Germantown, WI

My family moved to Germantown when I was starting the 2nd grade. That was about 33 years ago. I lived there until I got married in 1991. During that time, Germantown has grown significantly both in size and in population. The population in 1980 was 10,729 (I still remember the signs announcing it along the roadsides). By 2000, it had grown to 18,260. They call themselves the Gateway to Washington County. Neighbors to Germantown include Mequon, Menomonee Falls, Richfield and Milwaukee.

SCHOOLS - Germantown now has four elementary schools, one middle and one high school serving almost 4,000 students. You can visit http://www.germantown.k12.wi.us/ for more information about the school system.

BUSINESS - The Village of Germantown is home to several business parks. The most recent one to be developed has 250 acres and is located between Mequon and Donges Bay Roads approximately 2 miles west of US HWY 41/45. Visit http://www.mlgcommercial.com/services/ourServices.cfm?page=BizParkDetail&BPPrefix=GER for more information about the Germantown Business Park.

RECREATION - Ten parks are within the borders of Germantown. They include everything from sand volleyball courts, playground equipment, baseball diamonds, tennis courts and even a small water park. You can visit http://www.village.germantown.wi.us/ and click on the Park & Recreation link for more information.

LIBRARY - The Germantown library is part of the SHARE program which means your Germantown library card can be used in every library in Washington, Doge, Jefferson, Walworth and Racine counties making it one powerful card! The library was first opened in 1963 and has grown from about 2,000 to over 100,000 volumes. The current location on Mequon Road has been the library's home since 2002. You can go to http://www.germantownlibrarywi.org/index.htm for more information about the library and even search for your favorite book.

If you're interested in more information about the Village of Germantown, check out the following links:

http://www.village.germantown.wi.us/

http://www.americantowns.com/wi/germantown

http://www.germantownnow.com/

The GOOD NEWS IS: Germantown has experienced increasing sales for 4 out of the last 6 months. The numbers for September and October were slightly below the 2007 sold numbers.

October Sales in 2008 were 5. This was a slow month. The election may have had this effect. The stock market tanking may also have had a little to do with it.

New listings in the last 3 months were down form last year. Since January we have seen 18.5% fewer homes coming on the market than 2007.

This indicates the market is getting better, with fewer homes in inventory and a little quicker sales for the properties that are on the market.

Current inventory is 52 homes on the market. This means that there is more than10 months of inventory on the market currently indicating that it is still a "buyers market" in the marketplace.

If you'd like help with buying a selling a home, contact me anytime!

Information provided by April Hayden-Munson Your Real Estate Expert

For help with selling a home.

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You can find great local Milwaukee Wisconsin area real estateinformation on Localism.com April Hayden-Munson Realtor, Southeastern Wisconsin is a proud member of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, a free online community to help real estate professionals grow their business.

While the world does seem to be topsy turvey, Thanksgiving will give EVERYONE a chance to sit down with family and friends and count their blessings!

This year I am thankful for many different things. Most importantly family and friends. Our grandkids are the cutest! For everyones good health, yes some are challenged, but nothing life threatening.

I am thankful for the great career I have. Moving offices this fall, I am thankful for everyone at my old office who helped me grow my business to a large group of happy buyers and sellers. I am very grateful to my new office for the warm welcome, and tremendous espirit d'corps. They are a great group of agents and staff that truly care about each other and their success! I am very thankful for my assistant Mary, who has gotten me to this point, with a smile on her face and never a frustration showing!

I am thankful for my clients, customers and support team at Shorewest. This job is interesting and even more so are the many friends I have made with buyers and sellers along the way!

I am thankful for the great community we live in. Germantown is active and fun, and full of great people! My neighborhood, Tree Tops is a great mix of people, in a beautiful setting, surrounded by mature trees, ponds and walkiing trails.

This Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for? I bet the list is long, despite the challenges that face all of us.

Enjoy your day with family, friends, and good food!

We had our first real snow today! Now, many people shudder at that thought...I love snow, well at least til Jan 31st, then it gets alittle old! But it was so gorgeous this morning...and the snow hung on the tree branches most of the day....you have to look at this photo!

This is what we love about the winter, the sheer beauty! (the cold is what makes those snow birds fly south!) So now, I have also changed my personal photo here reflecting the new season....'SEASONS CHANGE, SO DO HOUSING NEEDS!" Can I help you or someone you know make a "change"?

YES!!! I was lucky enough to meet Michael Symon Iron Chefs this past Tuesday evening. We met at a meet and greet at the Hotel Palomar in downtown Milwaukee. The project is a luxury boutique hotel being launched by Kimpton Hotels....they have several others around the country. The complex will be a mix of high end retail, hotel, condos,and restaurants that will break ground late 2009.

Michael Symon is newest of the IRON CHEFS on the popular Food Network Channel. Michael has midwest roots, and is excited about coming to Milwaukee and opening the restaurant within the future Hotel Palomar. Milwaukee being the hometown of Harley Davidson is a bonus that he isreally EXCITED about! The yet to be named restaurant will use a "farm to table" theme featuring Wisconsin products.

Just coming off a Thanksgiving win, just this week, with fellow Iron Chef Bobby Flay, Michael was bubbling with enthusiasm about the project. It was a treat to meet the famous chef!