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Welcome to our Web Site. We hope you enjoy your visit and we look forward to doing business with you. We will continue to make changes, so check back again. Check out our links. Our focus is on the East side of Milwaukee including Riverwest and Bayview, but we have a number of links related to the entire City of Milwaukee. We also work as buyer brokers in Northeast communities such as Shorewood, Glendale, Whitefish Bay, Fox Point, and Brown Deer. We also cover Mequon and other communities in Southern Ozaukee County.
We specialize in the sale of:
HOUSES
CONDOMINIUMS
DUPLEXES & MULTI FAMILIES
SMALL COMMERCIAL
We now offer detailed energy audits of your home. Norm Terapak offers Home Performance by ENERGY STAR. At a time when a 3 year certificate of deposit pays 1.5% per annum, an incredible return on your money can be made by tightening up on energy consumption in your home. "An average-sized single family home in the United States would require an investment of as little as $2500.00 in energy retrofits to produce a cost savings in the range of 30% per year" (according to the Clean Energy Center for American Progress")
The Home Performance energy audits include a blower door test, combustion safety testing, and thermal imaging to find areas of heat loss. Past real estate clients are given a special discount. Price is based on the size and complexity of your home. Rebates are available through the FOCUS ON ENERGY program.
We caught a break on heating bills last year, but electric bills are moving up. We can often do simple and inexpensive things ourselves to lower our bills. Norm Terapak
Check out our REFERENCES PAGE if you are looking for real estate attorneys, mortgage brokers, home inspectors, home counselors, insurance agents, and during your home ownership you may need a contractor. We will keep adding helpful information to this page.
Are you contemplating purchasing a duplex or a small apartment building? We have property management advice and educational resources on our PROPERTY MANAGEMENT page. Find out information about available improvement loans. Also check out this page if you are LOOKING FOR A RENTAL. We currently have one quality rental available.
Don't miss the other categories and links at the upper left hand of this home page. You will find our link page particularly interesting. Lots of real estate information.
We are located at 1693 N. Humboldt ave., on the SW corner of Humboldt & Brady Street. Brady Street is one of Milwaukee's oldest streets, and is an example of a late 19th Century and early 20th century neighborhood commercial strip.
Brady Street, designated Historic, has had investment from property owners, businesses and the City of Milwaukee to make it a revitalized and thriving business and residential community. Click here for more information
We want to keep you coming back to our web site even after you've purchased your property. You might be curious about what interest rates are doing or maybe you need a reliable contractor. We'll continue adding to this section
MORTGAGES & MONEY MARKETS:
The time to buy has arrived!
As of 9/14/2011 the average conventional 30 yr fixed rate is 4.125%
Trend is steady
15 year conventional fixed rate mortgage 3.25%
3 year ARM 3%
5 year ARM 3%
7 year 3.125%
Expect these rates for those having an above average credit score.
These mortgage rates are based on 0 points, and property being owner occupied. Add 1/2% or more for non-owner occupied to the fixed rates. Interest rate can vary depending upon mortgage amount.
Other noteworthy rates and amounts as of above mentioned date:
Prime rate...3.25%
DJIA 11,246.
NASDAQ 2572.
Gold $ 1823.
Crude Oil $88.82
The federal reserve has been lowering rates to bail out the economy. Why have 30 year fixed rate mortgage rates been fluctuating and sometimes going in the opposite direction of a fed rate drop? Mortgages are securitized and sold on the global market. Investors now need a higher risk premium on these mortgages due to higher delinquencies and foreclosures. Inflationary concerns can also be a factor. Fed rates have come down because of a concern about slower economic growth in the months ahead. Expect higher rates when there are signs of an improving economy. That will likely occur at the point home sales start to pick up.
The inventory of homes for sale is abundant and mortgage rates are relatively low. Make a move!!!!!!!
Current Market update....We are in a buyer's market. For the seller it is essential the property is in very good condition, sensibly priced and market ready. Take the extra time to prepare your property for a sale. Properties in the best condition are still the first to sell. The supply and demand curve now favors the buyer in most price ranges. The bottom line is those properties in the best condition and properly priced are still selling. Buyers should do their research and comparison shop, but be ready to jump fast if the right property comes along.
Wisconsin has been fairly resistant to the larger drop in sales and prices than in some parts of the country. Unfortunately those areas create the headlines and make the market sound worse than it really is.
It just hasn't been the best time for sellers because there is much more inventory to compete with than the short supply we had a few years ago. There are fewer buyers in the mix too. Some price ranges and locations have had some significant correction. Other areas not so bad. The sellers still seem to be getting their prices on buildings in good condition and properly priced and staged for the market. It also boils down to what your property is and where it is. Single family buildings are faring better than duplexes and multi families. There has also been a steeper drop of prices in areas where sub prime lending was the more common method of financing and where lending standards were overly generous on financing of investment properties.
The first time home buyer credit is over with. The low prices on housing and mortgage rates are still there. Buy a house before rates start going up.
Bottom line is that buyers in the market now are finding the best inventory in many years. Yes, there are some bargains out there. Get pre-approved and start looking. We enjoy working with first time buyers as buyer agents!
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RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
Here are some helpful links for you when you do your research on prospective Milwaukee properties, or maybe you are just a nosey neighbor. Check out the assessment and other details courtesy of the City Assessors office Also to find out about city of Milwaukee property recordings, violations, service requests the assessors office site will also provide you with the appropriate link. If you need to find out who to call at the city or county about everything from garbage special pickups to zoning questions, check out this comprehensive City and County directory.
Need to find out if an underground oil storage tank has been registered check out the department of commerce website,Dept of commerce site
Is there an open rental weatherizationstipulation on the rental property you are purchasing? Find out now rather than right before you close. Rental weatherization site
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