Web Links

Buying a Home in Madison or Dane County

Careless Buyers Making Deal-Killer Mistakes
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20071204_carelessbuy.htm
It's every homebuyer's nightmare -- write the contract, get it ratified, go through the excruciating mortgage application process, get approved, and then at the last minute a hang-up turns your American Dream into a nightmare. What's most frustrating is when it's your own fault.

Does It Matter Why Rates Are Low?
To determine your maximum mortgage amount, lenders use guidelines called debt-to-income ratios. This is simply the percentage of your monthly gross income (before taxes) that is used to pay your monthly debts
Here's a question which ought to cause some thought: Why is it -- if we're in the middle of a mortgage meltdown -- that interest rates are both low and falling? And even more importantly: HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME????????

First Time Buyers' Dos And Don'ts
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080416_firsttimebuy.htm
Working from a blank slate you must build an understanding of the housing market, determine what you can afford, land a loan and hone in on a home that's a good fit for your lifestyle.

How Much House Can I Afford?
http://northwestrealestatelistings.com/How_Much_House_Can_You_Afford.php
To determine your maximum mortgage amount, lenders use guidelines called debt-to-income ratios. This is simply the percentage of your monthly gross income (before taxes) that is used to pay your monthly debts.

Is Home Ownership Right for You?
http://www.freddiemac.com/corporate/buyown/english/preparing/right_for_you/
Buying a home is the largest purchase most people will ever make. Homeownership has great benefits. Homeownership also comes with certain responsibilities.

Money 101 - Buying a Home - Top Things to Know
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/money101/lesson8/
1. Don't buy if you can't stay put. 2. Start by shoring up your credit. 3. Aim for a home you can really afford. Check out this link for the rest of these home buying tips.

Mortgage Calculator and More
http://www.mortgage-calc.com/
We provide mortgage rates and home equity loan rates for primary and second loan refinance. Our online rates calculators help you quickly evaluate interest rate options on all loans. Interested in a home loan? Compare mortgage rates or compare home equity loan rates today.

Real Estate Continues to be THE Best Long-Term Investment
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20071112_longterminvest.htm
Real estate is the single best investment one can make. That is the overriding message builders should be articulating, with repetition, to key internal and external audiences. And, yes, the facts prove this proclamation accurate.

Simple, easy to Understand Mortgage Calculator
http://www.mortgagecalculator.org/
Simple, easy to use, quick calculating Mortgage Calculator.

Tax Rebate Uses for Buyers
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080423_taxrebate.htm
What should a smart home buyer do with that fat federal tax rebate check? Well, it's not THAT fat, but it could come in handy for buyers before, during and after the home buying transaction.

Tips and Ideas for Buying a Home
http://www.hud.gov/buying/
The homebuying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home!

Community Information

"Around Town" Community Events and Dining Guilde

Events and Community Activities

Madison Festivals Dates, Events and Local Interest
http://www.madisonfestivals.com/
Madison Festivals, Inc., a non-profit volunteer-based organization, produces and develops events in the greater Madison community, such as Taste of Madison and Madison Marathon. These events enhance the quality of life for residents, showcase the area to visitors, and provide assistance to local charitable organizations.

Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
http://www.mmoca.org/
Designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli, the museum's exhilarating new facility offers 51,500 square feet of space for the study, presentation, and conservation of modern and contemporary art, as well as a 7,100-square-foot rooftop sculpture garden. Public amenities include spacious galleries, a 230-seat lecture hall, a children's classroom, a new-media gallery, and a study center for drawings, prints, and photographs.

Madison Repertory Theatre
http://madisonrep.com/
We want to keep you posted with the latest performances at the Madison Repertory Theatre via email as well as send in special announcements. Come, visit our site for updates, performances, times, location and more.

Madison's Children's Museum
http://www.madisonchildrensmuseum.org/
Welcome to the Madison Children's Museum! If you're looking to spend quality time with your children, you've come to the right place! MCM offers a unique opportunity to have fun learning alongside your child, building memories that last a lifetime. Our hands-on exhibits and programs are designed to inspire lifelong learning through play, celebrating children's imaginations.

Overture Center for the Arts
http://www.mononaterrace.com/
In 1998, local businessman W. Jerome Frautschi made the breathtaking gift of $50 million for the development of a cultural arts district in downtown Madison. He established the Overture Foundation to solve the space needs of the city's major arts organizations. Check our site on Thursday, May 8 at 8 PM for a full schedule of our 2008/09 season!

The Monona Terrace of Madison Wisconsin
http://www.mononaterrace.com/
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center of Madison, Wisconsin, brings to life one of the final creative vision of world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. "This building will take character, and courage and vision and intelligence, yes, and sympathy with the beautiful." -Frank Lloyd Wright

The Official Website of Wisconsin Badger Athletics
http://www.uwbadgers.com/
The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison dedicates itself to the mission of providing athletic opportunities to a wide range of students and an environment in which all student-athletes can achieve their academic and competitive goals.

The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
http://www.wcoconcerts.org/
I am pleased to welcome you to the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra website and invite you to join us for a concert during our 2008-2009 season! We are delighted to share a roster of outstanding guest artists and intriguing programs that you do not want to miss.

University of Wisconsin Arboretum
http://uwarboretum.org/
Recognized as the birthplace of ecological restoration, we heal the land and restore native species. Our exemplary research and land care practices support a beneficial relationship between people and the land.

Wisconsin State Capitol Tour
Madison Festivals, Inc., a non-profit volunteer-based organization, produces and develops events in the greater Madison
Welcome to the State Capitol Tour Reservations Desk. We are pleased to make arrangements for your tour of our beautiful Capitol.

Around Town - Madison's Finest
http://theschulzteam.com/page.jsp?id=121
MADISON'S DINING ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS HEADQUARTERS! Looking for local activities, events, Overture performances or just a great place to dine in Madison? Buying or Selling Madison real estate, Middleton real estate or a home in Dane County Wisconsin, it's not just about the home. It's about the community.
PDF Document

GOLF GOLF GOLF in Madison and Dane County

City of Madison Golf Courses
http://www.cityofmadison.com/golf/
The City of Madison offers four premiere public golf courses for residents and visitors feeding Dane County Real Estate. A commitment is made to provide affordable, accessible golf programs and facilities through the use of environmentally sound maintenance practices.

George Vitense Golf and Mini Golf - Driving range and more
http://www.vitense.com/miniature.asp
#1 Rated Miniature Golf Courses in Dane County The INDOOR 18 hole "Madison" landmark miniature golf course is open year round! This course features the most fun, educational, interactive and amazing holes we have ever built. You have to see the Capitol Building and "Rhythm & Booms" in black light - awesome! Take a break and race remote control boats on "Lake Mendota" and "Lake Monona". Come play the #1 rated miniature golf courses in Dane County!

Golf Courses in Madison, WI and the entire North America
http://www.thegolfcourses.net/golfcourses/WI/Madison.htm
The website for Golf Courses in North America!

Golf Scramble Search
http://www.golfscramblesearch.com/city/23013/madison/
The best places to find golf courses and events in your area. You can even add your own - all for free!

Greater Madison Golf Show
http://www.greatermadisongolfshow.com/
One of the biggest golf events in the Midwest, the Greater Madison Golf Show offers you the opportunity to explore the latest in golf and improve your game for 2008! EVERYTHING GOLF FOR EVERYONE GOLF!

Putt.com Dane County and Madison Golf Course Finder
http://www.putt.com/courses/golf-courses/wisconsin/dane-county/
Private or Public, this great website will find the course for you. It offers addresses, phone numbers, websites (if provided) and also allows you to reserve a tee time ONLINE!

Weather and City of Madison golf courses
http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/golf/53711
Here are the closest 15 golf courses in your area. Select "Show me more golf courses" at the bottom of the list to see more golf courses. Select a golf course for detailed weather

Neighborhood Information in Madison

Dane County and Local Municipalities and Their Websites
http://theschulzteam.com/page.jsp?id=122

Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
http://www.greatermadisonchamber.com/

HOUSE OF THE WEEK

HOUSE OF THE WEEK
http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/houseoftheweek.html
Come, take a peek at the featured house of the week is the Wall Street Journal. You are sure to be impressed at the homes that are chosen and the beautiful architecture, attention to detail, location and more. Bookmark this site and visit it often!

New Contruction and Building a Home in Madison

Looking to Build Your Dream Home?
http://theschulzteam.com/page.jsp?id=107
Building a home in Madison or Dane County can be a dream come true. It can also be very confusing. Let our Recommended Building Companies go to work for you! Whether you are building for the first time, or 10th, the right builder is important. Plans, lots, cost and time are equally important for your new home in Madison or Dane County.

Relocation to Madison and Dane County Real Estate

Relocating to Madison?
http://theschulzteam.com/page.jsp?id=106
Madison prides itself on being nationally recognized as an ideal place to live, work and play. If you are relocating yourself or business to the area, the links below will help facilitate your move.

School Information

"At Home in Madison" School Information
http://www.athomein.com/
"At Home In Madison" represents a unique partnership of business, community, school and city leaders who have come together to get timely information to home buyers and relocating families about Madison, Wisconsin, its award-winning schools, vibrant neighborhoods and outstanding resources for home owners.

A Helpful Directory of Madison and Dane County Private Schools
http://dpi.state.wi.us/privateschools.aspx
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction list and directory of Madison and Dane County area Private School list.

HomeSchooling in Wisconsin - Your Reference Website
http://www.homeschoolinginwisconsin.com/
Want to learn more about homeschooling in Wisconsin? Do you need information on the laws regulating home education in the state? Do you want to connect with other homeschoolers in your area? You've come to the right place! Your best source of information on homeschooling in Wisconsin, this website offers you the knowledge and ideas you need to successfully home educate your children.

Just for Students
http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/students.htm
Hey, students! Want to find out what a school has for you? Just click on a school's name and you'll get a whole page telling you some of the great things about that school!

Madison Area Technical College
http://matcmadison.edu/matc/
Madison Area Technical College (MATC) is the technical and community college for the greater Madison area. It is dedicated to providing accessible, high quality instruction and technical experience to meet the needs of its students, community and area employers. Also check here for courses, course offerings, campus locations and more.....

Madison Metropolitan School District
http://www.mmsd.org/
Madison Metropolitan School District says that: "Our mission is to assume that every student has the knowledge and the skills needed for academic achievement and a successful life."

School Data and Achievement Analysis for Dane County and More
http://data.dpi.state.wi.us/data/selschool.asp
This database will return a list of schools or districts. Each school or district name is a hyperlink that will take you to pages where you can click on questions you want answered.

The University of Wisconsin System
http://www.wisconsin.edu
The University of Wisconsin System is one of the largest systems of public higher education in the country, serving more than 170,000 students each year and employing more than 32,000 faculty and staff statewide. The UW System is made up of 13 four-year universities, 13 freshman-sophomore UW Colleges, and statewide UW-Extension.

University of Wisconsin Schools
http://www.uwc.edu/
The best start to the life you want. University of Wisconsin Colleges. Start, continue or complete a bachelor's degree. Get your information, links and more here!

Wisconsin Homeschooling Information, Links, Websites, Blogs and More
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regional/Wisconsin.htm
A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling. Your guide to the best and most interesting and useful sites and articles about home education on the web.

Selling a home in Madison or Dane County

6 reasons your home isn't selling - #7 is you aren't using The Schulz Team
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/HomebuyingGuide/6reasonsYourHomeIsntSelling.aspx
Has your lawn grown up around that "For Sale" sign? Have the wasps moved into the lock box on your front door? Did you just receive an invitation to your real estate agent's retirement party? If so, chances are your home sale fizzled.

Buyers Not Likely To Pay For Improvements
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080214_improvements.htm
Cost-vs-value studies consistently reveal how you can use home improvements to boost or retain the value of your home, in just about any market, but not if you expect buyers to pay for them.

Does It Matter Why Rates Are Low?
To determine your maximum mortgage amount, lenders use guidelines called debt-to-income ratios. This is simply the percentage of your monthly gross income (before taxes) that is used to pay your monthly debts
Here's a question which ought to cause some thought: Why is it -- if we're in the middle of a mortgage meltdown -- that interest rates are both low and falling? And even more importantly: HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME????????

Don't Go Overboard When Getting a House Ready for Sale
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20070719_overboardremod.htm
Time is working both for and against them, real estate agents have told them. Inventory has not been increasing as fast as in the past 18 months, and if that trend continues, they will be dealing with less competition. The autumn market, which is the second most important of the year, starts right after Labor Day, so they have a few weeks to get the house ready to show.

FSBOs Fall Flat
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20071129_fsbofall.htm
For-sale-by-owner or 'FSBO' transactions in the softening real estate market experienced zero growth last year, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

How Much House Can I Afford?
http://northwestrealestatelistings.com/How_Much_House_Can_You_Afford.php
To determine your maximum mortgage amount, lenders use guidelines called debt-to-income ratios. This is simply the percentage of your monthly gross income (before taxes) that is used to pay your monthly debts.

How to Handle Low Ball Offers
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20071126_lowballoffer.htm
If your house has been on the market for quite a while (3 to 6 months), you may have already dropped your price and now you're waiting for the buyers to rush in and make wonderful offers on this now-priced right property. And then it happens.

Mortgage Calculator and More
http://www.mortgage-calc.com/
We provide mortgage rates and home equity loan rates for primary and second loan refinance. Our online rates calculators help you quickly evaluate interest rate options on all loans. Interested in a home loan? Compare mortgage rates or compare home equity loan rates today.

Pre-Listing Inspections: A Sure Sell?
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20071227_prelistinginspect.htm
It's no news that it's become a buyer's market in many markets across the country. In my area (Kansas City) there are over 16,500 homes on the market and foreclosures are up 55 percent from this time last year.

Selling a Home - Helpful Information You Can Use
http://www.hud.gov/selling/index.cfm
Selling your home can be exciting, but it also takes work. You'll need to fix all those little problems you've let go for so many years.

Selling Your Home In a Market Full of Foreclosures
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080418_sellhome.htm
Take a look in just about any neighborhood and you may find the sign of distressed times. Foreclosures are on the rise and that can cause a lot of panic for sellers who aren't in the same financial crisis.

Simple, easy to Understand Mortgage Calculator
http://www.mortgagecalculator.org/
Simple, easy to use, quick calculating Mortgage Calculator.

Tax Rebate Uses For Sellers
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080424_taxrebate.htm
What should a smart home seller do with that fat federal tax rebate check? Well, it's not THAT fat, but it could come in handy for sellers who use it wisely.

Tips on selling your house in a cooling market
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13420897/
What a difference a few months make. In most parts of the country, the days of putting your home up for sale at a ridiculously high price and waiting for competing offers to pour in are gone.

Staging and Remodeling Tips and Tricks

What's In, What's Out with Home Buyers in 2008
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080103_whatsinout.htm
What goes around comes around. Relegated during the boom years to bidding wars, over-full-price offers and new construction lotteries, buyers rule in 2008, and know it.

13 Home-Staging Secrets from HGTV
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_design_tips_techniques/article/0,,HGTV_3384_4594695,00.html
Whether you're designing to sell or designing to dwell, here's how the home-staging pros get that "I have to have it!" look - and how their tips and tricks can make your own home look like a million bucks.

Buyers Not Likely To Pay For Improvements
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080214_improvements.htm
Real estate experts say when its time to sell your home, it's a better idea to leave the major improvements to the new buyer and concentrate on curb appeal, landscaping and interior work that transforms your home into a model home, rather than the Taj Mahal.

Don't Go Overboard When Getting a House Ready for Sale
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20070719_overboardremod.htm
Time is working both for and against them, real estate agents have told them. Inventory has not been increasing as fast as in the past 18 months, and if that trend continues, they will be dealing with less competition. The autumn market, which is the second most important of the year, starts right after Labor Day, so they have a few weeks to get the house ready to show.

The Value of Successful Home Staging
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/disabled_homestage.htm
Have you ever walked into a beautifully decorated model home and been captivated by it? Did you find yourself dreaming of bathing in that spa-like bathroom, cooking meals in the gourmet kitchen or curling up with a book in that luxurious reading nook? If so, then you have been the successful target of the secret weapon called staging.

Top 10 Energy-Efficient Remodeling Projects for 2008
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080430_newhomes.htm
PATH (The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing) recently released its annual recommendations on the top remodeling technologies to make existing homes more durable, stronger and more resource efficient.

What are the primary benefits to staging a home?
http://www.zillowblog.com/home-staging-qa-with-ceo-of-stagedhomescom/2006/12/
There are several steps to staging a home. I have an easy way to remember them by calling them the 7 C's of Staging! Click here to find out what they are!

Tax Assessment

Access Dane County Tax Information
http://accessdane.co.dane.wi.us/

City of Madison Assessor's Office
http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/assessor/

Dane County Treasurer's Office - Real Estate Tax Payment
http://www.scwmls.com/resources/resources.html
This site is for the collection of Real Estate tax payments for Dane County parcels.

South Central Wisconsin MLS Information - Tax/Mill Rates
http://www.scwmls.com/resources/resources.html
Click the drop down box and choose Tax/Mill Rate button and find the municipality that you are searching.