Recently Sold Homes by Barbara Chatterton, Realtor

Recently Sold Homes by Barbara Chatterton, Realtor



Through the Stark Company's Middleton Office, I listed or sold these properties all over the greater Madison area: Dane, Oregon, Sun Prairie, Madison and Middleton. Here are a few remarks from the sellers and buyers with whom I have worked:

I chose Barbara Chatterton as the realtor to sell my late mother's house because she was such a good friend to my mother, and my mother always made it clear that whenever and however that house was sold, she wanted Barbara to handle it. Well, Mom knew what she was doing. Barbara has been hard-working, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. She has been a great communicator all along the line, letting us know what to expect and what was happening, explaining our options, giving advice, but applying no pressure when we occasionally did things differently, and listening to what was most important to us. She has been generous with her time, expertise and resources, even helping us find a free piece of carpet for staging the house.
The bottom line -- the house sold as soon as it was listed, at a price we were very happy with. In fact, we had 3 offers, all above the listing price,in spite of significant drawbacks to this house. As we approach the closing, she continues to help us with everything that needs to be done. I can whole-heartedly recommend Barbara Chatterton as a realtor.

-Kathy Wendorff



Dear Barbara, I just wanted to write a bit of a thank you for all that you have done to sell my house. After moving from Madison to Denver I had wondered how on earth am I going to sell my home in Madison without being around to take care of things or oversee what was happening. With all due respect and trust towards you I didn't have a problem. We had daily conversations involving your expert advice and I honored your voice every time. You staged my house beautifully and you took your personal time to make sure things were up to par. I could not have done this without you. I truly believe that your hard work, wonderful personality and great spirit is what sold the house. I really enjoyed working with you and I enjoyed our dinner once the house sold. I wish all the best!

-Sarah Shafer

I was looking to buy my first home and had specific criteria I was interested in. Barbara Chatterton really took the time to understand what I was looking for and find houses that suited my needs. She helped me through listings and showings, providing honest, detailed explanations every step of the way. Her knowledge of the local markets and contacts in the community are second to none and helped me find the perfect home... before it was even listed! Buying your first house is a huge deal. I highly recommend Barbara Chatterton to help you through it.


-Brian Ray





I am so glad I chose Barbara Chatterton to be my real estate agent. Barbara sold my house in the difficult market time of 2008/2009 and for a good price. The property, a one hundred year old house, presented some unique challenges-out of date wiring and the lack of a driveway to name two. Adding to the complexity of the transaction, I, the owner, lived in Puerto Rico during the winter. Barbara took these challenges on energetically and brought the sale to a successful closeting. THANK YOU BARBARA!!!

-Jean Matos

"After having had our home on the market eighteen months, we deceided to hire a professional. Barbara came, listened, offered a plan to us which she asked us to review. We agreed with her ideas. And within four days, we had an accepted offer! Thank you"

-Robert Maxon

5328 Lake Mendota Drive, Madison Wisconsin 53705; Accepted Offer on For Sale By Owner Lakefront Property

5328 Lake Mendota Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53705 - Buyer Procured by Barbara Chatterton, Stark Company Realtors

Overview Maps Photos

$489,000 Single Family Home Main Features 2 Bedrooms 1 Bathroom Interior: 1200 sqft Lot: 13,953 sqft Location 5328 Lake Mendota Drive Madison, WI 53705 USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

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Vivid Sunset Over the Memorial Union

Sunset at Memorial Union Terrace photo by Barbara Chaterton, Middleton Realtor,, The Stark Company

Sunsets are something one never ceases to enjoy. So many variations and multitudes of colors! Sometimes the colors are truly surprising and not typical of what you would explain to someone who had never seen a sunset.  A favorite place in Madison  for superb sunset viewing is the UW Memorial Union Terrace,  the heart and soul of UW, as the banners proclaim around this popular hang-out, certainly not exclusive to students and professors, by far. No colors were digitally enhanced for this photo, which I took on a Saturday evening in late July.  A dramatic surreal hue shrouded the sky that night, making all pay attention.  I just wanted to share this sight.

Middleton Wisconsin First Day of School Tomorrow! Middleton WI Elementary School Information

Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District :

School Starts Tomorrow- And don't forget:

The start times are 10 minutes later that they were last year!

Does that mean 10 mintes more sleep in the morning? Probably not! Maybe more time to pack a good lunch.

Last weekend at the  Middleton Good Neighbor Fest, the school kids marched in the parade- a fun way to get back with your classmates and ease into the new school year!

Midddleton-Cross Plains Area School Children March in the Good Neighbor Festival Parade

Below are the elementary schools and the boundry map link for each one to determine which is the one your child needs to be attending. You can register  if you are new to the District you may go to the District Office at 7106 South Avenue.

Elm Lawn

Principal: Michael Pisani

6701 Woodgate Road

Middleton, WI 53562

608-829-9070

www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us/elmweb

Northside

Principal: Roz Craney

3620 High Road

Middleton, WI 53562

608-829-9130

www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us/northweb

Sauk Trail

Principal: Chris Dahlk

2205 Branch Street

Middleton, WI 53562

608-829-9190

www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us/saukweb

Park

Principal: Karen Jones

1209 Park Street

Cross Plains, WI 53528

608-829-9250

www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us/parkweb

West Middleton

Principal: Doug Rykal

7627 West Mineral Point Road

Verona, WI 53593

608-829-9360

www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us/\westweb

Sunset Ridge

Principal: Todd Mann

8686 Airport Road

Middleton, WI 53562

608-829-9300

www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us/sunsetweb

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1865494/photo-sunset-over-uw-memorial-union

New Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District: New School Day Start and End Times

Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District

New start and end times for all schools starting this fall. The first day of school is September 1, 2010.

Elementary Schools: 8:20 to 2:54

Middle School: 8:10 to 3:20

High Schools: 8:05 to 3:25

 

The new bus schedules have not been announced yet but as we finish up summer with a splash, keep watching the website for the new times http://www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us/ Most will simply start 10 minutes later,to reflect the new start times, but some routes will change for more efficiency.

Have you enrolled your student yet? Here is the link to the enrollment form should you need it. http://www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us/reg/studentenrollment.pdf student enrollment form.

So finish off your summer with a splash! It won't be long now before school starts.

 

The Splash Pad at Lakeview Park, Allen Blvd, Middleton

For more information about schools, voter registration and Middleton area information, just text or call me. The Stark Company Middleton Office is located at 1818 Parmenter St, right in the heart of downtown and just down the street from the town hall ( http://ci.middleton.wi.us/ ) and library on Hubbard Ave. I can give you neigborhood information, a personal tour and pehaps a new place to call home. MiddletonHomesOnline@gmail.com or bchatter@starkhomes.com.

New Condo Listing! 344 Park St., Sun Prairie WI 53590

Townhome Convenience! Tiny pricetag!

offered at $136,500

Finders keepers! Losers, weepers!

Sellers are sad to leave this lovely home due to a new job out of state. But you will find so many features in this move-in ready town house. It is a short walk to Cannery Square and convenient to evrything Sun Prairie has to offer.  This is a beautiful space and a real dream-come-true bargain!  Inspect Compare, offer!

Don't lose out.

344 Park Street, St, Sun Prairie WI    MLS # 1602392

See the video on RealBird by clicking the link below.

344 Park St, Sun Prairie WI 53590

Before you talk to another agent, give me a call and we can chat. If you would like to see this or any other properties in the greater Madison, area, call or text me at  608.239.2777.

MadisonOnlineHomes@gmail.com; MadisonBuyerAgent@gmail.com

Barbara Chatterton    Let's chat about your needs

No Ketchup Allowed! It's National Mustard Day

Today is National Mustard Day! 

Parmenter Street in lovely down town Middleton is experiencing a day that will go down in history!  The   National Mustard Museum is declaring August 7, 2010 as National Mustard Day. There will be free hot dogs,  mustard samplings,  music by the Poupon U Accordian Band and The Red Hot Horn Dawgs, not to mention appearances by  the one and only The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and the Klements Sausage Racer. All kinds of games for the kids. What a day!

Formerly located in downtown Mt. Horeb,  the Mustard Museum has recently moved to its new location on the corner of Hubbard Ave and Parmenter Street-which just happens to be right across the street from  my office at The Stark Company !

What would the day be
without a new
Poupon U  T-Shirt?

Poster on the door of the
National Mustard Museum
announcing National Mustard Day

The front door of my office

                              And, believe it or not, my office is directly across from the the new
Middleton Depot Museum,
Parmenter Street, Middleton WI
In the midst of all the mustard goings on,
August 7th will be its opening day, too

Summer Days in Middleton, WI

It is a great time to buy a home! And have I got the location for you!

Middleton, WI, is loaded with small town charm. We have extensive bike trails and parks, proximity to Madison and its sports and cultural happenings, and the Capitol Brewery Bier Garden! CNN/Money Magazine voted Middleton the best place to live in 2007 and it came in 4th last year.

I wanted to share these photos I took at Lakeiew Park yesterday. All you have to do is text, call or email me and I can get you into a new home in lovely Middleton.

The Splash Pad at Lakeview Park, Middleton, WI

Little girl at the Splash Pad in Lakeview Park, in Middleton WI

Gazebo at Lakeview Park in Middleton WI

Who Says You Can't Play with Your Food?

What a creative man with a sense of whimsy!  Watch this video of the talented Linsey Pollak making and playing his carrot clarinet. Below description is taken directly from his website:

Making Jam

Making Jam is a solo show by Linsey Pollak. It’s for people of all ages, and as with many of Linsey’s previous shows it’s about making music from the things around us.

Making Jam is the best of Linsey at his craziest, wildest and most inventive musically…and features music made with many crazy objects.

In Making Jam we get to hear flutes, panpipes and clarinets made from garden hose and bagpipes made from rubber gloves. We also hear music made from dental floss, carrots (of course), satay sticks and a music stand. Some newly created instruments will be unveiled such as “Raven”.

In this show Linsey is himself. There is no Kevin (as in Knocking on Kevin’s Door), no Ivan or Stefan (as in The Art of Food) and the focus is on the music itself and jamming – (Making Jam).

The Top 10 Summertime Things Madisonians Never Tire Of:

10. Fireworks

9. Live Music (especially outdoors)

8. Sports (from softball to World Cup Soccer)

7. Beer

6. Microbrewery beers

5. Brats

4. Biking

3. Memorial Union

2. Farmers’ Markets

1. Sunshine


(Photo by local photographer Alfredo Lopez)

Vacation Destination: New Mexico's Chaco Canyon

Chaco Canyon , a National Historic Park in Nageezi New Mexico, was the hub of the Southwest for the entire Native Anazazi culture from 900 to 1130 AD. Roads lead out in all directions and you must still travel several miles of dirt roads to see these extensive well preserved ruins.  I was so amazed that 1000 year old timbers supporting doorways were still intact because of the hot and dry weather. Here are a few of my pictures taken in May 2009.  Take yourself away to a different world. It is worth the trip!

Worldwide photowalk

Two worldwide events in a row?  You do not have to be naked for this one but you do have to bring your camera.  Scott Kelby's 3rd Annual Worldwide Photowalk is Saturday July 24, 2010.  I am posting this now so that you will have  time to sign up.  Such an awesome event which is happening in a city or country near you. Steve Wetzel, an incredible photographer, deftly led us last year and will be leading us again this year on a twilight walk. Take a look at the official Worldwide Photowalk  website.  It is awe-inspiring to see the exqusite photographs in remote and exotic locations, as well as all over the US. “Can’t stop smiling” By Bossakorn Buena  of Amphawa, Thailand was the "Best in Show." I also met some interesting people: besides all of the participating photographers, a few people came up to me and asked to have their pictures taken to make sure they were not missing out on something important. I saw some groovy street musicians, and even  a guy with a huge boa constrictor wrapped around his neck standing outside the Walgreens.  Here are four of my pictures, too.

Moons Over Madison: Madison's World Naked Bike Ride

My (mandatory) counterclockwise stroll around the Capitol Square for the Farmers Market on Saturday was a feast for the eyes with gorgeous plants and flowers, rhubarb, snap peas, mushrooms, smoked rainbow trout, and cheddar chive scones all vying for my attention. They could not compete, though, when semi-clothed and naked people rode their bicycles around the square! My companion, who is from the Twin Cities, commented, "This is so Madison!" It did happen to be an apparently world wide event protesting independence from oil and positive body image. Check out the video.

Well, after all, we do have  Cows on the Concourse every year at the Farmers Market, too.  And, hey California, very happy cows they are!

The market, even without special events, is such a delightful tradition and the place where you bring every single person who visits you from out of town, and mourn the last one of the season, scooping up apples and pumpkins and mums.

Memorial Union:The Heart and Soul of UW Madison

It is hard to explain the Memorial Union. It is, rather, a feeling. A breeze. The music. Also dogs, kids, students, alumni, sunbathers, dates, great debates, pitchers of beer, popcorn, Babcock Hall orange chocolate chip, sunburst chairs, Hoofer tech boats. Peeling off most of your clothes and jumping into the lake. Arriving three hours before the music starts. On purpose. My friend, Dick Statz, took the picture on the right, which goes a long ways towards capturing the ambiance of the Union. Ahhhhh. . .summer in Madison.

My Middleton Office-Mustard Museum and train whistles

I love my office. Now I can step out the front door to put out the Stark "Come on in and talk to a realtor" sign when I have floor duty, and what do I see? Why the National Mustard Museum, of course. On August 7th, we will have cones placed onto our parking spaces to assure us, we can bring a client in, fax an offer or the like, because Middleton will see and experience the first Annual National Mustard Day. It will be huge. Free hots dogs(no ketchup allowed), clowns, the Oscar Mayer Weiner mobile, all right in front of my office on Parmenter Street.

I also love it in the summer time when the doors of our office are open and I have to suspend my conversation in mid-sentence as the train roars on by just 50 ft fro my window. It helps you get a perspective on things, especially if the conversation is needing a bit of separating the emotion from the logic in negotiating of an inspection contingency, for example. After the train passes, a calmer tone has emerged.

One recent Saturday, as I was writing an offer on my computer, I saw a few people strolling by with dogs on leashes. Then a few more folks, with a black lab, Yorkie and a Golden Retriever. Nothing for a while and then 10 happy dog owners in a row. Then two. I never did check out the event on the Internet. It was more fun just experiencing the parade.

The North door of the same exact office steps out onto the sidewalk across from the Village Green, featuring great cheese burgers with sauteed onions, sweet potato fries and a Road Kill burrito. Oh yeah, beer and spicy chili too. A great place to take clients after a showing or to grab a cold one with fellow realtors in the evening.

What do you see out your office window?

Curb Appeal. You Want More Money for Your Home, Don't You?

All homes tend to sell for money after they are prepared properly for the market-we all know that! And the first place to start is on the outside. Ask a friend or neighbor to come over and give you objective advice, because after you live in a home for a while, you might not see the things that will distract home buyers.

First impressions count. If you are preparing to list your home for sale, your yard needs to be inviting. Trim back the bushes and trees, especially if they block views from the windows and make your home difficult to see from the street. Here are a few other low-cost curb appeal improvements that you can do for less than $500:


•Keep the lawn mowed, preferably on the diagonal. Keep the yard raked in the fall.
•Plant yellow flowers such as marigolds or chrysanthemums along the walk or by the front door. The color yellow sells.
•Wash the exterior windows.
•Paint or replace the front door and buy new hardware.
•Power spray the house to get rid of dirt and cobwebs.
•Buy a new welcome mat for the front steps.
•Paint or replace the mailbox.
•Paint your house number on the curb or buy a plaque displaying your house number and install near the entry.
•Wash or replace a front porch light fixture.

Ta da! You are well on your way to creating that good first impression!

HOT MARKETS! in the Greater Madison Area

The hottest neighborhoods on both the city's East and West sides share the key qualities of convenience and reasonable home prices, Based on inventory data for unsold homes from statistics by the South Central Wisconsin MLS to calculate the months of home and condominium sales inventory for all Madison neighborhoods and many other Dane County communities. Much of research can be found online at www.danecountymarket.com.

Months of inventory is a standard used to determine the health of a real estate market. It is determined using a year's worth of sales for each area and calculating how many months it would take at those sales rates to work through the number of homes and condominiums on the market.

Experts consider about 5.5 to 6 months of inventory to be an optimum balance between sellers and buyers. A smaller number indicates a seller's market while larger number indicates a buyer's market.

The inventory data identified the hottest and slowest real estate markets in the county and also revealed that:The county has a range from 3 months of inventory for single-family homes in the Atwood East neighborhood on Madison's East Side to 49.7 months for condominiums in Oregon.

The local single-family home market overall is much stronger than the condominium market.
The strongest single-family and condominium markets are in Madison neighborhoods convenient to shopping, schools, parks and buses, while the weakest markets are in the suburbs.

High gasoline prices could heighten the disparity between city and suburban real estate markets, said William Malkesian, president of the Wisconsin Realtors Association.

"I don't think there's a question today that if you're going out to buy a house, transportation is probably higher up on your list than it was a year ago," he said.

FIRST-TIME BUYERS
Five Madison neighborhoods are strong markets for single-family home sales despite the overall real estate market slowdown.


With small ranches and bungalows, the Atwood East area near the intersection of Milwaukee and Walter streets is close to Woodman's Food Store, Schenk Elementary School and Olbrich Park. Most homes for sale are priced below $200,000. Homes priced for first-time buyers are a huge influence on the market because people don't have to sell homes before they buy.

Other East Side neighborhoods with low inventory rankings include the Williamson Street/Atwood Avenue area along Lake Monona west of Olbrich Park, and the Monona Drive area near La Follette High School.

WEST SIDE

On the West Side, the Parkwood Hills/Faircrest neighborhood north of Mineral Point Road between Whitney Way and Gammon Road is among the hottest markets both for single-family homes and condominiums. It ranks second in both categories with 3.2 months of single-family home inventory and 17 homes for sale, and 7.2 months of condo inventory with 10 units for sale.

Every place is a little bit different, of course, Since traditional buyers are out there in the $250,000 and under price range, price point is very important.

The Near West area east of Whitney Way between University Avenue and Mineral Point Road also has a low inventory ranking, making it a hot market.

Maple Bluff is the county's slowest single-family market with 17.7 months of inventory, 28 homes for sale and most priced in the $350,000 to $700,000 range. Four homes are priced between $1 million and $3 million.

Other slower single-family markets are in Mount Horeb, McFarland and the South Midvale/Verona road area in Madison, south of the Beltline along Verona Road, and the Southwest area north of Raymond Road to the city limits.

(Excerpts taken from: MARV BALOUSEK |Sunday, May 18, 2008 Wisconsin State Journal)

$$ Tips and More Before Buying a Home

Don't buy if you can't stay put.

If you can't commit to remaining in one place for at least a few years, then owning is probably not for you, at least not yet. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing money if you sell any sooner - even in a rising market. When prices are falling, it's an even worse proposition.

Start by shoring up your credit.

Since you most likely will need to get a mortgage to buy a house, you must make sure your credit history is as clean as possible. A few months before you start house hunting, get copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and fix any problems you discover.

Aim for a home you can really afford.

The rule of thumb is that you can buy housing that runs about two-and-one-half times your annual salary. But you'll do better to use one of many calculators available online to get a better handle on how your income, debts, and expenses affect what you can afford.

If you can't put down the usual 20 percent, you may still qualify for a loan.

There are a variety of public and private lenders who, if you qualify, offer low-interest mortgages that require a down payment as small as 3 percent of the purchase price. The Wisconsin Realtors Association even offers grants for closing costs and down payments. Ask me for details!

Buy in a district with good schools.

In most areas, this advice applies even if you don't have school-age children. Reason: When it comes time to sell, you'll learn that strong school districts are a top priority for many home buyers, thus helping to boost property values. Check out the local school districts online.

Get professional help..

Even though the Internet gives buyers unprecedented access to home listings, most new buyers (and many more experienced ones) are better off using a professional agent. Ahem! Like me! I can help you with market analyses of a home that captures you fancy to see if it is fairly priced, save you time, preview properties, help you with strategies during the bidding process, and, at all times, do whatever it takes to keep your best interests at heart.

Choose carefully between points and rate.

When picking a mortgage, you usually have the option of paying additional points -- a portion of the interest that you pay at closing -- in exchange for a lower interest rate. If you stay in the house for a long time -- say three to five years or more -- it's usually a better deal to take the points. The lower interest rate will save you more in the long run.

Before house hunting, get pre-approved.

Getting pre-approved will you save yourself the grief of looking at houses you can't afford and put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right house. Not to be confused with pre-qualification, which is based on a cursory review of your finances, pre-approval from a lender is based on your actual income, debt and credit history