Buying a Home in Madison and Dane County

From Madison to Cottage Grove, Sun Prairie to Verona, Middleton to Waunakee and DeForest — we know these markets block by block. Whether you're buying your first home, moving up, or relocating to the Madison area from out of state, we'll guide every step and connect you with lenders and inspectors we trust personally.

5.0 on Google
Top 5% of the SCWI MLS by sales volume
330+ Dane County families served
Locally owned in Cottage Grove, WI

Why List With Us?

Buying a Home Shouldn't Feel Like Guesswork

Local Expertise

We know Dane County's neighborhoods, schools, and market shifts block by block.
Tailored Search

Your search is built around your goals, budget, and lifestyle — not a generic filter.
Clear Communication

Responsive, honest updates at every stage, so you're never left wondering.
A Trusted Network

Lenders, inspectors, and contractors we vouch for personally.

How It Works

The Home Buying Process in Dane County, Step by Step

1. Define Your Needs

We start by understanding your goals, budget, and lifestyle to identify the right type of home for you.
2. Get Pre-Approved

We connect you with trusted local lenders so you know exactly what you can afford before touring homes.
3. Start the Search

We build a tailored search across Dane County and set up alerts so nothing you'd love slips by.
4. Make an Offer

We craft a competitive, well-informed offer and negotiate on your behalf.
5. Due Diligence

Inspections, appraisals, and paperwork — we guide you through every detail.
6. Closing Day

We're with you through the final walkthrough and signing, until the keys are in your hand.

Let's Connect

Free consultations for buyers and sellers across Madison, Dane County, and the surrounding South Central Wisconsin communities. No pressure, no obligation — just a straight conversation about where you are and what makes sense next.

1609 Landmark Dr, Ste 104, Cottage Grove, WI 53527

Give us a Call!

Start the Conversation

Tell us where you are and we'll take it from there.

A local comparative market analysis — not an online estimate.

We'll be in touch within one business day.

Where To Buy

Find the Right Dane County Community for You

Dane County gives buyers genuinely different options depending on where you look. Madison offers established neighborhoods, lake access, and downtown walkability; Sun Prairie, Verona, and Waunakee offer newer construction and more square footage per dollar; Stoughton and Oregon offer village character at a different price point entirely. We help you compare tradeoffs honestly — commute, schools, resale, and what your budget actually reaches in each market.

Madison

Downtown, near-lake, and near-campus neighborhoods with walkability and character. Inventory is tight and homes move fast, so pre-approval matters more here than anywhere else in the county.

Sun Prairie

New construction and newer resale at a lower price-per-foot than Madison, with a growing downtown and an easy commute east.

Middleton

Established neighborhoods, mature trees, and strong schools with quick west-side Madison access. You pay for the location, but resale holds up.

Waunakee

Strong schools and a genuine small-town center, minutes from Madison's north side. Popular with families, which keeps competition steady.

Verona

Newer homes, the Verona Area School District, and minutes from Epic. High demand from the tech workforce keeps this market competitive.

Fitchburg

Beltline access, extensive trails and parks, and a real mix of established and new construction across price points.

Cottage Grove

Quiet streets, newer construction, and a 15-minute Madison commute. Our home base — we know these neighborhoods personally.

DeForest

Some of the best value in Dane County for buyers who want square footage and don't mind a slightly longer commute.

McFarland

Lake Waubesa access and a quick commute — one of the few places in the county where waterfront is still within reach for many buyers.

Stoughton

Historic homes, a walkable downtown, and the strongest dollar-per-square-foot value in the county. Bring a thorough inspector for older systems.

Oregon

Village charm with newer development, good schools, and more land than you'd get closer in.

Windsor

More space and newer neighborhoods with fast interstate access to Madison's north and east sides.

Don't see the area you want to explore? We also work throughout Columbia, Rock, Sauk, Jefferson, Green, and Iowa counties.

First-Time Buyers

Buying Your First Home in Dane County

First-time buyers are a large part of what we do. We walk you through financing connections, the Dane County offer process, inspection contingencies, and closing — and we're candid about what your budget realistically buys in each community.

"Anne was fantastic! I'm a first time home buyer, and she made the process so easy. Super responsive pretty much anytime, day or night, weekends, etc. … She understood what I was looking for and found it within my budget; then worked with me to submit a competitive offer. The 2nd offer I put in got accepted and now I own a house!"

— I Dig your Style, Google review, July 2023

Relocating to the Madison Area?

Madison lands on national “best places to live” lists year after year, and a large share of our buyers are moving here from out of state — often for a job at Epic, UW–Madison, UW Health, or one of the area’s growing employers, sometimes without having spent much time here first.

We do this often. Virtual tours, neighborhood comparisons built around your commute and your kids’ school needs, honest answers about winter, and a realistic picture of what your current home’s equity buys in Dane County. If you’re still deciding whether Madison is the right move at all, we’re glad to talk that through before you’re ready to shop.

"Anne is great. The house is great. The process was like zippety boom bah, you got a house! Coming into a place from out of state cold did not know nuthing, she was funny, informative, intuitive smart and efficient."

— Brian Amidei, Google review, August 2022

What Sets Us Apart

The Kind of Agent You'll Want to Call Again

What It's Like to Work With a Dane County Agent Who Lives Here

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 41 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Dave Schmidt 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Anne provided thorough professional service in the sale of our home. Great communications, pics/vids inc. drone shots were excellent. Quick sale.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Randy Rodgerson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Anne was wonderful to work with throughout the process of selling my home. Always keeping me updated. Anne also helped with the purchase of our new home...on a holiday weekend. We love our new forever home. Would recommend Anne to anyone for selling your house or looking for your forever dream home!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Kaitlyn Twing 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very helpful
High attention to detail
Super knowledgeable
Cares about what she does and what you're looking for!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   I Dig your Style 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Anne was fantastic! I'm a first time home buyer, and she made the process so easy. Super responsive pretty much anytime, day or night, weekends, etc. Met me for showings all around the state (including some pretty early mornings and later in the evening). She understood what I was looking for and found it within my budget; then worked with me to submit a competitive offer. The 2nd offer I put in got accepted and now I own a house!

I'd definitely work with Anne again in the future!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Zachary Niemann 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Anne was the most amazing realtor. She was on top of listings, she understood what we where looking for and got us the most beautiful and amazing home! 10/10 would recommend Anne.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Michael Rudie 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Anne and her team were amazing to work with. Buying and selling a house was made easy and we felt we got great value for the house we bought and sold our old house for a premium. This was all due Anne’s knowledge and her extremely high level of detail and passion. You are not just a client, she will work for you like you are family.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Greg Koeller 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Anne Baranski is absolutely amazing. She went above and beyond to make sure we got the house of our dreams and we couldn’t be happier!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   M.O. 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Anne was incredibly helpful during our house search process-- as first time home buyers we really appreciated the knowledge of the industry that that she provided! Thank you!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Brian Amidei 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Anne is great. The house is great. The process was like zippety boom bah, you got a house! Coming into a place from out of state cold did not know nuthing, she was funny, informative, intuitive smart and efficient.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sean H 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Whether you are buying or selling Anne is the agent you want to work with. She was professional as professional can be. Yet she was very personable making sure all our wants and needs were taken care of. Even with the crazy real estate storm she made it a smooth trip.
  
 
  
  
 
    Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified that these reviews were published on Forever Home Real Estate's Google Business Profile. Learn more

Frequently Asked

Guides for Dane County Home Buyers

Straight answers to the questions buyers ask us most, from pre-approval and earnest money to inspections and closing costs. Start with the step-by-step overview, then dig into the details.

The Wisconsin home buying process, step by step

Mortgage pre-approval vs. pre-qualification

Earnest money in Wisconsin

How the home inspection contingency works

Buyer closing costs in Wisconsin

WHEDA programs for first-time homebuyers

Buying a home with a well and septic system

Wisconsin property taxes for homeowners