Prairie Moraine County Park in Verona is one of the most heavily-used parks in Dane County, especially since the establishment of an off-leash dog exercise area in 1995.

On the surface, this 160-acre park is a beautiful place to hike and take in expansive views of the area. But dig a little deeper into its past, and you're likely to treasure each step a bit more.

It started taking shape when the last glacier retreated and left a ridge of debris called the Johnstown Moraine, which is the prominent feature on the northern end of the park. Now, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail follows nearly a mile of this terminal moraine, which sits above St. Peter sandstone bedrock. The trail travels through a restored oak savanna and prairie toward an

So far this year we've had clients receive offers for $13,000 above, $14,000 above, and an amazing $31,000 above the list price. This is in addition to several other sellers who've received offers for between $5,000 and $10,000 above the list. 

These offers didn't happen by accident

All were the result of marketing plans designed to attract multiple offers. As we shared in these two success stories, a key part of our strategy is to allow 4 to 5 days of showings before responding to any written offers. This timeline gives all interested buyers enough time to schedule their showings, research the neighborhood, and submit their offer to purchase.

Allowing 4 to 5 days of showings gives sellers the psychological advantage, too. When serious buyers

From indoor herb gardens to raised vegetable beds in the backyard, there are a variety of ways to grow tasty produce. To find out which option is right for you, consider heading to your local library. In addition to offering many books on the topic, some libraries are also holding gardening programs in April. Be sure to follow the links and register, especially for the planting sessions.

What: Plant a Salsa Garden: A Family Earth Day Event
When: 6 p.m. Monday, April 16
Where: Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave. Middleton
Info: Families can plant seeds for tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, and onions using peat pellets and pots so you can plant the whole container in the ground when the weather warms up.

What: 10 Mistakes I Made In My Vegetable Garden

We're excited to see our team earning so many rave reviews on Zillow and our Google Business Page. At a time when so many web reviews are crafted for marketing purposes, we appreciate so many of you (our clients) taking time to share your genuine feedback. Thanks to all of you who have shared your real experiences online. It motivates us to keep doing what we're doing and to to keep getting better. We're extremely grateful and we thank you for your support!

Recent reviews of Mad City Dream Homes

Here are just a few of the recent reviews we've received in 2018. 

For Chris Venden

"This is the second time we’ve used Chris as our realtor & we couldn’t be happier!! She’s an awesome lady, hard worker, and good friend. We will continue to use her

The weather outside may seem more like winter, but for many, the return of the Dane County Farmer's Market signals a welcome change. The market continues year-round, but will return to the Capitol Square on Saturday. The forecast may call for cooler than average temperatures, but the opening of the market gives us hope that spring is really coming.

Perusing the market is a popular tradition around town, and there's much to appreciate about a market that is now more than 40 years old. The Dane County Farmer's Market is the nation's largest producers-only farmer's market. Sellers must apply to participate, and must demonstrate that their products are grown or created in Wisconsin. A wait list to get into this market is available (although it can take a

You are ready to sell, and you want to get the best price possible. This means showing your home at its best. We suggest a few simple updates that can be done both quickly and affordably. Take a look at our list of 5 simple ways to increase your home's market value without breaking the bank. All five of these recommendations are low cost items that provide a high return on investment. 

Step 1: Hire a Professional Home Stager

In real estate, first impressions mean everything. A professional will help you stage your home so buyers fall in love with it when they first view it online. Depending on your needs, your stager will also recommend new paint colors, new flooring, and new light fixtures which dramatically improve your home's mass appeal. If

It's been 20 years since the Wisconsin Film Festival began. What started as an ambitious team of University staff and students has become an annual tradition, with events designed for adults, children, and even hospital screenings for patients to enjoy. This year, its organizers hope to honor the festival's beginnings, and bring a wealth of interesting, challenging, engaging and artistic works to Madison again. 

The festival kicks off with a reception Thursday evening at Memorial Union. The reception begins at 5:30, and the screening of the first film, "Mountain," will begin at 7. An after party at the union will include disco dancing and live music by local band VO5. From there, the festival has more than 90 unique films scheduled for viewing over the

We've written a lot about the low levels of inventory in the Madison real estate market. Here's another look at housing supply from a slightly different angle, which shows the inventory crunch in Madison is a much bigger deal than most people realize. 

Madison Single Family Home Supply

Each month we take a few different snapshots of the housing supply in Madison. We've been doing this for a few years now, so we've built up some good historical data for our reports. This first snapshot shows the total number of single family home listings in March 2016, March 2017, and March 2018. Here's how total listings have trended in Madison over this two-year stretch. 

From March 2016 to March 2018, the total number of single family home listings

If you snooze, you lose. Remember these words if you're serious about buying in 2018. 

Competition for Madison area real estate is fierce this year. Inventory is extremely tight right now, and it will become even tighter in April and May. 

When a promising new listing comes along you and your buyer agent should be first in line to see it. Don't wait until the next day or the Sunday open house to view it in person. Schedule your showing immediately.

If you delay your showing you run the risk of missing out on your dream home. Ask the many buyers out in the market right now who are learning the hard way: Open houses are being canceled left and right because properties are selling in a flash. 

It Helps to Work with a Team in a Hot Market

We

There is no shortage of egg hunts this weekend in the Madison area. Neighborhoods and churches throughout town are offering their own events, and encouraging families to get out and celebrate. Grab your baskets, and get ready to join in on the fun. Two of the larger events are planned in Fitchburg and Monona:

Fitchburg 

The Cottontail Classic Race, paired with the Lions Easter Egg Hunt, provides exercise, outdoor activities, and a free egg hunt at McGaw Park in Fitchburg. Race participants can compete in 5k or 10k versions of the race, with 3 sugar stops along the way, to make sure everyone enjoys some Easter treats. The leading runners in each age group will receive a chocolate award. Following the race, there will be a pancake breakfast served,