We’re talking housing, homeownership and the future of Wisconsin at the 365 Leadership Summit

A community built to last has to be a place its people can afford to stay. One of nearly 20 panel discussions at the 365 Leadership Summit on Monday, October 19, will bring together leaders from city government, state housing finance, real estate, and community organizations to talk plainly about affordability, renting, homeownership, and development: who is being priced out, what actually expands access, and what Wisconsin must build and protect so the families who make a community can remain in it.

This Dreamy Wisconsin Town Lets You Live Well On Under $1,500 A Month

There’s a city in central Wisconsin that’s been living its best life while the rest of the state has been busy looking somewhere else, and its name is Marshfield. If your retirement dream involves actually enjoying your money instead of watching it disappear into a mortgage payment, this dreamy Wisconsin town deserves your full attention.

One Wisconsin community offering thousands in housing incentives

MERRILL, Wis. — If you're looking for laid-back, small town life and plenty of green space Merrill, Wisconsin north of Wausau, might just be the spot. The city has been adding 12-14 houses a year since 2022. It's also in the process of building more than 60 apartment units near the River Bend Trail.

Mortgage rates reach highest point in 3 years

Tom Tiffany owns a billboard in rural Wisconsin. He wrote legislation to eliminate taxes on it, while failing to report it to the state Ethics Commission

Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor Tom Tiffany wrote a bill while in the State Legislature that would have reduced his own taxes, but would have increased property taxes for homeowners, while hiding his own assets from the state Ethics Commission. Years before Gov. Tony Evers signed Act 12 in 2023,...

Wausau approves Solhaven complex. What we know about rent, units & more

WAUSAU – Long-discussed redevelopment plans for a riverfront property are moving forward. The Common Council approved 7-4 on Sept. 8 a development agreement with Milwaukee-based development firm Wangard Partners to construct a 143-unit apartment complex called “Solhaven” across two four-story buildings at 15 Fulton St./920 N. First St., or the city-owned empty lot south of Wausau Riverlife Apartments.

Pack Your Bags For This Wisconsin Town Where Rent Under $800 Meets An Unbeatable Quality Of Life

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin is proof that the best places in America aren’t always the ones with the biggest billboards or the longest lines. Sitting at the southern tip of Lake Winnebago in east-central Wisconsin, this city of about 43,000 people has been quietly delivering an exceptional quality of life while the rest of the country was busy arguing about avocado toast and sky-high rent.

Buyers Are Rushing To Wausau, WI: Inside One of The Hottest Zip Codes In America

Realtor.com® has released its annual Hottest ZIP Codes 2026 report, which reveals that even in a challenging housing market, there are pockets of the country that continue to generate strong

New Wisconsin home options await at the Fox Cities Parade of Homes

APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) — Those in the market for a new home will have a variety of options to explore in the Fox Valley throughout the first week of October through the upcoming Parade of Homes event. Hosted by the Home Builders Association of the Fox Cities, the event will feature ten newly constructed homes […]

Skip The Big City And Check Out This Wisconsin Town With Homes Under $160,000

Somewhere in northeastern Wisconsin, tucked right along the Michigan border, there’s a town that’s been quietly doing everything right while the rest of the world wasn’t paying attention. Marinette, Wisconsin is that town, and it’s got the kind of affordable homes, natural beauty, and genuine small-town character...

These Are Now The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Wisconsin

Wisconsin has no shortage of great places to live — but some cost far more than others. From Lake Country to the North Shore, here are the 10 priciest places in 2026. Surprisingly, none of them are big cities; they're smaller communities.

Housing development groundbreaking ceremony held in Tomahawk

TOMAHAWK – The construction of a new housing development in Tomahawk took a major step forward last week. On Thursday, Sept. 24, a ceremonial groundbreaking was held at 1961 Comfort Dr., the site near U.S. Hwy. 51 and the eastern city limits where the 72-unit, multi-family residential apartment complex will be built.

Protect College Sports Act, Home affordability, Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area

A sports labor and a sports law professor explain how the Protect College Sports Act could affect Wisconsin colleges and athletes. Then, two real estate analysts explain why Wisconsin homes are unaffordable. And, we learn about a historical, 6,400-acre wildlife area in northwest Wisconsin. Protect College Sports Act passes US...

New study highlights Wisconsin small cities as top national performers

(WFRV) – Smaller cities across Wisconsin are earning national recognition for offering high quality of life, strong local economies, and affordable living conditions, a new study finds. According to a WalletHub evaluation of small cities across the US, several Wisconsin municipalities scored strongly when weighed against more than 1,300...

Wisconsin’s 23 Most Influential Latino Leaders for 2026, Part 2

This is the second of a five-part series. Part One is here. This week we highlight some of Wisconsin’s Most Influential Latino leaders. Previous lists of the state’s most influential Black, Latino, Native American and Asian American leaders are published at Madison365.org/MostInfluential. Gladys Manzanet. Gladys Manzanet is senior...

Real estate listings get an AI makeover. When does it become false advertising?

Brenda Houston is a Dallas-based store designer with decades of experience working with some of the biggest names in luxury retail, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Giorgio Armani and David Yurman. But even her trained eye was no match for digitally altered real estate listing photos when she was searching for...

High mortgage rates and low supply squeeze Wisconsin homebuyers

High mortgage rates and low housing supply are making homeownership harder in Northeast Wisconsin, especially for first-time buyers.

These Are Now The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Wisconsin

Wisconsin has no shortage of great places to live — but some cost far more than others. From Lake Country to the North Shore, here are the 10 priciest places in 2026. Surprisingly, none of them are big cities; they're smaller communities.

Wisconsin sees Midwest’s sharpest mortgage rate increase in Q2: Study

The study reveals that Wisconsin's average mortgage rate rose by 1.23 percentage points to 5.16% in Q2.

High Mortgage Rates and Tight Inventory Keep Northeast Wisconsin Homebuyers on the Sidelines as State Median Prices Top 362,000 and First-Time Buyers Face Cash Competition

MANITOWOC, WI — High mortgage rates and a thin pool of listings are making it harder to buy a home in Northeast Wisconsin, leaving many would-be buyers squeezed by both affordability and supply. The pressure is showing up at the same time rates remain elevated and home prices continue to climb.