"Creative minds are seldom tidy."  How many times have I said that to myself. I have said it to myself, and others, when they mention to me, or give me a comment of "Tom, you really have a lot of files" or they say something that will get a point across like "I went to sit down on a chair in your office and something squeaked at me." All things aside, I grade myself pretty high in the customer service department. Don't think for one minute that I adopted some little Realtor program, or bought a package that could help me. I accomplished putting together a plan, or should I say habit by years of trial and error. Lots of questions and concerns, and by throwing away any know it all attitude in the dumpster in the parking lot labeled ignorant/arrogant. If fact, I have filled the dumpster up... 12/22/2007

A man without direction. Walking the fine line of life. A lost soul. When I was younger I struggled with identity and the pursuit of happiness. What was happiness? What was success? How did I want to define my life and the chance to do something with my life. Funny, it really was not on the front burner at that time, and like so many others time came, went by, and everyday was another thought or action that for the most part, surely would not have been identified as success, happiness, and definition of life meaning by what I believe to be correct today.My friend in activerain, Ernie Cabrera, touched on pursuit of happiness in one of his recent posts and it got me thinking more about what he had mentioned. Ernie works in San Francisco and the surrounding areas in California. I really li... 12/20/2007

I was selected by Arina Hanciulescu which is a outstanding Real Estate Broker located in Las Vegas, Nevada. She works for Elite Realty. Please take a moment and look at her sight which is http://www.LasVegas-BuyandSell-RealEstate.com and can be reached at mailto:arina.lv@gmail.com, and a phone of 702-856-6680. Put her on your referral list!!. Have you had a chance to see her sight? I had to sit down. I was seriously impressed by this woman. She is a major force in the La Vegas Real Estate market, blogs like no one else, has a super attitude, kind and charming as you could get, technologically superior, and is truly a very beautiful woman, and when you see her picture you will agree. Stunning. I added her as a mentor for my computer and blogging questions, and of course, anyone who is go... 12/20/2007

I had a chance to sit and reflect on all the changes I was going to make, or would like to make, in the upcoming year. When I started in Real Estate in the middle eighties things were pretty simple. You became a salesperson, went out and worked hard, and smart, and you now had a computer that you could use for the local MLS.Things have changed, and in a major way! I thought more about all the technological advances and wondered if I would be another light year ahead of this in another ten years. "If the airplane industry had grown as fast as the electronics and tech field we would have been on the moon the day after the Wright brothers flew there plane"   Author unknownI always loved that saying. I thought about the same question and asked myself if in a sense my sky was falling. After ... 12/19/2007

Milwaukee, Wisconsin has the personality of old World Charm with new World sophistication. A mega source of entertainment, education, business, and everything else you may expect in a big city, or not expect in a big city.The diversity is incredible here! World class basketball, baseball, hockey, auto racing, and more. Not to mention an American institution in our State, the Green Bay Packers!!The dining is as simple or complex as you may want it. Everything abounds! Culinary adventurers will think they have died and went to Utopia! A skyline picture of Milwaukee Entertainment does not get any better! Opera, Symphony, major shows! It is all here! a World class zoo, and not to mention the Worlds largest out door concert every summer. Better known as Summerfest!! Art, Music, entertainment... 12/18/2007

 As the year winds down, and for a brief moment I can sit back, and just enjoy myself, I cannot help but think how lucky I was to find the wonderful people of activerain. I have received more out of activerain than one could ever ask for. Constant feedback, great friendships, and a large community that cares about each other.   I personally thank each and everyone of you, and I thank you for keeping focused, and keeping me on the success path that we sometimes lose.I hope everyone has a safe, healthy, and enjoyable Holiday, and that you also have a Happy New Year!SincerelyTom Braatzwww.tombraatz.com    www.myhomevaluesource.com    www.buyingvip.com    www.activerain.com   and see our listings, as well as our articles about Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and more at  at  www.localism.com  12/17/2007

 I have heard the saying "Dare to be different" many times before. It became something I would tell myself as a reassurance as time went by in Real Estate. It did not take long before I started to really have a chance to understand the full impact that this saying could really mean in respect to Real Estate, and life.Any one that has met me, knows me, or works with me, will be the first to tell you that I am of a different kind.There are times that I get so intense that people actually will mention to me that I should break it up into pieces a little bit more. Mr Ed knew the risk of taking Chances when he got on a surfboard, but Ed took chances. Mr. Ed could dare to  be different.    Rubbish! The fact that I do what I do with passion, and that I am a very high energy guy is something th... 12/17/2007

                                                          When I decided to get into Real Estate, the same basic formula was in place. Go out and work with the public, and do what you can to work hard, and make a living.Above all, be yourself, and put the customer or client first. If it all comes together then we deserved to get paid.Those early days of working for Merrill Lynch invoved long hours and it all was  a great education. Years have went by and a lot of Brokers have came and went. I have made some of the greatest and dearest friends  If you could only imagine that over the course of 23 years the number of homes and properties that I have sold. Little babies growing up and having children. The time went fast. I love it when I get a call from one of customers, clients, past cust... 12/16/2007

Washington Heights, Milwaukee, Market Report For this analysis, we will be defining Washington Heights as the area between 47th Street and 60th Street, with Lloyd on the north and Vliet on the south. As of 10/18/2007 there are 39 single family homes listed for sale in Washington Heights. Of these, 5 (12.8%) are pending and there are no active, non-pending, accepted offers. The lowest priced listing is $69,900 (located on 52nd Street) and the highest priced listing is $335,000 (located on Washington Blvd.). Over the past year (since 10/18/06), 38 single family homes have sold in Washington Heights, resulting in a monthly absorption rate (i.e., average number of homes sold per month) of 3.17 homes. Given that there are currently 5 listings with offers, there is a current inventory level ... 10/18/2007

Riverwest, Milwaukee, Market Report For this analysis, we will be defining Riverwest as bordered by Capitol on the north, Lloyd on the south, Holton on the West, and the Milwaukee River on the East. To see a map of Riverwest, please visit my website: www.MKEproperty.com SINGLE FAMILY MARKET As of 10/17/2007 there are 38 single family homes listed for sale in Riverwest. Of these, 6 (15.7%) are spoken for (3 have offers and 3 are pending). The lowest priced listing is $39,900 and the highest priced listing is $265,900 (second highest priced listing is $259,900). Over the past year (since 10/17/06), 36 single family homes have sold in Riverwest, resulting in a monthly absorption rate (i.e., average number of homes sold per month) of 3 homes. Given that there are currently 6 listings with ... 10/17/2007

Bay View, Milwaukee, Market Report For this analysis, we will be defining Bay View as from Chase Avenue to Lake Michigan, and from Burnham to the village of St. Francis. To see a map of Bay view, please visit my website: www.MKEproperty.comAs of 10/17/2007 there are 145 single family homes listed for sale in Bay View. Of these, 19 (13.1%) are spoken for (10 have offers and 9 are pending). The lowest priced listing is $74,900 and the highest priced listing is $599,900 (second highest priced listing is $479,000). Over the past year (since 10/17/06), 290 single family homes have sold in Bay View, resulting in a monthly absorption rate (i.e., average number of homes sold per month) of 24.17 homes. Given that there are currently 19 listings with active offers, there is a current inventory l... 10/17/2007

When buying property in Milwaukee, especially in campus areas such as the Eastside and the Marquette area, some investors assume that they can load up a big house with college students to earn extra cash.  While the memories of student filled houses stick with many of us and are reinforced by some movies and television shows, Milwaukee is no the place to load up a house with college kids.According to Milwaukee city ordinances, any dwelling unit with more than three unrelated occupants requires a rooming house permit.  These permits, popular in the 1940's, are nearly impossible to get today.  In short, you can not rent any of your units to more than three unrelated people.To be clear, this law addresses units, not properties.  If you own a duplex, each unit can not have more than three u... 10/16/2007

For a while now, the City of Milwaukee has been selling vacant lots for discounted prices. The newest incentive to get people to move back into the city is an offer to sell city lots in the Lindsay Heights area for $1!Lindsay Heights is located between West Walnut, West Locust, North 12th and North 20th Streets.View Larger Map The lots are available to homeowners who are willing to build a home on the lot within 15 days of closing. In order to get a lot for $1, all you have to do is select a lot, select a lender, select a builder, and submit an offer. Special financing is even available through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Association (WHEDA). Hurry, this offer is only good through December 31, 2007. While the city is not paying commissions for the vacant lots, I woul... 10/05/2007

The Washington Heights Neighborhood Association (WHNA) is sponsoring a night time trick-or-treat on October 27th from 6:30 to 8:30. It is an old saying that you get what you pay for. Trick or Treat is often a free event, but the Washinton Heights Neighborhood charges children to participate in its Spooktacular Night Time Trick-or-Treat. Children must register in advance of the event at one of three registrations:Saturday, October 13th, 10AM-3PM, Divine Lutheran Church, 55th and Lloyd.Wednesday, October 17th, Perpendicular Wine Bar, 50th and Vliet.Saturday, October 20th, 10AM-3PM, Divine Lutheran Church, 55th and Lloyd.The cost is $3.00 for WHNA member children and grandchildren and $7.00 for nonmember youth and guests.Washington Heights is a neighborhood of bungalows and historic homes-... 10/05/2007

Once again the Brady Street Business Improvement District will be sponsoring Brady Street Days, a street festival of shopping, entertainment, food, and pets. On Saturday the merchants of Brady Street will have specials and sidewalk sales galore.  Street performers will be abundant and there will be a scavenger hunt.  Festivities will take place from 11AM to dusk and there will be live music between 1 PM and 5 PM.    On Saturday night, make sure to stop in to one of Brady Street's great restaurants during the festival.  Try Cempazuchi (my personal favorite), Bosley's, or Casa Blanca.  All have great food with excellent service.  There are also a lot of great night-spots on Brady, including the Hi Hat, Balzac, and the Nomad.  If you want to rub elbows with the locals, try Circa or the fam... 10/05/2007

  Sometimes a well placed and well cared for tree can add value and make your home stand out from your neighbor's home.  Plus, trees offer energy savings by shading your home in the summer and letting in the sun in the winter.  Plus, there is nothing better than sitting under a mature shade tree during those lazy summer afternoons (remember those?!).  Through its Adopt a Tree Program, Greening Milwaukee, a non-profit organization dedicated to the beautification of Milwaukee, is offering free shade trees to Milwaukee residents who are willing to learn how to plant, maintain, and care for the trees.  To qualify, residents need to be a property owner in the city of Milwaukee with a willingness to learn about how to plant and maintain the trees.  You must have a place to plant the tree that... 10/02/2007

In Milwaukee, most neighborhoods have trick-or-treating during the daytime hours when things are a bit more observable.  Sort of a sad comment on society.A couple of neighborhoods keep the nighttime tradition going by sponsoring their own night time events.  Bay View is one of the best known neighborhoods for night time trick-or-treating.  Sponsored by the Bay View Neighborhood Association, this event is fun for the kids.Saturday, October 27 from 5:00 - 8:00 pmHoward Avenue to Bay Street and Chase/Howell to the LakeVisit the Bay View Neighborhood Association website for more information:http://www.bayviewneighborhood.org/ View Larger Map 09/27/2007

 What a way to celebrate the final day of summer.  Miwaukee's Eastside BID presents a Bloody Mary contest, Marinara tastings, and tomato throwing!  The tomatos are leftover, unusable stock that can't be sold or eaten so there is no harm done.  There will also be entertainment provided by local theater groups.The tomato throwing starts at 3:30 PM.  Realtors, do you have a client that drives you crazy?  Bring them to the tomato romp and get your aggressions out in a good humored way.  Your client will probably also appreciate being able to lob a rotten tomato at you!  After you are done, sit down together and enjoy a bloody Mary.  What could be better?The second harvest truck will also be at Tomato Romp to accept food donations from 12:30 - 4:00.See you there!  09/21/2007

Cold Spring Park   Contact me to find property in Cold Spring Park   Location Located on Milwaukee's near west side, between 27th and 35th, Highland and Vliet. View Larger Map  History Many of the homes on McKinley Boulevard were built with magnificent carriage houses. One of the cities firs boulevards runs down McKinley Boulevard, adding a touch of elegance. Driving through Cold Spring Park, it is hard to imagine that the neighborhood had its beginnings as Milwaukee's premier race track and fair grounds. During the 19th Century, the area was considered rural, bordering Wauwatosa (whose border was at one time 35th Street). Cold Spring Park was used as a horse race track, a car race track, and an exhibition area. During the Civil War, Cold Spring Park was the site of a civil war camp, C... 09/20/2007

Historic Mitchell Street, located on Milwaukee's south side, just received $3.1 Million for improvements.According to the Journal Sentinel, the money will go to street scape improvements, home exterior improvements, and would go to help fighting crime in the area.Historic Mitchell Street was one of the finest shopping districts in Milwaukee.  Driving down Mitchell, you can still see remnants of what used to me.  Over the past few years, the last of the old-time stores closed in Mitchell.  Goldman's Department Store, one of my favorites, will be closing on October 1st, 2007.http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/GoldmansARichPastBri22532.htmHopefully this influx of money will improve the state of the neighborhood and will stir commercial development in the area.  Businesses like the Modjeska Thea... 09/18/2007