Archive for tag Pat tasker
March 12, 2010 at 01:51 PM · Posted under Pat Tasker
March Madness is usually associated with the competitive sport of basketball. This Sunday that madness will come to the real estate market in Southeastern Wisconsin!
Shorewest Realtors is holding an Open House Extravaganza with over 1,000 open houses being held this Sunday March 14th. All open houses can be found here.
Agents will be in top form, showing off the best qualities of homes for sale. With the Federal Tax Credit for homebuyers (both first time buyers and prior homeowners) ending on April 30th, the deadline to take advantage of this large credit is looming. Get out this weekend and find YOUR dream home, and then collect your tax credit!
Is an open house the BEST way to find a new home? Maybe, maybe not. It is a great way to find a home that may fit your wish list. Crowds at open houses can cause some excitement, and get buyers falsely excited to buy.
Viewing a home under a private appointment with your very own buyers agent is always optimal. Your buyers agent doesn’t care WHICH house you choose, they want to help you find the one that is BEST for YOU. Open house agents on the other hand want you to buy THAT home. If you are looking for more information on how a buyers agent can benefit you, call me today. I will be glad to sit down and go over the differences on how an agent can work with you in the home buying process! I can be reached at 414-588-4907.
Open Houses are a great way for Sellers to check out their competition, and get a feel for the host agent. Buyers can get out and do some comparison shopping. Open Houses serve several purposes, with so many this weekend, get out there and take a look!
Posted by:
Pat Tasker
Comments
·
Share With a Friend
March 01, 2010 at 10:05 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
February 24th, 2010 was Realtor and Government Day. It’s the day that busy Realtors head off to Madison to talk to legislators face to face about issues that are front and center for Wisconsin Homeowners. With one of the largest groups in years, over 500 Realtors from across the state, set aside the day to take care of business at the Capitol. This year, main topics included bills that will be voted on and could make significant effects on your real estate investments and your pocketbook!
- AB 472-Appraiser Licensing, with an amendment that will allow professional real estate licensees to provide expert opinions of property value to private parties for purposes other than a real estate transaction or mortgage loan (ie: reassessment data or removing PMI)
- “HOPE” legislation Homeowners Property Tax Exemption Plan (uniform taxation clause) which is a tax shift and not a tax reduction plan. We love lowering taxes, but it has to be fair to all property owners.
- Farmland conversion Penalty-hurts farmers and is a bad Land-use policy
- AB638 - Access to Property Tax Records-clarify what subcontractors hired by municipalities to perform property tax assessments can charge for producing the requested real estate data, and the format in which they would provide the information
After briefings on the issues, we walked to the Capitol for those face to face meetings with our local representatives to let them know what is best for homeowners when it comes to the bills at hand. While it is nice to have one to one discussions with lawmakers, it is interesting to see government in action. With the 2009-2010 legislative session coming to an end, many legislators were rushing from meeting to meeting. The job seems tough when it looks to me like many times it is not what is best for the people that is approved, but which party is larger that wins the vote by majority….
Our day ended with a discussion between two of the candidates for Governor. Tom Barrett was having surgery that day, so Mark Neuman and Scott Walker discussed their ideas on improving our state, and how they intended to get the job done. There was one thing that everyone agrees on, and that is the key to turning things around: JOBS . The next time your see YOUR favorite Realtor, ask them if they were in Madison protecting your interests.
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments
·
Share With a Friend
February 23, 2010 at 09:19 AM · Posted under Brown Deer, Pat Tasker
If you are looking for a suburban location, but want to keep drive times to a minimum, Brown Deer might be just the place! Located in the northeast section of Milwaukee County, Brown Deer is close to I43 for a quick commute south to downtown, or day trip north to Green Bay or weekend in Door County.
Brown Deer Park is a jewel in the county park
system with something for everyone, including a
championship golf course formerly on the PGA Tour!
The Interurban Bike trail starts in Brown Deer and goes
all the way to Sheboygan with many fun stops on the way.
Brown Deer history
starts way back with the first settlers in 1835. That
reminds me of a home I sold on Sherman Blvd that was one
of the oldest homes in the village, it actually had tree
limbs for the roof joists! While there are many stories
of how Brown Deer got its name, one of the best stories is
that of a card game going on in a saloon and a brown deer
jumped through the window!
Over the years the village grew in stages from small
cottages, to the ranches of the 50’s, larger colonials in
the 70’s & 80’s, and a flurry of newer construction in the
2000’s. One of those newer homes is currently for sale. A gorgeous newer home ready to move
into. A great location in a private wooded area, closer
to Mequon than most of Brown Deer!
Two unique points about Brown Deer make it a great place
to live. The school complex occupies a large square area
with ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON ONE CAMPUS, so from
Kindergarten through senior year classes, sports and extra
Curricular activities are in one area, VERY CONVENIENT for the busy
family! Another nice feature is the village hall, police
department and village park are located together. The
park is the home to the village swimming pond with a raft,
sand beach and new bathhouse.
Whether you are looking for a home in a suburb or the
city, call Pat Tasker 262-437-5853, today to discuss the
variety of suburbs in the Metro Milwaukee Area.
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments
·
Share With a Friend
February 19, 2010 at 02:25 PM · Posted under Pat Tasker
Just launched to the public February 16th, 2010, “HouseLogic is a homeowner’s single source for information to protect, maintain, and enhance the value of your home.”
HouseLogic.com is a FREE online service brought to you by National Association of Realtors to help homeowners whenever you are looking for advice on your biggest investment-your home. At the NAR conference in San Diego last November, I had a chance to preview the new interactive website. The new site helps you track remodeling projects, improvements you make to your home, get advice on resale value of improvements and much more!
According to the press release February 16th :
If you are looking for more advice regarding remodeling projects, get an expert opinion 
regarding the resale value of your choices by calling Pat Tasker at 262-437-5853. “By regularly attending educational events like the NAR conference, I can deliver to my clients the latest developments in the real estate field.” Call today to take advantage of that advice!
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments
·
Share With a Friend
February 15, 2010 at 07:15 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
Ever wonder why so many homes go on the market, yet just a fraction of those homes actually go to a closing? While it is always a combination of location, condition and price, it really comes down to one thing: PRICE.
If a home is in a harder to sell location, it will sell with the right price. If the condition is poor, it will sell with the right price.
In today’s market it takes a COMPELLING PRICE to get your home chosen over the others it is competing against. Today’s market is a cross between a beauty contest and a pricing war. It has to look great AND be priced right. If not, it will linger on the market with the other homes….buyers will look, but without a compelling price, they will “keep looking.” You really want it priced where they leave and worry it might be gone if they don’t move fast. I call that the “worry price.”
The big question in a sellers mind is “How do I price it to sell, but not lose money by under pricing it?” That is when the help of an experienced Realtor is most important.
With 20+ years of experience I can read the market and tell you where your home needs to be priced to get it sold. This is not the market to choose just any agent, or a “friend in the business”. In today’s market, you need an expert, feel free to give me a call! Pat Tasker
252-437-5853 CALL TODAY FOR A FREE REPORT OF 2010 MARKET INDICATORS!
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments
·
Share With a Friend
February 05, 2010 at 10:46 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
Read that again, I said SUPER SUNDAY….Did you think I meant Super Bowl Sunday? Well that too! But when you work in the profession I do, every Sunday is Super Sunday.
Open houses abound and it is a chance for potential buyers to take a peek inside of homes they’ve seen online. It is a chance for sellers to open the door and show off the home they loved and now have on the market.
Every job has its plusses and minuses. Working weekends is just part of our job in real estate, and Sunday is one of the most productive because of open houses! THIS SUNDAY WILL BE NO DIFFERENT! The Super Bowl starts late afternoon, 
so even if you are going to a party, you have a chance to stop at some opens. For a full schedule, check out this link to view local open houses.
There is much hype about the Super Bowl, who’s playing, how they got there, who should have gotten there, who’s the half time entertainment and of course the commercials!
Monday morning there will be all the rehashing of the evenings entertainment and the outcome. Here are some top Super Bowl plays from years gone by.
Personally after what New Orleans has been through as a disaster city for the last few years, I’d love to see them go home winners….How about you? Other winners this weekend will be the buyers who get out there and find a dream home on Super Sunday!
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments
·
Share With a Friend
January 29, 2010 at 08:41 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
When the Pilgrims came to America in the 17th century, they lived simple lives and struggled through daily routines with the most basic of necessities and primitive housing.
Today, those Pilgrims would be amazed at the life enjoyed by owners at Pilgrim Glen Condominium in Menomonee Falls.
The location is so convenient, a quiet setting on Pilgrim Road, just south of Good Hope Road, with the conveniences of suburban living, yet a hop onto the freeway to quickly get to downtown for nightlife, theatre, museums and restaurants!
Pilgrim Glen’s setting finds 2 units per building with attached garages spread out over the grounds. The club house is fully decorated and features a large living area for parties and gatherings plus a full kitchen. The fitness center is enjoyed by all and offers a wide array of equipment. The outdoor pool is a natural gathering spot for owners during those hot summer months.
Pilgrim Glen always has something social going on for those looking for something to do, whether it is a Packer Party on the weekend or game nights, ladies bunko, Saturday morning donuts and coffee. In summer activities move outdoors and include “jazz in the park” at the gazebo and water aerobics. Pool parties are popular events where everyone brings a dish to pass, including a Luau Last year, so festive where drinks were served inside big coconuts. These events are well attended and everyone has a great time. A group called “helping hands” has been put together by a few of the residents. They offer their services for free to Pilgrim Glen homeowners. They get up on ladders to change light bulbs; they are willing to help with household projects you may need assistance with. “The overall feeling here is being surrounded by caring friends” says one of the residents. You can meet up with the neighbors and share some fun times together if you’d like, or enjoy the peaceful surroundings with friends and family. The grounds are lovely for walkers with several ponds and trails around them.
If this Pilgrim lifestyle sounds enticing to you, Call for your appointment to see this unit that is now for sale. This unit with 3 BR, 2.5 baths, it is a rare one with a master suite upstairs, meaning privacy for mom & dad or a great home office for the telecommuter! Purchased as new construction the sellers chose this unit over the others after they fell in love with the private location and view of the ponds and woods. Your patio overlooks this tranquil scene, and you could be the next owner to enjoy, but only if you hurry!
This unit is shown by appointment only; please call Pat Tasker for your chance to see what life is like at Pilgrim Glen: 414-588-4907.
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments (1)
·
Share With a Friend
January 11, 2010 at 09:27 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
Have you heard the saying “Brown is the new Black” or “50 is the new 40”? Well January/February is the new Spring! At least in Real Estate.
If you are planning on selling this spring, I have news for you! Spring will be a little too late this year. Due to the Tax Credit Extension and Expansion, buyers are already out there hitting the pavement and searching for a new home. They can’t wait until Spring. In order to qualify for the tax credit, you must have an accepted offer by April 30th, 2010 and close within 60 days. Details on this can be found at bit.ly/DontWait4Spring.
So if you are a seller who was planning on selling this spring, you must act now and get your home on the market.
For a free marketing consultation and staging advice, Call Pat Tasker at Shorewest Realtors. This appointment will not only give you pricing advice, but look at ideas on showing your home in the best light. The market today is a cross between a Beauty Contest and a Pricing War. Not only do you have to have the RIGHT price, but it has to look GREAT. I can give you easy steps to take on both counts. Call me today at 262-437-5853
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments
·
Share With a Friend
December 11, 2009 at 02:23 PM · Posted under Pat Tasker
When it comes to selling a home, there are 4 mistakes some sellers continue to make. Avoid these, and you will find yourself at the closing table within normal market times!
- DECLINING A SHOWING REQUEST! Hard to believe but many times a seller will not approve a showing, as it conflicts with their “schedule”. “Sorry, my kids are napping then” or “Sorry, we are having friends over” or one of many other reasons we have heard. Make every attempt to accommodate the showing request. It may be inconvenient, but work with it. My experience has been, if you don’t set the appointment, there may be no second chance. GET THEM IN. If you are hosting a party at 2 pm, ask if they could come between l & l:30 pm, right before the company gets there. The house will be in great showing condition. DON’T SAY NO…
- NOT DECLUTTERING! A recent consumer panel revealed this comment: “The house was so cluttered! If they can’t find a place for all their stuff, how could we? It was just too small and didn’t look good.” You only have that one chance to make a good impression. In today’s market, that starts with your online presence. If the photos show a ton of clutter, buyers will most likely pass on your home.
- TESTING THE HIGH SIDE OF PRICE. “We know we won’t get this but want to try”. If you knew that strategy would cost you an additional few months on the market, becoming “shop worn” and eventually getting even less than the indicated market price, would you still try? NO. Price it right from the start, and it will sell. You control what you take, if the buyer writes too low, just say NO. The longer you stay on the market, the lower the price you will get. Buyers start to wonder “what is wrong” with the house, must be something or it would have been sold by now. Click here for a video with more details.
- LISTEN! LISTEN TO THE PROFESSIONAL you hire. If you have picked a good experienced agent, use their experience to help you through the process. They give you advice based on past experience, education and knowledge of the market. LISTEN TO BUYERS FEEDBACK. If you keep hearing the same thing over and over, it is an issue that needs to be dealt with. As your real estate professional, I can “decode” that feedback, and tell you what to do to overcome that issue and bring in an offer!
The home selling process doesn’t have to be frustrating, if you work as a team with your agent. For some good advice when it comes to selling a home in today’s interesting market, call Pat Tasker at Shorewest Realtors 262-437-5853.
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments Off
·
Share With a Friend
December 04, 2009 at 02:52 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Pat Tasker
Looking for some holiday fun this weekend?
Travel out to the Windsong Subdivision of Germantown for the annual Luminary Night. Located 1 mile east of Pilgrim Road on Donges Bay Road, this Sunday, December 6th, from 5:30-8pm.
This subdivision’s annual tradition of a Luminary Night is a perfect ending to a December weekend…After you’ve put up the tree, baked a few batches of cookies and addressed some cards, load the kids in the car and enjoy a peaceful ride through this subdivision. Most of the homes participate, with thousands of luminaries lining the streets and curvy cul de sacs. It is quite a treat for viewers….Admission is a non perishable food item to help stock local food pantries!
If you are looking for a home in a neat community like Windsong, contact Pat Tasker at Shorewest. As an area resident, Pat can show you the area and point out some great values currently on the market!
For other holiday events in Germantown check out the website
.
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments Off
·
Share With a Friend
November 20, 2009 at 10:46 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
At this time of year, many people think it would be a waste of time to list your home for sale. “Homes don’t sell this time of year” many people will say to me. Contrary to that popular thinking, homes sell ALL YEAR LONG.
While it may be true that LESS homes may sell between Thanksgiving and New Years, HOMES STILL SELL!! One year, during the week of Christmas, I sold a 6 homes! If those sellers had not been ON THE MARKET, they certainly would not have sold!
Some facts that show it is a good time to list your home:
Your home looks the best when decorated for the Holidays….it is clean, it is festive, it is inviting! What great conditions for a buyer to see and more importantly FEEL.
Holiday decorating creates that emotional tug on the buyers heartstrings. They will feel at home and have a warm fuzzy feeling…they will want to live there!
The house smells good! Cookies are baking…leave some out for the buyers to snack on, they will hang around just a little longer, “trying on the house”!
While there may be less traffic than other months or seasons, the buyers who do come through, will be pretty serious buyers. Looky-lous are not out kicking tires this time of year…they are holiday shopping!
Out of towners may be visiting relatives for the holidays, and available to look for homes. Transferees will take advantage of school breaks for househunting trips.
If you get a request to show your home, and you are entertaining friends that day, don’t turn down the showing! Instead, ask them to come right before the company comes…the house will be ready and look great! How perfect for buyers to see that!
If you wait until spring to get on the market, you will be joined by hundreds of others who thought buyers don’t buy during the holidays. If you get on the market NOW, you could be in your new home by spring!
Santa’s Elves aren’t the only ones working this time of year! For information on selling your home and taking advantage of the Holiday Magic, call Pat Tasker at 262-437-5853 for a no obligation marketing consultation!
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments Off
·
Share With a Friend
September 25, 2009 at 09:22 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
Whether you have German roots or not, the term Oktoberfest probably brings to mind a frolicking fall festival complete with music, dancing, hearty food and special brews.
Originally a celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, in 1810.
The event proved so fun, it has been repeated for the last 176 years in Munich Germany. Held in October, as the festival grew it now covers more weekends,and stretches into September. Legendary “mass”es (gigantic mugs) of beer are carried by (kellnerin)waitresses, and consumed by zealous patrons. If Munich is a little far to travel, the Suburbs of Greater Milwaukee, will host several Oktoberfest celebrations this year.
Glendale’s Old Heidelberg Park, behind the Bavarian Inn off Port Washington Road, will host Oktoberfest for several weekends. It was jam packed last weekend, and we had a blast!
In Germantown, the annual Oktoberfest sponsored by the Germantown Historical Society will be held this coming weekend September 26-27th. Featuring music, dancing, food and drink, silent auction, bake sale,and games of chance.
Plus a new addition this year: DACHSHUND RACING! The amusing races will take place on Saturday at 3pm. This promises to be fun for young and old alike!
So why not come out this weekend and get a taste of Munich’s celebration right in your back yard?
If you are looking for a home the area, as a lifelong resident, I can be of assistance in chosing the right home for your family! Call Pat Tasker today at 262-437-5853.
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments Off
·
Share With a Friend
August 21, 2009 at 01:04 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Pat Tasker
Take a walk on the wild side!
Looking for something interesting, cultural, fun and tasty to do this weekend? Take a walk on the wild side at Zoo Ala Carte!
Through Sunday August 23rd, you can visit the Milwaukee County Zoo, and at the same time sample great food from over 28 different local restaurants. With a wide range of cuisines, there is something to tempt anyone’s tastebuds.
Live entertainment will continue through the weekend, with Aaron Neville highlighting Saturday evening at 8pm.
Advanced discounted tickets are available at Tri City Banks. The Zoo is celebrating it’s 25th Zoo Ala Carte, if you haven’t been there in years past, this would be a great year to try it out.
The crazy market we are in right now, can seem like a zoo at times. If you know anyone needing help navigating this market, whether buying or selling, contact Pat Tasker at 262-437-5853. Having grown up in Milwaukee, and now living in one of the Suburbs of Greater Milwaukee, Pat is perfectly suited to help with your real estate needs. She knows the market!
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments Off
·
Share With a Friend
August 14, 2009 at 09:25 AM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Pat Tasker
According the Dictionary, a Cream Puff is defined as:
- Main Entry: cream puff
- Function: noun
- Date: 1880
1 : a round shell of light pastry filled with whipped cream or a cream filling
2 : an ineffectual person
3 : something trifling, inconsiderable, or easily dealt with
4 : a property listed for sale that is in especially good condition
This is the last weekend of our great Wisconsin State Fair, and your last chance for a year to get one of those famous Cream Puffs! As of this writing, over 214,000 cream puffs have been sold, and we have a big weekend left. This sweet treat is sold at the south west corner of the fair at the Cream Puff Pavillion - yes they have their own Pavillion!
Don’t have a chance to spend a day at the fair and partake in this sweet tradition? You can use the Cream Puff Drive Through Service! No Kidding!!! Just call in the night before to order, your order will be ready for pick up the next morning between 6am and 8am!
If you are adventurous, you could try making them yourself with the original fair recipe. And if you are totally in love with them, try the Cream Puff Eating contest at the fair!
If you are trying to take advantage of this market, and looking for a CREAM PUFF for your new home, call Pat Tasker at 262-437-5853. With 20 years experience in the real estate industry, I know the market and which ones are cream puffs. Call and get yours today!
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments Off
·
Share With a Friend
July 23, 2009 at 09:53 AM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Germantown, Pat Tasker
One of our family’s favorite festivals kicks off today: Germanfest
…..! Being a family with deep German roots, we go to get our “fix” of German food, drink, dance and music! In years gone by, our kids danced with the kids from Milwaukee German Immersion School, and sang with the German American Kinderchor.
Thursday, the Germanfest Fun Run/Walk will benefit the St. Ben’s Meal program with Usingers donating 3 pounds of meat for every runner/walker participating…Come on down and join me…you get into the Fest for free afterward!
When it comes to food, you can find many German specialties from 4 different types of brats, schnitzel, dumplings, spaetzle (homemade noodles), roasted chicken, rollbraten, sauerbraten, and THE MOST POPULAR….Spanferkel. Roasted suckling pigs make for a great dinner, and always catch the kids attention while roasting on a spit over red hot coals. Go early, as this speciality often is a sell out.
Once you finish dinner, stroll over to the Konditorei. This tent is for those with a sweet tooth…many tortes such as Bienenstichkuchen and Black Forest Torte, strudels and cakes are available.
The beer tents are busy, and you can find root beer for the non drinkers…or try something new like Jaegermeister and root beer…Yummmm if you lean toward sweet drinks…even a champagne bar can be found on the grounds.
A Trachtenschau is a fashion show of native dress from different regions. A parade on Saturday mid day is fun for young and old. The funniest event of the weekend is the Dachshund races, and the Dachshund costume contest! Another long time favorite is the live Glockenspiel.
If you are looking for history, visit the Cultural Tents, loaded with displays and travel information. There are many new attractions this year, including a evening airshow with pyrotechnics.
My best advice, go mid day and get a table under a tent. Enjoy the music and dancing. Have a meal and some beverage and work it off on the dance floor. That is where you will find me and my family on Saturday nite! My grandkids will be dancing, Abby twirling in her Dirndl, and you might even see me doing a schuhplatter!
On Sunday, you can find me at my open house in Germantown. Germantown was rated by Milwaukee Magazine as one of the top l00 cities to live, in a past survey. If you are looking for a home in a top rated community, call Pat Tasker at 262-437-5853!
Posted by:Pat Tasker
Comments Off
·
Share With a Friend
