I had an interesting conversation this morning with my client who happens to be Amish. He had recently listed his Vernon County area farm and was moving out of state to Maine. With having a first showing and an interested buyer right out of the gate, it sounded very promising. Amish do not have telephones, they will use them but just don't believe in owning one. Many people ask why; it is not a necessity to own one so they just don't. So, as you would expect, it can be very madding not being able to quickly reach your client when selling their real estate. In these situation, the only way is by US mail, so I generally advise them to contact me at least once a week at a designated time by calling my 800 number. Unfortuanately. it now looks like the potential of a fast sale coming in, isn't now going to materialize. So with that now known our conversation just tuned to pleasantries and talk about the current state of the economy.
Even though the Amish generally keep to themselves, leading a somewhat removed lifestyle very different from what most of us think of as normal everyday life, my client was well aware that the real estate market is very slow in the larger world. We both joked about how if things really went completely south in the economy, maybe the rest of the world would have to adopt their ways. Learning to raise our own food, make our own clothes, and travel by horse and buggy... we joked. He told me yes... you could give up your cars and buy some horses... that would be very good for us because the horse market was really depressed right now. So it goes to show you, there really is a ripple that travels even deeper down to the people who live with way less. They too are feeling the effect of this slowed down economy in ways that most of us would never expect. 
Just in case there are any-wanta-be-future farmers out there: here is a 23 Acres Amish farmette: Has a 3 bedroom ranch home which was moved in 3 years ago. Ranch home has a full cement block built-basement installed at the time the house was moved to the site. There is no electric, no indoor plumbing or septic system but does have an older well. The property has several small sheds and a second house, also moved in. The 40x60 workshop building is insulated and has a cement floor. There is a newer dairy barn that was also built 3 years old. The land is fully surveyed and mostly open organic pasture and organic crop land. Price is only $99,000
Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin
call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599
The idea of burning wood for a primary heating source was once completely foreign to me. I can recall many years ago when my husband and I first moved to Wisconsin, we planned to live off the grid. We built a bermed home; with the intentions of heating it with wood we would cut ourselves. Freeing us from energy costs by installing many passive solar systems into our home was the goal of that time. As it turned out the house was extremely efficient, but heating with wood was not a real joy. It was a lot of physical work to "Make Wood". The task of using a chain saw to cut the trees down, the work of tossing chucks of logs into a wagon and hauling it down the hill to the shed was brutal. It was backbreaking labor, splitting the whole pile was more than I could endure. It was then, that I first learned as an X-city girl, that old country saying... "If you heat with wood you'll heat yourself twice". That was very true... a few years later we installed a gas furnace thus ending my "Wood Making" career.
Today I do still have some wood-burning going on in my home but it is a much cleaner. I have a pellet stove in our family room. It is very eco-friendly and enormously back-friendly too. Basically you buy bags of pre-made pellets at the local Tractor Supply Store or similar store. No muss No fuss, just tear open a bag and dump it into the stove, push the on button and let the little auger do its job. Instead of throwing another log on the fire, the stove automatically deposits a steady stream of pellets into the little fire chamber. The pellets look a little like rabbit food; burn clean because they are low moisture and basically there is very little ash, after-wards to clean up. With the deep freeze of sub zero temperatures already here, we are staying toasty warm and saving lots of energy, as well as, our backs. So let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, as long as the pellets don't run out.
Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin
call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599
A Home Especially for you at Christmastime... here is a Viroqua listing which is homey and comfortable and has seller's that are all set to move! I have been as busy as Santa's Elf's working hard to find a buyer for this home. You might just be the perfect one! So, if you are seeking lots of living space, a big fenced backyard for privacy, and also would like a home that is located on a tree-lined street, call my Christmas Home Hot-line at: 800-851-8711. This Maple Street home is pleasantly offered at a very affordable price, it has so many of the extra features that many of you buyers have told me you want; such as a formal dining room, a home office, hardwood floors, plus 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths. Make plans to view it soon, I am sure the comfortable living offered here in this home will bring you many years of joy and happiness. I am wishing you the special things that this season brings... the opportunity to own this home! Currently asking only $116,000
Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin
call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599
"Tis the Season to be Merry"... As Christmas Day draws nearer and the year begins to wind down, it is time once again to reflect upon the past years business of 2008. I would have to say 2008 has been a more challenging and demanding year than any other year I can actually recall. For most of the year we in the housing industry have had to listening to the entire news media, filled daily with bad news about failed banks, home foreclosures and now the Auto industry woes; we can only hope that 2009 will be better. We have watched home prices drop and worked longer hours, daily to find buyers for our listings and service our buyer clients. Perhaps a little silver lining in all these dark clouds will be many families will be drawn closer together over the holidays with less emphasis on material things and more emphasis on caring and being there for each other.
All of us on my team and in my office wish you a Merry Christmas and a big Thank You for the business of 2008. We also have again received so many wonderful gift boxes, baskets of fruits and trays of cookies dropped off to our office from our wonderful suppliers, many local bankers, past clients, new clients and friends. We have been enjoying these treats and are very much appreciative of your thoughtfulness. And...again a special thank you also to the WCCU Credit Union for another huge Wine and Cheese basket! It is a certainty that we will be enjoying this over the holidays.
Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin
call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599
Don't you just love it when everything is just right?
Only if all my transactions were as trouble-free as this one was. With a home inspection scheduled for yesterday, and 5 inches of snow on the road, I made it to the home just as the inspector was finished. My client the buyer drove up from Milwaukee and arrived only shortly after I did. The inspection was prefect, not really any thing noted on the report so everyone was pleased. All that was left to do was for the buyer to start planning what furniture he would bring along to his new downsized home and spend a little time taking in his new View! Best of Luck Dave in your new home!


If you are interested in other homes with similar great views of the River, homes on a trout stream or perhaps an Organic Farm just call Mary... 608-606-2999. I am sure that I can find you what you are looking for!
Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin
call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599
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