Not every willing home seller has their home listed for sale on the open market. Some of the best buying opportunities aren't listed for sale at all. They're out there, but they're hiding in the shadows. 

One way to surface a hidden buying opportunity is to launch a letter campaign for your preferred neighborhood or condo community. This approach continues to work well for our clients. It's a proven, time-tested way to find a willing seller before their home hits the open market. 

Another proven approach is to scour expired listings. Expired listings are the properties that were once listed for sale on the MLS, but didn't end up selling. You won't find any of these properties on any website, but your buyer agent can easily identify the expired listings that are a potential match for you. 

A growing number of Madison area listings are expiring without selling in 2025, so asking your realtor to look for expired listings could lead you to your dream home. It's certainly an avenue worth exploring, as the holiday season is typically the peak season for expired listings. Reach out to us if you'd like our help.