Very well maintained Energy Star home features an open kitchen, eating area, sliding doors to back deck, formal dining room (currently tv room), bright living room w/cathedral ceilings. Upstairs features 3 bdrms + loft area office (could be family play area). Master features large bathrm, walk in closet, vaulted ceilings. Main floor laundry room. Best yet…McFarland Schools! Just 10 minutes to the Beltline.

- 3 BR, 2 full BA, 1 half BA, 1997 Sq.Ft.
- 2 car garage attached, full unfinished basement
- List price: $269,900 – Sold price: $255,000

Contact us to learn more about Getting Your Home Sold with the Alvarado Real Estate Group.

Sustainable Showcase of Homes Features Green Building Techniques

Join us for an open house event across the Madison area to tour Green Built Certified and/or Energy Star homes and remodel projects and learn more about what people in our communities are doing. The 2010 Sustainable Showcase of homes is an all day event on Saturday, October 23^rd from 10-4pm. An after-event party will be held at the Habitat ReStore, 208 Cottage Grove Road, Madison for networking and business contacts plus beer tasting. Proceeds from the event will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Dane County.

The showcase will contain a mix of new, remodeled and existing homes that were built with the Green Built Home certification. Properties will highlight many different “green” principals and products including renewable energy, energy efficient construction, water conservation and more throughout the Dane county area.

This tour allows homeowners and contractors to discuss their green building techniques and the newest innovations in sustainable building and remodeling. Tour attendees will be able to ask questions and see firsthand how they could incorporate green building practices in their current or future home. More than 20 homes and sites will be featured in various stages of construction and certification.

The tickets will be $10 per person and sold at all four Home Savings Bank locations and also available for purchase at sites the day of the event.

For more information visit www.sustainableshowcase.org

Presented by Madison Area Builders Association (MABA), National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), Realtors® Association of South Central Wisconsin (RASCW) and the Madison Chapter of the Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers Association (WMBA).

JUST ANNOUNCED: The Presenting Sponsor for the event is MG&E, which is generously donating funds and in-kind support. Focus on Energy is a Gold Sponsor and Isthmus is the Media Partner for the event.

805 Bewick Drive, Madison WI

Incredibly well maintained ranch in a well established, sweet East side neighborhood close to Sycamore Park. There are many updates that make this home move in ready. The lot is perfect as the home sits high (no water in the basement) & the fenced backyard is level & spacious for fun play & offers a beautiful pond with fish, gorgeous landscaping, and a patio for entertaining. New roof, exterior just painted, new carpet, mechanicals replaced in past 10 years, full bathroom in lower level. 1 year home warranty included.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

• 3 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms
• 1705 total finished sq. ft.
• For price and additional information, click here.

Property Features:

• New 35 yr architectural shingle roof with transferrable warranty installed in JUNE 2010!
• Exterior Redwood siding recently painted (May/June 2010)
• New carpet in living room, May 2010 (no hardwood flooring under carpet in living room)
• Fresh paint throughout!
• Dishwasher new in 2008
• New flooring in kitchen in 2007
• Water heater new in 2003
• Washer and dryer replaced in 2001
• Furnace, April Air & central air units were replaced in 2000
• Wood burning fireplace in lower level is in good condition
• Seller will show Buyer how to use the pond (well maintained, fish stay alive through the winter).

Neighborhood Information

• Walk to Sycamore Park and enjoy the quiet Bewick Drive.
• Close to many great restaurants and shopping at East Towne Mall, the new Hy-Vee grocery store, Target, and more.
• Easy access from Hwy 30 to Stoughton Rd., Aberg, Interstate 90/94.
• Only 10 minutes to Downtown and UW campus.

School Information For 805 Bewick Drive

Schenk Elementary
Whitehorse Middle School
La Follette High School

For a private tour or more information on this home and its availability, please contact office@thealvaradogroup.com or 608.438.4315.

Today’s Madison WI real estate landscape offers some great buys for savvy real estate consumers, especially when it comes to foreclosure properties. Unfortunately, even though there are already a large number of foreclosures on the market, analysts are predicting that yet another wave of distressed properties will crop up in the coming months.

As a local Madison area Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), I’ve consulted with many clients seeking to capitalize on a foreclosure purchase. I always advise them, however, to weigh the pros and cons. While a foreclosure could represent your best chance to get a great deal, make sure you educate yourself about the potential pitfalls of purchasing a distressed property in advance – and what correcting those pitfalls might cost. In most cases, it’s not so much about what damage occurred but rather the source of the damage and how long before the problem was addressed.

Here are the top 10 signs that may indicate trouble in a foreclosed home:

1. Unheated house in winter months. If the home has been properly winterized, there’s no need for heat. But if the home has not been properly winterized, pipes will burst and cause water damage.
2. Missing sinks, toilets and other fixtures. Make sure they’ve been properly removed and not ripped from walls and floors.
3. Peeling, bubbling and discolored paint; swelling in walls or ceilings (especially around kitchens and bathrooms), or a musty odor all indicate water damage and, potentially, the presence of moisture and mold.
4. Fungus growth inside cabinets, behind drawers and built-ins. Fungus could mean that there has been water damage. Since water falls down, look for the source above the mold.
5. Blocked drains or pipes will cause future problems and may have already created sewage backups.
6. Black cobwebs, greasy gray residue on walls and/or a strong oily odor. This could point to potential soot damage or a malfunctioning furnace.
7. An older home with extensive renovations. Check with the city for pulled permits in order to get remolding details. If asbestos is present and has been disturbed, be sure it’s been remediated by a certified specialist.
8. Excessive painting of every nook, cranny, door and floor may mean that the seller is covering up mold.
9. Discolored subflooring. From the basement, check the subflooring above for stains and small holes, both caused by mold.
10. Air quality. The air quality within a home tells a lot about the home’s condition. Be sure to include air and surface testing in your home inspection. It’s a few hundred dollars well spent.

Please keep in mind that not only are there potential issues with the condition of a foreclosed property, but each foreclosure property is sold subject to restrictions of record which are unknown to the Sheriff and subject to any unpaid taxes and water bills or assessments. One of our favorite resources is the Dane County Foreclosure website.

There are indeed many great opportunities in today’s market, but proper education and preparation are essential to making the right investment. Please call 608.251.6600 or email us for further information and be sure to forward this article to others who might be considering a foreclosure purchase.

Search all foreclosure homes in the Madison area.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

- 3 Bedroom, + office, 2.5 Bathrooms, 2,051 Sq Ft
- Main floor family room with wood burning fireplace
- Great fenced backyard with patio
- Lower level has private bathroom, great for guests!
For additional information and price, click here.

Property Features

- Furnace new in 2006
- Refrigerator new in 2008
- Newer windows (date unknown, but not original)
- Fan in master bedroom newly installed in 2010
- Sump pump in basement, seller has never had water problems
- Water softener recently serviced, good condition
- Fireplace has not been used by current owners

Wexford Village Neighborhood Information

- Enjoy several nearby parks, including Blackhawk, Junction Ridge, Mineral Point, Kettle Pond, Everglade and more
- Great shopping, restaurants and entertainment at nearby Sauk Point Square, Stonefield Glen and West Towne mall
- The High Point Swim Club is a few short miles away
- Local Wexford Village neighborhood association sponsors a variety of events and activities all year around.
- Wexford organizes its very own baseball and soccer leagues!
Please check out more details at the Wexford Village website.

1 N. Strathfield Circle School Information

Stephens Elementary
Jefferson Middle School
Memorial High School

This home is a short sale. The Alvarado Real Estate Group has team members that can assist you in learning more about short sales as a buyer or as a seller. Please contact us for a private tour or more information on short sales and the buying process:  office@thealvaradogroup.com or 608.438.4315.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

2550 Hoard Street has 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1155 sq. ft and a 1 car garage attached. For the current price, click here.

Property Updates and Features

- New toilet 2010
- Replaced sink, faucet & disposal 2007
- Solar hot water heater panels and system installed in 2005
- Gas water heater New 2001
- New stainless steel siding 2005 with lifetime warranty
- Windows replaced in 2005 (Living Room, 1999)
- Refrigerator replaced in 2003
- Laminate wood flooring installed 2001
- Roof replaced in 1999
- Washer & dryer 1998
- Great edible landscaping includes: Raspberries, blackberries, kiwi, apple tree, blueberries, strawberries, mulberries,
currants, lingon berries, josten berries, elderberries, perennials and more!
- Tile work by Red Rose Mosaics
- Backyard patio features high efficiency fire pit surrounded by gardens and borders the city bike path and park
- UHP warranty included in sale (value $425)

Neighborhood Information

- Walk to area restaurants, shopping, grocery stores, Walgreen’s
- Walk to famous Ella’s Deli
- East commute access to Downtown or Aberg to Stoughton Rd.
- Close to the bike path, bus routs and parks
- Family friendly, quiet neighborhood
- Visit the Hawthorne Library on E. Washington
- Minutes from Downtown, Capitol & Beltline
- Walkscore of 68 (pretty good!) at www.walkscore.com

2550 Hoard Street School Information

Emerson Elementary
Sherman Middle School
East High School

For a private tour or more information on this home and its availability, please contact office@thealvaradogroup.com or 608.438.4315.

Thanks to a change in our underlying cost of funds, WHEDA effective immediately is substantially reducing the interest rates on its WHEDA Fannie Mae Advantage suite of first mortgage products. The new rates are as follows:

WHEDA Fannie Mae Advantage 4.95%
WHEDA Fannie Mae Advantage – Price Point 4.40%
WHEDA Fannie Mae Advantage – MI Choice 4.60%
WHEDA Fannie Mae Advantage – Low LTV 4.60%

WHEDA will reduce the interest rates accordingly on all loans that are currently locked but have not yet funded. Lenders will receive a revised Confirmation of Rate Lock. Rates are subject to change daily, so lenders should visit www.wheda.com periodically for the most up-to-date interest rates.

WHEDA issues mortgage revenue bonds (MRBs) to raise proceeds to fund its mortgage loans. Changes announced yesterday to the New Issue Bond Program (NIBP) by the U.S. Department of Treasury will effectively reduce the interest rate on MRBs WHEDA will issue through December 31, 2011, making this one-time decrease in interest rates possible. Under NIBP, the Treasury, through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is investing in a portion of MRBs issued by state housing finance agencies (HFAs) in an attempt to lower borrowing costs for low-to-moderate income first-time home buyers as a means of increasing affordable housing lending activity nationwide.

The Classic Family Meal

How many articles do I need to read to know that sitting down altogether with my family for dinner at least 4 out of the 7 nights a week will keep my kids from getting into drugs and will strengthen our family as a unit? I’ve read the articles, I got it. And even though there are nights that I would rather eat cereal standing up (ok, not really), our family is very consistent about family dinners that are healthy (and made from locally grown foods).

Then I read about Chow Bella Community Dinners at the Goodman Community Center. And I started thinking. I started thinking about my neighborhood and the way the houses were built with the two car garages attached making it easy to drive home and walk straight into my home without seeing or saying hi to the neighbors. The older Madison WI neighborhoods have detached garages or no garages at all and the homes are closer together, making it easy for people to connect with each other. And when the turnover in a neighborhood is low, and families move into a neighborhood and then stay there to raise their kids and grow old, there becomes a connection to the community, to the people and neighbors.

So what if everyone in my neighborhood all had dinner together on a regular basis? Would we strengthen as a community unit (and stay away from drugs too)? After imagining what this might look like, I have decided that YES, we would! Just like we need to take the time to get to know our family members and not just live in the same house together, we need to take the time to get to know our neighbors and not just live on the same street as them. Eating together, sharing food, conversation and laughter is the best way.

That is why we have block parties, neighborhood picnics, community garden bike tours, and holiday events. And that is why Goodman Center is so wonderful. They created monthly community dinners. And they combined it with raising money for some of their amazing programs. Check out the Goodman Center events page to find information for the next Community Dinner. And if you don’t live in the area, hopefully this has inspired you to turn up the engagement level in your own neighborhood.   

Green Built Home

Sometimes when I start talking to a prospective Seller I get this question and it is always interesting to see where the conversation goes as we talk about the definition of green, what that means and what that has to do with whether I can help or not.

First of all, I’m a Real Estate Broker and study all things real estate which include the housing market, mortgages, negotiation, marketing, information technology, community data, property preparation/staging, buyer psychology, and local and national trends. I love helping all different kinds of people and families through the buying and selling process and I love helping to sell all different kinds of homes. So to me it doesn’t matter if your home is a ranch or a two story; if it is feng shuied or vacant; if it is beige or green. Our Madison real estate team is talented in many different ways. Our excellence in service and commitment to our passion for real estate make us a great choice for many people hiring a real estate team.  

So why do we get this question?

Not only does our team live and breathe Madison Real Estate but we are also passionate about the environment and sharing information with our clients and the community about ways we can all make a difference for our families and our planet in the homes we live in and the choices we make. The community hears this message loud and clear because it is a core value of our company. The real question is not whether I can help you sell your home because it is or is not green. The question is what is a green home?  

What is a Green Home?

This is the interesting question because there are so many aspects to green and what we have been bombarded with from the media that is gets quite confusing. In researching the definition of green I came across Michael Richmond’s work (an expert author on the subject) and found this:

“The best definition of Green refers to the health impact of what we do on living things. So Green is primarily a health-related issue. This is seen in the fact that cleaning products were the early Green issues. In fact, indoor air quality is a big factor in Green buildings. Sick building syndrome was the result of poor indoor air quality, which is the antithesis of Green.” I also found the dictionary definition includes, “environmentally sound, beneficial” (along with references to color and money).

Energy Star Home

With that, a green home could be a home with healthy indoor air quality and environmentally sound. That doesn’t really work for me. If I owned a 4,500 sq. ft. home located 15 minutes (driving a car) to where I work but had great indoor air quality and was built in an environmentally sound fashion, it still wouldn’t feel green to me. For me a green home takes into consideration the energy efficiency of the mechanicals, the system of the home, the landscaping, the location in relation to daily living, the space and how it is used for the family. It is a healthy space. It is efficient. And it takes smart choices in sustaining its green features. What is the point of having a super efficient furnace if I keep the heat set at 80 degrees all winter long? That is where our choices make a difference. A big difference.

If you are curious how our passion and additional training as EcoBrokers can help in a real estate transaction, please read more here. But if you just want a Realtor to help get your home sold or help you find a new home, then call us. We can help.

Darcy, Kathryn, Sara & Carlos Alvarado, Julie

608.251.6600, team@thealvaradogroup.com

photo by Chris Hoppe

This is the 45^th annual Orton Park Festival! And what an amazing festival it is! Thursday, August 26^th – Sunday August 29^th will be full of dance, music, theater, face painting, a jazz brunch (co-sponsored by Alvarado Real Estate Group) and great fundraising activities for the Wil-Mar Center, hosted by the Marquette Neighborhood Association.

This is an annual neighborhood festival to promote community building and culture. Orton Park Festival is open to the public, free of charge, and draws both neighbors and visitors. The festival raises funds through corporate sponsorship, donations and concessions. They provide the funds that enable the Association to achieve its goals and mission. Alvarado Real Estate Group co-sponsors the Sunday morning Jazz Brunch as a way to give back to a neighborhood that we live and work in. We understand the value of strong neighborhoods and how that makes a difference to the families that live in them.

This festival creates a sense of community fabric that is important for the continued stability of the neighborhood at large. Outside of these events, there are no other activities that bring neighborhood residents together as a whole. The festivals are important to the Marquette neighborhood in keeping residents informed of issues and trends that face their community.

Orton Park Festival Schedule

Thursday, August 26th
Family Night (Ice Cream & Soft Drinks for sale):

• 6:30 p.m. – Daithi Wolfe & Company
• 8:00 p.m. – Cycropia Aerial Dance Theater

Friday, August 27th

• 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. – International Dinner with Vendors
• 5:45 p.m. – The Tony Castañeda Latin Jazz Sextet
• 6:45 p.m. – MNA Auction
• 7:15 p.m. – Razia Said (NYC/Madagascar)
• 8:45 p.m. – Cycropia Aerial Dance Theater

Saturday, August 28th

• Noon – Whitney Mann
• 1:30 p.m. – Robert J and the Rowdy Prairie Dogs
• 3:00 p.m. – Cris Plata and Extra Hot
• 4:15 p.m. – MNA Auction
• 5:15 p.m. – Monika and Christian Nieves (Puerto Rico)
• 7:00 p.m. – The Carolina Chocolate Drops
• 9:00 p.m. – Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble

Sunday, August 29th

• 9:00 a.m. – Jazz Brunch with The Randall Harrison Trio
• 11:30 a.m. – The Rohnalleros
• 1:00 p.m. – The Getaway Drivers
• 2:00 p.m. – Orton Cake Walk
• 2:30 p.m. – Kings Go Forth
• 3:45 p.m. – MNA Auction
• 4:45 p.m. – The Rousers
• 6:45 p.m. – Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women

And for more information, check out the Marquette Neighborhood website and come down to the Jazz Brunch to visit us!