| Many real estate experts are beginning to realize that | | | | various historical sites including: Old World (when |
| the doom and gloom predictions about the market | | | | things were just getting started for America), the |
| from a year or two ago may have been a bit over | | | | Civil War era and the Victorian era. And of course, |
| exaggerated. While the market is not booming, it | | | | being surrounded by the Great Lakes gives Wisconsin |
| certainly hasn't crashed and home value prices | | | | a unique edge on lake and coastal scenery and |
| haven't plummeted, nor has the bubble burst. It is | | | | various water sports including fishing, boating, |
| simply that, compared to the boom experienced by | | | | kayaking, and jet skiing. |
| most markets over the past 5-10 years, the past | | | | Wisconsin has been experiencing an average rate of |
| year has seemed slow. Besides, knowing the median | | | | unemployment, about the same as the national |
| home value of the nation ($221,900) isn't going to | | | | percentage: 4.9%, with more openings in the |
| help you too much when you're ready to move. | | | | professional and business services as well as |
| With real estate being such a large investment, you | | | | educational and health services and a large drop in |
| want to invest somewhere that your home value is | | | | manufacturing jobs available. The median household |
| bound to appreciate over the years. Although we | | | | income in Wisconsin in 2005 was about $47,105, a |
| can't predict the future, you can make logical | | | | decrease in the value projected in the 2000 census, |
| estimates as to where home value in an area will go | | | | which was about $51,235. The median home value of |
| by looking at past home value and sales trends, the | | | | houses sold was $212,918 in April of 2007, with the |
| population, economy, job opportunities, | | | | median assessed home value at about $176,814. |
| unemployment rate and attraction a specific area has | | | | Agents in both the Milwaukee and Madison areas |
| to visitors. | | | | seem to agree that Wisconsin is experiencing a |
| When I think of Wisconsin (capital city of Madison) I | | | | buyers market at this point, and most homes with a |
| tend to think 2 things: Greenbay Packers and cheese. | | | | value of $500,000 or higher are sitting for quite a |
| But with a large population of over 5.5 million, | | | | while, a good indication the majority of people |
| Wisconsin has more to offer than football and dairy. | | | | moving around Wisconsin want affordable housing. In |
| Not surprisingly, the main agricultural products of | | | | Madison, if a home sells in under 60 days, it was |
| Wisconsin are cheese, dairy, cattle, hogs, vegetables, | | | | most likely under priced. Buyers seem to understand |
| corn and cranberries. Its major industries include | | | | they have the upper hand right now and are taking |
| machinery, food processing, paper products, electric | | | | their time choosing their new home. In the Lake |
| equipment, fabricated metal products and tourism. | | | | Geneva/Twin Lakes area, the average home value in |
| Between its strong economy and tourist attractions, | | | | 2006 was $286,071. |
| Wisconsin keeps people coming back and it's why | | | | Wisconsin's market at this point is fairly stable - as |
| their home value prices have stayed steady. The | | | | long as homes are correctly priced (and they're under |
| state offers amusement parks, water parks, casino | | | | $500,000) they seem to be moving at a decent rate. |
| and greyhound racing, clubs and taverns, fairs and | | | | Madison is the more expensive area to live, with |
| festivals, science and nature centers, spectator | | | | Milwaukee coming in behind it. Home value averages |
| sports, zoos, gardens, parks - you name it, they | | | | have varied over the 1st quarter of 2007, without |
| have it. You can spend time ATV-ing, biking, birding, | | | | much of a steady gain or fall. As the boom of the |
| camping, fishing, golfing, horseback riding, hunting, | | | | past few years settles however, and as long as |
| participating in winter sports, water sports, anything | | | | Wisconsin's economy and employment stays strong, |
| you can think of. Or take a trip to the more urban | | | | there is no reason why home value prices may not |
| areas and enjoy the night life, with bars, clubs, | | | | begin to noticeable appreciate again as 2007 comes |
| breweries, theater and more. You can even see | | | | to a close. |
| Wisconsin as it was at various points in time through | | | | |