Land Use I listed two adjoining properties in Dane County (Wisconsin) in an unincorporated town named Mt. Vernon, in the Township of Springdale. The zoning is classified as HAM-R, residential hamlet. The land use is under the auspices of Dane County Planning and Land Development. The required lot size is 20,000 sq ft and [...]
The first impression of any property is its exterior. Are the windows foggy? Is the landscaping overgrown? Is the concrete buckled? On this house, the cedar shakes were deteriorating. The couple had lived here for 18 years. Due to a northern climate, over time, freezing and thawing had cracked some of the wood. Plus, [...]
One of the main reasons older adults move into retirement communities is for a greater sense of security and peace of mind. Retirement communities offer such features as emergency call buttons in bedrooms and bathrooms, ADA-compliant living areas, and onsite security staff. Staging a senior living community means sturdy furniture, no area rugs, no sharp [...]
Are you pre-approved for a mortgage? Due to COVID-19, most sellers want a minimum number of people in their homes after being listed. One of the ways to adhere to that request is for a prospective buyer to have a buyer's agent and be pre-approved for a mortgage. This usually ensures a prospective buyer [...]
Selling a house yourself is a daunting task. Some people think in a Sellers' Market all they need to do is post it on the For Sale by Owner (FSBO) local site, put a "For Sale" sign in the yard, and wait for the phone calls. This method may work from time-to-time depending upon [...]
This house needed to be sold to settle an estate. However, it was FULL of personal belongings and not ready to list. Luckily, a relative took a week out of their schedule to order a dumpster and box up items he thought some other relatives would appreciate. Then, after a thorough cleaning, Premiere Stagers [...]
My daughter and her husband are looking for their first house in a Chicago suburb. They are being pre-approved for a mortgage, but in the mean time decided to look at a few Open Houses one recent Sunday while I was visiting. They chose four very different house styles to see if one style [...]
You are probably aware that a home stager is vital if selling a vacant house as it gives a prospective buyer the size and scale of each room. It is also vital to use a home stager if you are still living in the house so that the home's features are best enhanced. But, [...]
Do you know only 5% of the population has a living trust? What does that mean? It means your assets directly transfer to your heirs after your death by your personal representative and you avoid the probate process. Whether you have a Will or not, your estate will go through the probate process if [...]
[Note, I am not an attorney, nor am giving any legal advice here.] We have been in a Sellers' Market for a few years now. What makes it a Sellers' Market? There are more buyers than inventory. One reason is because sellers are reluctant to put their property on the market during a pandemic. [...]
