University of Chicago
A note to say thank you to the University of Chicago for bringing Yerkes Observatory to the Village of Williams Bay.
Merry Christmas
It’s strikingly obvious to me that without my clients and friends, my family would not be so uniquely blessed. For that, I am exceedingly thankful and appreciative. There’s a lot … Read more
Lake Geneva New Construction
A lakefront inventory discussion and how the gentrification of existing inventory shapes any given market.
It’s A Wonderful Life
It’s rather disingenuous for me to relate to George Bailey the way I do. I watch this, the best of the Christmas movies, each December and each year I tear … Read more
Real Estate Shorts
Do you know what the word breathtaking means? It means to have your breath taken. Like if you get murdered, that’s a seriously breathtaking moment. Once I was installing siding … Read more
Virgil Abloh
I never met Virgil Abloh. I didn’t own anything from Off-White, the company he founded in Milan almost ten years ago. I’ve never met his wife, or his children, or … Read more
Happy Thanksgiving
My wife and her family are Canadians. It’s not their fault, really, they just are, and they do the best that they can with this condition. During our Covid Chronicles, … Read more
The Romantic
Growing old is fascinating. There are things that matter and things that don’t, and when I was younger I assumed that when I was older I’d have a better understanding … Read more
Glanworth Gardens Pending Sale
By now, you’ve heard the news. I have a contract on Glanworth Gardens. While the contract leaves me feeling somewhat sheepish, it’s important to realize that its impact on the … Read more
California Dreaming
California has positioned itself as the cultural king of America, as every Midwestern kid knows. A weekend visit to judge its importance.
Lake Geneva Valuations
Market valuations are a bit disjointed, remember to not overpay for a house that doesn’t have a supporting market around it.
Glanworth Gardens Is For Sale
For what is believed to the just the third time since its competition in 1907, Glanworth Gardens is available for sale.
October
I don’t like September anymore. In fact, I don’t know why I ever did. October is where it’s at.
Lake Geneva Lakefront Market Review
A review of the Lake Geneva lakefront market and its YTD sales volume.
Lake Geneva Farmer’s Market
It’s today, and every Thursday through October 28th. You should visit on a nice day. Like today.
South Lakeshore Drive Sells
Another lakefront sale, another lakefront transaction completed off market. If you want to know what’s happening on the lakefront, you have to work with the lakefront leader.
Bay Colony Sells
One of the things that’s fun about being in the same business in the same market for so long is that I get to see my own theories play out. … Read more
Fall At The Lake
Well, that’s that. Summer is dead and gone. My dreams of enjoying it are left mostly unfulfilled, and I know it’s my own fault. When you’re young and you’re taught … Read more
Circle Parkway Sells
Life is a series of goal settings, and when I get to play a role in the accomplishment of a lifelong goal, it matters.
Lake Geneva Fall Market Conditions
The lakefront market at Lake Geneva isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Your September market conditions update.
Back To School
I’ve been writing this blog with intent for twelve years. Twelve years ago, back to school meant something different to me. Twelve years ago when I dropped my son off … Read more
Lake Geneva Market Discussion
Thinking about Lake Geneva Real Estate? So am I. Here’s a Lakefront Market Discussion for August 25th, 2021.
Seasonal Dysphoria
I really dislike the way I think. If it’s hot I like that, but I like cool better. When it’s cool I wish for it to be hot. If it’s … Read more
Lake Geneva Market Conditions
The market is hot. We all know that. But the question on our minds is singular: When does it all end?
Just a Cottage
It was once only a dream. It was once a fantasy. Some day, maybe, but unattainable. Years passed and it become possible. A stretch, but possible. After years more work … Read more
Of Lenders and Bubbles
It’s easy to look at 2021 and think of 2008. Markets rise and fall for plenty of reasons, but the lending practices of 2008 are nowhere to be found in 2021.
DJ’s In The Drink Pizza Review
The Pizza review continues. This time, DJ’s In The Drink on the north shore of Lake Como.
Lake Geneva Lakefront Market Update
The Lake Geneva Market is hot, we all know that. But why is it hot and how does a buyer best maneuver inside this harried market? Well, that’s harder to understand.
Lake Shore Sells
1540 Lake Shore Drive sells. My latest lakefront sale is my ninth of 2021, and I’m pretty happy about that.
Dartmouth Woods
Here’s a dazzling lakefront home ideally situated between Williams Bay and Fontana along Fontana’s north shore. You’re going to love these wide-water views spanning from Conference Point to the Fontana … Read more
Lakeview Sells
The entry level market on Geneva Lake has shaken free of the range that once bound it.
Walcowis Sells
There’s this road on the south side of the lake whose name generates some interesting commentary and even more interesting pronunciations. Walcowis. If you think it derived from an ancient … Read more
Fair Oaks
A most exceptional new lakefront home hits the market for the first time, ever. Act quickly.
Lake Geneva Realtors
There are lots of agents in Lake Geneva. There’s only one lakefront market leader.
Freedom?
Covid was hard on Michigan. Tim Allen wants you to return to normal, while at Lake Geneva we never departed from it.
Fontana Club Sells
The Fontana Club condominiums have one double unit on the first floor. And now it has sold.
Risk On
Risk is inherent in life, but it’s often ignored in residential real estate transactions. It shouldn’t be.
Bonnie Brae Sells
The latest lakefront sale is on Bonnie Brae. A lovely approach matters on this lake, even if some properties beg to differ.
Birches Sells
My latest lakefront sale, this one in the Birches. Proof the market tends to avoid what it would rather not understand.
Lake Geneva Lakefront Market Update
The market at Lake Geneva is doing what you know it’s doing. It’s offering very little inventory and that’s making for some very unhappy buyers.
Fontana Club For Sale
$1.49M on the Fontana lakefront. You could spend $3.5M to be in this location, but why would you?
Southland Road Sells
Every lakefront sale should teach us something. The most recent sale on Black Point does just that.
North Lakeshore Sells
569 North Lakeshore Drive in Fontana closed last week. I was happy to represent the terrific buyer in this sale.
Lake Geneva Rental Market
Lake Geneva lakefront rental market? Sure it sort of exists, but you’re not going to like it very much.
Lake Geneva Inventory Problems
This market isn’t easy on buyers. But that doesn’t necessarily give seller’s as much leash as they might think.
2020 Lakefront Market Year In Review
2020 was a terrific year for the lakefront market, which shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.
2020 Lakefront Condo Year In Review
The lakefront condo market cranked out a remarkable number of sales during 2020, but don’t expect the same in 2021.
2020 Geneva National Year In Review
Geneva National is a nice association with a somewhat difficult past. 2020 proves the market has rebounded, and perhaps this time, for good.
2020 Lake Access Year In Review
Hot markets make buyers itchy, and itchy buyers make market mistakes.
Lake Geneva 2021
2020 is over. 2021 is here. What happened last year that might give us a clue as to what will happen this year?
Home
There’s so much talk about taxes and sunshine, I wonder if anyone remembers the concept of home.
Regrets
Regrets are a part of life. Thankfully, Lake Geneva ownership isn’t one of the sources of regret. And for that, we can all be thankful.
Chicken
If you’re negotiating to buy or sell real estate, honesty is important. But it’s not just honesty from your broker, it’s your honesty that matters, too.
Bad Decisions
Hot markets make buyers do terrible things. Don’t do those things. You can easily void making these mistakes by focusing on one thing and one thing only.
Geneva Lakefront Market Update
Two new lakefront sales tell the story of a hot market better than I ever could. Let’s review.
Lake Geneva Development
Development is good and necessary. Or is it? This hot market is bound to product some bad development, and we should prepare for the coming fight.
Thanksgiving
What a curious thing it is, this year. I sit here at this desk worrying about which customer will buy and which customer will sell, worrying about the June water … Read more
Williams Bay Boardwalk
Williams Bay is a nice town. It could be a whole lot better. Here’s a way to make that happen.
Valley Park Sells
The latest lakefront sale, this of a slick modern on the south shore of Geneva Lake.
Crain’s Lake Geneva
Let’s discuss a new article on Lake Geneva real estate in Crain’s Chicago Business.
Difficult Times Ahead
In each of our lives, there are seasons. Seasons to remember and seasons to forget. I’ve entered the latter.
Improvement City
The City of Lake Geneva is nice. But it could be a whole lot better. Step one in a multi-step plan to improve the city.
The New Math
Lake Geneva new construction costs. A discussion of how it all might make sense, and how increasingly no one really cares if it does.
Lake Geneva Market Update
I haven’t written one of these for a while, largely because doing so would have felt gratuitous. How many times do you need me to tell you the market is … Read more
Lake Geneva Open House
The Open House King is back at it. This weekend, Saturday 1-3 pm, the Birches.
Lake Geneva Fall Colors
They’re here. It’s now. They snuck up on me, even though I knew they were imminent. I told you a few weeks ago that they’d be here, but I didn’t … Read more
Mountain Towns
Ski Towns are more popular today than ever before, but will the new owners actually enjoy living full time in a vacation destination?
South Shore Club Sells
Looking for inventory in the South Shore Club? So was this buyer. He asked me to find a home for him, and last week we closed. Sometimes, it really is that simple.
Lake Geneva Fall Colors
It’s fall in Lake Geneva, and while we do summer exceptionally well, nothing beats October at the lake.
Pricing Confusion
I guess I knew this was going to happen. With the hysterical and frenetic year we’ve had, this was really the only likely outcome. What happens when you have a … Read more
Clear Sky Lodge Sells
Clear Sky Lodge sells. But is this cause for congratulations? I suppose it depends on which party receiving the congratulations.
Inventory Issues
The lakefront market was hot this summer, but now it’s raining and the stock market broke from its melt-up trend. What happens next?
Endless Summer
The license plate said that. ENDLESS SUMMER. If you capitalize it, then it seems like some sort of horror film. It screams at you and demands things of you. But … Read more