Viroqua Wisconsin: November 2008

Market Watch November '08

New MLS Listings in November: What do you get for the money in Vernon County?

The price range this month shows a low of $59,900 for a residential property to a high of 349,000 for rural acreage.  At the low end of the price range is a 3-bedroom Fixer home located in Viroqua, which is directly across the street from the Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School.

The listing remarks tell it will need some interior rehab and finishing. SOLID HOME WITH GOOD SIZED YARD JUST WAITING FOR SOME UPDATES. HARDWOOD FLOORS, LARGE EAT IN KITCHEN AND VERY CLOSE TO CITY PARK. WOULD MAKE GREAT HOME FOR SOMEONE WHO IS READY FOR AN INVESTMENT.

Looking on the higher end of Vernon County properties for sale... This month it is my own new listing. I personally consider this to be a wonderful opportunity to buy this tract of vacant land. It is the first time it is being offered for sale, as it has been family owned for generations. The location is superb.  LARGE TRACT OF WOODED LAND: 128 M/L ACRES WITH DEAD END LOCATION ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM MISSISSIPPI RIVER!

MLS Sold Listing for the Month of October totaled 6: The price range was from a $54,000 for a mobile home over in the LaFarge. The high sale for this time in November was a Farmette closing at $400,000.  Remarks were: BAD AXE RIVER RUNS THROUGH THIS 186 ACRE PROPERTY 4 BR FARM HOUSE BARN AND GARAGE 18 ACRES ARE LEASED ORGANIC HARVESTABLE TIMBER GREAT TURKEY AND DEER HUNTING ALSO TROUT AND SMALL MOUTH BASS FISHING. Sounds like a great buy for that much land and a home!

There are currently 133 active MLS Single Family listing available all across Vernon County.  If looking for a home in Viroqua or in Vernon County take the guesswork out of the search. Get the experience you can depend on... RE/MAX Hill Country is here to assist you.

 Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

 

1 commentMary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate • November 12 2008 07:39AM

Egg-citing

I got a little present this morning from our office handy man...some farm fresh eggs. Since we are in a rural area, getting a dozen eggs is really quite a normal surprise gift. It is a lot like when the tomato plants are over producing and co-workers are passing them along to friends at work.

These fresh eggs were hand picked by him just this very morning and came right out of the hens nest. Is there a difference between brown eggs and white eggs? The answer is not really, the breed of hen determines what the egg shell color will be. We the egg eating public are use to seeing white eggs and brown eggs, but there are also a variety of other colors like blue, blue-green, tan, dark brown, reddish brown and spotted and speckled hen eggs too.  The timing was just right, as I was down to my last 2 brown eggs. Thanks Doug!

          

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

11 commentsMary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate • November 10 2008 04:41PM

Own the Mountain

This is your chance to be King or perchance Queen... of the mountain. After you have trekked to the top and surveyed the views of this 128 acres, it can be your province.

This property would be a great investment property or ideal recreational property. It has an interior secluded end of the road locations for building sites and hunting. With approximately 25 plus acres of rolling hay ground and meadow land, there are several sunny locations to tuck away out of site, a cabin or country retreat. The balance of the land is hardwood forestland, consisting of mature oaks, many maples, and several species of hickory nut trees. There are several trails leading over and around the hills that rim this land. There is also a lower crop field that can be rented out. 2 Sides of the land are fronted on paved roads, Highway 35, the Great River Road is on the West line; the east line fronts along Hicks Point Road. Besides seclusion the appealing location has everything an outdoor enthusiast could want; deer hunting, fishing, boating, duck hunting, ice fishing the list goes on.

$349,000 Call 608-606-2999

 Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

6 commentsMary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate • November 08 2008 05:31PM

Viroqua Road Work ends soon!

The Viroqua Decker Street road project has been going on for what seems like well over two years. The local home owners, the business owners and we, the drivers are all very anxious to see it finally completed. Just the thought of having highway traffic returned too normal should make us all jubilant.  I cannot speak to how bad it may have been on a daily basis for all of those who lived through Phase I. As, I normally did not need to travel in that direction. However, over on the Eastside Phase II, of Decker Street, it was an entirely different matter. Since so much traffic comes into Viroqua from the East on highway 56,  I do think its impact of being closed for so long may have actually been greater and felt by more drivers.  So without much fuss, maybe all the signs saying "Road Closed to Thru Traffic" will disappear this coming week. My heartfelt thought go out to one particular family who I sold a home to early last springtime, because soon they will be able to pull up to the curb in the front of their home! It is the little things that sometimes make life special! 

 

 

 Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

2 commentsMary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate • November 08 2008 02:31PM

Perfect Award!

More often than not a home in poor condition is one of the biggest reasons given, as to why, any particular house does not make the buyer's short-list. Condition is usually the number one reason why the buyer decides to not buy! Some major things are often the lack of overall maintenance, needs an expensive replacement of the roof, siding or windows. Sometimes it is just because the house smells from cats, dogs and cigarette smoke. If it is really bad, the foundation has a huge honking crack in the basement wall or the septic is only a straight tube right into the creek. Most of these examples will usually get the buyers running in the other direction and fast!

But wait, occasionally and much to my amazement there is one other reason.  Believe it or not, it is too perfect! There is nothing to fix!

It is hard to believe, but it is true. The first time I was confronted with a statement like that... was while showing a flawless and charming log home on rural acreage. Now I know log homes are not everybody's dream home, but for those who love them, good maintenance is a must. In any event this one was unsurpassed in condition, and cleanliness. It was so clean that the cleanliness part was what the buyer objected too! I was told, "Gosh there's not even a speck of dust anywhere, I could never keep it up!

Does anyone really live here?" Recently while showing another well kept home a comment was, "There is nothing left to do!" I understand that sometimes a buyer just prefers to inject their personality into a home and wishes to find a blank canvas. But alas, could it be true that some buyers are just not comfortable in an overly perfect home? Now I am not suggesting not repairing and staging your home prior to selling, but some prefer to buy fixers and do the work themselves. It goes to show you there is something out there for everyone.

 

 Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

7 commentsMary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate • November 05 2008 06:45PM

10077 Cornell Drive, Viola, WI

If unique is what you are looking for then this is the home for you......

3-bedroom Earth Home situated on 41 M/L acres of heavily wooded seclusion. Earth-sheltered homes blend with nature and preserve the character of the land and become part of the natural landscape...promoting, rather than disturbing, wildlife. They are known for being energy-efficient, because the home is being heated in the winter and cooled in the summer with energy that is free, renewable and produces no pollution.

The secret of earth-homes actually lies in the constancy of the earth's temperature and its thermal mass. Below the frost line (usually 24 to 60 inches below the surface), the soil maintains a fairly constant 50 degrees, plus or minus a little, depending on the location. The baseline temperature in an unheated earth home in a cold climate hovers around 50-55 degrees, therefore you never have to worry about water lines freezing during the winter. In summer, earth homes use the sod to keep their cool. It may be 95 degrees outside, but earth homes typically stay in the low 70s without the use of any air conditioners.

This home boasts 3 large bedrooms,(all with patio doors), a large living room with a woodstove, galley style kitchen with adjoining dining area, 1 full-bath plus another unfinished bathroom. There is a one car attached garage and a large 48x24 detached shop area with a 10 ft. overhead door and an attached 24x16 garage area. There are 2 springs on this property and there could be potential timber value as the owners are unaware of any previous timbering.

Peace and quiet is what you'll get with great views! Be Bold-Try a Different Lifestyle!! Be sure to contact Linda Sherry from the R Team to preview this Earth Home, call: 608-606-1648.

Asking Price: $224,000 

 Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

 

2 commentsMary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate • November 04 2008 04:10PM

500 Church Street, Soldiers Grove, WI

Ready, Set; Go... create your own Bed and Breakfast Inn, Restaurant with Organic cuisine & Wine Bistro or unique Antiques gift shop. Just a few ideas for use or whatever your dream may be. There is more than enough space for the entrepreneur within you. All you need is your plan, marketing savvy, and skills to make it a success. Sold as a complete package including the furnishings and equipment. All building, fire and health inspections are current, as well as a liquor license. The building has over 10,500 square feet of space in the 2 building.

The Inn: On the main level of the Old Oak Inn, there are 4 front rooms formerly used for dining. The Front Parlor and rear Parlor on the North and the Sitting Room and adjoining formal Dining room to the South. Each space has all the original woodwork, fretwork, siding pocket doors intact, as well as a dual fireplace located in the rear parlor. There is a grand hall with open Victorian stairwell in the center. At the rear of the dwelling is found several bathrooms for guest, and a prep kitchen. There is an enclosed hallway leading to the spacious banquet hall at the rear of the property and a second vestibule leading into the Acorn Bar. On the second floor, are 6 full suites and a business office, plus 3 additional bathrooms.

The Acorn Bar: This addition was constructed around 1980. It consists of approximately 2000 square feet. Tastefully completed with a sunken service bar, out fitted with brass rails, custom etched glass and all the woodwork artfully matched to this vintage building, as you would expect. There is room enough for entertainment, 2 full customer restrooms, and access to the outdoor fenced in deck. Wrapping around the building is a covered veranda, allowing patrons to enter either the Acorn Lounge or head straight for the front door of the Inn.

The Banquet Hall: Was actually an indoor swimming pool-house with cabana, which is still located beneath the floorboard of this space. The current use for the past 20 years or less has been a banquet hall for hosting parties, wedding and such. It includes a service bar, and more customer restrooms. There is plenty of paved parking on all sides of this building as well as the main building.

Located in Soldiers Grove, WI  Asking Price $369000

 Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

6 commentsMary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate • November 03 2008 08:55PM

40 Acres on Golf Course

40 acre investment property fronts on Golf Course... the Viroqua Hills Golf Course. This property has a sought-after and excellent location on the south edge of the Viroqua city limits. Private access to the land is off of Washington Street. The owner will be also convey along with the 40 acre parcel, a surveyed second smaller tract of land, lying approximately 66 foot wide running from Washington Street until it adjoin the tract being sold.

(Photo View from the 8th fairway, looking toward the 9th hole Tee Box in the Distance).

This attractive tract of land is contiguous to the 9th hole. It has 25 acres of open meadows with approximately 15 acres of woods. It is ideally situated for a planned residential development with views along the 9th tee box looking west and view along the 8th green looking east. The current use of the land has been formerly the picnic parkland owned by the VFW lodge. The parcel is also fully contained within Viroqua Township and does not currently have Viroqua City zoning. It is entirely undeveloped without city water or sewer. Access to power and gas lines is nearby and available. There are no structures or buildings on the land, the land is being sold in its entirety and seller will survey. Asking Price: $259000

 Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

2 commentsMary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate • November 03 2008 05:43PM

The Hatfield or the real McCoy

Grandmas Kitchen... was it ahead of the times; or is it just a cycle? Farmhouse sinks are really hot right now. From country kitchens to sophisticated contemporary custom homes; they are turning up in both. Before now I actually had never heard of them, so I am paying attention. Here is a sink in a country home that I have listed; I just fell in love with it. It is in perfect condition, no chips no cracks. It is most definitely at least 80+ years old.

These sinks are so named because they were found in rural homes; were extra deep to accommodate larger pots and pans. I would guess they were ideal for all that canning that went on down at the farm. New farmhouse sinks range in price from $600 to over $2500. I wonder what you would pay for the real McCoy?

 

 

 Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

12 commentsMary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate • November 01 2008 06:36PM

Naturally Amazing

Pillar rock formations, which are slender freestanding solid rock columns, are another one of nature's natural wonders. The notion of how they get formed is always an astonishment, was it wind, volcanic uplift, or was it by water erosion? Locally we have two really fascinating pillar rocks.  There is very little that has ever been written about them.  What I have been able to learn is that both are thought to have been mystic places to the earliest Native Americans who inhabited the area long before the Black Hawk wars. Monument Rock located approximately 4 miles south of Viroqua along highway 27 is a solitary pillar rock. It stands 60 feet high on a small hill next to the highway. When you pass by it, I guarantee, you will take notice of its uncommon presence.  Three Chimney Rock is the other rock formation in Vernon County, Wisconsin. It has a little more history; it was believed to be a spiritual place. It consists of 3 pillars, much larger in size. Legend has it that Indian gods slept on top of these formations and it was a sacred place. Both Photos were taken by myself this afternoon, as you can see, we still have some fall color left.

 Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599

 

6 commentsMary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate • November 01 2008 05:36PM