General

In March of this year, a fine lakefront home on Bonnie Brae sold for $2.625MM. The price paid per front foot of lakefront was $17,500. Then in May, a buyer … Read more

I imagine enjoying these late summer days in the fashion that I do is similar to spending time with a loved one who is on the verge of dying. Moments … Read more

My lakefront sale from Friday wasn’t the only sale of consequence last week, even if it was the sale that made me feel the most heroic. The Lake Geneva vacation … Read more

If you took a snapshot of the lakefront, choosing any particular stretch of homes that numbered at least 100, I would estimate that as many as 30 of those owners … Read more

When three boys are 4, 8, and 11 it is difficult to fit all three into the back of a blue Chevy station wagon, but not impossible. If you align … Read more

I mentioned this briefly last week, but the topic of fall price reductions at Lake Geneva deserves a bit more commentary. In the past week, there have been several price … Read more

All lakes have weeds. The Dead Sea might not, but it’s a sea, not a lake, so my first statement stands. The Salton Sea also might not have seaweed, but … Read more

This race has not been being run for long, but as the runners pass us by today, it is still quite clear that the finish line is miles and miles … Read more

I vacillate between an altered line of thinking that places value on a view of the lake over proximity to the lake. I understand both, and I think the determining … Read more

When I was a child, I can’t remember going to the fair but maybe once, or twice. Similarly, I don’t remember going to Venetian Fest at all. Maybe I did, … Read more

As much as I look forward to the day when I can sit here and tell you that the current foreclosure cycle is dwindling, it is obvious to me that … Read more

I spent at least two hours last night on a ladder, or at least one half of a two piece extension ladder, my left pocket full of nails, my fingers … Read more

Right about now, hundreds of kids are getting their farm animals ready to show at the fair. Blue ribbons await those with the most healthy, finely groomed rabbits, cows, sheep, … Read more

My life, the only life I have, is speeding by. Days that felt like weeks now feel like hours, and those weeks? Well, they feel like days. Seasons rush over … Read more

Yesterday, a rich person woke up, drove to a title company, and then closed on a lakefront home on the bluff of Cedar Point. This rich person paid $1.54MM for … Read more

I’ve entertained the thought that I should become the Morningstar of real estate. Perhaps instead of selling real estate, I should simply and solely comment on it. I could be … Read more

The jolt from the explosion knocked my Dodge truck into neutral, causing me to coast down the road a ways, north, far enough to understand what I had just done … Read more

There is a long standing theory that would seek to convince us that in times of economic uncertainty and dwindling stock market returns (or accelerating losses) investors turn their focus … Read more

The ultimate manifestation of real estate boom naivete was shamelessly on display during the condotel boom of the 2000s. The concept took off in cities like Las Vegas and Miami, … Read more

There are different kinds of hot. There is summer hot, a delicious blend of heat and humidity that causes people to jump into large earthen bowls of water. There is … Read more

Depending on where you spent your July, your July was either an amazing example of what July can and should be, or it was a month bursting with too many … Read more

The price range that I assign to the entry level lake access market has a tendency to change. I’m aware that I do this. Sometimes this price runs to $500k, … Read more

When people ask me how the market is, I generally and consistently assume they’re asking me in a rhetorical manner similar to when the check out girl at Sentry asks … Read more

Not even the promise of a lobster boil can save me from my foul mood this morning. A deal I’ve been working on for a few months has all but … Read more

Ladders can be used for lots of things. They can be used for work, to climb to the highest rung and dangle with a paint can and brush, leaning frightfully … Read more

To describe something as being “back in the day” is to assign that something to a very vague time in the past. If my grandmother were to say that something … Read more

I think Clark Howard is a little goofy. Maybe I think that because I feel deep condemnation and guilt when I hear him talk about all the things that financially … Read more

There is a nice lakefront trend presenting itself this summer, if only we’ll take notice. The lakefront market is moving fluidly, and there have been rational sales this year carried … Read more

The hottest town on the planet earth is Princeton, Illinois. This is a fact. I have spent days there in heat that rivals any heat I have felt elsewhere, and … Read more

View Larger Map Earlier this summer, I spent a few days calling and emailing, telling customers and clients about a lake access cottage that I wanted at least one of … Read more

I’ve priced many, many homes in my life. These homes have been big and they have been small, and the prices have been both mine and they have been set … Read more

Dear City of Lake Geneva, I write this letter with a heavy heart. Hopefully the heaviness I feel is emotional, not a result of a deeper, undiagnosed valve problem, but … Read more

There’s a little known real estate secret that I’m about to share with you, so huddle up. July and August usually aren’t great months for the Lake Geneva real estate … Read more

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