The Court of Appeals decision in Koble Investments v. Marquardt has materially shifted the risk framework for owning residential rental property in Wisconsin. Under the current interpretation, if a residential lease contains one of the prohibited provisions under Wis. Stat. § 704.44, the lease can be deemed void and unenforceable, even where the tenant suffered no actual financial harm. The remedy being pursued in active litigation includes refund of rent paid, potentially doubled, plus attorney fees.

Wisconsin does not lack momentum heading into 2026. The past year was defined by record capital announcements. The next year will determine whether those commitments translate into durable economic advantage, or stall under the weight of execution risk.

2025 was an up-and-down year for the national economy, but in southeast Wisconsin the story was more balanced, and in several key areas, genuinely encouraging. Most business leaders we talk to across the M7 region would describe the year as “slower, more selective, but still moving.” Cap X project announcements from large companies boomed in 2025, and overall business sentiment improved in the back half of the year as interest-rate cuts came into view and major projects moved from announcement to construction.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7^th, 2025
Milwaukee, WI – The Board of Directors of Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke is pleased to announce the appointment of Dawn Peterson as President & Chief Executive Officer, effective November 3^rd, 2025. She succeeds Mike Keane, who served as interim CEO, following the departure of Sean Robbins earlier this year.

Photo Credit goes to Costar / LoopNet.

After a transformative year as our CEO, Sean Robbins will be departing Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke this month to join the executive leadership team at a national healthcare organization.

Milwaukee’s retail landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. As national chains like Big Lots, Joann Fabrics, and Party City shutter locations, a new wave of tenants is repurposing these large vacant spaces to meet evolving consumer demands.​

Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke Strengthens Commitment to Madison with Investment in MadREP

Madison, WI, March, 20, 2025 – Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke is...