Some would say that title is impossible. After all, load into a tour boat and take a trip around these shores and there’s very little that looks particularly affordable. Even the homes that look affordable come with seven figure asking prices, albeit low seven figures. Lake Geneva has historically been home to significant wealth, and the trend in recent years has only accelerated that status. Several years ago a $10,000,000 home on this lake was viewed as a fortunate albatross. It was neat, and lavish, but it didn’t make any particular sense, even for the wealthy. Today, a $10,000,000 home would be met with immediate buyer interest, as the liquidity that traditionally dried up around $5,000,000 now meets little resistance up to and through double that amount. Yes, Lake Geneva is for the wealthy, everyone knows that.
But that’s not where the story ends. Because Lake Geneva isn’t just for hedge fund managers and successful entrepreneurs. It’s for anyone who desires something different. It’s for everyone who wakes up on a Saturday morning in the summer and wonders what they’re going to do that day. It’s for those who are stuck in traffic on a Friday night, but not in the northbound lanes. It’s for those with the means to change their weekends and change their motivations, even if that doesn’t allow for a lakefront home or a lavish off-water spread.
Yes, you could buy a cottage in one of our area towns for $80k and use that for your summer house. That’s perfectly acceptable, and encouraged. But let’s assume you’re not looking to buy squalor. Let’s assume you want something easy, something low effort, something large enough to contain your family and/or friends in some form of luxury. If you’re thinking I’m going to suggest a tiny home, please read this bit on the folly of the tiny home. No, I’m suggesting a condo. A simple, easy, two or three bedroom condo. Something affordable. Something in the scene. Something that allows a weekend to be entirely and completely different from the 9-5. If you’re looking at Lake Geneva, as you should be, these condos have names and well defined price brackets. If you can spend $180-250k, you’re in luck. Lake Geneva has sensible, stylish options for you, too.
I’ve written about this particular segment often, because it deserves inclusion in any vacation home discussion. The condominiums that I find appealing in this segment include Abbey Hill, Abbey Villas, and Willabay. There are others, for sure, but these are the three that fit into this lower price point while still offering some meaningful value. When times were bad, these small condo associations were chock full of inventory. Too much inventory, some slight foreclosure activity, and overall malaise. Today, these complexes have recovered completely, and they offer some of the easiest value in our broad market. Let’s take a look at each one to see what’s happening.
Abbey Hill is perhaps my favorite. The complex isn’t right in town, like the Villas, but I appreciate the privacy. There’s a basic swimming pool and some nice topography here, all less than a mile from downtown Fontana. Today three units are available, priced from $199k to $255k. One of those three units is pending sale. The condo fees at Abbey Hill are around $350 monthly, and taxes run around $3k annually. Factor in a 70% mortgage and you’re looking at a delightful vacation home for the cost of one long weekend rental at the Abbey Resort. Best of all, the units are all a bit tired, so a basic surface renovation can make a dramatic impact.
The Abbey Villas are adjacent the Abbey Resort on the harbor. That harbor is being renovated this off-season, so look forward to a beautiful new harbor (if there is such a thing) by next summer. The villas have a series of swimming pools, and are undeniably in the heart of the action. The beach, restaurants, and parks are all just a short walk from these units. Inventory swelled during the crisis, but today there are just two units available in the MLS, priced from $230-272k. Some units here can sell into the $400s, if they are harbor front. Taxes are similar to Abbey Hill, though assessments are a bit higher. Pets are not permitted here, so if you hate dogs and cats, you’re in luck.
In Williams Bay, Willabay fits into this particular segment. If you like being close to the water (short walk), but dislike the bustle of Fontana on a summer weekend, then Willabay might be a better fit. There’s a pool here and some tennis courts, all close to the Williams Bay lakefront and beach. There are five available units priced between $179-235k, with one unit pending sale. Taxes are similar to the Fontana units, and assessments are, on average, a bit lower than Abbey Hill. These units come with one car attached garages, as do most of the Abbey Hill units (the Villas lack garages).
If you love the Lake Geneva scene, and you’d like to be part of it, I’d gladly sell you a $5,000,000 lakefront house. I’d be happy to, really. But if that’s not in the budget, and a $200k condo near-ish the lake sounds more appealing, just let me know. You have solid options here, and I’m happy to guide you to the best value.