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July 28, 2010 at 05:50 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
If you are a fan of Broadway Theatre, you already have your tickets to see Wicked at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts this summer! If you are not a musical fan, I’d encourage you to think twice, and try to snag some tickets before the show leaves town on August 8th.
A comment from a professed theatre “avoider” Tommyg09 said ” So all you guys out there that are just like me, and wouldn’t give a second thought to going to a theater show….this one is pretty darn good!
The Marcus Center has been “greenified” for the event, both inside and out. From the hall lighting, festive tables at private pre show parties and even the glasses worn by ushers, GREEN is in! A great way for the venue to crank up the excitement.
Wicked is the story of “what happened” before Dorothy landed in Oz. You will find out why is the wicked witch of the West green, and how the Flying monkeys, Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow came to be. The Wicked Witchs’ lineage, why Glinda changed her name and many other “insider stories” behind the well known story lines.
According to a recent newspaper review: “Though the production features lush sets and high-flying musical numbers, its highlight is the interaction between the two main characters.” Sharing the stage with the beautiful, bouncy and obnoxious Glinda, is Elphaba, the green witch. Elphaba gets her name from the author L. Frank Baum’s monogram LFB… Vicki Noon, playing “elphie” on this tour has an amazing voice and delivers everytime she opens her mouth to belt out another song. Just how they get her THAT green is a work of art!
It took 2 days and a crew of 110 workers to get a show like this set up and ready for opening night.
Hosting the traveling cast of Wicked is the Marcus Center for the Perfoming Arts, which is the home to many our our beloved Milwaukee dramatic arts groups such as the Milwaukee Symphony and Ballet, the Todd Wehr Childrens Theatre, the Florentine Opera, and the Milwaukee Youth Symphony. And of course the location for Broadway Across America Productions that lands a great show here 3-4 times a year.
If you don’t have tickets yet, call today as the demand is high and availablility for the last 10 days is limited.
Thinking of moving from the suburbs of Greater Milwaukee to the downtown area to be closer to the arts and dynamic downtown lifestyle? Give me a call, there’s no place like home, and I can help you find the place to call your own!
Posted by: 
Pat Tasker
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July 21, 2010 at 12:40 PM · Posted under Pat Tasker
The Washington Fair runs from July 20th-July 25th. It’s your chance to enjoy some food, fun, animals,the excitement and lights of the midway, exhibits and even some shopping.
I was able to check out the fair on Tuesday night for a Chamber of Commerce networking event. One of the most impressive features of the fair is the cleanliness of the grounds. With many new buildings and asphalt paths that traverse the fair grounds, it is a nice experience. It’s a nice change from the State Fair in size and feel.
There is the usual fair selections when it comes to food, ice cream, shaved ice, hamburgers, bbq sandwiches, and beverages!
The exhibit hall is crammed with projects, dioramas, flowers, baked and canned goods, and craft projects. Kids in 4H and adults alike worked on these projects for months, with them ready for presentation at the yearly county judging.
The barns are loaded with animals that are primped by their owners and ready for the judges critical eye. Being a city girl I always wondered how the grand champion winners must feel bittersweet with their big win. Happy to have won, elated with the big cash prize to help with future college expenses, but so sad to let go of the prized animal they’ve raised.
The entertainment is usually a blast from the past, such as this Saturdays show with Kenny Loggins balanced with the trendy Julianne Hough, who is there on Thursday night.
Hopefully you can get a chance to check out the Washington County Fair and enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of a good old fashioned fair!
Posted by: Pat Tasker
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July 20, 2010 at 07:00 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events
The Big Pig Gig, September 17 and 18, 2010.
The venue for this event has been moved back to its original location on Garfield Dr. in front of North Middle School.
Actual details for the event are forthcoming. I can tell you there will be more true “BBQ” for the event goers then past years. This year all of the food vendors are required to have available some kind of BBQ item. We will know more about band as the the dates get closer.
I have attached a few forms for anyone wanting to volunteer, either individual or group. You can earn money for a non-profit organization by volunteering during this fun event. Some jobs include, beer tents, token booths, parking, setup and take down, etc.
If you would like to participate, please fill out the appropriate form below and follow the directions at the bottom of each. We will then contact you with more information.
If you have any questions, please let me know!
Posted by: 
Mickey Koch
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July 18, 2010 at 07:00 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Pat Tasker
This past Sunday it was officially National Ice Cream Day. But if you live in the city or suburbs of Greater Milwaukee, frozen custard may be higher on your list than ice cream! If you are not from the area, NO, it’s not some form of frozen pudding. Frozen custard is similar to ice cream, but uses eggs in addition to cream and sugar to get that super creamy texture. At first lick, you will immediately tell the difference!
When it comes to finding the best frozen custard in the Milwaukee area, opinions may vary, but Kopps will come out on the top of most lists! With 3 locations around the metro area, it’s never too far to catch the flavor of the day either by catching it on the marquee, twitter or text message alerts!
The Kopps menu includes frozen custard from one to six scoops! I’d LOVE to see someone get a six scooper and manage that melting ecstasy! Other treats include floats, sundaes (a killer Turtle Sundae), and the jumbo Sundae of the Month. The grill menu features the famous Jumbo Burgers, Chicken Caliente, fish and grilled cheese sandwiches. Just a warning: Jumbo means JUMBO! Kopps can even deliver long distance, for those fans that’ve moved away, but still want their favorite flavor!
Kopps was family founded in 1950’s, and the legend is that the location on North Port Washington Road in Glendale (originally Milky Way Drive In) was the inspiration for the Happy Days TV series. Others might argue that it was Leon’s on S 27th.
Once you try Frozen Custard, it is hard to go back to regular ice cream. Due to the super rich flavor and calorie count, Kopps wouldn’t be a weekly event for most, unless you are training for Ironman! But everyone has their favorite flavors and makes a point of visiting on that day. Some flavors are on the menu daily, like chocolate and vanilla, others run a monthly rotation like the standards: strawberry, butter pecan, chocolate chip cookie dough. There are some unique creations like Sprecher Root Beer Float, Chocolate Whopper Malt or Cotton Candy Confetti. And then there are the super special flavors that appear only once a year! During Festa Italiana, my favorite Palermo Lemon; during Germanfest it’s Bienenstichkuchen, and on Kopps anniversary it’s Imperial Torte in memory of founder Elsa Kopp. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE CUSTARD STAND AND FLAVOR? I’D LOVE TO HEAR!
If you are hooked on Kopps, Glendale would be a great place to live! You could walk or ride you bike over to catch your favorite treat. This home is perfect for a buyer looking to be close to Bayshore, Interstate 43 or Kopps! Call today to take a look.
Posted by: Pat Tasker
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July 09, 2010 at 09:31 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
There could be a great risk of fire in your home as you read this. One of my sellers decided to have a pre sale inspection and found out before it was too late for her. Mike Wang from Milwaukee Inspection Service knew right away there was an issue. He found the fire hazard in the basement electrical box. Any electrical panel with the name FEDERAL PACIFIC ELECTRICAL or FPE should be checked for safety by a licensed electrician and replaced if instructed.
Federal Pacific circuit panels were the subject of a recent class action lawsuit. They were installed in millions of homes and many are still in operation today. The problem: the service was labeled as meeting Underwriter Laboratories safety rating, when in fact they were not safe. The companies fraudulent testing and falsified UL labeling was proven in a New York court in 2002. The Federal Pacific products in question, when overloaded, failed to trip and constitute a great fire hazard. According to the website “A circuit breaker that fails to trip is unsafe fails to protect the electrical circuit and the building and building occupants where that circuit breaker is installed. This can lead to fire, property loss, and injury or worse.”
According to Ryan Wandschneider of Elite Electrical Connections, a FPE panel should be replaced as soon as possible to avoid any danger. The cost of a service replacement can average from $1,200-$1,600, and take about a days’ work, depending on the home.
So go right down to your basement and look for the label on your electrical panel. If it has a Federal Pacific or FPE label on it, you next call should be an electrician to make a correction! If you are looking to sell a home in the city or suburbs of Greater Milwaukee, a presale inspection is just one of the ideas I will give you to get the home on the market. I can be reached at my office # 262-437-5853 I look forward to your call!
Posted by: Pat Tasker
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July 08, 2010 at 09:26 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
So you are thinking of putting your home on the market. You have cleaned, decorated, painted the home and manicured the yard. But what about what you can’t see?
Many sellers will opt to have a pre-sale home inspection done, prior to putting their property on the market. The benefits are many!
- You will have a copy of the inspection to make available to buyers when viewing your home. They will feel more confident moving ahead, after reading a report and knowing the condition inside and out.
- If repairs are needed, you can mark them on the report or include copies of invoices for those repairs. Be sure to get permits and hire qualified contractors, or the buyer will question the repairs.
- You will save some money by knowing if there is any issue that needs attention. You can get it taken care of BEFORE going on the market. Buyers hire home inspectors after they have agreed on a price. If something comes up, you can’t factor it in to the price, like you would if you inspected prior to listing.
- You have trust in the inspector you hire, not an inspector the buyer chooses. You have no control over who the buyer hires, and may differ with their opinion or their qualifications.
- You have control over the contractor and price, should any repair be needed. For example, if it is determined that a new roof is needed now, you get it done on your terms! You can get a 3 tab shingle roof, and the buyer will be happy with a new roof. If the buyer is involved in the decision, they may want the more expensive option of a dimensional roof, or a certain color.
- In the case of something that looks scary, like an older furnace, having an inspection on file that shows it has been checked and in good working order, may keep a buyer from passing on the home.
- If the home sale is an estate or the seller is a Power of Attorney for the owner a condition report may not be provided and buyers can be leery. Having an inspection report on file will relieve their fears.
Can you see that having an inspection done prior to listing is a good idea for several reasons? According to Mike Wang of Milwaukee Inspection Service, pre sale inspections are done exactly the same as a buyers inspection, they may go faster though because the buyers are not there, getting their “how to operate a home” instructions. The cost of home inspections run anywhere from $250-$500, depending on the size of the property.
Posted by: Pat Tasker
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July 06, 2010 at 07:00 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Pat Tasker
Many people dream of summering on the French Riviera, or Provence, or an exciting trip to the “city of light” - Paris. If your purse strings are tight, or the calendar doesn’t allow, you might get your “French fix” this weekend at Bastille Days in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee is known as the “city of festivals” and two of the things that make this one different than most is the location and cost-FREE. Bastille Days is held at Cathedral Square in the heart of the East Town area, and not on the Summerfest grounds like most others. This gives it the cosmopolitan feel and even features a 43’ Eiffel Tower built for the occasion by neighboring MSOE students.
Evenings are perfect for strolling the lamp lit streets, or picnicking on the grass and listing to music. According to the website, musical guests include: Paul Cebar (July 8), The Dirty Dozen Brass Band (July 9), Lisa Haley and the Zydecats (July 10) and Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons (July 11). Food vendors feature typical fest fare and most popular Beignets, Champagne,crepes, croissants and Boueff Bourgnine to mention just a few. Demonstrations are given by chefs, vintners and cheese makers.
Some other highlights include the opening of the fest with the “Storm the Bastille” 5K run that starts at 9pm, no sunburn worries there! For pet lovers, the 2nd annual La Parade des Caniches, or translated: Pooch Parade Sunday you can cheer waiters and waitresses in an obstacle course race. Old St Marys has a French Mass for a unique experience, no matter your religion.
Bastille Days is sponsored by the East Town Neighborhood which also organizes the very popular Jazz in the Park and a fabulous Farmers Market every Saturday.
The downtown location is an easy commute for those living in the city or the suburbs of Greater Milwaukee. Whether you are a die hard Franco-file or looking for a new festival experience, you will LOVE Bastille Days! C’est Magnifique!
(Photo credits: french pooch-JSOnline; Tour Eiffel- East Town Association)
Posted by: Pat Tasker
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July 06, 2010 at 04:12 AM · Posted under Lisa Rossetto-Glowacki
There is a ‘New’ way for banks approve home loans!
I thought it would be helpful to send the new loan approval Fannie Mae Guidelines clearly explained from Waterstone Mortgage. Click the image below to view.
Posted by: 
Lisa Rossetto
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July 02, 2010 at 07:17 AM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
In response to the foreclosure surge since 2007, Fannie Mae has begun a ‘Loan Quality Initiative’. The new requirements are intended to reduce the number of bad loans. The new program shifts the responsibility of mortgage guideline compliance back to the individual banks responsible for making the loans.
The basic steps for obtaining a mortgage are:
1) Apply for the mortgage
2) Bank runs a credit check
3) The application goes through the underwriting and approval process (this is the step where an appraisal of the property takes place)
4) Credit is checked again (this is a new step in the process)
5) The loan is funded
With the new Loan Quality Initiative lenders are required to verify that the applicants credit profile has not changed since the original credit check was run. Some things to avoid while waiting for your loan to be approved and funded are: Applying for a new credit card (this includes department store cards or buying new furniture on credit), running up the balance on existing credit cards and/or financing an automobile or other major purchase.
Here are the 3 things the underwriter is checking during this 2nd credit check:
1) Recalculate your debt-to-income ratios using your minimum payment figures. If the debt-to-income ratios exceed Fannie Mae’s threshold, your loan will be denied! * don’t run up credit cards prior to closing
2) Re-check your credit score. The score will be used to asses loan-level pricing adjustments. It can also lead to a denial if your score falls below Fannie Mae’s minimum requirements! * pay your bills on time - including utility bills
3) View the Credit Inquiry section of your credit report to find ‘non-disclosed’ debts. If items are found you will need to provide documentation regarding the debt & this will be used to re-underwrite your mortgage. Many times changing your interest rate & monthly payment. * DO NOT apply for new credit until AFTER your loan is funded!
This may seem like consumers are being targeted, and it will be nearly impossible to get a loan. In the end, these are things that should have been monitored all along. If these new standards had been upheld from the beginning, we would not find ourselves in the mess we are in right now. Property values would not be declining because of an surge in foreclosures. So remember, 
don’t use your existing credit cards, don’t apply for new credit and pay all of your bills on time! If you would like more help understanding the mortgage approval process, or are looking for help in finding a home or financing a loan, please give us a call, visit http://www.thekuchtas.shorewest.com or send us an email! The Kuchta’s, Kelly & Colleen
Posted by: 
Colleen Kuchta
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July 01, 2010 at 06:44 AM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation late yesterday (June 30, 2010) that would allow qualifying Buyers to still receive the Tax Credit. Under the new Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act (H.R. 5623), home Buyers that had an accepted offer prior to May 1, 2010 that was scheduled to close prior to June 30, 2010, can breath a little easier if their closing has been delayed. They now have until September 30, 2010 to close on their new home. The U.S. Senate also passed, unanimously, The National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act (H.R. 5569). This important piece of legislation will extend the National Flood Insurance Program until September 30, 2010. Without the extension, Buyers looking to purchase a home in a Flood Zone were unable to obtain Flood Insurance. Consequently, lenders couldn’t approve mortgages without the necessary Flood Insurance, and many Buyers and Sellers were left disappointed. Please enjoy a safe and happy 4th of July! The Kuchta’s, Kelly & Colleen.
Posted by: Colleen Kuchta
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