Make Your Home in Southeastern Wisconsin

Your Realtors in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington Counties

What does it really mean to be "all things real estate" ? Read the Hansons Profile and you will know the mark of truly successful professionals you will want to call "your own realtors."\

2008 Five Star: Best in Client Satisfaction Award

The FIVE STAR: Best in Client Satisfaction Real Estate Agent award is limited to less than 7% of all agents within the Milwaukee area. See special section of Milwaukee Magazine - May 2008 Issue

Selected as a distinguished member of America's Best Agents serving Waukesha, Milwaukee, Washington and Ozaukee Counties.

Sally and David Hanson are both nationally Certified Buyers' Agents, Certified Relocation and Senior Specialists. Their sales rank them in the top 5% of the fastest growing real estate brokerage in the country. Working on the listing side, their sales mantra is "We Put our Money Where Your House Is". With special expertise in marketing, advertising and public relations, you can expect a custom marketing plan unlike any other to market your home more effectively than other agents' listings. With Buyers, whether it is a first house or the castle on the hill, the Hansons comb not only the MLS but all other available resources to bring you the homes most suited to your taste and budget in record time. People new to the area can expect a custom binder that acquaints them with the whole area. Not just homes, but also local resources, schools, pizza delivery, veterinarians, carpet cleaners.....whatever you need to make you feel part of your new community!

Custom Marketing Plans Produce the Highest & Best Offers for Sellers

Decades of experience in marketing, advertising and public relations are applied to each listing. A multi-media approach with defined target markets is designed, executed and reviewed during the course of a listing. As the market may indicate a change, changes are made with a schooled eye on monitoring the results and making any necessary adjustments to insure that every possible audience...agents and potential buyers have "top of mind awareness" of each listing. The Hansons are not the realtors who put a sign in the ground and a listing on MLS and hope that someone buys their listing..Pro-Active would be the best description...and outside the box execution of plans that have proven successful for each seller.

The Hansons have an original inside/out marketing plan that is custom crafted for each listing. Attention to detail and the considerations of multiple audiences brings a powerful presence to the listings they have and sell more quickly than most realtors. The more quickly a listing sells, the more it will sell for...the greater return on the investment a seller has made in real estate. They know and appreciate that real estate is not just selling a house...it is the end of one life chapter and the beginning of another. There are memories to savor and enjoy and new ones to be made for another time in another place. Lifestyles change...from condo to a home and marriage...from the starter home to the additional bedrooms needed for a growing family. From the home that was family friendly to the entertainment friendly condo. The upstairs bedrooms traded for the now more suitable and comfortable ranch. The "always wanted wish list" that wasn't affordable with the first house purchase that be part of an enjoyable lifestyle now. An indepth interview with the Hansons will help you determine your next move and the best way to make it easier...the best way to make it as profitable as possible

This is a Sales Record You Will Want to Hear !

For the past 8 years, the Hansons have gotten sellers an average of OVER 99% of their listing price....AND...during those 8 years there have had only 4 price reductions !

Their buyers are invited to quarterly Home Seminars...where they can learn about preventative maintenance, care, cleaning, updating, do-it-yourself and "best not to touch if you are not a professional" kinds of projects. Buyers know they can rely on the Hansons for referrals to reliable contractors with good quality products and service. Their 24/7 service is well known to buyers for a lifetime of referrals to dependable people when they are needed.

Closings are just the BEGINNNG of the relationship with buyers.The Hansons have had the honor to serve generations of families from retiring grandparents who are downsizing or becoming Snowbirds with homes in Wisconsin and winter homes in a warmer climate...to their granchildren who are purchasing their very first homes. Their additional education in working with seniors and staying in touch with lenders to help first time buyers know their options, bring valuable assets to the real estate experience of young and old...first timers and retirees.

Year after year, over 97% of their sales come from referrals...from past buyers and sellers as well as other professionals with whom the Hansons actively network. Referrals with confidence have propelled the Hansons' sales figures to greater heights every year. Whether the need is residential, commercial...traditional or short sale..people know that the buyers and sellers they refer will be taken care of throughout the listing or the purchasing process...and for years to come as the Hansons say, they are your Realtors for a Lifetime.

The Hansons know they can be a valuable asset to past customers and clients...and to the communities they serve. Knowing how to maintain your home with reliable contractors, the kinds of improvements that can be done economically to add the most value...Preventative measures that protect a home from damage due to weather, aging, etc. are all part of the things that the Hansons provide to their ever increasing sphere of influence with clients and customers. Real estate to the Hansons has never been about just putting a sign in the yard and a listing on MLS...or showing a house or two and scribbling a contract. It is creating relationships that are meaningful to both parties and in many cases, friendships that have spanned generations and relationships that are sure to last a lifetime.

Experience and Education

Education and experience are key to the Hansons' success in real estate. They have built and designed their own home, done remodeling, been landlords and are are also trained in commercial real estate. Their custom marketing expertise adapts from first timers to high end homes and empty nesters. Creative approaches to both consumer and agent target audiences draw attention to listings that sell faster and often at prices above the asking price.

Realtors who choose to earn "designations" or the letters you see after their names, have taken the time and made the investment...monetarily and in effort and discipline to learn specific skills that will help them to assist buyers and sellers with the support of more knowledge in that area. Here are the explanations for the designations that the Hansons have earned.

ABR - This is an abbreviation for the Accredited Buyers Representative designation. This means the agent has learned the skills necessary to represent a buyer as a buyer(s)' agent. In Wisconsin, every real estate agent is licenced as "an agent of the seller." To act in the buyers' behalf, advising and negotiating the transaction on that side of the desk, it is best for the agent to have completed this training. The course demands that you not only have the education,but also have documented transactions that prove that an agent has served in this capacity. Most buyers that work with the Hansn prefer to have a Buyer Agency Contract. (The document that entitles the buyer to this representation.) Their knowledge and skills have earned the buyers the best possible values in the market for real estate purchases.

CDPE - Certified Distressed Property Expert As described below, this education is an intense and continuing course in helping homeowners who care experiencing a financial hardship, determine the best possible method to avoid foreclosure. This can take the form of counseling for a loan modification or listing the property as a short sale.

e-Pro designation is an intensive course for cutting edge real estate professionals. Endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS®, the e-PRO course teaches professionals the methods and procedures of working with real estate on-line: Web sites, e-mail, on-line tools, and most of all, what today's consumer really wants.The numbers keep increasing as to the percentage of buyers who begin their search for a home on line...it is now approaching 90% and growing. To effectively market their listings as well as be able to successfully locate properties for buyers and communicate well using the internet, the Hansons have added the e-pro designation to their educational background to better serve both buyers and sellers .

CSS, Certified Senior Specialist

This is a course that has assisted the Hansons in better helping senior citizens with buying and selling decisions. Whether it is to a condo in Wisconsin and one in a warmer climate for the winter to be a "Snowbird", a ranch to avoid stiars, a condo to minimize maintenance or a senior living home, this course prepared the Hansons to help prepare the Senior to make good decisions and have an easier transition to a different kind of lifestyle. Downsizing does not mean the end of memories,...it means making new ones. The Hansons offer everything to helpseniors to make informed choices for their new housing. This includes floor plans for smaller living quarters or different room sizes and furniture placement. This makes the choices for what to keep, sell, donate or purchase a much easier task. If items need to disposed of, donated or sold the Hansons have resources for assisting seniors in what can seem like an overwhelming task. Sally and David know that this is a different chapter for seniors...one that they may have dreaded and they do their best to make it a celebration of a new lifestyle and a new beginning in a new place. In addition, they offer a service that will help the senior to get the best possible return on their real estate investment. Whether this means removing the wallpaper or updating the electrical service, the Hansons have a battery of vendors to make these kinds of tasks effortless.

Relocation Specialists The Hansons believe that there is not much point to having a website that attracts buyers from all over the country if you have not taken the training to learn how best to work with transferred or relocated buyers. Their needs are unique...they need to know the differences in communities, the ones that will offer them what they truly need to feel "at home". They want to be familiar not just with a map...but know the grocery store, veterinarian, nail salon, spa, golf course, school system, day care, sports venues, parks and recreation opportunities...all the things that play a part in making newcomers feel comfortable..to be able to jump right in and enjoy all the things that make living in Wisconsin a wonderful thing. They know through the interviews they have, the e-mails they exchange and the information they give, all the things that go into making a move less challenging and more enjoyable. From suggesting a mover and booklets on helpful hints for moving the family including pets, to the maps and special tourist attractions, school evaluations, whatever it takes...whatever a buyer needs and wants...the Hansons supply it with a welcome smile to the Badger State they have called home for a lifetime.

Every realtor is required to take some education every two years. The Hansons go above and beyond what is required and sharpen their skills in specific areas including internet marketing and communications, short sales and foreclosures, relocation and commercial real estate.

Pricing real estate to sell...not to sit is key to "getting it right the first time." Pricing a property too high means no one will be able to get financing...a property must meet strict appraisal guidelines ot be worthy of a mortgage in today's market. The Hansons will tell you the price that the property needs to be at to sell...not to sit. In addition, during the term of the listing, they keep an ever watchful eye on the market to insure that the pricing for your property remains competitive in the marketplace.

When working with buyers, the Hansons understand the value of having a buyer well prepared to write an offer when they see the perfect house. They work with buyers to get them pre-qualified with lenders who are experienced and can close a loan...not those with little experience. If buyers are credit challenged, the Hansons have referrals to credit counselors who can work with buyers to get their scores in line with the standards set by lenders...teach them money management techniques and prepare them to be responsible home owners.

Both Sally & David have earned the CDPE designation helping home owners who are upside down to avoid foreclosure, preserve their credit and do successful Short Sales or explore other non-foreclosure alternatives. In addition to the days of courses taken to earn this designation, the Hansons participate regularly in webinars and also are part of a network of CDPE designees nationally that exchange information thru an Intranet site. If you have a friend of relative anywhere in the country who for reasons of hardship, cannot pay their mortgage or has gotten behind on payments, the Hansons can assist by finding the agent most qualified from an experience and education standpoint, to assist anyone anywhere in the country with a loan modification or short sale of their home or whatever remedy is available and will work best in that homeowner's unique situation. Real estate...especially short sales, is not a "one choice fits all" sort of business and they will work to resolve any problem in the best interest of the homeowner.

Are you Upside Down on Your Mortgage or Know Someone Who Is ?

Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Job loss, medical bills, a mortgage adjusted before you could sell and now bills have become overwhelming. Before you allow one more payment to be missed, visit: www.WeSellUpsideDownHomes.com. The more quickly you act, the more options you have to remedy the situation. You may be entitled to a loan modification or perhaps a short sale. The choice is dependent upon careful examination of each individual situation. The Hansons have a passion for real estate....and for people who through no fault of their own, may have fallen on difficult times.

If you find yourself or a friend unable to pay the mortgage...do not call a realtor that does not have specific short sale expertise and success. Consultation is free...the service is free. Do not pay a company up front to "try": and modify your mortgage loan and make it affordable...that isn't legal in Wisconsin...Call the Hansons, learn your options...sometimes the best things in life really ARE free !

Before you hire an agent to do a short sale..here are 8 important questions you should have answered:

1) What formal training has the agent had ? CDPE or other…Ask to see the certificate. If the agent has received the training, they won’t be offended and you will be assured that they formal instruction by a recognized authority in the industry.

2) How many short sales has the agent done ? Find out not only how many but when…recently…5 years ago.

3) What is the success rate for closing short sales ? It isn’t just the quantity…it has to be the quality to avoid foreclosure.

4) Ask for references from recent closings. If the agent is successful, providing a handful of references should not be an issue.

5) Has the agent explained the process to you…discussed what options are available and what the long term effects can be for each option.

6) Has the agent given you references for a real estate attorney, accountant and credit repair expert ?

7) Ask the agent to show you closed sales figures from MLS for the past 24 months. Short sales take longer, require more effort and as a result more financial stability by the agent. You don’t want to sign a listing contract with someone who may not be able to sustain their earnings in the business.

8) How does the agent take your very valuable from listing to closing ? Ask for a written marketing plan, find out who does the follow up with the lender after an offer is received. What is the agent’s philosophy on submitting an offer or many offers and why ? And the all important question…WHO does the negotiation of the short sale with the lender ? Does the agent you hired do it…do they have a VA..Virtual Assistant do it for them ? Do they have a 3rd party company do the negotiation ? The answer to this question with the success rate may be key to difference between an agent listing a short sale and closing one…

Don't Be A Real Estate Experiment.....

Be A Successful Short Sale Seller...the Credit/Future You Save IS your own !

Contact us E-Mail or Phone:

Experts@WeSellUpSideDownHomes.Com or call the Hansons at: 414-525-0563. If you are not in the area and need a referral to someone who can help you, use our toll free number: 877-525-0563 and we will be happy to help you with suggestions for someone to help you in your area. The worst thing you can do is have your home go into foreclosure! There may be lots of other options....options that will be far less damaging to your credit rating or the credit rating of someone you know....call now, every minute counts !

Commercial Short Sales...WE ARE HERE TO HELP ! ! !

There are lots of reasons that a business can have problems...and if you're behind on payments for a commercial building....office, gas station, mall, retail store, combined use...whatever the nature of the building...we have the knowledge and resources to help you!

It's sooo much better to let us do a short sale rather than let the building go into foreclosure.Call us now! We are here to answer your questions 7 days a week...whenever you need us most.

Putting your Best House Forward !

It is more critical than ever before when you list your home...that it looks as good as it possibly can. That's why we'll help you stage it (window treatments, suggest paint colors, recommend floor coverings, reduce clutter, etc.) Let us help you "get it all together." Even if the house is vacant....lots can be done to create more eye appeal and generate offers more quickly. Let us help you get the greatest possible return for your real estate investment.

Sellers and potential sellers sometimes assume that staging is an expensive and frivilous thing to add to the cost of selling a home. Think about it...you are more attracted to a home that is neat and clean and uncluttered. The Hansons have a whole room of their office allocated to staging supplies and can supplement or replace items in your home, estate, condo with some of the things they have...from flowers to towels, candles and window treatments...the collection compliments the decor and produces the kind of eye candy that buyers love and yields offers more quickly than homes that are not "all dressed up and ready to sell."

The Hansons often work with people who are settling estates. The decorating and other features of the house can sometimes be very dated. In these cases, the Hansons have several different remedies to procure the Highest and Best price for the property. Some staging work and accessories are offered at no charge. If there is some remodeling that can be done cost effectively and enhance the home so that the profit will be greater, the Hansons will procure quotes and act as the general contractor at no additional charge to insure that there is timely and quality workmanship done to add value. The choice of how much to do and what expense is compared to the net profit and discussed with the people responsible to determine the best possible course of action. Often, two prices are given to the homeowner or person in charge of the estate...one with staging/updating and one without so that cost effective decisions can be made easily and smoothly.

Investors? You are most welcome! The Hansons have taken and continue to take commercial real estate classes. If you think that ROI and NOI are Chinese appetizers...then refer your commercial clients to the Hansons. They know and understand this part of real estate as well as residential. They know the importance of a bottom line and work to help buyers purchase profitable properties and have sellers get the best possible return for their real estate investment.

Times have changed for investors...lending requirements are different than they were a few years ago and they are constantly changing in today's market. The Hansons can show you the formulas that make sense if you are an investor. Conversely, the sellers for investment properties need to understand what kind of prices will be attractive to a buyer...and that a buyer must be able to show a profit for the purchase to make sense to him AND to the lender for the property.

The Hansons have a home office with state-of-the-art computers, designated fax line and high speed internet which enables them to be available and knowledgable with up-to-the-minute resources 24/7 regardless of time zone or day of the week. They understand the importance of the investment in your home...monetarily and emotionally and are always ready to be of service.

The Hansons have a passion for real estate. They designed their own home with built-in home office and are frequently joined at work by their two cats...Cosmo....a long haired golden wonder...and Magic...a sleek black one-person, "only likes David" cat.

Relocations - Specially trained and very experienced, the Hansons, as Wisconsin lifelong residents welcome newcomers to the Badger State...binders, tours, maps, relocation kits, e-mail listings, school information....whatever you need, the Hansons supply to make new residents feel at home.

The Hansons state of the art home office also includes a number of designated phone lines including one that is toll free: 877-525-0563. You are likely to reach either Sally or David 8 am to 9 pm 7 days a week. Their voice mail will give you their cell phone numbers if they are out of the office.

The Hansons will interview the soon-to-be Badger state resident. What things are important to someone who relocates ? What do they need/want to know ? The greater Milwaukee/Waukesha area has a reputation for being a 20 minute drive to anywhere...work, school., sporting and cultural events, shopping, parks and other leisure time activity locations. Let the Hansons give you a tour of different communities...whether you are all about the city...like a little bit of country....or acres to roam, the area has it all and they can help you discover the kind of setting, community,home that will work best for your budget and your lifestyle.

CLICK HERE and complete the required information and indicate in the comment section that you would like a FREE RELOCATION KIT

CLICK HERE and see why AARP Magazine named Milwaukee one of the top five choices of places to live in the whole country !!!!

Active In Active Rain ....Pouring Out Blogs of Information

The Hansons actively write and maintain a blog on Active Rain called Wisonsin Relocation.net and their regular contributions assist consumers and realtors alike with a broad spectrum of real estate information based upon the Hansons varied and in depth experience in their chosen career fied. "Know what you don't know...." is what they tell people...and no matter what your question, know that they will find the answer and if necessary, direct you to a resource that will best serve your needs. Knowing what you don't know is crucial to the success of your real estate investment.

Whether you are looking to re-finance, re-carpet, ...or need legal advice, have title issues, tax questions...decorating dilemnas...the Hansons have a long list of qualified, experienced and reliable experts that can help you with whatever your neef happens to be...Call or e-mail anytime...test their mantra: "Prompt Service/Proven Results"...you'll be glad you did !

The Hansons know school systems are a major concern and that is why each family that has school age children and is moving to another area, is given information on the locations of each school - elementary through high school and the course offerings and areas of specializations that each school offers their students. Recently the Hansons had a request for a school that had an orchestra and a specific method of teaching music. The family was thrilled when a school was found with exactly what they wanted and a beautiful home to match !

Testimonials:

SELLERS

"Sally and David were excellent to work with. They helped us to both buy and sell a house. We would not even consider using anyone else. They are knowledgable and very good at what they do. In this slow market, our house was under contract in three weeks after it was put on the market- this saved us greatly in mortgage payments. Not only were they helpful with the buying and selling of the house but they were helpful and kind in soooo many other ways. We've never worked with better agents- we HIGHLY recommend them." G.P.

"We got 3 offers over asking at our first open house...The Hansons are extremely knowledgable, artful negotiators and terrific marketers....a joy to work with !" - Paula & Curt

"Sally and David were awesome to me and my whole family as transferrees...and we have now done 3 transactions in less than 3 years...!" - Karen

"Preparing my parents home for sale....from a mechanical tune up to staging...it never looked better and we got 97% of the asking price in a "buyers" market....Hansons are the best..." Susan

"If you want 'Above and Beyond' your wildest expectations for selling your home....with great 'Outside the box' marketing...you have to call the Hanson..." James & Jennifer

"Dedicated 24/7 to what they do...with the experience and education invested in a profession they love....you'll love them too " Linda & John

"Service with more than a smile...the Hansons added holiday decor...were vigilant about open houses and reporting showings and sold our home before others in the neighborhood who had been on the market much longer ! We recommend them highly to anyone who wants the quality they bring to the profession." Jean & Paul

SHORT SALE SELLERS SUCCESS STORIES IN AVOIDING FORECLOSURE

"Our retirement and decision to become "Snowbirds" and sell our home in Wisconsin, have a condo in Wisconsin and one in a warmer climate, was made so much easier when David and Sally sold our home, found us the perfect condo and the perfect agent to work with for our winter warmer location..if you want a couple who truly does it all;hire the Hansons to make you feel at home." L. S.

"My parents summer home was on the other side of the state...when it was time to sell...the Hansons found just the right agent to make the sale go smoothly and minimize the hassle and inconvenience we may have had with less knowledgable agents. They ARE everywhere...or will help you to buy or sell anywhere." W.F.

"As agents, we would not refer our business for people relocating to southeastern Wisconsin to anyone else...we know that our buyers will be well taken care of with the same kind of care and service we would offer if they were buying a house in our state...Hansons are a team you can trust and they kept us informed during the entire transaction." B.L.

"David and Sally are absolutely wonderful. Being first time sellers they were there for us when we needed them the most. Anything and everything we needed was answered and executed immediately. We put our faith in them and sure enough they sold our house in 1 day….for more than our asking price. We couldn’t have asked for anything more in a real-estate consultant. David and Sally then helped us buy our next house. My husband and I work a lot and didn’t have time to mess around. The two of them worked hours on end to help us find a home we always dreamed of raising a family in. They did all of work and made simple for us to balance our careers, buy a house and still have time to enjoy our evenings. The trust we have in David and Sally is PRICELESS. We can confidently say David and Sally Hanson are our real estate consultants for life." K.H.

"We came into town looking for temporary living at first and none of the 20 real estate agents we contancted would even talk to us about this, that was until we found Sally and David! We set up a time to meet with them at the local Perkins resturant. They came bearing a wonderful gift basket with local maps and local information, etc. They asked us what we were looking for in rental properties and gave us a list of places to contact. We found temporary housing, then about 2-3 months later we contacted them again and let them know we were looking for a house. We gave them the price and type of house we were looking for and the LISTENED and gave us information on houses in our area of interest and they types of houses we said we were intersted in. We ended up seeing many houses and finally found the home of our dreams. Sally and David also helped us get better pricing on the house during negotiations. We think Sally and David went above and beyond any other realtor we have ever had in the past and we remain friends today. They are a lot of fun to work with and are very friendly. You will not be disappointed with their service!" E.K.

"Both my husband and I where very impressed with Sally and David Hanson. They both are very personable people and always right there for you at anytime. Can't say enough about these excellent agents." C.F.

"My first time home buying experience could not have been better...the Hansons don't just sell you a house...they bring their expertise to your home...and the 'after care' is for a lifetime !" Katie K.

For parents who want their sons to have early military training, St.John's Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield is known nationally for their high standards of academic excellence, character and spirtual foundations and ethical values for boys grades 7-12.

One of the natural features of Waukesha County is the Kettle Morraine. This area has been uniquely carved by glaciers of centuries passed. Rolling and irregular terrain dotted with ponds where beds of glacial ice once were...add the variety of trees with awesome fall colors, a huge variety of wildflowers in spring and summer and snowshoe and snowmobile trails in the winter...some people would tell you it just doesn't get any better for a display of nature's canvas than in this area of the state.

Milwaukee County

Milwaukee County is the hub of southeastern Wisconsin and the largest city in the state, the city of Milwaukee lining the Lake Michigan shoreline with parks, homes and condominiums. Hundreds of thousands of people come to the shoreline and Maier Festival Park for a variety of ethnic festivals and what is billed as the largest music festival, worldwide...Summerfest. Summerfest features everything from big name/brand name entertainment to food and beverages,rides, and fireworks displays....some fun for everyone of every age and every musical taste.

The city and suburbs have an outstanding park system that feature winter fun with skating ponds, toboggan hills, sledding ....and snowshoe trails. Summer fun includes ponds stocked with fish, playgrounds, golf and tennis courses, swimmingpools and water parks, softball diamonds, playgrounds with swings, slides, monkey bars and teeter totters, ...organized arts and crafts classes and a variety of tournaments for children of all ages. There are OVER 130 parks in the county system..in neighborhoods everywhere offering a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Green space to play, enjoy, picnic, exercise...it's all here and improves the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

One of the attractions of the area visited most by both residents and tourists is the Mitchell Park Conservatory. Locally the spectacular displays of colorful plants is referred to as "the domes."Five times each year,the beautiful Show Dome has elaborately planned seasonal floral displays. In the moist air of the Tropical Dome, you will experience 1,200 species of tropical plants. The Desert Dome represents the deserts of the world with plants grouped by geographic locations.

"The Domes" are the world's only conoidal glass houses. The three Domes are home to flowers and plants from tropical and arid locations around the world. The architecturally unique structures are filled with plants and animals from different climates. Each Dome is almost half a football field wide, by seven stories tall. Twenty wildlife species including birds, lizards, frogs, toads, fish, and turtles are found in what appears to the "natural habitat" of the Domes.

Another pride of southeastern Wisconsin is the Milwaukee County Zoo which boasts over species of animals. The animals have wonderful displays...watch the polar bears dip in their own pools...the monkeys swinging from the favorite spots in their jungle -like hang outs.

The Zoo is home to more than 1,800 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles with more than 350 species represented. It is a site for workshops, holiday celebrations, summer concerts and food festivals.Recognized as one of the country’s finest zoological attractions,it serves as a community resource to educate and entertain as well as an attraction for a wealth of tourists.

The Harley Davidson Museum is one of the very newest additions to the landscape of attractions in southeastern Wisconsin. If has been nearly 105 years in the making, located near downtown Milwaukee, opened its doors to the public on Saturday, July 12, 2008. The 130,000-square-foot Museum gives visitors a feel for the freedom, camaraderie and pride that Harley-Davidson riders experience every time they fire up their motorcycles.

Within the walls of the Harley-Davidson Museum there are motorcycles and artifacts that tell the story of the Motor Company's rich history and heritage. Every gallery and exhibit inside is an astonishing testimony to the legendary bikes, the people who built them and, of course, every individual who ever felt their powerful rumble on a long stretch of asphalt.

In addition to tours of the rich history of this internationally known company, it is also a venue for everything from corporate meetings to birthday parties. Wisconsinites know how to celebrate....this is just one more place to do it !

There are 11 regional medical centers offering residents state of the art technology in a variety of areas from pediatric care at Childrens' Hospital...the Burn Center at St. Mary's...the trauma center at Froedert....assurance and comfort in knowing that whether it is a minor injury or a life saving transplant, the area has the experience and expertise to provide the necessary skills and services.

For Sports Fans...Milwaukee county has something for everyone. The summer season brings the Milwaukee Brewers who have a wonderful domed stadium to play rain or shine. The Milwaukee Admirals bring hockey to the area for a thrill chill you will enjoy. The Milwaukee Bucks bounce their way to a basketball season in downtown Milwaukee's Bradley Center. Kick up the action with Soccer games and the Milwaukee Wave. If skating is your sport...enjoy the Petit Ice Center in West Allis and you may get a peak at some olympic hopefuls gliding around the rink.

Rich in culture...you can drink it in at the Milwaukee Art Museum or take in a gallery or two. There is also the Milwaukee Public Museum is a cultural attraction not to be missed. Exhbits on everything from space travel to dinosaurs. Exhibits that choose to visit for a while such as the record setting Titanic exhibit...and those that are more permanent. There are summer camps and lectures...you will want to go to their website at: www.mpm.edu....enjoy a podcast, check out the calendar of events..exhibits, speakers....enjoy !

Milwaukee has been called "the city of festivals" and no wonder...every weekend all summer long you can find a festival at the lake front...people in southeastern Wisconsn proudly celebrate their heritage and ethnicity. A visit to the lakefront will find tastes of Germany, Italy, Ireland, Poland...unique delicacies from local restaurants that will have you coming back to their establishments all year long. In addition to the food...and drink of course...there are exhibits rich in history and culture. You may find music or traditional dances, small parades through the festival grounds.....celebration is everything everywhere in Wisconsin. In addition, there is always a variety of other music and performers on stages throughout Maier Festival Park. You get a real sense of "community" with the sponsorship of many stages from local companies throughout the area. Harley Davidson, Miller-Coors just to name a couple. You will find rock, rhythm and blues, country....ethic ...music for everyone...tune up your sing-a-long voice and bring your dancing shoes, you will want to be an active participant in all the fun.

Lots of folks refer to Wisconsinites as "Cheeseheads"....especially those envious folks in Illinois who only wish they were from Wisconsin. In St. Francis, there is a creative company born out of this nickname called Foamation Inc.

In 1987 this idea was born from the creative mind of Foamation's "Father of Fromage", Ralph Bruno. The birth of the world famous Cheesehead® hat was not initially about fashion, but a gouda, self-deprecating response to those we kindly call the "flat-landers". ...Illinois residents. Riding high from their only Super Bowl victory, fans of Chicago sports began ridiculing citizens of the Dairy State by calling them "Cheeseheads". They probably didn't predict the amount of pride and success that would follow.

Cheesehead® products have now sold in all 50 states and over 30 nations around the globe. The variety of people enjoying the products is simply stunning. Some are transplanted Wisconsinites, some dedicated Green Bay Packer fans, and some - simply like cheese. The Cheeseheads are a diverse bunch - all bound together by 1 thing: the CHEESE! Visit their website: www.Cheesehead.com and enjoy the variety of products you can now see worldwide !

West Allis, a southeastern suburb of Milwaukee is home to the Wisconsin State Fair...and whether you "hope to kiss a pig" wanna sample some of the state famous cream puffs...tour the animal barns, check out the crafts...who won the pie contest, go to midway and ride till you're dizzy...go to the stadium for the entertainment...check out the ever-popular slicer dicer salesperson in the exhibit hall..have a spit roaste lamb dinner or a corn dog....you can do it all for 10 days every August. The fairgrounds have other exhibits and shows throughout the year from lawn and garden to antiques...you will find something to learn, to eat to have fun and enjoy at this venue all year 'round.

When you are at the fairgrounds..you may want to stop and ice skate at the world reknown, Petit Ice Arena home to many olympic skaters who have trained at this location.

Cities: Brown Deer, Cudahy, Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Milwaukee, Oak Creek, St. Francis, Shorewood, South Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, West Allis, West Milwaukee.

Ozaukee County is a short 20 minute drive north of downtown Milwaukee along the 1-43 corridor which runs parallel to Lake Michigan. The communities that make Ozaukee County what it is...each have their own personality and attributes. Ozaukee County offers lakeside and Countryside living. You will find a variety of produce farms, roadside stands and orchards that offer fruits and vegetables.....jams, jellies, salsas...a taste of the best nature has to offer.

Ozaukee Interurban Trail

The route of the Ozaukee Interurban Trail is based on the Interurban railway that connected Ozaukee County to the City of Milwaukee and Sheboygan.During its operation, the Northern Route of the interurban line was also made famous for transporting African-American blues musicians to Port Washington which was the main recording studio for Paramount Records.

Today, the Ozaukee Interurban Trail is a 30-mile paved trail that spans the entire length of Ozaukee County. The majority of the Trail is off-road and is a great source for free family recreation.

The Trail connects the Ozaukee communities of Mequon, Thiensville, Cedarburg, Grafton, Port Washington and Belgium by using the existing right-of-way owned by We Energies. It is used as a commuter route for employment, businesses, industry, and commerce.

In Cedarburg. rich in history...you will want to go to the Cedar Creek Settlement Shops and enjoy the uniqueness and diversity of what these shops offer their clientele. From the locally made wines at the Cedar Creek Winery to the furniture of the Amish Craftman's Guild...the Eurpean flavor the gifts offered at the Alpine Gift Haus. Enjoy the variety of the uniqueness...you'll always come back for more.

Grafton offers The Family Farm for the "city kids"where farm animals can be fed and petted...rides on the hay wagon...a tour through the buildings...a step back in time with antique implements...and a taste of homade goodies....celebrate a birthday or just the weekend..something for everyone in the family. Stay the weekend at the bed and breakfast or make a day of it...a trip back in time to rural America like you can't experience anywhere else.

The Octagon Barn that was constructed a hundred years ago is now called "Octagon Farms" and is owned by the Tetzlaff Family. They raise llamas, alpacas and emus. The old milkhouse has become a retail store and tours of the working barn are given.

The architectural design of the barn is Dutch and German The eight walls of the barn made the structure capable of withstanding the fierce winds off nearby Lake Michigan. Each of the eight walls is 26 feet wide and 20 feet high. The barn has 3,200 square feet of floor space. The top of the cupola stands 60 feet above ground level.

The lakeside community of Port Washington is the county seat and it is a picturesque trip back in time combined with the conveniences of today. Port Washington brags it has the world's largest all day fish fry along with lakeside festivals throughout the summer.

Ozaukee County
Cities\Towns\Villages: Belgium, Cedarburg, Fredonia, Grafton, Mequon, Port Washington, Saukville, Theinsville.

Washington County offers Badger State visitors...and residents a gently rolling landscape capped by the locally well known landmark of Holy Hill.Holy Hill is the highest peak of the Kettle Moraine, a chain of hills and pot shaped valleys that begins in the Whitewater area and extends northeast to Door County. The shrine itself sits on about 40 acres, but over the years another 400 acres of surrounding woodland to preserve the area's contemplative atmosphere.

There is much to see and do on Holy Hill no matter what your religious background. You can tour the shrine chapel and the grounds, attend daily services, climb an observation deck and, during the summer, eat at the Monastery Inn Cafeteria. There are daily devotions at the shrine and weekend Masses, and confession is available. Many families come to Holy Hill to attend Sunday services, then have a picnic on the beautiful grounds.

The Washington County Fairgrounds are located between Jackson and West Bend, 30 minutes north of Milwaukee. The fair grounds host the traditional summer fair which includes entertainment, food and fun for everyone. In the fall, there is another seasonal celebration held on the 133 acre grounds. In addition, events include everything from weddings to trade shows, exhibits, concerts and a variety of different animal shows.

Wisconsin Automotive Museum
147 North Rural Street
Hartford, WI 53027
262-673-7999

Wisconsin’s largest auto museum, featuring a display of classic, vintage automobiles and artifacts! Included is the Hartford manufactured "Kissel" (1906—1931). Other exhibits are dedicated to the Nash and Hudson Esses Terraplane, in addition to over 90 other rare vehicles, such as Reos, Pierce-Arrows, Pontiacs, Studebakers, Chevies and Ford.

• Hours: May 1 - September 30, Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunday 12 - 5:00 p.m. (Including Holidays); October 1 - April 30, Closed Monday, Tuesday and Holidays
• Admission charged. Children under 8 Free. Group rates available
• Gift Shop
• Wheelchair accessible

Dheinsville Settlement
Six-way Crossroads - Holy Hill Rd • Germantown, WI 53022
262-628-3170

Park your wheels in Dheinsville and travel back in time. German immigrants of the Hunsruck Mountain region founded this hamlet. Today all 22 of the original structures remain. The Germantown Historical Society now occupies the Christ Church Museum, the shoemaker’s house and the fire hall & barn. Stroll through a one-block area full of ethnic and historic flavor. You’ll step into the original haus of Valentine Wolf Shoemaker, a rare example of German half-timber fachwerk. The Christ church Museum (c.1862) includes changing exhibits of local history & historic cemetery dating back to 1848. Also you’ll get a chance to visit the Sila Lydia Bast Bell Museum, as well as the country gift store and information center.

• Wolf Haus open Wednesdays & Sundays 1-4 p.m. (June 1 - October 1)
• Christ Church Museum open Sundays 1-4 p.m. (June 1 - October 1)
• Free Admission
• Tours are welcome by reservations any time
• Wheelchair accessible
• Gift Shop

Washington County
Cities\Towns\Villages: Addison, Barton, Germantown, Hartford, Jackson,. Kewaskum,Newburg, Richfield, Slinger, West Bend.

Wisconsin Facts and Trivia

State Bird: Robin State Flower: Wood Violet State Tree: Sugar Maple

Motto: Forward State Song: On Wisconsin State Animal: Badger State Fish: Musky

State Wildlife Animal: White Tailed Deer State Domesticated Animal: Dairy Cow

State Rock: Red Granite State Insect: Honey Bee State Beverage: Milk State Grain: Corn

State Dance: Polka

Nick Names - Badger Staters or Cheeseheads

Famous People Born In Wisconsin in No Particular Order

Alfred Lunt, Bob Uecker. Bud Selig, Charlotte Rae, David Zucker, Diedre Hall. Kato Kaelin,

Spencer Tracy, Harry Houdini, Don Ameche, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Fun Facts

The state has 7,446 stream and rivers; put end to end they would stretch over 26.767 miles

Wisconsin is home to Harley Davidson Motorcycles -

Come and Celebrate Harley Fest !

Wausau (located in central Wisconsin) is the Ginseng Capital of the World

Green Bay (Yes...as in Packers) is the toliet paper capital of the world

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