WI
Franklin, Wisconsin Real Estate: Buy or Sell With Rich Barnes
Ranches and newer two-story homes on larger lots, close to I-94, I-43 and I-41.
Living in Franklin
Franklin is a southern Milwaukee County suburb with a mix of established neighborhoods, newer subdivisions, larger lots and more open space than you will usually find in Milwaukee, West Allis or Greenfield. It has grown a lot over the years, but it has not lost all of its rural character. You can drive through a subdivision of newer two-story homes and, a few minutes later, pass an older ranch on an acre.
It is also close to I-94, I-43 and I-41, which puts downtown Milwaukee, Mitchell International Airport and the rest of southeastern Wisconsin within reach.
I am Rich Barnes, a licensed broker with Realty Experts, with 25+ years in the business. If you want to talk before you look, call 414-899-8146.
How I Help Franklin Buyers and Sellers
Many Franklin clients are selling a home and buying the next one at the same time, or moving up to more room. I explain every step in plain words, and I work with several trusted loan officers so the sale, the purchase and the loan move in step.
If you are selling, every home I list gets a pre-listing inspection, professional photography, a 3D virtual tour, its own web page with a QR code on the yard sign, and postcards to 200 neighbors. See my Franklin selling page. If you are buying, I show you homes you can act on and tell you what I see in each. Start with move-up buying in Franklin or first-time buying in Franklin.
Franklin Neighborhoods and School Districts
Franklin is not one uniform market. A property near 27th Street will feel different from a home in the St. Martins area, and both feel different from a subdivision farther west. I drive each one with you.
School districts matter here, because Franklin is divided among three public school districts depending on the address.
- Franklin Public Schools: Franklin High School, Forest Park Middle School, and Ben Franklin, Country Dale, Pleasant View, Robinwood and Southwood Glen elementary schools.
- Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District: serves a portion of eastern Franklin.
- Whitnall School District: serves part of northwestern Franklin.
Private options include St. Paul's Lutheran School. A Franklin mailing address does not mean a home is in the Franklin Public School District, so I verify the exact property's district, assigned schools and enrollment requirements, and the Franklin Public Schools boundary map is a good starting point. I do not rate schools. Look at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction report cards and visit.
Franklin Housing Market and Home Types
Franklin has a broad mix: ranches, split-levels, two-story colonials, contemporary homes, condominiums and larger custom properties. Older housing is mostly from the 1950s through the 1980s. There was also a lot of building in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, and it continues.
- 1950s to 1970s ranches: often three bedrooms, full basements, attached garages and larger yards. Some are extensively updated. Others have their original kitchens and baths.
- 1970s to 1990s split-levels and two-stories: more square footage, more baths, family rooms and traditional layouts.
- 1990s to 2010s subdivision homes: open kitchens, primary suites, attached two- or three-car garages and larger living areas.
- Newer and custom homes: modern floor plans, home offices and finished lower levels.
A 1965 ranch on a large lot is a completely different property from a newer four-bedroom home in a subdivision, and newer does not automatically mean better maintained. I check the roof, the foundation, the heating and cooling and the drainage on every one. Larger lots and bigger homes also mean more upkeep, and in the less densely built parts of Franklin I confirm whether a home has municipal water and sewer or a private system. I do not quote a median here because prices move. Call me for what similar homes have sold for.
Getting Around Franklin and What Is Nearby
Franklin has the Root River Parkway with its wooded scenery and trails, Kayla's Playground at Franklin Woods, an inclusive playground, and Franklin Field at Ballpark Commons. It also has parks, walking trails, golf courses and open space.
Franklin is more dependent on driving than Milwaukee or West Allis. Depending on where the home is, shopping and restaurants can be a longer trip, and commute times vary a lot by neighborhood and destination. Before you fall for a house, I help you test the drive to work at the time you would actually make it.
Franklin Compared With Nearby Towns
These are broad tendencies, not promises. Compared with Greenfield, Franklin has fewer modestly priced older homes, larger yards to maintain and a less central location. Compared with West Allis, there are fewer traditional starter homes, duplexes and walkable commercial districts. Compared with New Berlin, it is a different selection of larger-lot properties. Compared with Oak Creek, there is less shopping and dining around Drexel Town Square. Compared with Muskego, there is no lakefront. Compared with Greendale, there is no historic village center.
Housing can cost more than in some neighbors, especially newer Franklin homes against older Greenfield or West Allis properties, and a large yard means more mowing, landscaping and snow removal. Send me a message or call 414-899-8146, and see how I work on the Realty Experts home page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of homes are in Franklin?
Ranches, split-levels, two-story colonials, contemporary homes, condos and larger custom properties. Older housing is mostly from the 1950s through the 1980s, with a lot of newer subdivision building since the 1990s.
Which school district is a Franklin home in?
Franklin is divided among three districts: Franklin Public Schools, the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District and the Whitnall School District. A Franklin mailing address does not guarantee the Franklin district, so verify by the exact address.
Does every Franklin home have city water and sewer?
Not necessarily. In the less densely developed parts of Franklin, some properties use private systems. I confirm what a home has before you offer, and I explain the added inspection and upkeep.
Is Franklin a good choice if I want more yard?
Franklin often offers larger lots than Milwaukee, West Allis or Greenfield. A big yard also means more mowing, landscaping and snow removal, so I help you weigh the space against the upkeep.
How do I know what my Franklin home is worth?
Call me at 414-899-8146. I look at the home in person and compare it with similar sales. Every home I list starts with a pre-listing inspection, so nothing surprises you or the buyer later.
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