Ozaukee & Washington County Real Estate: Wisconsin

Looking for a place where you can find just about anything at a "steal of a deal?"

Then be sure to stop in Belgium this Saturday, May 8, 8:00am-4:00pm for the annual community rummage sale.

A map of all participating households is available throughout town, and food and refreshments will be available at Community Park, located on Main Street Proceeds benefit various local community projects.

Belgium is located about 20 minutes north of Milwaukee right off of I-43 (exit 107).

After a brief absence, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development  Authority (WHEDA) program is back! So along with great tax credits and great interest rates, there is yet another great reason to buy a house NOW!

The WHEDA program is returning March 1, and there are a few different options available to buyers.

The WHEDA Fannie Mae Advantage requires less of a down payment and eliminates some typical mortgage fees. This results in you getting a more affordable 30-year fixed rate loan product.

The Wisconsin Neighborhood Advantage Program loan is only available in Brown, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, and Rock counties for a limited time and is intended for foreclosed and vacant single-family properties. The loan can also be used to finance limited home repairs.

The WHEDA Home Improvement Advantage loan is offered to WHEDA homeowners only to complete a maximum of $10,000 in home repairs.

Purchases in Ozaukee and Washington counties are not confined to first-time buyers. The income & purchase price limits are:

1-2 member household income $73,000
3+ member household income $89,000
Purchase price limit $285,000

You can find more detailed information at wheda.com.

Todd Pruett, a resident of West Bend, Wisconsin, learned in August 2009 that he has a blood disorder called MDS, which is a precursor to leukemia. His bone marriow cannot produce healthy blood cells, and as a result, he needs a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor.

A Marrow Donor Registration drive will be held Friday, February 5, 3:00pm-6:00pm and Saturday, February 6, 11:00am-3:00pm, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1044 S. Silverbrook Drive in West Bend.

You can get more information by contacting:

Chaplain Vince Marolla 262-323-6189

Todd Coleman 866-702-HOPE (4673)

todd.coleman@bcw.edu

You can also visit Todd's website at doit4pruett.com

Thank you for your consideration.

Seems like there's been an awful lot of heavy sighs the past few days with the cooler temps and strong winds that have found their way to southeastern Wisconsin.

Yes, it is officially Autumn, and while that means the lazy hazy days of Summer 2009 are behind us, it also means the colorful paintings of fall are all around us.

So in the busyness of everyday life, be sure to take some time to slooooow down and look around you. From your back yard, to neighborhood parks, to Holy Hill, soak in and marvel at the reds, oranges, and yellows that cover our trees. This beauty only hangs around (literally) for a few short weeks. Don't let another autumn pass you by without taking notice.

Want to know where the colors are at their peak? Check out this web site: Wisconsin Fall Color Report

Enjoy..........

Like everyone else, I can't believe we're already at the end of the first week of August! And yet in the midst of summer activities -- baseball games, biking, parties, festivals, fairs, cookouts -- I've seen my real estate sales hold pretty steady over July. You can see from the graphs below, that the same can be said about Ozaukee and Washington counties, as well.

Overall inventory is still plentiful, and interest rates continue to stay below 6%. This is still a great time to buy a house or condo, especially for first-time buyers who qualify for the $8000 credit. Remember, though, that you must close by November 30, 2009.

Opportunity is knocking...are you going to answer the door?