We’d Rather Have the Iceberg Than the Ship

I recently bought a house in Madison, Wisconsin, but before I did I went through a series of adventures in different parts of the state exploring the property market. I was initially interested in Wisconsin because I have extended family there and they encouraged me to look at Appleton. They described it as a safe, prosperous, and growing community populated by good people. There’s a historic downtown, Lawrence University, the medical center, and it’s the county seat. As proof of its bright future they also mentioned Amazon is building a giant fulfillment center out by the airport. I found a real estate agent, described what I was looking for, and she began sending me links to available properties.

What I requested was a building with a bit of architectural character in a walkable neighborhood near civic amenities, quite possibly within a bicycle ride of the university, public parks, restaurants, and shops. I asked for a duplex, thinking I would be buying a place that I would co-own with family members. They could have their half, I could have mine. Win win.

These are the places she suggested instead. I looked at the filter she had set on the listings and she had eliminated any property that was built before 1990. That guaranteed the homes on offer would all be out on the suburban fringe along the highways instead of in town. When I asked her about this she was confused and set about educating me on the property market in Appleton.

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