SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN
RURAL REAL ESTATE
Rural Land Market on Even Keel
Second quarter 2019 was slower than average for that time of year.
Buyers Very Active in Rural Land Market
SW Wisconsin Land Market Update The rural land market finished the year strong with an average price per acre of $3,999 for the SW Wisconsin region. This wasn’t quite enough of a rebound to reach the record high average price set during the second quarter...
One Client’s Outrageous Suggestion
When working in real estate, you never know what a day will bring. I’ve been known to experience satisfaction, frustration, joy and anger, all in one day. But the best interactions are the ones that make you laugh out loud.
Offer Price Strategy
As a rural property specialist who interacts with buyers daily, I often get asked two predictable offer questions. They’re interesting as they really don’t reflect on the features of the property itself or the real value of the parcel.
Rural Land Market Hesitates
Much of the southwestern Wisconsin rural land market took a breather during the 3rd quarter 2018 after a record-setting 2nd quarter.
Record High Avg Price in Rural Land Market
SW Wisconsin Land Market Update I’ve been tracking land prices in southwestern Wisconsin since 2011 when the U.S. economy was still feeling the effects of The Great Recession. Here in SW Wisconsin the average price per acre for rural land bottomed out in the 4th...
Rural Land Market Starts the Year Off Right
SW Wisconsin Land Market Update Rural land prices inched upward again during the first quarter of 2018 to end up with an average price per acre of $3,755 for all of SW Wisconsin. This is an increase of 11% over the same time period a year ago. The number of...
Rural Land Market Ends Year on a High Note
The rural land market finished the year strong with an average price per acre of $3,745 for the SW Wisconsin region. 3,286 acres changed hands; the most sold during a quarter in the last 2 years.
3rd Quarter Interval in Strong Land Market Year
SW Wisconsin Land Market Update The summer months are typically slower for rural real estate and this year is no exception. In southwestern Wisconsin the number of transactions during the 3rd quarter of 2017 are down when compared to 2nd quarter but dead even compared...
Rural Land Market Continues Strong & Steady
SW Wisconsin Land Market Update The average price per acre increased slightly during the 2nd quarter 2017 in southwestern Wisconsin while the number of sales jumped 31% when compared to the 1st quarter of 2017. The average price per acre of 2nd quarter sales for the...
Prices Steady, Sales Dip in Rural Land Market
Land prices held firm during the 1st quarter 2017 in Southwest Wisconsin while the number of sales declined slightly when compared to the same time period a year ago. The average price per acre for the entire region was $3,332.
Are Conservation Programs Good or Bad When Selling a Property?
Landowners often ask me about how government programs will affect the value of their property or possibly hinder a sale.
Strong, Stable Rural Land Market
SW Wisconsin Land Market Update A trend has emerged in the rural land market of southwestern Wisconsin. Since 2014, we’ve seen a strong showing in the first half of the year, then a slower third quarter followed by a rebound during the fourth quarter. That’s precisely...
Slow But Steady Rural Land Market
…Similar to a year ago, there was a lull in rural land market activity during the 3rd quarter in southwestern Wisconsin.
Rural Land Prices Holding Firm
SW Wisconsin Land Market Update: Little has changed in the rural land market during the 2nd quarter of 2016 in Southwest Wisconsin. The number of transactions was up over 1st quarter 2016 from 32 to 42 transactions. The average price per acre rose slightly from 1st quarter; however, the average parcel size came in at just 59 acres.
Lack of Inventory Holding Back the Land Market
SW Wisconsin Land Market Update Quiet and steady best describes the 1st quarter 2016 land market in Southwest Wisconsin. The number of transaction was down from 4th quarter 2015 but was not unusual for a 1st quarter at 32 transactions. The average price per acre rose...
Land Market Strengthens at Close of 2015: SW Wisconsin Land Market Update
After a pause during 3rd quarter, the land market started making headway again during the 4th quarter of 2015 in Southwest Wisconsin. 4th Quarter 2015 The number of transactions was up 16% over 3rd quarter with 42 completed sales. Total acres sold remained about the...
Land Market Hits Pause: SW Wisconsin Land Market Update
After a record-breaking price gain during second quarter this year, the land market has paused to take a breath. The average price-per-acre for rural land in southwestern Wisconsin during the third quarter this year dropped 16% compared to second quarter ending up at...
Land Price Average Hits New High: SW Wisconsin Land Market Update
I have been tracking land sale prices in southwestern Wisconsin for nearly five years; and in that time the average price per acre failed to rise above $3,900…until now. The second quarter of this year saw an area average of $3,947 per acre. While rising prices are...
Strong Land Demand at Current Prices: SW Wisconsin Land Market Update
Winter weather always affects land buyer activity in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin and less snow and milder temperatures definitely made it easier for buyers to tour parcels of interest during the first quarter of this year. In Southwest Wisconsin, buyers were quite...
The Driftless Area in Southwest Wisconsin
When people are first introduced to Southwest Wisconsin, they are often amazed by the rolling wooded hills and peaceful valleys that make the area so unique. Most Americans are unaware of this rugged oasis tucked into the mostly level Midwest. If a person spends any...
800’ Cave For Sale
In real estate you run into all kinds of surprises; some of them strange, some of them pleasant. My favorite kind of surprise is when something unique pops up. Like how many real estate agents can say they have a cave for sale? This rural property encompasses almost...
Rural Land Market Steady at Close of 2014: SW Wisconsin Land Market Update
Looking back at the course of the SW Wisconsin rural land market throughout 2014 we see some ups and downs; but the big picture shows a land market that appears to be holding its own and making small gains. 2013 vs. 2014 A review of the year as a whole creates a...
Buyers: Don’t Go It Alone
This message is for buyers looking for the perfect piece of property: Get a buyer's agent to assist you! I was reminded again today of how important that is. Past clients invited me to view their new home that they just built on an acreage. The home is beautiful and...
Ten Years of Changes in Real Estate
We're celebrating 10 years in real estate this month. That's not very long really, but in that short time our business has changed from exclusively using newspaper ads to having nearly 100% of our contacts come through website ads. What will the next 10 years bring?...
Land Sales Jump 58% as Prices Dip: SW Wisconsin Land Market Update
No one would argue that the land market is vastly improved from where it was three years ago, but where exactly is it now? Seller’s market? Buyer’s market? Neutral? Sometimes it’s hard to tell.
Sneak Peek at 3rd Quarter Land Sales
Here's a sneak preview of SW Wisconsin 3rd quarter land sales. This number can only go higher as any closings from yesterday get recorded. We have seen a pretty big jump in the total number of sales during the 3rd quarter (up 54% as I write). Many of these...
Land Price Growth Continues: SW Wisconsin Land Sales Update
By: Jay Frazier Land buyers continued to be very active during the spring months with about the same number of transactions closed and approximately 54% more acres sold compared to the first quarter of this year. It is interesting to note that the additional acreage...
Land Market Stable Despite Harsh Winter: SW Wisconsin Land Sales Update
By Jay Frazier For most of us harsh winter weather means staying indoors as much as possible, but land buyers generally weren’t deterred by our record setting cold winter during the 1st quarter. SW Wisconsin land transactions were nearly on par with last year’s 1st...
SW Wisconsin Land Sales Update: Prices Hold Steady in 4th Quarter
By Jay Frazier Throughout the first three quarters of 2013 the average land sale price in SW Wisconsin made steadfast gains increasing 27.8% from January through September. Now that the 4th quarter has ended we can say that the land market finished the year on a much...
SW Wisconsin Land Sales Update: Prices Continue To Climb
By Jay Frazier The rural land market in SW Wisconsin made another moderate price gain during the third quarter increasing $202/acre over 2nd quarter to average $3,295 per acre. The average price-per-acre for the entire region increased 6.5% over 2nd quarter to make...
SW Wisconsin Land Sales Update: Prices Increase Again
By Jay Frazier Six of the seven SW Wisconsin counties saw an average price increase from 1st quarter to 2nd quarter this year putting the land market recovery on fairly firm ground. The average price-per-acre for the entire region is up 20% from December when we saw...
SW Wisconsin Land Sales Update: Prices On The Rise
By Jay Frazier The first quarter of 2013 is now history and spring has finally made a weak appearance. If you recall, last winter (2011-2012) was the year of unwinter and strong land sales numbers continued through the normally slow period. 50 transactions were...
Real Estate Dreams
Recently, I had a lady tour my website and fill out a form which said: “To be honest, I have no current plans to buy, just like to look and dream!” That started me thinking about real estate and how it’s uniquely tied to virtually everyone’s dreams. Whether we’re...
SW Wisconsin Land Sales Update: 4th Quarter Sales Up 12%
by: Jay Frazier The year finished strong with a large number of transactions closing in the 4th quarter. Total land sales in SW Wisconsin were up 12% compared to the 4th quarter of 2011 with Iowa County realizing the largest sales increase. Over 1,000 acres changed...
Hunting Land In SW Wisconsin
Hunting of most any type has been a long standing tradition in Wisconsin, but deer hunting especially brings enthusiasts to a fever pitch.
In Honor of Veterans Past & Present
One thing I really admire about the small rural communities in Southwest Wisconsin is their support of American Veterans. Even with the tough economic times we've gone through the past several years, the communities of Blue River, Muscoda, and Richland Center have...
SW Wisconsin Land Sales Update: 3rd Quarter Sales Up But Prices Slip Slightly
By: Jay Frazier This past summer will long be remembered for the drought that affected much of the country as well as the record high temperatures. Perhaps this had some effect on land sales; but when studying the numbers for southwest Wisconsin, it doesn't appear to...
SW Wisconsin Land Sales Update: 2nd Qtr Continues Upward Trend
By: Jay Frazier Last quarter we saw both the number of sales and the price per acre of rural land inch upward and that trend continued into the 2nd quarter this year in southwest Wisconsin. There is still a lot of inventory on the market, but buyers are very active...
Wisconsin River vs. Chicago River
This week I had the opportunity (not sure that’s the right word) to visit downtown Chicago for a few days. I stayed at the south end of the Magnificent Mile known for its 460 stores, 275 restaurants, 51 hotels, and a host of sightseeing and entertainment spots.
Shrooming Rivals Turkey Hunting for Most Popular Spring Sport
Between morel mushroom hunting (shrooming) and turkey hunting, human traffic in the woodlands this time of year is second only to the fall gun whitetail hunt. While pursuing wild gobblers gets many hunters excited, morel mushroom season here in southwest Wisconsin...
SW Wisconsin Land Sales Update: 1st Qtr Sales and Prices Make A U-Turn
By: Jay Frazier The rural land market seems to have turned the corner and given the numbers for 1st quarter it might be more accurate to say it’s made a U-turn. If you’ve been waiting to buy until the market hits bottom, you may have missed the opportunity. Total...
Making The Cut
By: Jay Frazier So you’ve hired an agent that you’re confident is marketing your property to the right type of buyers and together you have established a reasonable asking price based on current market activity. While good marketing and proper pricing are essential...
It’s Tick Season
By: Jay Frazier WARNING: The deer tick season is here again. I walked a 40 acre property by Arena last week and picked over 50 ticks off of me. When we noticed how many there were, we stopped every 10 minutes to pick them off and I picked 18 of them off of my legs in...
Southwest Wisconsin Land Sales Update: 4th Quarter Sales Up 13%
By: Jay Frazier I’ve been feeling this upward shift through the pulse of my daily work these last few months, but often feelings aren’t justified by the numbers. This time is different. The number of rural land sales is up by 13%! Six of the 7 counties increased or...
Southwest Wisconsin Land Sales Update: Price Per Acre Down 2.2% From 2010 3rd Quarter
By: Jay Frazier The number of rural land sales dipped slightly during the 3rd quarter over the same period in 2010. Richland County continues to see the most action with Crawford County following second and Grant County seeing only one transaction for the 3rd quarter...
Southwest Wisconsin Is Still #1 (in my estimation anyway)!
by: Jay Frazier As I sit here on an evening flight going east over the great plains I reflect on a week spent enjoying the Rocky Mountains around Creede, Colorado. My thoughts go to the many places I've seen in North America (48 states in all as well as 4 Canadian...
Wisconsin Farmland Conversion Fee Repealed
by: Jay Frazier Some folks are cheering, others are booing but the passing of the recent state budget also included the repeal of the farmland conversion fee. For those who haven’t been following it, effective January 1, 2010 anyone that rezoned Wisconsin land from...
4 Steps You Should Take BEFORE You Shop For a Rural Property
by: Jay Frazier When someone decides to buy a rural property, frequently the first inclination is to get out and “go shopping”. Viewing properties is usually fun, especially when they are located in the country and the sun is shining. But making that your very first...
Sellers: The Time Is Now
Southwest Wisconsin Rural Property Owners If you’ve been contemplating over the winter about selling your property, the time is right to stop contemplating and take action. Spring isn’t quite here yet, but buyers don’t seem to care. Perhaps they are influenced by the...