Most of my life, it seems, I have spent waiting. A real estate based life can be like that: always waiting for closings, waiting for offers, waiting for faxes, waiting … Read more

Today, if I were to be involved in an unanticipated car accident (which sounds dreadful), and I was rushed to the hospital with a compound fracture in my left arm, … Read more

A glance toward the back seat of my car the other day proved to me something that I already knew. My son was in the back seat. But he wasn’t … Read more

If the Congress Club were a person, it would almost certainly be a woman. And if it were that woman, she would carry herself with grace and she would be … Read more

If you’re up at the lake today, I really don’t need to tell you to have a “great” fourth of July. The combination of you in Lake Geneva would leave … Read more

This morning, I switched to iced coffee. Up until now, with the exception of a very small handful of sweltering days, I’ve been sticking to hot coffee. It should be … Read more

I once knew a boy who had a hand that didn’t look much like my hand. His hand was disfigured, with a toe or two where a finger or two … Read more

There are certain market segments that I try not to write about too often. I usually, or at least mostly, ignore the condotel market. I do this because I don’t … Read more

I’m tired this morning. More weary really, but tired. Yesterday, under the bright sun and cool breezes of a glorious Lake Geneva Sunday, I was at my parents house. There … Read more

And so it goes, a sale here and another there, a trickle of activity swells to a raging river and back to a trickle within weeks, or days, and the … Read more

It dawned on me today, just now, that I haven’t yet pushed the new issue of my real estate magazine on you. The new magazine is pretty nice, or at … Read more

I spent $31 on ice cream yesterday. Before you accuse me of excess, consider that there is little else to do here in New Buffalo if ice cream eating is … Read more

It wasn’t raining when I drove to Ravinia two years ago to see Jackson Browne. It wasn’t raining as I walked the mile or more from where I parked to … Read more

Abbey Springs is starting to bore me. It’s not that I don’t like the development, with all those fancy amenities and finely curried lawns. I do. I like those things … Read more

View Larger Map I have lived in many different houses. I’ve lived in new houses, old houses, small houses, big houses, nice houses, even ugly houses. I have lived in … Read more

My morning actually started last night. It started with the weatherman. He didn’t tell me that it would be warm this morning. He didn’t tell me that it would be … Read more

Buyers and sellers are typically treated as two different entities. Two separate forces, destined to be enemies and forever embracing a polarizing view of markets, and real estate. Buyers and … Read more

As I follow the never-ending yard sale that is the national foreclosure scene, I’m slowly finding that waiting for a change in this market is as great of a test … Read more

A farmer’s market, measured solely against its definition, is a market where farmer’s sell their crops. That would be the literal interpretation of what a farmer’s market should be. Marco … Read more

If you’re reading this now, which you must be, and if you read my post yesterday, which you should have, then you may be confused by today’s post in light … Read more

Over the past decade, being a buyer has been hard work. It’s been fun, sure, but the buying of the peak was nowhere near as fun as the selling of … Read more

I have driven great distances for food. I fish in the dirty rivers of Kenosha in the fall to catch salmon, sure, but mostly to stop by Oliver’s Bakery. Should … Read more

I imagine David Blitzer trembles with nervous energy just before he joins conference calls. In his mind, I’ll bet he fancies himself the utmost authority on housing prices and national … Read more

The first house I ever bought was an old house with questionable framing and a double lot on the East side of Clover Street in Williams Bay. The next home … Read more

At times I feel as though the Lake Geneva real estate market is little more than a puzzle. Not a puzzle like a riddle, or a puzzle in the way … Read more

View Larger Map If I were to line up the three most similar associations on Geneva’s south shore, I would gather up the Lake Geneva Club, then Shore Haven, and … Read more

I’m not really into speeding. I owe some of that lack of urgency to a 4.8 liter V8 that gulps extra gas at the mere thought of acceleration, but mostly … Read more

During the summer of 1990, a buyer would have been of sound mind had they embraced the then reasonable expectation of purchasing a lakefront home on Geneva for $400,000. Perhaps … Read more

My office is, by my crude estimation, no more than 750 feet from the lake. A lake that is, at this very moment, barely registering a shimmer as the surface … Read more

I have many impressions of Door County. I’ve visited there several times. Some of those times have been on purpose. In fact, I plan on taking my new-ish fishing boat … Read more

I admit to taking at least some delight in watching the folly of the foreclosure market. Once, a commenter on the blog accused me of being an ambulance chaser. This … Read more

Over the past several months, there have been several new lakefront listings in the $1.6MM to $2.1MM price range. This, on the surface, is a positive for our inventory starved … Read more

In the uncertain world of mushrooming, there is a very certain, easily spotted, unforgivable crime. If one is out looking for mushrooms, one is not foraging for mushrooms. If you … Read more

The supposedly unique nature of the snowflake bores me. My whole life I’ve been told that each snowflake is different. Each one unique. Each one somehow a variation of the … Read more

During a tenure that spanned the worst April that I can remember, and a third of May that as been better, but not ideal, I have poured $480 dollars worth … Read more

There have been sales over the past several months that I contend would have never happened if the entry level lakefront market were not so utterly devoid of inventory. I … Read more

The week nearly gone was, to me, a good week. I only fell in the lake once. I successfully helped a seller find a buyer and a buyer find a … Read more

If the darkest days for our Lake Geneva real estate market were found during the latter half of 2008 and nearly all of 2009, it must have been on one … Read more

When I was in high school, I vaguely remember a particular Memorial Day weekend at my parents house. There was a party. I’m not sure who or what it was … Read more

On October 16, 2009, a little white cottage with hardwood floors and a generally pleasant disposition was listed for $289,000. Had that October been the October that happened during 2006, … Read more

This morning is strange. I’m sitting at my desk, which is not strange. But my shoulders are dry. My hair, purposefully or perhaps haplessly disheveled, seems to be nearly dry. … Read more

There is no secret about my mission. I aim to sell you a Lake Geneva vacation home. It’s simple really, this goal of mine, but it is a benevolent goal. … Read more

I’m a touch tardy in delivering this morning’s post. I was digging through lis pendens filings and sheriff’s sale notices. I was doing all of this for you. You’re welcome. … Read more

I like to talk about, write about, think about, and generally meditate on, Geneva Lake. I like to do the same for the single family associations that ring the lake, … Read more

Dear Algore, It is raining again in Lake Geneva. It’s cold too. In fact, our weather men are sheepishly telling us that it might only make it up to 43 … Read more

I began my life of crime at age seven. I may have been older, but judging from my son’s new found mischievousness, the criminal behavior probably surfaced when I was … Read more

I’ve had the unique privilege to make at least two early spring sojourns around Geneva Lake. I understand this may upset you, particularly when I admit that one such late … Read more

I went out on my new (very used) fishing boat a week ago Sunday. It was 80 and sunny. I was sweating. I went out on my new (used) fishing … Read more

The estate known as Westgate graced the southern shore of Fontana for nearly 100 years. It was a magnificent Tudor, with sweeping rooflines and half timber walls. It was everything … Read more

It’s because I care that I can admit to you that I am confused by the behavior of the condominium segment of our Lake Geneva vacation home market. Geneva National, … Read more

For some, April showers bring May flowers. For others, April showers bring May Morels (more to follow). For me, April showers are an unfortunate, but necessary, obstacle that I must … Read more

Generally speaking, I’m pretty good at sensing moods. If I take a client out to look at some homes, it’s usually pretty obvious to me if their demeanor belies guarded … Read more

The thought of a vacation home can, at times, invoke powerful images of solitude. Flash to an ideal afternoon, and many times the scenery is selfish, involving no one but … Read more

I know, if the trees outside the east window of my bedroom are leaning or swaying away from that casement window, that the waters on the east side of Conference … Read more

View Larger Map Bonnie Brae is a pleasant little lane that runs south, towards the lake, off of Snake Road. If there are pockets of lakefront that are more desirable … Read more

With a mere $9.5MM, Lake Lawn Lodge has averted total, unmitigated catastrophe. When this massive resort was taken over by Anchor Bank last fall (Anchor was the primary lender, but … Read more

The other day I drove past the narrow line of white and green garages, past the header supports that dip and twist down the line, an unfortunate meandering owed to … Read more

In what appears tantamount to cruel and unusual punishment, the entire lake is yet to be devoid of ice. The video I posted last week declaring the lake ice free … Read more

James Altucher. I have placed his name on my very special, relatively short list. Right under Daniel Gross. Just above Josh Altman (jealousy dictates that he be at the bottom … Read more

Last night, a car commercial told me that I have 3000 thoughts each day. That baritone voiced man obviously doesn’t know me, for I’d gladly argue that I have more … Read more

My father worked hard for his entire life. He still works hard, too hard in fact, as he tries to squeeze more and more hours out of each day. In … Read more

If today were 1989 instead of 2011, and we were swimming together on the Loch Vista Club pier, I would have been able to put on the most anemic display … Read more

Before I was prolific in writing about selling lakefront condominiums, I was indeed prolific in actually selling them. At the volume height of our broader Lake Geneva vacation home market, … Read more

Yesterday was a strange day. It was enjoyable, sure, but it was strange. Yesterday it wanted to rain, but it didn’t. I don’t know if it didn’t because it couldn’t, … Read more

Why must I always be Gary? I haven’t known very many Garys in my life. Except for the Gary that started a small pharmaceutical company years ago. That was before … Read more

I’m writing this morning with a troubled mind. I was fine yesterday. Really. Thoroughly and contentedly fine. My car broke down on the side of Main Street and left me … Read more

I didn’t necessarily want to, but when I pulled up to a showing last week in Abbey Springs, I instinctively closed the my car’s moonroof cover. The day was bright … Read more

When I was younger, I stood at the Congress Club with my dad and a client. I wanted to think the client was mine, but as with most clients back … Read more

Today is March 11th. Today, I may or may not go to stand in a short line to buy an Ipad. Today, the lake is covered in a thick shroud … Read more

In large markets, a buyer could be forgiven for not fully understanding the foreclosure scene. If you’re a buyer in Miami it would be understandable if you would make a … Read more

At the moment, I’m trying desperately to find a buyer who might want to buy a stunning lakefront estate for a severely discounted price. If you know of any such … Read more

Lake Geneva is a cool town. I know this, and you know this too. The Chicago Tribune knows it, but they choose to ignore it. Crain’s most obviously knows it, … Read more

I’m rooting for the rain this morning. Rain, please go about your melting and wash any traces of this miserable winter from my sight. As of today there remains just … Read more

I’m fairly long off the tee. My drives can soar with the best of the 15 handicappers out there. In addition to soaring straight, these potent drives tend to soar … Read more

Today, right now, I am sitting at my desk in Williams Bay. I bought my desk in Canada back when their dollar traded for 65% of ours, and I drove … Read more

Your cat may have taught you all you need to know about life, but one sentence in one description of one condominium can teach you all you need to know … Read more

There are signs of this grave disease everywhere. I don’t have to move from my $99 faux leather chair to see the slow, insidious progression of a disease that has … Read more

There are times that I let my own personal preferences for real estate locations and design get in the way of fully understanding a market. And by “times” I mean … Read more

Over recent years, a favorite past time of most real estate shoppers, watchers, and pundits, has been to make multiple guesses as to when the market bottom has arrived, will … Read more

If the world of television Realtors has done anything to help the real estate profession, and I say this fully understanding it is a literary and imaginative stretch, it has … Read more

The french onion soup that dominated the menu at Charley O’s during the 80s and 90s was something that you either loved or hated. Some accused it of being too … Read more

View Larger Map For more than one hundred years, there has been a marina anchoring the western shore of Williams Bay. The marina has had name changes, facade changes, building … Read more

Generally speaking, I do not enjoy watching the foreclosure markets. The foreclosure scene in Walworth County today resembles a large stack of hay. As a devoted follower of any real … Read more

I went to bed last night with a headache. The headache began sometime around 2 pm yesterday, and by 9 pm it was in full swing. I took two Tylenol … Read more

If you’re a regular reader of the Wall Street Journal, you’ve undoubtedly seen the ad. It’s a big ad. A pretty one. It features a big sky and a bigger … Read more

I was deep in preparation, both mental and physical, when I realized that I did not own a pair of snowpants. Not only did I currently not possess snowpants, but … Read more

As I sit cocooned in my office, shielded from the bitter cold that has swallowed this humble wooden structure, I have one eye on the paradox that is my calendar. … Read more

In my chosen profession, it helps that I am ashamed of nothing when it comes to the product I represent. This seems like an obvious characteristic, but imagine if I … Read more

When the dust settled, and a long December lumbered towards an even longer January, what exactly the new year held for our Lake Geneva real estate market registered unknown. While … Read more

I am at my office. It is 8:05 in the AM hours of Wednesday. Judging by the lack of cars on the road I am either incredibly brave or incredibly … Read more

If I was in need of proof that four of my Lake Geneva based real estate theories are indeed deadly accurate, a closing last week at the Congress Club provided … Read more

Last week, when the southern guy from the Chicago Tribune called to beg me to renew my subscription to his newspaper, my first thought was to hang up before he … Read more

Scanning the cavernous recesses of my mind to as far back as I can remember, I have only had one truly great dream. I’ve had plenty of nice dreams. I’ve … Read more

Dear Friends, Clients and Future Clients, Lake Geneva Lovers, and Honored Guests who have arrived solely by the grace of the Google Algorithms, At first glance, there appears to be … Read more

I’m writing this deep into a Sunday night. I can’t sleep, and every time I start to nod off I see visions of a sulking Jay Cutler on the sidelines … Read more

In the midst of every economic recovery there is an omnipresent danger. Sometimes the danger lurks in the shadows, huddled under bridges burning tires, other times they exist in the … Read more

Did you catch this map floating around the Interwebs yesterday? It reveals more about our country than you might have originally guessed, and even more about whatever state you’re currently … Read more

I find it only fitting that I will end the January 2010 market review marathon with a review of the market that surprised me the most during the last year: … Read more

Ahh, the mid range. A range that, when you think about it, would be considered high end for most Midwestern Lakes. Lake Geneva has a way of doing that. It … Read more