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Located off Highway 45, on the busy, 4 lane intersection of Paradise Drive and 18th Avenue. 2021 S. 18th office building is directly across the street from Washington Counties largest employer, West Bend Mutual, and neighbor of the brand new Hampton Inn! This is a two story 24,000 sq. ft. class “A” Professional Office Building. This new construction is planned to be ready for tenant build-out in October 2007. A second floor reservation of 6457 sq. ft. has been signed by R&R Insurance, Inc.. The building has over 24,000 square feet and is planned to have an upscale resturaunt occupy half of the lower level of the building.

Top 5 Reasons Your Business Will Grow Here

1. Your customers come with the building. The neighboring Hampton Inn has 80 units full of your customers. The Hampton Inn will be accommodating business professionals as well as the general public West Bend Mutual employs over 650 employees alone. They are in the process of adding another $57M addition. When finished, having an employment capacity of 1,100 employees.
2. Property is located in the “artery” of West Bend’s business community.
3. Other successful neighboring businesses. Examples: Wal-mart, Office Max, Kohl’s, Home Depot, Menards, MC Sports, Charter, Hobby Lobby, Sportsman Warehouse
4. The location in convenient. At the interchange of Paradise Drive and U.S. Highway 45 you’ll find most of the big box retailers. Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, Home Depot, Office Max, and the like all are conveniently located to serve the shopping needs of the entire community. 20 minutes North of Milwaukee.
5. The demand is here! West Bend alone is home to over 29,549 residents and growing fast!

View Full information on 2021 S.18th Ave. Complex

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Bank foreclosure, what is a bank foreclosure?
A foreclosure is the legal proceeding that a bank or other lender, for instance a mortgage company uses to force the sale of a debtor’s/mortgagee’s property to repay a the debt owed to the lender. One example would be a mortgage on a property. If you miss a payment, the lending institution can take the property back. They do this to get the money owed to them. On average, the filing of a foreclosure notice happens after three or four missed payments.

You need to realize that banks are not in the real estate business. The last thing that they want is a piece of real estate. They are in the lending money business. If you default on paying the money back, they will take their asset, your home, and sell it to regain the loss. The banks do this to protect the interests of its investors, depositors and employees.

If you are falling behind and think foreclosure is in the future, contact a professional, and find out what can be done to leave you in the best position. Sometimes you can negotiate with you lender to see if you can come to a conclusion that would keep you out of foreclosure.

In todays marketplace, foreclosures and home sales contingent upon a short sale is ever growing. There are many different kinds of foreclosures that you should be aware of, such as foreclosures, bank foreclosures, and HUD foreclosures. In this article I want to touch on the preliminary stages of foreclosures. The pre-foreclosure and homes that are subject to short sale.

What is a Pre-foreclosure?

A pre foreclosure is the procedure in which the lender or mortgage holder will allow a mortgagor to avoid going into foreclosure by selling their property for less than outstanding balance of the loan. This is something that the homeowner and their lender need to work out beforehand.

If the homeowners do not talk with the lender, and place the home on the market, they could need to negotiate a short sale with their lender when an offer is presented.
(Example: John has a home that he can no longer afford. He decides to sell his home in result to his financing. He had in the past borrowed against his home to purchase a truck he need for work. He now owes $244,000 on his home. Now that he has to sell, he realizes that his home is only worth $229,000, since comparable properties have been selling near that price range! If he does not have the $15,000 to payoff his mortgage in full. Also keep in mind the other fees that go along with the sale of real estate; including title and escrow fees, attorney fees in applicable, a portion of unpaid property taxes, notary fees, delivery fees, documentary fees and/or state transfer fees, and commission if a broker is involved. Now it is now up to the bank to decide if they will negotiate on that remaining dollar amount owed. Because John owes more on the his home than it is worth, he is at the discretion or the bank.)
If, using the example above, a buyer submits an offer for the full listed price of $229,000, and the homeowner accepts, that buyer needs to be made aware that the seller will be negotiating with the bank and involves a slight risk.

The buyer risks not knowing a solid closing date, dealing with lawyers, not knowing if the seller’s lender is going to work with the seller on resolving the issue, and potentially not being able to purchase the property until being put through the actual foreclosure process.

The seller risks falling into foreclosure, result of not being able to negotiate a settlement, compiled interest that goes along with defaulting on the mortgage, possible pre-payment penalties, and a large amount of stress. Also, the IRS often will get involved with short sale properties because they are seen as a relief of debt and may be treated as income.

Every situation is different when dealing with pre-foreclosures and short sale property. The biggest tip I can give you is, if you are in a similar situation or know your sale may be subject to a short sale, Don’t run from it! Talk with the people and try to work out the best option for you and your lender. Many times the lender will hold a note or forgive some of the interest owed in hopes to regain their borrowed money.

Throughout most of the state, the boom conditions in the real estate market ended in 2005 – in some cases rather abruptly. According to figures from the Department of Revenue, Wisconsin home values rose an average of 10 percent in 2005. DOR figures are not yet available for 2006, but the popular consensus is that home prices have leveled off (or at least slowed in the rate of increase).

The impact of this market change can be felt in many areas for homeowners – including the area of property assessments and the property tax bill. Tax bills for 2006 arrived in December and many homeowners have expressed concern, if not frustration – particularly if they are also in the process of trying to sell their property. Why? Because their tax bill is based on an assessed value that appears to be many thousands of dollars higher than the market is willing to pay.

How does this happen? First of all, we must remember that the 2006 property tax is based on the assessed value of that property as of January 1, 2006 – the very end of the housing price escalation. Unfortunately, there is no correcting the 2006 assessments.

Local assessors are busy establishing the assessed values for 2007. So what do we do now if we believe an assessment is too high? By law, property owners have an opportunity to challenge their current year assessment if they do so in a timely manner.

Assessment Questions Answered

Notice of Change in Assessed Value

An official notice of any increase in the assessed value must be mailed to the property owner at least 15 days prior to the local Board of Review meeting (or Board of Assessors, if applicable). The notice must contain the amount of the change in the assessed value along with the date, time and location of the Board of Review meeting. In addition, the notice must set forth the procedures available to the property owner to object to the assessment. Typically these notices are mailed in April or May, but please note – failure to receive the notice does not invalidate the assessment. Therefore, if there is concern about an assessed value, it may be prudent to check with the municipal clerk’s office as to the anticipated date of the mailing of notices and the date of the Board of Review meeting.

Assessment Roll Open Book Sessions

If possible, the property owner should always try to meet with the assessor to discuss any questions about the assessment. By law, the local unit of government must publish or post a notice at least 15 days in advance of when the tax rolls will be open for inspection. This process is a less formal alternative – especially given that the assessors are present for at least two hours while assessment roll is open. Minor errors and misunderstandings may be easily corrected. It may be a good idea to contact the municipal clerk to verify the dates of the open book sessions and determine the times the assessors will be available.

48 Hours!

If the property owner decides to appeal the assessment to the Board of Review, the property owner must file a notice of intent to challenge the assessment with the Board’s clerk at least 48 hours in advance of the Board of Review’s first meeting.

Filing the Assessment Objection Form

The next step in the process is the filing of the objection to property assessment form, again with the clerk of the Board of Review, no later than during the first two hours of the Board’s first scheduled meeting. The form itself is available from the local municipal clerk’s office. It is always best to reconfirm with the municipal clerk the date, time and location of the first Board of Review meeting, as this may have changed to a later date than designated on the original notice of assessment change.

Board of Review

The Board’s first meeting will be at least two hours long. Assessment roll and other assessment data will be available during the meeting for examination by property owners. It is imperative that the property owner (or the property owner’s representative) appears at this meeting in order to preserve any subsequent rights of appeal.

The Board will schedule all objections that have been received prior to or during the first two hours of the meeting for a subsequent hearing. A minimum of 48 hours prior notice of the hearing must be provided to the property owner and the assessor (unless the parties mutually agree to waive the notice requirement).

The Board of Review is made up of municipal officials, local residents or a combination thereof, as established by the local ordinance. By state law, the Board must include at least one member who is the municipality’s chief executive officer (or his or her designee). This person(s) must have attended DOR training within two years prior to the Board’s first session.

The Board operates similar to a court of law – receiving sworn oral testimony supported by appropriate documentation. For example, if the property owner has an appraisal that he would like to introduce into evidence, it will be necessary for the appraiser to attend the hearing and provide testimony about the appraisal. In Milwaukee and other cities that have a Board of Assessors, the process is a bit different. The property owner must first go through an informal review by the Board of Assessors (composed of members of the assessor’s staff) before objecting to the Board of Review.

Removal of Board Members

In order to preserve the due process rights of the parties, a property owner filing an objection to the assessment may request that any one Board member be removed during the hearing on the assessment – for any reason whatsoever. Further, the property owner may request the removal of additional Board members for cause. All requests must be filed at the time the 48-hour notice of intent to challenge the property assessment is filed. Lastly, the municipality must also remove any Board members having a conflict of interest in the particular objection coming before them.

Appeal of the Board’s Decision

A property owner has the right of appeal if he or she does not agree with the decision of the Board of Review. There are two avenues of appeal set forth in the statutes – one is to the circuit court and the other is to the Department of Revenue.

Conclusion

The Department of Revenue Web site (www.dor.state.wi.us/html/govpub.html) offers a number of helpful publications regarding property taxes and the assessment process that can be downloaded or ordered, including the “Guide for Property Owners” – an excellent booklet of questions and answers about property assessment and taxes in Wisconsin.

By March or April of this year, most assessors will set the 2007 assessed values to properties. This will provide a new opportunity for property owners to make certain their property values reflect accurate values in the post-boom real estate market conditions.

By: Kevin King and Debbi Conrad

When deciding to sell to sell your home, a little extra work can make a huge impact as to how smooth your transaction will be. It will have an impact on who will be looking at your home, what a prospective buyer is willing to offer you on your home, and even if you get to the closing table!

Personally dealing with the West Bend Wisconsin real estate market, I can tell you that anything you do cosmetically to increase curb appeal will help with the sale of you home. This means you are staging your home to look like it is on display. Many common improvements that have an impact on selling a home aren’t very expensive at all. Simple tasks, such as giving rooms a fresh coat of paint, quickly pay off.

Those planning on adding a “for sale” sign to the front lawn this spring might want to consider these five areas while creating their to-do list when getting ready for sale.

First Impressions, Lasting Impression!
Giving your home the proper look is going to determine how potential buyers feel about your home the second they pull up. History shows the first impressions are based on the home’s exterior, the shrubbery, the gutters and the front door. This includes the landscaping of the yard, maintained bushes with no overgrowing, and overall curb appeal. If there is a fire hydrant near your property, it may be wise to add a fresh coat of paint giving the neighborhood a little more glow as well. After all, you technically are selling the neighborhood as well.

Peeling trim or an odd color exterior of a home could lose potential buyers before they even set foot in your home. This goes hand -in-hand with your Realtors online marketing as well. Hundreds of people searching for there next home are going to be making decisions to move foreword with there purchase based on there interest online. Having good wide angle pictures of a home with great curb appeal is going to attract three times as many buyers to set appointment to come a view your home. Studies have shown the now in 2007, 87% of home buyers start there home search online, and online buyers purchase on average of 3 weeks earlier than traditional buyers. Don’t fall victim to poor first impressions. It could be the kiss of death for your homes sale.

De cluttering and Neutralizing
When it come to preparing the interior of your home, real estate professionals will advise a client to make a move to more neutral colors. It seems that people can’t visualize beyond what they see. Neutral colors, including beige and ivory, can also have an added advantage of making a room appear larger. Adding higher wattage lights is a good idea because it makes the home more bright and spacious.

Take down your personal pictures! Someone that is actively searching for a home is not going to want to see your wedding photos, pictures of all the kids, graduation pictures, and other wall knick-knacks. This makes your home seem to personal and may make the viewer feel unconvertible about being there. Or worse, be more interested in your belongings than your home! Other than keeping your home clean, do some basic spring cleaning: Shampoo the carpets, rebuff hardwood floors and oil any wood cabinetry

Replace Things Before It Becomes An Issue
Sellers might also consider having a home inspection done prior to listing the home as a way to detect any overdue replacement projects. A seller has the option of either fixing the problem or giving the buyer a discount to account for the needed repairs, but Mr. Gillespie is an advocate for making the necessary repairs before selling. Home buyers recognize the value of a house that doesn’t need major repairs. It is best to be able to address issues before someone puts in offer in on your home. It is just one way for the deal to possibly fall apart.

In fact, according to the 2006 “Cost vs. Value” report from Remodeling magazine, a roof replacement for a midrange home had an average cost of $14,276, and returned $10,553, or 73% at resale. A vinyl-siding replacement had an average cost of $9,134, and returned $7,963, or 87% at resale.

Kitchen & Bathrooms
It’s no secret that buyers tend to be awed by updated kitchens and bathrooms.

If the last time it was remodeled was in 1972, that’s going to be points against versus another house that was upgraded even five years ago with sort of a modern look. It’s hard to go wrong with a kitchen or bath remodel unless you get a little too edgy with the design or the materials. Keep them classy.

If kitchen cabinets are structurally fine but their exteriors are outdated, it might be worth it to reface them. If counters are old, replacing them will add new life to the room.

Offer a Home Warranty & Having Documented Work
Sellers can provide some extra peace of mind to buyers by purchasing a home warranty on their home that will cover such things as heating and plumbing should the buyer run into problems after closing. The coverage is getting more popular nowadays. Warranties can be bought from companies including American Home Shield and Aon.

I, Dan Burgeson, Explain to my potential clients that when putting there home on the market, providing a Home warranty will lower the amount of time there property is on the market. Buyers like to know that nothing is going to happen to them once they close on there home. Providing a home warranty says something about your home. It tell buyer that your home is in great shape and to prove it, we will cover any issues for a year after you move in. Coldwell Banker has a relationship with American Home Shield and can be advertised on every home listing. Displaying the age of the water heater and furnace isn’t a bad idea either. If one is on the older side, have it inspected for proof that it functions correctly. Also, explain if any home improvements have produced a cost savings in terms of energy usage. WE Energies in Wisconsin give a tax credit for energy efficient homes.

Countrywide Financial Corp. has instructed its brokers to no longer offer zero-down mortgages as an option for borrowers, the Wall Street Journal reports.

That’s because such loans are among the biggest reasons for a recent and sharp increase in the level of delinquencies at U.S. home lenders.
Countrywide joins such other companies as General Electric Co.’s WMC Mortgage and Washington Mutual Inc. in requiring that loan applicants have at least a 5-percent stake in their homes.

Previously, “if you breathe and have a Social Security number . . . you were going to get a house,” notes Mark Cady of Market Street Mortgage in Houston. Now, lenders are demanding that applicants have higher credit scores and contribute a bigger down payment, among other requirements.

While the flow of money available to the subprime borrower community is likely to slow considerably as a result of this trend, observers note that lenders not subject to federal regulation will continue to offer higher-risk products such as 100-percent financing and interest-only loans.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, Houston Chronicle
Originally Published On: Realtor Magazine Online

Statement from the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association
February 13, 2007

Madison –Governor Doyle’s budget proposal to increase the real estate transfer tax is a tax increase on the American Dream of homeownership according to the Wisconsin REALTORS Association (WRA). “This is a tax increase of $140 million on homeownership that will hurt housing affordability in Wisconsin,” said Roger Rushman, Chairman of the WRA. “Raising the price of housing will turn some ‘could be’ homeowners into ‘won’t be’ homeowners overnight,” Rushman said. He said the Realtors will vigorously oppose the Governor’s plan.

The Realtors also questioned why Governor Doyle proposed the tax increase after promising not to raise taxes. “The Governor said he’s against raising taxes,” said Rushman, who is the Executive Vice President of First Weber Group Realtors of Milwaukee. “This is a tax increase pure and simple. I think homeowners across Wisconsin will not be happy.”

According to WRA President Bill Malkasian, the current transfer tax is $498 on a median priced $166,000 home in Wisconsin. Under the Governor’s plan, this tax will increase to $830. “These costs cannot be financed through a mortgage,” says Malkasian. “This tax must be paid in full, up front, right when a new homeowner must incur numerous other closing costs. This will price many families out of their American Dream.”

In addition to its adverse impact on housing affordability, the Realtors also argue the tax is regressive and discriminatory since lower income households pay a larger percentage of their incomes on housing. “Young families need affordable housing and a thriving housing market needs first time home buyers,” Malkasian said. “When you raise this tax you raise the barrier to buying a home for thousands of Wisconsin families. This is a bad idea for Wisconsin families, Wisconsin’s real estate market, and Wisconsin’s economy.”

There is a new Property Maintenance Code update for the Village of Jackson Wisconsin. As you all know, they require a Property Maintenance Code. They have changed their procedures effective immediately(02-09-2007)! They will not complete the SPECIAL ASSESSMENT LETTERS on property until this Property maintenance Inspection has been completed.

Therefore, to prevent a delay in any transaction in the Village of Jackson, please remember to have this Property Maintenance Inspection done as soon as possible upon acceptance of an offer.

This will prevent closing dates to be pushed back, and inconveniencing the buyers or sellers of a property. View Property Maintenance Code

“Two story brick traditional with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, island kitchen, and large deck!” Sound familiar? We often talk about houses in terms of room count, along with a list of finishes, such as tile floors, granite counters, or faux paint. While this vocabulary conveys certain facts, it does not provide the tools to think about how to re-design a house in a fabulous way.

It is valuable to be able to make the decisions that transform a poor design into a house that is memorable, enduring, and widely appealing. To do this we need to go deeper than simply updating finishes or increasing square footage. We must think about how the structure shapes the feelings and experience of its inhabitants. In the words of Winston Churchill, “We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” When a house has design flaws, we know intuitively that it does not feel right. On the other hand, a well designed house can make us feel inspired, enriched, and touched by a sense of order.

We often see houses that have some elements in the structure and site that appeal to us, but cannot be lived in without remodeling. Often our clients say that they want to find a house with good bones (meaning good basic design), that they can update. The truth is that most houses have some good design and some bad design. Painting walls and updating fixtures will not cover bad design. You will need to think about the house in a deeper way. Use these design processes to help you make the difficult decisions that will result in a house that many people would love to live in.

1. Relate the house to the site.

Think about how the house integrates and interacts with the land around it. This awareness is a basic, but often ignored, beginning. The connection and interplay between interior and exterior spaces enhances both in a powerful way.

Manage the views from each window. Is there an undesirable view into a neighbor’s home or yard? Is there a nice view that is blocked by a wall or fireplace?

Notice how the walkway leads to the street, where privacy is needed, where noise buffering is needed, how drainage will work.

A side area could be a private garden, accessible from the main bedroom. A front porch overlooking the street could bring the house into a relationship with the neighborhood.

2. Bring in natural light.

Houses can be transformed by adding windows and other light sources. Generous light feels safe and uplifting, and attracts people toward it.

Natural light raises the level of importance and the beauty of rooms. Light all main rooms from two sides, if possible, to reduce glare and balance the light. Use glass doors, windows, skylights, transoms, or light tunnels.

Keep passive solar techniques in mind as you add windows and shading devices. The control of solar energy for light and heat is fundamental for an efficient and comfortable home.

3. Break down hard barriers between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Glass doors, screens, and walls that slide open can create semi-transparent walls, forming indoor/outdoor spaces that have enormous appeal.

Breezeways, garden rooms, bay windows, and screened porches are spaces that people love. These bring people into contact with the outdoors, yet may be furnished in a comfortable way.

4. Think of outdoor spaces as large rooms.

When all areas of the site are thought of as living spaces, new ideas open up. These outdoor spaces expand the house by creating a sense of semi-enclosure in various ways.

Their edges can be defined by trees, fences, wings of the house or other buildings. For example, an outdoor room may be a shady natural space on the site enclosed by a line of trees and shrubs.

Outdoor living spaces can be courtyards, walled gardens, trellis covered breezeways, stone patios, or outdoor showers. Think about their use and connectedness to the house.

Often, we see an exterior space that is built as an isolated destination place - a second floor deck, for example. If you have to make an effort to go there, the space will not be used. Outdoor spaces are most used when they are on paths used by people coming and going. This is why a front porch is a very appealing design element. People naturally meet here, and the porch connects with neighbors walking by.

A popular outdoor living area is the backyard deck. This is often seems to be an afterthought, tacked onto the house. Can it be covered and screened?

5. Consider widening roof overhangs or adding propped shutters over windows.

This is a green building technique in warm climates, blocking solar penetration.

The view of the outside roof structure seen from inside the house evokes a sense of shelter and protection.

If possible, extend the roof in some areas to create covered porches or breezeways. Rooms that are simultaneously open and protected are very appealing.

Inside the house, exposed rafters, rustic beams, or wood surfaces on the ceiling create feelings of strength and character in the home.

6. Review traffic flow - a crucial, but often ignored, design element.

Walk down the paths that bring you inside the front door, then lead you to various rooms through the house, and again to the outdoors. Do they cut through the middle of living areas? When this happens the living area will never feel complete and comfortable.

Circulation paths should lead along the edges of main rooms, and efficiently to private rooms. A maze like floorplan creates a sense of wasted energy and confusion. Few exterior doors may result in a subtle feeling of being trapped.

Bring multiple uses to hallways and connecting spaces with bookshelves, windows or window seats.

Set apart the main entrance with details such as a covered place to stand, special doors, benches, or potted plants.

7. Compare the sizes of rooms in proportion to each other.

People have an intuitive sense of the correct hierarchy of spaces. Small living spaces will seem wrong when combined with large bedrooms.

Homes with awkward design can often be improved by removing walls to make one large space from several smaller ones.

Consider the use and function of each room. Is the room to be used privately, such as a bedroom, study, or library? Or, will the family gather here to cook and eat informally? Some houses include formal areas, others do not. Some have many rooms, others are very open. There is no right or wrong decision here. Houses that have a true and intuitive appeal have a clarity as to the function of each room.

8. Choose materials as an integral part of the design - not as decorator selections made at the end.

For example, structural materials can be exposed, or flooring can be used to connect and unify spaces.

Bring in the beauty and texture of natural materials. Use materials that offset each other - warm and cool colors, rough and smooth textures, solid and delicate walls.

Use materials to connect the house to the site - for example, a wood clad house surrounded by woods, or a stone house next to outcroppings of stone. Or, connect the house to the neighborhood with historic colors and siding. Repeat materials and colors to unify the interior and exterior.

by Roselind Hejl