Property of the Week

This week's featured property is a two unit investment property in Albany.

Finally, a fully rented investment property that cash flows!  This two unit residential property in Albany has updates including a new roof and furnace in last 2 years. There is a large yard and off street parking. There are separate meters and private entrances. The location is great, close to downtown and Sugar River as well as near a village park.  As the end of our tax year approaches, this is a great property to use for investment or in a 1031 exchange.

Buying a home in December? Are you crazy?

Real estate wisdom has always been that things are wicked slow from Thanksgiving through New Year's. Buyers have a lot going on in their lives, and looking at homes bumps way down on the list unless a buyer really needs to move. We tend to warn our home sellers that any buyer looking at this time of year is extremely serious, so homes must be staged well for every showing.

Buyers can use this conventional wisdom in their favor, making this a great time of year to purchase a home.

Why?

So few buyers want to look right now. Home sellers are aware of this fact, and so they are more likely to work with an offer and negotiate than they might be at other times of year. If sellers get an offer in early or mid-December, they are highly aware of the fact that this will likely be the only offer they see for the next four to six weeks. This is another one or two mortgage payments or a delay in a seller's own relocation. Sellers do consider these extra costs as they negotiate.

If you can fit the time to look at homes into your schedule, give some thought to writing an offer in December. It can be just the edge you want in the negotiation process.

Things to do around Monroe

~ Stop at Frehner Gallery in the Monroe Arts Center this evening for a new exhibit opening. "Drifting Forward" is a compilation of Driftless Area Artists works. The opening reception this evening includes an artist talk at 5:30 pm. Remember to check out the Silent Auction items also on display now.

~ Brodhead hosts "Christmas Walk" on Thursday and Friday evenings this week. There is a lighted parade on Friday evening and carriage rides will be available. The Downtown merchants will have in store specials both evenings.

~ There is still time to pick up your tickets to the Festival of Trees in Monroe this Saturday evening. Contact Pam at the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, 608.325.7648. Cocktails are at 6, dinner is served at 7.

~ If outdoors is more your thing, come to Cadiz Springs this Saturday evening for the Owl Prowl hosted by Ranger Brad Bates.

~ On Sunday, New Glarus will host a Holiday Shopping Open House event at many Downtown merchants. Be sure to stop by the Swiss United Church for their cookie sale too!

~ Gun enthusiasts will gather at the Juda Community Center and Fire Station this Sunday for the annual Gun Show. This event is open from 8 am until 3 pm.

~ The Monroe City Band will play two concerts on Sunday afternoon. At 1 pm, they will be at Pleasant View Nursing Home. Then, they will head to the United Methodist Church for a 3 pm concert as well.

~ The Democratic Party of Green County has their monthly meeting on Sunday at the Swiss Alps in Monroe.

Hope you have a great weekend here in Cheese Country!

Property of the Week

This week's featured property is a commercial building in Monroe, Wisconsin.

Here is your chance to own a piece of Monroe’s history dating back to circa 1865.

The historic Lanz Building is a rare property with over 14,000 square feet on 3 levels located on corner lot in Downtown Monroe. This location is ideal for your business or non-profit, a well traveled corner between Turner Hall and the Square. There is newer electrical, 16” solid masonry walls, exposed brick walls, 11’ ceilings on main floor and 9’ ceilings in basement. The building is loading dock capable, and there is underground parking available. For your customers or employees, there is plenty of parking available thanks to street parking on two sides and a large public lot to the rear.

This building is easily divided inside with multiple exterior access points. Whatever you are thinking - restaurants, retail space, art gallery, museum, office spaces or anything else - this space is wide open and waiting for someone with a vision.

Parade Time

Thanksgiving week has many traditions.  Here in Monroe, one of our traditions is the Holiday Parade.

This is the ninth year for the annual parade, which features entries from area groups, businesses and individuals.  As in previous years, this is an evening parade giving the entrants an opportunity to shine - literally.  One of the traditions is the lighted entries.  Precision Drive & Control is once again providing electric generators for area groups who need a little help lighting up the night.  Many thanks to PDC for making the evening glow, and to Monroe Main Street for organizing the event.

The parade starts at 6 pm on Friday, November 26.  It runs a circle from the middle school parking lot, past Turner Hall, down 17th Avenue to the Square and back to the middle school.  Come early to pick up some hot cocoa or coffee from one of our downtown eateries to warm your hands during the parade.  If you have never been to the Holiday Parade, here is a snippet from last year's parade:

We hope to see you there!

Property of the Week

This week's featured property is a split-level ranch in Monroe.

Bring the family home! This comfortable split level home located on a quiet street has all you need. 3 bedrooms, main floor laundry, living room with fireplace, family room, refinished wood floors, generous storage area, 2 car attached garage, spacious eat-in kitchen, bright rooms filled with natural lightening. The landscaped yard has plenty of room for kids, grandkids, pets or more gardens.

Festival of Trees 2010

One of our favorite local events is coming up in just a few weeks.  The Festival of Trees is a community fundraiser combined with an evening out.  Four area non-profit groups benefit from the evening:  Monroe Theatre Guild Stage Right Youth Theatre, Green County Humane Society, Green Haven Family Advocates or Green County Habitat for Humanity.

Festival of Trees takes place at the Mansion on December 4 this year.  There will be silent auction items, and the proceeds from these go directly to the non-profit group that has put them together.  Many area businesses and individuals contribute items both big and small for the bidding.  Each non-profit group also decorates a few holiday trees, also sponsored by local business.  These trees area auctioned at the end of the evening in an entertaining live auction.

Cocktails start at 6 pm, and dinner is served at 7.  The dinner choices this year will be prime rib, rosemary chicken or your choice of butternut squash or mushroom ravioli with alfredo sauce. If you prefer the vegetarian ravioli option, you should specify that when purchasing tickets.

Tickets are $40 per person, and they can be purchased through any of the non-profit groups above or through the Monroe Chamber of Commerce.

Property of the Week

This week's featured property is a 10 acre parcel of land in between Argyle and Blanchardville.



No covenants! This 10 acre lot near Yellowstone State Park and Yellowstone Golf Course will be the perfect place to build your dream. Plan your home to enjoy the long views of the countryside. The lay of the land will accommodate a walk-out if you like, and all utilities are at the road.

Shantytown

On November 13, the Green County Courthouse lawn will be turned into a shantytown for children.

That's not a sentence that we read every day, eh?

This is being done as part of an event sponsored by the Homelessness Prevention Coalition of Green County. There has always been homelessness in Green County, but the statistics have gone up significantly over the last two years. Green County Human Services has seen 143 families that were homeless or near-homeless this year alone; in these households were 139 adults and 137 children. This number is already higher than the 2009 statistics (112 homeless households).

The basic idea for shantytown is a simple one. Youth will bring small tents or large cardboard boxes and set up a shanty-town for one night on the courthouse lawn. November evenings in Wisconsin are cold and uncomfortable, a start demonstration to the participants of what homeless people experience. This is a fundraising event for the coalition, so participants may make "get me out of my shanty" fundraising cell phone calls to raise donations. There will a soup kitchen-style food line and speakers as well. The event will last from 5 to 9 pm.

If you need more information, contact Bridget Mouchon, Family Living Educator at the Green County UW-Extension office, 608-328-9440.

Our neighbors need our help in these difficult economic times. If you receive a call from one of the shantytown participants, please give what you can. If you want to participate, bring a tent or a box and experience the chill for at least part of one evening.

What is that strange little spotty picture??

Have you seen the funky little boxy graphics we are starting to incorporate in our marketing and yard signs?

These are called QR codes, and you will probably see them popping up more and more in retail stores, on website, on advertising posters.

If you are wondering what on earth a QR code is and what you should do with it, don't worry. Lots of people in our area don't know about them. Basically, if you have a smart phone, you can download an app called a barcode reader or a QR reader. Not all smart phones can read these codes, but iPhone can and most Androids will too. Android phones often come with Google Googles, which can read them, or you can download apps like Barcode Scanner from the Android Marketplace. If you have an iPhone, readers like Optiscan, QuickMark, QR App, and NeoScan are recommended by cnet.com. Palm has their own QR reader app, or i-nigma or BeeTagg.

You scan these little graphics with that reader, and it decodes them. The QR code might be a text display ("Open house on Friday evening from 5 to 7 pm"). It might reveal a website link with more information. That code above take you to a website that has the pricing, photos, and features for one of the homes we have listed. It could open a video or audio stream, or initiate an email on your smart phone that already has the recipient's email address and the subject line entered ("Please send me more information on 1610 16th Ave, Monroe").

We are using them on yard signs at some of the homes we have listed for sale and in some of our online marketing. It is just another way that we are reaching out to a different client base to help our sellers' homes be seen by as many people as possible.

Things to do around Monroe, WI

*Boo* It is that spooky time of year again. If you have time between Halloween parties and trick or treating this weekend, take a look at the area happenings:

~ Stop at at JoAnn's on Monroe's Square this evening for the Monroe Chamber of Commerce Business After 5 event.

~ Join the Young Professionals of Green County for the Ghosts of Green County tour this Friday evening. Let a local expert guide you through 55 miles of spooky stops, dark cemeteries, ghost sightings, and creepy locations through out Green County. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a flashlight. Space is limited!! $15 per person, register at the YP website.

~ The Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory at the National Historic Cheesemaking Center in Monroe is ready for a ribbon cutting. Come to the Center of Saturday morning at 10 am for a ribbon cutting ceremony. Milk will be delivered at 9 am, and local cheesemakers will work their magic in the farmstead factory for the next four hours. There will be a presentation at 2 pm, "More than Just Cheese - Gourmet Spreads", followed by a tasting.

~ The Aliens are here! UFO Days is in Belleville this weekend. Don't miss out on the fun this Saturday throughout the town. Pancake breakfast, kids games, craft and food fair, fun run, parade, monster ball and more are going on throughout the day in Belleveille.

~ One of our favorite Halloween traditions is the Costume Parade in Monroe. Children of all ages are invited to show off their costume and walk in the parade from the middle school, around the Square and back to the school. Parents are always welcome to walk with the kids or line to streets and enjoy the fun. Line up by 3:45; parade starts at 4.

~ This is the last weekend for the Orangeville Haunted Mill and the Lena Haunted Barn. Have you visited these spook-tacular community fun-draising events yet this year?

~ Argyle has Fair Acres Haunted Hike this Friday and Saturday evenings. Meet at N7180 Dougherty Creek Road at 7:30. You'll hike up the hill and through created tunnels and halls at this haunted event.


~ Are you wondering about Trick or Treat hours for your Green County community?

• Monroe - 4 to 8 pm
• Monticello - 3 to 6 pm
  
• Albany - 5:30 to 7:30 pm
• New Glarus - 3 to 8 pm
  
• Brodhead - 4 to 8 pm
  
• Browntown - 5 to 7:30 pm
  
• Brooklyn - 4 to 7:30 pm
  

~ Monticello has costume judging at the school after trick or treat hours are finished. That is followed by hayrides to the firehouse for bonfires.

~ Finally, don't forget to VOTE next week on Tuesday. If your Tuesday looks busy, contact your community clerk about early voting via absentee ballot.

Property of the Week

This week's featured property is a brick home in Monroe.


They don't make homes like this anymore! This home is classic perfection inside and out.

A full brick Colonial, this home has 4-7 bedrooms. There are three main floor rooms with closets can be bedrooms if you need the space for a large family. Otherwise, use them like the current owner: home office, family television room, toy room. The master bedroom is truly a retreat from it all. There is a private balcony patio, a tiled bathroom with soaking tub, an alcove waiting for a chaise lounge and a truly enormous 11x9' walk-in closet.

There are oak floors throughout the home, and the original woodwork is beautifully maintained. In the living room, enjoy the stone fireplace with cherry mantle.

The retreat feel continues as you step outside. The fabulous 3 season porch lets you enjoy the view of the landscaped yard even when the rain falls or the mercury dips. It opens to patio and deck that are the ideal place for entertaining in pleasant weather.

Come see this one of kind, classic quality executive home today. Call Brenda or Luis at 214-5796 to set up a showing.

Curing for a Cure

This weekend marks the final regular season farmers market here in Monroe, and one vendor has organized a way for them to end the year with a bang.

Our friend Stef Culberson from Goosechaser Farm has put together "Curing for a Cure", a fundraiser for breast cancer research. Come downtown Saturday for a live auction featuring a variety of meats and other goods from local business owners.

Curing for a Cure draws its name from a donation of two whole, cured hams and two full sides of bacon. There will also be other food items such as 5# packages of Goosechaser Farm's famous brats, meat sticks from Hoesly's, a produce basket from Brennan's, fresh produce from Avon Locker, a produce and book basket from Inn Serendipity, acupuncture treatments from Harmony Community Accupuncture, car washes from Pro Image Car Wash and more.

Come downtown and bid high for this great cause!

Property of the Week

This week's featured property is an executive home near Monroe.

Elegance just minutes from town. This refined home in a rural subdivision is country living at its best.

You will have endless options for entertaining with the open layout and large deck. The home office is perfect for a satellite office or managing the household. There are new solid surface counter tops, hardwood flooring, and appliances, plus mature landscaping and updated paint colors, making this high quality Will Pick home a better option than building new.

Enjoy the morning sunrises with your coffee in the office or end the day on the deck watching the sunset over the private valley. Walk in; come home.

Volunteers needed

Get a little exercise and help out the Green County Humane Society at the same time.

The GCHS is always looking for people to help with walking dogs. This volunteer opportunity is a good for all involved - volunteers get exercise and the good feeling of helping out, the dogs become more adoptable with increased human interaction, and GCHS staff is freed up to work on other projects.

Requirements are pretty minimal: must be at least 13 years of age, schedule a time in the afternoon or early evening, walk a dog for at least 15 minutes.

To help out, you can go to the GCHS website and print out the volunteer application. Some community organizations (such as Monroe Theatre Guild) organize dog walkers in exchange for grant money. If you want your volunteering to go even farther, contact a non-profit you are part of to see if they participate in these programs.

If dog walking isn't your thing, you can help out with the cats as well. Cat Cuddlers are also needed, and the minimum age for that is only 12. As with dogs, cats benefit from the interaction and become more adoptable as they become increasingly comfortable with humans.

Can you spare a hour once a week or once a month to help out?

Things to do around Monroe, WI

Time once again for a things to do in the area in the upcoming week.

~ Monroe Youth Hockey is sponsoring "Give Hockey a Try" this Saturday from 8 - 10 am and 10 am - noon at SLICE in Monroe. This if for boys and girls 10 and under who have NEVER played hockey to try on some equipment and skate with our coaches to try hockey. Must be accompanied by parent or guardian.

~ Do some holiday shopping early at the Monticello Lionesses Craft and Nut Fair this Saturday. The gym at the high school will be filled with exhibitors featuring handmade goods of all sorts. The Lionesses also will have nuts of all varieties available to purchase for your holiday baking. There is a cash raffle, and lunch is available on site.

~ The growing season is drawing to a close, but local farmers markets are still open for a few more weeks. Visit the market in Monroe, Monticello, Paoli, or Lena to stock up for winter. Honey, preserves of all sorts, baked goods, root vegetable, meat and much more area still available.

~ Local athletes always need community support. Come to a youth football or volleyball game this weekend and lend your voice to cheer for the home team!

~ Come back to Monticello on Sunday morning for the Lion's Club Pancake Breakfast fundraiser. The proceeds go to support Monticello school scholarship program, vision screening programs, and the Wisconsin Lion's Camp and more

~ Dad's Farm Corn Maze is open for the season. Friday night is flashlight night. They will be open until 9 pm, so bring your flashlight and get ready for a spooky time finding your way through the maze. The maze is open 10 m to 6 pm on Saturdays and 12-5 pm on Sundays.

~ Monroe Arts Center has two events coming up in the next two weeks. Have you purchased tickets yet? Dallas Brass performs at the PAC on Monday starting at 7:30 pm. Monroe High School band students will spend time with the band that afternoon and will take the stage with them that evening. Tickets are $10, general admission. Folk musician Arlo Guthrie will also perform at PAC next week, on Friday evening starting at 7 pm. Tickets for that event are $20-75 depending on section. Contact MAC to reserve your tickets.

~ The Young Professional of Green County have a social event scheduled for Tuesday evening. Join them at the Monroe Country Club after work from 5-6:30 for conversation, a drink and an chance to win free golf.

We apologize for the weeks without our regular "Things to Do" feature. Between vacation and illness, Brenda clearly missed a number of weeks. We're healthy now and back on track. See you around town!

Property of the Week

This week's featured property is an executive home near Monroe.


Elegance just minutes from town. This refined home in a rural subdivision is country living at its best. You will have endless options for entertaining with the open layout and large deck. The home office is perfect for a satellite office or managing the household. There are new solid surface counter tops, hardwood flooring, and appliances, plus mature landscaping and updated paint colors, making this high quality Will Pick home a better option than building new. Enjoy the morning sunrises with your coffee in the office or end the day on the deck watching the sunset over the private valley. Walk in; come home.

Foreclosures and Sheriff's Sales

We've talked about concerns in buying a home through a sheriff's sale in the past.

The new issues with some foreclosures being handled incorrectly by lenders like GMAC, Chase and Bank of America are creating worries for some purchasers of homes at sheriff sale. With so many notes being sold and resold these days, proper documentation regarding the current lien holder is not always in place. If a bank cannot document that they own the lien to a home, they cannot legally foreclose.

This is an issue right now because it has come to light that some home that were already foreclosed upon or that are currently on the market might have defective documentation. If a court determines that a foreclosure was not valid, the judgment could result in a sheriff sale being voided. If a court rules a sheriff sale void, the buyer can be required to relinquish the property.

The ramifications of this are huge. Unless a purchaser at a sheriff's sale lines up title insurance, and not all title insurance companies will cover this, there is nothing to guarantee title and protect a purchaser's investment. This can impact not only the person who bought a house at sheriff's sale, but also future buyers.

We've said it before, but it bears repeating:

Please proceed with caution and with guidance if you are purchasing a home through sheriff's sale. It is possible to find a wonderful home or investment through these sales, but someone navigating these waters for the first time should take the time to become fully educated on the process.

The Wisconsin Realtor Association advises "No one should ever purchase a property at a sheriff’s sale without a title commitment and the advice of their attorney." Realtors don't give this advice like this because we only want people to purchase homes with the help of a realtor, but rather because we are a little more aware of potential pit-falls and want to help people avoid these situations.

Cheese Days!

It is that time again - Cheese Days!

Our biennial celebration of all things cheese here in Green County takes place this weekend. Come downtown to taste samples from the local cheesemakers, view demonstrations in the hospitality tent, enjoy the stage acts and much more.

You can visit the official Cheese Days website for a full schedule of events, but here is a sampling for you:

• The following are open Friday evening through Sunday afternoon:
  Hospitality tent and stage
  Cheese sample tent
  Children's Arts & Imagination Station
  Carnival
  Minhas Brewery
  Historical Society museum
  National Historic Cheesemaking Center
  Taste of Green County
• Enjoy the parade on Sunday starting at 12:30. Remember to stake out a place early if you want to be downtown or near the beginning. Insider tip: it is never very crowded at the very end of the route on 9th St near the fairgrounds.
• Children's Costume Parade takes place at 5:30 on Friday.
• Arts and Crafts fair is all day Saturday by the Middle School.
• Cow milking contest at 1 pm downtown.
• Polka lessons at 1:15 at the main stage.
• The street dance starts at 8:30 on Saturday evening.

Look for us in the parade on Sunday. Luis will be walking as a giant cheese wedge with Future Forward! Green County. Brenda is going to be a Swiss Miss as she walks with the Prudential Towne Square Realtors office.

How about a chorus of the Cheese Days song?


Come to Cheese Days in Monroe.
That’s the place for you to go.
Music, dancing, yodeling, too.
And a big parade for you.
And we know you will be pleased.
When you taste Green County Cheese.
Come to Cheese Days, come to Cheese Days,
Come to Cheese Days in Monroe!

Property of the Week

This week's featured property is a three bedroom bungalow in Monroe.


Traditional home with all the updates! If you love the grace and charm of an older home, but worry about updating one, look no further. This 3 bedroom home has the gorgeous woodwork and details of yesteryear, but everything has been updated or redone in the last ten years: roof, Energy Star furnace, high efficiency central air, vinyl siding, energy efficient windows & more.

You'll have plenty of room for your family in the 1800+ square foot home. The eat in kitchen transitions to a light-filled sunroom, perfect for enjoying a winter morning. The formal dining room has the built-in hutch that adds so much charm to homes of this era. The formal living room is expanded by a a clever under-staircase nook. Upstairs, you will find a spacious loft waiting to be your home office, media room, or family room. The master bedroom suite is also upstairs with an attached half bath and large walk-in closet. There are two more bedrooms downstairs. The main floor is also where you will find the laundry room, a space large enough to be used for sewing and crafts as well.

Privacy abounds in the yard, filled with an array of perennials in the flower beds. You are sure to spend many weekends, grilling out or enjoying the large patio with nearby fire pit with music in the background from the built-in sound system.

The garage simply must be seen to be believed. The two car attached garage is oversized with built in shelving for storage and a workshop area. It is insulated with hot and cold running water, floor drain, stereo sound and a wall-mounted television. The one car detached garage will fit an SUV, perfect for parking that third vehicle or storing that boat, ATV or a passel of bikes.

Don't miss this jewel of a home!

Marley walks again this year

Monroe Theatre Guild has decided to take a year off from presenting A Christmas Carol, but Monroe Arts Center has picked up the reins.

This year, A Christmas Carol, will evoke the traditions of years gone by as a radio show production. This will be broadcast by Big Radio on December 24 and 25. There will be myriad audio and dramatic effects, just like the radio shows of decades past.

Interested in taking part? Auditions for the production will be held on September 10 from 6 to 8 pm, and on September 11 from 10 am until noon. All roles are open, and there is no restriction on age or experience. No memorization of the script is required, but you must possess a good speaking and character voice and have clear diction. Feel free to prepare multiple character voices and be prepared to read from the script provided.

Need more details? Give MAC a call at 325-6700.

Property of the Week

Quality, location and style - this 3 bedroom tri-level has it all! Start with the location, a great spot near the golf course and schools. The backyard is private and quiet, a country feel while having all the town amenities. The landscaping was redone this spring to open up the yard while adding areas for shrubs and flowers. The entire yard has been fenced in with high quality materials: coated steel in the front, vinyl privacy on the side and heavy vinyl coated chain in the rear. Newer steel siding means that you won't need to plan for expense for many, many years.

Walk inside, and you will continue notice the quality. Large stone fireplaces with oak mantles, new oak trim through the entire home, Techline shelving, heavy duty laminate in the kitchen, tile floored entrance...the list keeps going. The comfortable, open floor plan flows easily from living room to kitchen and dining to the bright, south facing sunroom. There are two fireplaces on the main floor, one in the living room and one in the kitchen. Upstairs, there are two bathrooms including an en suite master bath. The master bedroom also has an attached three season porch and closets with Techline shelving.

On the lower level of the property, there is a large family room with more Techline shelving and a gas stove. The laundry room also has lots of storage with the shelving, and there is another separate storage room as well. The homeowner is including a home warranty for your peace of mind. Many updates have been done just this spring, so come take a good look at this one!

Tee off for a good cause

The United Way of Green County is hosting their 8th Annual Golf Outing and Golf Ball Drop this month. Lace up your golf shoes and help raise funds and awareness for United Way by joining the fun on August 20th.

The scramble start begins at 12:30. 18 holes of golf, a cart, lunch, a t-shirt and a gift bag are all included in the $75 registration fee. Have some fun on the links and help out the community at the same time.

If you are not a golfer, you can still get in on the fun by purchasing raffle tickets. Prizes include a Badger Football Fan Package (2 game tickets, autographed football, a Badger gazebo and more), a Golf 4-some at Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa in Galena, a Green County Shopping Spree and many more great prizes. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20.

To register for the golfing or to purchase raffle tickets, contact United Way of Green County at 325-7747 or unitedway@pecbell.com.

Skateboard Competition on Saturday

The local Optimists are are sponsoring a skateboard contest this Saturday.

Extreme Flow Run is a skate competition circuit around Wisconsin. The Optimists are running the event, and the top four qualifiers from each location go on to the finals in Milwaukee. Each skater gets two one minutes runs. Judges will look at consistency, use of park, difficulty of tricks and style.

Saturday's event takes place at Honey Creek Skate Park. Registration begins at 10 am, and the skaters get started at 11 am.

Come out to see some talented local skaters and cheer them on! Food will be provided all day from the Optimists.

Many thanks to our local Optimist International clubs. They do so much for local youth - really putting the money raised by those cheese curd (Morning Optimists) and cookies (Noon Optimists) to good use.

Things to do around Monroe, WI

~ Take a tour of the old world at the annual Amish Quilt Auction. Bid on hundreds of handmade quilts, Amish made furniture, collectibles, and even horse implements. Bake sale and hand made ice cream made with a diesel engine featured. The auction is on Saturday at the Amish Schoolhouse - corner of Hwy. 104 and Atkinson Rd.

~ Turn your trip to the auction into an adventure. Bicycle there by joining the ride sponsored by Bombay Bicycle Club, and the Earth Rider van will bring your purchases back for you. Meet at Earth Rider in Brodhead at 8:00am for the ride. Pace 12-14 mph; Distance: 24 miles; Route: Moderate.

~ Come to New Glarus on Saturday to celebrate the 108th Anniversary of the New Glarus Fire Department. This fundraising event will feature bucket brigades, water fights, children's activities and live music. There will be food stands throughout the day, and there is a steak fry in the evening.

~ If you are experimenting with gardening this year and are curious about how to put up your bounty for winter, consider attending the food preservation workshop sponsored by UW Extension. This one day workshop is from 9 am to 3 pm at Pecatonica High School in Blanchardville. There is a $25 per person charge that includes preservation publications that you will be able to take home. Contact Bridget Mouchon at 328-9440 to register.

~ Fore! Join the YPs of Green County for their annual golf outing this Friday. Registration is required, so get over to their website to print out the form and get it in. $45 per person includes 9 holes at the Monroe County Club, beer on the course, and dinner. Tee time is 5:30.

~ The Green County Entrepreneurs Monday at 6:30 PM at the AmericInn Lodge conference room in Monroe. This month's speakers is Kate Walker from the Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation.

~ The free outdoor movie in Cedarville this Friday evening is "Calamity Jane". The movie starts at dusk, and there will be series of shorts in addition to the main feature.

~ Downtown Freeport will be happening this weekend. Friday evening is Brats, Beer & Blues at the Freeport Art Museum. Saturday, it is Cruise Night. Classic cars will fill the downtown lots. Starting at 7, the drivers can cruise around downtown Freeport as the roads closed to other traffic. Spectators line the street light a parade to enjoy the show. There is also a burnout contest, winners judged by applause and amount of smoke.

~ Don't forget about the great farmers markets happening in the region: Monroe, Monticello, Paoli, Belleville, Orangeville, Lena... Come out, meet your producer and get some great food straight from the source.

Property of the Week

This week's featured property is a Cape Cod home in Monroe.


This adorable Cape Cod in excellent condition is waiting for you!

Clean and bright, this home has 4 bedrooms with gable nooks, 1.5 bathrooms, hardwood floors, an eat-in kitchen, dining room and a spacious living room.

The newer roof, Energy Star furnace, central air and water heater means all you need to do is bring in your furniture and start living. Great location by hospital, a garage and a nice yard to boot. Home warranty included for your peace of mind.

Don't miss this one!

Helping local disaster victims

Our hearts go out to all the victims of the recent flooding in northern Illinois. Brenda's sister lives in Pearl City, and we have been hearing first hand about the flood conditions there.

We would strongly encourage all in the area to do what they can to help out. The Northwest Illinois chapter of the American Red Cross is operating two shelters and responding to needs in the area. Donations to that organization is always helpful.

Unfortunately, we have been unable to find a comprehensive list of volunteer needs and contact information online, but the basics certainly apply. Food to the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Contact local churches for volunteer opportunities. Call your local city hall to inquire about volunteer needs. Try calling the Freeport Housing Authority to see if they have opportunities for people with construction skills to help out. Clothing and household items will be needed for those who have been devastated by the flooding and lack adequate insurance.

An afternoon spent helping others, a bag full of food, a few clothes that you don't wear often, that rarely used kitchen appliance that you received as a wedding gift, the spare bed that was left behind after the kids moved out - all of these are pretty minor in the long run, but could make a world of difference in the life of someone else in our area.

For residents who are working to clean up after the flood, we encourage you to read the safety information from the Stephenson County Health Department before you begin.

Free Clothing Exchange this week

If you are cleaning out the closets in preparation for fall or if your family could use a little help with back to school shopping this year, the Free Clothing Exchange happening this Saturday at St Victor's in Monroe could be just the thing for you.

Sponsored by the Catholic Daughters of America, Grace Lutheran Church, Hope Evangelical Free Church and community member, the Free Clothing Exchange is looking for people who need help this preparing for this fall and winter, people who have clothing to donate or both.

The Free Clothing Exchange will operate on a simple honor system...donate what you can, visit to obtain what your children need, try to keep the room orderly.

Come browse for clothing from 8 am to 1 pm this week Saturday at St Victor School in Monroe (1416 20th Ave). You do not need to donate in order to attend as a consumer. All items are free to those Shopping for their families. It would be helpful for you to bring your own bags/boxes/laundry baskets for your items.

If you are able to donate, the following items are needed are needed in size infant through adult:

Shoes/Boots/Snow boots/Tennis Shoes
Coats: Fall & Winter
Hats & Mittens & Snow pants
Socks/Under garments/Tights
Shirts
Pants/Jeans
Sweatshirts/Pants
Tote bags/Backpacks/Duffle Bags/Pencil Cases
Scout Uniforms
New School Supplies

Items being accepted are to be clean and without stains. Footwear should be new or with light wear.

Items donated can be dropped off at St. Victor School, 1416 20th Avenue, Monroe WI on Friday, July 23 1 to 3 PM & 5 to 7 PM, or Saturday, July 24 Morning 10 AM to Noon. If you have items to donate, but cannot drop off at these times, email CourtMazzuchelli@luckymail.com or phone Susan at 608-851-9137 to arrange a pick time and site. At the end of the day, anything useful that remains will be boxed and donated to various other programs in need, St. Vincent De Paul, Easter Seals, or other charities.

Volunteers are also needed for this one day event. If you can help out, please contact CourtMazzuchelli@luckymail.com or phone Susan at 608-851-9137.

How effective is print advertising?

I was working on a continuing education class today when I found a nugget of information that was too startling not to share.

Before I share the statistic, let me share a little background. Whenever Luis and I list a house, we always talk with the potential seller regarding print advertising. We do pretty much no print advertising. There is a reason for this. Three years ago, we did quite a lot. However, we decided to keep some statistics ourselves on the return on investment for our print advertising. Care to guess what that return was?

ZERO

It was rather surprising and sobering, and we consequently discontinued doing print advertisements for ourselves and special ads for our properties. We warn our sellers that we do not do prints ads for this reason. Buyers are not looking for homes in the paper; only the sellers look there. We don't even have a good return on open house advertising in print. At the last two open houses we hosted, one had zero percent attendance because of the print ad run by our broker and the other had only one couple out of six list "paper" as how they heard about the open house.

So, today when I found the following statistic, it both surprised me and made perfect sense.

More buyers found the home they actually purchased from a yard sign rather than from an advertisement in a home magazine.

1%of buyers found the home they bought through a home magazine. 14% found the home they bought through the yard sign.

It is interesting food for thought for home sellers, is it not?

Property of the Week

Time to move on up? Here is the perfect home for a growing family. Expand your living space with the finished lower level family room and wet bar or move outdoors to enjoy the 24x18' cement patio with 6' privacy fence and the yard. This 3 bedroom ranch has had updates to kitchen and bathroom, plus the Energy Star furnace, air conditioner and water heater are all just 5 years old. Come take a look today!

Annual Monroe Arts Center Photo Contest

Local shutterbugs, it is time once again for the annual Monroe Arts Center Photography Contest and Exhibit.

Everyone is welcome to enter, and there are two classifications this year, Junior (under 18) and Adult. This year’s contest and exhibit will feature three categories, which are Landscape, Portraits, and Unclassified.

Participants may enter no more than two categories and a total of two photographs. All photographs must have been taken after January 1, 2009. They must be a minimum of 8 x 10, a maximum of 16 x 20, and must be framed and suitable for hanging in MAC’s Frehner Gallery. The entry fee for this contest is $20 per photographer and the deadline to enter is Friday August 20, 2010. Participants are not required to be Wisconsin residents.

Photographs entered in this contest will be on exhibit in the MAC Frehner Gallery from September 3 through September 24. An opening reception and awards presentation for this exhibit is scheduled for Friday September 3 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Monroe Arts Center Frehner Gallery. First, second, and third place ribbons will be given in each Category and Classification based on merit and number of entrants. Cash awards for the Adult Classification are $125-for Best of Show, $75-1st Runner-up, and $50-2nd Runner-up, and cash awards for the Junior Classification are $50-Best of Show, $30-1st Runner-up, and $20-2nd Runner-up.

For Photography Contest entry forms or additional information contact the Monroe Arts Center office at 608-325-5700

Did you get these chain emails?

There have been a couple email rumors going around regarding new federal legislation and the potential consequences for home owners. We thought it would be helpful to address these issues on our blog today.

Rumor: The new federal health care bill requires an additional 4% transfer tax on homes sold.

Fact: The new federal health care bill has a 3.8% Medicare tax for some high-income households with net investment income.

Starting in 2013, this tax applies only home households with adjusted gross incomes of over $250,000 and would only be charged on home-sale proceeds that exceed the capital gains exclusion of $500,000. If filing individually, these figures change to incomes over $200,000 and home sale proceeds over $250,000.


Rumor: The energy bill that Congress is working on would require home sellers to obtain an energy audit or make energy retrofits before selling.

Fact: The bill as written at this point would require new construction to be energy-labeled, but it does not allow states to require new ratings when the homes are sold.

FactCheck.org did a nice job answering this question with references on their website earlier this year.

If you come across any other rumors about these issues or others regarding changing rules for selling or buying a home, please ask our Facebook page, leave a comment, or drop us an email. We will check into it for you. We are here to help with all types of real estate questions here in the Green County area.

Things to Do Around Monroe

Such choices this weekend!

~ The Cedarville Historical Society is showing a free outdoor classic movie this Friday evening at dusk. View "Comin' Round the Mountain", a Bud Abbott and Lou Costello comedy as to main feature, and selected shorts will be shown before it. Popcorn, soda and candy available at 1950s prices.

~ Get out the bikes again for another Bike the Badger Trail Explorers Ride. The group will leave Freeport and bike to Monticello on Saturday. Join the Friends of the Badger Trail on this 46 mile ride, and complete one leg of the trail for this year's Bike the Badger patch.

~ If that ride is too advanced, consider the Smart Cycling for Trail Users, also sponsored the the Friends of the Badger Trail. Get the confidence you need to ride safely and legally on recreational trails and roads. The course covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques.
Recommended for adults and children above age 14. Register by calling 608-897-8300 and bring your bicycle and helmet to the class. The class is free but a State trail pass ($4) is required.

~ It is Christmas in July on Monroe's Downtown Square this Friday through Sunday. There will special sales, decorations, snow and music.

~ ~ The Stephenson County Fair is going on all weekend at the fairgrounds in Freeport. From 4-H judging to grandstand events and demolition derbies, all the classics are here. Are you up for something special? Participate in the American Barnstormers Flying Circus! The vintage New Standard D25 can hold up to four passengers (plus the pilot) and is perfect for a family flying adventure - there is no minimum age for flying. Go all out and sign up for the Stearman flight. This is a trainer plane, and for 30 minutes, the passenger will be able to fly. The pilot will handle take off and landing, but once in the air, the flying is up to you. No flying experience is required. Interested? Call 863-899-4322 to sign up.

~ Calling all Pink Ladies and T-Birds! Grease is playing at Highland Community College this week and next on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

~ It is Bastille Day in Belleville this Saturday. Who knew we celebrated that here in Green County? The day is full of family events: K-12 talent show, live music, tours of the tunnel, wine and cheese tasting and more. The event starts at 11 am with the live music running from 3-10 pm.

~ Tret Fure is playing at the Monroe Arts Center this Saturday evening at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $17-25 and can be purchased through the MAC box office.

~ There are many other options to enjoy live music all over the area this weekend. Baumgartners, Tofflers, Turner Hall, and New Glarus Hotel will all feature bands this weekend. Brodhead also has their Twilight Music in the Park Sunday at dusk.

~ There is a concert and dinner at the Piazza this Saturday evening. The Piper Road Spring Band will play bluegrass starting at dusk. The potluck theme is Call Any Vegetable, and the potluck starts around 6:30. This is a pass the hat event with a recommended contribution of $10-15. If you haven't been to a concert at this country estate yet, give us a call and we can walk you through the details. Piazza concerts are magical.

Have a great weekend in Cheese Country!

Property of the Week

This week's featured property is a commercial building in Monroe, Wisconsin.

Here is your chance to own a piece of Monroe’s history dating back to circa 1865.

The historic Lanz Building is a rare property with over 14,000 square feet on 3 levels located on corner lot in Downtown Monroe. This location is ideal for your business or non-profit, a well traveled corner between Turner Hall and the Square. There is newer electrical, 16” solid masonry walls, exposed brick walls, 11’ ceilings on main floor and 9’ ceilings in basement. The building is loading dock capable, and there is underground parking available. For your customers or employees, there is plenty of parking available thanks to street parking on two sides and a large public lot to the rear.

This building is easily divided inside with multiple exterior access points. Whatever you are thinking - restaurants, retail space, art gallery, museum, office spaces or anything else - this space is wide open and waiting for someone with a vision.

Congratulations!

Congratulations on becoming the newest owner of a building in
Monroe's Historic Downtown, Faustino!

Marc, congratulations on selling your building, and best of
luck with your next endeavor!

It was great to work with both of you.

Whether you are hoping to sell something like Marc or are looking to purchase just the right property like Faustino, give Brenda or Luis a call or check out our website to send us a message. We are here to help with all of your real estate needs in the Green County area.

June 2010 Green Cty Wi Real Estate Market report

Regarding the number of single family homes that sold in Green County in June of 2010:

• 29 homes sold in June of 2010,
• The homes were on the market for an average of 106 days,
  
• The average sale price was $143,386,
  
• The median sale price was $128,000,
  
• The highest priced property sold was $322,000,
  
• The lowest priced property sold was $27,000.

Let's compare with June of 2009:

• 32 homes sold in June of 2009,
• The homes were on the market for an average of 159 days,
• The average sale price was $148,459,
• The median sale price was $140,957,
  
• The highest priced property sold was $375,900,
  
• The lowest priced property sold was $43,000.

Many of the numbers are holding steady against this month last year, but it is great to see that the average days on market is significantly lower again.

Six homes in the over $200,000 price range sold last month. Considering how hard this price range was hit during the last year and a half, it is good to see some signs of life in the higher priced market.

Property of the Week

This week's featured property is a 10 acre parcel of land in between Argyle and Blanchardville.



No covenants! This 10 acre lot near Yellowstone State Park and Yellowstone Golf Course will be the perfect place to build your dream. Plan your home to enjoy the long views of the countryside. The lay of the land will accommodate a walk-out if you like, and all utilities are at the road.

Congratulations

Congratulations on your first home, Cori! We hope that you will spend many happy years there.

If you dream of a photo of standing in front of your first home in the Monroe, WI area, give Brenda or Luis a call or check out our website to send us a message. We will be happy to work with you to help you find just the right home, whether it is your first home or if you are upsizing or downsizing.

Open House

Stop in between 5 and 7 pm this evening to view this lovely home at 1610 16th Ave in Monroe.

Traditional home with all the updates! If you love the grace and charm of an older home, but worry about updating one, look no further. This 3 bedroom home has the gorgeous woodwork and details of yesteryear, but everything has been updated or redone in the last ten years: roof, Energy Star furnace, high efficiency central air, vinyl siding, energy efficient windows & more.

You'll have plenty of room for your family in the 1800+ square foot home. The eat in kitchen transitions to a light-filled sunroom, perfect for enjoying a winter morning. The formal dining room has the built-in hutch that adds so much charm to homes of this era. The formal living room is expanded by a a clever under-staircase nook. Upstairs, you will find a spacious loft waiting to be your home office, media room, or family room. The master bedroom suite is also upstairs with an attached half bath and large walk-in closet. There are two more bedrooms downstairs. The main floor is also where you will find the laundry room, a space large enough to be used for sewing and crafts as well.

Privacy abounds in the yard, filled with an array of perennials in the flower beds. You are sure to spend many weekends, grilling out or enjoying the large patio with nearby fire pit with music in the background from the built-in sound system.

The garage simply must be seen to be believed. The two car attached garage is oversized with built in shelving for storage and a workshop area. It is insulated with hot and cold running water, floor drain, stereo sound and a wall-mounted television. The one car detached garage will fit an SUV, perfect for parking that third vehicle or storing that boat, ATV or a passel of bikes.

Don't miss this jewel of a home!

Things to Do around Monroe July 4th Weekend

~ Fireworks time here in Green County! If you are looking for a real hometown celebration, you are in the right place.

• Monroe's celebration takes place on Sunday at Twining Park. There will be events throughout the day including a soccer tournament, little league games, wagon rides and concerts. Concessions are available. The big event takes place as soon as it is dark, about 9:30 most years.
• Brodhead celebrates with a parade and culminates with a fireworks display E Third Ave, the south side of the city behind McDonalds. There is also a concert at the Veteran's Memorial Park at 6:30 featuring Lou and Peter Berryman.
• Why pick and choose? Monticello lets you visit some of the other area displays on the Fourth, then does their display on Saturday, July 10th, shooting form the island on the lake at Hwy 60 and Hwy F.
• Shullsburg does their display on July 4 starting at 9:45 p.m. in Badger Park.

~ Need a quick dinner tonight? Grab something from the Pork Producers annual event at the SLICE. Dine in or carry out available.

~ The Green County Garden Club meets at Zwingli Church on Thursday to learn about and discuss container water gardening.

~ The Monroe Arts Center hosts a new 2-person exhibit starting on Thursday. Mineral Point, Wisconsin artists Carole Spelic' and Richard Moninski, explore the art of textiles in this exhibit in Frehner Gallery.

~ See some of the relics of Green County's agricultural heritage in the 8 Miles of Ag-tiques event this weekend. Hwy 69 from Monroe to Orangeville will be lined with different stops featuing different types of tractors and other agricultural relics. John Deere, Oliver, International Harvester, Massy-Harris, Minneaplis-Moline, Allis Chalmers - if these names mean anything to you, you might find this annual event fascinating. Come and see the bits of history at these free events.

~ "...that start with 'T' and that rhymes with 'P' and that stands for POOL." Come see Harold Hill, Marian and all the rest at Monroe Theatre Guild's performance of "The Music Man". Opening night is Friday evening, and there is a matinee performance on Saturday. If this weekend doesn't work, there are performances next week from Thursday through Sunday as well. Tickets are available through the MTG Box Office or at the door. $10 members, $12 non-members, children and seniors $8. All children under 12 are FREE with a paid adult at any matinee performance!

Things to do around Monroe this week

~ Stop by the Historic Cheesemaking Center at 4 pm for the groundbreaking for their newest addition: a farmstead cheese plant that is being restored after sitting dormant for nearly 100 years. This is an exciting addition to the Center, and should be ready to host live demonstrations of cheesemaking in the late 1800 to early 1900s later this year.

~ Bring your picnic dinner and lawn chair to Monroe's Downtown Square on Thursday evening for the Concert on the Square. Spare Time Bluegrass Band is playing this time, with the music starting at 6:30. If you prefer not to pack your own dinner, order a boxed supper from one of the Downtown restaurants. There will be a beer garden raising funds for the Green County Humane Society.

~ This weekend is the Heidi Festival in New Glarus. The festivities get underway on Friday and run through Sunday. Grab a meal at the Lions Club BBQ or the Taste of New Glarus, browse the arts and crafts fair or local merchants, enjoy a wagon ride or listen to (or dance to!) the music at this traditional small town festival. The Dairy Days parade is on Saturday with the crowning of the New Glarus dairy queen.

~ Join local bicycling enthusiasts this Saturday evening for a ride on the Badger State Trail. How does Stewart Tunnel look in the moonlight?? Meet at the Monticello Trail Head at Cty EE along the east edge of the village. Time: 7:30 pm; Pace: 10-12 mph; Distance 10 miles. Co-sponsored by the Bombay Bicycle Club and the Friends of the Badger State Trail.

~ The Friends of the Badger State Trail are also sponsoring a smart cycling class on Sunday. The free class will cover topics like fixing a flat, bicycle safety checks,on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques. Meet at the Monroe trail head by Twining Park at 9 am. A trail pass is required ($4).

~ It must be a safety focused weekend here in Green County. Monroe Area Skate Enthusiasts are hosting their 3rd Annual Skate Board Clinic on Saturday from 1-4 pm at Honey Creek Skate Park (rain date is July 10). This event is sponsored by Monroe Park & Rec, organized and conducted by MASE. All participants must have a safety helmet and pads to participate in this free camp. Ages 7 and up.

~ Children of all ages! The Zor Shrine Circus is coming to town this Saturday as well. Bring the kids to enjoy the show at the Green County Fairgrounds in Monroe. There are two shows: 4:30 and 7:30 pm. Free tickets for children can be found at many area businesses and public libraries.

~ For next week, don't miss the Pork Producers Pig Out on Wednesday evening. Pick up your dinner, dine in or drive up, at SLICE from 4:30 until 8:30 pm.

~ Also next week, Monroe Theatre Guild's production of Music Man opens on Friday evening. Pick up advance tickets to the show at the box office at the STAGE building or by calling 325-1111.

~ Finally, don't forget about the area Farmers Markets.

• The new market in Monticello kicks off this week on Friday starting at 2:30. The Sugar River Market will take place on Tuesday and Fridays through October from 2:30 to 6:30 across from Lake Montesian.
  
• The Monroe Market on the Square takes place on Wednesdays from 2 to 5:30 pm and Saturdays from 8 until 1 on the north side of the Square.
  
• Belleville's Farmer's Market opened last weekend. It is in the library park on Wednesdays from 2 to 6 and Saturdays from 8 until noon.
• The market in Darlington is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am until 7 pm at the fair grounds.
• The Paoli market opens in June, and takes place in the park on Wednesdays from 3 until 6 and Saturdays from 9 until 1.
  

Property of the Week

This week's featured property is a brick home in Monroe.


They don't make homes like this anymore! This home is classic perfection inside and out.

A full brick Colonial, this home has 4-7 bedrooms. There are three main floor rooms with closets can be bedrooms if you need the space for a large family. Otherwise, use them like the current owner: home office, family television room, toy room. The master bedroom is truly a retreat from it all. There is a private balcony patio, a tiled bathroom with soaking tub, an alcove waiting for a chaise lounge and a truly enormous 11x9' walk-in closet.

There are oak floors throughout the home, and the original woodwork is beautifully maintained. In the living room, enjoy the stone fireplace with cherry mantle.

The retreat feel continues as you step outside. The fabulous 3 season porch lets you enjoy the view of the landscaped yard even when the rain falls or the mercury dips. It opens to patio and deck that are the ideal place for entertaining in pleasant weather.

Come see this one of kind, classic quality executive home today. Call Brenda or Luis at 214-5796 to set up a showing.

Cheese Days Parade entries

The clock is ticking if you are part of a group thinking about entering the Cheese Days parade in Monroe this September.

All entries must be submitted no later than July 8, 2010. All floats or units are required to decorate and/or sign their entry to reflect the parade themes of cheese or cheesemaking, dairy farming, or Swiss heritage.

The Cheese Days parade is a local tradition that attracts hundreds of people from all over the region and beyond. All businesses and local service groups are welcome to submit and entry, but remember that the parade committee will not accept entries that simply promote. The purpose is to entertain the crowd, so put on your thinking caps and get creative with your entry!

There is a $25 entry fee, and the top winner in each of the parade categories (Best Decorated Float or Unit, Best Use of Theme, and People’s Choice Award) will $100. A complete set of guidelines for the parade can be found on the Parade page on the Cheese Days website www.cheesedays.com. Applications can be requested by emailing cheesedays@tds.net, or by leaving a message at the Cheese Days office at 608.325.7771.

Enjoy the music

The Monroe Concerts on the Square start this week. The Thursday evening concert series will happen every other week all summer long.

The concerts kick off this week with a performance by Beth Kille. Beth has treated Monroe to some great concerts in the past as part of Clear Blue Betty. She gives a great concert with a combination of rock, country, folk and blues.

The concerts start at 6:30 pm. Bring your chair and pack a picnic supper. You can also order a boxed supper from some of Downtown Restaurants.

Come on Downtown for a great evening of entertainment!