/2 Acres Garage: 2 / Attached Basement: Full; Partial; Block; 1/2 Bath Heating/Cooling: Forced Air / Natural Gas; Central Air Water/Waste: Municipal Sewer; Pr... 06/25/2010

There were 48 sales with an average price of $300,964 and a list to sales ratio of 95.65%.  In addition there are 29 accepted offers with future closing dates.The sales activity was consistent with 2009 activity and the new listings were down 31% or 78 properties.There are currently 500 properties listed with an average price of $363,933 and have been on the market 259 days. 05/31/2010

  My name is Kristin Johnston of Remax.  My market report gives you the real estate activity for Brookfield, WI for the last 30 days. I strongly encourage any seller that is looking to market their property this year to get a sound feeling for what it is worth.  Furthermore, I can't think of a better time for a buyer to purchase a home! Real estate in Waukesha County is now an excellent investment, prices are superb, selection is great, and the rates are still outstanding.  Please feel free to call me for any of your real estate needs, including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home in Waukesha County.  The following MLS information is for the last 30 days from 4/22/10 to 05/22/10.  Kristin Johnston Gives You The Real Estate Activity For Brookfield, WI For the Last 30... 05/22/2010

Raising kids in Brookfield or anywhere else has never been an easy job - but it certainly has it's rewards and it's milestones. Today brought another milestone into our lives. Oldest son Ben (also my business partner) graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee after what seemed to be an eternity! With all due respect to Ben, he has worked in the family business with me since obtaining his real estate license right out of high school in 2004. Being a mostly full time student at the same time, and being very active in leadership roles in his fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi has not been a light burden for him. Ben is an excellent Realtor with natural "People" skills and an easy-going demeanor. He takes his fiduciary duties very seriously and crafts a fine contract. He plans to cont... 05/16/2010

There were 31 sold properties with an average sales price of $274,962 and a original list to sales ratio of 92.16% with 160 days on the market.  I addition there are 24 accepted offers with future closing dates.  In 2010 there were 4 more sales than there were in 2009 or a 14.8% increase.  However, there were 55 fewer new listings in April 2010 that 2009 or a 39% reduction.There are currently 503 properties listed with an average list price of $349,873 with an average time on the market of 258 days.When comparing year to date results for 2010 to 2009, this year there have been 105 transactions compared to 98 last year or 7.1% increase. Currently the 22 accepted offers the 44 closed sales obtained in May 2010 may be obtainable for 2010.  So net net the sales seem to be consistent with re... 05/03/2010

Springtime In Milwaukee Wisconsin is often a dreary, cold, wet and grey time. This year the weather has been mostly fantastic and the flowers are really diggin' it! They bloomed earlier than normal and have lasted much longer than normal, so it has been a delightful season. This is my neighbor's crab apple tree! This photo does not do it justice, and of course, I can't send the fragrance via internet. It sure makes getting up early a little easier, and showing homes more fun! 05/02/2010

The big picture is: EVEN WITHOUT TAX CREDITS, REAL ESTATE IS STILL A SENSIBLE INVESTMENT! There has been such a strong emphasis on the benefits of the $6,500 or $8,000 credit that buyers (and some agents?) may be losing sight of some of the details like the requirement to stay in the home for at least three years. Life can change fast, and who knows what other important decisions will be floating to the surface with the next three years?  Family Growing Family Shrinking Job Changing Health Issues Other Opportunities   The focus on purchasing real estate should be on the benefits the particular property brings to the buyers such as the space and location considerations, tax benefits such as mortgage and property tax deductions and pride of ownership. Without over-extending to make the in... 04/28/2010

This has been a rather unusual Spring in Brookfield Wisconson. Normally we have snow through March, along with freezing rain, sleet and generally slushy condition. We have alot of "SNIRT" which is a combination of snow and dirt. This occurs after months of sand/salt being deposited on roads, then plowed to the side. The snowbanks along the sides of the roads are really depressing. April is normally drizzly, pretty cold, sometimes snowy. This year has been totally different. The snow melted fairly early in March and we have had unseasonably warm temps and blue skies. Probably not good, considering how much rain we normally get at this time of the year, but it is SUCH a welcome change! The Spring flowers are gorgeous this year and lasting longer than usual - or maybe I'm enjoying them mor... 04/18/2010

There were 34 sales in March with and average sales price of $281,760 with a original list to sales ratio of 93.51 % and 162 days on the market.  There are also 36 properties with accepted offers that have future closing dates.In March the sales were up from last years results by 5 sales or 17.9% and listings were up too, 105 new listings which is 14 more listings than were added last year in march.There are currently 499 properties listed with and average list price of $352,721 with an average time on the market of 252 days. 04/04/2010

#1 Son (Ben) lost his (very expensive) Android phone yesterday. He thinks he may have left it on top of his car and perhaps it slid off when he rounded a corner leaving my house yesterday. So this morning Maddie the Wonder Dog and I set off on a jaunt to try to recover the missing toy. Within a quarter mile of my home Ben would have taken three turns, so I thought if that was the case, a quarter mile should be enough. What I found instead of the phone was lots of trash along the way. Apparently there is someone who takes this route frequently who has a penchant for Miller Light in a gold can. Now, admitedly the larger than normal snow banks we piled up this past winter covered alot of sins and the City of Brookfield Department of Public Works has not yet made a sweep of this section, bu... 04/02/2010

I feel fortunate to have been able to raise my two sons while living in Brookfield Wisconsin. Our community has so much to offer families. Our public schools, the Elmbrook School District has consistently high SAT and ACT scores and offers students lots of extra cirriculars. We are blessed to have educators who are dedicated to their profession and their students, and parents who are involved.  During Parent-Teacher conferences the hallways are clogged with parents waiting to get in to see their children's teachers. Fund raisers are heavily supported and often, a special need is filled by alumni, alleviating tax payers from providing all the extras. When my children were in elementary school at Tonawanda in Elm Grove, the PTO held an ice cream social every Spring. That event helped to s... 03/31/2010

  My name is Kristin Johnston of Remax.  My market report gives you the real estate activity for Brookfield, WI for the last 30 days. I strongly encourage any seller that is looking to market their property this year to get a sound feeling for what it is worth.  Furthermore, I can't think of a better time for a buyer, whether you are a buyer wanting to utilize the first time home buyer tax credit in Waukesha County, or any existing buyer looking for a tax credit for their home in Waukesha County.  Real estate in Waukesha County is now an excellent investment, prices of superb, selection is great, and the rates are outstanding.  Please feel free to call me for any of your real estate needs, including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home in Waukesha County.  The followi... 03/30/2010

One of the most wonderful parts of living in Brookfield Wisconsin is the focus on quality of life opportunities. The Sharon Lynn Wilson Center For The Arts is one of the highlights of the exceptional quality of life we enjoy. Opened in 2002, the center began as an idea in 1993 to provide the Elmbrook community (Brookfield and Elm Grove Wisconsin) with " a visual and performing arts center in the Brookfield-Elm Grove area that will serve area schools, both public and private, the community, and performing arts groups in the greater Milwaukee area" as it was worded in it's original stated purpose. The journey from idea to final execution took many years and untold efforts from people truly dedicated to this mission. The history of the facility is fascinating and sobering at the same time.... 03/28/2010

Before railroads made transportation of people and goods easy (by the standards of the 1850's), such travel was made possible on roads constructed of planks of wood. One such road was carved out of old Indian trails, which at one time were deer trails, between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Watertown, Wisconsin - with Waukesha, Wisconsin a major stop-over. If you were living in Brookfield, Wisconsin around 1850 or so, you might have been familiar with the Dousman Stagecoach Inn, on the Watertown Plank Road.  This lovely Greek Revival style building was located about halfway between Milwaukee and Waukesha, and by horsedrawn wagon, it was a half day's ride between those two cities. Michael Dousman built the Stagecoach inn in about 1843. It served as  a resting place, and was just about a quarte... 03/27/2010

Living in Brookfield, Wisconsin for most of my life, I have always taken for granted the historic aspects of my community. Growing up, we had always heard the rumor of Al Capone having a hideaway somewhere in Brookfield Wisconsin, but it wasn't until I was a Realtor, selling real estate in Brookfield, Wisconsin that I actually had the opportunity to see and tour the property! It was in 1994, and the old, sort of run-down brick house on the large parcel on Brookfield Road was up for sale. I don't remember too much of it now, but I do remember that it had quirky rooms. One area of the basement seemed like it had been walled off and had a very low ceiling. The local newspaper reported at the time a terazzo floor in one large room, complete with rusty rings embedded in the floor, supposedly... 03/26/2010

There were 21 sales with an average of $270,900 with a average original list to sales price of 93.83% and 154 days on the market.  There are currenlty 23 accepted offers with future closing dates.The sales were down 7 units or 26.9%  this year , when compared to 2009 results.  However, new listings increased by 46 or up 57% when compared to last year.There are currently 483 properties listed with an average list price of $348,224 and average time on the market of 254 days. 03/07/2010

    Everyone has their favorite places to celebrate...we love to cook....but we do have a few favorite places scattered throughout the four county area to celebrate with a glass of wine and a "few of our favorite things." One of our favorite things at the Venice Club  is the deep fried eggplant sprinkled generously with fresh parmesan cheese...If you can't wait till July where you can get heaping helpings at Festa Italiana, the lakefront celebration held every July on the Summerfest Grounds along the shores of Lake Michigan.  The menu offerings range from the infamous eggplant to the pasta entrees you would expect...the pork, beet and chicken entrees you can't forget and a wine list that compliments all that is Italian, American and tastefully presented.          You will find the Venic... 02/14/2010

There were 8 sales in January with an average price of $272,277 with a list to sales ratio of 94.53% and a average time on the market of 148 days. There are currenly 12 accepted offers with future closing dates.The sales were downn 9 or 52% when compared to 2009 results.  While the newly listed inventroy increased by 18.1%.There are currently 424 properties listed with an average list price of $357,134 and an average time on the market of 269 days.Please cal me or email me if you would like additional information or assistance.Keith MansonFirst Weber GroupCertified Distressed Property ExpertMetro Milwaukeehttp://milwaukeebailout.com 01/31/2010