A couple months ago, a customer who had been following my blog was kind enough to contact me about showing him a few vacation homes in Lake Geneva. He and his wife originally contacted me and asked if I was willing to show them lesser priced homes, since this blog does a pretty good job of making it sound like I only sell expensive homes. I assured them that I’d be terribly happy to help, and I could care less about the price range, which is entirely true, and that truth should be a lesson to you if you’re reading this right now thinking that same thing. Regardless of the price point, I value every single ounce of business that comes my way. Back to the story.
We set up a time, looked at a few condominiums that were within walking distance to downtown and the lakefront, and that was that. We made a couple bids, and found sellers that weren’t too interested in playing ball, so we kept looking. This week those Lake Geneva vacation seekers closed on a two bedroom condo at Lakeshore Village in Lake Geneva. The price for their little piece of Lake Geneva? $153k. We found a seller willing to negotiate with us to the extent that we required, and we did the deal. For the buyers, who have now secured their own Lake Geneva getaway, they paid 13% less than another buyer paid for a similar unit in the development just last fall, and they entered into this market at what will prove to be a terrific price.
For $153k, these buyers found a two bedroom, two bath condominium with fireplace, garage, and deck. They bought themselves a short sidewalk paved walk to town along South Lakeshore Drive. They bought breakfasts at Scuttlebutt’s, and lunches at Popeyes. They bought a lifetime of early morning bike rides around Geneva Lake. They bought Saturday afternoon naps and Sunday morning brunches. They bought early morning kayak rides, and early evening sunsets. They bought a lifetime of walks down the shorepath. They bought more than just carpet and paint and brick and mortar, they bought a piece of property that can thoroughly change a lifestyle. You see, that’s the magic of a vacation home. When you buy a primary home, you’re buying necessity. You’re buying a place to sleep and a neighborhood to enjoy. You’re buying a home, and it’s a beautiful thing. But when you buy a vacation home, you’re buying so much more than the structure, and so much more than the address. You’re buying a lifestyle. You’re buying a bedroom closet that hopefully will only be filled with shorts and polo shirts. You’re buying a garage that doesn’t get filled up with lawnmowers and tools, you’re buying a garage that holds a kayak and a bike. A garage that holds three old fishing poles that you keep handy for when your grandchildren or nephews arrive. A garage that won’t be filled with have to’s, but a garage that will be filled with get to’s.
See folks, you needn’t spend millions of dollars to experience Lake Geneva. Do lakefront homes and large grassy lawns leading to the water’s edge change your life for the better? You bet they do. Do lakefront condominiums and their inspiring views make your morning coffee or afternoon iced tea taste just a litte bit better? Of course, don’t be so silly please. These expensive properties are great, but sometimes all you need to enjoy Lake Geneva is a little place to call your own, and for these new owners, a garage for a bicycle and kayak will do the trick just fine.