Colloquial housing guidance needed! (Madison/surrounding areas)

[Patiofurn]

Wow, thanks for the good info...and also great to hear prices are starting to come down...so a question...if the Madison preferences for living tend toward the west over the east, what about Monona? Is it the exception to the rule?

I seem to keep going back to that area because if I can afford something there, it seems like a smart area to buy in as well as a very pleasant place to live.

Another quandry...I know the winters are cold and damp in Madison...even seemingly colder there than when I lived in Baraboo years ago...but is it even worse being on the eastern sides of the lake(s) with the prevailing winds coming from the west?

And one last question: I do home repairs and remodeling...small to large projects, mostly bathroom or kitchen remodels and charge $50/hr for most all of my work. For large projects I'll take 10% off the labor when necessary...
Are these wages on par with Madison remodelers?

thanks --this is very helpful

Patrick

[off2oz]

Originally Posted by Patiofurn

Wow, thanks for the good info...and also great to hear prices are starting to come down...so a question...if the Madison preferences for living tend toward the west over the east, what about Monona? Is it the exception to the rule?

I seem to keep going back to that area because if I can afford something there, it seems like a smart area to buy in as well as a very pleasant place to live.

I think Monona is a little different because it's a city in its own right. Maple Bluff is East - but it's Maple Bluff - a Town

Originally Posted by Patiofurn

Another quandry...I know the winters are cold and damp in Madison...even seemingly colder there than when I lived in Baraboo years ago...but is it even worse being on the eastern sides of the lake(s) with the prevailing winds coming from the west?

I'd say yes, if you're outside in it. The wind whips off open areas and snow banks up where its driven. brrr.....(this is why we're off to Oz - aka Australia )

Originally Posted by Patiofurn

And one last question: I do home repairs and remodeling...small to large projects, mostly bathroom or kitchen remodels and charge $50/hr for most all of my work. For large projects I'll take 10% off the labor when necessary...
Are these wages on par with Madison remodelers?

thanks --this is very helpful

Patrick

I think you're in the right ballpark - but don't follow those thing very closely - and I'm always facing sticker shock when I call for repairs/remodel

HTH

[Chelito23]

The lakes freeze over early...leaving the east side as dry and cold as the rest of the area. You really think there is a difference between Baraboo and Madison in the winter????

[Megan1967]

Originally Posted by off2oz

nother town to consider Oregon. Good schools in Oregon. Growing town.

If you want Madison proper, there are smaller homes in great areas for the kind of money you're looking to pay. Also condos in the downtown area would be very nice.

Ummm... I don't mean to be rude, but condos downtown are way out of the 150-170K range. I've never seen one for less than 250K and they are usually around 350+++.

Really, you'd be hard pressed to find a home in that range in a decent neighborhood in Madison.

I have a friend who just dropped the price of her two flat house to 170K because she moved out of state without selling it and is now desperate to move the thing. It is a rental property in a transitional area (just north of Milwaukee Street, sandwiched between Atwood neighborhood and the S. Fair Oaks area). Not a "hot" area, but decent. It could probably go for more if she wasn't so "motivated" to sell the thing. I think that is the very least you are going to pay for a decent house in relatively decent, though certainly not upscale, neighborhood.

I think you are going to find the same thing in Monona. I just did a search on wisconsinhomes.com and came up with two properties. One didn't have pictures (always a bad sign) and the other one was a tiny, although cute house. They claim it is 1080 sq feet, but it certainly didn't look that big. Here is the mls for that one: 1511619

I just read the description for the one without pictures:
This house is set up for access for an Amigo wheel chair. Needs fixing up and has mold in the house that needs to be removed. Sold "As is". Excellent location. Good for someone looking for an independent home needing a little fixing up.

[ericamarie]

Depending on how much money you make, the inclusionary zoning law in Madison has made many condo developments more affordable. Take a look at:About the City of Madison Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Program