Viroqua Wisconsin's Hill Country

South Street in Virqoua

2007-11-10T17:26:00.000-06:00

A brand new intersection is now open for traffic in Viroqua. As anyone who regularly drives East out of town would know, the construction has been underway for most of the summer. South Street has now been greatly changed forever from what was once a quiet, peaceful, dead end street to an open thoroughfare linking this former side street to the all the traffic coming off of highway 56. This intersections opening is part of the larger Highway 56 project slated to start up again this coming spring. But today... much to my surprise, E. South Street, Mahoney Road and WIS 56 were suddenly and totally completed. The work done, consists of grading, new storm sewer, curb/gutter and asphalt pavement with a construction costs estimated to be $540,000. Anyone driving out that way today would have been very startled and surprised by the major visual changes it has created in Virqoua's Landscape. Here are a few photos of the new intersection.

Center Street in Viroqua

2007-10-28T08:49:00.000-05:00

Over the past few years Viroqua has seen more businesses opened up access along Center Street which parallels Main Street. From Nelson's True-value off of Decker going north, there is now Walgreen's, and a few blocks further north, is the Viroqua Food Coop. They both generate a lot of traffic. Also, along the 700 block where the RE/MAX office is located, most of the neighboring private businesses have turned their back yards into private parking lots. The traffic going into and out of these parking lots is adding even more cars on Center Street. It is often very difficult to drive down parts of Center Street, due to it being a very narrow street. With parking on both sides of the street, it has become even worse. When large trucks are making deliveries, or when someone is riding along Center on a bike, it seems to me that the likelihood of an accident is very possible. I think it would be good to limit the parking to only one side of street, what's your opinion?

This Sunday's Open Houses

2007-10-27T08:29:00.000-05:00

There are two open houses to visit this Sunday

The first open is from 12 Noon until 2 P.M.
410 East Decker Street Viroqua, WI 54665
Will be open, this home features 4 bedrooms and 2 baths

It is a Craftman's Style home... An original 3-lite oak front door bids you directly into the living area, where the open floor plan extends into an extra spacious dining room which was expanded. Warming up the living room is a pellet stove, which is included. Access to the upper floor is by way of a staircase off the dining room, which leads to 3 bedrooms and a full bath. The main floor 4th bedroom is currently used as an office, a bath with laundry and an airy and bright kitchen are at the rear of the first floor. A recent addition to this home is an attached breezeway linking up the 2-car garage to the house. The back yard is fenced and has new concrete pavement for plenty of parking at the end of a very convenient side driveway.

Hosting this open is Mary Strang and she can be reached at 608-606-2999 if you have questions or need directions to the location.

The Second Open House will be at :

E4660 Bean Lane Coon Valley, WI 54632

Open from 2:30 pm until 4pm. This log home is a fanciful 3-bedroom 2-bath log home that has creative storybook-style flair!
Again Mary Strang will host this open and can be reached at 608-606-2999 for directions or details.

Directions are: From Hwy 14 take 162 South to Dodson Hollow turn East 2.5 miles to Bean Lane turn Left . Can also take K or 162 out of Stoddard.

Dog Gone

2007-10-14T09:47:00.000-05:00

Autumn is such a great time to come out to Vernon County for a walk in the wooded countryside. To explore nature, have fun in the fresh fall air and romp in the open spaces. Isn’t it just great to get out of the city? Frequently, when many buyers and sellers arrive they have also brought along their dogs, to let them loose to run. What may seem like an opportunity to let loved pets sprint freely and enjoy the open spaces can quickly turn into a pet owners worse nightmare. By turning your back for a short second in the woods, some sad things can happen, quietly and swiftly. Pet owners should be constantly aware that the woodlands are also habitat to predatory animals and birds of prey.

Just this past Friday one such incident occurred. A visitor’s mini Chihuahua vanished into thin air, leaving the owner in tears. It is not certain what or how it actually happened, but most likely a hawk was the culprit. Ever on a hunt for an easy meal, a raptor would have been keeping a keen eye on the less than 4-pound dog. If you bring small pets along for a tour of the woods, it is good advice to always keep them leashed. Small pets are no match for coyotes and hawks. It may have been possible that this pet could have fallen down a deep ravine or wondered far out of hearing range. However, the owner said, the pet was always within a few feet of her side. More likely in the deep woods where birds of prey hunt and live, they can be silent killers. All depending on when they had their last meal, they will be watching and waiting for an available moment to strike, then to dine on any easy prey.

Viroqua Open Houses

2007-10-02T18:14:00.003-05:00

3 homes will be held Open

Wednesday night in Viroqua

10/3/2007 4:40 until 6:30pm

Open House #1: With approximately 2576 square-feet on the main level and more than 2800 on the lower level, the home boasts two luxurious and sleek living spaces. This home makes a commanding first impression as you pass through the formal front entry doorway of steel and glass into a massive interior living space. Trademark picture windows flood all the rooms with sunlight. There is an equally impressive dining area and a modernized open kitchen loaded with cabinetry and expansive countertop space. The profusion of tiled flooring and the mammoth natural stone fireplace will immediately grab your attention. There are 3 bedrooms down a central hallway; the master has a 3/4 bath. Also, two car attached garage, plus a 24 x26 additional unattached two car garage. Asking price is $229,000

S3905 Bakkom Road Viroqua, WI 54665-8163

Hostess is Mary Norris Strang cell number is: 608-606-2999
******************************************************

Open House #2 With a characteristic center entry hall, the view into the living room is just to the right. With a full view of the original wood burning fireplace it evokes thoughts of a cold winter evening and crackling fires. The living room encompasses the entire span; front to back of half the main floor. A formal dining area to the rear features twin built in china cabinet. The 3 bedrooms are located up the open stairway and share a spacious hallway bath. The balance of the main floor is shared with the kitchen, an office, as well as, an attached sun porch which is home to a hot tub spa included with this sale. Also, new furnace. Asking price is $119,900

428 East Oak Street Viroqua, WI 54665-2030

Linda Sherry will be the Hostess and she can be reached at cell number: 608-606-1648 **************************************************************

Open House Number 3: Lots of charm, lots of room, lots of sunshine, lots of updates yet not a lot of dollars all can be found in this move in ready home. Priced to sell: this home features wood floors, a large dining room, two bathrooms and three bedrooms with a possible fourth bedroom. The updated eat-in kitchen, large yard that has been landscaped and fenced all make this a happy home. With a large front porch plus a swing, this home welcomes you with warmth and grace. Shining hardwood floors, original wood staircase and room for family fun and entertaining. The finished back porch has access to the deck and backyard for easy summer entertaining. Asking $124,900

110 West South Street Viroqua, WI 54665-1943

*************************************************

2007 Flood in the Kickapoo Valley

2007-08-20T08:29:00.000-05:00

On Sunday morning major flooding hit the Kickapoo Valley area, with record high-water! The Villages of Viola, LaFarge and Readstown in Vernon county and Soldiers Grove and Gays Mills in Crawford Counties were cut off by the swift rise of the Kickapoo River and contributing streams. Here is a slide show of some photos taken of the event.

Things to do, How about Pasture Golf ?

2007-08-13T08:28:00.000-05:00

More Things to do for Fun... Over in Timber Coulee, which is between Westby and Cashton, off of highway 27 on County P. There is a nice little 9 hole, Par 3 golf course at the basin of the Snowflake ski jumps. The course is short, fun, and inexpensive to play. It will take only about an hour & a half to finish.

There is also another pasture golf course call the Serendipity located nearby Avalanche I have not play the course yet, but know many who have. The reports are good, that it too is cheap and fun to play.

Wednesday Night Open Houses

2007-08-08T10:46:00.001-05:00

Open House Wednesday, 8/8/07 From 4:30 P.M. To 6:30 P.M.

Hosted by Mary Strang

Location is 308 E Oak Street Viroqua. Home features 2 bedrooms 1 bath, priced at $79,900 It has newer siding, roof, all new replacement windows and a full basement.

Directions to the home are: Take Main Street South to Terhune,. Make a left turn on Terhune. At Rusk Street turn right. Watch for the open house signs on the corner of Rusk and Oak Street and make another left. Property is on the left side.

Open House Wednedsay 8/1/2007

2007-07-26T06:39:00.001-05:00

Two homes will be open next week.

Wednesday night from 4:30 pm until 6:30 pm
Mary Strang will host: 504 Meadowood Court Viroqua, WI 54665

The Directions to this home are: From Hwy 14/61 in Viroqua, go West on South Street , South on Elm Avenue, West on Meadowood Court to property.

This open house at 322 North East Avenue is canceled for tonight as it now has an accepted offer

322 North East Avenue Viroqua, WI 54665. The Price has been reduced to $112,900 it is currently a duplex but could be converted back to a single family home.

Directions to this open are: From 14/61 East on Decker, Left on East Avenue and Property is on the West Side of the Street.

Summertime Harvest

2007-07-22T09:54:00.000-05:00

Saturday I went out to tour a new listing and inspect the property; to my pleasant surprise, the island counter top in this home was filled with gleaming glass mason jars, freshly canned with green beans. It reminded me of how much fun canning can be. Part of the joys of country living is of course planting your own a huge garden and reaping the rewards of home grown organic foods. For most, it is no longer a necessity to can vegetables for the cost saving. Most who can, do it simply because these vegetable just taste better. It is something the whole family can do together for fun and enjoyment and the later rewards from an abundant summertime garden. After all, there is no better treat than the taste of the vegetable you grew yourself and the satisfaction of having a full pantry full of vegetables to enjoy over winter!

Here is a recipe for Canned Green Beans:

Gather in beans. Cut or Snap them about 1-1 1/2 inches long. Wash about 3 times. Have jars washed. Hot water pack the green beans in jars. Put in 1 teaspoon canning salt for quart-size jars on top. Then fill with hot water to 1/2-inch from top. Put on the canning jar lids and screw on very tight.

Place jars in pressure cooker which has 1/2-gallon of hot water in it. Be sure to fasten cooker lid on good. Place on burner. Bring pressure up to 10 degrees, pressure for 25 minutes. Turn off fire. Let cool down to zero. Open the pressure gauge to let off the steam. Be very careful when opening cooker. The heat coming from inside the pressure cooker is very hot, it can burn you.

Realtors Golf Outing

2007-07-12T20:53:00.000-05:00

Every July, our MLS, the La Crosse Realtor Association sponsors a Golf outing, which is held at the Cedar Creek Country Club in Onalaska. This year, it was again on a Monday, July 9th. It was a scramble format with each foursome having at least 2 Realtors on each team. The weather was sunny, and warm; it was a great day for golfing. Both Linda and I attended with our husbands; it was our 2rd time together at this event. Thanks to our husband's, our team finished with a respectable Par for the course! There are always flag events on each hole and we were lucky enough to win 2 of them.

Linda is pictured here coming back with a $50. gift card for winning the flag on hole #10 for Woman’s longest drive in the fairway her drive was about 170 yards. Du, Linda’s husband also had the longest drive in the fairway on hole #2 for men. It was a whopper of a drive, being all of 280 yards! I had signed a flag for longest putt on #18, but later was beat out by another team and lost the flag for my 20 foot putt into the cup. Well, that's golf... Even so we all had a great time at the event and will plan to attend again next year. Also, a big thanks to The Title Company, as the Margaritas on the 7th hole were great! Linda filmed this video clip of me attempting to make it to the green on a par 3 hole, without success!

Happy 4th of July

2007-07-03T17:07:00.001-05:00

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Photo by Carla Schill

Flowering Vines

2007-06-30T07:30:00.000-05:00

It is prime blooming time for CLEMATIS vines, and they really are pretty this year. The secret to making a clematis feel at home in your garden is to plant it where the roots will be cool and well drained and the top will be in the sunlight. These easy to grow plants can add a dramatic splash of color to your landscape. Add a decorative trellis to your side yard along the driveway, plant around your mailbox post, or just up let them climb up your downspouts on the corner of your house. They will bloom from June to September, adding lots of brilliant color and cheer. These flowering vines just might help sell your home. There is nothing more powerful to draw a buyer into your home than an attractive well tended garden!

Summer is here!

2007-06-20T08:18:00.000-05:00

With summer in full swing, if you are planning a trip to Vernon County's Coulee Region, and are wondering what there is to do? Well here is a short list of a few fun activities that will certainly be worth exploring.

1. Stay at one of the many owner operated B and B’s
2. Visit the Kickapoo Reserve Visitor Center
3. Bring your fly fishing equipment and enjoy the many Trout Streams
4. The Viroqua farmers market is open every Saturday morning
5. Plan a road trip to tour the historic round barns of Vernon County
6. Take a drive along the Great River Road to view the Mississippi River
7. A day trip to visit Norsekedalen
8. Rent a canoe and paddle the Kickapoo River
9. Tour Amish communities, shopping for quilts, furniture and fresh eggs
10. Cycle the back roads of Vernon County or the Sparta bike trail

Country Home Open Sunday

2007-06-16T09:06:00.002-05:00

Driving directions to the open house at:

S4115 Mc Clurg Lane Viroqua, WI 54665

From Viroqua: West on Highway 56 approximately six miles, Right at McClurg Lane. Property is at the end of the lane.

Pigsty

2007-06-10T08:11:00.001-05:00

As the real estate bubble bursts all across the country many homeowners are facing foreclosure and eviction for non-payment of their mortgages. Right here in Vernon County it has become a little more common to see REO properties coming on the market. For those of you who do not know what REO is, it is a Mortgaged property acquired by a servicer on behalf of the mortgagee, through foreclosure or Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure. In other words it is a repossessed property that is now offered again for sale by the lender or bank. Usually the agent who get the assignment has to manage the property and get it in shape to re-sell. Sometimes the prior owner leaves these homes in awful condition. One of the worst cases was recently features on CNN.

Road Work in Viroqua

2007-05-27T09:56:00.001-05:00

The roadwork is continuing on Decker Street and Gillette Street in Viroqua. This project was started in early April and is well underway for the upgrading and repairs needed on the sewer systems and water mains. The construction is awfully hard to get around and has made it difficult to get over to the Court House or to show any homes for sale in this portion of Viroqua. Our sympathy to anyone who works at Court House or lives over in this part of town!

“A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery along the detour.”

Dangers of Overpricing

2007-05-25T08:51:00.000-05:00

So you want to sell, don’t make the mistake of overpricing the property. The price the property goes on market with is the most important first step to getting it sold. The market really sets the sold price, not the Realtor or the Seller.

What is the market?
It is what similar properties have sold for in that past 12 months.
The dynamics of some markets are changing; sales data may be out of date, requiring downward adjustments for the percentage of loss in the market price. Thereby requiring the analyzing of comparable sales of less than 6 months. It is also measured by how long it will take to sell your property at a given price and additionally what the buyer is willing to pay for the home or property.

10 Common Reasons for overpricing:
1. Over improvement
2. Original purchase price was too high
3. Need
4. Assessed Value was increased
5. Move is not necessary
6. Emotional attachment
7. Moving to an area were a replacement property is more expensive
8. Opinions of family and friends
9. Desired Negotiation room; “ you can always come down”
10. Testing the market; “you don’t have to sell”

Unfortunately pricing is not an exact science. It is a combination of examining the comparable sales data; the supply of similar property, and the time it takes to sell similar property. At the end, the property is worth what a buyer is willing to pay. The Seller and the Realtor can establish the asking price but the market determines the final sales price. The warning sign of an overprice property are few or no showings and no offers. Conversely, too many showings and no offers can also mean the price is attractive but the property does not match the value expected of that asking price, end result is an overpriced property.

Nobody Sells More Real Estate

2007-05-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

The MLS, Multiple Listing Services keep statistics on the number of transactions closed each year within their membership. Generally there are 2 transactions per sale, a listing side and a selling side. When a property is listed in the various State MLS systems and later when a property is sold, the numbers are computed for many reasons. One objective is to determine which member firm state wide sold the most property. For the past year, 2006 RE/MAX agents all across Wisconsin completed the most closed transaction totals. Our office's numbers were also tabulated within these results. Thus, No one in Wisconsin Sells more real estate than RE/MAX. Congratulations and a good job to all my fellow RE/MAX agents across Wisconsin!

Real Estate Roller Coaster

2007-05-16T09:16:00.000-05:00

The history of real estate is shown in this roller coaster analogy of ups and down of home sales. Take a ride...

A Fun Day of Golf

2007-05-13T22:01:00.000-05:00

It was a memorable day, with getting my first eagle on the signature hole number 11 at the Viroqua Hill Golf Club. It is a 500-yard par 5 hole. I hit my drive straight and long, the second shot was with my 5 wood, also staying in the fairway. The final shot was with my 7 wood, which I hit approximately 120 yards and it landed into the cup!

An Eagle score is two stokes below par on any hole and most often are made on par-5’s. To have the ball land in the cup on the last fairway drive was a real thrill and surprise. This is what keeps you coming back to play a round of golf.

New to our website

2007-05-08T20:46:00.000-05:00

Recently we have added a new feature to our web site. You can find it on the View Listings Tab. Click on Distinctive Properties to view it. This feature includes a slide show and classical music show casing our Team's Premier listings. Typically these distinctive home listings will be in the price range of $300,000 or above. We hope you will enjoy viewing this new presentation! Here is a sample: Distinctive Property

Town and Country

2007-04-29T11:46:00.000-05:00

Have it both ways…Town convenience and Country privacy! This remarkable property boasts densely wooded country acreage and an exceptionally well-maintained 3-bedroom 2-bath ranch style home. Secluded from the street amid more than 15 acres of natural landscaping, the long tree-lined drive unfolds in an impressive approach to this home. There is also a contributory stream on this land. This feeder stream flows into Baker Creek and eventually ends up at the Kickapoo River. The stream quietly meanders across the horse pasture, and loops it’s way though the mature woods of the home site supplying a water source for the owners 2 horses.

Inviting Living: Providing wonderful opportunities for entertaining, the spacious kitchen adjoins an informal dining-L, which has patio doors leading out to the deck and secluded backyard views. A vaulted ceiling with an exposed beam is a prominent featured of the sunlit living room, as is the newer bay window. These vaulted and airy ceilings continue throughout the entire home. All 3 bedrooms are conveniently located on the first floor, along with a centrally located hall bath. A recently added lower level family room features plenty of space for a big screen TV and an exercise room. Additionally there is a full 2nd bath on this level along with the laundry area.

Other Highlights: The out building has a workshop and room for additional indoor parking. There is a small lean-to horse shed and plenty of pastureland for the horses. The magnificent property is lush, wooded, and teeming with deer and wild turkey making for good hunting land. Plus as an added bonus this property comes with the amenities of having city natural gas and cable TV!

Soon to Open

2007-04-22T13:53:00.000-05:00

A sign just went up on the south side of town announcing that Viroqua is going to have its first Mexican Restaurant... hola!!! The building was recently sold, and the new restaurant will be named Chilito Lindo. It will soon be opening in the small roadside establishment that was formerly a diner called Karen's Kitchen. If you have a taste for adventure, Mexican food is known to be hot and spicy and rich with favor. So with a menu of Enchiladas, Chile Rellenos and Fajitas, we may be in for a new treat. The name chilito, was originally introduced and used as a food item on Taco Bell’s menu. Toco Bell later changed the name from chilito to a chili cheese burrito, as it turns out that chilito translates into a slang word of which I won’t mention here, you will have to search that out yourself. I have been told that there are almost 20 places to eat in town. Most of our local restaurants are small mom-&-pop shops with a menu that usually features cheeseburger and fries. There are several very good organic food establishments and we also have a Chinese buffet in town, plus, 2 larger steakhouse supper clubs and franchises like McDonalds, Subway, also Culvers. We are sure to have a broaden selection of ethnic dinning with the addition of this new eatery.

Welcome Chilito Lindo; Viroqua will be looking forward to salsas, chips and experiencing a taste of Mexican cuisine!

Tax Time Tips

2007-04-13T13:16:00.000-05:00

Ten New Tax Laws You Need to Know - Lawmakers were busy in 2006, so be sure to check out these tax code changes. They might save you some money.

Organic Drive Cashton, WI

2007-04-11T12:02:00.000-05:00

When you think of industrial parks, usually you don’t think “Green”. This is not the case over in Cashton Wisconsin. The city appears to be rapidly blazing a brand new trail with the Cashton Greens Energy Park. On a newly installed city street named Organic Drive, you can see the progress of the Organic Valley facility. It is nearing completion and is a state-of-the-art Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) warehouse. Just a short distance up highway 27 off Eagle Drive on a 6- acres site is the location of the Best BioDiesel Cashton plant. Bio diesel is a name for clean burning fuel, that is produced from domestic and renewable resources such as soy beans and corn. Apparently Bio diesel and ethanol contains no petroleum, but can be blended with it for use in cars and trucks. According to press releases the final project will include a 3,500 square foot office and control center complex, laboratory, weigh scale, a 1,200,000 gallon tank farm, and a 9,600 square foot building to house the 8.0 million gallon bio diesel plant.

Spring Cleaning to Sell

2007-04-08T13:09:00.000-05:00

If you want to sell and are trying to capture the buyer’s eye, this year the competition may be intense. Overnight the market seems to have shifted from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. There has been much media attention paid to the real estate market and many newspaper articles written about it. So, what do you do? The answer is clear. If you want it sold, get your home in tiptop condition. This simple solution is also the least expensive and produces some of the quickest results. Here are a few basic techniques to assist you in your mission to sell.

Number One: Spring clean everything until it sparkles, shimmers and shines. The most attention should be paid to the Kitchen and Bathrooms. Odors can be a really big problem; no one likes the smell of pet odor, smoking or noticeable cooking smells. To eliminate strong odors you may have to re-paint or wash down all the wall, ceilings, windows, and floors. It may also require steam cleaning the carpeting, plus washing any curtains & blinds. Potential buyers feel more comfortable viewing a clean home than a dirty home.

Number Two: Pack up the family photos. A potential buyers needs to visualize himself or herself in the home. So help them out by depersonalizing the home during the selling process.

Number Three: De-clutter, and then rent a Storage Shed. Box up and take more than half of your knick-knacks and collectables to the storage shed. Totally eliminate any accumulation of coats & shoes at the front door. Have the kid’s pick out a few of their favorite toys and store the rest. Completely clear off the refrigerator artwork and magnet collection and polish the appliances. Another good tip is to downsize the amount and size of furniture in each room. When doing this, keep in mind traffic patterns, as usually the potential buyers will bring family members with them. The less is more rule applies here. Scaling the furniture to fit the room will make it appear larger.

Number Four: Organize the closets, linen closet, pantry and cabinets. A well-organized closet is what buyers want and makes the closets look roomier. Invest in some attractive storage containers or add a shelving system that can be taken along with you or one that is built in and left.

Number Five: Add some color; lighten up your décor with some colorful sofa pillows or spring flower arrangements. If the walls are smudged and dirty paint is cheap, but keep it neutral. First impressions are important so brighten up the room by opening up the blinds, making sure the room appears bright and light.
Make a good first impression by having the lawn well manicured, hedges neatly trimmed and add some colorful perennial potted plants along the front entry.

Number Six: Defer to an expert, if you need a private and personal one-on-one home staging appointment or advise on “What is the next step? Then, give our RE/MAX Office a call. All of us at The R Team will be ready to assist you in finding the solutions that will help you to get your home one step closer to being sold. Our experience and service is certain to be of benefit to any Sellers who are seeking top professional advise and a knowledgable Realtor. We can show you the way to “value added” and how to maximize your equity and return.

Tim's Plan

2007-04-01T12:27:00.001-05:00

In a Hot Market, it looked like anyone could sell real estate, but things have really changed and it is not so easy. Now more than ever experience and skills will count and will be required. The market is demanding and expensive to compete in. So if you are just starting out or "Thinking of a Career in Real Estate" maybe you need a plan. Here is a recent training video which offers up an easy to use formula. Maybe it could be applied to your 2007 business plan.

Happy April Fools Day...

The Flags are up

2007-03-29T16:13:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone the flags were set today at the Virqoua Hills Golf Club...

Linda and I spent Thursday evening jumping around the course breaking in new drivers... These photos were fun shots we took of each other of our very first hit of the season.

pictures are worth 1000 words

2007-03-25T08:24:00.000-05:00

( Right is a regular lens, the left is the wide angle of the living room)

When going out to photograph a new listing, I often snap and snap until it is just the right shot, but taking great realty photos just got much better with my new Kodak wide angle camera. What do you think, which shot will spark your curiosity more?

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2007-03-17T09:19:00.000-05:00

High Waters today on the Kickapoo

2007-03-14T18:27:00.000-05:00

Here are a few recent photographs taken earlier this morning, as I crossed over the river's bridge on the west side of the Village of LaFarge.
The Kickapoo River has been placed on a flood alert due to the high waters. Having had a long past history of flooding, some residence living along its banks could see the Kickapoo spill over from all the fast snow melt.

Another Season

2007-03-12T07:58:00.000-05:00

The weather is warming up fast and our Wisconsin snow may soon be history!

Here is an amazing view of a property that, earlier in the springtime I just happened to pass by. Last week, while out on other business, I had an occasion to drive out that way for a second time. Who would not want to own a property overlooking this quaint country scene? If you click on the link below "barn" you will see the springtime view from April. I guess I will need to complete the seasons with a drive out that way for the summer and fall season views to complete the set.

Top Agent Summit

2007-03-06T07:12:00.000-06:00

For the second year in a row, Mary Strang has the honor of being invited to the RE/MAX Top Agent Summit. This year it will be held in St. Paul Minnesota. The event consists of the Top 100 producing RE/MAX agents in all of Wisconsin and Minnesota, being treated to fine dining, excellent training and an opportunity to net work with other Top RE/MAX agents from our company.

Scheduled April 3-4, 2007 at The St. Paul Hotel, the RE/MAX North Central Top Agent Summit is a Unique opportunity to enhance your knowledge, expand your expertise and enjoy a career changing experience. Hot off the RE/MAX Coaching Tour, Richard Robbins will give you the tools necessary to create, maintain and grow a thriving real estate sales practice in today's challenging marketplace. In addition, two of the top RE/MAX agents from across the country will be present to share their recession proof business practices with you. This intimate, exclusive event promises to provide a wealth of ideas, information and insights.

More Practice Filming

2007-03-03T08:56:00.001-06:00

Here is another attempt to film a new listing. We had the owner add some background music and I am not sure if it is the right sound, however it is certainly better than my commentary would be.

Views Above Coon Valley

2007-03-01T20:37:00.000-06:00

Panoramic 360 degree overlooking the views of the bluffs and valleys above Coon Vally. This listing offers a newer home with three bedroom, 2 full bathroom, and has an open concept floor plan with vaulted ceilings. It features three decks, a patio, 2.5 car garage and 12 x 28 attached shop. Plus a garden shed, all on five acres (approximately 50% wooded) also is home to countless deer, turkeys and eagles. Easy access to Highway 14 just below and only a short 15 minutes drive into La Crosse.

RE/MAX 21st annual Awards

2007-02-23T08:11:00.000-06:00

The R Team, Mary Strang, Jean Driscoll and Linda Sherry all attended the 21st Annual RE/MAX North Central Awards Celebration, which was held this year at the Monona Terrace in Madison. It was Linda Sherry's first awards day; in honer of her first Executive Club Award, her husband surprised her with a delivery of a bouquet of roses! The event was yesterday the 22nd of February. During the day we visited dozens of vendors booths, were treated to a lunch banquet and the region offered a free continuing ed. class. The event was named "RE/MAX Playing to Win", which was a spoof on a game show with contestants being drawn from those in attendance. Again, Linda was one of the 9 lucky agents who's names were drawn randomly to play the game show on stage with the final grand prize being a new sports car!

84th annual snowflake ski Tournament

2007-02-10T19:15:00.000-06:00

This weekend February 10 and 11th, at the Snowflake Ski Club in Westby, athletes from eight different countries are ready to soar off the 114-meter ski jump in Timber Coulee. Ski jumping is a sport in which skiers go down an inrun with a take-off ramp (the jump), attempting to go as far as possible. In addition to the length that skiers jump, judges give points for style. This two day public event has a entry gate ticket fee running around $20. The parking lot is certain to be where the main event starts for many party-hardy youths; it's certain to be a giant tailgate party. Inspite of the sub zero tempertures, lots of beer, barbeque's, and music will be shared around the open tailgates of many pickup trucks.

Sub-zero Temperatures

2007-02-06T18:46:00.000-06:00

Bone chilling weather and several inches of new snow kept most people home and some schools closed today all across Vernon County. Viroqua's downtown is usually busy with cars and people, but this was the scene on Main Street in the morning around 9 a.m. If you had to venture out, slippery roadways, icy sidewalks and hazardous driving was what many encountered.

Tonight the weather is to be: Lows 5 to 10 below. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Lowest wind chill readings 15 below to 25 below zero after midnight.

Brrrrrrr.... A Big Frozen Wisconsin Welcome to Nancy Olson, who just relocated to Vernon County on Friday from Florida!

1 year anniversary

2007-02-05T18:58:00.000-06:00

OMG it has been one full year of blogging about The R Team, Vernon County and Real Estate in our Virqoua Market Place!

Liniger Buys CNN Hummer With $1 Million Donation

2007-01-29T08:16:00.000-06:00

Photo courtesy of CNN.
ON THE DOTTED LINE: With Gail looking on, Dave Liniger signs a check to the Fisher House Foundation for $1 million.
The generosity of RE/MAX International Co-Founders Dave and Gail Liniger was a top story on the CNN.com Web site Monday.
Neck-and-neck with another bidder at a charity auction on Saturday, Dave Liniger wowed the crowd with a winning $1 million bid on CNN's "Warrior One" Hummer, which was refurbished last fall on TLC's "Overhaulin'" program.

Used in Iraq by a news team embedded with a Marine Corps unit in 2003, the remodeled Hummer was auctioned to raise money for the Fisher House Foundation, which provides a home away from home for families of wounded service members rehabilitating in military hospitals.

The Hummer netted $1.25 million total when the fellow bidder agreed to pad Liniger's donation with an extra $250,000.

"The guy who put the [$250,000] in was bidding against me up to the last minute," Liniger (ABR, CRB) told CNN's Rick Sanchez. "He turned around, he put his arms around me and he says, 'Hey, you buy the car, you get the car. I'll add 250 to it.' A fabulous gesture."

Organizers expected the vehicle to net something in the hundreds of thousands, but few were prepared for Liniger's seven-figure bid. A Vietnam veteran himself, Liniger couldn't pass up an opportunity to support wounded troops.

Read CNN's full coverage and view the event photo gallery.

Copyright © 2007 RE/MAX International Inc. 1/22/07

All right Have Fun?

2007-01-25T08:20:00.000-06:00

Your personal Slingshot

NAR Public Awareness Campaign

2007-01-18T17:24:00.001-06:00

2007 marks the 10th year that the Public Awareness Campaign has been working on behalf of the National Association of REALTORS®’ members to educate and persuade consumers about the value of hiring a REALTOR®. This year, the campaign goes a step further by encouraging consumers to consider real estate as a strong long-term investment and to contact a REALTOR® in their local market with the call to action,... “Every market’s different, call a REALTOR® today.” from a post of the National Association of Realtors

As we start seeing these new 2007 National Realtors TV commerical, be aware, Yes every market is different. However, in our Vernon County Market the average homeowner or buyer may not even be aware of the fact that all agents, in this market, are not necessarily Realtors! To become a Realtor you must join the National Association of Realtors, which is a professional trade association. In order to be a member, an agent must agree to abide by a strict code of ethics based on values of competency, fairness, and high integrity. I believe that an agent who has become a REALTOR® has committed to a higher standard of service and professionalism.

Some reasons are: It requires an investment in personal dollars, a commitment in time and additional education to maintain this membership. I personally believe the benefits far exceed the cost to join or time invested to become a Realtor. Just the opportunities to obtain additional education in the form of professional designations such as the ABR, CRS, GRI and many other advanced educational opportunities, definitely sets Realtors apart from a general non-member agent. Some other fringe benefits included with membership are: professional use of computer generated forms, legal hot line advise, continuous updating of new trends and market conditions, the conventions and trade shows, meeting other member-agents around the state and country. So, when you call a Realtor today, make sure they are a Realtor!

How not to drive in Snow & Ice

2007-01-18T09:30:00.000-06:00

We have not had much snow this winter, but here are some tips on driving in the snow from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

BEFORE YOU SET OFF:Consider whether your journey is necessary – the best way to stay safe in bad weather is to stay off the roads and use alternative means of travel

2007 Realty

2007-01-14T15:52:00.000-06:00

Jerry Seinfeld does not wish to pay the Realtor. . Procuring Cause, it is the most debated issue in the real estate industry. The agent who ultimately writes an offer is not necessarily the agent who procured the sale!

State of the Market 2007

2007-01-14T09:46:00.000-06:00

There have been many prediction and forecasts written about the normalizing of the real estate market in 2007. To get a better idea of the conditions in our local market I have been speaking with many other veteran agents, lenders, and home inspectors to get a feel for how they are seeing the present market. I wanted to also see if they are experience any changes in the volume of loan applications, numbers of inspections preformed and the results of the numbers of appointments made to number of offer written. Here are some recent observations:

1. Buyers are looking at many more homes and taking much, much longer to make a purchasing decision.

2. The likelihood that when an offer is made, it will come in way below the asking price. This will results in many additional counter-offers being written and more stress for the Buyers and Sellers. More often than not, the Buyers and Sellers will not reach an agreement on the first offer written.

3. The time on the market for Sellers will rise from 180 day to closer to 240 days, or approximately 8 months because many Sellers mistakenly believe they should get more than last year’s sales prices.

4. The Sellers who believe that if they are patient and holdout for the higher prices of last year may be sadly mistaken.

5. Pricing right will be everything; don’t over price…the ratio between asking price to closing price should be closer. Having “Price Reduced” posted to the listing, will be a red flag to buyers that the property is shop worn. This will drag the close price even lower.

6. The Condition of the home will be an absolutely key to selling. Staging the home and packing up has never been more important. As more homes are on the market Buyers will gravitate toward the homes in better condition and that are ready to occupy.

7. Some agents will continue taking overpriced listing, which will hurt their Seller's chances of a sale. The result of overpricing; Buyers will shun the home, no showings and no offers at all.

8. Choosing the right agent is critical. Working with a full time Realtor with the education and technology skills required in todays market is key. DNA agents (which are family/friend related agents) or part-time agents might not be your best choice in a tightening market.

3 Open Houses this Sunday

2007-01-09T08:01:00.000-06:00

Open House Sunday January 14, 2007

From 12:00 - 2:00 pm

Thinking of buying a home in 2007? A great way to get started in the home buying process is to come and visit one or all of these 3 homes.

Open House means no appointment is necessay. The R Team has recently scheduled these opens so anyone can stop by and view these easy to find properties!

111 Stenslien Westby, WI 54667... Hosted by Mary Strang

508 West South Street Viroqua, WI 54665-1913...Hosted by Jean Driscoll

222 Ramsland Westby, WI 54667-1032...Hosted by Linda Sherry

Broadcaster Sesquicentennial

2006-12-29T08:14:00.000-06:00

The Vernon County Broadcaster celebrated its 150th year as a continually-published newspaper. In honor of the sesquicentennial, the newspaper held a celebration party yesterday night for their advertisers and business customers. The event was at the Viking Inn in Viroqua. A drawing for door prices included gift certificates for diners at several local eateries and assorted gifts were given. Some of the lucky winners included Linda Sherry and myself. Additionally at our table was Linda and Kerry Hall, of Hall Realty who each won dinner gift certificates. Cade Cary of Cary Realty, and his wife received beach towels. I received a golf umbrella and Linda won a dinner at the Firehouse.

State of Wisconsin's New Website...Hall of Shame

2006-12-27T11:14:00.000-06:00

One sure way to get folks to pay their delinquent taxes is to humiliate them by posting them on the Internet! Wisconsin Department of Revenue has recently notified 7,000 people and businesses that they'll soon find their names posted on a tax deadbeat Web site.

The "Web site of shame," is now live, if you have at least $25,000 in unpaid sales, income, excise or corporate franchise taxes you can make this illustrious list. Other states have similar delinquent taxpayer sites which help to increase collection from these non-tax payer's. The state hopes to collect one and a-half million dollars a year by posting the names.

Merry Christmas to All

2006-12-25T08:51:00.000-06:00

Comparison of 2005-2006

2006-12-23T10:13:00.000-06:00

Year End Market Comparison for all of the Multiple Listing Service member offices.

Vernon County
Based on reported sales information from the Greater La Crosse MLS

Sold Stats:
Number of Properties Sold 2005 196 Transaction Total: 392
Number of Properties Sold 2006 194 Transaction Total: 388
Median price range for these years: $113,500 to $104,000
Dollar Volume of Sold Listings: $23,767,879 in 2005 $23,500,854 in 2006
Percentage of price change -8.4%

Listing Stats:
Number of Properties For Sale 2005: 203
Number of Properties For Sale 2006: 411
Difference: 208
Listing Volume: $27,062,472 2005
Listing Volume: $59,262,693 2006
Percentage of Change: 102.50%
Median Price Range: $118,900 2005 $95500 for 2006

There was twice the amount of property for sale in 2006 with the final sales prices being lower in 2006
This comparison does not factor in sales and listings of non-Realtor offices in and around Viroqua and Vernon County. Additionally, this comparison does not factor in sales and lisitngs of Realtors with membership in other MLS systems.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-22T21:34:00.000-06:00

“Tis the Season to be Merry"... As Christmas Day draws near and the year winds down, it is time to reflect upon our past business year of 2006. With our next years business plan in place, we are ready for 2007. We are looking forward to serving all who are selling or buying real estate in Vernon County. It has been a very wonderful year, we have had the opportunity to meet and represent many new comers to Vernon County, and the good fortune to assist many who were relocating out of town or moving to new homes locally. All of us at The R Team wish you a Merry Christmas and a big thank you for the many gift boxes, fruits and cookies dropped off to our office from our wonderful suppliers, many local bankers, past clients, new clients and friends. We have been enjoying the treats and are very much appreciative of your thoughtfulness. A special thank you to the WCCU Credit Union for the Wine and Cheese basket; it was enjoyed by us on Thursday night, after hours, by all of the R team.

Merry Christmas to all, from Mary, Jean, Linda, Christine and Gerry

Photo of the Week

2006-12-21T14:59:00.000-06:00

A big old red barn is probably one of the first things most people think of when you imagine a farm. Many barns are being torn down each year because they are no longer are serving any purpose for the landowner. When I drive by one and the view is just right, I cannot help pulling over and taking a photo. Perhaps they just no longer satisfy the needs of a modern farmer. Keeping an old barn in good condition and preserving them is the goal of the Wisconsin Historical Preservation Society.

Ladies Golf Christmas Party

2006-12-15T09:05:00.000-06:00

Along with cold weather, there is no surer sign that the holidays are here… than holiday parties. We have already had the neighborhood party, which was a progressive party going from house to house. This week there will be several others to attend.

So far, my favorite is the ladies golf party. Lucky for all of us golfing ladies, the clubhouse is a great place to host a party! The annual event consists of a potluck dish to pass and a gift to give. It has been hosted at member’s homes, but the clubhouse is nicer with the mess being left for the staff of the clubhouse to clean up.

After all it is the holidays…the format of the party goes like this; numbered slips of paper are placed in a basket totaling the exact number of those in attendance. Then the basket is passed around, each lady pulling out a number for the gift choosing order. Then one by one in order, you can take a gift, open it and show it around. The next number can then choose a new gift or take one that has already been opened. Yep… just steal it away from someone else. The event is always hilarious, with certain gifts being stolen multiple times, this year it was limited to 3 times only, per person to nab someone else’s gift. You never know what gift you will be going home with, that is the fun!

Let the good time Roll at the Viroqua Bowl A Way

2006-12-08T18:57:00.000-06:00

Here is an excellent opportunity to run an entertainment complex within the city of Viroqua in Southwestern Wisconsin. Viroqua is seeing a steady growth in business and stores like Walgreen’s, Wal-Mart and other larger retailers. Many are opening and locating business within our Main Street district. Vernon County is also experiencing continual growth with relocation of many families from larger urban area moving here, increasing demand for entertainment.

The Facility: The opportunity to transform this bowling facility and lounge into a sports bar & grill, or perhaps add some trendy Cosmic Bowling to the lanes, are sure to be greeted with renewed excitement by the patrons. The business is well established, has over 40 years of on-going operation; it is a turnkey establishment. Both the business and real estate are included; the bowling alley features 12 lanes. The building size is approximately 17,700 square feet. The lot size is approximately 130x180, which has a plenty of paved parking. The sale of the business also includes a liquor license. The bar has steady trade with food service, pool tables and darts.

Bowling is one of the most popular indoor sports in the US. The entire family can enjoy this sport. This Bowling Center is in an excellent location right across form the Vernon County Fair Grounds. (The You Tube video was downloaded and not at this bowling alley, it is included to give an example of cosmic bowling.)

A Win-Win for all.

2006-12-05T09:03:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Deb Essenburg on the sale of her South Street Home!

And Congratulations to the O’Connor’s who purchased this home. Over the years I have had many sales and closing… at this one, at the closing table, we all gave a round of applause. Everyone was so pleasant to work with. This was not the easiest sale to put into place, but both the buyers and the seller were exceptionally wonderful to work for.

Gun Deer Season Ends

2006-11-26T14:36:00.000-06:00

The Gun Season for Deer Hunting ended today with at least a few deer still standing. I took these photos late today, nearby the south end of Virqoua. These deer were in a small patch of wooded land adjacent to the city and the golf course. There would be no hunting allowed in that area. No doubt, a good place to be if you are a deer.

The nine-day season for more than 600,000 gun hunters opened just before sunrise last Saturday the 18th. The Department of Natural Resources estimates 1.5 million to 1.7 million deer roam the fields and woods. They estimated this is about the same as a year ago when archers and gun hunters killed nearly 468,000 deer, the sixth best season in Wisconsin.

2006-11-23T12:00:00.000-06:00

This well-built MULTI USE COMMERCIAL BUILDING is located in the quaint downtown area of Westby. With a Spacious 3720 + or – square feet, it offers lots of room for business. It is located on a 77.5X48 lot and has 77.5 feet of display frontage on busy Highway 14. In its past, the building was originally used as an automotive dealership building, it includes large retail space, a separate entry office space area with private entry that can be rented out separately. There is a second floor, which is an unfinished area with possibilities for a rehabbing into more office space or storage space. The Ideal location is currently used as an antique mall. It is located in the middle of the primary trade area were several other gift stores and antique malls are in operation.

For an appointment to view, call 608-637-3599

Highway 14 Open Again

2006-11-18T09:03:00.000-06:00

Good news for any commuters and travelers along Highway 14. If you are heading to or from La Crosse that portion of the roadwork is now completed and the highway is open again. It has been a long Spring, Summer and Fall without this road being open.

Open House Schedule

2006-11-03T06:57:00.000-06:00

Open on Sunday
November 5, 2006
from 12 Noon until 2:30 pm

Jean Driscoll will host this home at: E7618 East Smith Road Virqoua, WI 54665-8238

Mary Strang will hold open this home at: 224 Ramsland Westby, WI 54667-1032

FYI: So nice to see, So lovely to behold, but we are really really sorry it is already SOLD.

The home at 609 South Main Street Westby, WI 54667, was scheduled to be open and was to be Hosted by Linda Sherry; it now has an accepted offer. The owner does not wish to hold this home open this Sunday.

Fall bike ride in Southwestern Wisconsin

2006-10-24T15:15:00.000-05:00

Open House Schedule

2006-10-16T07:53:00.000-05:00

Open on Sunday

October 22, 2006

from 12 Noon until 2:30 pm

903 Conner Street Viroqua, WI 54665

Contact: Jean Driscoll cell number is: 608-606-0037

S5381 19th Fairway Viroqua, WI 54665

Contact Mary Strang: cell number is: 608-606-2999

Surprise Birthday Cake

2006-10-03T07:57:00.000-05:00

Yesterday at the office, I had a pleasant noon break. As you get older... Like a visit from the tax-man, birthdays come around every year. So... How you decide to celebrate them is entirely up to you. I usually try to not make them too public. But this surprise birthday cake will certainly be one that won't be soon forgotten. Thank you friends, for making my birthday very special! Mary

Big Cup Tournament

2006-10-02T07:37:00.000-05:00

Nearing the end of the season, Viroqua Hills Golf Club hosted a Big Cup tournament, which is always a fun event. In this outing the standard putting cup is replace with a much larger 8 inch wide cup, which you would think would make putting easier. However, the cup is always positioned on the green in a more challenging location than normal. Usually it is placed closer to the edge of the green and where ever the slope is the most making the putt more difficult. There were 18 teams signed up. The winning team came in at 52 while the highest score card was 75. My teammates were: Mary Norris-Strang, Barb Kurtz, Cindy Ostrum and Jenny Kurtz. It was a perfect Indian Summer day!

Pumpkin Time

2006-09-29T08:46:00.000-05:00

The colors of fall are starting to appear in Vernon County with many local farm fields full of pumpkins. The wooded hills of our area are turning from lush green to the many shades of orange, red and brown reminding us that autumn is here.

WRA Convention 2006

2006-09-28T08:34:00.000-05:00

It was convention time again! This year’s annual WRA event was called “The Rush Is On!” with a Wild West theme, it was held September 25-27 in Madison, WI at the Marriott Madison West. Past conventions have been also held over in the Dells, at the Kalahari. This is always an educational opportunity for Realtors who are interested in improving their skills and advancing their educational opportunities. It is also a fun event and an opportunity to meet up with other Realtors friends from around the state. It is a chance to rekindle friendships and talk about the market trends, and ideas with each other. This years keynote speakers were David Knox and Howard Britton, my two personal favorites and the reason why Jean and I attended.

David Knox presentation were:
1. Value Added Selling
2. Getting the Listing ... Priced Right
With the current housing bubble being national news, it is a good time to sharpen skills on pricing and understanding how the current market conditions will effect home buyers and sellers in these changing times. One of the greatest difficulties of listing is getting the property properly price. In this seminar we learned to master a 'Pricing Presentation' that included over 25 pricing techniques to help get listings ... priced right! David demonstrated dialogues and graphics using real situations through role-play interaction.

Howard Britton presentations was: Your Customers Are Changing ... Are You?

The general theme was: The word "no" doesn't stop top producers from adding to their customer base. Howard shared what drives top producers in real estate, and what keeps them motivated and goal oriented.

Open House Schedule

2006-09-13T07:52:00.000-05:00

Like many other Realtors, holding a Sunday open house is the norm, however in our smaller market place attendance has always been somewhat low on a Sunday afternoon. Reasoning it out... it seems that this particular day in a small market place like Vriqoua or Westby is dedicated towards family time, church and gathering with friends. During spring and summer, we find we can hold opens more successfully on a Wednesday night from 5 to 6:30 pm. Daylight saving time, of course helps, but during the fall season, it gets more complicated with the Packer schedule usually setting our schedule for opens. Here is a posting for September 20th of what will be open.

Linda Sherry will host this open house at 103 Elm Street in Westby. The home features 3- bedroom and 2 full baths. The lower lever has an additional bedroom and family room with a gas fireplace. The home price is $148000 and has been recently reduced in price.

Jean Driscoll is scheduled to open this great home on Smith Road, the Address is: E7608 East Smith Road, Virqoua, WI. The school district is Westby. It is a very well kept 3 bedroom ranch on one acre of land. There is a family room on the main level offering more living space. The lover level is partially finished off.

Mary Strang will hold open 415 E. South Street in Vriqoua. This home offers 4 bedrooms and 1.5 baths. It has original woodwork and lots of charm. We hope you can attend one or all of these open houses. Give us a call at the office if you need directions 608-637-8334

Located in the heart of an Amish Community

2006-09-10T11:26:00.000-05:00

This 9-year old ranch home is an outstanding pastoral retreat and has 3-bedroom and 2-baths. It is wonderfully sited on more than 5-acre of secluded ground. Many mature hardwood trees enhance the privacy and partially screen the home from view. With such a tranquil setting, far enough back on a private drive, it offers an extremely quiet sanctuary. Located only a few miles west of Hillsboro in the heart of a peaceful Amish community, you can take a break from hectic days and rest on the front covered porch. There you can hear the clip-clop of Amish buggies passing by. There is plenty of gardening space and established grape arbors, plus fruit trees abound. Recently installed new hardwood floors are found in all the rooms, both baths have top-quality slate tile in a natural earth tone. The amazing open kitchen boast fine cherry cabinetry and sleek and elegant Corian countertops with a molded double sink. The contemporary split floor plan makes smart use of the 3rd bedroom by the addition of a pair of glass French doors, making it user friendly for a either a den or bedroom. This truly is a fantastic home with supreme quality throughout! Come & Evaluate this home today… we are confident you will recognize the value here.

Labor Day Appointments

2006-09-01T08:41:00.000-05:00

Labor Day weekend has long been considered the last celebration of summer. A time to take a break from working; a time to relax and enjoy a long weekend. Everyone is saying ‘It's hard to believe that summer is winding down and fall will be here soon!’ As many people plan to come out to Vernon County this weekend to spend a leisurely time at their cabins and country farmettes, many Realtors like myself will not be taking a respite and will be working hard to sell land over this holiday weekend. As there are many out-of-town buyers coming here and they will be looking to buy some country land.

The next 2-3 months are the most ideal time for land buying and selling. With stunning fall colors coming and leaves falling from the trees, the hillsides will be in clear view. The under-brush will be mostly fading away and soon gone. It will be easy walking in the woods. Plan to dress appropriately in jeans and hiking boots, bring a jacket too. At this time of the year it is easy to spot plenty of wildlife such as the deer roaming about in search of acorns and grasses to eat. I took this photo yesterday!

http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm Just curious if many actually know why we celebrate labor day? When I think about it, I don't recall when and why this day became a Holiday. Click the link to read the history of Labor Day.

Cabins, Cabins and more Cabins

2006-08-27T10:11:00.000-05:00

It seems that owning a country cabin is definitely popular in our area; over the years I have listed and sold hundreds of them. It is not unusual to sell some cabin several times every few years. Who owns all these cabins? Deer hunters, trout fisherman, weekend city folks and also many local people who just want a little patch of ground out of town. The vast majority of the cabins are owned by out-of-towners who come here from Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison or the Twin Cities, as well as, many other places. I have sold cabins to trout fisherman as far away as California and Boston Massachusetts. The reasons owners sell are varied, such as wanting to move up to a larger cabin, or sometimes the owners love it here so much they sell the cabin and buy a year round country home. Other reasons are they no longer use it as much, their children have grown and are now too busy with other activities or they just have moved to far away to come out here anymore. I find the time frame of ownership is around 3-5 years. Over the years in the realty business, it has been a rewarding experience selling weekend recreational property. Many cabin owners have become my close friends and it is alway fun to get to know them and help them get settled into their little piece of paradise. I don't think there are any figures on how many cabins are located within Vernon County, I would bet there are more cabins than homes! It is often sad to see the owners sell; then on the other hand it is great to meet and make new friend with the next new owner!

This one is Just Listed...

Got Cabin Fever...this may be the cure! Here is a remote Amish Built Log Cabin tucked away and nestled quietly into the deep woods offering seclusion and wildlife at your doorstep. There are plenty of walking paths that meander their way through the mature trees of this private 10-acre property. The winding pathways lead to a hidden picnic point that overlooks a wooded narrow valley below, which is certain to be the habitat of many wild turkeys and countless deer. The cabin has an inviting country decor with exterior details such as hand hewn square logs with dovetail corners, a sizeable covered front cabin porch, plus window shutters accented with heart cutouts. The rustic interior has an open living area with a kitchenette, a focal point "Waterford Woodstove" and a trim stairway leading to the upper twin sleeping lofts. The open and airy mirror image lofts are spacious enough to comfortably sleep 4. There definitely is a charming storybook feel to this whimsical and cozy cabin in the woods. This property is assured to be the remedy for your cabin fever.

Wisconsin Real Estate Condition Report

2006-08-26T15:39:00.000-05:00

(RECR) Real Estate Condition Report

No home is prefect and if you look close enough you can always find something that needs to be fixed around your home. I guess that is why Home Depot is such a great store and always has lots of customers. When listing a home, the owner is required by Wisconsin Law to fill out a Real Estate Condition Report. This form does not represent a sellers warranty of the home; it is just simply a written statement of what conditions exist and what conditions the owner has become aware of during the time they have owned the property. The RECR may be your most important first step when selling your home. It is good advise to take your time and fill this form out carefully and to the disclose everything to the best of your knowledge. By disclosing everything you know about your property, a negative condition made known early seldom remains a problem and can usually be a negotiation point between the buyer and seller in relationship to the final selling price. Items not disclosed or not discovered until after a buyer has had a home inspection can cause the sale to fall apart and can even lead to stigmatizing the property. If a defect is costly enough, sometimes the seller cannot afford the repair, and may even be the reason the seller is selling. When this is the case, the seller may have to offer a concession. Usually this is in the form of a credit on the closing statement (a deduction on the price) or it can be a check back to the buyer at the time of the closing with the funds coming out of the proceeds of the sale to cover the expenses to fix the problem. If a seller can not fix the problem, I usually recommend obtaining a written pre-estimate from an independent contractor for these repairs in advance. I recommend having these estimated ready for any buyers review when the property is being shown. Thus allowing the buyer the full benefit of knowing the actual cost involved if they plan to purchase your home.

A costly defect was recently found in a home I have been marketing; it was in the foundation wall. Fortunately that seller was able to pay for the repair and it is fixed. The owner was not aware of this condition, however, the home inspector found it at the time of an offer. As I said earlier, no home is perfect and I could also say with certainty, that no buyer want a serious foundation problem because they are expensive. In this particular home the foundation was of cement block and repair estimates ranged from $6000 to $3700 for the cost to replace the entire wall.

Wetness and dampness in the basement can be a significant problem, but a large foundation crack is a serious matter. If one is discovered, owners should have an independent professional inspection done prior to placing the property on the market for sale. In a concrete block or stone foundation, the direction of the crack can tell the source of the problem. Horizontal cracks along the middle of the wall, or a stair step crack following the mortar joints, often are signs of lateral pressure. When the ground around your foundation is wet it expands. When it is dry it shrinks back down. This back and forth pressure will cause cracking and bowing in the wall. This is a serious sign of movement in the foundation. Another sign of needed foundation repair work are vertical or stair step cracks in a block or stone foundation wall. This is a sign of settlement. Unstable soil conditions can cause your home to sink down into the ground causing stress on many areas, including your basement walls. With this problem, you may also notice doors or windows that are hard to close, cracks in drywall, and/or cracks in the outside facing of the home. The recommended first step for foundation repair is to have a foundation repair contractor examine the situation.

Wild West Days 2006

2006-08-21T08:24:00.000-05:00

For all the grown up cowboys and cowgrils, this festable is for you! Wild West Days Is hosted annually each August and has become a very popular event.

Viroqua Open was held this weekend

2006-08-13T16:34:00.000-05:00

The 2 day Men's Viroqua Open was held this weekend with 200 golfers signed up for the event.

Grand Opening Celebration

2006-08-10T08:50:00.000-05:00

The Grand Opening Celebration of the new Viroqua Area Medical Office Building, a collaborative project between Vernon Memorial Healthcare and Gundersen Lutheran Health System took place Wednesday, August 9th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The new 144,000 square foot, five-level building brings Viroqua heath care services into one convenient location. The new clinic adjoins the hospital. The public was invited to share in the excitement and enthusiasm at the ribbon cutting ceremony and program beginning at 4:00 p.m. Building tours followed, with food and refreshments served in the new restaurant named: "The Grille", along with entertainment.

Geodesic Dome Home

2006-08-09T08:29:00.000-05:00

Dome homes may be associated with the hippy era of the 60's and 70's. Dome Home original Designer This type of house certainly will be attractive for any one wanting energy efficiency. Here is a hidden gem of a property which is located on 10 acres of wooded land. Unique country cabins are always sought after in our Hill Country area. There are very few dome homes that I have seen available in our area, and it was an adventure for me to preview this property. It is coming on the market this week. Take a look at the link, to Buckmister Fuller who was the inventor of this type of housing back in 1927. Not exactly the hippy era then.

RE/MAX Reaches 120,000 Agent Milestone

2006-08-06T22:17:00.000-05:00

Press Release From RE/MAX International:
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO - Real estate franchisor, RE/MAX International announced that its global membership of real estate sales associates has now reached 120,000 in 63 countries. Recently, the network also announced that franchise sales were ahead of last year’s mid-year pace.
"July’s agent growth took us over the 120,000 mark and was our 402nd month of continuous growth," commented Vinnie Tracey, president of RE/MAX International. "Obviously, we are pleased with both the continued agent growth and increases in franchise sales around the world. We have some truly great people at every level of this organization, and the fact that agents continue to select RE/MAX is indicative of their desire to associate with other like-minded career professionals."
At year end 2005, RE/MAX had 114,417 sales associates in the network, representing a 13.9 percent growth for the year. The net growth of 5,583 agents so far this year puts RE/MAX on pace for similar agent growth for 2006.
Regions with the largest increase in sales associates were Ontario Atlantic Canada with 580; Portugal added 442; Carolinas increased 366; Western Canada at 342; and Georgia with 263.
"The regional operations are excelling in their franchise sales efforts, broker/owners continue to grow and expand their operations and we anticipate opening in additional countries this year," added Tracey.

Progress Report Sunday

2006-08-06T16:48:00.000-05:00

Move in Ready!

The new Village Homes on Chip Court are finally ready for the move-in day, with only a few things left to do. The appliances are being delivered tomorrow, the cleaning crew should have been out there today, and the building inspector will be out Monday to issue the occupancy permit.
Here are a few photos of the interior work.
The lighting fixtures have been installed, along with the new sink and faucet. The island bar features a slide out trash drawer on the one side and a 3-drawer cabinet on the other end. In the center is a standard 2-door cabinet with shelves. The door behind the island is a pantry with lots of extra storage space. The flooring in the kitchen and dining area is laminate in a very light maple tone. In the living room the gas fireplace has a remote control and is flanked by two windows. The carpeting is a light beige as is the ceramic tile at the entry, laundry room and both baths. Off the other end of the living area is an open stairway to the lower level and a door at the bottom. The lower level is unfinished but there is expansion room for a family room and an additional bedroom and bath. That space has 2 egress windows installed which adds natural light and safety, as it is not a walkout basement. The laundry is on the main floor, with a row of the same matching upper cabinets, for storage, the same as used throughout the home. There is also a base cabinet with a full counter utility sink, and a built-in ironing board is also included in the laundry space. The Master Bedroom has a private master bath with walk-in closet; in this unit a handi-cap shower stall was requested. The second bath has a standard tub with shower, a solar sunlight tub was installed, as this is an interior bathroom. This bath is accessed from the hallway and is also convenient to the second mainfloor bedroom. This Twindo Home sits on a .50 acre lot with a 2-car attached garage. The garage is 730 sq. ft. and has a 3rd overhead door on the side of the garage for golf cart parking. There is a deeded easement cart path to access the upper streets for a cart ride to the Viroqua Hills Golf Club.

The painting crew is scheduled to come out on Thursday to assist in the color choices being made and they are planning to get to work adding the personal touches to this home. The home's floor plan offers more privacy than expected at both the front entry and the rear covered patio area, because of the bumped-out floorplan of the building. RE/MAX Hill Country will offering 4 more units. These will be available for pre-construction, sale, they can be customized to suit the individual buyer taste. Both these units have been sold. The move-in dates for the next pre-construction offering can be booked now for the Spring 2007 building season. Please contact The R Team for additional information and pricing.

Pricing to Sell

2006-08-06T00:25:00.000-05:00

Is there a current downward shift in our local real estate marketplace? It looks like Vernon County may also be experiencing some of the national real estate bubble, which has been predicting a flattening out, or an adjustement of the real estate market prices. I am sure everyone has been seeing an increase in the numbers of "for sale signs" around town. It appears that the market is also taking longer to absorb the oversupply of re-sale home currently listed in our area. When this happens the market changes to what is called a Buyers Market. What exactly is a Buyers Market? It mean the supply and demand is out of balance. Simply put, too many Sellers not enough Buyers. This translated into plenty of additional choices for any Buyer looking for a home. It means that Buyers can take longer to make decisions on which home best suits for their needs. They can become picky on choosing only homes in top condition and they may end up preferring to wait it out for a better priced home. The Key to selling in a Buyers Market is to price it right to start with. Overpricing your home in a Buyers Market can be costly.

Statements frequently heard from Sellers that really have nothing to do with the home's listing price are:
People always offer less than asking price.
The buyer can always make an offer.
My neighbor was able to get his price.
We can always come down, but we can't go up.
Another agent said it was worth more.
If it were in New York City it would be worth a million dollars!

Several factors that should be considered when establishing a listing price in a buyers market is the number of other competing listings, the condition of the property, the location and the amount of time the Seller has to market the property.

Six Dangers of overpricing your home.
1. You will lose the excitement that a new listing generates: The current buyers working with Agents have seen what is currently on the market and are waiting for something new to be listed, Therefore, the most activity will take place in the first 30 day of a listing. Your home will probably receive its highest and best offers during this time.
2. You will lose the most qualified prospects: Buyers won't be able to "make an offer" because they most likely won't see your property. They will view the properties that are priced within their purchase range, knowing that they cannot afford anything above their price range.
3. Overpricing help sell other property first: Your home may be used to demonstrate the good value of other properties. Your objective should be to enter the market in a position that will attract prospects, not drive them away.
4. Your home may become stale on the market: Prospect will wonder why it has been on the market so long, or if something is wrong with the home. Later even when the price is reduced you may have to settle for less money than if you had priced it right at the start.
5. You lose a strong negotiation position when your house is on the market a long time. If the home is price competitively it is possible that multiple offers will come in. The longer a house stays on the market overprice, the less likely it will sell.
6. If you do get an offer, the contract may fall through because of appraisal problems: The lender must justify the price to the market, you may find yourself having to re-negotiate the sale price when the appraisal come in too low.

2006-08-04T07:52:00.000-05:00

From the moment you drive over the Thompson Lane Bridge…that crosses Beaver Creek, you will know you have found the perfect and private country home or retreat property you have been seeking. Privately tucked away in the delightful Kickapoo Valley, the location is a perfect 2 short miles from the small rural Village of LaFarge. The nearby Kickapoo Reserve’s 8400 acres of wilderness land offers up many recreational opportunities for fun filled adventure. The emphasis of this location is definitely on outdoor enjoyment. There are numerous hiking trails, canoe landings and many miles of park horseback riding trails to explore. The spacious & charming 4-bedroom, 1.5 baths (1920 circa, Craftsman style home) is sited peacefully on a hidden & wooded, 5-acre tract of land. From the front deck, the home, which overlooks the scenic hills and the trout stream, is certainly where you can take in the sweeping views. The picturesque hillsides and the sound of the rushing creek can be appreciated from the front deck of this rural homestead. The property also includes a traditional 1150 sq ft barn that has a corral suitable for horses, an old 3 story grainery building converted into a guest house/workshop, and several other useful outbuildings. There are two-acres of pasture land and plenty of room for large organic gardens, plus a fresh water spring on the property.

Bachelorrette Party Held Friday

2006-07-30T10:31:00.000-05:00

A super-stretch white Limousine was hired to transport these lovely Ladies to an unknown destination on Friday night. The bachelorette party guests met at the Firehouse Super Club in Viroqua; It looked like a FUN event! A limo will certainly turn heads and get people trying to peer into the back window wondering what it is like inside. Here are a few photos of the event

Progress Report Sunday

2006-07-30T10:19:00.000-05:00

Here are a few photos of the final week of work on the construction of the Village Homes located in Eagle Ridge on the south side of Viroqua. The remaining work to be completed includes the final connections of the plumbing, the electrical systems and install the lighting fixtures. By Tuesday the carpeting will be installed and after that the State building inspector will do the final walk through to inspect the home and issue the occupancy permit. This new home is almost ready for Gerry to move into next week!

Should a Seller provide a Pre-Home Inspections?

2006-07-23T14:45:00.000-05:00

The answer is YES!
Inspections of homes in our area, prior to closing, are now a routine part of the sales process. I would say at least 98% of the buyers have a professional home inspection, at the buyers cost, prior to closing on the property. Here are three reasons they are done:

To make sure what they are buying does not have any major problems or defects.
To acquaint the potential new homeowner with the current condition of the home and any needed maintenance.
It is the largest purchase one makes, so it makes sense to inspect it prior to closing. The inspection will also provide the buyer with a working knowledge of the mechanical systems and point out what future repairs that may be needed and how soon they should be done.

The Seller wants it sold "as is"... But... The purchase agreement usually calls for a certain number of days after inspections, that the buyer has to disclose any defects or unacceptable conditions of the property to the Seller. After the inspection is completed, the Buyer may object to these defects and want them fixed or be financially compensated because of the home inspection findings. The Buyer will usually ask for and will often get a credit or cash back at the time of closing. When this happens, emotions may really flair up and the transaction can become troubled and stressful. The Seller may feel taken advantage of because the sales price has been lowered or dollars had to be paid out that were not agreed to. When this happens, the Sellers can find themselves re-negotiating the original sales price of the home to save the sale.

Why would a Seller let this happen? Several reasons: 1. The Seller does not believe the home has any defects 2. The seller does not want to pay the estimated $380 for a pre-inspection report 3. A common Seller reply heard is: it was this way when we bought the home! 4. I want it sold "as is" 5. it is a new home, what could be wrong? Etc... With a looming Buyers market on the horizon, a Seller's self serving rationalization will no longer work. This mindset will cost you money; being proactive and prepared is the way to get a property sold today without post-inspection Problems and Surprises

A prudent and wise Seller will have their home pre-inspected at their cost, making sure they do not have any unknown defects or repairs needed. This should be done before accepting any offers on the home. Having a pre-inspection can save a home owner thousands of dollars up front. It can prevent a re-negotiation after acceptance of an offer, and avoid a sale from falling apart with only bad feelings remaining after the dust has cleared. No home is prefect but by pre-inspecting you can position the home as close to perfect as possible, thus maintain the agreed upon price.

Here is a list of the Top 10 items found on a home inspection:

1) Improper Surface Grading and Drainage. This is responsible for the most common household problems, such as water penetration into the basement or crawlspace. Also lack of gutters, or improperly installed gutters are often a cause of wet basements.

2) Improper Electrical Wiring. Lack of GFI plugs by plumbing fixtures and sinks. This also includes such situations as insufficient electrical service, inadequate overload electrical services and amateur (often dangerous) wiring connections. Older electrical services such as 60 amp fuse boxes are sometime not insurable on a new homeowners policy and will need replacement.

3) Roof Damage. Leaking roofs are a frequent problem. This is caused by old or damaged shingles or improper flashing and drainage. Water marks on ceilings, by basement windows, and by chimneys.
4) Heating Systems. The age of the furnace, and defect include broken or malfunctioning controls, blocked chimneys, and unsafe exhaust disposal.

5) Poor Overall Maintenance. Signs of poor maintenance include cracked, peeling or dirty painted surfaces, crumbling masonry, makeshift wiring or plumbing, and broken fixtures and appliances, also cracked and leaky windows.

6) Structurally Related Problems. Damaged of structural components such as cracks in the foundation walls, floor joists, rafters and window and door headers.

7) Plumbing. This includes the existence of old or incompatible piping materials, as well as faulty fixtures and waste lines.

8) Exteriors. Flaws in this category, such as windows, doors and wall surfaces, rarely have structural significance but may pose discomfort to the occupants due to water and air penetration. The most common culprits are inadequate caulking and/or weather-stripping.

9) Poor Ventilation. In an effort to save energy, many homeowners have "oversealed" their homes, resulting in excessive interior moisture. Significant moisture can lead to rotting and failure of both the structural and non-structural elements.

10) Miscellaneous. This category includes interior components (often cosmetic in nature) .

Not on this list but equally important in rural properties are separate inspections of the wells and septic systems. If the septic does not have a permit of record it can cause big concern to the buyer. The well is usually sampled for a bacteria and nitrate test done by an independent laboratory or the health department to insure the well water is safe to drink.

Pet Rabbit

2006-07-22T20:32:00.000-05:00

Hello Bunny Many families have dogs and cats, but here is one family's pet rabbit and her name is Bunny Girl! Bunny Site

She was at full attention and had her ears at full alert while I was inside her area of this home. I guess it is Easter every day at this household. I will have to create some interesting signage for the co-broke Realtors who may want to show this new listing! Some thing like : Beware of guard rabbit" or how about "Property patrolled by guard bunny".

Making Hay

2006-07-21T21:14:00.000-05:00

Here is a typical scenic view around the counties where we work.

MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES ... Act while conditions are favorable. The grass that is going to be used as hay needs to be dried after it is cut as rain is likely to spoil it. The farmer, therefore, seeks to cut hay on a day when it seemed likely that the sun would be around for that day and one or two more.

Progress Report Friday

2006-07-21T20:08:00.000-05:00

Here are a few photos of the progress on the New Village Homes located in Eagle Ridge. They are coming along nicely and almost completed! Closing is scheduled on the 25th of July for the left side unit. While the completion of the interior work is still going on in the right side and all the finishing work should be done around the first of August. The cabinets in the right side are a crisp white, with counter tops being a granite grey/brown. The flooring is of light maple, and the wood work throughout will be of an extra wide white trim. There is a natural gas fire place with an insert area for a TV or display. The homes area really shaping up nicely and should be a very comfortable place to live. The left side unit was finished off with oak trim and oak cabinets. Even though the units have the same floor plan, each unit was personalized by the new owners.

Easements

2006-07-19T08:23:00.000-05:00

Keep Out! You can't get there from Here!

When buying a country property there are always many things to consider and one consideration is any easements that run with the land. Easements are rights that may have been given in a formal written document. Or sometime in the past, a right-of-way may have been given causally and verbally to others. Easements may affect your intended use of the land. It is important to understand easements and what consequence or effect the easement has on your intended use of the property. The best advice is always having any easements fully review by a real estate attorney prior to closing the sale.

What is an easement? Well simply put, it is the right of a property owner to use another’s land for their benefit. Easements are created for many reasons: Utility Easements, Access for ingress and egress, or sometime they are used to correct an encroachment such as a neighbors septic drain field which overlap the lot line. In the countryside there are also many farm easements for a neighbor farmer to drive across another parties land to get to a field that is not accessible by any other means. This requires giving the farmer a right a way to cross another’s land because the cornfield is up on top of a steep hillside that is not accessible any other way. There are two types of easements. One benefits the property you are purchasing, and the other allows someone else to use that property. Additional important considerations to review are the easement terms and purpose, the repairs and maintenance of an easement, as well as enforcement rights.

Recently a past customer of mind purchased a property without any representation only to find out later than an easement was placed on the land at the time of closing without their consent. I referred them to legal counsel. The former owner selling realized shortly prior to closing that they did not have a written easement or right to supply water lines to an adjoining land owner (their son) from a spring on the land being sold. That seller hastily drafted up a document and recorded it without the consent of the new buyer, on the day of closing, giving rights for the water line to the son. The legal description used was across the entire 40-acre tract of land. Today easement should be surveyed to exactly describe the precise location of the easement. Vague easements descriptions cause many future title problems for the next owner. Many horror stories exist out there in regards to easements that are poorly and vaguely written, poorly described, and poorly assigned. Easements that do not address the cost associated with maintenance of roadways are also future nightmares for the new owner.

Congratulations to New CRS Member

2006-07-16T17:18:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to new Wisconsin CRS Members:
And to Jean Driscoll, CRS, ABR from the R team and RE/MAX Hill Country
Designated between January and May 2006:

Roger L. Krueger, Jr., CRS* Jean Driscoll, CRS, ABR Lynn Pilsner, CRS Elizabeth A. Meyer, CRS Michelle Grones, CRS* Mary J. Anderson, CRS Brian Dunham, CRS Samanthia Ramsey, CRS * Alice Riopel, CRS Laura Shively, CRS* Mary J. Bolin, CRS Diane E. Lins, CRS Eric M. Larson, CRS* Carol A. Willems, CRS Anne Marine, CRS Edward P. Laitner, CRS Arryn M. Woodliff, CRS Andrea Pickard, CRS Connie Tomski, CRS Mary Binkley, CRS Pamela Wood, CRS Linda Sanderfood, CRS Gerald Kampa, CRS* John Hacker, CRS Peggy Anderson, CRS Rachael See, CRS Michael J. Cundari, CRS* Allison Lensink, CRS Tamara Van Krey, CRSMarjorie Zschernitz, CRSJill C. Schneider, CRSMitzi Warren, CRSGary I. Engelke, CRS* Pamela J. Larkin, CRS John Flor, CRS* Deb Hanson, CRS Deborah D. Bicksler, CRS Lee Jennings, CRS* Norman G. Trisler, CRS Kristin Wild, CRS* Lori Blazek, CRS* Robert J. Rozewicz, CRS* James Olds, CRS Pamela Wondrash, CRS Shelly Sprinkman, CRS Fran Scoville, CRS David L. Mays, CRS Shirley Benedict, CRS Risa Topper, CRS Jean Connors, CRS

** Denotes national members that are also Wisconsin Chapter CRS members CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Jo Dresen, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRESMembership Chair

Wedding Bells for Linda

2006-07-16T10:34:00.000-05:00

It's Tee Time Fore Ever.
Linda and Dewey made it official on July 14th 2006! After the vows were taken the happy couple changed clothes and headed out to the Viroqua Hills Golf Club. They donned Bride and Groom Caps; Linda's was a white ball cap with silk rosettes and a veil, Dew's featured a black tuxedo on it. Very Nice Touch.

3 under!

2006-07-14T13:17:00.000-05:00

The annual LaCrosse Realtors Association golf outing was held July 10, 2006 at the Cedar Creek Country Club.

The 18-hole "Cedar Creek" course at the Cedar Creek Country Club facility in Onalaska, Wisconsin features 6,751 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71. The course rating is 72.6 and it has a slope rating of 132 on Bent grass. The sign up time was 11 a.m. with a shot gun start at noon. Each foresum was required to be comprised of at least 2 Realtors and 2 guests.

Our team featured Linda Christianson-Sherry, and Mary Norris-Strang, plus our husbands. We finished 3 under with the winning team, having 6 under.

This was the second time Mary and Trent attended this yearly event. Two years ago on the prior outing our team scored 6 under coming in second place. At this current outing Trent just missed making the shot by inches on the hole-in-one event. The prize would have been $10,000! He did win the flag for closest to the pin on that hole.

We made some great putts and some excellent drives, but mostly the weather was terrific and we all had a very fun day.

Canoe the Kickapoo

2006-07-14T11:48:00.000-05:00

The weather has been just great this summer for canoeing on the Kickapoo River. Several canoe rental companies are located in the small town of Ontario, Wisconsin. That is in the on the north east side of Vernon County, located just above the Wildcat Mountain State Park. If you are looking for a great way to enjoy the outdoors, this is certainly guaranteed to be an enjoyable time. The canoe outfitters offer everything you need to make your day out on the river really a fun filled event. You will want to get a group of friends’ together and plan to spend at least 3 to 4 hours paddling downstream. There are several take out locations along the banks. You will be picked up at one of the bridge landings by an old brightly painted school bus, then transport back to Ontario where your car was parked.

The Kickapoo River has been a favorite among canoeists for many years. The word "Kickapoo" is from the Native American Algonquian language meaning "he who goes here, then there." Translated locally as the "crooked river," it certainly lives up to its name, meandering its way along a 125-mile course that covers only 65 miles "as the crow flies." The shallow, gently flowing river is tame enough for the beginner but challenging enough for the advanced paddler as well. The upper stretch of the river from Ontario to La Farge is arguably the most beautiful, if not the most accessible for the public to enjoy.

Here are some websites of the local canoe rental companies:
www.driftyscanoerental.net
www.titaniccanoerental.com
www.mrduckscanoerental.com

Take a walk in the woods

2006-07-09T23:18:00.000-05:00

Good hunting parcel and at an equally good price! 37.30 acres of mostly wooded land with about 5 acres open. Lose yourself in this captivatingly rural location and re-energize among the pastoral settings and the beauty of nature...

Sunday Progress Report

2006-07-01T20:49:00.000-05:00

The Sunday Progress Report came in early this week.....This is the first time that Gerry has seen the new twin home that she will be moving into shortly. I think it is meeting with her approval. Here are a few shots of the current progress .
Tomorrow we plan to go to LaCrosse to make the final selection of light fixtures, and other items that are needed to complete the project. This week the siding has been completed, the exterior is finished, the dirt has been excavated back on to the lawn area. So only the interior work is needing completion.

Viroqua Sign controversy

2006-06-27T07:29:00.000-05:00

The Walgreens store, which is slated to be open the end of June, has raised some issues around town over its new sign. Apparentley the city officials were openly critical of Walgreens' sign being exempt from the city's new sign ordinance. The council voted unanimously to table the issue until the May 30 council meeting.

The new Walgreens store’s sign does not comply with the city’s recently revamped sign ordinance. The developer received a variance for the sign three days before the new sign ordinance was approved by the council. Under the old sign ordinance "reader board" signs or electronic signs that display scrolling messages were not allowed unless a variance was granted. The Walgreens Store obtained that variance three days before the new sign ordinance was passed. The new ordinance does not allow reader boards except those that display time and temperature.

Other businesses, including Nelson Agri-Center and Vernon Memorial Hospital, have applied for similar signs. Alderman Terry Noble said the issue of granting variances to businesses for such signs has been discussed by the Viroqua Partners and there is concern that the issue could undermine the new sign ordinance."If Walgreens can have a variance, then we have to give a variance to everybody, then we might as well take that right out of ordinance," Noble said. "The people who worked on that ordinance worked hard on it. They didn't feel electronic signs were appropriate in the city. I have great concern about Walgreens getting in three days ahead of that." Walgreens development troubles city : by Tim Hundt Prior Post: Small town, Big store

Progress Report Sunday

2006-06-25T19:10:00.000-05:00

The Exterior of the Village Homes is basically completed, except installing the garage doors, moving the dirt around and bringing the topsoil back into the yard space. Now the crew will be extremely busy working on inside of the west unit. As it is set to close, in less than 26 days. With new occupancy permits needed prior to any new construction closing, they will really be humming down there. The one shot of the interior is the living area looking over what will be a three sided island bar. The photo looking down the walkway, was taken to show off my new bug!

Just Ducky

2006-06-25T17:49:00.000-05:00

A property that will be soon coming on the market has a wonderful spring pond and these two happy resident ducks. The owner said "they return every year, are well fed, plus have total use of the pond". The Crawford, and Vernon County areas are well known for cold water springs. Many original Settlers sought out locations that had springs, not just for drinking water but for use as refrigeration of milk on dairy farms back when milk was stored in milk cans. Many old milk houses have spring boxes in them, where the milk was kept. Here is a sneak preview of the 140 acre place.

A spring is a point where groundwater flows out of the ground and is thus where the aquifer surface meets the ground surface. This pond is spring fed with a constant temperature around 45 to 50 degrees.

Goat Dairy

2006-06-21T21:44:00.000-05:00

Goats are used for milk, meat, fiber, land management (brush control), packing, entertainment, and pets, making them perhaps the most useful all-around animal on the planet. Mt. Sterling in Crawford County just south of Viroqua, is home to the countries largest goat milk coop operation in the country.Goat Cheese

Open House on South Street

2006-06-21T21:04:00.000-05:00

The RE/MAX Balloon Landed early this afternoon at this lovely home on South Street! We held an impromptu open house. The South Street area had a planned and private block party for the local home owners, and I seized moment to stage an open and invite the neighbor to tour this home. We had many lookers and certainly one or two very interested buyers take a convenient opportunity to tour without the need to set up a pre arranged appointment. We hopefully may see an offer in the morning!

So... If you looking for a distinctive, stately early 20th century home . . .that boasts fine craftsmanship and exceptional quality throughout? Then this beautifully maintained two-story, four-bedroom home will delight you! Original oak woodwork, flooring and doors are untouched throughout. Located in a sought-after neighborhood in Viroqua, this inviting home, reminiscent of the Craftsman style, is situated on a large lot with mature trees and includes a private drive and two-car garage. The impressive living space includes a grand entrance hall and tasteful living room with original fireplace. French doors lead to an open and attractive formal dining room that is accessible from both the living and kitchen areas. The sizeable and cheery kitchen is adjoined by a sunlit breakfast room, which was added by the current owners and overlooks the large backyard. The walkout deck is accessible by either the breakfast room or the private den of this beautiful home. Upstairs, the four bedrooms are good-sized, with the master bedroom featuring his and her closets and a dressing room. The full walk-up attic space invites a make-over into a bonus room. Overall, you will find this one-of-a-kind home in first-rate condition!

Progress Report on the New Village Homes

2006-06-20T09:20:00.000-05:00

The construction is moving right along, with the siding almost finished, and the trim is looking wonderful. The vinyl shakes look very nice on the roof peaks, and the corners are being finished out in a complementary lighter grey tone. The driveways were poured yesterday. On Saturday we had a huge rainfall that washed out all the compacted sand fill, which had to be re-done again prior to the cement work being finished on Monday. The interior is also coming along, with the arrival of the gas fireplace, selection on the floor treatments and also drywall going up.

Viroqua Hills Golf Course

2006-06-20T08:14:00.000-05:00

The 18-hole "Viroqua Hills" course at the Viroqua Hills Golf Club facility in Viroqua, Wisconsin features 6,291 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71. The course rating is 70.8 and it has a slope rating of 127. Viroqua Hills golf course opened in 1930.

The original 9 hole course was expanded upon in 1996 to 18 holes. Currently, the first 3 holes are on west side of the course, after hole 3 there is an underground tunnel that leads to the 4th hole on the other side of highway 14. Then back to the east side, again pass under the highway back 13 to 18.

Thursday is Lady's Day, and here are a few photos I took last week of Linda, Karen and Cheryl on hole 2. We all try to get together that day, after work and play nine holes. Unwinding after a day of work and meeting around 4 p.m. is not always easy to accomplished with last minute appointments, calls etc.

This is a link to the score card and also a link to the Viroqua Partners site:
http://www.trgagolf.com/ScoreCards/score_Viroqua.htm

Golf Course

Progress Report Sunday

2006-06-11T10:13:00.000-05:00

Progress Report on the Village Homes on Chip Court...The exterior is going along nicely, still lots of work to be done on the interior. The rooms are framed out, and the windows are installed. It is really moving along!