Great home in Waukesha for sale! 3 br Priced at $163k

Come take a look at this well taken care of home in Waukesha.  3 Bedrooms, 1 Full Bath , Finished Basement for added space, 2.5 car garage, play house , and awesome back yard great for entertaining!!

For more information or a private showing contact Jodi Toebe RE/MAX Realty Center at 262-352-0484!

4 Myths of Buying vs. Renting

According to a recent report by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, the past 15 years have seen a drastic shift in how Americans approach renting and owning. More people are renting, while fewer are buying houses. In fact, the average annual growth number for renters is now approaching the peak number for homebuying reached in 2006, just before the housing market crash.

The reasons for such explosive rental growth are numerous: lingering effects from the economic collapse in 2008, the revitalization of many urban cores, Baby Boomers aging out of their houses, and high rates of student loan debt among Millennials. Many millennial renters are postponing “next-steps” like marriage or starting a family, and still see home ownership as out of reach.

But should they? Maybe not. We at ABODO know a little something about renting, and have broken down four of the most common myths about buying a house versus renting an apartment.

MYTH #1: Ownership Is More Expensive

Not always — at least month by month. As demand for rental properties has grown, so have rents. In fact, in 2015 rents nationwide rose 4.6%, the largest increase in almost 10 years. According to a recent study, it’s cheaper to buy a house than rent it in 42 states. The overall price tag might give you sticker shock, but more often than not, a monthly mortgage payment will be comparable (or less) than rent, and at least you’ll be gaining equity. Plus, mortgage interest payments are tax-deductible. This handy calculator from the  New York Times can tell you if homeownership might actually be a good financial move.

MYTH #2: Your Savings Will Be Depleted, Forever

You might think that after a downpayment, and mortgage payments, and furnishing, and repairs, and maintenance, and property taxes… saving money is a lost cause. But think of it this way: Every mortgage payment that pays down principal and interest is a kind of “forced savings account.” You have to pay it, so you do. But unlike a rent payment, that money isn’t vanishing into the ether (or, as it’s more commonly known, your landlord’s pocket). Assuming you don’t default on your loan and go into foreclosure, you’ll see that money again, in a different form. By establishing equity in your house, you’ll be seeing long-term value in the form of an investment. You’ll also be eligible for new lines of credit. It might take 30 years, but it won’t be 30 years of checks down the drain.

MYTH #3: You Can’t Get a Loan

Yes, the days of subprime lending are over — and thank goodness, given how that turned out. Given the events of 2007-2009, banks are understandably cautious about handing out large loans for new homeowners. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. In 2014, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced a new initiative, aimed at encouraging first-time homeowners, that backs mortgages with extremely low down payments — as low as 3%. There are conditions, of course: Potential homebuyers must buy private mortgage insurance and have a high credit score (at least 620). But such a low down payment (the standard is 20%!) is a major help for younger homebuyers who might still be paying off student loans.

MYTH #4: You’re Too Young to Own

According to the National Association of Realtors, over 35% of new homebuyers in 2015 were Millennials, making them the largest group of recent buyers for two years running. And the median age for Millennial homebuyers was 30. So it’s not just Gen X or Boomers buying houses. (In fact, Boomers are moving into apartments in droves.)

Convinced? We hope not. It takes more than just an internet article to know whether you’re ready for homeownership. In addition to this list, take an honest and hard look at your finances, your life goals, and your tolerance for home-repair before you commit. But if you decide to go ahead on the rewarding path of homeownership, get in touch with Jodi Toebe RE/MAX Realty Center to set up a consultation. And happy house-hunting!

Watertown Riverfest 2016 Coming in August!

 

Watertown Riverfest Aug.11-14, 2016

Celebrating 30 years!

 

Riverfest is a celebration in Watertown, WI !  Click Here for Detail Information

 

Come join the celebration , live music, rides, food, beer concessions , ski show, Craft show, Car show and more! 

 

FREE Admission, Every day, All day!

Beautiful Colonial For Sale in Watertown! Priced at $224,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Beautiful 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath Colonial in Watertown, WI is like new!  Hunter Oaks Subdivision!   Amazing kitchen with island and Dining area opens up to Great Room. 1/2 bath and 1st floor laundry makes doing laundry convenient.  Sliding doors off kitchen lead out to huge back yard.  2nd Floor has 3 Bedrooms 2 full baths and loft area.  Master Bedroom has Private bath and large walk-in closet.  Garage is extra deep for added storage or work bench.  Partially finished basement completes this amazing home!

 

For more information or a Private Showing contact Jodi Toebe at RE/MAX Realty Center 262-352-0484!  Priced to sell!! 

Pabst farms, Oconomowoc, WI

Pabst farms

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Pabst Farms is a 1,500-acre (6.1 km²) development on former farmland in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, about 35 miles (56 km) west of Milwaukee. The location currently hosts the YMCA, multiple super markets such as Pick n Save, restaurants and hotels. The planned development will include thousands of homes and significant office space, as well as a small amount of parkland.

Founding

Jacob Best had founded the Pabst Brewing company in 1844 and was named after Frederick Pabst in 1889. The company also brews Ice Man Malt Liquor, retail versions of beers from McSorley’s Old Ale House and St Ides High Gravity Malt Liquor. The original brewery in Milwaukee, Wi was turned over for tours in 1997. The headquarters is located in Los Angeles, California and is owned by C. Dean Metropoulos. The Pabst family was famous for its blue ribbon brew, but farming is an even bigger part of the legacy. Pabst Farms began in 1906 when Fred Pabst made his first purchase of land in Summit.

200 acres have been set aside for businesses by Peter Bell and Bill Niemann. Pabst Farms is a full 1,500 acres on both side of interstate 94 at highway 67 being developed that will consist of retail, commercial and residential areas and a village center. The city and the developers came to the agreement that they would delay for at least a year any land sale to Walmart or Sam's Club, both have showed interest in the mall.

Development

The Oconomowoc Fire Station at Pabst Farms is a combination of Oconomowoc and Summit. The station is 14,000 sq. ft. and is designed to blend with the other buildings in Pabst Farms. The station offers housing for full-time EMS and support for eight apparatus. Training is an important to everyone in the station and the new station includes a training room for 60 as well as training stations for firefighters to practice getting in and out of confined places, space entry and rappel practice. Other features include, solar water heating, daylighting, rainwater harvest, LED lighting, and charging stations for electric vehicles. The Department also providing bicycle racks, plug-in charging station for electric vehicles and dedicated parking for low-emitting vehicles. The property was once owned by the Pabst family, of local brewing fame, and was used as a demonstration farm and for recreation

If looking for a home in Pabst Farms call the Realtor that knows and lives in Pabst Farms, Jodi Toebe RE/MAX Realty Center.

4 Tips for a Great Home Theater

svisscher Mar 30, 2016

Creating a home media center means you'll never have to put up with the annoying guy at the theater who talks through the whole movie (unless, of course, you're married to him). Here are a few tips to get you started.

Think about acoustics

Choose a room with limited windows and doors to seal in the sound. Keep in mind that valuted ceilings can be tough when it comes to adjusting your sound system.

Set up strategically

To find the optimum distance to sit from the screen, the general rule of thumb is to multiply the diagonal size of your TV in inches by two.

Popcorn, of course

Once you're nestled into your home theater seats, you're not going to want to walk all the way to the kitchen for more refreshments. Consider investing in an old-fashioned popcorn stand. A mini-fridge may come in handy, too.

Set the scene

Frame a few posters from your favorite flicks and hang them on the wall. Popcorn buckets and marquee lights can also add to the environment.


Is a home theater a must-have for your next home? Talk to an agent to find out what's available: Contact Jodi Toebe RE/MAX Realty Center

Watertown, WI Housing Market

Looking to buyer or sell a home in Watertown, WI?  Call Jodi Toebe RE/MAX Realty

Summary Statistics

Statistics For Entire MLS
As of Wednesday, March 2, 2016 12:21:23 Noon
From 11/2/2015 to 3/2/2016
Search Parameters: Property types Single-Family, Two-Family, Vacant Land, Multi-Family, Bus Opportunity, Condominium, Comm/Industrial; Status of 'Active', 'Sold'; Sold Date between '11/2/2015' and '3/2/2016'; County of 'Dodge', 'Jefferson'; Municipality of 'Watertown'; Association of Metro MLS.

 

	Total	Total List Volume	Median List Price	Average List Price	DOM	CDOM	Total Sold Volume	Median Sold Price	Average Sold Price	SP/LP	SP/OLP
Sold	96	$13,180,898	$124,900	$137,301	180	251	$12,588,216	$121,000	$131,127	95.50	91.03
List/Sold	33	$4,578,498	$129,800	$138,742	194	308	$4,294,300	$120,000	$130,130	93.79	88.81
Co-Broker	63	$8,602,400	$124,900	$136,546	173	221	$8,293,916	$122,000	$131,649	96.41	92.22
New	88	$14,926,199	$140,950	$169,615	50	82
Pending	81	$10,673,998	$117,900	$131,777	178	259
Temp Off Market	0	$0	$0	$0	0	0
Cancelled	0	$0	$0	$0	0	0
Expired	23	$3,817,700	$149,000	$165,986	1	1
Back On Market	24	$3,909,700	$147,500	$162,904	1	638
Extended	67	$10,161,700	$139,000	$151,667	1	1
Active In Range	212	$29,879,579	$125,700	$140,941	266	443
Current Active	212	$29,879,579	$125,700	$140,941	266	443

---

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed. See copyright notice.

A Home Buyer's To-Do List to ensure a smooth closing!

Written by:  Jodi Toebe, RE/MAX Realty Center

Home Buyer To-Do List

1.       Get pre-approved by a lender.  Ask your Realtor for suggestions. Not all Lenders are the same and they can direct you to a lender that will offer you the best loan program for your needs and ensure your loan process goes smoothly.

2.      Lender will need the following items, have them prepared ahead of time.  (Do not give them in piece mail!)

·         *Last 2 Years 1040’s and W2’s

·         *Last 2 Check stubs

·         *Proof of assets via last 2 statements.  All pages, even if blank. So, if your statement says 1 of 6 pages you need all 6 pages.

·         *If applies, Award letters for social security income and/or pension

·         *If applies, VA loans Certificate of Eligibility and DD 214 form .  Go to:  http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/purchaseco_certificate.asp

3.      Have Lender send your Pre-approval letter directly to your Realtor prior to looking at homes.  Communication between lender and realtor is vital and especially important prior to writing an offer.  Some homes you may select may not qualify for a loan based on condition of property.  Your Realtor will guide you.  

4.      Once you have an accepted offer: (Your Realtor will Guide you through this next step based on your contract.) Be Prepared to:

·          Submit earnest money check (this gets deposited usually within 3-5 days from accepted offer.)

·          Schedule home inspection, usually within 10-15 days of excepted offer. Your Realtor is an excellent resource for suggesting a good qualified inspector.

·         Submit contract and proper documents to your Lender. (i.e. OTP, MLS Listing and tax info.) A good realtor will do this for you. 

·         Once your Lender has all the appropriate paperwork and signed documents they will start processing your loan. It’s important you are diligent and do this promptly. Time is of the essence.

 IMPORTANT:  DURING THIS TIME, DO NOT OPEN NEW CREDIT, MAKE ANY BIG PURCHASES, OR GO 30 DAYS+ LATE ON ANY ACCOUNTS!

5.        Appraisal to be ordered through Lender, this will be an immediate cost to you of approx. $450-$650.

6. Out of pocket costs to be prepared for! Even though you may have a 100% financing you still have some out of pocket costs. Meaning, you need to have available cash to pay for:

Earnest Money= whatever you state in OTP

Home Inspection= $400 (approx.)

Radon Test= $125(approx.)

Appraisal= $450-$650(approx.)

Homeowners insurance= 1 yr premium $475-$750(approx.)

7.      Lender will send your Realtor copy of appraisal in order to satisfy the appraisal contingency in OTP.

8.      Lender will send Realtor Loan Commitment Letter by deadline in OTP.

9.      Once loan is approved closing is scheduled.  You will get keys and ownership at Closing!!  Congratulations!

10.  During the loan processing time you should get prepared to move.  Aside from the many things your lender will ask for and need, you will also need to remember to call or mark arrangements for…

·         Wisconsin Electric

·         Cable

·         Movers

·         Schools/ daycare

·         Utility company for your area if different from WE Energies

·         Forward Mail and change of address

·         Doctors/Pediatrician in area

Buying your new home should be exciting and not stressful.  A big part of that is being prepared and knowing the process and what is expected.  A good Realtor will guide you through this process, every step of the way!

Looking for a good Realtor that will help you through the process?  Call Jodi Toebe, RE/MAX Realty Center 262-352-0484!

Pewaukee Lake, WI A great place to spend the day!

Pewaukee Lake, Wisconsin, USA

  

Pewaukee Lake Photo Gallery

Named from the Potawatomi word "Pee-wauk-ee-wee-nick" for "lake of shells," Pewaukee Lake is a beautiful spring-fed lake. Just 20 miles from Milwaukee in Waukesha County, it is a great place to boat, swim and fish and an easy weekend getaway.

In 1838 Asa Clark built a dam and sawmill on the Pewaukee River. The dam flooded a wetland and the existing Snail Lake joining the two bodies of water into Pewaukee Lake. Although the two bodies of water became one, they still maintain different climates and characteristics. The eastern basin of Pewaukee Lake is the flooded wetland with a maximum dept of only ten feet. The western basin is what was Snail Lake. With a maximum depth of 45 feet, it is much more like a deep water lake.

Map Data

Map data ©2016 Google

Map DataMap data ©2016 Google

Map data ©2016 Google

Terms of Use

Report a map error

Map

Terrain

Satellite

Labels

Larger Map

The Village of Pewaukee rebuilt the Pewaukee Dam in 1976 for recreation, and there is plenty of it on Pewaukee Lake. The lake has been a popular resort destination since 1901, and the Pewaukee Lake Yacht Club has been active for 112 years. The Yacht Club is still active, and Pewaukee Lake is a very popular sailing lake. Boating opportunities don't end there, however, there is power boating, jet skiing, and water skiing. The Pewaukee Lake Ski Club performs on the lake most summer weekends and their free shows are great entertainment for the entire family. A lot of the lake's shore is still wooded and there are three islands - perfect to explore by canoe or kayak. With its sandy beach, Pewaukee Lake Front Beach is a great place to swim.

Water quality on Pewaukee Lake used to tend toward eutrophic. With careful management the lake has come back to a mesotrophic state making it a great place for fish. Anglers will find abundant populations of bluegill, northern pike, walleye, and large mouth bass. There are also muskie and tiger muskie. After a day of fishing or boating, there are several restaurants and taverns with boat access. In the winter the ice fishing is exceptional and there is ice boating and snow mobiling on the lake.

Accommodations around the lake range from cottages to resorts. The Village of Pewaukee Lake is large enough to have any amenities a visitor could want, but it retains its small town charm. Less than forty miles away, 32,000 acre Horicon Marsh is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States. It has both a State and National Wildlife Refuge and is a fantastic place to hike, bike, hunt, fish, and bird watch.

Just a few miles from Pewaukee Lake, the Kettle Moraine State Park is a great place to explore. The 20,000 acre park includes the 3,500 acre Scuppernong River Habitat Area. There are also three restored log cabins, and America's largest outdoor museum of rural life. The state park has plenty of trails for hiking and biking and several camping areas.

With its proximity to Milwaukee and all the amenities of the Village of Pewaukee Lake there is sure to be something to delight everyone. Add the abundant fishing, boating, and beautiful water and Pewaukee Lake is sure to become a favorite Wisconsin destination.

For home in the Pewaukee, WI area call Jodi Toebe RE/Max Realty Center.