This Lake Geneva real estate blog is to bring to your attention properties around the Lakes area that are true opportunities. This particular blog is regarding a true steal.. First some history. These condos were built approximately 4 years ago and the first and now only building consists of 8 condos. Of the finished condos three are ranch plans with walk-out lower levels and one is a second floor ranch. There are four that are at the drywall stage. The entire development ran into hard times and never prospered. Now, a silent investor has not only taken back the project he has taken care of the project and is selling the 8 homes and that is it. The wooded area will remain surrounding this one building, nestled on a hill set off of Hwy H in the Edgewood Hills neighborhood just outside the town of Lake Geneva.

Onto the condos themselves! 2600-4300 square feet, 2 car attached garages, interior courtyard area and the finishes! Bosch appliances, granite counters, outstanding custom woodworking, wood flooring, Toto toilets, and kitchens that have been masterfully laid out. This includes built in spice racks, cutting boards, storage, pantries in some, custom cabinetry, elegant moldings, wood flooring, patios and more. While each condo is different the list may include, a theatre room, wet bar, cigar/wine room, walk-out patios, and at least 3 bedrooms along with 2.5 baths. The four condos that are finished are being sold completely furnished and I am talking FURNISHED. Decorator details to the max. One even has a piano. TV's are the norm. Dishes, glassware, pictures, candles, towels and so forth. These were the models for the development and it shows. The woodworking finishes will take your breath away, especially in the second floor ranch. Worried about the stairs? It includes a private elevator..... Original pricing was 750K on up and these are now listed for sale at 449,500-469,500 fully furnished. If you don't make an appointment with me to see these fabulous homes you will be missing an opportunity to find your real DEAL in Lake Geneva.

Virtual tours can be found here. 1800 LaSalle Street, Lake Geneva.

This is the year I am working with a lot of Buyer's and as I am showing lake homes or lake access homes I keep realizing that no one has any idea why the value is what it is. Look folks you cannot get on the Lake for 250,000. Please add a 2 in front of the $250,000 and that is more like it. So the next level is Assocations with Lake rights and Lake access. Private communities that were developed amongst homeowners. Why? Because even 100 years ago not everyone could afford to be on the lake front so friends, neighbors, investors set up assocations to give varying degrees of lake rights. Every association around Geneva Lake is different based on size, location, the amount of lake frontage, boat slips, piers, buoys. You get the picture. So, what do I think is a real deal with Lake access? A cute cottage, on a wooded lot with a huge deck and hot tub in the Knollwood Assocation. Just where is Knollwood? It is located between Williams Bay and downtown Lake Geneva and in the municipality of the town of Linn. Why is this a deal? Becuase it is 2 bedrooms, with a small loft, 2 full baths, a fireplace and privacy. Drive and park down at the beautiful Knollwood lakefront, swim, play, walk, jog, read. Come back to house and open up the hot tub, pour a glass of wine and sit out on the deck, grill, watch the sun go down and then climb into the hot tub. Get the picture? This is the perfect year round weekend get away place. This cottage has price adjusted and it is a DEAL.

Click here to view the Knollwood Cottage Home.

Keefe Real Esate is the primary player in Walworth County with the market share being up to 47%. The likelihood of a property being marketed and sold by a Keefe Agent is high but I do show other property and this is one of them. If you want more information regarding Association living on Geneva Lake you can contact me at mcanfield@keeferealestate.com. Check back for a STEAL around Lake Geneva.

RISMEDIA, July 30, 2010--The economy is stabilizing. Home prices are holding. It's not just as good a time as ever to buy a house. It's one of the best times ever.

1. Low mortgage rates serve as an equity shock absorber. When buyers borrow at today's record-low rates, they start building equity as soon as they close. That means they have a little give to absorb a few ups and downs as the still-recovering housing market gains traction.
2. Houses are in move-in condition. Homeowners have continued to spend on maintenance and repair, according to the Harvard Joint Center n Housing. Homeowners who have been holding back kept their houses in good shape while they waited. As those houses enter the market, they are in marked contrast to tattered foreclosures.
3. Terrific houses are coming on the market. Foreclosures are finally starting to clear the system – and this is just the opportunity that owners of many desirable properties have been waiting for.
4. Appraisal regulations are finally aligned with market realities. Fannie Mae has adjusted its appraisal guidelines...again. Now that appraisers have more flexibility to set values that reflect the current market, today's deals will make it over the finish line.
5. Plenty of programs. Homes are more affordable than they have been for years, but communities have stuck by "workforce housing" programs that encourage middle-class families to buy houses. Buyers who qualify can get a big boost by combining one of these programs with today's low mortgage rates.

Taking all of the above into account here are a few more. There is only so much lake front to share. Why would you say " thnk we are going to wait until next year?". I can guarantee you that next year prices will be higher, interest rates will be higher and more importantly, ' why would you want to miss out on another 360 days of not being at Lake Geneva?

July 3-East Troy Community Band's Patriotic Concert, 7:30 p.m. on the square, East Troy. Free and open to the public.
---Concert at the Lakefront with Stockwood, 7 p.m. at Flat Iron Park, Lake Geneva.

July 3-6-Fourth of July Celebration, throughout Whitewater, with carnival, live music, games, food

July 4-"Let Freedom Ring" Fourth of July Parade, fireworks and activities, Delavan
---Fontana's fireworks at dusk
---Fourth of July fireworks, Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, Lake Geneva
---Independence Day Celebration, Delavan
---Fourth of July Celebration, Sharon, with live music, parade, food
---Holton-Elkhorn Band Concert, 7:30 p.m. at the historic bandshell in Sunset Park, Elkhorn.

July 5-Music in the Park with Sam Baker at 6 p.m. at Reid Park, Fontana.

Sold Properties for the communities of Lake Geneva, Geneva, Fontana, Linn and Williams Bay equaled 29 for the period of May 14 through June 14, 2010. Average list price was $632,234 with the Average sold price being $580,753. Sale to list price percentage is % 91.86. The median list price was $265,000 with the median sale price being $250,000.

Great little video on why to Twitter and Facebook to help people with relocation.

Montana land and home located on Angel Point, Lakeside, Montana. The pristine waters of Flathead Lake are a gorgeous site every morning while on the extended deck of the home. Three car garage is waiting for toys and the house is perched to give great veiws over the land and water. Watch the clouds hover over Galcier Park to the north and the sun move across the Swan Mountain range across this massive lake while the smell of evergreens and pine mellow into your coffee. There are three parcels of land together that can give you 420 feet of frontage or they can be sold separately. The adjacent parcels of land have been lovingly cleared for a new home, yet privacy kept in mind. Land is sloped, wooded, and site ready. Well and septic is in place. Lakeside is 40 minutes outside of Kalispell, MT and there are direct flights from Chicago into Glacier International. Ski at Big Mountain/Whitefish or at the newest ski area that is 10 minutes from your home, Blacktail Mountain right in Lakeside. This is a true retreat.

If you are thinking of refinancing under the Home Affordable Program, Carla Rogini, out of Milwaukee with Wells Fargo may be your first phone call. The program runs on a pyramid structure type format with a lot of questions and answers. Sort of, if this answer is 'yes' then move here and if it is 'No' then go here. Carla will walk you through the test and see if you can apply. Remember the focus is to keep people in their homes. Vacant inventory cost money, time and effort and HARP is one of the newest programs to assist homeowners in rearranging their mortgage financing.

Carla can be reached at:

Carla Regini
Retail Sales Supervisor, Mortgage
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
N9820-020
2675 N Mayfair Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226
(414) 302-4159 Tel
414-841-3660 Cell
866-512-5596 Fax
Carla.J.Regini@wellsfargo.com