161st Walworth County Fair
One of the oldest fairs in the state of Wisconsin, the Walworth County Fair was established in 1842. Featured performers include Josh Turner, Gloriana, Gretchen Wilson, and the Beach Boys.

9/1 - 9/6
Elkhorn

More info www.walworthcountyfair.com

There has been much buzz in the press today about the announcement by NAR of a large year-over-year drop in existing home sales during July. While it will certainly impactthe perception of real estate and drive the national discussion of the state of our economic recovery, it doesn't necessarily reflect the state of our local real estate market.

The NAR report cites a 27.2% drop in July existing home sales compared in 2009. Much of the reason for this lies with the timing of the exipiration of the first time homebuyer tax credit in May. Many sales which would have normally closed in July were shifted earlier in the year to take advantage of the credit. Additionally, hard-hit areas in the South and West continue to suffer from exceptionally high levels of forclosures driving the average sale price downward. Our market, by contrast, continues to see a much lower level of foreclosure activity and saw very little of the spike in May and June sales driven by the tax credit. As such our year over year drop in July was only 15% - about half of the national average. More significantly, our sales year-to-date in 2010 are running ahead of 2009 by over 28%.

Walworth County and the western parts of Racine and Kenosha County are seeing a slow, steady recovery from the train-wreck of 2009. We are still operating with far too many homes and too few buyers, but the situation is slowly on a path to return to normal. Until then price, value, presentation, and the professionalism of the agent will determine what sells and what sits on the market.

For those who love the charm of country living, with proximity to Lake Geneva and Fontana's bustling lakefront, Woodstone Prairie is waiting for you. Spacious 3/4 acre homesites are surrounded by 50 acres of wooded conservancy land blooming with prairie wild flowers, walking trails, and a pond. Use your own builder with plans approved by architectural review or choose from the many customizable plans available from our preferred builder Engerman Contracting. The architecture of choice is Prairie, Craftsman, or American Bungalow featuring board and shingle exterior, dormers, wrap-around porches, interior open floor plans and high-end finishes.

Ideal for either primary or secondary living space, you will revel in the feeling of privacy and natural beauty this community on the south side of Geneva Lake offers.

Please contact Keefe Real Estate at 800.690.2292 or visit www.WoodstonePrairie.com for more information.

Venetian Fest in Lake Geneva sponsored by the Lake Geneva Jaycees goes thru Sunday, Aug 22nd. The entertainment lineup this year is quite amazing, come check out some of the talent. The Toys (one of my favorite cover bands from Milwaukee) are playing tonight (Friday) from 8-midnight. Saturday’s entertainment offers Chasing Amy from 12-3:30pm and then The Love Monkeys from 8-midnight. Sunday’s music is provided by Petty Thieves, with a lighted boat parade at dusk and fireworks display at 9pm in front of the Riviera and Library Park in Lake Geneva. This festival also offers family friendly fun of crafts, food stands & carnival rides. Since summer is winding down, take advantage of the weather & enjoy this great annual festival, friends, family and entertainment.

Chaucer Woods of Bristol is designed with a generous amount of open green space. The site plan protects more than 17 acres of native grasses & wildflowers. This preserved space is a just one of many benefits to living in this fine community. Chaucer Woods has its own park and walking trails for all their residents to enjoy. It is within walking distance to Bristol Grade School and conveniently located to shopping, restaurants & entertainment.

Please contact Keefe Real Estate at 800.690.2292 for more information.

At every turn Sugar Creek Preserve draws on the region's beauty to captivate, inspire and renew. Our landscaping plan for the site's developed areas emphasizes the use of native species. Berms and plantings echo the property's natural features and support responsible land management. Sugar Creek Preserve also incorporates many innovative design features such as an environmentally friendly storm water management system. Rain gardens, rock cribs and native grass buffers capture storm water runoff and infiltrate it into the soil, preventing erosion and protecting the creek valley and slopes. Please call to schedule a personal tour to explore our 260 acres with nearly 4 miles of walking trails, 15 acre wildflower prairie, woodlands, pond and sparkling stream. There are still beautiful home sites to choose from and for your convenience we also offer home/lot package

Please visit www.sugarcreekpreserve.com or contact Keefe Real Estate at 800.690.2292 for more information

30th Annual Art in the Park
An outdoor fine art show featuring over 80 artists from across the country. The show will be held in Flat Iron Park, in Lake Geneva beside beautiful Geneva Lake. A children's art activity area, music and food are part of this family festival.
8/14 - 8/15, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
More info genevalakeart.org

54th Annual Lake Geneva Antique Show and Sale
The 54th Annual Lake Geneva Antique Show and Sale is being held this weeked at the Church of the Holy Communion in Lake Geneva. The show features jewelry, silver, glass and furniture.

8/13: 10 am - 6 pm
8/14: 10 am - 5 pm
More Info http://www.holycommunionlakegeneva.org/events.html

Maple Tree Farms offers six residential home sites situated on over 30 acres of picturesque woods and gently rolling prairie on the north shore of Geneva Lake between Lake Geneva and Williams Bay. There is priceless value to the privacy offered in this scenic Wisconsin landscape. Enjoy incredible panoramic views from your dream home. From downtown Lake Geneva, follow Route 50 west, turn right on Schofield Road, then left on Kelly Road. For more information, please contact Keefe Real Estate at 800.690.2292.

If you have been following the Lake Geneva real estate market over the past couple years you already know that we have a lot of Walworth County homes for sale. Lake Geneva real estate listings and the surrounding areas in Walworth are at their highest point in years. In fact, as of yesterday there were 3,339 Walworth County real estate listings in our MLS system. The details behind the kinds of Lake Geneva property and the Walworth County property for sale, tell you a lot about the type of real estate market we are experiencing this year.

Of the 3,339 properties active in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) for Lake Geneva real estate and the greater Walworth County real estate Market:

Around 50% are single family homes.
25% are parcels of vacant land.
20% are condominiums.
Which leaves 5% as something else: duplexes, commercial, industrial, etc...
Of the Walworth County single family homes for sale, half are listed over $250,000.
Only 17% of the active listings (or roughly 1/3 of single family listings) are for single family homes with some type of water access.
There are 138 single family homes listed for more than $1,000,000 – fully 4% of all active listings.
There are 102 single family homes listed for less than $100,000.
The median listing price for a single family home is around $240,000, for a condo $195,000, and for vacant land $95,000.
The average single family home has been on the market 237 days, the average condo 332 days, while the average vacant lot has been on the market for a whopping 495 days.
Nearly 2/3 of all vacant land listings are for lots of less than 5 acres.


What does this mean for Lake Geneva Homes and the Walworth County real estate market?

First, if you are a buyer there are many great Lake Geneva properties and properties in the broader Walworth County real estate market to choose from with great selection in nearly every market niche.

Call a Keefe Real Estate agent to help you narrow down your search, 800-690-2292.

If you are a seller, you have plenty of competition in the Lake Geneva property market and in the broader Walworth County real estate market. It’s critical to make sure your property looks great and you need to also make sure your pencil is sharp with your pricing to compete effectively no matter what price range you’re in.

Come see the newly finished model home at Meadowview Estates. "The Carson" model will be featured in the Lakeland Builder's Association Parade of Homes, July 31, August 1, 7 & 8 from 11 AM to 5 PM or contact your agent for a private showing of this 1700 square foot Quality Built Home on a beautiful 1.11 acre lot in Meadowview Estates.

This picturesque conservation subdivision is centrally located on the south shore of Geneva Lake halfway between Fontana and Lake Geneva, close to the WI/IL border. One acre lots nestled in 120 acres of carefully planned conservancy consisting of four spring fed ponds, native wildflowers, streams and 9,000 feet of nature's finest trails. Meadowview Estates is the perfect place to build your dream home. As an added bonus, a 160-acre township park is located next door. From downtown Lake Geneva, follow Hwy 120 south to Highway BB, then west on South Lakeshore Drive. For more information, please contact Keefe Real Estate at 800.690.2292.

Summer activities are well under way at the South Shore Club. The annual 4th of July activities included cookouts and the golf cart decorating contest. Three new families are enjoying their first summer at the Club with boating being a highlight, especially with the recently acquired Colbalts that are available for members use.

One new home is under construction with only 6 lots remaining to be sold of the original 40. All the houses have a European style with wood, slate roofs, and an abundance of windows to bring in the lake views and manicured lawns. Boating is the favorite activity of the members followed by swimming at the pool or in the lake. Living in a maintenance free community is the epitome of lake living and the members cannot say enough good things about the easy lifestyle at the South Shore Club.

Private tours of the property and the amenities may be arranged by calling Keefe Real Estate at 800.690.2292.

Enjoy the music of Ann Hampton Callaway at Music by the Lake on Saturday, August 7 at 7:30 p.m. at George Williams College in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Join us on the shores of Geneva Lake in The Ferro Pavilion for this unforgettable 10th anniversary season performance.

This singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger and educator is at home in jazz and pop as well as on stage, in the recording studio, on TV and in film. Jeff Lindberg’s Chicago Jazz Orchestra will join this talented artist as she performs several selections from her CD, “To Ella With Love,” and sings Ella Fitzgerald’s hit songs with her own special flair and interpretation.

Visit www.musicbythelake.com where you will find audio and video clips of some of her performances. To order tickets, call 262-245-8501 or 866-843-5200 (toll free) or visit www.musicbythelake.com for a ticket order form.

Keefe Resort Rentals offers many options for a lake access stays in the Geneva Lake area as well as Lake Beulah, Lauderdale Lakes, Whitewater Lake, Powers Lake, Twin Lakes and Delavan Lake. These lake access accommodations are set just a few short blocks from the lake, giving you the privacy of the natural setting along with the entertainment of the water. Although summer seems to be the main event, we also offer all season's private rental accommodations.

To view the virtual tours, pricing, and details, visit www.KeefeRentals.com or call our specialist today for a customized search at 866.818.8637.

Music by the Lake will feature violinist Frank Almond, concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, in a duo recital with award winning pianist William Wolfram on Sunday, August 1. Come to George Williams College of Aurora University at 4:00 p.m., for this Sundays at 4 Series performance, which is part of the 10th anniversary season in The Ferro Pavilion in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Tickets will be available at the performance.

Almond plays a 1715 Stradivarius violin in a spectacular program showcasing the artist in solo and duet repertoire. Both Juilliard-trained artists have distinguished themselves in concert appearances with the country's leading orchestras, and they remain active as recitalists and chamber musicians. Mr. Almond directs the highly successful Frankly Music Chamber Series based in Milwaukee. His talent as a chamber musician has generated collaborations with many of today's well-known institutions and festivals. Mr. Wolfram, winner of some of the world's most prestigious piano competitions, enjoys close associations with the Dallas, Milwaukee, and Minnesota orchestras.

For more information about this performance, including audio clips, visit www.musicbythelake.com. To order tickets, call 262-245-8501 or 866-843-5200 (toll free) or visit www.musicbythelake.com for a ticket order form.

Keefe Real Estate has been recognized as the leading real estate company in Southeastern Wisconsin for many years. Sales results for the first half of 2010 from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) show that Keefe Real Estate is still the sales leader in Walworth County as well as the tri-county area. Whether buying or selling, partner with Keefe to Get Results!



These charts combine "sold" listings of all office locations and independent offices of each multi-office or franchise organization identified. It includes listings which were sold by such organization itself or with the aid of a cooperating broker for the time period indicated, according to data by the Multiple Listing Service, Inc. This representation is based on data supplied by the MLS. MLS, Inc. does not guarantee or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the MLS, Inc. may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Violinist Frank Almond, concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, playing his 1715 Stradivarius violin, in a duo recital with internationally recognized, award winning pianist William Wolfram.
Sunday 8/1 at 4:00 pm
George Williams College, Williams Bay
www.musicbythelake.com

Homes in the Lake Geneva, Geneva National, Elkhorn, Fontana & Williams Bay area will be featured in this year's 21st Annual Lakeland Builder's Parade of Homes. 14 New Construction Homes are included in this year's parade; July 31st, Aug 1, Aug 7 & 8 from 11am to 5pm. They are offering a 2 for 1 ticket special this year, click here for a map of the homes & to print your voucher.

New pier rules take effect in 2011. Do you know what to do? For those of you that have a pier on a lake or stream in Wisconsin, you should be aware that you will be operating under new rules beginning the first part of 2011. Some piers will be grandfathered and others may not. Some may have to make changes to their piers and others may need to register their piers. To find out what's going on and if you are affected by the new rules, go to the DNR website at http://www.dnr.wi.gov/waterways/recreation/piers.html. All the information you need including the registration form is provided there.

We get lots of inquiries about when homes will be hosting "Open Houses", so if you're inclined to be in Southeastern, WI on Saturday, July 31st, there will be over 80 homes on our Open House Event. To check out a full list, click here: Prices ranging from $159,000 to $2,325,000, covering areas from Lake Geneva, Elkhorn, Delavan, Twin Lakes, Silver Lake, Fontana and many more.

If you would like your home to featured in our next Open House Event, contact your Keefe agent, or to connect with an agent, contact 262-249-7620.

Guest post by Kasey Plucinski of Breezy Hill Nursery

Watch out roses here they come. The long metallic green Japanese Beetles have copper- brown wing covers with a row of white spots on the under wings. These beetles begin feeding on your plants in June and continue for a 4-6 week period until they die off after 30-45 days. These nasty little green beetles feed on 300 species of plants, devouring plant foliage and overripe fruit. Females burrow 2-3 inches in the soil and lay eggs, 40-60 in a lifetime! Eggs hatch and grubs emerge feeding on roots of turf grass and vegetable seedlings. Grubs do best in irrigated home lawns, golf courses and parks. During winter the grub stage of the beetle over winters underground. If you want to control the adult and juvenile stages there are several options to consider. First and foremost, consult your landscape specialist when selecting plants for your garden, there are several varieties of plants that are commonly snacked on by the beetles. Some plants that are prone to beetle damage are Roses, Lindens, Norway and Japanese maple, and Purple-leaf plum. Secondly, there are organic treatments that we carry at Breezy Hill Nursery. St. Gabriel’s Milky Spore is a one time application that you inject into your lawn. This injection can last up to 20 years and kills the grub stage of the beetle with natural bacteria that eats the grub from the inside without harming beneficial insects. Lastly there are many chemical applications that fight the adult stage of the beetle, some examples are Bayer Advanced Lawn, Ortho Bug-B-Gon and Sevin. We don’t suggest using beetle traps; many attract more beetles than are actually caught in the traps results in significantly more damage to your plants. Please feel free to visit our website, should you want more information on this subject or many others. Watch for our future blog posts.