Dan Gobis

Sellers, Now is not the Time to Fish for a Sale in Racine Wisconsin. The Real Estate Market is still active in Racine, for those that accept the Market values as they are today, and the prices homes are selling for are very encouraging. But it is not time to fish for a buyer.

To position your home to be the next one sold in your market you need to price it competitively and aggressively. Replace or repair any issues you have been putting off. Be competitive within your market, if Sellers are paying closing costs, be ready to pay closing costs. Offer a Home Warranty, it will give a Buyer a sense of security.

Listen to the Real Estate Professional you hire to sell your home, and you will achieve your goal of selling your home.

The first 55 days of the Racine Real Estate Market as compared to the previous four years statistics indicates continued market adjustment. The number of sold properties, the average sales price, and variance of List Price to Sold Price have been in decline since July of 2006. Days on market has increased since 2004.

THESE STATISTICS ARE FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SOLD EAST OF I-94 FROM JAN.1,2008-FEB.24,2008

YEAR # SOLD AVG. SOLD PRICE DAYS ON MARKET VARIANCE LIST TO SOLD PRICE

2004 131 $135,027 55 3%

2005 135 $147,493 60 2%

2006 154 $160,177 75 2%

2007 148 $153,780 85 3%

2008 97 $146,890 101 4%

THESE STATISTICS ARE AS REPORTED FROM METRO MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE AS OF 2/24/2008

THE 2008 NUMBERS ARE ALSO INFLUENCED BY RECORD SNOWFALL AND LOW TEMPERATURES. (EXTREME WEATHER HAS AN ADVERSE EFFECT IN ANY MARKET.)

ALL OTHER INDICATIONS POINT TO AN ENCOURAGING OUTLOOK FOR THE RACINE AREA REAL ESTATE MARKET.

Racine County's contribution to the freedom of slaves through the Underground Railroad is being recognized by an exhibit opening this weekend at Racine County Heritage Museum.

In the mid-1800's Racine County was a 'station' of the Underground Railroad. From the west end of Racine County, Burlington, to the lakefront of the City of Racine, many slaves sought their escape through Racine County to Canada.

The Racine Harbor on Lake Michigan was one of the most active harbors during this period of western expansion. Racine offered a route to Canada for oppressed people seeking freedom. Two of the more well known conductors on the Underground Railroad were A.P. Dutton, a local businessman and Maximillian Heck a citizen of Racine.

The exhibit features artifacts, photographs, interactive activities, and many stories relating to the movement. Some of the artifacts come from actual hiding places, buildings that still stand in Racine. A good part of the exhibit is focused on educating school aged children through interactive activities.

One of the more publicized efforts by the citizens of Racine was the liberation of a slave, Joshua Glover, who was taken to the Milwaukee jail as a fugitive under the Federal Fugitive Slave Act. Citizens of Racine went to the jail and forcibly freed Glover and sent him to Canada.

Racine is proud of it's contributions and continuing commitment to civil rights for all citizens.

The 2007 year-end analysis of existing home sales as reported by the WISCONSIN REALTORS ASSOCIATION was released on February 14,2008. Sales of existing homes dropped 10.8% in Wisconsin, compared to a 13% drop overall nationally.

In Racine County, existing home sales dropped 10.9%, while the median sales price actually increased 4.5%. In 2006 there were 2,449 home sales in Racine County, in 2007 there were 2,182 home sales, as reported by the Wisconsin Realtors Association.

In Racine County, the median home price increased 4.5%, from $155,000 in 2006, to $162,000 in 2007, as reported by the Wisconsin Realtors Association.

As WRA President William Malkasian said, "It's a mistake to look at Wisconsin's housing market through the lens of national indicators." While sales fell in 2007, median sales prices rose slighty, showing an underlying strength in the Wisconsin housing market. "Housing in our state and throughout much of the Midwest is much less volatile than many markets in other parts of the country..." said Malkasian.

Big snowflakes on my patio!

Once the weather begins to cooperate, I think the market will show some significant signs that we are on the road to recovery!

Only a couple weeks ago I submitted a post of our Library on the shores of Lake Michigan. A nice, quiet, serene location in a world class location.

Well that quiet, serene location has changed considerably today. The Barak Obama Express just blew into town for a Town Meeting at Racine's Memorial Hall.

The locational tie-in.

I went Downtown after lunch today anticipating a bit different look for the Lake Ave. setting. It was different!

CNN, Univision, Chicago, Milwaukee, television were all setting up. This was about 4 hours before the doors were to open and 5 1/2 hours before Obama was to arrive. The line to get into Memorial Hall was over a quarter mile long. I had a ticket to attend, one of 1500 issued, my daughter called and told me about the line to get in. I drove Downtown immediately only to realized I would be a quarter mile out, plus me.

There seems to be a movement developing. Change can be good.