We invite you to visit our site each month to read Stapleton News & Views.

How a “Dry January” Mindset Can Get You Closer to Buying a Home in 2024

Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, General, News|

The “dry January” challenge of giving up alcohol for a month got us thinking about kicking some other bad habits that might be holding us back. We’re not talking about giving up carbs for a month or an afternoon latte, but the not-so-great things you might be doing as a wannabe homebuyer. Not to point fingers here, but many home shoppers fall prey to a faux pas or two when making what’s [...]

Unlocking Opportunities: Embracing Homeownership Despite the Interest Rates

Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, General, News|

Buying a home is an important financial decision and rising interest rates are giving many prospective home buyers and sellers pause. The historic picture of interest rates show that interest rates today are middle low end. In the 1970’s, interest rates were in the teens and often high teens. It does not negate the cost increases today of higher interest rates, nor what a buyer can afford, but it is meant [...]

Winter Energy Saving Tips

Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, General, News|

Wisconsin winters can be challenging, but with a few unique energy-saving tips, you can cozy up without worrying about sky-high heating bills. Let's explore ten innovative strategies that will help you stay warm and cost-conscious during the colder months in the Badger State. Harness the Sun's Warmth - Wisconsin winters provide ample sunshine. Make the most of it by opening your curtains during the day. Sunlight streaming through your windows can naturally [...]

Realtor Etiquette: 5 Unwritten Etiquette Rules Home Buyers Might Not Even Realize Are a Big Deal

Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, General, Lake Homes, News|

Thinking of buying a house, you’re probably eager and excited. That’s fine, but just keep in mind that in this heightened emotional state, it’s easy to get swept up in the moment and behave, well, not perfectly. This can lead to trouble as, just like anything else, buying a home comes with its own set of rules. Some may be fairly obvious, since they’re outlined in all that real estate paperwork you’ll soon [...]

Proper preplanning leads to success.

Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, General, Selling a Home|

Deciding to buy a new home involves so many considerations and priorities, not to mention emotions. Where should you begin? The notion of looking for a new home came from some situation or thought that came up, start there. What are your reasons for looking for a new home now? Is this a good time for you to look at the considerations in your life? The chances that you are going [...]

Will Waiting to Buy a Home Actually Save You Money? Let’s Look at the Numbers.

Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, Lake Homes, News|

Mortgage interest rates: it seems like all anyone can talk about these days. And with good reason. The basic equation of housing affordability boils down to just two main factors: home price and interest rate, which together make up that seemingly overwhelming number that is your monthly mortgage payment. One of the things we hear almost daily from the homebuyers we work with is, "I hear that rates might be coming down, [...]

Eco-Friendly, Energy-Efficient Homes Attract Buyers

Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, General, News, Selling a Home|

Are you planning to sell your house? If so, you may be surprised to hear just how much buyers value energy efficiency and eco-friendly features today. This is especially true as summer officially kicks off. In fact, the 2023 Realtors and Sustainability Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows 48% of agents or brokers have noticed consumers are interested in sustainability. So, if you’re considering selling your house, why does this matter to you? It helps you [...]

Why Do I Need a Realtor?

Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, General, Lake Homes, News, Selling a Home|

Most of us will buy and sell a home or property at some point in our lifetimes. When the market is “hot”, we might be tempted to think we could sell it easily to the neighbor or put a sign out in front and have it sold quickly. It might be easy to get interest in your home in an active market, but a Realtor helps you value your home, so [...]

Get Ready: The Best Time To List Your House Is Almost Here

General, Lake Homes, News, Oconomowoc, Selling a Home|

If you’re thinking about selling this spring, it’s time to get moving – the best week to list your house is fast approaching. Experts at realtor.com looked at seasonal trends from recent years (excluding 2020 as an uncharacteristic year due to the onset of the pandemic) and determined the ideal week to list a house this year: “Home sellers on the fence waiting for that perfect moment to sell should start [...]

How to Make Your Dream of Homeownership a Reality

Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, General, Lake Homes, News, Oconomowoc, Selling a Home|

According to a recent Harris Poll survey, 8 in 10 Americans say buying a home is a priority, and 28 million Americans actually plan to buy within the next 12 months. Homeownership provides many financial and nonfinancial benefits, so that interest is understandable. However, it’s unlikely all 28 million Americans will accomplish that goal in the coming year. Experts project a total of around five million homes will be sold in 2023. Why is there such a big [...]

Mortgage Rates Are Dropping. What Does That Mean for You?

Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, General, Lake Homes, News, Oconomowoc, Selling a Home|

Mortgage rates have been a hot topic in the housing market over the past 12 months. Compared to the beginning of 2022, rates have risen dramatically. Now they’re dropping, and that has to do with everything happening in the economy. Nadia Evangelou, Senior Economist and Director of Forecasting at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), explains it well by saying: “Mortgage rates dropped even further this week as two main factors affecting today’s mortgage market became [...]

Sellers Market?

General, News, Oconomowoc, Selling a Home|

If you’re thinking about selling your house, you’re likely hearing about the cooling housing market and wondering what that means for you. While it’s not the peak intensity we saw during the pandemic, we’re still in a sellers’ market. That means you haven’t missed your window. Realtor.com explains: “. . . while prospective home sellers may lament that they missed their prime window, in reality, this is still a terrific time to sell. In fact, [...]

Neighborhood Nicknames

Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, General, Lake Homes, Oconomowoc, Selling a Home|

Reading an article earlier this month by Bob Dohr of NOW titled “ Why are Milwaukee’s suburbs called what they are?” had me thinking about how even within the City of Oconomowoc, the areas have official names and nicknames. West of Downtown and north of Wisconsin Avenue is “Merchants Plat” as it is currently known, where the houses designed by Roy Henszey for the Carnation Company executives are found along Woodland Lane [...]

History of the Boat Parade

General, Maureen's Musings, News, Oconomowoc|

The Oconomowoc Boat parade has a long history of entertaining hundreds of people over the decades.  A lot of hard work and creativity has gone into the creation of boats over the years. The parade‘s original date is uncertain as to when it began, but there was a day time parade with no lights in the 1970’s. In 1972 the Bill Chapman boat won 1st place with the “Good Ship Lollipop”.  The [...]

Is the Market Still HOT?

Buying a Home, First-Time Home Buyers, General, News, Oconomowoc, Selling a Home|

Many people watch the real estate market with great interest. It is fun to imagine what we could sell our homes for or to see what the houses near us are selling for. Without question, these past months have been some of the hottest months in real estate in the Lake Country in years. We have seen a much smaller inventory, which has driven the prices for what comes for sale [...]