So you just purchased a new home recently, and you receive a letter in the mail offering you your home deed for only $83. Don’t respond! It’s likely a scam. A company called “Property Transfer Services” is sending out letters to new homeowners across the country enticing homeowners to get a copy of their property deed for 80 some bucks. In fact Property Transfer Services has gotten a failing grade of “F” from the Delaware Better Business Bureau. You can easily get a copy of your deed from the local courthouse for far less money. Chances are you already have a copy of your deed in the paperwork that you got at closing, or one might be mailed to you in the mail.  So what is the importance of a home deed? You may need to have a deed down the road, if you tend to refinance. Not sure what a... 03/04/2014

Milwaukee,WI Real Estate Market Report By Kristin Johnston,2/2-3/2/14                  Kristin Johnston Gives You The Real Estate Activity For Milwaukee County, WI For the Last 30 Days: Real Estate In Milwaukee County, WI                 My name is Kristin Johnston of Remax.  My marketreport gives you the real estate activity for Milwaukee County, WIfor 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.  It is a wonderful time to buy a home in Milwaukee County. Real estate in Milwaukee County is now an excellent investment, prices of superb, selection is great, and the rates are outstanding.  In the Milwaukee County,Wisconsin Real Estate market 242 homes sold; 47 were listed and sold by the sa... 03/01/2014

    Remodeling dollars are flowing again! According to Remodeling magazines “2014 Cost vs. Value Report” these projects are offering the best return on your investment! Steel Entry Doors – Replacing an entry door with a modestly priced steel door will upgrade your curb appeal and your energy efficiency. Steel doors come in many different colors and can be painted to suit your exterior scheme. Wood Deck – What better way to enjoy the outdoors than to relax or entertain on a wood deck? Not only does it provide a generous amount of living space at a fraction of what an enclosed addition would be, but it also adds value to your home. Attic Conversion – Looking to add more space to your home? Perhaps, another bedroom? Converting an attic space allows you to add valuable living space without ... 02/28/2014

Milwaukee WI Real Estate 1/8/14-2/8/14 by Kristin Johnston, Remax       Kristin Johnston Gives You The Real Estate Activity For Milwaukee County, WI For the Last 30 Days: Real Estate In Milwaukee County, WI               My name is Kristin Johnston of Remax.  My marketreport gives you the real estate activity for Milwaukee County, WIfor 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.  It is a wonderful time to buy a home in Milwaukee County. Real estate in Milwaukee County is now an excellent investment, prices of superb, selection is great, and the rates are outstanding.  In the Milwaukee County,Wisconsin Real Estate market 276 homes sold; 50 were listed and sold by the same company, and 2... 02/07/2014

With the frigid weather that we have been having, all of us are experiencing a spike in our heating bills. Right? Definitely a gouge in our budget. Not only that but the shortage of propane in the area, doesn’t help the matter.  What if we could reduce the cost of heating our home? New trends are going towards wood heat. Definitely makes sense in areas where wood is abundant or for homeowners that own land with woods. There is a smart hybrid furnace out there that is a multi-fueled, where you burn primarily wood. When the fire gets low, you then have your pick in fuel options, whether it is electric, oil or coal. The furnace will automatically switch over to that other fuel source.  This furnace is not what you might be picturing… one of those old wood heaters perched in the corner of ... 02/06/2014

So, you’ve decided to sell your house.  You will need to interview potential real estate agents to help you through the process. You will need to trust someone to set the market value on one of the largest assets that you own.  You need to feel comfortable with that person.  Beware of agents that start bragging about themselves and their success. These are important considerations when deciding on the right agent, however, you first need to know they care about what YOU need and what you expect from the sale.  If the agent is not interested in finding out about your needs, then no matter how successful they are, they may seem like they are not listening to you. Look for someone who comes in prepared well enough to explain the current real estate market and patient enough to take the ti... 02/03/2014

Foreclosures, foreclosures, foreclosures!  We as realtors hear a lot of discussion lately on this topic because potential buyers have heard from various sources that foreclosures can be a real bargain!  Some say that the deals that sound like they could be too good to be true definitely are!   Be aware of the hidden dangers in buying a foreclosure, otherwise you may be disappointed.  Here are some things to look out for that may be hazardous or costly to you: Destruction of the Property – A sad truth about foreclosure properties is that they have often been purposely destroyed. Sometimes the homeowners do this out of frustration over losing their homes. There is also a chance that the home has been vandalized by burglars because it is vacant.  Poor Maintenance – If homeowners were unab... 01/31/2014

Now is the time of year when the winter blahs have really taken effect and we look for some hope of warmth in the near future. This is also the time of year that many homeowners start getting their homes ready to be put on the market for spring’s arrival. Though there are many aspects of getting your home ready, many times the laundry room is the last room to attend to or sometimes even over looked. But really this is a room that many buyers consider an important space when looking for a home. So, make sure to pay attention to this room and give it some extra tlc. Staging can be a very important aspect when selling a home.  It will make your online pictures really stand out, and it will cut your time on the market. So, why not stage your laundry room? Try and give it that wow factor, e... 01/28/2014

Many of us tend to chose banks that are well known, like US Bank or Chase, for our banking or lending needs. There’s comfort in working with a well known name. But how personalized are they? According to the US Finance Post, bigger banks or lenders are losing out to the smaller lenders. Reason being? Smaller lenders have better marketing tools. They are able to market via social media and other on-line methods, getting their salespeople out there to get their name recognized. By doing this, they can have more of a personal connection with clients, both past and new. The bigger banks are stuck with just promoting the name or the “brand” to which they are associated with, pleasing many of the share holders and not necessarily the clients…leaving out the personal touch. So what bank would... 01/21/2014

We all would love for our children to be able to experience what most of us as parents have acquired. The pleasure of owning a home. But the outlook on that dream is slowing dwindling. The reason?? Student loans.  According to the National Association of Realtors “2013 Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers”, 12% of buyers who said saving for a down payment on a house was difficult, 43% said that student loan debt was the reason. In fact, since 2007, outstanding student loans have doubled. Think back to that time period…the start of the recession… Parents losing jobs, homes going into foreclosure and many people struggling just to put food on the table. Family wealth had taken a hit! It’s no wonder that our children who longed for a college career were left to fend for themselves and not re... 01/16/2014

Date: December 23, 2013 MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin home sales fell 6 percent in November 2013 when compared to November 2012, although total sales for the year remain ahead of 2012, according to the latest housing report by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). Comparing the first 11 months, home sales were up 11.1 percent in 2013 over 2012. Prices were also higher in November, rising 4.7 percent above the same month last year, to a statewide median of $136,000.“Over the last two months, the housing market has definitely cooled from the red-hot pace that characterized the first three quarters of 2013,” said Steve Lane, WRA board chairman. “This was bound to happen since the base of comparison is 2012, and that was a very strong year for home sales.” Lane pointed to markedly higher m... 01/08/2014

Many homes of today that are coming on the market are older homes, whether it is a historic home built in the early 1900’s or one that was built in the 1950’s or 1970’s. There are many upsides to older homes such as character and special features that can’t be found in today’s homes. But there is one big downside to purchasing or owning an older home…loss of energy coming from your home. Whether it is leaking out the windows or doors, cracks in the foundation or the furnace is as old as the house is. Your heating bills are probably on the rise, especially with the cold weather that we are experiencing. So how to correct that problem and not let your hard earned money fly out the window? Here are some energy saving upgrades that will take the sting out of opening up that heating bill th... 01/07/2014

  Recovery in the housing market is expected to continue to remain strong in the New Year, due to economic growth and growing employment opportunities.  “In fact, job growth likely will be one key to driving housing growth in the New Year”, according to Laurence Yun, National Association of Realtors, chief economist. “An estimated 2 million or more jobs will be created in 2014”, predicts Mr. Yun. As employment opportunities start to grow, so will the demand for housing, including homebuilding, which will in turn create more labor for construction workers and manufacturers. The recovery in housing is expected to continue with prices of homes on the rise, a small rise in sales and foreclosures to finally come to an end. For buyers and sellers, the 2014 market looks good! 01/03/2014

Kristin Johnston Gives You The Real Estate Activity For Milwaukee County, WI For the Last 30 Days: Real Estate In Milwaukee County, WI               My name is Kristin Johnston of Remax.  My marketreport gives you the real estate activity for Milwaukee County, WIfor 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.  It is a wonderful time to buy a home in Milwaukee County. Real estate in Milwaukee County is now an excellent investment, prices of superb, selection is great, and the rates are outstanding.  In the Milwaukee County,Wisconsin Real Estate market 327 homes sold; 69 were listed and sold by the same company, and 258 were sold by co-brokes. In the Milwaukee County,Wisconsin Real Estate... 12/28/2013

  What's Happening in Real Estate in Milwaukee? WI Realtor,Lisa Bear, Gives You The Real Estate Activity For Milwaukee, WI For the Last 30 Days: Real Estate In Milwaukee County   November 20, 2013 - December 20,, 2013         Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is perhaps best known for its famous breweries and the Major League Brewers, but there's more to the city than beer and baseball. Milwaukee is rich in historical and cultural attractions, making it the perfect place for a weekend of exploring. Check out the newly expanded Milwaukee Art Museum or the Mitchell Park Horticultural Society, which hosts an annual show of the same flora and fauna seen in Georgia O'Keefe's paintings. Those interested in the city's history can visit the grand Pabst Mansion, former home of on... 12/23/2013

  So, the New Year is right around the corner…. What is on your list of must do’s for 2014? Are you planning on doing some home remodeling in the New Year?  Or is building a new home on your mind? Well designers are offering up their thoughts and ideas of what will be “hot” in the year 2014.    According to Home Trends, the Neil Kelly Company, a firm based out west is offering some interior trends for 2014:   Embellished showers: More people are opting for having just a shower than going with a shower and tub. These curb-less showers give the home owner more space to shower and are actually open, walk-in shower. U-Sockets: This I believe is a great idea for all of the technology that is out there today. These are wall plugs that have two built in USB ports to power up devices such as yo... 12/12/2013

 Now that the weather is turning colder, wouldn’t it be nice to head home and cozy up to the warmth of a fireplace? Some of us are fortunate to have a fireplace, but other homes do not have this feature. In fact, according to an article in House Logic, about half of the 40 million homes constructed in the U.S. since 1973 were built without a fireplace. And they also found, after a consumer study with homebuyers, that the majority of the people would like one and would be willing to pay extra to have one.  But is it really possible? Here are a few things that you need to take into consideration if you want to go down the path to adding a fireplace to your home.   1.       There are many different options today, but check with your local area to see what the building codes and restrictio... 12/03/2013

  So the guest list is set, the turkey is thawing in the refrigerator and all the other items are stock piled on the counter, ready for you to assemble the Thanksgiving feast. But have you ever thought how much energy is being used preparing the food and entertaining your guests? Here are a few sure ways that you can keep that energy bill down this Thanksgiving. 1)      Install a dimmer switch for your dining room chandelier. Every time you dim a bulb’s brightness by just 10%, you will double the lifespan of the bulb. And at the same time, create a softer setting for your guests. 2)      Plan side dishes that can cook the same time as the turkey. If you cook dishes at the same temperature, you will reduce the amount of time the oven needs to be on. Also, try using glass or ceramic pans,... 11/26/2013

  Just looking over a few articles in “Keeping Current Matters” and I came across an article that talked about selling your home now,  as opposed to waiting till Spring. Many of us think that when selling a home, we should wait until spring, when the weather is warmer and there isn’t snow on the ground, well maybe not as much snow! But there are many advantages to having your home on the market during the fall and winter months. Here are a couple of reasons why selling your home during the colder months may be to your advantage.   1.       Buyers that are out looking now, especially during the Holidays are going to be serious buyers.   2.       Housing supply always shrinks this time of year, so they aren’t a lot  of choices  for buyers. Don’t wait until spring when other sellers in you... 11/22/2013

November 12, 2013 October Market Reports   Milwaukee Now that the baton is in grasp of the final quarter of our annual relay, it's a good time to look back and reflect. This year has been spectacular for residential real estate. Robust gains in sales and prices were felt in many markets. More homes sold in less time for closer to asking price. While consumers have felt empowered by low prices and interest rates, sellers are starting to regain their footing. Seller confidence is crucial to refilled inventory bins – which are still relatively sparse. New Listings in the Milwaukee region increased 5.6 percent to 1,824. Pending Sales were down 23.1 percent to 913. Inventory levels shrank 4.4 percent to 7,886 units. Prices got a lift. The Median Sales Price increased 6.1 percent to $174,000... 11/13/2013