About Rock County, WI

Over 1000 in attendance last Sunday night watched the amazing Aqua Jays

This event is held every Sun. and Wed. night at 7pm.

Yes the performance is FREE, but donations are greatly appreciated.

The Rock Aqua Jays Water Ski Club, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that teaches safe boating and water skiing techniques.

We perform twice weekly water ski shows from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend,Wednesday and Sunday at 7pm.We use our shows as a platform for teaching safe boating and water skiing techniques to members and the general public. Admission to a Rock Aqua Jays water ski show is always free, making our organization one of the last remaining free entertainment attractions in our community.

We are proud to call Janesville, Wisconsin our home, and privileged to be able to perform on the Rock River at Traxler Park where we've been since our starting in 1961. Our membership consists primarily of teenagers and young adults. None of our members are paid. In fact, all of our members are volunteers and pay dues to belong to our organization.

The Rock Aqua Jays are funded solely through donations, fund-raising, and memberships. Local businesses and Friends of the Rock Aqua Jays play a huge role in sustaining our organization. We receive no public funding, but the City of Janesville is very accommodating. They recognize that we are a significant tourist and entertainment attraction, having generated nearly $50 million in local tourism spendingas a result ofhosting the Division I National Water Ski Show Tournament 22 times since 1975.

From Scott Larson of Towne Square Realty in Monroe, Wisconsin

“Your Realtor of the Region”

E- Mail scott@greencountyhomeguide.com

On the web at http://www.greencountyhomeguide.com

I think you will be surprised how affordable the Dairyland is,

so come to my land of cows and plows and visit for a day, but stay for a lifetime

608-2124-9844 Direct

With all the inventory we currently have, there are things you can do to help with the sale of your home.

Never has it been more important to go above and beyond to attract a buyer. The list below is from NAR and has some great points. Make yourself attractive both with price and condition. You will find a buyer!

Simple Tips for Better Home Showings

1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don't forget to clean out the garage, too.

2. Wash your windows and screens. This will help get more light into the interior of the home.

3. Keep everything extra clean. A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It's worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the house. Potpourri or scented candles will help.

5. Brighten your rooms. Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out bulbs in closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.

6. Don't disregard minor repairs. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they'll give buyers the impression that the house isn't well-maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes. Repair any holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Add a touch of color in the living room. A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room. Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.

10. Buy a flowering plant and put it near a window you pass by frequently.

11. Make centerpieces for your tables. Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.

12. Set the scene. Set the table with fancy dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture living there. For example, in the basement you might display a chess game in progress.

13. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light. Show off the view if you have one.

14. Accentuate the fireplace. Lay fresh logs in the fireplace or put a basket of flowers there if it's not in use.

15. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious. Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight.

16. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that's not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (ideally in the basement), and let the real estate practitioner know where they'll be to eliminate surprises.

17. Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money. While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing or open house, it's impossible to watch everyone all the time.

18. Leave the home. It's usually best if the sellers are not at home. It's awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.

This is a busy week. I've had 3 closings with a 4th one on Friday!

I'm excited to tell you that we've been busy. Prices are NOT up but, the market is busy with 1st time and some move up buyers.

I'm seeing more showings on my listings, which is great!

I am really very lucky with the buyers and sellers I work with. I just get to work with the nicest people.

Whether they are 1st time or experienced, It's so much fun to work with the same people over and over again. I even get to work with their children and/or parents. Great fun!

Still looking for people to get started with buying a home...I can just see how it's going to be with November 30 as the deadline...someone is not going to be happy!

If you have been considering a home..the time is right!!

National home sales up 10% in June!

Isn't that a great thing. It has been busy the last few months. I'm really hoping it will stay

busy for awhile. What do you think about extending the buyer credit? I think the whole purpose

was to deplete inventory. We still have more than enough listings. In our area, as of the 2nd quarter,

we have enough inventory to last between 9.2 months and 130 months depending on the price range.

And that is if NO ONE listed another home.

Our GM Plant closed and 170 people have received a transfer to Kansas. Several have gone to Texas

already. It seems that it will be important to have the tax credit extended and/or broadened to all buyers

in order to help our area.

Tell me what your thoughts are??

"I find that the harder I work, the
more luck I seem to have."
- Thomas Jefferson

This week I'm going to be really lucky! I'm working on 4 closings this week! Yes, things are moving.

People always ask me: "Is the housing market improving?" I would say it's holding it's own. We are in a bit harder situation with our GM plant closed and about 170 people moving to the Kansas area. Good news is the construction of the new hospital starting in October. They predict 500 jobs there.

Our office has seen an increase in accepted offers, even showing an improvement over the same month last year. We still need to work together..keep supporting your local businesses as much as you can.

Work hard!

Have a successful week!

Julie