September 09, 2011 at 03:21 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Three years from now as you are having one of your famous parties some of your friends will want to hear the story of how you managed to get this fantastic home for such a deal. They will all say to you, “I wish I knew about this house, I would have bought it.” But the reality is that you are the proud owner of this stately Nantucket home with six natural fireplaces. As the guests mingle on the lavish porch overlooking your private pool your peers muse a loud that they cannot believe you bought this six bedroom home with two offices and a playroom that is the envy of most for only $795,000. “How does this guy get so lucky?” is the common refrain. You know that luck had nothing to do with it. As Ernest Hemingway said, “You make your own luck” in other words you took full advantage of the market and turned what some viewed as a desperate situation into your own personal gain. Today the opportunity is right before you, will you “make your own luck?” This stately Nantucket shingled-styled is awaiting your approval. Click for a private viewing.
This fabulous home listed by the Kuchta's, Kelly and Colleen of Shorewest Realtors, is located at 805 Casey Drive Watertown, Wisconsin 53094.
Watertown, Wisconsin. This remarkable open concept 3 Bedroom, 2.5 bath home is only available due to a job transfer. You will save plenty money on your utility bills because this house was built with 2x6 construction, by an Energy Star quality builder. The lovely sunny kitchen offers a center island, a sizeable pantry and is open to the eager dining area with patio doors to the large deck. The family room offers hardwood floors and a raised-hearth gas fireplace, perfect for those cold nights.
The living room is just beyond the family room and offers more space to spread out and be relaxed. The master bedroom suite is completed by a delightful tray ceiling with crown molding, a walk-in closet and full bath. You will find two more bedrooms with ample closet space and another warm full bath upstairs. The lower level offer full sized windows, accessible for another bedroom or a amazing rec room and is plumbed for another bath. The back yard is fenced for your privacy, well landscaped and offers a large shed. The garage is three car tandem for extra storage. Sq ft of 1856 per taxes, not verified by broker.
December 16, 2010 at 04:13 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
A common question asked by most people who have their homes for sale at this time of year is, “Is anyone out there really looking at homes, just before Christmas?” In the upper Midwest, the question could not be more salient, too. Believe it or not the answer is Yes!
Today as I look out my office window the temperature is a balmy 9 degrees and we just finished a severe blizzard this past weekend. The streets were cleared in a day and the serious buyers were back out looking at homes. The traffic in any given home may not be the same as in late spring, but the buyers that are looking today are serious. Why else would someone tramp through the snow and look at homes unless they wanted to buy something now!
According the Wall Street Journal today, 30 year mortgage rates are at 5.06%. With interest rates so low, buyers are taking advantage of the supply of homes and the great rates. The relocation market is moving at this time of year too. The week between Christmas and New Year’s has proved to be busy in past years. The relocating family needs to find that perfect house and the “down time” is an ideal time to narrow the field to the perfect home. So if you have your home on the market, hang in there. This is a good time of year.
June 27, 2010 at 05:00 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Grumbling, venting, complaining and overall frustration. Those are just a few of the emotions felt when it comes to property taxes especially in a market when you may never sell your home for the assessed value. So what can you do? I have included a copy of the appeal process from the state department of revenue here for your revue. You need to make sure you understand what your rights are when it comes to your property evaluation. You can contest your assessed value and if the municipality does not agree with your opinion you can appeal this to the state. The appeal needs to have factual data. Simply venting about your situation will get you nowhere. I hope this information helps as you prepare to re-negotiate your assessed value on your home.
June 26, 2010 at 06:57 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
The heartbeat of my business is the lifeline of referrals. I love them as most do. There is no greater compliment on past service than a referral for future service. Did you know though, that if your brother is moving from Dallas to Phoenix that I can help too? That is right I have been doing this for years with the help of our relocation department. Shorewest belongs to one of the largest relocation networks in the country—RELO. As a founding member of this network we are at the forefront of assisting transferring families. With a few calls I can make sure that your favorite relative obtains the same great service with an experienced agent for that big move whether it is here or to Anchorage Alaska. So next time you need a trusted advisor in San Diego give me a call and I will make sure that you or your relatives, friends or neighbors get the best possible agent for the move. Feel free to call me at the office 1-888-HEY GLEN or email me at if you need assistance.
June 23, 2010 at 11:07 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Why is it that many buyers do not make offers on homes that they have some interest in? The best way to answer this question is to give you a glimpse of what I have witnessed over the past 20 years.
Many buyers do not want or like to negotiate. It bothers them for a few reasons, first of which is they probably feel they are not good at negotiating, and like public speaking, they fear the process. Many do not like haggling over the price for a home. The fear is that they will have left “money on the table” which prevents them from entering the process.
Some buyers have bursts of anger which is counterproductive in negotiating.
In a University of Washington/University of Colorado study by researchers Leigh Thompson and Reid Hastie, they concluded that the more a person can learn about the other person’s interests and desires the better the outcome for you. In other words, if you are trying to win at all costs you probably won’t get a very good deal. But if you want to obtain a great deal in whatever you are negotiating for, investigate what the other party wants and values and be willing to give it to them. Both parties rarely value the same thing.
The fear and frustration of negotiating are two factors that keep many, not all, from writing offers on a home that is overpriced. That is why it is so important to price your home correctly right from the start.
June 22, 2010 at 10:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
In my last blog entry I discussed some of the objections buyers have with homes. One dicey topic is price. Sellers generally want more than the house is really worth and buyers generally want to pay less than the house is really worth. There are several reasons why you should price your home right from the beginning.
1.An overpriced house generally sells for less than a comparable home that was priced right from the start.
2.Most buyers don’t like to negotiate when the price is out of range
If I price my house high I have room to wiggle, so why is this a bad idea? Some sellers still think that this is an appropriate model for pricing your home. Rather than debate the merits of this let’s look at it from the buyers perspective. Remember the buyer is looking at many homes and yours is just one in the “Tour of Homes”. A typical buyer will look at 35-40 homes before purchasing a home. They will become experts on pricing in a relatively short period of time. They will understand what the price point offers for “Shoulds” in a home. A “Should” is granite counters for some homes, finished basements for some, in-home theaters for others. You get the idea. The buyer will also have a list of features that they prefer in their home. This list of preferences comes from their personal experience in their last home. For example, if the buyer is from the south they maybe accustomed to all brick homes, soaring ceilings and painted woodwork. Here is a timely piece of advice I give to all potential sellers; A buyer with cash in hand, no home to sell is NOT coming to buy your home—they are coming to cross it off the list! IF your home has enough of the items that most buyers want then you will probably make it to the next step, BUT if you do not have enough of those items, then your home will be removed from the list. This is where pricing comes into the picture. Homes with fewer of the features generally cannot command a market level price. The price must reflect not only square footage, but the amenities of the house. I am not saying this, the buyers are. If you have a lovely home that is 5,000 sq ft finished basement and the home was built in 1995 and you have not made any updates to your home since then and you are competing with a 2008 home that is essentially the same size, take a guess at which house the buyer might go for?
This is the hardest part of selling homes—giving the seller the hard facts. I have always been committed to this. A seller deserves the honest truth in a kind manner of course. Think about your home from the buyer’s point of view and you will do well in the long run. I will discuss point #2 in my next blog post.
June 21, 2010 at 08:16 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Sometimes concepts or ideas make better sense if you can see the issue from another perspective. If you are thinking about selling your home a Buyer’s perspective may help you make better decisions. I produced a DVD called “What a Seller Should Know” and it is a compilation of interviews of real buyers on various topics. I provide this DVD to prospective clients. It lets them see what a real-time buyer thinks and says when walking through a home. I asked all of these buyers questions like, “What do you think when you see a litter box for the cat” or “What do you think of plug-ins or potpourri? All of the respondents indicated that the sight of a litter box was a huge turn off. Now I found this personally interesting because over the past 20 years of selling homes I have had few buyers vocalize an objection to this issue. But the buyer’s in the interview said that the sight of cat poo in the box was disgusting and they began to wonder if the cat peed and pooed in the house, while this is gross it does indicate that the aversion was strong enough to deter them from pursuing the home. Many buyers are allergic to animals and the reminder of a pet can be an instant disqualifier.
The plug-in/Potpourri answers were obvious because I have seen firsthand buyers react very poorly to plug-ins when viewing a home. Most buyers feel that the seller is trying to hide an unpleasant odor in the house. In many cases they are correct. If you have an odor problem in your home– fix it. Many owners cannot smell pet odors in their own home so it is always a good idea to ask the agent if they can smell the pet or offensive smell.
Here are a few other issues that buyers have with homes that they view and their assumptions about the home.
1.Overall un-cleanliness of a home meant the seller did not care about the house and probably did not care for major items like the roof, furnace and overall upkeep of a home. Can you see why having your home presentable for showings is so critical? Sometimes you never get a second chance.
2.Overpricing the home gave the buyer license to either write a very low offer or in most cases pass on the house. They want to make an offer on a house that they feel the price is in line with the market.
The pricing issue I will discuss in my next blog post.
When a REALTOR provides advice on how best to market your home, listen to them. We have years of experience and have worked with hundreds of buyers. We see firsthand what they like and don’t like. Tap into the resource, it could save you thousands of dollars.
June 21, 2010 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Do you know where your lot lines are? You may have an approximation of where those lines are but if you have an outbuilding or utility easement running through your yard a survey may help avoid problems in the future. Shorewest offers a service through Blueline Technologies that can help avoid these problems. Here are some benefits of a survey with your home:
1.Surveys are the only way encroachments or other land defects can be properly identified.
2.Surveys before closings help prevent unnecessary delays or problems at the closing.
3.Sellers who provide surveys are eligible to receive coverage against future claims involving property line disputes.
4.Surveys completed at the time of listing can uncover any potential problems that can be addressed before an offer is obtained.
5.Providing a professional survey can help your property stand out from competing properties
6.Great references for future projects.
If you would like to know more about obtaining a survey for your home feel free to contact me at the office, 1-888-HEY GLEN–just one more service that I can provide to make your home more competitive in the market.
June 19, 2010 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
When you are selling your home one of the requirements in the Offer to Purchase is that the Seller pays for the Title Insurance Policy. When the Offer to Purchase forms were changed early this spring, one of the provisions in the new contract was an option for the Seller to pay for a GAP endorsement to the title insurance policy. The option is almost always included in the offer to purchase based offer language. I won’t digress on that for now. Soon after the offer to purchase is accepted by both parties it now becomes a “Contract of Sale” and the listing agent usually orders a title insurance update. The title company will search for any liens or encumbrances against the property that is being sold and will issue, shortly after the offer is accepted a “Title Insurance Commitment” This is not the actual policy. The formal policy is issued about 2 weeks after the closing and is sent to the new homeowner. This time period between the issuance of the title commitment and the title policy is called a GAP. In this gap in coverage a seller technically could purchase a boat or car, use the house as collateral all un-noticed by the title company or the buyer. The Gap endorsement is signed by the Seller, under oath, which states that the seller will be responsible for this activity during this gap in actual coverage. I know you would never do something like this, but that is why we have a request for GAP endorsements with offers now. Someone abused the system.
June 18, 2010 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
The Town of Summit and City of Oconomowoc’s new firehouse has a new address—just off the Oconomowoc Parkway and Hwy 67. The state of the art facility will be a welcome addition to the city and town. The current fire station on S. Concord Road will continue to operate and serve the south side of the city, but with this new structure train traffic will not impede service to part of the city of Oconomowoc. The bike path runs right past the firehouse so if you are out with the kids on your bike you can’t miss this impressive building. If you begin your journey by the Imagination Station in Oconomowoc and head south and east the trip to the firehouse is only about 5-6 miles. We have so many great resources here in Oconomowoc to take advantage of. If you have not been on the bike path try it out—It’s FREE!!
June 15, 2010 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
The incredible event for downtown Oconomowoc resumes again this year with Moonlit Movies featuring Monster’s Vs. Aliens on the jumbo inflatable screen. The show starts at dark. But wait there is more!! The Badgerland ski show will begin before the movie. What a great night of FREE entertainment. Please bring a non-perishable food item that will be donated to the Oconomowoc Food Pantry.
June 14, 2010 at 09:24 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
The fourth of July parade in Oconomowoc is just one of the great events that offer fun, entertainment and great summer food for the entire family. If you would like to participate in the parade please contact TJ Rinaldi of the Oconomowoc Rotary Club at www.oconomowocrotary.org for parade entrant details. The parade begins at Roosevelt Field and ends at Fowler Park. There will be tons of food and great activities at the park. The evening will culminate with a wonderful fireworks display. Come one come all to Oconomowoc JULY 3rd for a great family outing.
June 09, 2010 at 10:11 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Last night I was mingling with a bunch of friends and the topic came up. “What is your favorite restaurant?” My ears perked up since finding a good place to dine is like finding gold. Well not really, but you get the point. One of my friends is a real wine enthusiast and he seemed to know quite a few of the finer places, what the menu is like and the overall cost–who needs Google with this guy around? The great thing about this as a topic is instantly you will find out if others have tried the establishment and what they thought. If only the owner or manager of the restaurants could have heard the conversation. Sometimes the critique was less about the food and more about the service or attitude of the staff. Now I am not ripping on wait staff because they have a tough job. But here is one example of how a great place can miss the mark. This friend of mine visited one of his favorite places and quickly used the facilities before ordering. There in the restroom was a member of the wait staff who forgot to wash his hands!! Creepy huh? My friend said he should have left then seeing how he is a germ-a-phobe, but relented only to find that the dirty waiter was going to be his waiter! Feeling sheepish he didn’t say a word. I would have said something. He continued on with his meal but has not been back since. That little slip- up cost that well known and well respected restaurant business. The best thing my friend could have done was to politely tell someone. How can they fix the screw up if they don’t know about it? We all want second chances when we mess up, but what we don’t want is someone yelling in our face about how rotten we are. I think that is called civility. So if you see someone make a mistake let them know. If you see me mess up let me know…nicely, and if you have a favorite restaurant let me know that too.
April 03, 2010 at 01:21 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
New rules on lead based paint removal take effect this coming April. If you are a homeowner and your home was built prior to 1978 then remodeling your home replacing windows, scraping old windows etc will need the services of an expert. The Federal Government has enacted tougher more stringent lead based paint rules that now affect us all. The regulation will affect millions of single family homes across the United States. The EPA banned lead in paint in 1978 and it is estimated that more than 38 million homes have some type of lead paint on or in their home. In the past you could strip the paint yourself, but now with the new guidelines you will need to have a professional EPA accredited firms to remove lead paint. The new rule takes effect on April 22 of this year. When you sell your home you are required to fill out a Real Estate Condition Report (RECR). Currently the RECR does not have any questions on it that ask if you removed the lead paint from your home. It asks if you are aware of any lead paint on your property. All Real Estate transactions require that a Lead Paint Addendum be attached if the home was constructed prior to 1978. I would imagine that the RECR will be changed shortly to ask the seller of an older home if they have done any lead removal on the property. As with all new rules there were be lots of confusion. For more information on Lead Based Paint and the potential problems you can visit the EPA site for lead at http://www.epa.gov/lead/
March 30, 2010 at 06:31 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Just the other day I was talking with a friend and he asked, “If there are so many mortgages in real trouble why aren’t the banks working faster to fix the problem?” His question is one that I think many are asking. On the surface the simple fix seems obvious. But as you peel the layers back one can see why this just isn’t working. According to the Wall Street Journal only 170,000 borrowers have found relief with the government’s new HAMP program or Home Affordable Modification Program. This new program is supposed to assist borrowers who find themselves underwater. Some of the problem rests with the banks moving too slowly. To qualify for this program the homeowners must be current on their loan, occupy the home as a primary residence, document their income and assets fully, and their credit score must be above 500. Most of the requirements are okay, but let’s look at the first one. The homeowner must be current on their mortgage. This is precisely the problem. So the program is stating that if you are making your payments you qualify, but if you are having trouble making your payments there is no help with this program. Out here in the real world we are seeing just the opposite. The folks that have missed some payments are in the category that need the most help. Part of the slowness is that the government continues to modify the rules. Case in point as reported in the WSJ on Saturday March 27, 2010 (click the thumbnail for a larger view). Now the government is trying to figure out how they can assist the second lien holders since they are usually left holding the bag on a short sale. The steady stream of revising rules, new programs and proposed bailouts only fuels the fire of bureaucracy. If banks think that there may be a bailout or government assistance down the road do you really think they will move quickly now to resolve the growing problem. I am not putting the blame on the banks, but the government needs to realize that the mixed messages are slowing down the recovery in housing. So what is the answer? I don’t think it is easy or palatable, but the market needs to fix itself with less intervention. Housing can heal itself, but the continued intervention has the possibility of making things worse.
March 29, 2010 at 06:41 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
For those of you sitting on the sidelines wondering if now is the time to buy that first house or trade up I would suggest that NOW is the time to get moving. (Sorry for the pun) The Fed has targeted this Wednesday as the deadline for their overwhelming involvement in purchasing mortgages. Currently the Fed is buying over 99% of every mortgage written, compared to a normal level of about 60%. The Fed desperately wants the private sector to reemerge as the principal purchaser of these mortgages. But at a 5% return it seems unlikely that the private investor will be lining up to buy these instruments. Perhaps at a return of 6%-7% they might find mortgages appealing. Well if you are a buyer and are waiting for the “bottom” of the market stop trying to time the market and get in. Here is why; let’s say you are looking at a $250,000 home. You think it is a good deal now but feel as though the price could drop another 5%-8%. Your friends even suggest that you might shave another 10% off the price. For the sake of the argument let us assume that your friends are correct. The payment for the $250,000 home with 5% down is $1,247.00 per month for principal & interest. Now if the house lost an additional 10% the value is $225,000.00 and if rates go up to just 6.5% the payment with the same 5% down is now $1,351! So while some are waiting for the so called bottom of the market they lose all that benefit from the bottom by the higher interest rates. I always encourage my clients to look at the entire picture. If you are buying strictly for one reason, that is your choice but it make not make the best fiscal sense.
January 15, 2010 at 08:27 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Wisconsin has generally fared better than the rest of the country due to our more conservative roots when it comes to wild spending and reckless mortgages. However according to a recent report by Realty Trac, Wisconsin has had a bumpier road than what we would expect. Nevada, Arizona & Florida are the top three states with the biggest issue in the foreclosure arena. Our neighbor to the south, Illinois comes in at #9 on the list of states with severe problems and the cheesehead state ranks #19! I was surprised by this factoid. According to the report over 35,000 properties received filings for foreclosure in 2009. That is up 78% over 2008 and 190% over 2007. For the savvy buyer today who buys real estate, the stories around the water cooler in five years will be, “I wish I would have bought in 2010, what was I thinking?” Interest rates are still very low and the inventory is perfect!
Yesterday, I posted an article about the remaining days available to receive the home buyer and seller tax credits. this link also outlines how mortgage interest rates will affect the housing market, after the tax credits expire. The information comes from another blog that I follow, “Keeping Current Matters”, written by Steve Harney, a respected real estate analyst. The information is timely, and relevant for today’s real estate climate. Remember…as of today, there are 107 house shopping days left! Contact me or your Shorewest agent today, to see how we can assist you with your house shopping needs!
It’s Jan 13th and there’s 108 shopping days left! Left for what, you may ask? If you have been reading this blog, you should be aware that there is a deadline for the home buying tax credits. To receive further information on this, and our Seller Forum that will take place on January 20th, please contact me.
Below is a video featuring Becky Brand with Shorewest Realtors, inviting you to a free, no obligation seminar for anyone thinking about selling a home this year. Becky reveals what information will be covered in the Free Seller’s Seminar on January 20th, 2010 at the Country Springs Hotel in Waukesha, including some statistics and expert information.
To RSVP for the seminar, email or call me at 414.975.9659 or contact Becky Brand at bbrand@shorewest.com.
The holiday season may be over, but in real estate, we are focused more than ever on the remaining “shopping days” of the “retail home hunting season!” What I mean by that is, the number of days that are left before the various incentives to assist buyers and sellers expire.This chart outlines the terms of the credits, and if ever there was a slight, and I mean slight, window of opportunity for a seller’s market, it will be between January and April of this year. April is the deadline for offers to be accepted, in order to receive the tax credits.
Sellers who price their homes aggressively and utilize the various tools that Shorewest has to offer, can propel their sale to the closing table. Shadow foreclosure inventory is expected to increase throughout the year, as are mortgage interest rates. The effect of these issues will be increased depreciation in home values, as well as a softening of buying power. If mortgage rates increase by one percent, a corresponding price reduction of 10% must occur, in order to maintain the same monthly payment in principal and interest on a new home.
This is not all doom and gloom, however. Education is the key. As a Certified Relocation Specialist, and Certified Short Sale and Foreclosure Specialist, it is my duty to educate my buyers and sellers on how to maneuver through these critical months, in order to maximize their buying and selling power.
To find out more about these tax credits and where your goals fit into this ever changing real estate market, consult your tax advisor and give me a call.
November 04, 2009 at 10:21 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
In July of 2007 the news media was abuzz with the news that one of the largest mortgage lenders in the United States was set to go down in flames. That was then this is now. The Federal Housing Administration, FHA, began touting no down payment options when the private sector realized the nightmare that was on their doorstep. I remember commenting to my colleagues that the “No Down Payment” schemes were terrible but that the government’s insistence to continue this practice was not a good thing for our market. Some argued that this was a necessary program that offered an alternative to the potential pool of buyers who wanted to own a home but just needed that extra help. Today in the Wall Street Journal it was noted that 24% of the loans issued in 2007 are going bad and an additional 20% of the 2008 loans will go bad as well. Responsible lending must be the key to a recovery and not the quick fixes that we so often run to. The government pilloried the private banks for their shameful practices, but then did the same thing as the market was disintegrating with their own agency—the FHA.
Are you thinking about selling your home? Wondering about where the market is headed and if now or next year would be a better time to sell? Or maybe you tried to sell earlier this year but were discouraged by the market and you’re now questioning whether you should try again?
Attend our free, no obligation Seller’s Forum/Real Estate Market Update to be held Wednesday, Sept. 30th from 6-7:30pm at our Oconomowoc office at 1296 Summit Avenue in Oconomowoc. You will learn where experts say that the market is headed and how to use that information to ensure that you don’t leave money on the table when selling a home.
Topics include:
Top market indicators
Where buyers are coming from
The mind set of today’s buyer
How the new appraisal law affects you
Question and answer period
Click below to hear Dan Ludwig, Sales Director and Assistant Vice President for Shorewest Realtors talk about what will be covered during the Forum.
Refreshments will be served. Feel free to invite a friend and please RSVP by calling 262.567.8351 or emailing bbrand@shorewest.com. We look forward to meeting you.
If you are wondering where summer was in July, it waited to arrive in Wisconsin until September! We have been experiencing some absolutely beautiful, summer-like days over the last two weeks! My 7th grade son reminded me that in fact, summer doesn’t officially end until September 23rd. So thank you “Mother Nature” for serving up summer until the last possible second!
Summer is my favorite season. I’m a lake gal, always have been, and always will be. While at one of my listings, on Golden Lake this weekend, it looked and felt like summer, not the middle of September. Conversely, in spite of the balmy temps, the changing colors on the trees, the fog on the lake in the morning, and the ducks flying in their precise V formations, all point to the inevitable end of summer.
In my home, fall always marks the beginning of the New Year. I think the calendar year should be September to August. September is when I organize our household for the new school year; we start putting away the lake gear to prepare for winter; there is a renewal of schedules and activities; real estate is always rocking and I attempt to start a semblance of a fitness program. My “new year resolutions” are considered in the fall, not in the middle of winter. I take stock of my personal and professional goals.
With regards to real estate, sellers often wonder if they should wait until spring to hit the market. I am here to say, “Don’t wait!” If you need to sell, now is the time. Our market is no longer a fall/spring market place. The days of putting on a property in the spring, and pulling it in the fall, are over. Signs of price stabilization and improvement in the market are starting to be noticed, however, the big market picture predicts that overall market appreciation will not start in Wisconsin until 2012. This means that the pricing games of a few years ago will not be effective now. Sellers need an aggressive, accurately staged marketing and pricing program to achieve a successful sale.
The good news, and there is ALWAYS good news, is that sales are starting to creep up, buyers are actively looking, and agents in our Lake Country office are busier than ever! As reported in the Biztimes…
Shorewest sales up for third straight month
Brookfield-based Shorewest Realtors says its booked sales are up for the third month in a row. Shorewest said its booked units are up 26.7 percent, volume is up 11.5 percent and listings are up 6 percent.
“We’re excited to see our business increase over last year,” said Shorewest vice president of sales Ted Dentice. “Our sales associates are working extra hard to put sales together and with the help of our mortgage company - Wisconsin Mortgage Corporation - close them.”
“Our offices are busy,” said Joseph A. Horning, president of Shorewest. “Plus, we’re seeing more people in our open houses. I think people are realizing that now is a great time to buy whether it’s their first home or they’re moving up in home value. Prices are good and mortgage rates are still low. Plus, the $8,000 First-Time Home Buyer’s Credit is also still available through November 30. We’ve also just launched a new Job Loss Protection Program that gives buyers added confidence when purchasing a home.”
If you are considering a sale, call me. I’d love to show you how Shorewest and I can help you realize your new year’s resolution of a home sale, a reality.
I would love the opportunity to help you analyze the market! I will offer you a free comparative market analysis, as well as, a marketing plan for your home. My job is to get you the most money for your property in the shortest time possible.
Please call me today at 262.470.2000 to schedule your free comparative market analysis and marketing plan.
Are you looking for a Real Estate Company to sell your home in the Lake Country Area? If so, you might want to take a good look at this graph. Shorewest Realtors continues to be the leader in the Lake Country Area! So please, do yourself a favor and call Sharon Tomlinson of Shorewest Realtors at 262-470-2000. TODAY IS THE DAY TO WORK WITH THE BEST! SHOREWEST REALTORS…THE ONLY CHOICE!!!
The new Aurora Medical Facility in the Town of Summit, located next to Pabst Farms, in Oconomowoc, will be opening this fall, months ahead of schedule. Poised to provide state of the art medical services for Oconomowoc and Southeastern Waukesha County , the facility will enhance the community with its services and job opportunities. Many residents feel that the influx of professionals to staff the facility, will be another plus for the housing community in Oconomowoc and surrounding townships. Not to be outdone, Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital , is undergoing several enhancements to its facility, as well.
If you are a medical professional, and would like to live in a beautiful community and work with the best, call me www.karentrepton.shorewest.com. I’d love to show you some of the fabulous housing opportunities that await in Oconomowoc, and the surrounding areas.
If you are looking for something fun and worthwhile to do this weekend, check out the fabulous project going on in Oconomowoc. This week, Oconomowoc area residents realize the birth of the long awaited project…The “Oconomowoc Imagination Station!” This universally accessible playground is the dream project of many local volunteers. It truly is a “village” project, from the design stage to the implementation of the construction itself. Area businesses and family members of all ages are showing up to donate time, food, and talents to complete this project.
As of today, Friday, they still can use workers, but are especially in need of food donations for the workers. Please view this link for more information on what you can do to help out. See you in Oconomowoc!
Are you planning on visiting Southeastern Wisconsin for some summer fun? If you enjoy taking a dip in the water, canoeing, or tossing a frisbee, you will want to check out one, if not all six public beaches located in Waukesha County.
The beaches are as follows:
Fox Brook Park located at 2925 N. Barker Road, Brookfield
Fox Brook’s swimming beach boasts a large sand beach area along the 25-acre lake. Pedal boat rentals are available at a cost of $8.00 per hour.
Menomonee Park located at W220 N7884 Townline Road, Menomonee Falls
Menomonee Park features the 16-acre Menomonee Quarry Lake.
Minooka Park located at 1927 E. Sunset Drive, Waukesha
Minooka’s swimming area consists of a 4-acre pond.
Muskego Park located at S83 W20370 Janesville Road, Muskego
Muskego’s one-acre pond and swimming beach is a great place to get a good tan or swim.
Mukwonago Park located at Highway LO, Town of Mukwonago
A significant feature of Mukwonago Park is the 16-acre spring fed lake creating a delightful setting for picnickers and all park users. Adjacent to the lake is a swimming pond with a broad sand beach.
Naga-Waukee Park located at 651 Highway 83, Delafield
Naga-Waukee’s beach is on the waters of Lake Nagawicka. It has a beautiful picnic site, lots of room for summer games and a golf course.
Beach hours are 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. on Monday-Friday and 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Waukesha County does provide lifeguards at all area beaches daily. There is an entrance fee to the park and that cost is $3 on weekdays and $5 on weekends and holidays. If you plan on visiting all six beaches while vacationing in Southeastern Wisconsin, then you might want to consider purchasing a annual park entrance sticker for $25 if you live in Waukesha County and $36 if you are a non-county resident. If you are a Senior Citizen, your annual park fee will be $12.50.
If you plan on visiting and need a map of the area, please call Sharon Tomlinson at 262-470-2000 and I will provide you with all the information you need to make your visit more entertaining.
This is probably one of my favorite lakes and it is because I grew up on this lake. It is where I learned all of my water sports. When I was little, I remember being thrown in the water and told to swim to the pier, and when I wanted to ski, I sat at the end of the pier with my skis on, yelled to the driver to begin, and the boat would take off. It was so easy to learn how to ski. It also helped having a cement pier.
When the weather was hot, I would hop on my raft and float around the lake. When most people would use the roads to travel to their friends' homes, I would hop on my raft and float over. It was a great way to get a good tan.
One of my favorite memories was with my sister, Maria. It was winter and when we would get a smooth sheet of ice we would put on our ice skates and grab a garbage bag. We would open the garbage bag and used it like a sail. We would travel all over the ice on our skates. The only problem we had is when the wind would shift and we needed to get home. There were many times we had to skate a long way to get home.
Now, a little more about Pewaukee Lake. Pewaukee Lake is located in north central Waukesha County. It is approximately 2,493 acres in size and averages about 10 feet deep and its maximum depth is 45 feet. If you are looking for a good fishing lake, Pewaukee Lake is where you will find bass, stocked muskie, northern, bluegill, crappie, perch and walleye. In addition to fishing, Pewaukee Lake is a great place to ski and sail.
Once on the lake, you will find a few restaurants where you will be able to dock your boat and get a bite to eat.
If you are looking for a beach then you will want to visit the Pewaukee Beach. There you will find a docking pier and a very sandy beach for the children to swim.
Lastly, if you enjoy shopping, you will want to check out the many tiny shops located in the Village of Pewaukee.
This lake has a variety of entertainment for your pleasure. Please be sure to check out this lake the next time you visit Southeastern Wisconsin.
Contrary to the belief of some home sellers, NOW is a good time to sell! Mortgage rates are still at historic lows. Pair the rates with the $8000 first time homebuyer credit, and the climate is very favorable for buyers and sellers.
A tool for home sellers is the "Rate Relief Program", offered by Wisconsin Mortgage, and marketed by Shorewest Realtors. This program is an incentive by the seller, to buy down the interest rate for a prospective buyer. It also can cover some of the buyer’s prepaid and closing costs.
Here is an example of how it works:
The seller commits to pay 3% of the purchase price towards a financing package from Wisconsin Mortgage Corporation.
This provides a savings of over $200 per month, and approximately $77,000 over 30 years.
Obviously, this is a winning scenario for a buyer, but it also benefits a seller. Sellers offering this can receive special marketing, an increased buying pool and less negotiation on sales price…a win/win for everyone.
April 16, 2009 at 08:37 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
2009 marks the 50th year of The Hanon Family and their involvement in Real Estate. In 1959 Sy Hanon started his own company called Sy Hanon Real Estate—“We Buy, Sell or Trade” was the motto then. When WWII came to an end Sy started a grocery store in downtown Delafield, aptly named “Hanon’s Supermarket. Business was good back then and Sy, Maryon (my grandmother) and their son Dwayne, lived upstairs in the “penthouse” as Grandma would call it. The penthouse was really just a small apartment. Times began to change after the war and larger grocery stores started to emerge. As the story goes, one day Grandpa was picking up some fresh produce and he stopped in front of a large Milwaukee grocery store and commented to my Grandmother, “Well Maryon, I think our days as a small grocer are over” With that Sy began his Real Estate career. Sy Hanon Real Estate quickly became, Hanon Inc. Realtors with the addition of their son Dwayne. Fast forward to the late 80’s and Real Estate was changing quite fast. Dwayne joined with Shorewest Realtors (Wauwatosa Realtors) and soon Glenn followed in 1991. As the number one agent in the Oconomowoc Office I look back on all the great lessons I learned from Dad and Grandpa and I can honestly say, “I love my job!” Recently Don Horning placed the 50 year pin as recognition of our family’s longevity in Real Estate. I can think of no better company to work for and that is Shorewest Realtors! If you are looking for a professional REALTOR® in the greater Lake Country Area then put Glenn Hanon to work for you today!
When we turn on the TV or Radio more and more often we are being told that the current economic, mortgage and real estate downturn may offer those of us who are paying attention, a once in a lifetime opportunity! You’ve heard it said “buy low - sell high” and “the time to get in is now. Today we are seeing low prices and low interest rates in years.
If you are looking for a career that gives you huge potential for creating wealth, we recommend that you seriously consider a career in real estate and why not with Shorewest Realtors. This family owned company continues to be the real estate brand most recognized by consumers, and the real estate company consumers think of first when they want real estate services.
Shorewest Realtors has Local training, online learning - instructor lead and self-paced. They offer classes that can help everyone, from the new agent to the most experienced broker.
Through Shorewest Realtors, you have the opportunity and the increased resources to leverage their brand name and industry leading programs to help you achieve maximum results and unlimited growth to your business.
Take advantage of the fact that you are working with the 12th ranked Real Estate company in the country. Receive the rewards, recognition and the respect you deserve.
Want to start your career? Please feel free to contact The Kuchta’s Kelly and Colleen with any additional questions at 414-651-1613 or kkuchta@shorewest.com.
April 08, 2009 at 05:26 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Okay, okay, that’s what headlines are supposed to do—get your attention. But here is the real deal with buyers today—cash in hand, no home to sell, ready to buy today. When that perfect buyer walks through your home, they are not coming to buy your home. Yes it is true. Why you might ask? Here is the Aha moment. The buyer is most likely looking at 30-35 homes, one of which is yours. They cannot buy 35 homes so what they are doing is ranking each home that they see compared to the list of items, location, amenities, whatever their list is, and they are crossing off homes on the list that don’t measure up. If your home does not have enough of the items that they are looking for then they will most certainly strike it from the list. But wait there’s more….My job as a listing agent is to assist you with what “hurdles” we can remove for that perfect buyer (or not so perfect buyer) If we can remove enough “hurdles” or objections to your home, then we have a better chance of attracting the buyer. Here is a classic example that I have heard over the 22 years of selling Real Estate. The sellers carpeting is worn or outdated and instead of replacing the carpet the seller says something like, “I can just give the buyer a credit and they can pick the color that they would like” Well that might sound reasonable, but when I suggest a color for the carpeting I wasn’t thinking of something that only 5% of the market might want. I would select a carpet that 90-95% of the market wants. Besides if it is a hassle for the seller it is a bigger hassle for the buyer. Remember we have to be removing obstacles to the sale not adding them! If you would like a complete analysis of your home just shoot me an email at ghanon@shorewest.com or give me a shout at the office, 262-567-4349 and we can begin removing the “hurdles” in your home.
Glenn Hanon
This fabulous home listed by the Kuchta's, Kelly and Colleen of Shorewest Realtors, is located at 805 Casey Drive Watertown, Wisconsin 53094.
The living room is just beyond the family room and offers more space to spread out and be relaxed. The master bedroom suite is completed by a delightful tray ceiling with crown molding, a walk-in closet and full bath. You will find two more bedrooms with ample closet space and another warm full bath upstairs. The lower level offer full sized windows, accessible for another bedroom or a amazing rec room and is plumbed for another bath. The back yard is fenced for your privacy, well landscaped and offers a large shed. The garage is three car tandem for extra storage. Sq ft of 1856 per taxes, not verified by broker.
Kelly Kuchta
Grumbling, venting, complaining and overall frustration. Those are just a few of the emotions felt when it comes to property taxes especially in a market when you may never sell your home for the assessed value. So what can you do? I have included a copy of the 
haggling over the price for a home. The fear is that they will have left “money on the table” which prevents them from entering the process.
They will understand what the price point offers for “Shoulds” in a home. A “Should” is granite counters for some homes, finished basements for some, in-home theaters for others. You get the idea. The buyer will also have a list of features that they prefer in their home. This list of preferences comes from their personal experience in their last home. For example, if the buyer is from the south they maybe accustomed to all brick homes, soaring ceilings and painted woodwork. Here is a timely piece of advice I give to all potential sellers; A buyer with cash in hand, no home to sell is NOT coming to buy your home—they are coming to cross it off the list! IF your home has enough of the items that most buyers want then you will probably make it to the next step, BUT if you do not have enough of those items, then your home will be removed from the list. This is where pricing comes into the picture. Homes with fewer of the features generally cannot command a market level price. The price must reflect not only square footage, but the amenities of the house. I am not saying this, the buyers are. If you have a lovely home that is 5,000 sq ft finished basement and the home was built in 1995 and you have not made any updates to your home since then and you are competing with a 2008 home that is essentially the same size, take a guess at which house the buyer might go for?
All of the respondents indicated that the sight of a litter box was a huge turn off. Now I found this personally interesting because over the past 20 years of selling homes I have had few buyers vocalize an objection to this issue. But the buyer’s in the interview said that the sight of cat poo in the box was disgusting and they began to wonder if the cat peed and pooed in the house, while this is gross it does indicate that the aversion was strong enough to deter them from pursuing the home. Many buyers are allergic to animals and the reminder of a pet can be an instant disqualifier.
relief with the government’s new HAMP program or Home Affordable Modification Program. This new program is supposed to assist borrowers who find themselves underwater. Some of the problem rests with the banks moving too slowly. To qualify for this program the homeowners must be current on their loan, occupy the home as a primary residence, document their income and assets fully, and their credit score must be above 500. Most of the requirements are okay, but let’s look at the first one. The homeowner must be current on their mortgage. This is precisely the problem. So the program is stating that if you are making your payments you qualify, but if you are having trouble making your payments there is no help with this program. Out here in the real world we are seeing just the opposite. The folks that have missed some payments are in the category that need the most help. Part of the slowness is 
Karen Trepton
Mary Steinke
If you are wondering where summer was in July, it waited to arrive in Wisconsin until September! We have been experiencing some absolutely beautiful, summer-like days over the last two weeks! My 7th grade son reminded me that in fact, summer doesn’t officially end until September 23rd. So thank you “Mother Nature” for serving up summer until the last possible second!
Sharon Tomlinson
The new 
Many residents feel that the influx of professionals to staff the facility, will be another plus for the housing community in Oconomowoc and surrounding townships. Not to be outdone, 
This is probably one of my favorite lakes and it is because I grew up on this lake. It is where I learned all of my water sports. When I was little, I remember being thrown in the water and told to swim to the pier, and when I wanted to ski, I sat at the end of the pier with my skis on, yelled to the driver to begin, and the boat would take off. It was so easy to learn how to ski. It also helped having a cement pier.
One of my favorite memories was with my sister, Maria. It was winter and when we would get a smooth sheet of ice we would put on our ice skates and grab a garbage bag. We would open the garbage bag and used it like a sail. We would travel all over the ice on our skates. The only problem we had is when the wind would shift and we needed to get home. There were many times we had to skate a long way to get home.
If you are looking for a beach then you will want to visit the Pewaukee Beach. There you will find a docking pier and a very sandy beach for the children to swim.
Contrary to the belief of some home sellers, NOW is a good time to sell! Mortgage rates are still at historic lows. Pair the rates with the $8000 first time homebuyer credit, and the climate is very favorable for buyers and sellers.
This provides a savings of over $200 per month, and approximately $77,000 over 30 years.
2009 marks the 50th year of The Hanon Family and their involvement in Real Estate. In 1959 Sy Hanon started his own company called Sy Hanon Real Estate—“We Buy, Sell or Trade” was the motto then. When WWII came to an end Sy started a grocery store in downtown Delafield, aptly named “Hanon’s Supermarket. Business was good back then and Sy, Maryon (my grandmother) and their son Dwayne, lived upstairs in the “penthouse” as Grandma would call it. The penthouse was really just a small apartment. Times began to change after the war and larger grocery stores started to emerge. As the story goes, one day Grandpa was picking up some fresh produce and he stopped in front of a large Milwaukee grocery store and commented to my Grandmother, “Well Maryon, I think our days as a small grocer are over” With that Sy began his Real Estate career. Sy Hanon Real Estate quickly became, Hanon Inc. Realtors with the 
addition of their son Dwayne. Fast forward to the late 80’s and Real Estate was changing quite fast. Dwayne joined with Shorewest Realtors (Wauwatosa Realtors) and soon Glenn followed in 1991. As the number one agent in the Oconomowoc Office I look back on all the great lessons I learned from Dad and Grandpa and I can honestly say, “I love my job!” Recently Don Horning placed the 50 year pin as recognition of our family’s longevity in Real Estate. I can think of no better company to work for and that is Shorewest Realtors! If you are looking for a professional REALTOR® in the greater Lake Country Area then put Glenn Hanon to work for you today!
When we turn on the TV or Radio more and more often we are being told that the current economic, mortgage and real estate downturn may offer those of us who are paying attention, a once in a lifetime opportunity! You’ve heard it said “buy low - sell high” and “the time to get in is now. Today we are seeing low prices and low interest rates in years.
If you are looking for a career that gives you huge potential for creating wealth, we recommend that you seriously consider a career in real estate and why not with Shorewest Realtors. This family owned company continues to be the real estate brand most recognized by consumers, and the real estate company consumers think of first when they want real estate services.
Through Shorewest Realtors, you have the opportunity and the increased resources to leverage their brand name and industry leading programs to help you achieve maximum results and unlimited growth to your business.
Take advantage of the fact that you are working with the 12th ranked Real Estate company in the country. Receive the rewards, recognition and the respect you deserve.
Kelly Kuchta
Okay, okay, that’s what headlines are supposed to do—get your attention. But here is the real deal with buyers today—cash in hand, no home to sell, ready to buy today. When that perfect buyer walks through your home, they are not coming to buy your home. Yes it is true. Why you might ask? Here is the Aha moment. The buyer is most likely looking at 30-35 homes, one of which is yours. They cannot buy 35 homes so what they are doing is ranking each home that they see compared to the list of items, location, amenities, whatever their list is, and they are crossing off homes on the list that don’t measure up. If your home does not have enough of the items that they are looking for then they will most certainly strike it from the list. But wait there’s more….My job as a listing agent is to assist you with what “hurdles” we can remove for that perfect buyer (or not so perfect buyer) If we can remove enough “hurdles” or objections to your home, then we have a better chance of attracting the buyer. Here is a classic example that I have heard over the 22 years of selling Real Estate. The sellers carpeting is worn or outdated and instead of replacing the carpet the seller says something like, “I can just give the buyer a credit and they can pick the color that they would like” Well that might sound reasonable, but when I suggest a color for the carpeting I wasn’t thinking of something that only 5% of the market might want. I would select a carpet that 90-95% of the market wants. Besides if it is a hassle for the seller it is a bigger hassle for the buyer. Remember we have to be removing obstacles to the sale not adding them! If you would like a complete analysis of your home just shoot me an email at 
