It’s cool to be the new kid on the block and get all the attention. It’s great if the property is the latest and greatest in new construction. But hey, that costs money! There’s nothing wrong with having been around for a while if you’re still looking good.

And that’s the case at the Rivercourt Apartments at 5100 N. Lovers Lane Road on the northwest side of Milwaukee. These apartments were built in the 1960s, but pay that no mind. These units feature new kitchens, baths, flooring, windows, boilers and more. They look like new construction, but they’re affordable like no other. Continue reading →

Construction hasn’t even been completed yet on Madison’s best and latest apartments, but we’re already realizing we’re going to have to change this property’s name. Instead of Catalina Crossing, it’s going to be Catalina Close-to-everything.

OK, so we’ve got granite counter tops, custom Amish cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, walk-in pantries, walk-in closets, in unit laundry, nine-foot ceilings, attached one, two, and yes even three car garages and enough square footage to accommodate you and your pet whale, Shamu. But what difference does that make if you’re never home to enjoy your castle because you’re forever stuck in traffic?

That’s why being Catalina Close-to-everything is so important. According to Google Maps, we’re just a 20-minute drive from the Epic campus without having to go on that miserable beltline, which looks more like a parking lot. We’re just 20 minutes to downtown, the university and the capital. We’re 20 minutes to American Family Insurance on the northeast side of town.

We won’t even brag about keeping your car out of the rain, snow and ice. For that matter, you can plug in your electric car too, your garage is prewired. And your garage space is private, attached to your apartment and included in your rent. Other complexes have more add-on charges than your cell phone carrier.

Be the first to live in these brand-new Madison apartments. Call (608) 575-4377 now before we change our name again!

Making the move to the northwest side of Milwaukee? Whether you’re a Wisconsin native or relocating from a coastal beach, you’re in for a treat, with its diversity of residents, community groups, businesses, and neighborhood histories.

Welcome to the Neighborhood

The neighborhoods making up the northwest parts of Milwaukee include places like North Granville, Silver Spring, Havenwoods, Park Place, and Menomonee River Hills. Most residents in the area are employed in the private sector, performing administrative, social services, or sales work.

There’s plenty of attractions like museums, arts, markets and galleries for regular enjoyment. The Northwest’s neighborhoods also come with a comparatively low cost of living, so you’ll be able to funnel cost savings into having a lively after-work and weekend life. Continue reading →

Upgrade your apartment living with a walk-in shower

Our friends at Property Management Insider recently reported the seven apartment upgrades that renters would most like to see. Here they are:

New Windows. Who likes a draft? Or windows that always get stuck or don’t operate properly. That’s why you’ll find at Decker Properties, either your home is new construction, or else if it’s a little older, important components like the windows have been replaced. For example, our Coachlight Drive apartments in New Berlin were built in 1965, but the windows are modern white energy efficient vinyl windows.

Energy Efficiency. Speaking of drafts, who needs those utility bills! Nearly all Decker Properties apartments feature water saving plumbing fixtures. Recently, we converted one of our Willow Grove apartments in Pewaukee with electric heat to a high efficient natural gas fired boiler. Continue reading →

The American dream has always been to own your own home. But like everything, the times are changing and now so is that dream. Today, about 35% – 45% of renters are renters by choice. So let’s glimpse inside the dream that these folks have been having in the Seven Dream Secrets of Renting:

1. Flexibility. People change jobs today more often than ever. If anything, this trend is only likely to continue if not accelerate. Today, owning a home might mean missing the next promotion. For those making career a priority, renting just makes more sense.

2. Cash. Renting just doesn’t tie up cash like owning. The first month’s rent and security deposit are often less than even the closing costs associated with purchasing a home, let alone the down payment. And sometimes owning has unanticipated costs, like home owners association dues, insurance and unexpected repairs.

3. Tax Advantages. It used to be that owning a home had great tax advantages. But now the standard deduction is $6,300 for singles and $12,600 for married couples and interest rates are at all time lows. For some prospective home owners, the interest deduction might not be more than the standard deduction. And none of the expenses of home ownership like insurance and repairs are deductible.

4. Equity Buildup. The hoped for equity grown from ownership may never come to fruition. First, in the early years of a mortgage, most of the payment goes toward interest. Second transaction costs from a sale can eat up appreciation so severely that some experts say to plan on staying in a home at least seven years to break even on these costs.

5. Price fluctuation. It used to be that home prices only changed in one direction – up. But in more recent times, we’ve witnessed perilous drops in home values, leaving many home owners “underwater,” owing more than their house is worth.

6. Liquidity. If circumstances change – health, employment or relationships, being tied to a home can sometimes make a bad situation worse.

7. Lifestyle. Some renters by choice are just plain sick of maintenance, mowing and all the other drudgery of home ownership. Throw in that many apartments are located closer to transportation, shopping, entertainment and employment and it just makes more sense to rent.

No, its not a dream: Come see the wonderful options Decker Properties has, and rent a beautiful apartment. The hard part is deciding whether to rent at the new Catalina Crossing Apartments in Madison, or our our new Wilson Heights Apartments in Hartford. Call us at (262) 785-0840 for these and other great Wisconsin apartment locations.

While there is much talk about how Millennials prefer renting apartments over home ownership, there is another important demographic group that is moving to apartments in droves: Baby Boomers.

In 2016, the Baby Boomer generation begins turning 70 years old, ushering in two decades of quick growth in the “senior” population. This group is more than 75 million strong, slightly less than the current largest demographic group – Millennials. These Boomers – who are more active than the seniors before them – are often empty nesters who seek the convenient and luxurious amenities that apartments offer.

Here are the top 4 reasons Baby Boomers love renting apartments: Continue reading →