General

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

There aren’t many subjects that leave me with conflicted opinions. When Old Yellar has to be shot, I’m not sort of happy because that means he’s no longer suffering from … Read more

It was a mere 20 months ago when Newsweek writer Daniel Gross declared the vacation home dead. He wrote a whimpering piece, titled “Good Riddance To The Vacation Home”, that … Read more

With one superficial glance, the entry level Geneva lake access market appears to have had a troubled year. At least that would be the flippant verdict if you were me, … Read more

My grandmother, on my mother’s side, died at the ripe age of 93. At least I think she was 93. I was in Marco Island when she died, and as … Read more

If the foreclosure scene in Las Vegas is as crowded as a New Year’s Eve party at The Wynn, then the Lake Geneva foreclosure scene is roughly as crowded as … Read more

During the dark days of 2009, when sulfur hung like stale sheets in the air and the incessant gnashing of teeth left my ears longing for the pain of finger … Read more

David Blitzer is probably an angry man. I say that in the assumptive, not the pejorative, based on some of his comments this week. His venomous attitude towards the housing … Read more

There’s a slim chance that, if you read this blog dutifully throughout 2010, you may be under the impression that 2010 was all sunshine and roses and heart emoticons and … Read more

What can I say? I’ve been blessed this year beyond anything that I deserve, and I know I’ll always look back on 2010 with the fondest of memories. I was … Read more

If I was a shy sort of guy, I probably wouldn’t be selling real estate. Even if I was shy, and I sold real estate, I probably wouldn’t blab about … Read more

There are times that real estate doesn’t make sense to me. Times like this morning. Thankfully, I only feel at odds with Lake Geneva real estate when a buyer or … Read more

I trust everyone had a spectacular Christmas weekend. If not, I’m sorry for bringing it up. If you had a rough holiday, rest assured the lakefront condo market knows your … Read more

Normally I’d wait until January to start looking back at the comings and goings of the previous year. However, since my market reviews are extremely focused, I can get a … Read more

As 2010 rapidly pushes us into 2011, the lakefront market on Geneva Lake isn’t quite finished yet. Earlier this week, a stellar offering on Basswood Drive closed for $3,112,500, and … Read more

The other day, after a wintry mix of snow and ice befelled Walworth County, a lone driver who made the mistake of turning into the Lake Lawn Lodge entrance was … Read more

As a basic function of human opinion, it should be understandable that Realtors usually favor certain locations. Even on a lake that is surrounded by golden real estate, there are … Read more

Every once in a while, I think about a life without Lake Geneva. If I didn’t live here, and i didn’t know where here was, what would fill my time? … Read more

I make mention of Mr. Gross from time to time, and several readers have emailed to ask just who this Gross fella is. Well, here’s who he is. Back live … Read more

(A re-run aimed at keeping you keenly aware of the pitfalls that await should you make a mistake and decide to vacation in the north woods, rather than the Lake … Read more

The title inspiration for my magazine from last summer… I like to search the term “Lake Geneva”. I search it on Twitter so I know what the masses are saying … Read more

In honor of my brief excursion south of the border (not Illinois), I offer a couple days of greatest hits. Then again, it’s more like a “tolerable hits” selection, since … Read more

During a process that, at times, appeared to progress as slowly as my own personal maturation process, the good folks at Boatyard Bagels in Lake Geneva have finally opened. I … Read more

I have lived in Wisconsin since 1978. Coincidentally enough, that was also the year of my birth. I have driven cars since 1994, and have willingly driven rear wheel drive … Read more

So this is what the nexus of the universe looks like. We’re caught in between at the moment, having long since exhausted the blazing colors and tweedy deliciousness of fall, … Read more

I read something the other day that, at the time, I found a bit amusing. It was something about the high end market at Lake Geneva having a terrific year. … Read more

Normally, lakefront sales only bother me when some buyer who decided not to work with me pays too much. This has been the case a few times this year, but … Read more

I had a call last weekend from a new client who pointed out that I’ve been ignoring the middle price segment of our lake access market. My immediate explanation was … Read more

I played what I assume was my last partial round of golf at Geneva National last week. I supposed I should be pleased that my last golfing opportunity of 2010 … Read more

Price reductions and real estate have always gone hand in hand. Their relationship has grown over the past couple years, and it stands to reason that if they had previously … Read more

I pretty much knew this was going to happen. The entry level lakefront market on Geneva has yielded another sale, and it’s another sale that further proves the point that … Read more

Foreclosures bore me. Perhaps the only thing that bores me more than foreclosures is hearing Realtors talk about foreclosures. If your target market is one that is rife with foreclosures … Read more

When my Hunt Club Lane property was toiling on the market over the summer, the rest of the upper tier lake access market was toiling right along with it. The … Read more

In spite of my embarrassingly good year, I can’t help but shake my big fat head every time I see a lakefront property on Geneva go under contract. I wonder … Read more

For most sun loving, snow eschewing vacationers, Marco Island is a quiet, tropical refuge. It’s a place where sandal loving tourists with blinding legs and pink shoulders walk in harmony … Read more

Real estate markets are decidedly unfair. If you’re the sort that understands real estate markets, then you know that it’s the buyers who might act unfair, seeing as how the … Read more

It’s obvious that the purchase of any Lake Geneva vacation home installs the buyer as a member of a very exclusive club. Whether the purchase is a $200k condo in … Read more

If I’m really going to start taking requests, I should probably figure out how to set up a web-based tip jar. A reader suggested that I provide an update on … Read more

I’m having a hard time typing this morning, given the red glare coming from my previously bluish state. As a side note- I am looking for a part time office … Read more

The clouds of steam rising from Geneva this morning might be pretty, but the buying season that those frosty clouds signal is far more important to me than the momentary … Read more

Earlier this year, I spent a very sweaty fourth of July weekend parading buyers through what promised to be the most exciting opportunity in the young life of the South … Read more

After the sale of 556 Sauk Trail earlier this month, I tried my best to tell several buyers that the next property to sell would likely be my listing at … Read more

I have another confession to make. First I confessed that I bought a dog, even though I don’t like dogs. Then I confessed to not having the power to make … Read more

I had a comment from a reader of the blog the other day that has stuck with me. I wouldn’t say I’ve been uncoupled by it, but the comment has … Read more

I suppose I could blame all of this on Hollywood. Owen Wilson, if I wanted to get specific. With his drawn out drawl and hot wife he made it look … Read more

As we near the end of year three of our nationwide real estate meltdown, I believe I’ve finally figured out where the market bottom is. I couldn’t tell you on … Read more

Political talk by a Realtor is almost always taboo. Fortunately, among the protected groups that I’m not allowed to discuss, liberals and conservatives aren’t as of yet on the list. … Read more

The Village of Williams Bay is the town that I grew up in. It’s the town that I learned to walk in. The town I learned to drive in. The … Read more

A lakefront condo sale on Geneva Lake is cause for celebration. I don’t mean a celebration with a few balloons and a cake, I mean a dancing in the streets, … Read more

In real estate, as in life, there are hero’s and villains. Sometimes, the villain is an outright miserable human being, dripping with horrible intentions and even worse behavior , and … Read more

The unsuppressed nature of my own common sense tells me that in the worst of real estate markets, the best approach to buying real estate is to look for value. … Read more

I very well may end up being right in my identification of a developing trend involving some of the most basic market conditions at Lake Geneva. This much should not … Read more

I have conflicted feelings about Lake Geneva vacation homes that are listed this time of year. Part of me thinks that listings in October are good for the market, as … Read more

(10/12/10 Update: The Lake Lawn property is being marketed now by a commercial hotel broker. If you’re interested in buying this place, it appears as though the asking price is … Read more

What takes Germans in Munich sixteen sudsy days, Lake Geneva can pull off in just two. It’s October in Lake Geneva, and yesterday while walking the lake path during a … Read more

Further proof of the uncanny ability of our market to be both hot and cold at the same time is provided courtesy of the rather slow September at Abbey Springs. … Read more

Between January 1, 2005 and October 4, 2005, eighty-two homes and condominiums changed hands at Geneva National. 2005 was more than likely the market peak as it relates specifically to … Read more

One of the finest pleasures in my real estate life is working with buyers who have a deep connection to Geneva Lake. I enjoy introducing the lake to new buyers … Read more

This fall has been a struggle for me. I feel like I enjoyed this summer to its fullest, but I haven’t been willing to let it go, as those of … Read more

Earlier this year, the entry level lake access market was roughly as awake as I was last Thursday morning after spending a rare late night in Chicago listening to the … Read more

It’s doubtful that you know my father. If you do know him, you probably know him as most do: as a good and decent man. This much is true, and … Read more

September may be working overtime to prove me wrong when it comes to the weather, but it’s preforming beautifully as it relates to the Lake Geneva real estate market. This … Read more

I stared at that maple tree for a half hour, and it wouldn’t even look me in the eye. It couldn’t bear to. There’s something foolish about maple trees, something … Read more

As a matter of sheer principle, I shouldn’t like the Overton Window. The political theory was “discovered” by the late Joseph Overton, former vice president of the Mackinac Center for … Read more

(note- this property has gone under contract as of 9/19/10) My excitement this morning can hardly be contained. I’m probably going to type this post out with errant key strokes, … Read more

I doubt it would be possible to find someone to openly admit that there are “bad” areas on Geneva Lake. There is no such thing in my mind, as any … Read more

The fall market activity that I knew would be measurable is looking more significant every day. While I contend that the best buying decisions are made later in the fall … Read more