Anna's Blog

Well, the election is finally over! And since last Tuesday, I have to say I have noticed an uptick in activity – buyers are looking at houses and some are even writing Offers! There are some wonderful properties to be had at fantastic prices in the Madison area. My broker recently gave us some statistics comparing investing in Dane County real estate vs. investing in the stock market that I found very interesting –here they are:

Return on Investment from 1/2000 to 9/2008: Dane County Real Estate Compared to Stock Market

DOW: 0%

S&P: - 12.7%

NASDAQ: - 45%

Dane County Real Estate: +43%

Historically, real estate is a solid investment. If you have any questions about your home or neighborhood, just let me know – I would be happy to provide you with the latest information!

Everyone I know is trying to figure out how to spend less money… and really, that is a good thing and something to strive for even when the economy is strong. I know I could do a better job of managing my spending, so I have been quizzing my friends and family to see if they have any creative ideas for spending less. And here they are – I hope you find them helpful:

1. If you have not renewed a cell phone or landline phone contract in the past 6 months, call your provider. Chances are they are running a promotion and you could save quite a bit on your monthly bills. I did this and saved $50 per month!

2. Use coupons when shopping for groceries and go on the day of the week that the store gives you double the coupon value. Yes, most of the grocery stores do this – I didn’t know that – but my super savvy mom friends filled me in!

3. Go through your attic, basement and garage and make a pile of all the things you bought and have never used (sports equipment, garden items, clothes, books) and sell them online!

4. Get your books, DVDs and CDs from the library!

5. Make your holiday gifts this year! I plan on doing a lot of baking – Swedish cookies!

6. Spend more time with friends and family rather than go shopping!

Happy Saving!

As the temperature drops, all kinds of animals will be trying to get in to the warmth of your house for the winter! Mice, ladybugs, ants, spiders, squirrels and wasps are very resourceful – they can squeeze through the tiniest of openings. Here are a few tips:

· Block their way in: caulk around all openings and weather-strip around doors & windows

· Remove debris from around the perimeter of the house: clean up leaves from basement window wells, remove excess mulch & shrubbery and do not leave pet food or bird seed outside

· Keep trees trimmed away from the house to prevent squirrels from landing on your roof where they can gnaw on electrical wires or soft wood

· Install screens on attic vents and make sure your chimney flues are capped to prevent wasps and other vermin from getting in to your attic

· Consider hiring a professional pest control company to spray if there is a large infestation

Good luck and happy fall!!