March 12, 2010

Corn Beef and Cabbage Dinner

Posted to Mary Petersen

The Wheatland Fire Department is having a Corn beef & Cabbage Dinner at Luisa’s Pizza on March 15th 2010 from 4pm-8pm. Try your luck with the Irish feast or fill up on all the Italian specialties that Luisa’s has to offer.

Tickets for the corn beef and cabbage are $9.00 in advance and $10.00 at the door. They can be purchased from the fire department members, Luisa’s and Local Folks.

Posted by:Mary Petersen



March 10, 2010

Winter Wisconsin sky - Wordless Wednesday

Posted to Theresa Larsen, Wordless Wednesday

Photo courtesy of Lester Crisman


Posted by:Theresa Larsen



March 10, 2010

The 2010 Census

Posted to Mary Petersen

The time is near and please schedule yourself to an appointment to fill out your Census form. Your response is truly important because your community will get their fair share of government funds for highways, schools, health facilities and many other programs you and your neighbors need. Without a complete and acute census, your well deserved community may not receive its fair share. For more information on help for completing your 2010 Census, go to www.2010census.gov.

Posted by:Mary Petersen



March 09, 2010

Keefe Resort Rental’s Website Launch!

Posted to Rentals, Sharon Clark

A new decade brings in a new look for the vacation rentals with the launch of a new website, www.keeferentals.com! Keefe Rentals is venturing into the 2010 summer season offering an upgraded showcase of properties to better assist those looking to explore the Geneva Lakes area. This new website features an easy access page to all of the resort communities as well as individual pages for Lake Access homes and all Lakefront homes.

Enjoy reading about the area happenings on our Blog link. Take a look at the services we offer before you make your reservation to maximize your experience options. We are happy to assist in any way… such as our Area Guide!

You can now search for Real Estate sales by clicking on the “Real Estate” tab which brings you to a separate, easy to navigate page for a complete list of sales. You can also take a look at what Keefe Resort Rentals has to offer for a longer term rental, furnished or unfurnished, by searching through our Long Term inventory. Whether you are searching for a vacation rental or a home to live in for a years stay or more… our expertise are just at your fingertips.

Posted By: Sharon Clark



March 09, 2010

Lake Michigan Real Estate

Posted to Mary Petersen

This vintage 1933 estate rests on almost 2 acres and is located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Mount Pleasant and close to the town of Racine. Offering 136 ft of shoreline and sandy beach. The location is very convenient off I-94 so if you’re coming from Chicago you’d find the ride quick and even quicker if you were coming from Milwaukee. The sun rise is so beautiful filled with vibrant colors. The lake home is near the Southport harbor & Yacht club.

Posted by:Mary Petersen



March 08, 2010

Powers Lake - Spring Feed & Fun

Posted to Geneva Lake Area , Mary Petersen

Even with snow, this magnificent lake is fresh, clean and spring fed. Powers Lake is only 10 minutes east of Lake Geneva and a convenient drive from either Chicago or Milwaukee. This lake has generations of families and new comers who are enjoying “living the lake life.” The oval shaped lake is a comfortable 459 acres. It’s also an all sport lake where you can enjoy all the benefits from ice fishing in the winter to jet skiing in the summer. The real estate around the lake is full of flair and flavor.

Posted by:Mary Petersen



March 05, 2010

Condo for Sale in Abbey Springs Fontana, WI

Posted to Shirley Coulman

With Spring right around the corner, are you thinking that you would like to purchase a condo at Abbey Springs in Fontana, Wisconsin? Here is an updated “Lookout” ready for you! A “Lookout” is just the right size for a getaway with 1,000 square feet that has two bedrooms and one bath. This condo is walking distance to the clubhouse.

 

The amenities at Abbey Springs, Fontana, WI include over 700’ of level frontage to Lake Geneva, with a sandy beach that has a full time life guard, picnic area and playground. There is boat mooring facilities that include boat slips, buoys and in and out service. They have indoor/outdoor pools, tennis courts, racquet ball court, exercise facility with cardio and weight training. A game room with electronic games, ping pong, pool table and air hockey…….and a 4 1/2 star golf course with professional staff. For restaurants Abbey Springs offers the Yacht Club with fine dining, Golfer’s Grill, Below Deck and a snack bar.

 

Let me know when you want to come to Abbey Springs in Fontana, WI to see this condo or others. I can be reached at scoulman@keeferealestate.com or 262-745-1885.

Posted by:Shirley Coulman



March 03, 2010

Winter fun in Lake Geneva & yes Spring is coming - Wordless Wednesday

Posted to Geneva Lake Area , Theresa Larsen, Wordless Wednesday

Photo courtesy of Lester Crisman


Posted by:Theresa Larsen



March 02, 2010

Less than 60 days left to write your offer!!

Posted to Debbie Cobian

The expiration of the tax credits are fast approaching but there’s still time to find your new home. Your offer needs to be accepted by April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010.

In addition to the first time home buyer credit which allows up to an $8,000 tax credit, there is a new “move-up” buyers program. If you’ve lived in your home for 5 of the last 8 years and plan to buy a new primary home, you may meet the IRS requirements.

Move-up buyers are capped at a total tax credit of $6,500. The income thresholds are $125,000 for single-filers and $225,000 for joint-filers. The property you purchase can not exceed $800,000.

The complete list of qualifying criteria is posted on the IRS website. Review with your tax professional to determine your eligibility.

And lastly, don’t forget that the program is a true tax credit - not a deduction.

I’d love to help you find a new home. Give me a call so we can get started…before time runs out.

Posted by:Debbie Cobian



February 24, 2010

Bit of Color from Burlington, WI - Wordless Wednesday

Posted to Theresa Larsen, Wordless Wednesday

Photo courtesy of Lester Crisman


Posted by:Theresa Larsen



February 22, 2010

Elkhorn Wisconsin – a profile of the tax credit

Posted to Stacey Schultz

The current figures indicate that there are a total of 3 closed sales, 2 pending sales, and another 6 homes with accepted offers! If all of them close as planned, the grand total will be 11! The average price point of all homes with accepted offers falls just under $200,000 which is the projected price point of folks using the tax credit. Last year the average homes sales price for the same time frame was $142,000 which makes a person feel that we also have a more confident buyer today.

Keep in mind that there is still time for you to take advantage of the first time buyer incentive at $8000 as well as the $6500 benefit for a move up buyer provided you have an accepted offer as of April 30th, 2010 and close by June 30th.

Feel free to connect about your individual needs and / or goals via my cell or email seven days a week.

Posted by: Stacey Schultz



February 22, 2010

Spinning More Than Yarn

Posted to Area Attractions & Events, Julie Sarton

It used to be that the image brought to mind by the word “spinning” was one of a benevolent, elderly woman sitting quietly in front of a wooden wheel, transforming wool into yarn for warm sweaters and toasty mittens. These days the image brought to mind by that same word is anything but quiet or benevolent! The modern exercise/sport known as spinning is tough, high energy, and challenging, quickly elevating your heart rhythm and sustaining it for an hour. The wooden wheel is replaced by a metal wheel on a stationary, high-tech bike where everything is adjustable, from the seat height to the resistance on the wheel.

Spin is usually offered as a class, with 10-15 bikes in a room and an instructor up front, riding with you to set the pace and keep you motivated. Once you adjust your bike and locate your water bottle and towel within reach, the instructor will turn down the lights, turn up the music, and lead you in some stretching exercises while you begin your continuous 60 minutes of cycling. As your muscles and heart warm up, the pace will be quickened by faster music while the instructor yells commands such as “pick it up!” and “up out of your seats!” With every clock-wise turn of the resistance knob on the bike the pedals turn harder and slower, resembling a climb up hill; the instructor designs the rhythm of the music and the change in pedal resistance to resemble the variations in a real bike ride…sometimes standing on slowly turning pedals while pumping up a hill, and sometimes sitting while pedaling fast on a downhill run or a flat. As the class progresses you’re brought to your personal peak of exertion and cardiac capability, with the frequent, dreaded mantra from the instructor in the air of “one more turn to the right!” When you think you can’t pedal for another minute, the pace begins to slowly and mercifully decrease to the final ‘cool down’ phase and the final stretching. You’ve made it through another spin class!

As relentless and challenging as spinning can be, it’s also addictive. The increased energy it brings to your daily life is exhilarating, the noticeable muscle toning is impressive, and you will sleep better than you have for a long time. Since you can set your own pace by deciding on your pedal speed and resistance levels, you don’t always have to push yourself to 100%, but can set realistic goals based on your own physical prowess and condition. Check for available spin classes at fitness centers and your local YMCA; the Lake Geneva YMCA and several lakes area fitness centers offer flexible sessions from early morning to evening to fit your schedule. If you feel that your health is spinning out of control, it may be time to start spinning it into control.

Posted by:Julie Sarton



February 20, 2010

Foreclosures – water under the bridge!

Posted to Stacey Schultz

Everybody knows somebody that has gotten into a pickle because of the economy these days, so it is not the shameful scarlet letter it once was. Bad things happen to good people, and it is just water under the bridge!

With that approach in mind, we do have some owners that are willing to consider some folks with less than stellar credit for lease with options and land contracts. You still have to show you are working, have money down, provide favorable references, and be able to demonstrate that you are worth taking a chance on with your overall credit history.

The first step is to talk to a lender. You will need to know how far away you are from being able to be a home owner down the road in order to negotiate realistic terms of a lease with option or land contract opportunity. The financial specialist you are consulting with should be able to council you on how to get your credit score into a more favorable range in the shortest period of time. Be aware – the path to reestablish credit requires going on a financial diet and sticking to it!

I am one of several agents within Keefe that specializes in lease with options and land contract opportunities in Walworth County. Feel free to call and chat, and together we can bridge the past into a brighter future.

Posted by: Stacey Schultz



February 19, 2010

Linn Township Wisconsin - 2009 Single Family Home Sales

Posted to Stacey Schultz

Looking back is a great way to predict what may happen in the future. This theory holds especially true in real estate because we are able to track periods of time, evaluate from one year to the next via data, and project the course for the next sales cycle.

The 2009 sales year was not typical all over the real estate world, but it was really off in Linn Township! There were only 23 closed single family sales compared to 46 closed transactions in 2008. A 50% drop is significant in any equation!

What does that mean to me as a Buyer? You can still find a well priced to bargain Sellers that have not sold due to a major drop in activity. Those Sellers are begging to listen to a reasonable offer.

What about the Seller? Be prepared! You need to have it staged, photographs in the best possible light on the internet, shoveled walks with plowed driveway, and priced for prospects to view your home. Remember 50% of the inventory that did not sell will most likely still be offered along with the new. Stand out from the crowd! I always have service providers that can assist your turn key aspirations.

Posted by: Stacey Schultz



February 18, 2010

Fontana Wisconsin - Condo Sales for 2010

Posted to Stacey Schultz

I know that nobody would normally get all excited about 4 closed condo sales for the first 48 days of a new year, but considering that we had only 1 closed condo sale for the entire first quarter of 2009 - I am quietly optimistic!

There are buyers that are not just looking, but making offers on some long standing listings as well as some “steals’. There are a few distressed sales in Fontana, but just because it says “short sale” or “foreclosure,” doesn’t mean that some of the other options aren’t great values. Your Buyer’s Agent can help you navigate to a smart buy with educating you on past prices and their past experience.

What if I am a Seller? There are currently 80 condo listings in our MLS as of today in a price range of $88,900 for an Abbey Condo-tel to $999,500 for a spectacular Abbey Ridge, so today’s seller needs to be perceived as a great buy - no matter the price point.

I work and live in Fontana, so I know the area. Please feel free to connect with me about the real estate market and how I can help you.

Posted by: Stacey Schultz