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Bayfield, WI Real Estate News

By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
Last year (and the year before), my vacant land buyers were having a terrible time trying to find northwest Wisconsin builders who would take on new clients.High prices for lumber and other building materials, coupled with high demand for tradespeople and construction subs who would build in Ashland and Bayfield counties. Some of these builders wouldn't return phone calls or emails.As recently as six months ago, one builder told me he would only build three homes at a time.  But things now appear to be changing.Several of the same "busy, busy" builders I've spoken with have changed their tune lately. The "three builds at a time" guy confided in me around Thanksgiving that his moderately-priced builds are canceling left and right. His subs are willing to drive two hours or more to do exc...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
2021 Construction Materials Prices are on the Rise  While we're all pleased that historically-low mortgage interest rates are poised to propel the real estate market forward in 2021, it's important to be aware that their are also market factors which will put a dent in new construction profits this year.One of the biggest challenges faced by builders in 2021 will be the cost of building materials. The second-home market in northwest Wisconsin is not exempted from those challenges.Construction-related commodities like lumber, copper pipe and wire, steel used in concrete rebar and other building materials are poised to rise in price. Alongside those price increases will be rising costs of millwork, PVC pipe, insulation and electric panels.Even if you're not buying or building a new home, ...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
Bayfield Wisconsin Sewing Group Makes 476 Protective Masks in Under Ten Days My good friend Bob Durfey in Bayfield, Wisconsin has shared with me the news that a sewing group in Bayfield has manufactured nearly 500 protective masks in just over a week. The busy seamstresses (and tailors) in Bayfield are packaging the masks in sealed "zip lock" bags and are either available for pickup or can be delivered within the 54814 zip code area. This is a great example of community participation in a time of concern. Kudos to these Bayfield community leaders!  
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
The Cleanest House I've Ever Seen at a Final Walk-Through Last week was a pleasant surprise. I took buyers through a final walk-through inspection of a gorgeous waterfront home in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Over the years, I've seen a lot of homes at the final walk-through that were anything but clean. The language in our Residential Offer to Purchase specifies that the seller shall have the property "broom swept" clean at the time of closing.  My buyers were astonished to find the house had been meticulously cleaned by the departing sellers. There wasn't a speck of dust visible anywhere. Among other things, the windows had been washed, floors polished, cabinets cleaned out, and kitchen appliances were spotless inside and out.  In the past, I've seen some sold homes that were left almost filt...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
Spring Snowfalls Hamper Showings in Bayfield WI and on Madeline Island It's pretty unusual for a real estate agent to have a brisk showing schedule in early April on the shores of Lake Superior.  But it's happening this year.  We're seeing a healthier than usual amount of prospective buyer traffic in the Apostle Islands area this spring.  There's just one problem. It's snow. Snow, and lots of it, is slowing down real estate agents in our Madeline Island Realty office and in some instances it's causing showing appointment cancellations in the Bayfield and Madeline Island area.  Heavy, wet snows in the past 36-48 hours are making it difficult for folks trying to get around the Chequamegon Bay area.   There was over a foot of snow reported on Friday in the northern half of the Bayfield pen...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
Remember the last time you went hiking over a property with prospective buyers? A buyer will ask you "where is the lot line?" between two properties, or "where are the lot corners?" Be careful before you answer that question. Unless you are a state-licensed land surveyor, it's best to avoid representations about precisely where lot lines, corners, easements, encroachments, setbacks or other items are located on the property. It's also best to tell your prospect that they can request as a condition of sale that the seller provide either a survey map or hire a land surveyor to mark the lot lines/corners with stakes and flags.  When the buyer requests this as a contingency, we have been instructed by attorneys to use the language "Seller shall, at seller expense, have the lot corners consp...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
You Know You Have a Great Listing When Even the Home Inspector Loves It Two days ago, the prospective buyers of one of our listings (in Bayfield, Wisconsin) had a scheduled home inspection at the property they wish to buy.  The inspector was from the Duluth, Minnesota area and he is widely regarded as one of the most thorough and knowledgeable home inspectors within 100 miles of this property. All real estate agents go through at least some degree of anxiety when one of their listings undergoes a home inspection.  Agents are all confident that their listings will "pass muster" when home inspection day arrives. But there is always that tiny element of concern that a home inspector might possibly make an error or find something neither the seller nor the seller's agent is aware of. At the...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
Get Info on Bayfield to La Pointe Ferry Service Interruptions via Text Message The winter storms in the Apostle Islands area yesterday and today were a reminder that travelers here need to pay close attention to changes in weather and transportation availability.  The Madeline Island Ferry Line made a couple of morning trips yesterday, then shut down for the rest of the day. This happens occasionally when gale force winds and high waves make ferry operation difficult, even dangerous. Madeline Island Ferry Line users can now receive schedule updates on interruptions in service due to weather (or extra trips added to the schedule) via text message on your cell phone (Android or iPhone compatible). Here's how to sign up for these SMS text message updates: In the text line of your smartphon...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
Spring Returns to Bayfield, Wisconsin   My good friend and client in Bayfield, Bob Durfey, sent me a delightful email about fishing tugboats firing up their engines and making a first run to Grant's Point (on nearby Madeline Island) yesterday morning. Bob wrote,   "A follow up to yesterday...   We went to the dock and listened to all the banter. four fishing boats gave their all, three making it to Grant's Point on the southwest side of Madeline Island, one turning back halfway there. Ferry made its inaugural run at 11 am. We spent the day working in the yard, spreading black dirt, repairing some rotten wood on one of the raised garden beds, adding manure...and all the time listening to the roar of the diesels pounding through the ice on Lake Superior. Our thermometer read 51 degrees by...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
iPhone 6 Plus Image Stabilization is Good, but Hyperlapse is Better   Instagram's Hyperlapse app has been available to the public since the end of August and it was already in the process of becoming immensely popular when the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus hit the market on September 19.   At the time of the latest iPhone release, I recall some iPhone fans predicting that the new phone camera's improved optical image stabilization (OIS) features might make the use of the Hyperlapse app redundant and even unnecessary.   Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Product reviews tell us that OIS works well for snapshots in low light, but it's no substitute for the use of Hyperlapse in videos.  Optical Image Stabilization allows the camera to employ a slower shutter speed in low-light situ...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
Peak of Fall Color Season Nears on Madeline Island and in Bayfield WI   Signs point to a peak in the fall color season this weekend in the Apostle Islands area.  In just the past few days, fall color appears to be near its peak, particularly on the northwest side of Madeline Island (North Shore Road).   I've always been told that the choice of the first weekend in October for Bayfield's "Apple Festival" weekend is aimed at bringing autumn tourists to visit at the peak of fall colors.  If that's the intent of the Bayfield Chamber of Commerce, then I'd say things are right on schedule.   The weather for Apple Festival Weekend in Bayfield, Wisconsin (zip code 54814) is often pretty iffy, but that never seems to stop tourists from flocking across the pond to enjoy the food and festivities. ...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
SOLD in Bayfield, WI 54814 - 240 Wilson Av. Unit 209, Reiten Condo   Just sold in Bayfield, Wisconsin by Eric Kodner, Madeline Island Realty - A two-bedroom condo unit at the Reiten Boatyard condominiums, conveniently located close to Bayfield shopping and local amenities. We love these Reiten Boatyard condos for a number of reasons, including location and affordability.  A reiten condo unit makes a great pied-a-terre for someone who loves sailing or power boating.  The rental income potential is a nice plus as well. Email MadelineIsland@Gmail.com or call 612.670.2539 for more information on real estate opportunities in Bayfield and elsewhere on the Apostle Islands mainland, including magical Madeline Island!  
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
Pending Sale by Madeline Island Realty in Bayfield - 240 Wilson Ave.   Bayfield, Wisconsin real estate Market Report   The real estate market in Bayfield, Wisconsin appears to be picking up.  Madeline Island Realty's Reiten Boatyard condominium listing at 240 Wilson Avenue, Unit 209 in Bayfield WI is now a pending sale. Real estate sales in Bayfield have been slow for quite some time now, but we've noticed a renewed interest in the Bayfield real estate market during the past month.  Our showings of Bayfield properties, including golf course, townhome/condominium and waterfront properties, have increased significantly over last year's showing volume.  Home prices in the Apostle Islands area seem to have reached a point where buyers are again searching for a second home or vacation dwelli...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
  Seller Wants Pre-Approved Showing Parties - What Can You do to Comply?   I completely understand when a seller doesn't want their home paraded through by folks who have no intention of buying and no ability to buy either.  This makes sense particularly when a home is an upper-bracket showpiece.  The seller doesn't mind showings to parties that actually have the financial wherewithal to buy, but they don't wish to be part of a rainy day tour of the South Shore area.   In a tourist town, you see this situation quite often.  A "walk-in" will ask the agent on duty at a local real estate office if they can see a particular property.  The walk-in prospect will be a day tripper or short-term tourist visitor.  They almost always want access to a listing on demand.  And some of these folks wil...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
  Signs Point to a Bayfield and South Shore Market Rebound   The purpose of a Market Report is to do more than quote statistics.  Ideally, we're supposed to draw conclusions from the information in front of us.  Some would call that prognosticating, but we're convinced that there are increasing signs of a market rebound in the Bayfield, Wisconsin real estate market, as well as increasing interest in the rest of the Apostle Islands region of northwest Wisconsin. During the past month, we've received more email and telephone inquiries and more general interest in Bayfield and the South Shore than I've seen in five years or more.  While it may be premature to jump to conclusions, I believe it's a sign of a trend. What's behind all the sudden interest in Bayfield, Cornucopia and Washburn?  ...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
Mainland Agent Tells Client There's No Market for Homes over $200,000   I received a phone call from a frustrated waterfront homeowner last week, who related the following story to me. Her home on Lake Superior hasn't sold, hasn't had a single showing in the past year. And when she asked her Bayfield, Wisconsin area listing agent why, the agent replied, "there's no market for your home". The listing agent reportedly went on to claim that "nobody's buying anything over $200,000 this year".   No market?   Nobody's buying over two hundred thousand??   That's utter nonsense.   Wouldn't it be more accurate (and honest) for that unsuccessful agent to admit "I don't know how to sell your home"?  Or maybe, "I don't have a clue about where to find a buyer for your home"?'   Madeline Island Realt...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
  A Testimonial from Client Friends in Bayfield, Wisconsin   My friends Bob Durfey and Ann Barthelemy, who live and work in Bayfield, Wisconsin, sent me a copy of their 2012 holiday season letter last week.  And while reading the chronology of Ann & Bob's past year, I came across the following: "We started out getting our house (in Bloomington, Minnesota) ready to sell ourselves. We hosted three open houses which only produced curious neighbors. We got married Saturday, April 21 in a small ceremony in our home and we hosted sixty friends that evening. Eric Kodner approached Bob at the reception that same evening and said he could get the joint sold. A couple days later, on Tuesday, we hired Eric to list our house. On the following Sunday, our house was on MLS and all the social media si...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
  Wayzata Yacht Club Apostle Islands Station - Registration Now Open for 2012 Spring Series in Bayfield, WI   The Apostle Islands Station of the Wayzata Yacht Club has begin processing registrations for its May 25-28 "Spring Series" racing event.  The series consists of five races over a three-day period, with an optional sixth race on the 28th if weather permits. Other WYC summer sailboat racing events planned for the summer of 2012 include the Summer Series 10 Races (June 30 through July 6) and the Fall Series 5 Races (September 1-3).  There is also a Single/Double-handed race September 15, and the Bayfield "Cup 2 Races" between Bayfield, Wisconsin and Saxon Harbor. Most of the WYC events center around Wayzata Bay and Big Island on Lake Minnetonka. But Bayfield WI and the Apostle Isla...
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
  Bayfield WI Prices Headed North, According to Trulia   Trulia reports that Bayfield, Wisconsin real estate prices have been trending upwards over the past month.  Prices are up 0.4 per cent over the past week, according to Trulia's "Bayfield WI real estate overview" page. The current average listing price in Bayfield is $200,200.  This figure is up from $197,000 in mid-December of 2011. There's also less available inventory in the 54814 zip code area.  Listing inventories have dropped slightly since mid-December. By contrast, prices on nearby Madeline Island have dropped by over 3% during the past month.  And the average home price in the 54850 zip code (Madeline Island) dropped by 1.7 per cent ($6184) for the week ending January 11, compared with the previous week.        
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By Eric Kodner, CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
(Madeline Island Realty)
  Search Facebook for a Real Estate Agent in Bayfield, WI   Looking for a Bayfield, Wisconsin real estate agent?  Search on Facebook by clicking here. You'll see a page that reads "Real Estate Agent Directory - FIND AN AGENT" Below that, you'll see "Find and connect with Agents". Enter "Bayfield, WI" in the box that reads "What area are you searching?"  Or enter 54814 (which is the zip code for Bayfield, Wisconsin).  Then, click on "Find Agents".   Here's what you'll see:   Madeline Island Realty is the only real estate brokerage which appears when you search the Facebook Real Estate Agent Directory for an agent in Bayfield, Wisconsin (54814 zip code). Thats's right..if you use the Facebook Real Estate Agent Directory to search for a real estate agent in Bayfield, Wisconsin, you'll find...
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