December 19, 2009
From the Wisconsin State Journal Headlines 12/18/09:
Madison ranked as the third most secure place to live among large U.S. metropolitan areas in a survey released by Farmers Insurance Group.
The rankings considered factors including crime statistics, extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, housing depreciation, foreclosures, air quality, life expectancy, and job loss numbers.
The survey ranked the top 20 cities or areas in three population categories: large metropolitan areas of 500,000 or more; midsize cities of 150,000 to 500,000; and small towns, with fewer than 150,000. The top-ranked cities or areas in each category, respectively, were Austin-Round Rock, Texas; Fargo, N.D.-Moorhead, Minn.; and Lewiston, Idaho-Clarkston, Wash.
Two Wisconsin cities also ranked in the top 20 for midsize cities: Green Bay, 16; and Duluth, Minn.-Superior, Wis., 9. Three made the list among small towns: Eau Claire, 9; Wausau, 18; and La Crosse, Wis.-Winona, Minn., 20.
Bob
608-235-6701
bob@bentleyrealtygroup.net
www.bentleyrealtygroup.net
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For Buyers, For Sellers, News & Events, Real Estate Related | Tagged: bentley realty group, bob bentley, buying a house, dane county, first time buyer, first time home buyer, madison, madison homes for sale, market conditions, market statistics, market update, real estate, realtor, selling a house, selling your home, Wi, Wisconsin State Journal | 
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Posted by bobbentley
July 28, 2009
Below is an excerpt from the July 27, 2009 Wisconsin State Journal
By KAREN RIVEDAL
Wisconsin State Journal
Dane County home sales in June didn’t mirror the healthy 11 percent increase seen nationally, though the price decline was similar.
The South Central Wisconsin MLS reported 666 home and condominium sales in Dane County in June, compared with 743 in June 2008, for a decline of about 10 percent. From January through June this year, there were 2,338 sales in Dane County, compared with 2,800 in the same period last year, for a decline of 16.5 percent.
Meanwhile, the average sale price in Dane County in June was $222,257, a decline of 12 percent from a year ago, and the median sale price was $200,000, a drop of 9 percent in the past year.
Bob
608-235-6701
bob@bentleyrealtygroup.net
www.bentleyrealtygroup.net
Bentley Realty Group is Your Clear Choice in Madison Area Real Estate!
Comments Off | For Buyers, For Sellers, News & Events, Real Estate Related | Tagged: bentley realty group, bob bentley, buying a house, dane county, days on market, first time buyer, first time home buyer, home prices, madison, madison homes for sale, market conditions, market statistics, market update, real estate, realtor, selling a house, selling your home, wisconsin | Permalink
Posted by bobbentley
July 27, 2009
When interviewing a home inspector, ask the inspector what type of report format he or she provides. There are many styles of reports used by property inspectors, including the checklist, computer generated using inspection programs, and the narrative style. 
Some reports are delivered on site and some may take as few days for delivery. All reporting systems have pros and cons.
The most important issue with an inspection report is the descriptions given for each item or component. A report that indicates the condition as “Good”, “Fair” or “Poor” without a detailed explanation is vague and can be easily misinterpreted. An example of a vague condition would be:
Kitchen Sink: Condition – Good, Fair, or Poor.
None of these descriptions gives the homeowner an idea what is wrong. Does the sink have a cosmetic problem? Does the home have a plumbing problem? A good report should supply you with descriptive information on the condition of the site and home. An example of a descriptive condition is:
Kitchen sink: Condition – Minor wear, heavy wear, damaged, rust stains, or chips in enamel finish. Recommend sealing sink at counter top.
As you can see, this narrative description includes a recommendation for repair. Narrative reports without recommendations for repairing deficient items may be difficult to comprehend, should your knowledge of construction be limited.
Take the time and become familiar with your report. Should the report have a legend, key, symbols or icons, read and understand them thoroughly. The more information provided about the site and home, the easier to understand the overall condition.
At the end of the inspection your inspector may provide a summary with a question and answer period. Use this opportunity to ask questions regarding terms or conditions that you may not be familiar with. A good inspector should be able to explain the answers to your questions. If for some reason a question cannot be answered at the time of the inspection, the inspector should research the question and obtain the answer for you. For instance, if the inspector’s report states that the concrete foundation has common cracks, be sure to ask, “Why are they common?” The answer you should receive will be along these lines: common cracks are usually due to normal concrete curing and or shrinkage. The inspector’s knowledge and experience is how the size and characteristics of the cracking is determined.
We recommend that you accompany your inspector through the entire inspection if possible. This helps you to understand the condition of the home and the details of the report.
Read the report completely and understand the condition of the home you are about to purchase. After all, it is most likely one of the largest investments you will ever make.
Bob
608-235-6701
bob@bentleyrealtygroup.net
www.bentleyrealtygroup.net
Bentley Realty Group is Your Clear Choice in Madison Area Real Estate!
Comments Off | For Buyers, Real Estate Related | Tagged: bentley realty group, bob bentley, buying a house, dane county, first time buyer, first time home buyer, home inspection, homes sold in verona, madison, madison homes for sale, market update, property inspection, real estate, realtor, selling a house, selling your home, tips for buying a home, Verona, verona wi, wisconsin | Permalink
Posted by bobbentley
July 16, 2009
The Capital Times printed an article today about foreclosures in Madison. Trends have been showing the increase in foreclosures for months now.
Locally, foreclosure filings were up 52 percent from May to June in the three-county Madison metropolitan area of Dane, Columbia and Iowa Counties, with 338 filings in June compared to 222 in May.
Read more here >>> Capital Times
Bob
608-235-6701
bob@bentleyrealtygroup.net
www.bentleyrealtygroup.net
Bentley Realty Group is Your Clear Choice in Real Estate!
Comments Off | For Buyers, For Sellers, News & Events, Real Estate Related | Tagged: bentley realty group, bob bentley, buying a house, dane county, foreclosures, madison, madison homes for sale, market conditions, market statistics, market update, real estate, realtor, selling a house, selling your home, stimulus plan, Wi, wisconsin | Permalink
Posted by bobbentley
July 5, 2009
More reasons to relocate to the best city around…. Madison, WI.
Once again, Madison has hit one of the top newspapers. This time around…. the New York Times.
First up… a slideshow of various activities around the city – click here to view it.
The article in the New York Times explores what you can do in 36 hours in Madison. Although most of the activities are food related, it’s still a good read. Check it out here!
Make it a Great Day Everyone!
Bob
608-235-6701
bob@bentleyrealtygroup.net
www.bentleyrealtygroup.net
Your Clear Choice in Madison Area Real Estate!
1 Comment | For Buyers, News & Events, Real Estate Related | Tagged: 36 things to do in Madison, bentley realty group, Best City, bob bentley, buying a house, dane county, first time buyer, first time home buyer, madison, madison homes for sale, New York Times, places to eat in Madison, real estate, realtor, selling a house, selling your home, wisconsin | Permalink
Posted by bobbentley
July 2, 2009
This post is important enough to re-post. First Time Buyers, Take Advantage if You Can!!
Earlier this year, Congress passed a Bigger and Better Home Buyer Tax Credit.
In an effort to stimulate the economy and revive the current housing market, this temporary tax credit is
a welcome one to many. According to the Internal Revenue Service, first-time home buyers should begin planning now to take advantage of this new Tax Credit.
A Tax Credit of up to $8,000 is now available for qualified first-time home buyers. Available for a limited time, here’s your glance at the credit:
- Who is Eligible?
The credit is available to first-time home buyers only. A first-time home buyer is defined as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. For married home buyers, the history of both buyers is taken into account.
- Is There a Deadline?
Yes. The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before
December 1, 2009.
- Is There an Income Requirement?
Yes. Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and people filing joint returns with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
- What is the Tax Credit?
The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period.
- Does the Price of the Home Matter?
Yes it does. The credit is for 10 percent of the cost of the home, up to a maximum credit of $8,000.
- How is this Tax Credit Different than the $7,500 Tax Credit Passed in 2008?
The most significant difference is that this tax credit doesn’t have to be repaid. This incentive to home buyers is a true “tax credit”. If however the home buyer doesn’t use the residence as a principal residence for at least three years, the credit may be recaptured by the government.
There are numerous resources available for additional, detailed information about the tax credit. click on either of these sites below that I found to have the most in-depth information:
Bob
608-235-6701
bob@bentleyrealtygroup.net
www.bentleyrealtygroup.net
Bentley Realty Group is Your Clear Choice in Real Estate!
5 Comments | For Buyers, News & Events, Real Estate Related | Tagged: $8000 tax credit, bentley realty group, bob bentley, buying a house, dane county, first time buyer, first time home buyer, homes sold in verona, madison, madison homes for sale, market conditions, market statistics, market update, mortgage, mortgage interest rates, real estate, realtor, selling a house, selling your home, verona market conditions, wisconsin | Permalink
Posted by bobbentley
June 11, 2009
Verona is ready for summer and is kicking off their Annual Hometown 
Days celebration!
The carnival rides, beer tent and food stands open this evening at 5:00pm. Fireworks are scheduled to set off after the sun has set.
There are plenty of things to do for the entire family….. and some of them are FREE!
Here are just a few of the Free activities:
- Face Painting
- Kids Crafts
- Kiddie Tractor
- Musical Entertainment
- Fireworks
For detailed event information, click here.
If you’re interested in volunteering during the weekend, click here.
Come on over and see what Hometown USA is all about!
Bob
608-235-6701
www.bentleyrealtygroup.net
bob@bentleyrealtygroup.net
Bentley Realty Group is Your Clear Choice in Real Estate!
3 Comments | For Buyers, For Sellers, News & Events, Real Estate Related, Whatever | Tagged: bentley realty group, bob bentley, buying a house, dane county, Events, events in verona, real estate, realtor, things to do in verona, Verona, Verona Hometown Days, Verona Hometown USA, verona wi | Permalink
Posted by bobbentley
June 10, 2009
Flowers for Instant Curb Appeal
The experts all agree that curb appeal is one of the most important aspects to consider when selling your home. When selling, it’s the appearance from the street that will very often determine whether potential buyers come in to see the inside, or never get out of their cars.
Flowers are one of the easiest and least expensive ways to make the front of your house look inviting and instantly increase the curb appeal of your home. Without any real landscaping at all, flowers can transform a rather drab and dreary looking front yard into one that looks colorful and lush. Especially during spring and summer, take advantage of the season by planting pots and flower boxes.
Choose colorful flowers that will be in bloom during the time you’re selling your home. Planting the flowers in planter boxes and pots is easier than planting them in the ground and lets you more easily place them where they can have the most visual impact. You don’t need to have a green thumb, or spend a lot of money to get great results either. Visit your local home improvement center or nursery and they will be happy to advise you of the best flowers and plants for your purpose. You can put together several very nice planter boxes and pots of flowers for well under $100. And it’s easy!
One of the nice things about using flowers in this way is that you’ll see the results immediately. And so will buyers visiting your home!
For more tips on selling your home, visit my website www.bentleyrealtygroup.net or give me a call 608-235-6701.
Thanks,
Bob
www.bentleyrealtygroup.net
bob@bentleyrealtygroup.net
Bentley Realty Group is Your Clear Choice in Real Estate!
3 Comments | For Sellers, Real Estate Related | Tagged: bentley realty group, bob bentley, curb appeal, dane county, home improvement, home selling tips, madison, madison homes for sale, market conditions, real estate, realtor, selling a house, selling your home, Wi | Permalink
Posted by bobbentley
May 30, 2009
This is great news for all of you first-time homebuyers using an FHA insured mortgage. Below is an article published by Reuters.
WASHINGTON, May 29 (Reuters) – The Federal Housing Administration will allow the new $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit to be applied directly toward home purchase costs when using an FHA-insured
mortgage, the Department of Housing and Urban Development said on Friday.
The plan to “monetize” the tax credit up-front is aimed at more quickly stabilizing the housing market, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said in a statement.
But in detailed rules, the FHA will still require home buyers to provide a minimum 3.5 percent downpayment from other sources.
The $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers was created as a part of the Obama administration’s $787 billion stimulus plan. Some private lenders already were allowing buyers to apply the credits directly toward purchase costs through special financing schemes.
With the FHA following in a similar vein, a significant portion of the first-time homebuyer market will have up-front access to the credits instead of waiting until tax returns are filed.
“What we’re doing today will not only help these families to purchase their first home but will present an enormous benefit for communities struggling to deal with an oversupply of housing,” Donovan said in a statement
FHA-insured loans, which largely have replaced the subprime mortgage market, now accounts for about 25 percent of new mortgages, senior HUD officials said, versus about 2 percent of the market two years ago. At this pace, the agency will insure some 2.2 million mortgages this year.
The National Association of Home Builders estimates that the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit will stimulate 160,000 home sales across the United States — 101,000 purchases from first-time buyers and another 59,000 purchases by existing homeowners who sold dwellings to first-time buyers.
Bob
608-235-6701
bob@bentleyrealtygroup.net
www.bentleyrealtygroup.net
Bentley Realty Group is your Clear Choice in Real Estate!
4 Comments | For Buyers, News & Events, Real Estate Related | Tagged: $8000 tax credit, bentley realty group, bob bentley, buying a house, dane county, FHA Mortgage, first time buyer, first time home buyer, madison, madison homes for sale, market conditions, market update, mortgage, mortgage interest rates, real estate, realtor, stimulus plan | Permalink
Posted by bobbentley
May 23, 2009
June 6, 2009
8:00-5:00 |
Free Family Fishing – Upper Sugar River Watershed Association
NO LICENSE REQUIRED |
June 6, 2009
8:00-5:00 |
National Trails Day on the Military Ridge Trail
FREE Bike Checks and NO FEE! |
June 7, 2009
1:00-3:00 |
Verona Area High School Graduation
Held at EPIC |
| June 11 – 14, 2009 |
Verona Hometown Days
http://www.veronahometowndays.com/ |
| June 15, 2009 |
Fireman’s Park Beach Opens |
| June 15, 2009 |
Verona Public Library – Summer Reading Program Begins |
| June 19 – 27, 2009 |
Verona Area Community Theater Presents
Wind in the Willows
www.vact.org |
| June 21, 2009 |
Wisconsin Triterium Triatholon
Fireman’s Park |
June 27, 2009
8:00-5:00 |
Sugar River Work Day (Capital Water Trails)
Help Clean Up The Sugar River |
Bob
608-235-6701
bob@bentleyrealtygroup.net
www.bentleyrealtygroup.net
Bentley Realty Group is your Clear Choice in Madison Area Real Estate!
7 Comments | For Buyers, For Sellers, News & Events, Whatever | Tagged: bentley realty group, bob bentley, buying a house, dane county, Events, events in verona, homes sold in verona, Hometown USA, real estate, realtor, things to do in verona, Verona, verona high school, Verona Hometown Days, verona wi | Permalink
Posted by bobbentley
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