What is PMI?

With many personal budgets stretched to the limit and less money in savings, it is more difficult for first time home buyers to accumulate a traditional 20% down payment. Move-up buyers struggle to find down payment funds, too, especially if they haven't been in their current home long enough to see a significant increase in equity.

Private Mortgage Insurance
One home buying aid that nearly everyone can use is Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI. This special insurance protects the lender if you default on your home loan. It makes it possible for you to purchase a home with as little as 3-5 % down.

Here's How PMI Works

1. You have a 5% down payment.
2. The lender wants to finance 80% or less of the home's value, since studies show that buyers who put less down are more likely to default.
3. The lender secures a private mortgage insurance policy for you and closes on the loan. You pay for the PMI policy at closing or (most often) you pay a fee with each monthly loan payment.
4. If you default, the lender receives the 15% you did not pay at closing.

PMI payments can be significant, so if you can avoid paying private mortgage insurance, that's great.

From Scott Larson of Towne Square Realty in Monroe, Wisconsin

“Your Realtor of the Region”

E- Mail scott@greencountyhomeguide.com

On the web at 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

What is “Real Estate Transfer Tax?”

Real estate transfer taxes (sometimes called deed recordation taxes) are imposed on the sale or transfer of real property located in the state. The tax is usually based on or measured by the consideration paid for or the fair market value of the real estate. The tax is commonly collected by the local official responsible for recording deeds to real estate, and it must be paid prior to the deed to the property being recorded.

This fee is paid by the seller. 

The Wisconsin rates are $.30 per $100 of value, Example a $100,000 Home would cost the seller $300. at closing

From Scott Larson of Towne Square Realty in Monroe, Wisconsin

“Your Realtor of the Region”

E- Mail scott@greencountyhomeguide.com

On the web at 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

What is Title Insurance?

Owning Your Property free and clear involves more than having a deed in hand. A deed does not cancel certain "rights" and "claims" other people may have to your property - rights whose existence you never suspected; claims that may go back in time months or decades to the earliest owners of your newly acquired property.

Protecting Your Rights

"What Protection," you may ask, "do I have against such claims? How can I be sure my property is really mine?" The answer to both of those questions is real estate ownership insurance, commonly known as title insurance.

Title Insurance

Title Insurance is an insured statement of the condition of your "title" or ownership rights to a certain piece of property. A title insurance policy describes your property in detail and states what limitations, if any, there are to your ownership. (For liens or encumbrances. Or you may not own mineral rights. Or easements may have been granted to utility companies or adjacent property owners.)

Most importantly, a title insurance policy guarantees that the property you are purchasing is free of undisclosed liens, confusion in the rights of ownership and other clouds on the title. In short, it guarantees that you own the property for which you bargained.

Before A Policy is issued, the title company or one of its agents conducts a search of public records, maps and documents. The records trace back to colonial estates, pioneer homesteads or Spanish land grants and forward to the current owner. Only after collecting, examining and interpreting appropriate records is a policy issued insuring the condition of title.

Besides Describing your property and spelling out any recorded limitations on your ownership, a title insurance policy sets forth in clear terms what the title company will do in the event that a flaw in the title is discovered or your rights of ownership are challenged.

From Scott Larson of Towne Square Realty in Monroe, Wisconsin

“Your Realtor of the Region”

E- Mail scott@greencountyhomeguide.com

On the web at 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

In difficult times it is sometimes hard to see things to be thankful for, here is a small blessing  to add to your thankful list this Thanksgiving

American Farm Bureau Federation

WASHINGTON — Menu items for a classic Thanksgiving dinner including turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the basic trimmings dropped 4 percent in price this year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).

AFBF’s 24th annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $42.91, a $1.70 price decrease from last year’s average of $44.61.

“As we gather this Thanksgiving for food and fellowship, it’s fitting to take a moment to recognize and give thanks, not only for the abundant food we enjoy as Americans, but for the hard-working farm and ranch families across our nation who produce it,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman.

From Scott Larson of Towne Square Realty in Monroe, Wisconsin

“Your Realtor of the Region”

E- Mail scott@greencountyhomeguide.com

On the web at 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

Here is the NEW Justice Center for Green county located in Monroe

COURT RELATED OFFICES HAVE MOVED

All Court related departments have moved to the Justice Center, 2841 6th Street, Monroe.  All telephone numbers and email addresses are the same and can be found on the Department pages of our website.

Departments that are located at the Justice Center include:

• Circuit Court, Branches 1 & 2
• Clerk of Circuit Court
• Child Support
• Corporation Counsel
• District Attorney
• Family Court Commissioner
• Register in Probate
• Sheriff's Detective Bureau
• University Wisconsin Extension

Other offices at the Justice Center include the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections - Probation and Parole Office, and the State of Wisconsin Public Defender's Office.

From Scott Larson of Towne Square Realty in Monroe, Wisconsin

“Your Realtor of the Region”

E- Mail scott@greencountyhomeguide.com

On the web at 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

Combining the soybeans

This guy holds a lot of beaners

This is one of the draws to live in Southeran Wisconsin is the Seasons.Call me to find that special place you will call home.

From Scott Larson of Towne Square Realty in Monroe, Wisconsin

“Your Realtor of the Region”

E- Mail scott@greencountyhomeguide.com

On the web at 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

3rd Quarter sales up, but median home sale prices down

Good news for home sales in South Central WI. WRA 3qtr home sale results. Green County +21.3%, Lafayette +7.1%, Rock +6.1%, Dane +5.3%

The not so good news for South Central WI. home sale prices for the 3qtr. Home prices down; Green -5.6%, Rock -6.3%, Dane -5.7%, Lafayette -32.6%

From Scott Larson of Towne Square Realty in Monroe, Wisconsin

“Your Realtor of the Region”

E- Mail scott@greencountyhomeguide.com

On the web at 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

Some have fallen and have been forgotten, some have bled and have been set aside, some stand on a line and we know not where. But today we remember, today we value your service, today we pray for you on that line.

From Scott Larson of Towne Square Realty in Monroe, Wisconsin

“Your Realtor of the Region”

E- Mail scott@greencountyhomeguide.com

On the web at 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

On Wednesday we remember our brave serviceman, "Veterans Day"

I would like to extend a personal Thank You  to all the men and women who serve and have served in the United States Armed Forces. Your service, dedication, and sacrifice are greatly appreciated, for we know that freedom isn't free. Also I extend a special note of sympathy to the families of Fort Hood. May God uphold you and comfort you in your time of grief.

From Scott Larson of Towne Square Realty in Monroe, Wisconsin

“Your Realtor of the Region”

E- Mail scott@greencountyhomeguide.com

On the web at 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