You know I really don’t like talking about my own listings on this blog, even though I’m keenly aware that I continue to do just that from time to time. Truth is, from time to time there are indeed listings that warrant inclusion on this site, and today I present to you one such property. The Lake Geneva Club is located on the south shore of Geneva, just East of Fontana and not as far as the South Shore Club. It’s an idyllic one lane association, with homes facing a common roadway that leads a level path to the water where private park and pier await. The boathouse at LGC is iconic, and certainly anyone who has walked the shore path in this area or driven by on a boat has taken notice. The association has long been desirable, and the last public sale in there remains a cottage I sold three years ago for $790k. If you’re reading along thinking, tell me something I don’t know, here’s my reply.
The Lake Geneva Club has undergone a series of changes of late, including changes that are now paid for but not yet implemented. After years of debate, there are now fully transferrable boatslips for each property.
The cottage that I just listed this weekend for $649,900 has a transferrable, deep water boatslip. The pier is rebuilt, and a space for a shore station is now available to each owner, and subsequent future owners. Nice, I know. Next up for the Lake Geneva Club is a brand new roadway, complete with better drainage to appease some owners nearer to South Lakeshore as they’ve experienced a bit of a drainage issue since the road was reworked several years ago. The new road will be a beautiful addition to the Club. I’m fully aware I just called a mix of gravel and tar beautiful. The Club has also approved the drilling of a brand new well to service the association. This well is not yet completed, but as with the road and pier projects, this has already been approved and is paid for. Now, back to the cottage.
The cottage I listed is one I’m quite familiar with, seeing as how I had it for sale two years ago. Back then, the price was $819k, and before you mock me for the overpriced nature of the listing even then, I must inform you that I had an offer of $775k on the house. Yes, we should have taken that bid, thanks for the reminder. From the date of that offer until about two months ago, the boatslip situation was up in the air, and the uncertainty wasn’t going to help anyone trying to sell during that time frame. We left the home off the market until this weekend, and now we’re ready to sell.
At an asking price of $649,900 this home represents the most economical option for anyone seeking proximity to the water, a lakeview, and a boatslip. In fact, this is the cheapest home (by my count) with the trifecta of desirability, including view, slip, and proximity. The fact that we’re on a lot and a half, and we have a detached garage is obviously a plus, but the real value is in the slip and in the fact that we’re located just 4 homes from the lake. 4. Four.
I’ve been telling you to not just buy any old house. I’ve been telling you to buy location. Buy proximity. Buy value and rarity. This humble cottage is the poster child for those attributes, and I hope you’ll give it a chance. Does it need some work? Of course it does. It’s an old cottage that last saw a contractors touch sometime in the 1970’s. The reward for undertaking such a project will likely be tremendous. The street is quiet, the location ideal, and the peace of mind knowing that you’re buying a lake home for your family and generations to follow is immeasurable.