Rock Realty Client Testimonials"Patrick is an excellent realtor. He is very attentive, patient and understanding. He is hard working and responsive. I highly recommend Patrick to anyone needing realtor services. 5 stars across the board!"Chris & Andrea J. (Verona, WI 53593)Rock Realty Home Buyer ClientThanks for the compliments! Congratulations to Amanda on her home purchase and to Patrick Collins on a successful closing!Are you considering purchasing property in Dane or Rock County Wisconsin? Click below to start your home search!Verona Wisconsin Real Estate 02/23/2016

Boosting Your Home's Curb Appeal It is impossible to do over a first impression. When it comes to selling a home many people will look at online pictures and even drive by the house before they make an appointment to see the inside. This means it is vital that your house has its best appearance at all times. Here are some tips for boosting the home's curb appeal and luring in the right buyer. Make the Front Door Appealing Since the front door is the first thing everyone sees it makes sense to either repaint the door or dress it up with some customized decor. Make sure the door knob and hinges are clean and shiny. Tidy up the area around the door by removing any unnecessary items and adding a new mat. Cut Tree Branches If you have trees around the home trim down the lowest branches. Low ... 10/07/2014

Pros and Cons of Cash Buying All-cash home purchases hit a record in the first quarter of 2014, reaching 43 percent, according to RealtyTrac, which has been tracking cash-buying trends since 2011. This latest figure represents a 19 percent rise from last year—a number industry watchers attribute to stricter mortgage qualification standards coupled with high buyer demand and competition. If you're thinking about buying your next home with cash, you might be wondering how this option stacks up against a mortgage—not to mention, how you'll come up with the money. Why Cash? Pros & Cons On the pro side, using cash lets you sidestep mortgage loan qualifications and much of the paperwork and administrative fees. This accelerates the buying process and makes you more attractive to sellers who a... 07/01/2014

The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for April of 2014. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say: Wisconsin existing home sales fell in April even as median prices continued to rise according to the most recent analysis of the state housing market released by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). Home sales declined 11.6 percent in April compared to the same month last year due to a combination of higher home mortgage rates, higher prices and harsh winter temperatures. Median prices rose over that same period, increasing 1.4 percent to $139,900. “As we enter the second quarter of the year, we have been expecting some improvement in home sales, but it’s important to remember that April sales are still impacted by the February weather given... 05/30/2014

Should You Compare Quotes from Various Agents for Home Insurance? Don’t be fooled by funny commercials and catchy slogans; insurance is quite complicated.  Varying levels of coverage, locations and other factors make insurance policies very different from one provider to the next.  That is why it is so important to compare various quotes from different insurance agents. Wild Changes for Multiple Locations Check out these findings from Bankrate for multiple quotes for various locations Comparing Insurance Policies City, State Number of Quotes Variation in Highest and Lowest Quote (in %) Chicago, IL 4 121 Indianapolis, IN 3 56 Grand Rapids, Mich. 3 55 Columbus, Ohio 4 37 Racine, Wis. 3 37 Minneapolis 3 18 Bankrate used the websites of popular insurance providers to get quotes for various ... 04/24/2014

Which type of neighborhood is best for flipping homes? photo credit: Martin LaBar (going on hiatus) via photopin cc When looking for an investment home that you eventually intend to flip it is important to remember that the location is just as vital as the actual home.  It is feasible to earn a profit in nearly every area but certain areas make it easier on the investor. Top Qualities When people pick out an automobile they focus on the features that are important to them and their current lifestyle.  In a similar manner, you can consider the following neighborhood features when considering an investment property: Homes that sold recently sold quickly and had strong interest Declining numbers of rental properties Homes at least 20 years old that will likely need significant rehab Steady... 09/11/2013

photo credit: contemplative imaging via photopin cc How to Pick Profitable Rental Properties (Investment Properties: Part 4 of 5) From looking at various homes to actually making a profit, investing in rental properties takes many steps. A person that is new to the process may feel a bit overwhelmed. In order to reduce risk and increase your chances of making positive cash flow with real estate, here are some tips on picking a home. Good School Zone A good school zone will always attract families. Many families will be able to purchase homes in the area but some will have to rent a while in order to get their finances in order. These are the types of people who will stay in a home for 2 or 3 years and be potential good tenants. Focus on schools that have high standardized test scores a... 07/16/2013

2 Incredible Secrets To Refinancing Your Verona Mortgage Even If You Are Upside Down Are you a homeowner and have not yet taken advantage of the lowest Verona mortgage interest rates in history because your home’s value is upside down?  Have you tried to refinance your existing Verona Mortgage only to be denied by your bank or any Verona Mortgage Company?  Are you one of the over 23% of American Homeowners that owe more on their home than they can sell it for? Hartford Financial has partnered with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to offer two programs that will allow your family to save $75 to $275 a month regardless of your home’s value. This partnership has ushered in the opportunity for Verona Homeowners to be able to take advantage o... 05/31/2013

The real estate market is heating up in Verona, WI. Home sales are on the rise, with many Verona homes an condos selling very quickly in 2013. Check out our guide to Verona real estate, a great resource for anyone seeking to learn more about Wisconsin's "Hometown USA".      At Mad City Dream Homes and DaneCountyMarket.com, we're committed to providing you with the very best in real estate services, both online and in-person. Thank you for your loyalty and have a great day! Dan Miller, Realtor, Keller Williams Realty, www.MadCityDreamHomes.com and www.DaneCountyMarket.com www.HowWeHelpYouSell.com www.HowWeHelpYouBuy.com www.OurRecentSales.com www.DaneCountyMarketSnapshot.com www.SearchDaneCounty.com www.DaneCountyForeclosureSearch.com 02/19/2013

Short Sale Real Estate Agents in Verona, WI 53593  Are you looking for a Verona Wisconsin Short Sale Realtor® or real estate agent? Rock Realty is a real estate brokerage that specializes in Short Sales and Bank Owned Foreclosures in the Verona WI area. My name is Michael Collins, broker for Rock Realty. I have completed the Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource training and have been given the SFR designation through the National Association of Realtors®. Feel free to contact me directly at 608-921-8536 for help with any of your short sale questions. I have helped many home owners with their distressed property needs.   REALTORS® who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosu... 01/11/2013

Home Values in Verona WI 53593 (From the City of Verona Home Page) Hometown Junction, downtown Verona. The City of Verona is located one mile southwest of Madison and is one of the fastest growing communities in Dane County. The city offers a diverse variety of neighborhoods, parks, and many recreational venues.  Verona's Hometown USA Days annual summer event draws thousands of people to Verona each year for good old-fashioned fun. At the City of Verona we will always strive to provide up-to-date information on city services that enhance your quality of life.  Please check back often for updates on latest city news, recreational activities, and other areas of interest. 11/04/2012

  Assuming an Existing FHA Loan Most mortgages have a requirement that the loan must be paid in full when the property is sold. However, FHA offers a different option to the seller and buyer. It is possible for the buyer to take over the existing FHA mortgage from the current property owner. This is a very enticing offer for someone that has a mortgage with a great interest rate. Here are the guidelines for an assumable FHA mortgage. photo credit: 401(K) 2012 via photopin cc Review Existing Loan The first thing you should do as a potential buyer is review the existing loan documents. Any loan that originated prior to December 1 in 1986 is allowed to go through a “simple assumption” procedure. This means the buyer does not have to qualify for the FHA mortgage. For loans that were origina... 10/16/2012

It isn't often that you can find a nice 3 bedroom home for under $200,000 in Verona Wisconsin. Due to the recent economic recession, today there are currently around 15 options for you! Click on the map below to see these active MLS listings. You might be wondering how much a mortgage payment would be on a two hundred thousand dollar house. Let's say that you were able to come up with a 5% down payment. For a home at this price, that's $10,000. Today's mortgage rate is around 3.75%.  This leaves a principal and interest payment of only $880 per month! There are other things to factor in, including taxes, home owner's insurance, and any private mortgage insurance, but you get the idea. This might be cheaper than rent! In fact, many of these three bedroom Verona homes could make great ren... 06/27/2012

Homes for sale, View all the properties available in Verona Wisconsin View RealEstateGuy's website Verona Wi homes for sale find a home, area information Verona  Customizable search of all Verona area homes find homes for sale Verona Wi 02/17/2012

Verona WI Short Sale Realtors®53593  Are you looking for a Verona Wisconsin Short Sale Realtor or Real Estate Agent? Rock Realty is a real estate brokerage that specializes in Short Sales and Bank Owned Foreclosures in the Verona WI area. My name is Michael Collins, broker for Rock Realty. I have completed the Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource training and have been given the SFR designation through the National Association of Realtors®. Feel free to contact me directly at 608-921-8536 for help with any of your short sale questions. I have helped many home owners with their distressed property needs.   REALTORS® who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunitie... 02/07/2012

Here is today's market listings update for Active three (3) bedroom ranch homes located in the city of Verona Wisconsin. This information was pulled from the South Central Wisconsin MLS on 2/6/2012 at 9:40 A.M. 27 total 3 bdrm ranch homes are currently listed in the City of Verona Low listing price: $99,900 High listing price: $1,295,000 Average listing price: $292,107 Median listing price: $237,900 Average days on the market: 122 If you are looking for a 3 bedroom ranch home that has a 2 car garage and a minimum of 2 bathrooms, then the numbers do change significantly. Those stats are listed below. 13 total 3 bdrm ranch homes, with 2 bathrooms & a 2 car garage in Verona Low listing price: $179,900 High listing price: $389,900 Average listing price: $245,753 Median listing price: $244,... 02/06/2012

Below is a list of Verona Wisconsin area schools. You will find contact information, including phone numbers and addresses. This list is supplied by Education.com. If you are looking for specific details on Verona area high schools, middle schools and elementary schools this is a great place to start your search. West Middleton Elementary School7627 West Mineral Point Rd | (608) 829-9360PK, K-5 | Middleton-Cross Plains School District Badger Ridge Middle School740 North Main St | (608) 845-41006-8 | Verona Area School District Core Knowledge Charter School740 North Main St | (608) 845-4130K-8 | Verona Area School District Country View Elementary School710 Lone Pine Way | (608) 845-4800K-5 | Verona Area School District New Century School420 Church St | (608) 845-4900K-5 | Verona Area Sch... 12/27/2011

Real Estate Market review, Verona Wisconsin. Real Estate Guy team likes to look at the Housing market in Verona Wisconsin.  This time we have looked at 2 separate time periods in 2011 to compare house sales and homes on the market and such sales stats as Days on Market, DOM and % list to sale price.  All Verona single family homes - 2011   # list #sold % sold Ave sold $ Ave list $ L/S% DOM Mar-Jun 92 54 58% 291,000 285,000 97.75% 98 Jul-Oct 81 48 59% 285,000 273,000 96.21% 107                              Real Estate Guy read on these stats :   The only significant change is in the average  price.  In these consecutive periods, the listed price dropped by 3.5%, the home sale price dropped just 2%. The length of time to sell has increased by 9%.  This is to be expected as the spring mark... 11/18/2011

I just spent a wonderful day enjoying the Ironman competition in our very own Verona.  Actually I got up early to see the start in Madison when 2600 athletes started with a splash in Lake Monona, followed by a short 2.4 mile swim. Next a 112 bike ride, which in large part is based in Verona.  For  the most part the locals are very welcoming, but there are a few grouches who worry that they can not get to church or some place, or their business misses some dollars.    But be the crowds that turn out, the Verona bike ride is a good thing.  I love to see the athletes. We had breakfast at Grays Tied House, where we had a balcony view of the race.  Then followed by a nap- it is hard work watching!!- we went into Madison to see a wonderful finish,  a 26 mile run.    I so appreciate the inspir... 09/13/2011

The graph below is a snapshot of what is happening in the Verona home market.  Source Real Estate Guy What you see is 2 trend lines.  One, the top blue line is the median (average) list price, the second, lower, green line is the average selling/closing price of a home in Verona Wi. (source  RealEstateGuy. ) It makes very interesting reading and I imagine you can draw your own conclusions.  Here are a couple      Verona Home sale conclusions.   ·         *The gap between list and selling price was lowest in the winter.  This coincides with the sellers lower expectations. ·       * Notice how the sellers expectations rise in the spring, yet the number of homes on the market actually rises.  Possibly, this causes the price to continue to fall.  ·         *Actually the sold price does fol... 09/09/2011