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.
Market Updates
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?
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.
Valley Park Sells
The latest lakefront sale, this of a slick modern on the south shore of Geneva Lake.
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.
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.
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?
Lake Geneva Buyers
Buyers are making some terrible decisions. And this time, it’s really all their fault.
Lackey Lane Sells
Lackey Lane is an exceptional lakefront street. I’m pleased to announce the latest lakefront sale, and my fifth on Lackey Lane.
Lake Geneva Market Update
The summer market at Lake Geneva wears on, and the fall market is quietly waiting its turn. Expect more of the same, perhaps with a side of inventory.
Black Point Sells
When it’s all said and done, I should probably look back at this market with some appreciation. With my eyes growing dim and the sunlight barely leaking through my bedroom … Read more
Lake Geneva Lakefront Market Update
I should, at this date in summer, be doing little but plodding through my work days and enjoying what I know to be a very short summer. I should work … Read more
Sauk Trail Sells
I showed this home approximately one billion times. That’s rounding up, sure, but the hyperbole is light in this case. I tried to share my vision for this old lake … Read more
Lake Geneva Market Update
You know I don’t care about Other Lakes. What Other Lakes? All of the Other Lakes. I think they’re terrible. Oh, your friend said this Other Lake is more quiet? … Read more
Lake Geneva Alternatives
I suppose you can’t blame them, those once Lake Geneva determined buyers who find themselves aimlessly wandering down the miserable little lanes that line the miserable other lakes. What other … Read more
Lake Geneva Market Update
What odd times we live in. And how much more odd they are when you’re in real estate in a thriving resort market. On one hand, I’m supposed to be … Read more
Memorial Day Weekend
During any year, we celebrate this weekend. We celebrate in our remembrance, but we do not confuse meaningful reflection with the absence of celebration. This is a weekend that matters, … Read more
Lakefront Market Update
If we had a million rentals, we could fill them all. It might not actually be that way, but that’s the way it seems. If you could see my inbox … Read more
Cedar Point Park Sells
Another week, another sale. This one as the last, in Cedar Point Park. This one as the last, direct, off market.
Lake Geneva Market Update
The Coronavirus has taken a toll on Lake Geneva, but bright days are ahead.
Lake Geneva Market Update
The virus persists, but so does the vacation home market at the lake. Slower times are ahead, for now.
Lake Geneva Lake Access Update
The stock market is getting hammered, so shouldn’t the Lake Geneva market feel some of that pain? Apparently not.
Choices
Real estate involves choices. Lots of choices. But the true danger lies in making purchase decisions based on the quality of the cabinets and not the pedigree of the location.
2019 Lakefront Market Year End Review
In August of this year, it’ll mark 24 years that I’ve been sitting at this desk. That means I’ve spent the majority of my life thinking about this market. In … Read more
Lake Geneva Market Update
January is an interesting month. On one hand, it’s winter, so everyone likes to pretend that it’s too difficult to do things. Drive to the lake on a Friday night? … Read more
1905 NLSD Sells
On a January day in 2018, a pleasant house on the north shore of Fontana hit the market for $4,695,000. It wasn’t a house that was necessarily built to hit … Read more
Lake Geneva Lakefront Condo 2019 Market Review
In contrast to my accurate prediction for Geneva National last year, I admit to you this morning that I was dead wrong about my prediction for the lakefront condo market. … Read more
Geneva National 2019 Market Review
Geneva National is back, and it really is better than ever. Sure, there are still homeowners residing inside these brick and cedar behemoths that were built prior to 2006, those … Read more
Market Oddities
Once in a while, I look at something other than the Lake Geneva lakefront and lake access market. I look at the market on Other Lakes, Wisconsin.
Clear Sky Lodge
It’s a shame I haven’t yet sold this beautiful home. Where else can you find a private tennis court, private (heated) swimming pool, Lord and
Lake Geneva Market Update
This morning there are just 15 lakefront homes for sale on The Lake. It’s the last week of October and our colors have peaked. The boats are leaving.
Basswood Sells
I just wrote a brilliant review of the sale at W4396 Basswood. It was amazing, if I do say so myself. Succinct, powerful, articulate. And then,
250 Circle Parkway Sells
Last year, about this time, I sold the home at 254 Circle Parkway in Williams Bay, up on the tip of Cedar Point. The home was lovely, with newer updat
Lake Geneva Price Per Foot
The long standing measurement of market value is, in reality, rather misleading.
Indian Hills Sale
A new week, a new sale. This time a direct deal on the south shore, and a good one at that.
Geneva National Market Update
Geneva National has had itself an amazingly solid summer. Let’s stand and applaud.
Market Top
Want to buy real estate in 2019? Good. Want to avoid the market mistakes that many consumers are making? Buy the blue chips.
Lake Geneva Lakefront Market Update
Certain times, there’s nothing more to say. Like when you’ve eaten a most delicious dinner. You can say it was a delicious dinner. You can take a picture of it … Read more
Lake Geneva Lakefront Market Update
It’s July, and our market is active, which is an understatement.
Lake Geneva Price Reductions
It’s finally summer and the market is hot. In spite of this, it’s time for some pricing reductions.
Lake Geneva Lakefront Market Review
The market is moving along nicely, as you’d expect. With the S&P at ATH and the lakefront inventory tight, we have the markings of an exceptionally stable market.
W4396 Basswood Drive
It’s still for sale. It shouldn’t be. Reduced to $8.495MM. The most complete estate listed for sale this summer. Email me for a private tour.
Lake Geneva Lakefront Market Update
I spent much of Sunday on the lake. There’s a new boat in the Curry fold, and the boat must be used. Boats are like that. If you don’t use … Read more
Market Cycles
Real estate isn’t really that hard. Buyers buy when they’re confident and they sell when they’re fearful. Nothing else really matters.
Lake Geneva Market Update
The market is humming, new listings are popping, and some buyers think a For Sale By Owner means they’ve found a terrific deal.
North Lakeshore Drive Sells
My latest lakefront sale was of this delightful shingle style home on Fontana’s North Shore.
Park Drive Sells
Another week another sale on Geneva Lake. This one of a nice house on Park Drive that I closed for $2,100,000. Let’s learn what this sale shows us about the market.
Market Update
The market has taken away my buy side worry and left me with supply side worry. Also, some other worry.
Countdown
The market knows what comes next. In case you forgot, summer is what’s next. And it starts in nine weeks, ready or not.
Pending Lakefront
Another week, another pending sale on the lakefront. This time, a magnificent Fontana specimen priced at $7,395,000.
Lake Geneva Market Update
It’s still winter, but the lakefront market knows that summer is right around this icy corner.
Lake Geneva Lakefront Inventory
A mid-February Lake Geneva lakefront market update. Inventory concerns remain, activity is on the rise.
Lake Geneva Lakefront
It’s January. Time for snow storms that aren’t really actually snow storms, and lakefront price reductions. Inventory will build over the coming 30 days, and price reductions won’t be uncommon … Read more
Geneva National 2018 Market Year In Review
There are few market segments that I find as curious as Geneva National. Under no other particular context does one association make up its own market segment, but here we … Read more
Lake Geneva Lakefront Condominium 2018 Market Review
When we entered 2018, we knew we had some inventory problems. This was widespread throughout the vacation home market, from entry level cottages to lakefront estates. What we also knew … Read more
2018 Lake Geneva Lakefront Year In Review
The year just ended was, by most accounts, a good year. But that’s a silly way to describe something as diverse and unique as a year. That’s like booking a … Read more
Lake Geneva Inventory
In real estate, you either win sometimes or you lose sometimes. There is no such thing as winning or losing. You’re winning, a bit. Losing, a bit. Both, often, at … Read more
Bluff Lane Sells
Bluff Lane is a nice little dead end street on the south shore of the lake. In spite of its small nature, this street has been a near constant source … Read more
Shore Haven Sells
The lake access market at Lake Geneva is not difficult to understand. In order to find this understanding, one simply needs to be open to the facts. In the instance … Read more
Bonnie Brae Sells
Over the past few years, there have been some Bonnie Brae sales. Priced between $1.6MM and $3.8MM, these sales have all made market sense. The street is nice, the North … Read more
November Swim
There’s a thing about my dad that you wouldn’t otherwise know. He’s a quitter. Sure, he’s been married for a long time to my mother, and yes, he taught school … Read more
Cedar Point Sells
After some good old fashioned pot stirring on Monday, it’s time to get back to the business at hand. Specifically, the business of the lakefront market. A few weeks ago … Read more
Lake Geneva YTD Performance
When you’re part of an industry that puts significant focus on calendar year performance, you tend to look up in late October and realize you’ve run out of time. In … Read more
Vista Del Lago Sells
After a market downturn occurs, we must set our aim towards the goal of complete and thorough recovery. If that goal is to return a specific market segment to full … Read more
Entry Level Lakefront Market Update
I’m not sure if there’s a more interesting segment in our market than the entry level lake access market. While other segments exist because particular homes move in and out … Read more
Black Point Sells
One of the many benefits of this strong vacation home market is that I get to test my theories on a daily basis. These theories were first penned when the … Read more
New Subdivisions
In the morning I wake up, clean up, dress up (down), drink the espresso that my wife kindly makes me, take my kids to school, and go to my office. … Read more
Buena Vista Sells
It’s a curious thing to watch buyers as they watch the market, and the houses that exist inside of that market. Buyers are attracted to various things, to shiny, for … Read more
Abbey Springs Market Update
There’s a simple thought relating to markets like ours that supposes a specific pricing segment should prove active in different market segments. The theory would say that if $300-500k condos … Read more
Basswood Lake Geneva
A Wednesday reminder that my listing at W4396 Basswood Drive is still available. I just reduced the price of this home to $8,495,000, and it’s now offered at an extreme … Read more
Lake Geneva Price Reductions
It might seem strange to even mention the term Price Reduction during this remarkable summer run. With sales popping and records breaking and everyone in the Midwest clamoring for a … Read more
Woodstone Sells
Woodstone, prior to last week, was a nice subdivision in Linn Township with mostly architecturally pleasing homes and a delightful little wildflower corridor. Prior to last week, the development was … Read more
Lake Geneva Market Update
It would be disingenuous for me to pretend that we’re in the middle of another Lake Geneva summer. August is the peak of summer, sure, but it’s not exactly the middle. You … Read more
Lake Geneva Condotel Update
At this point, we should have all learned a few things. If we were paying attention during the last market cycle, from slow rise to raging boom to crushing collapse, … Read more
Loramoor Sells
Most of the players in this game are endless and unflappable cheerleaders. I did this! They say. I’m amazing! Others chime. Such is the business of self promotion. Without this … Read more
Lake Geneva Market Update
If you’ve noticed that I haven’t written as much about individual market segments of late, you’re perceptive. I haven’t. It isn’t that I haven’t had thoughts, or that the market … Read more
Buena Vista, Fontana
A fresh video for my rare listing in Fontana’s bucolic Buena Vista. This home offers a large private pier, beautifully updated finishes, immaculate gardens, and loads of lakeside patio space. … Read more
On Average
A lack of inventory is a curious thing. On one hand, lack of inventory typically leads to pricing increases. This is obvious. If I have one of something and three … Read more
South Shore Club Sale
As recently as last year, it wouldn’t have been easy, perhaps not even possible, to fetch $2.1MM for a vacant lot in the South Shore Club. That’s not because the … Read more
Geneva Lakefront Market Update
The curious thing about Lake Geneva is that the market would potentially be fine even if another new customer never followed his roads to our roads and purchased a lakefront … Read more
Abbey Ridge Sells
When shopping for a car, most shoppers narrow the search at some point. What started out as a search for a mid-size SUV with all-wheel-drive, has turned into a search … Read more
Vista Del Lago Sells
It isn’t easy being a large condo association. In fact, a seat on a board at such an association is the worse sort of punishment, the sort for which you … Read more
Lake Geneva Market Update
It’s been a while since I’ve written a broad market update. It had also been a while since I felt the warmth of a bright sun on my skin. But … Read more
Lake Geneva Prices
There’s an interesting bit of information available this morning courtesy a recent lakefront sale. The sale was of an older house on a 90′ lakefront lot in the Birches. The … Read more
Hillcroft Lake Geneva Sale
It’s fun to see the media make a fuss about a sale on Geneva Lake. First up, please know that the media itself doesn’t pay such close attention to … Read more
Aged Lakefront Inventory
There are several unavoidable truths involving the Geneva lakefront market of 2018. The market is frustrating for buyers. It’s awful, really. Limited inventory, quick sales, more buyers than sellers to … Read more