December 22, 2008

Winter Has Arrived in Lake Geneva

Posted to Bob Webster

This is a picture of the Williams Bay village park this morning when I drove by. The view of the lake is normally very picturesque but this morning the water is still open in the Bay and the sun was shining through the steam coming off the water. It was actually very pretty, so I braved the cold for a picture. No sign of any kids on the swings.

If you’re interested in checking out some of the great values currently available in the Lake Geneva Real Estate market, you can Email Bob Webster of Keefe Real Estate or go to http://www.LakeGenevaProperty.com. Phone Bob at 262-348-3233 or 800-364-7579.

Posted By: Bob Webster



December 18, 2008

Bob Webster's December 2008 Lake Geneva Real Estate Podcast

Posted to Bob Webster, Geneva Lake Area

Check out Bob Webster’s December Audio Podcast for interesting information and guidance for buyers and sellers in the Lake Geneva Real Estate Market. This Holiday season offers some great opportunities for buyers and sellers with low mortgage rates and strong housing inventories. Check the volume level on your computer speakers and then listen in as Bob shares three important tips for buyers and sellers in today’s Holiday market.

It’s easy to search for property for sale in the Lake Geneva Area at www.LakeGenevaProperty.com. Call Bob Webster of Keefe Real Estate at 262-348-3233 or 800-364-7579.

Posted By: Bob Webster



December 17, 2008

Good News for Property Owners in Fontana

Posted to Bob Webster, Geneva Lake Area

Fontana Wisconsin property owners will be opening their Christmas present from the Village of Fontana this month, also known as their annual tax bill, and in many cases will be in for a pleasant surprise. Many owners were very concerned after the revaluation process that took place last fall when they received notification of their property assessments being substantially increased. Increases of 50% or more were not uncommon and the concern was it would equate to a substantial increase in their real estate taxes. To further complicate the issue, they were being told at the time by the Assessor and representatives from the Village that there would “most likely” be a reduction in the Mill Rate, but as that figure had not been determined and was not officially available, there was a fair amount of concern and skepticism. Well, the good news is that the Mill Rate did in fact go down, to just over $12 per thousand of assessed value and many owners will see little or no increase in the actual real estate taxes. I live in Fontana and in my case, even though my assessment did go up my actual taxes went down slightly. So even though no one likes the idea of having to pay taxes, the news is much better than many people expected.

For information on property for sale in the Fontana area, contact Bob Webster of Keefe Real Estate or visit www.LakeGenevaProperty.com to search for real estate in the Lake Geneva Area. Call Bob Webster at 262-348-3233 or 800-364-7579.

Posted By: Bob Webster



December 15, 2008

Financing Real Estate in Lake Geneva

Posted to Bob Webster, Geneva Lake Area

The credit crunch talked about so much today by the media may be real but when it comes to mortgage financing for real estate, it’s a completely different story. You could easily come to the conclusion that the prospects for obtaining a loan for the purchase of a home today has gotten much more difficult and almost impossible to come by. In reality, nothing could be further from what’s actually going on right now! There are several Mortgage Brokers and Banks in the Lake Geneva Area who are offering very competitive financing terms that would apply to both the second home market as well as primary home purchases.

Email Bob Webster or go to www.LakeGenevaProperty.com. I’m able to direct you to the best Lenders who can help you with the purchase of real estate in the Lake Geneva Area and answer all your financing questions.

Posted By: Bob Webster



December 12, 2008

Lake Geneva Mentioned in Wall Street Journal Article

Posted to Bob Webster, Geneva Lake Area

An article in the Wall Street Journal today, December 12, 2008 regarding Cozy Cottages in markets of multi-million dollar water front mansions, mentions a comfortable home in Fontana on Geneva Lake as an affordable alternative for those looking for a lakeside cottage with lake views and a transferable boat mooring. Keefe Real Estate, Inc. in Lake Geneva, WI was contacted for details on the article, as the go to source for Lake Geneva Real Estate.

Posted By: Bob Webster



December 09, 2008

Lake Geneva Real Estate Update

Posted to Bob Webster, Geneva Lake Area

Snow, snow and more snow! It’s turning out to be a very white December. It’s a pretty time of the year, but the question will be how, or if it will have any effect on activity, showings and our market in general. As a matter of fact, weekend traffic in downtown Lake Geneva can be almost as busy in December, January and February with a decent amount of snow on the ground and moderate temperatures, as it is in the summer time. So far, although we have seen what is typically a normal post Thanksgiving slow down in showings and activity, I’m experiencing enough calls and Emails to convince me that many potential Buyers are still in the market and looking for good values. In fact, I had several showings last week and have some for this coming week as well, which is definitely a good thing. So it’s not as bleak as some would lead you to believe, in spite of the typical doom and gloom messages that we all hear and read about. I continue to be encouraged that we will be able to do some business in spite of these slower times and will hopefully see a quicker pickup of activity after the beginning of the year, quicker than what many other others markets around the country will probably see.

There was an announcement recently about the Fed committing to $600 billion dollars to support the home mortgage industry and there have been additional, unconfirmed as of yet, rumors of another Government plan to offer subsidized mortgage loans at an interest rate of 4.5%. These would apply to new loans and purchases and not refinances, which could be very good news for our business.

For more information on Lake Geneva real estate, including information on all the lakefront homes, contact Lake Geneva Realtor Bob Webster via email. Visit www.LakeGenevaProperty.com for all your real estate needs in the Geneva Lakes Area including Lake Geneva, Delavan Lake, Whitewater Lake, Lake Beulah, Lauderdale Lakes, Powers Lake and Twin Lakes.

Posted By: Bob Webster



December 02, 2008

Putting Your House on the Market With "Curb Appeal"

Posted to Bob Webster

If you are thinking of putting your house on the market, you can get it to move more quickly with what the market is currently calling for: More Curb Appeal. Traditionally in the past, the two main things that many sellers focused on were making sure their kitchen and the bathrooms were “fresh and up to date”. Today we are finding that in this softer market, Curb Appeal is the new critical item.

Some tips to be in tune with as far as these new market changes will make sure your property is "sparkles" when it is shown to prospective buyers. Sometimes this is the only shot you have to make a favorable first impression. If you are having trouble deciding what changes need to be made, try taking photos of your property. Certain problems will become more visible when seen on film and the obvious much needed improvements can become much more conspicuous. The National Association of Realtors found in a recent survey, that $3000 is the amount needed to make a number of homes look cleaner, fresher and more modern. De-cluttering was also high on the list. Make sure that the first impression is the best it can be, as today’s home buyers are reacting much more quickly to homes on the market that appear to be updated and fresh.

For more information on Lake Geneva real estate, including lakefront homes in Lake Geneva, contact Lake Geneva Realtor Bob Webster via email or by phone at (262) 348-3233 or 800-364-7579. Visit www.LakeGenevaProperty.com for all your real estate needs in Lake Geneva, WI.

Posted By: Bob Webster