Frequently Asked Questions

Yes.  Hanson & Co. Real Estate is a full-service firm with full-time real estate professionals who can expertly guide you through your specific real estate situation.  For Sellers, we provide professional photography, 3D virtual tours, custom websites designed just for your listing, enhanced social media advertising, custom print marketing materials and so much more!  For Buyers we provide professional and thorough guidance through every step of your real estate purchase.  We guide your home search, give expert advice as to pros and cons of each home and work with you every step of the way through your purchase contract to close.   

Hanson & Co. Real Estate has been providing exceptional real estate services for nearly a decade after being founded in 2013 by Katrina Hanson.  Katrina received her real estate salesperson license from the State of Wisconsin in 2004 and became a licensed Real Estate Broker in 2013.  All Agents at Hanson & Co. Real Estate are full-time, vastly experienced real estate professionals who practice with a high level of real estate expertise in all areas of real estate. 

Yes, Hanson & Co. Real Estate provides free consultations for buyers and sellers to help you understand our services better and how we can help your personal real estate situation. We are more than happy to schedule a no-obligation consultation in our office or in your home! 

While the dawn of the modern age has made searching for homes very easy, it has also made the real estate transaction very complicated.  Due to the constant change in laws, contracts, standards of practice and so much more, having one of our professional Real Estate Advisors in your corner ensures that you are receiving the proper guidance, not only to get you the best price for your home with the best set of terms, but also to ensure that you are mitigating as much risk as possible.  In addition, our Advisors will absorb the cost of all marketing up front without any cost to you and will ensure that once you are under contract, that your transaction flows as quickly and easily as possible to the closing table.  We keep a checklist for absolutely everything to ensure we are hitting all the dates, deadlines, provisions and contingencies of each unique contract.   

While most markets are suffering from low inventory and even lower inventory during the Winter months, a Winter market may work to your advantage both as a buyer and a seller.  For buyers, you generally have less competition from other buyers as many buyers fall out of the market due to the time of year.  This could mean getting your new home for a better price than if you were competing against 100 more buyers in your price category in a Spring market.  For sellers, you have the distinct advantage of not having as much competition on your listing as many sellers opt not to sell during Winter months.  This means your listing will naturally get more attention. 

If you are pre-qualified it means that you may be able to get a loan for a certain amount assuming that all of the information you provided to your loan officer is accurate and true. 

If you are pre-approved it means you have undergone a rigorous and extensive financial background check which includes looking at your full credit history, previous tax returns and verifying your employment.

No.  And we have never charged 6% to sell your home. We know you have many choices as to various real estate companies offering various marketing services with various commission charges. Hanson & Co. Real Estate is committed to providing an incredible array of real estate marketing, professional pricing advice, contract guidance from inception of your listing and all-inclusive closing services for variable-rate commissions that are flexible and affordable!  No gimmicks, no tricks and no upfront or surprise fees.  We pride ourselves on offering our sellers a first-class marketing package at a commission rate that is fair and practical.  Because our Firm values transparency, our Real Estate Advisor will review all commission costs with you prior to the execution of any listing contracts to ensure your complete understanding of the costs to sell your home.

The best way to determine accurate pricing on your home is to have a qualified real estate professional to your home to take a tour of your home as if they are a prospective buyer.  Our agents will walk the home with you, take detailed notes, ask a multitude of questions and will then provide you with a pricing recommendation after they have researched the similar active, pending and recent sold comparables. 

No.  All of the Agents at Hanson & Co. Real Estate subscribe to a two-step market method.  This means the first meeting with you will be to gather information about the home and the property.  The Agent will not arrive with a pre-conceived notion of what your home is worth.  The two-step market analysis is the most accurate way to determine pricing because each home is so different than the next, that it would be impossible for an Agent to guess what amenities your home has before they even step foot in it.  That's why our Agents work through pricing in two steps.  The first step is our meeting and tour with the seller and the second step is our research of sold comparables which includes making adjustments to the sold comparables for the amenities they either have or lack in comparison to your home.  We will then deliver a report back to you via email for you to review the sold comparables and our pricing recommendation.   

A Buyer Agency Agreement in Wisconsin Real Estate is a mutually beneficial contract that establishes a professional relationship between a real estate firm and a potential homebuyer. This agreement is designed to protect the interests of the buyer by outlining the responsibilities and commitments of both parties.

In essence, when you, as a buyer, enter into a Buyer Agency Agreement with a real estate agent and their firm, you are formalizing the agent's commitment to exclusively represent your interests in the home buying process. This means the agent will work diligently to understand your preferences, needs, and budget, and will use their expertise to help you find the most suitable properties.  This agreement creates a framework for clear communication and ensures that your interests are the top priority throughout the real estate transaction. 

 We understand your frustration.  But the effort of home searching is worth it.  The market will shift and eventually balance.  There is an old saying in real estate that your dream home comes to market every two weeks!  Be persistent...don't give up...and work with one of our expert professionals to help you get into your dream home quicker! 

There are endless websites dedicated to helping you find your new home.  Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia and most Real Estate Firm Websites are built for you to search on demand.  However, the best way to find your next home is through a custom MLS account created by your Agent which  monitors the market 24/7 and automatically delivers listings to your inbox when they become available!  Quick, efficient and thorough, this is the best way to search the fast-moving market.  Contact one of our Agents today to get started with your new and totally free MLS custom search account.

The number of days from the time you apply for your loan to closing is most typically around 45 days.  Some lenders may be quicker, and some are slower.  Variables such as loan type and property type can impact your contract to close time.  Before your agent drafts an offer, they will discuss with your lender the amount of time needed to close on your contract. 

Delays could result if the lender discovers problems with your credit score, current financial status or inconsistencies in your employment history. The lender will also require you to submit documentation for various items related to your finances, so it is critical to the timing of your loan that you submit those documents as soon as they are requested.  Other delays may be more out of your control such as problem with the home inspection or appraisal.  

Principal and interest on your loan.  Depending on the terms of your specific loan, the monthly payment may also include the homeowner's insurance, mortgage insurance and property tax escrows.

Closing costs cover processing and administration of your loan.  You may have to prepay interest charges to cover a portion of the month that you are closing.  Closing costs can also include partial payments for escrows of property taxes, homeowner's insurance and mortgage insurance, if applicable.

The impact on your taxes when you buy a home in Wisconsin can vary based on several factors, and it's important to understand why your taxes might increase. Here are a few reasons why this could happen:

1. Property Taxes: Property taxes in Wisconsin are a significant factor. When you purchase a home, the local taxing authority assesses the property's value for tax purposes. If the new assessment is higher than the previous one, your property taxes may increase. This can happen due to the purchase price of the home or improvements you make to the property.
2. Home Value: If the market value of your home increases over time, your property taxes may also rise. Assessments are typically based on the estimated value of the property, and if this value goes up, your property taxes may follow suit.
3. Special Assessments: In some cases, local governments may impose special assessments for public projects, such as road improvements or sewer upgrades. These assessments can lead to an increase in property taxes for affected homeowners.
4. Taxing District Changes: Changes in taxing districts or shifts in tax rates can also impact your property taxes. This could be due to changes in local government policies, school district funding, or other factors that affect the tax rate applied to your property.

It's crucial to note that while property taxes are a significant consideration, homeownership may also offer tax benefits, such as deductions for mortgage interest and property taxes on your federal income tax return. Consultation with a tax professional or local tax authority can provide a more accurate and personalized assessment of how purchasing a home will affect your taxes based on your specific circumstances.