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May 29, 2009 at 08:43 AM · Posted under Menomonee Falls
Don’t miss out on the Farmers Market in Menomonee Falls every Wednesday, May through November from 8-4pm. Located at North Jr. High Campus parking lot. Main Street one block West of Appleton Ave. There you will find garden plants, flowers, crafts, home-made baked goods and fresh produce grown only in Wisconsin.
And while your shopping for veggies don’t forget The Newman’s are home grown too and would love to help you find a new or first home to plant your own garden!
Posted by:
Terri Newman
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May 27, 2009 at 09:49 AM · Posted under Fair Housing, Pat Tasker
You have probably been wondering if WHEDA (Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority) was ever going to be back in business. Good news! June 2009 WHEDA will be launching a new program perfect for our current market.
Starting June lst, 2009, WHEDA will be accepting applications for their new Wisconsin Neighborhood Advantage program. Taylor made for today’s market chucked full of foreclosures, this program will help an average buyer (not just first timers, but anyone who currently DOES NOT OWN A HOME) buy a foreclosure property AND provide money to do the needed repairs! Only SEVEN counties in Wisconsin will qualify for this new 
loan program:
Brown
Dane
Kenosha
Milwaukee
Racine
Rock
Waukesha
According to WHEDA, the basics of the program include:
“General Eligibility Guidelines
- The purchase price cannot exceed 90% of the appraised value
- Maximum of 25% of the “subject to completion” appraised value in property repairs
- Household does not have to be a first-time home buyer
- Borrower must attend eight hours of face-to-face home buyer education through an approved HUD counseling agency
- Property must be owner occupied
- Purchase price and income limits apply ”
Other special features include job loss protection, your payment is made for you if you are laid off, down payment assistance funds, grants for repairs, low 30 year fixed rate, $1,000 buyer’s own funds needed to qualify.
Needless to say, there is a long list of “qualifiers” that go with this program. Melding those qualifiers with asset manager requirements may be quite the job, but if it can be accomplished, neighborhoods will see improvement. Eyesore properties will be repaired, and a new family can move in. For more information about buying a foreclosure, click here.
When I first heard about the program, I thought “wow!, why didn’t someone think of this sooner…actually help a buyer finance a foreclosure AND the repairs needed, in one simple loan! This program is said to be more streamlined and easier to navigate than the FHA 203K program.
For more details on buying a foreclosure or using this new WHEDA loan product contact Pat Tasker at Shorewest Realtors ptasker@shorewest.com or 262-437-5853
Posted by:
Pat Tasker
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May 26, 2009 at 09:27 AM · Posted under Wauwatosa
If you are looking for a vibrant community in an extremely convenient location, you must look at East Town Tosa. Located at the far NE section of Wauwatosa, this neighborhood is bordered by 60th Street to the East, 76th Street to the West, North Avenue to the South, and Center Street to the North (except for those few blocks where Wauwatosa runs North of Center for a half block or so - 73rd St, 74th St, and 75th St.).
Residents love the walkability of the neighborhood. On any given day or night you will see people out walking, usually with a dog or a stroller or both! You can walk to City Hall and the library, conveniently located on 76th & North Avenue, plus you can
walk to schools, parks, and all the great shops and restaurants along North Avenue. Some of the best known restaurants are Il Mito, Ted’s, the Rosebud (a cinema drafthouse) and Cranky Al’s. Juniper 61 recently opened on the corner of 61st & North and is fast becoming a neighborhood favorite also.
Many of the homes in the neighborhood were built in the 1920’s and have lots of Old World Charm. You will find many bungalows, along with cape cods and colonials. Artificial fireplaces, built-in buffets or china cabinets, leaded glass, gleaming hardwood floors, coved ceilings and arched doorways are the norm. Here are interior pictures of a couple homes in the neighborhood that I have had the pleasure of selling.
For more information about the East Towne neighborhood association please visit 
their web site: http://dvector.com/tetna. Please also check out the web site for the North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance: http://easttosa.org. For more info on buying or selling a home in Wauwatosa, please visit my web site: www.wauwatosahomesonline.com.
Posted by:
Beth Jaworski
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May 22, 2009 at 01:56 PM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
First time home buyers are out in full force these days. Many have realized that there has never been a better time in history to buy a new home. Prices are lower than they have been in years. Interest rates are holding steady right around 5%. AND, to make things even more enticing - first time home buyers can receive an $8,000 tax credit! Now here’s the catch: You MUST purchase the home BEFORE 12/01/09 to get your $8,000. Let’s be perfectly clear, that does NOT mean you need to have an accepted offer.
The closing must be completed before December 1, 2009. Ink dry, loan funded, keys in your hand - closed.
Many home owners, with their homes priced under $200,000, have already experienced an increase in buyer traffic. Quite a few have even received offers. So, what are you waiting for? 
The Kuchta’s - Kelly & Colleen, www.thekuchtas.shorewest.com specialize in assisting first time home buyers from start to finish. We can help you apply for a mortgage, tour properties, draft an offer, negotiate on your behalf, guide you through the home inspection and attend the closing with you.
Don’t delay, you don’t want to miss out on these great rates, and have your $8,000 slip away! The Federal Government has been holding rates where they are at in order to stimulate home sales. They won’t stay this low forever. Your free $8,000 won’t be here much longer either - 6 more months and it is gone forever. December 1, 2009 is fast approaching, so get out there & buy your new home. Contact us if you need assistance; The Kuchta’s - Kelly & Colleen, 262-894-6512 or ckuchta@shorewest.com
Posted by:
Colleen Kuchta
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May 22, 2009 at 10:13 AM · Posted under Menomonee Falls, Pat Tasker
If you live in the Menomonee Falls Area, you have a lot to keep you busy! May 22-24 is the annual Maxwell Street Days/Classic Car & Truck Show at Mill Pond Park. Stroll the grounds looking for treasures at the flea market, or AT treasures in the car/truck show! Even some live entertainment.
Monday the Memorial Day Parade is at 10 am on Main Street to Water Street. Salute Veterans and honor those who died in defense of their country.
If you don’t get out to any activities, please remember to fly your flag following the Memorial Day tradition, half staff from dawn til noon.
Memorial Day events continue into next weekend at Wood Cemetary, details to follow in my blog: www.localism.com/neighbor/ptasker
Posted by:Pat Tasker
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May 19, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Finally.
For months the jumbo mortgage market has been virtually non-existent. However, today I received a phone call from Gordy Schubert at Ameristar Mortgage with some fantastic news.
Gordy has an investor offering 30 year fixed jumbo mortgages ($417,000 to $1 million) at an interest rate of less than 6 percent. A 5-year adjustable rate is also available for about 5 percent.
When credit tightened last fall, many lenders either stopped offering jumbo mortgages or the rate charged made financing high-end home purchases prohibitive.
Clearly, there has been a loosening of the purse strings and jumbo rates are once again competitive. This should spark greater interest and further stabilization of higher priced homes, a segment of the market that has been particularly hard hit in the past year or so.
Posted by:
Steve Bauman
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May 18, 2009 at 01:27 PM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
Everyday, buyers search the internet to see if they can find their dream home. Most likely it is there…waiting. These same buyers, pull up listing after listing, browse photo after photo, keep track of favorites and eventually make an offer on, what they believe to be the perfect house for them. Now, as Real Estate professionals, we look at properties all day. Often times, I urge my buyers to, ‘take a look at this one!’ Sometimes they pass on homes just because they don’t like what they see, or don’t see. Here are a few tips if you are selling:
- Try to post a few interior photos, buyers wonder what is being hidden if a seller doesn’t want to show the inside of their house.
- Look at your property’s photos on the internet. Don’t like what you see? Chances are, neither will a buyer.
- If you have had your house listed during the previous season, change the exterior photos. Buyers will feel like your house has been listed for a long time, and wonder ‘what is wrong with it?’ If your current exterior picture shows snow or trees without leaves - change it quick!
- Many agents use a professional service to take listing photos. They pay for a specific number of shots. Ask if they would be able to take a few ‘extra’ pictures, just in case they didn’t get the angle you were hoping for. Remember, buyers LOVE looking at the pictures.
- Look closely. Are there people, signs of pets, or clutter? Remove the unwanted object(s) & retake the photo.
- Show neighborhood features like parks and shops.
- Don’t use the pictures if they are are too dark or blurry.
These are just a few simple steps to help get buyers into your property. If they don’t come see your property, they won’t buy your property. We always take our own listing photos, and plenty of them. The more choices, the better. Don’t forget - price it right! Need more help? We are here for you! The Kuchta’s - Kelly & Colleen 262-894-6512 or ckuchta@shorewest.com
Posted by:Colleen Kuchta
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May 18, 2009 at 11:33 AM
The year 2008 was not kind to Brookfield, Wisconsin, home sellers.
Multiple Listing Service data show that the average price of homes sold in Brookfield in 2008 was down almost 10 percent compared to the average sale price in 2007. If you prefer to use median prices for comparison, there was about an 8 percent drop in values 2007 to 2008. (As an aside, to preserve my college GPA I avoided any statistics course. I really don’t know which method better reflects market conditions so I researched and included both.)
The number of homes sold in 2008 was down a whopping 26 percent compared to 2007. The total of 330 houses sold through MLS in 2008 was down 35 percent from the 2005 high water mark of 508.
As you can see from the chart below, the drop in value in 2008 virtually wipes out nearly five years of steady, but not spectacular, appreciation. It is interesting to note that even in 2007 Brookfield prices were holding their own (actually gaining on the average side), even as much of the rest of the country was already sliding down the slippery slope of devaluation.
Now might be the time to take advantage of these reduced prices. I’m sensing more activity in the marketplace and some renewed optimism. If you have been waiting for this real estate market to hit bottom, we may be there right now.
Posted by:
Steve Bauman
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May 15, 2009 at 09:43 AM
Pat Schmidt has just listed 1655 Sunset Dr. in Indian Hills subdivision of Elm Grove, WI. Please go to www.patschmidt.shorewest.com/1077348 to view photos and read further fabulous details about this amazing four bedroom two and a half bath Cape.
Posted By:
Pat Schmidt
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May 08, 2009 at 04:17 PM
Milwaukee is a wonderful place to live. It is a city steeped in
tradition-- from its architecture to the way people talk.
After getting transplanted here about 15 years ago, I marveled at the
beauty of City Hall and the many Frank Lloyd Wright sites sprinkled
throughout the city. Something else that captivated me was listening to the
"locals" talk. At times I thought I needed a translation guide --
"English to Milwaukee-ese."
Like the first time I asked for directions to the nearest ATM. The
reply,
"There's a Tyme machine about two blocks to the north." A what? Do I
look like Michael J. Fox in search of a souped up DeLorean? I need a couple of $20s, not a trip back to when Elvis was king.
For all you non-Milwaukeeans, TYME (or Take Your Money Everywhere)
franchised all the local ATMs and did one heck of a marketing job to
make their trademark synonomous with ATMs.
Here's a few other Milwaukee-ese that will have you sounding like a local:
Borrow -- Used as a verb in place of loan. As in, "Will you borrow me $10
for lunch?"
Bubbler -- A water fountain.
Eh? -- Think Canadian. Just add this to the end of any sentence and you'll get a knowing
nod.
Flatlander -- Someone from Illinois.
The KK -- Short for Kinnickinnic Avenue.
Mock chicken leg -- Watch for this delicacy on school lunch menus. It's
actually pork shaped like a chicken leg.
Once -- Another word often added to the end of sentences.
Polish flat -- A duplex bungalow.
Tapper -- Beer from a keg.
Tosa -- Short for the suburb of Wauwatosa.
Up North -- Northern Wisconsin.
White soda -- Sprite or 7-Up.
What's your favorite local expression? Please pass them along, eh.
Posted by:
Steve Bauman
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May 08, 2009 at 10:06 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
If you are looking for a vibrant and diverse neighborhood to buy a home in the city of Milwaukee,
Washington Heights will fit the bill! Washington Heights is a tapestry of neighbors, architecture, trees, parks and other amenities woven together into a vibrant community.
The
Washington Heights Neighborhood Association is active and successful, and it has an elected neighbor representative from each of its nine areas. The association plans and carries out social events, including night time Trick or Treating, Summer picnic, caroling at the holidays, and ice skating parties. In addition it has taken on buying properties that need rehabbing and did the work to improve the community.
Block by block
you will find the most interesting architecture from the very popular arts and crafts bungalows on every block to large mansions lining Hi Mount and Washington Boulevards. Neighbors have fierce pride in their blocks and homes including many a garden. A good variety of public and private schools, parks, and churches are mixed into the Heights.
The boundaries for this great neighborhood are North Avenue to Vliet Street, Washington Park & 47th St west to 60th St. For more information on this area,
click here.
If you are interested in living in this friendly neighborhood, you will love
this home on 56th St. A mix of the classic old world charm,
featuring extensive use of hardwoods, buffet, fireplace and stained glass, complimented by an updated dream kitchen with designer lighting, and gorgeous cabinetry topped by buffed granite work surfaces. 2 baths, 3-4 bedrooms and a loft make this a great buy in a great area.
Wikipedia also has great information on this neighborhood. Check it out
here.
Call Pat Tasker today for your tour of this home and area. Pat can be reached at 414-588-4907 or
ptasker@shorewest.com.
Posted by:
Pat Tasker
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May 04, 2009 at 09:04 AM
For all of you out there who are getting ready for the boating season on Lake Beulah, the lake is ready. This year, the ice melted on St. Patty's Day, piers have been going in daily and last week on Friday, many boaters were already enjoying the lake. A real estate update shows that there are currently 20 homes for sale on the lake, in the price range of $379,000 up to $2,995,000. One home is currently under contract. And last year 6 homes sold on the lake in the price range from $105,000 on the channel to $1,330,000 (my listing). Watch for Lake Beulah updates.
Posted by:
Debra Dunn
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