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GREETINGS FROM VERNA ACKER
REALTY EXECUTIVES Elite
414.534.7400
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
Real Estate Information from
Western Racine County; Waterford, WI 53185
July 5, 2000
CONTENTS OF THIS NEWSLETTER:
Farmland prices have risen 93% in the past year
THE COST OF RACINE COUNTY FARMLAND HAS RISEN 93%
According to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article dated July 2, 2000.
Jennie Tunkieicz writes that “Soaring farmland values in Racine County
are great for farmers who might want to retire, but they come as no relief
for those struggling to continue to farm.
The average price of an acre of farmland in the county nearly doubled
in one year, up 93.3% - the second highest percentage increase in the
state – from $2,841 in 1998 to $5,491 in 1999. Portage County's per-acre
increase was 126.7% from $1,076 to $2,439, the highest percentage
increase in the state, during the same period. Statewide, the average price
of an acre of farmland rose 24%, the largest one-year increase in at least
20 years, according to a report released by Wisconsin Agriculture
Statistics Service.
The counties showing the highest average agricultural sales prices in
1999 were Milwaukee at $10,886 per acres, Waukesha at $8,365,
Kenosha at $7,990 and Racine at $5,491.
According to the area assessors, farmer-to-farmer sales are rare. Kathy
Romanek, the town of Waterford assessor says that she has never, in her
nine years as assessor, seen a farmer-to-farmer sale. “Last year alone
we had 103 new homes built in the village, and in 1996 there were 108
new homes built in the town alone. It's changing out here,” said Romanek.
There are still 10,776 acres of farmland in the township of Waterford.
Prime farmland is assessed at $462 an acre, using the use-value
assessment – valuing farmland for tax purposes based on its use for
agriculture rather than its development potential. This has been a benefit
to farmers. NOTE: Got to the archived newsletter for a discussion of the
tax differential when farmland is sold for the higher prices based upon
development use rather than agricultural.
GREETINGS FROM VERNA ACKER
REALTY EXECUTIVES Elite
414.534.7400
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
Real Estate Information from
Western Racine County; Waterford, WI 53185
July 11, 2000
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
New Feature for Getting MLS Info to You
Review of “Smart Growth” legislation
METRO MLS HAS ADDED A NEW SERVICE.
It offers a new way
for me to get information on listings to my customers and clients. The
information will come to you in a very readable format, rather than the
print out from the MLS system that often appears to be a hieroglyphic
“gibberish” if you don't know all the codes. The info and the pictures
will be uploaded, by our office, into a personal custom report folder at
the MLS main frame location. When you receive the e-mail, you merely
click on the highlighted hyperlink to each property and you are taken to
the special web server which showcases the info in a user-friendly format!
(If you are an AOL user or have some equipment limitations, you may
have to e-back, as you have before, for the info to be sent in the old way. We
have tried to put it in the AOL format.) If the picture is not there today, try it
in a day or two, as these are all new listings. Hope this works well for everyone.
Do let us know how you like the service.
WISCONSIN'S COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND “SMART GROWTH” LAW.
As part of the state's 1999-2000 biennial budget, Governor Thompson
signed into law one of the most comprehensive pieces of land-use legislation
considered in this state over the last 50 years. This legislation, referred to
as “Smart Growth,” is intended to provide local governmental units with the
tools necessary to create comprehensive plans and make better informed
decisions about land use. At the state level, Smart Growth encourages
agencies to create more balanced land-use rules and policies. To help
explain the impacts of this law on local governments and the real estate
industry, the Wisconsin Realtors Association has dedicated their February,
2000 issues of Legal Update to discussing the key components of the law,
its impact on local planning efforts and real estate markets; and answers
relevant questions that have been raised so far. The actual statutory language
of “Smart Growth” can be reviewed on-line at the following internet address: http://www.wra.org/realtors/government/landuse/smartgrowth.
E-MAIL ME AND PROVIDE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS OR YOUR FAX NUMBER
IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE 10 PAGE WRA PUBLICATION.
To make it easier for communities to complete the housing element
[part of the legislation], the WRA, in conjunction with the UW-Extension,
is publishing “Housing Wisconsin: A Guide to Preparing Housing Elements
for Comprehensive Plans.” This near sixty-page resource will take
communities step-by-step through the housing-element process [of the
Smart Growth plan]. Providing them with information on various
housing policies, deferral and state funding programs, and tips on how
and where to obtain housing data. For more information on this
publication, contact the WRA at this address:
http://www.wra.org/realtors/government/landuse/housingwisconsin
or call (608) 241-2047.
GREETINGS FROM VERNA ACKER
REALTY EXECUTIVES Elite
262.534.7400
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
Real Estate Information from
Western Racine County; Waterford, WI 53185
July 19, 2000
TABLE OF CONTENTS
More on Comm 83
Schools & Library Progress
Assessment 2001
THE NEW RULES ARE STILL BEING ARGUED
According to an article published recently in the Racine
Journal Times, written by Kevin Murphy, [the state rule
that allows several new types of septic systems to be used
in rural residential dwelling went into effect July 1, 2000]
despite efforts to block it by the town of Caledonia [Racine
County] and municipal and environmental groups, per a state official.
The changes in the state plumbing code promoted by the
Department of Commerce, and referred to as Comm 83,
have been fought by municipalities who contend it will
further urban sprawl and pollute ground water.
A lawsuit filed on June 5 in Dane County Circuit Court
challenged the legality of the department's enacting the rule.
The plaintiffs were to have filed a request for a temporary
injunction to prevent the rules from going into effect on July 1.
However, the injunction request was never scheduled for a
hearing by Circuit Judge Gerald Nichol, and according to
Assistant Attorney General Frank Remington, construction
permits for the new types of septic systems could be available
in some counties on Monday, July 5.
“People can take the permit out and, I believe, do not have to
build for two years. But if the judge would later rule against
the department, I don't know if those permits would be any good,”
Remington stated…….
The Racine County Board passed an ordinance to
bring its own rules into compliance with Comm 83m but that
ordinance prohibits the use of some new septic technology until
Jan. 1, 2003, so county inspectors can be trained. Had an injunction
been issued, County Executive Jean Jacobson was prepared to
veto the county ordinance. If Comm 83 is eventually overturned,
the ordinance the board passed will be repealed and another will
be passed. ……A decision on this case is expected by late summer
or early fall.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on this topic, go to my web site: http://www.vernacker.com
and go to my Real News archived issues
index. This topic may seem mundane but its effects are being hotly
debated and many people have a great stake it the outcome.
WATCH WATERFORD GROW
If you have been driving by the grade school site on the north
end of town you have been watching the lakes form every time it
rains. They are having a lot of trouble with the drainage. But a
structure began to rise this week so it looks like it will actually
happen. The school that is south of the school forest can be seen
from Hwy 83/20 as it becomes reality. The children are anxiously
waiting for their new schools. AND… the first wall went up on the
library today. So it is beginning to take shape, too. Our little town
is growing. Let's hope we can all keep us with the changes.
GREETINGS FROM VERNA ACKER
REALTY EXECUTIVES Elite
414.534.7400
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
Real Estate Information from
Western Racine County; Waterford, WI 53185
July 25, 2000
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EPA link with local information
Link to the site for Alby Materials “LIFE House.”
Another HOAX. A site to check them out
From my CYBERSTAR newsletter:
Allen Hainge, who hosts the CyberStar Newsletter sent
this out to us. I think that some of our readers may find
information of interest. It is part of the Environmental
Protection Agency's site. Three topics caught my eye:
*Envirofacts *Enviromapper And, *Surf Your Watershed.
Go to: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/comm/htm.
THE “LIFEHOUSE”
About two years ago, Alby Materials, of Waterford, began
promoting LIFE House, an energy and resource efficient
demonstration project in Waterford, which was billed as “an
extraordinary construction adventure.” It is an insulated concrete
home. It is unique because of its structural wall systems. The
frost, foundation, and above-grade structural walls are all concrete.
The construction utilizes the innovative TF Insulated Concrete
Building System. Ground breaking was in late August, 1998.
The project is at completion except for landscaping. You are
invited to take a virtual tour of the project by going to the LIFE
House website: http://www.life-house.com. The site will remain
active into January, 2001. The home is also being featured in the
Lakeland Builders Association Parade of Homes this next weekend,
July 29 and 30 and next weekend, August 5 and 6. You will be
able to tour the home, if you wish.
WE GOT ANOTHER HOAX E-MAIL LAST WEEK.
Did you get the message that our legislators should vote “NO!”
on Federal Bill 602P regarding 5 cents per E-mail? I called our
Congressman Rep. Paul Ryan's office. Speaking to Kate Dwyer,
Mr. Ryan's press secretary, she stated that the report is a hoax..
There is no such proposal in existence. For more information, you
can go to: http://www.house.gov/toomey/email.htm.
We use a couple of sites to check out these hoaxes before they are sent out:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/science/urbanlegends/msurbnet.htm
http://netsquirrel.com/combatkit/
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