It doesn’t feel like spring yet, but then, April is not over either. I have listed below the major events that will soon take place. Jot a note of the one that best suits you and your family. Click here to check out a map of the parks in Oconomowoc that I received from the Parks and Recreation Department.
Spring Gallery Night (Downtown Oconomowoc) May 6
Farmer’s Market Saturday’s beginning May 14 thru October 29
Memorial Day Ceremony at the City Beach May 30
Legion Band Concerts—Bandshell Wednesdays June 15 thru August 17
Moonlit Movies (a must see if you have not been to one) June 16, July 14 (Fowler Park) August 18 (Downtown Oconomowoc)
Badgerland Ski Team Shows (Fowler Lake) June 16, July 14 (Just before Moonlit Movies) August 4
Concerts in the Park (Bandshell)Thursdays June 23, 30, July 7, 21 & 28
Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks (Fowler Park) July 2 (crazy huh??)
Festival Week August 13-21
Street Dance August 13—a fun time for everyone!
Ice Cream Social, Legion Concert and Parade of Lights (City Beach) August 14
Kid’s Day (City Beach) August 16
Festival of the Arts (Fowler Park) Artists from around the globe! August 20-21
Here are a couple friendly reminders with the parks in the City of Oconomowoc:
Dogs are not allowed
Roosevelt Park does have a dog exercise area
No fermented beverages or intoxicants after 10pm in the parks
Please don’t feed the ducks at the boardwalk or the parks
You can reserve Park Shelters. Please call the Superintendent of Parks at 262-569-2180 for more information.
March 30, 2011 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Now that you have found that perfect house and you are so excited to write an offer the tension starts to mount with the offer you submit to a seller. Here is a simple tip that can avoid some pain or problems down the road. The WB-11 Residential Offer to Purchase has a provision on line 269 regarding an appraisal. Above this section on line 220 there is a blank for how many days for you, the buyer, to provide the seller with a loan commitment letter. On line 269 are the days required to get an appraisal done on the property. If the days are the same, for example 45 days, the buyer could potentially put themselves in a difficult position. If your lender needs the extra time to process your file and the appraisal is due the same day that the loan commitment is due you could be out because you could not meet your appraisal deadline which was needed to obtain the loan commitment. Do you see the potential for a problem? Perhaps the appraisal contingency should be sooner than the actual loan commitment so as to give your lender time to receive the appraisal, then issue a loan commitment. Some lenders do not see a problem with this since they are on top of the dates and the appraisal is done sooner. But in some cases this could be just the out the seller needs if they have secured a second offer. Dates are important in an offer. Please consult with your real estate professional or an attorney for further advice on this topic.
March 29, 2011 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
For a long time I would keep track of my ‘things to do’ on scraps of paper or put a note in my phone, but the haphazard approach left me forgetting some important things to do. A friend of mine told me about an application that could save me tons of time and frustration. Nozbe was what he suggested could keep me on track. So what is Nozbe anyway? It is a great reminder of ‘things to do’ projects that you have on the back burner that should be moved forward, a list of people to call or whatever you need to organize. It is fantastic and everything goes to the ‘cloud’. The best part of Nozbe is that it talks to Evernote, which I use daily. So let me give you a for instance. Rather than putting little notes on your computer, phone or on actual paper you can keep all these tasks in one place—staring at you like my dog does when she waits for her food! It is a quiet persistent tool to help keep you on track. The check box is just begging for you to complete your task so you can put that big green check mark in its place—Finished! What a great feeling marking things off the list. I have household projects on the list with a time to complete the task—like June 2020. I have recommended this to some friends but they say they are not that organized to use an organizer. Hmmm…Did they really say what I thought they said? This is a great app IF you want to remember what it is you were supposed to do but almost forgot.
March 28, 2011 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Do you remember those heady days back a few years ago when your then neighbor turned-real-estate-investor, would buy a house with almost nothing down, then borrow money to renovate the house? Shortly after the renovations were complete they would flip the house—a new term in real estate was born, Flippers. Ahh those were the days… (Said with tongue firmly in cheek) Now with the real estate bust in full swing, the past sins are what many are blaming on the decline of our real estate values. Today if you want to buy a home and borrow to renovate that home you are out of luck, right? Not so. Guess who is offering 100% financing or little to nothing down, NO appraisals required and will actually lend you money to fix the house? Some subprime lender who charges tons of points? Some fly by night organization? No. Sorry you are wrong; it is good ol’ Uncle Sam. Yup Fannie Mae, you might have heard of them lately, like this article in the WSJ regarding Fannies interpretation of subprime loans. Today Fannie is offering such a risky program to purchase their distressed inventory through a program called Home Path. BUYER BEWARE there are gimmicks and tricks with loans and programs like this. Here are some things to be wary of:
Low down payments only hurt the borrower and surrounding neighbors. If you default on a home path loan because you got in over your head, we just don’t need another foreclosure.
Watch for hidden closing costs. Generally these low down payment deals come with several thousand dollar price tags for points—in other words a rip off
What are the conditions that you have to meet in order to qualify for the loan
Is there an appraisal required? Some of the Home Path loans do not require appraisals! Hmmm… sounds a lot like 2004 before the bubble popped
Buyer Beware as to the condition. There are no warranties or disclosures. Inspections should be mandatory if you are a buyer.
You need an attorney. Some of the forms with this type of program will be on state approved contracts and others will not. Your Wisconsin Real Estate professional cannot interpret forms that are not approved by the state. It is the law. Hire counsel!
Use extra caution when engaging in these types of programs. Get lots of information before you commit and please seek good real estate advice regarding the price of the home in the area you are purchasing. Why am I so opposed to this program? Because the ‘fix’ that the government is using to liquidate the thousands upon thousands of bank owned properties will not fix the problem. The crisis we are facing now is that some homeowners feel that it is okay to walk away from their mortgage because they are not heavily invested in the property. This program perpetuates this conundrum. Home Path will attract responsible home buyers, there is no doubt. But it will also attract many who simply should not be in a home at this time, plus the government will assist them in adding to their debt! If this was happening in the private sector the Feds would frog march these charlatans in front of the world to see what loathsome, seedy characters are still preying on the public. The second reason I think this is inequitable is that only the government can offer this type of program, while the regulators are constantly peering over the shoulder of private banks to see if they are being good stewards with their money. The hypocrisy is startling and frightening. What Fannie is doing with this program is just shifting the monthly debt service to a consumer rather than the taxpayer. But if Fannie were to discount the property and require that the borrower use 20% of their own money then the true shift in debt obligation would shift from the taxpayer to the consumer, where it should be. Remember when this was a good idea?
March 25, 2011 at 07:46 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
The other day a buyer that I am working with had their home inspection and it made me think about some past transactions. These are good times for a buyer to find out some additional things regarding a home. Unfortunately some buyers use these inspections as opportunities to re-negotiate the price they paid for the home. If there are legitimate concerns that were not discovered during the sale process by all means they should be discussed and hashed out between the parties. What concerns most sellers and their agents is the use of a home inspection regarding maintenance issues. For example; when a buyer views a well-kept home that is 15-20 years old it stands to reason that the furnace is original. Most manufacturers will say that their furnaces have a life expectancy of 15-20 years. This does not mean that the furnace will stop running in year 21. Nor does it mean that they will chug along for another 20 years. Some buyers will use this opportunity to obtain a new furnace from the seller because of the age of the older unit or have the furnace tuned and cleaned at the home owner’s expense. Some sellers are eager to have this done (which begs the question why didn’t you do that before you listed the house, but that is another topic) and some start to argue. Buyers should know that maintenance is a part of homeownership. If you are purchasing a home you should have funds available to repair things that break or replace things that stop working. This is part and parcel of ownership. I have known of buyers to call back past sellers years after the sale looking for financial assistance for repairs that the now buyer-turned-owner needs to take care! Sounds silly but it actually happened. Buyers beware—you will have to maintain your property.
March 22, 2011 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
The southern half of the Oconomowoc Bike trail is open to all you who love to ride your bike without the fear of cars whizzing by. The Oconomowoc portion of the Lake Country Trail starts at the site of the Imagination Station at the Roosevelt Field in Oconomowoc. In the past the trail ended at the intersection of Valley Road and Sawyer Road. Today you can pedal south towards Delafield where you can pick up that portion of trail at the corner of Delafield Road and Sawyer Road. Last year Delafield completed a stretch from Mill Road east to Downtown.
The yellow highlighted area pictured above is the final addition to the Oconomowoc portion of the bike trail.
With the warm weather City of Oconowowoc residents can ride from Oconomowoc to downtown Delafield on a nicely paved trail! What a treat. Hopefully one of these days there will be a link from the Pabst Farms subdivision to the bike trail. This will help connect this neighborhood to the downtowns of Delafield and Oconomowoc in a safe and friendly route for bike enthusiasts and kids. Wisconsin offers some great opportunites for trail rides throughout our area and the state. For more information on Rails to Trails in Wisconsin click here.
March 21, 2011 at 08:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Currently in the greater Oconomowoc Area there are approximately 33 homes in the MLS system that are listed as REO (Real Estate Owned) or Short Sale Properties. You can view these homes via the attached link here at Oconomowoc REO. If you are interested in REO or Short Sale properties there are a few things to keep in mind.
Short Sale homes can take longer to process than REO’s. It really depends on the lender and the process they use to move these homes through their system. Many of the larger banking institutions are now using the Equator system, which is a computer platform that allows the negotiators to organize large batches of files. There is very little person to person contact with this system, however it is very efficient. The down side to the Equator system, from my past experience, is that I have never received a signature that the deal has been Okayed, even though we progress towards a closing. This can make a buyer very jittery for obvious reasons.
REO properties are generally managed by an out of state asset Management Company. The condition of these homes is generally ok to poor. As a buyer you will want to do your homework on these homes before purchasing. You will most likely need an attorney since their addendums are not on approved Wisconsin forms. Only an attorney can interpret and give advice on these forms.
Just because the home is in distress does not automatically mean you will get a “steal” on the price. Be prepared before writing an offer.
Short Sale properties will require lots of information about you the buyer IF you want to be considered by the lender.
Some Short Sale properties will require the seller’s permission, the lenders permission and the investors’ permission to sell. If the seller has declared bankruptcy you will have to wait for the courts permission as well. These are things you should know before spending lots of time waiting for your dream home.
REO sales can change on a dime. If you have submitted an offer on a REO and have received verbal acceptance, this DOES NOT mean you will end up with the house. If another offer comes in after your offer for more money or better terms, the banks will most likely take that deal despite what they have told you. BUYER BEWARE.
All in all it sounds like a hassle, but remember the old adage, with much risk there is great reward. Your professional Realtor can help you decide if that property is indeed a good value.
March 18, 2011 at 05:28 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Well my last post on piers and the new regulation prompted some interesting comments from readers. Some are still convinced that they do not need to register their piers. Nothing could be further from the truth. Please note the following post from the Wisconsin Realtors Association. If you have questions about this feel free to contact me, as some of you have, or call the WRA. Their number is on the post below. If you do not live on waterfront property, please pass this post on to your friends or relatives who do. Thanks so much. It is great working with all of you who have called with your concerns. This is a great way to get this valuable info out to everyone. Important Stat: According to the DNR there are 10,000 piers in the State of Wisconsin and only 300 have registered so far! The task is daunting, but we can do it.
March 16, 2011 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
On April 9th, 2011 The Oconomowoc Tri- Club (Rotarians, Kiwanis, Lions Club) is presenting their 3rd annual spring concert featuring “Four Guyz in Dinner Jackets” and “Two Rhode Girls.” You can purchase tickets by calling 262-569-3989 or online at www.theoac.net, or through a member of one of the three clubs. As a Rotarian, I would be happy to assist you with this. There are three price levels for the tickets:
Dinner & Center Section Seat for $50.00 (per person)
Prime seat location for $25.00
General admission for $20.00
The program is wonderful and if you have not been to the OAC (Oconomowoc Arts Center) you are in for a real treat. The dinner will be hosted at the OAC, so call now while tickets last!
March 15, 2011 at 07:52 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Tom Larson of the Wisconsin Realtors Association stopped by the Shorewest office in Oconomowoc to a packed house of Shorewest Agents, other Realtors and Homeowners to share the new regulations concerning piers and Shoreland Zoning requirements. If you are a waterfront owner the new regulations are important for you to know and understand. Tom was kind enough to provide the power point presentation to me and I am sharing this with you. If you do not own a lake front home but know of someone who does please pass this information on to them. Here are some key points from the discussion this morning.
April 1, 2011 is the deadline for existing pier registrations. If you have not registered your pier PLEASE do so ASAP
March 14, 2011 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
When it is time to sell a homeowner generally wants to get the most they can for their home. Well there are ways to make that happen. Preparing your home for the sale is a good place to start. HGTV is a great channel to get all sorts of ideas on how to get your home ready to show, or follow along as buyers think about what home to purchase—hmm reminds me of that episode of House Hunters with yours truly, but I digress. I have a FREE booklet that is available if you want to know what you should do to get your home ready to show and SELL! Just contact me at the office, 262-567-4349 or Toll Free at 1-888-HEY GLEN and I will send this absolutely FREE booklet to you to help you prepare. Call while supplies last!
March 11, 2011 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Charles Schwab completed an Investor Confidence Survey this past September and they reported on some interesting results. The question was asked to over 12,000 participants what they would do if they received a $25,000 windfall. Here is how the numbers broke down:
62% of the surveyed participants said that they would invest the money
29% said they would save the money
24% would use the money to pay off debt
14% would spend the money
6% would donate the money to charity
The survey allowed for multiple responses. So if you received a windfall what would you do with the money? It is interesting to note that a vast majority would invest the money. Savvy investors see an opportunity in the market and in housing. This is the time when real wealth will be created. Are you taking full advantage of this real estate market?
March 10, 2011 at 11:45 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
REO properties (Real Estate Owned) are generally held by the lender and are serviced by an asset manager, typically out of the state. There are a number of things to consider when purchasing an REO property. Blindly purchasing a REO simply because the price looks good can get some buyers into trouble. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Most asset managers or lenders do not know that actual condition of the property. They have no idea if the pipes have burst and the basement has 1’ of standing water.
2. REO transactions are “AS-IS” sales and the REO seller usually uses their own REO addendum. If the REO seller is out of state your agent cannot interpret this document for you as a buyer. You need an attorney. It is the law.
3. Most REO sellers will negotiate verbally with you as the buyer. Only written contracts are enforceable. If the REO seller receives a better offer you will most likely be out.
4. Many REO sellers use out of state title companies, which may not be familiar, our laws. This can present a real problem with conveyance if the title company is taking short cuts to save money on the policy.
The bottom line when purchasing a REO property is that first you should be working with an experienced agent who understands the pitfalls and second you will most likely need to engage legal counsel to help navigate the paperwork.
February 25, 2011 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
The old adage goes like this, “I’ve got good news and bad news, which do you want to hear first?” The article in the Wall Street Journal by Nick Timiraos and Justin Lahart posted yesterday poses that question. The good news is that economists believe that the overall economy is in recovery mode (although some disagree with this) however real estate is still lagging. Why is this good news? When the economy builds some steam and the threat of job loss becomes a distant memory, the housing market can begin to see some stability. The Wisconsin unemployment market is less than the national market, but is still in troubled waters. We have a long way to go before job loss becomes a distant memory. What’s the bad news? According to the article, home prices are continuing their downward slide, and it is predicted that we may see further erosion over the next two years. So what do we do in the meantime? Sellers who compellingly price their homes will do better than sellers who competitively price their homes. In a sliding downward market, if a homeowner is trying to catch the market (competitive price), they will generally be behind the fall in prices. In other words, they are always the higher price just out of range of most buyers. But the seller who compellingly prices his home will find that they are always in the “mix” with the buyers looking to purchase a new home.
There are buyers out there who are looking for a home to live in, raise their children and avoid the hassles of apartment living. We can all work together to help those buyers and sellers realize their objectives. It isn’t good news or bad news…it is just news.
February 24, 2011 at 08:37 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Not too long ago, I was on a conference call with pros across the country, discussing our individual real estate markets. While there are definite differences from the Southeast and East to the Midwest, there are many more similarities in each of our markets. Here are a few of the issues that my friends and I encounter with this “new” market.
Staging is one of the top strategies in a highly competitive market. If you ponder this for a moment, it makes a lot of sense. In any given price range there are countless homes vying for the attention of a diminished buyer population. With many of our buyers today determining their “show list” online, the more attractive a home actually determines IF that home will have in-person visits. A colleague of mine said that not only are we in a price war, but we are in a beauty pageant as well. How true!
This leads me to my second point. One of the most important things a seller can do is to price their home at a compelling price. Most of the pros on the phone conference noted competitive pricing does not work anymore. This is the tension point with most sellers who are disadvantaged with a lack of real time information regarding home values. The professionals see day in and day out what is happening in the local markets with foreclosures and short sales. We know from each transaction how these prices are affecting our neighborhoods, and it is up to us to educate the sellers we sit before on a daily basis as to the real value of their home. This is not an easy discussion, but is one that we must have if we are to see a turn-around in our local real estate markets.
One of the points that resonated with all the conference call attendees is that we are the vital link to our sellers as to what is working and what is not working. Those factors are now changing quite rapidly and the agents that are on the forefront will have a better advantage than those catching up with the market. Most agents I know are well-informed.
I am a third generation Realtor and my grandfather and father have never seen a market like this before. We are in unchartered waters where the old rule book no longer applies. The best way to navigate through these turbulent times is to work with your Realtor. You may not like the advice or the price, but in the end it may be the very best advice you recieve.
February 17, 2011 at 02:51 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
There are many fine young people who make it to American Idol because they are convinced they have talent. Some do and some don’t. It really is up to the judges on the show to discern the talent levels, after all they are professionals. And yet some of these “talented” contestants leave befuddled that the judges did not recognize their talent–case in point with this short video clip. In today’s quickly changing real estate market, many sellers think they “know” the market, when in all reality it is really up to the professionals to help them see the true market. Randy Jackson, J-Lo or Steven Tyler knows talent when they see it, regardless of how the contestant protests their greatness. This applies to professional Realtors who know the market, regardless of the protests from Sellers. Like the befuddled contestant the American Idol judges are sending them a message. Listen to your Realtor, even though you may not like their advice, it could save you thousands of dollars!
January 14, 2011 at 04:57 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
In this blog, I discuss how you can transform a small laundry room with a busy wallpaper pattern into a more serene space. If you have removed wallpaper before, you know the hassle that comes with this tedious job. Stripping paper is never easy, until now. In this laundry room, the homeowner uses the services of Daryl Anderson from Anderson Painting (414-861-1234) who recommends that we first strip any loose edges of wall paper. Once this step is finished, he skim coats the seams and rough edges of paper with a drywall mud. This dries and then he sands thoroughly. An oil based primer is applied and then a sand texture is rolled on the walls. Note: if you are not experienced in rolling on sand texture do not attempt to do this on your own. Professionals make all the difference when it comes to this step. The final process is to paint the walls the new desired color. The wallpaper actually becomes the new skin of the drywall. With this process we have eliminated the time consuming effort of wallpaper removal and repair of the damaged walls. Because this room was initially prepped for wall paper, a sand texture would be needed if you spent time stripping the old paper. I hope you enjoy the video from HEY GLEN.
If selling or buying property in Lake Country Wisconsin was advertised in a personals ad, it would go like this….
“If you love watching sunsets over the lake…Love swimming and boating at the lake…Love sailing on Lac LaBelle…Love gardening in Lake Country…Contact your Lake Country Real Estate Expert. Your Dream Location is waiting!
May 17, 2010 at 11:10 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
The beautiful quiet roads of Lake Country beckon most to the quiet lifestyle and the easy pace of living in the midst of the 27 crystal clear lakes that dot our landscape. On most any day you will find the back roads teeming with bike riders–not the motorized kind, but the pedal type of enthusiast who loves the great outdoors and a good workout. A challenging ride for serious riders can be joined each Wednesday night at the Bike Doctor in Dousman, locally referred to as “Drop the Doc” The idea is to stay with the peloton as long as you can before you get dropped. The route is usually about 26 miles and winds through places like Sullivan and Rome. I usually get dropped by the “Doc” but it is a very fun experience. I decided to work on a ride for our office called TEAM SHOREWEST. We had Jersey’s designed and have lots of fun as an office. Our route is a little easier 17.5 miles and we also leave every Wednesday night at 6pm unless it is raining. The ride is open to all who want some good exercise and a quick ride. If you are an experienced rider this could be your coasting night. Regardless of skill level we would love to have you join us. We do not ride in the rain so you can plan accordingly. If you like these cool jersey’s let me know and we can order one for you on your next order.
In this picture some of the riders from TEAM SHOREWEST braved the 35mph winds on one ride. It was fun and breezy.
Eileen Mooers, a Delafield resident, is the co-founder of Lake Country Caring, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those who are less fortunate in our area. Founded in 1990 this fantastic group serves 1400 plus families locally providing clothing and household items FREE of charge to those in need. To find out more about Lake Country Caring, visit their web site.
In 1996 Eileen was the co-person of the year in Delafield for her many community efforts. During the last two years Eileen has found herself battling brain cancer. After two brain surgeries Eileen and her husband, Neil, have traveled to North Carolina for some cutting edge treatment. You can read more about her struggle at www.eileenshelpinghands.com . We need all of your help with this project. On Sunday May 16 th there will be a big fundraiser at Saxe’s in Delafield as we celebrate Eileen. Up until then we need to raise as much money as possible to help the Mooers offset the huge costs for this treatment, much of which is not covered by insurance. Please visit www.eileenshelpinghands.com and learn how you can join us in helping Eileen who has so graciously helped so many in our community.
If you live in the Midwest, especially in Lake Country, it is inevitable that you are familiar with our area’s prime winter recreation activities; ice fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, and skating. But are you familiar with one of the oldest and most unique winter sports, ice boating? Ice boating is every sailor’s favorite winter activity! If the love of wind and water gets your adrenaline running in the summer, ice boating will put you over the top, in the winter!
I’m not exactly sure where ice boating originated, but I remember hearing as a kid, that it was brought to the U.S. by the Scandinavians. In the late 1800’s, ice boats were considered the fastest mode of transportation on the planet! Huge boats were constructed and manned on the Hudson River, where, when the conditions allowed, teams of men would race the trains that ran along the river banks reaching speeds in excess of 80 mph. Years ago, Milwaukee Public TV ran a special with actual movie footage of just such an event.
For ice boating to occur, the “winter sailor gods” have to align the heavens for the perfect conditions. One needs, a frozen lake, little or no snow, and of course, wind! Because of this, some winter seasons come and go with little or no sailing, making the experience that much more coveted. The consensus is that if the conditions are right, you need to drop everything, and hit the ice. “Tomorrow snow may dump, and you’ve lost your chance!” My family has been ice boating for years. My uncle owns 3 boats, and my husband and I have inherited 2 youth boats. We’ve had years of fun, sailing on Golden Lake. As a child, we followed the regatta circuit on our local lakes, especially on Pewaukee Lake and Lake Geneva. Each winter, stories about the “perfect ride” circulate around the fireplace at family gatherings.
The boats themselves have various classes, just like water sailboats, based on hull and sail type, and typically resemble a torpedo like body with cross braces that have “skates” or “blades”…one in the front, and one on each side of the boat. The skipper steers the front blade and adjusts the sail to maximize the speed. Safety equipment consists of a helmet with face gear, warm clothes and often times, inflatable life vests, in the event of open water. It’s not for the faint of heart. The speeds are incredible, and if you hike up too far, the result can be a crash on very hard ice!
Many of my friends on Lac Labelle, sail the “Nite”. It’s the “Ferrari” of ice boats…sleek and beautiful. Opti iceboating is also hugely popular. My friend’s daughter sailed her opti ice boat at the world competition in Europe 2 years ago. One of our local Pewaukee sailors, won the North American Opti Championship, last year. There is a Wisconsin association that is dedicated to this sport, The Four Lakes Ice Yacht Club. Fabulous photos and information are on their site. In addition, you can Google “ice boating” and a barrage of websites, photos, YouTube sites, etc. pop up with information on this awesome and unique sport. Click here to see a YouTube video of an ice boat in action.
Check it out…yet another awesome activity in Lake Country, Wisconsin! Ice Boating!!
If you want an early dose of holiday cheer, check out downtown Oconomowoc, this Saturday, December 5th, for the annual Christmas Parade.
The parade runs from 3 - 4pm, and follows a route from Fowler Park, south to downtown, through the round-about westward on Wisconsin Avenue, and then south on Main Street to Roosevelt Park.
The best place to see the parade is downtown or from various local businesses and churches, such as the steps of Dr. Martin Luther Church, on Main Street. They always welcome parade watchers, and sometimes offer hot chocolate and snacks.
In addition to various local groups, you will see some of our very own Shorewest Lake Country Team, following a very special “float”, and of course, Santa!
For more Oconomowoc events visit this calendar link from the Chamber of Commerce.
Many of you may know that I blog about youth sailing in Southeastern Wisconsin. It’s a big part of my boys’ lives, and something my family is passionate about. I will have another article in the next few days, about the updates of our local Milwaukee Youth Sailing Team. However, in the interest of fairness to other sports “water”, I would like to highlight a local water ski team, that has been invited to China. Yesterday, several Wisconsin residents set out for a 13 day trip to China, to participate in the annual Sino-American Water Ski Show. It’s a fabulous opportunity for the water skiers selected. A local Lake Country native, Jenna Strobel, is one of the participants. Her younger brother plays soccer with my son, and it was exciting to see the enthusiasm and eagerness in her face at a recent game, as she described what will be the trip of a lifetime for her and the others. Several different teams are represented on the current USA team to China, including Badgerland (Waukesha, WI), Must-Skis (Beaver Dam, WI) and Tommy Bartlett’s (Wisconsin Dells, WI).
Growing up living on Golden Lake, in Lake Country, my summers were filled with daily waterskiing. My brothers and I would run the boat from morning till dusk, skiing slalom, doubles, trick skis and barefooting. It was endless fun. I can only imagine how thrilling it will be for Jenna and the others selected, to participate in something they love, while being “Good Will Ambassadors” to our neighbors on the other side of the world.
To follow along on this adventure, you can read their blog by clicking here.
A friend of mine sent me an email with a cartoon in it today, and it made me chuckle. It was a picture of two dinosaurs sitting on a rock looking at Noah’s arc. The arc was floating away from them and as they watched they said “oh no, was that today?” As a devout “extension” tax preparer, I can relate! In terms of house hunting, however, you don’t want to be the “dinosaur on the island”. There’s still time to collect the $8000 tax credit, and get into your first home. For specific information regarding the market in Lake Country, call or email me. I’d be happy to help you realize your goal of home ownership! Here’s a link to some frequently asked questions about the credit.
If you are wondering where summer was in July, it waited to arrive in Wisconsin until September! We have been experiencing some absolutely beautiful, summer-like days over the last two weeks! My 7th grade son reminded me that in fact, summer doesn’t officially end until September 23rd. So thank you “Mother Nature” for serving up summer until the last possible second!
Summer is my favorite season. I’m a lake gal, always have been, and always will be. While at one of my listings, on Golden Lake this weekend, it looked and felt like summer, not the middle of September. Conversely, in spite of the balmy temps, the changing colors on the trees, the fog on the lake in the morning, and the ducks flying in their precise V formations, all point to the inevitable end of summer.
In my home, fall always marks the beginning of the New Year. I think the calendar year should be September to August. September is when I organize our household for the new school year; we start putting away the lake gear to prepare for winter; there is a renewal of schedules and activities; real estate is always rocking and I attempt to start a semblance of a fitness program. My “new year resolutions” are considered in the fall, not in the middle of winter. I take stock of my personal and professional goals.
With regards to real estate, sellers often wonder if they should wait until spring to hit the market. I am here to say, “Don’t wait!” If you need to sell, now is the time. Our market is no longer a fall/spring market place. The days of putting on a property in the spring, and pulling it in the fall, are over. Signs of price stabilization and improvement in the market are starting to be noticed, however, the big market picture predicts that overall market appreciation will not start in Wisconsin until 2012. This means that the pricing games of a few years ago will not be effective now. Sellers need an aggressive, accurately staged marketing and pricing program to achieve a successful sale.
The good news, and there is ALWAYS good news, is that sales are starting to creep up, buyers are actively looking, and agents in our Lake Country office are busier than ever! As reported in the Biztimes…
Shorewest sales up for third straight month
Brookfield-based Shorewest Realtors says its booked sales are up for the third month in a row. Shorewest said its booked units are up 26.7 percent, volume is up 11.5 percent and listings are up 6 percent.
“We’re excited to see our business increase over last year,” said Shorewest vice president of sales Ted Dentice. “Our sales associates are working extra hard to put sales together and with the help of our mortgage company - Wisconsin Mortgage Corporation - close them.”
“Our offices are busy,” said Joseph A. Horning, president of Shorewest. “Plus, we’re seeing more people in our open houses. I think people are realizing that now is a great time to buy whether it’s their first home or they’re moving up in home value. Prices are good and mortgage rates are still low. Plus, the $8,000 First-Time Home Buyer’s Credit is also still available through November 30. We’ve also just launched a new Job Loss Protection Program that gives buyers added confidence when purchasing a home.”
If you are considering a sale, call me. I’d love to show you how Shorewest and I can help you realize your new year’s resolution of a home sale, a reality.
I would love the opportunity to help you analyze the market! I will offer you a free comparative market analysis, as well as, a marketing plan for your home. My job is to get you the most money for your property in the shortest time possible.
Please call me today at 262.470.2000 to schedule your free comparative market analysis and marketing plan.
Are you looking for a Real Estate Company to sell your home in the Lake Country Area? If so, you might want to take a good look at this graph. Shorewest Realtors continues to be the leader in the Lake Country Area! So please, do yourself a favor and call Sharon Tomlinson of Shorewest Realtors at 262-470-2000. TODAY IS THE DAY TO WORK WITH THE BEST! SHOREWEST REALTORS…THE ONLY CHOICE!!!
July 10, 2009 at 07:10 PM · Posted under Fair Housing
When pricing your home, it is critical to understand how various factors and trends in the market, may affect your price. At Shorewest, we monitor those trends, and convey the information to our sellers through the use of market absorption graphs, months of inventory reports, rate of sales reports, home value worksheets, and many other tools. By using these items, you can price your home on the cutting edge of the market, increasing your likelihood of receiving an offer, for the highest price, in a timely manner. One tool that is helpful in determining price in conjunction with the items listed above, is a report that tracks sales by price. Attached, is a recent report of sales by price, in the Lake Country area. To learn about the significance of this graph, call me 414.975.9659 or visit my website. I’d be happy to explain how this graph not only maps sales, but also can assist you in pinpointing a sales price
Now is the best time for you to acquire that new home! Homes prices are low, interest rates are low and we have a lot of inventory for you to choose from.
Did you ever stop to wonder why people purchase the American Dream? Well, some of the reasons you might hear is because you want one, your income allows you to afford one and it seems like the right time in your life. However, the biggest reason for you to own your own home is because it will be yours. The rent money you pay to someone else every month will no longer exist and one of the greatest benefits is the fact that your home will reflect your own personality.
Now, you are probably thinking you can’t afford one at this time, but we have several wonderful programs that will help make that happen. FHA has a program that allows you to put as low as 3.5 percent down. In addition, if you haven’t saved a lot of money, or if you are a single parent, you may qualify for a special grant thru the federal government. Lastly, if you are a First-Time Home Buyer (which means, anyone who has not owned a home in the last three years), the federal government has provided an $8,000.00 Tax Credit for you. This tax credit is only available thru November 30, 2009, which means you must have closed on your new home on/or before November 30, 2009, and you won’t have to pay back any of this money. To qualify your income level must be $75,000 or less, if you are single and $150,000 or less for couples.
If you want to own a piece of the American Dream, now is the time to begin your search. Please give me a call today to start you on your way to owning a new home.
In spite of a questionable start, summer has arrived in Wisconsin, and with it, comes the youth sailing season. A “boat load” of regattas are available for kids to attend. Last weekend, young teens showed up on North Lake, for the annual QUINT regatta. Sailors from North Lake, Lac LaBelle, Pewaukee, Nagawicka and Okauchee sailed a very challenging regatta due to very little, and ever shifting breezes. 20+ boats were on the line, and the event ended with the top three skippers, tying for points and using a tie breaker for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Home lake skipper, Blake Kenney and crew, won the tie breaker and the 1st place overall finish.
Thursday, we found our young opti sailors on Okauchee Lake for the LOP’N Regatta.( LaBelle, Okauchee, Pewaukee and Nagawicka) The morning was inviting with steady breezes from 5-10mph. The 20 boats were sailed in one course, with designations for junior or senior status, by age. One of the younger skippers, Henry Chapman, son of a local boat dealer, showed up the “big boys” with a stunning win on the first race. The second race was won by home lake skipper, Tommy Groskopf. After lunch, a fast approaching wind shift and weather front, brought in the winds of 15-20mph, sending all of the junior skippers except for Henry, in to shore. The remaining senior skippers, raced two more exciting races, with back to back photo finishes. Ethan Heinze of Nagawicka and Trevor Trepton of LaBelle, duked it out at the finish, with Trepton nudging into the first place spot. The last, and fourth race of the day, was in heavy wind, also. Kids were hiking out of their boats, and using their skills to maneuver a course in heavy air. Trepton and Pewaukee skipper David Winquist, were neck in neck on the last downwind, and finished the race in a very exciting upwind tacking duel. Trepton inched ahead at the finish, to win the race, and the overall first place title in the senior fleet. Henry Chapman secured the overall first place finish in the junior fleet.
Youth sailing is just one of the many activities that makes Lake Country Wisconsin, a great place to be in the summer.
It’s official. School’s out for summer! For many of you, this happened a few weeks back, but in many public schools across Southeastern Wisconsin, this week marked the end of the 2008-2009 school year.
For residents of Oconomowoc Area School District, this year was especially eventful. We saw the completion and opening of two new, state of the art, intermediate schools; Nature Hill Intermediate and Silver Lake Intermediate. These beautiful facilities serve grades 5-8. The grouping of these ages is a new trend among communities, and slightly modifies the traditional middle school system of 6th - 8th grades. Students are grouped by floor and grade, with most of their classrooms revolving around a POD format.
As a parent of 3 boys, all of whom attend schools in the Oconomowoc system, I was thrilled to see my youngest and my middle son, thrive at Nature Hill. I’ve always been an advocate for Oconomowoc Schools, but the technology and resources available to the teachers in these classrooms was incredible! Teachers were able to incorporate lessons into a DVD format for projection on their permanent, in classroom, media screen, which was linked to their desktops. These “smart screens” also allowed for viewing a wide array of multi-media. The teachers were also treated to teacher resource/conference rooms for their respective bases, allowing for greater teacher interaction and planning, within the school day.
The elective course facilities include, but are not limited to individual Band, Orchestra and Choir Rooms, an Art Studio complete with a neighboring Graphic Design Studio, a multi-purpose stage and presentation area, a flexible gymnasium complete with rock climbing wall, and the list goes on.
A favorite of the Nature Hill facility, that cannot go unmentioned, is Nature Hill itself. Nature Hill boasts some of the most beautiful walking trails, complete with several examples of various eco-systems and a charming creek. Students are treated to a “rocking” sledding hill in the winter, and stimulating biology and science lessons on the Hill, throughout the year.
In addition to these new schools, Oconomowoc welcomed the absolutely stunning, Oconomowoc Arts Center, which is attached to the High School. If you haven’t been there yet, please come! This facility is going to be a hallmark of the Performing Arts in Oconomowoc, for years to come. OHS has a proud tradition in the arts, and this center only enhances the wonderful talent that is home to the Oconomowoc community.
Last, but not least, I would be remiss if I did not mention the International Baccalaureate program, offered in addition to, Advanced Placement classes. Students can now earn an IB Diploma, from a school within a school, so to speak. IB diplomas are recognized throughout the world, as a standard for academic excellence. OASD is one of a handful of school districts offering this program. My eldest son will be participating in the IB program, and we are eager to see him test his mettle with this rigorous academic curriculum. You can read more about all of these topics by going to http://www.oasd.k12.wi.us.
So, for now, we turn our attention to the matters at hand; swimming, biking, sailing, tennis playing, baseball, picnics, outdoor festivals and concerts, and all things summer! If your summer plans include house hunting in the Lake Country area, give Oconomowoc a nod. Call me. I’d love to show you some of what makes it a great place to live!
I lived in Wales for eighteen years and I can honestly say, it is one of the best places to live. What I liked most about Wales were the people in the community. They all just seemed to care so much about each other. Whenever I would walk my two dogs, I was always greeted by everyone I met. In addition, I found neighbors taking care of neighbors. My wonderful neighbor plowed out my driveway all winter long, without ever being asked and if I needed my grass cut, he was the first one over to help me out. Now, that’s what I call a great place to live.
If you ever have the opportunity to drive through this community I would urge you to drive down Main Street. There you will find a Bread and Breakfast, a few specialty shops, post office, bike trail and two parks and if you looked up and around you will observe the Wales Flag. To learn about the national flag of Wales, click here.
In addition, Wales is known for a famous Ice Cream Shop called Le Duc’s. It is said to have some of the best ice cream in the United States.
Currently we have 23 properties for sale ranging from $207,000 to $2,650,000. Listed below is one of my listings located in Wales, Wisconsin.
Sellers have priced this 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom Colonial to sell. Plenty of room to roam! Living room is perfect for entertaining, large eat-in kitchen overlooks backyard & has a wood-burning stove. Office/den completes the main level. Upstairs you will find 4 generous sized bedrooms & 2 full bathrooms. Lower level completes this home with 2 more additional rooms. All of this, plus 1 acre lot, fenced in yard & award winning Kettle Moraine schools! For more information on this home or any others in Wales, please call Sharon at 262-470-2000 or e-mail sharon@shorewest.com. Wales is one of the best places to live in Southeastern Wisconsin.
As a Realtor®, for Shorewest in the Lake Country area, transferees often ask me about the “Lake Country Lifestyle”. “What are the schools like? How is the shopping? Where can we find interesting and unique things to do relative to the arts and entertainment?” Of course, all of Southeastern Wisconsin enjoys the beautiful attributes of Greater Milwaukee. In addition to the shops and restaurants in Milwaukee County, Waukesha County offers many wonderful and diverse places to eat, recreate, and shop.
One of my newfound favorites is a fair trade shop, called “Trails to Bridges”, in Hartland. Starting as a home-based business, the owner eventually went to a small retail space, and ultimately, the storefront shop she just opened. She, and her husband, personally visit and become familiar with the people behind the items she sells. I was first introduced to their unique items via a visit the owner made to my local church, in Oconomowoc. She effectively turned our fellowship area into a “smorgasbord” of wonderful and exotic hand-made articles from around the world.
A member of the Fair Trade Federation, “Trails to Bridges” assists in lifting families from some of the world’s poorest locations, out of a lifestyle of poverty, by supplying a fair and equitable business system in which to market their wares. The Realtor® in me finds this especially honorable. In spite of challenging economic times, Wisconsin residents enjoy a very high standard of living, as compared to the world at large. I have the unique pleasure of sharing this wonderful and prosperous lifestyle of Lake Country with my clients and customers. It’s nice to know that by patronizing a local merchant, we can all do a small part in passing along some economic success to those whose challenges far outweigh our own.
So, next time you may be out looking for something unique and special, check out “Trails to Bridges” on E Capitol, in downtown Hartland.
It is 80 degrees. Puffy white clouds are floating in the endless blue sky. A constant, gentle breeze is folding the corners of your “beach towel”, though you are not at the beach - there is no sand in your face, on your feet, or in your mouth. Feel the warmth of the sun on your back, the firm surface beneath you. The lake is lapping rhythmically under the pier. In the distance, you hear the gentle purr of engines on the water, boaters out enjoying the day. You are a peace.
Summer is coming! We can’t wait to escape the indoors, drawn by all kinds of fun on the lake. Appreciation and the enjoyment of the water nurture all of us here, through childhood, our teen years, and into adulthood. How blessed we are to be here in the summer, in this beautiful part of Wisconsin called Lake Country! Oh “happy days!” as my mother likes to say.
Minnesota may be the “Land of Lakes”, but in Wisconsin, we like to claim that we are the heart of the Midwest’s Lake Country. From the stunning cityscape along the Milwaukee Lakefront, to the beautiful spring fed lakes, and chain of lakes throughout Southeastern and Northern Wisconsin, Wisconsin boasts some of the best water frontage in the country!
Water recreation comes in many forms, but a passion near and dear to Southeast Wisconsin, is SAILING! The Inland Lakes Yachting Association dates back over 150 years. Big boat sailing has an equal and passionate following on Lake Michigan.
A recent addition to the club, is the newly formed, Milwaukee Youth Sailing Team, a group of high school teens, committed to competitive sailing. Milwaukee Yacht Club is host to the group, consisting of several area high schools. MYST, as the team is referred to, trains as a collective, and then competes in smaller groups by high school. They sail 420’s and Lasers.Oconomowoc High School, Marquette High School and Trinity Academy all have official high school teams. Other students compete as mixed teams, from various high schools in the area.
MISSA, the Midwestern Interscholastic Sailing Association, is our region’s governing body of ISSA, the national group. Our Midwest kids are some of the best sailors in the country, and are competitive on a regional, as well as national basis. Many have sailed nationally and internationally since they were young kids, in the opti.
On May 9th and 10th, MYC will play host to the region’s area schools. Kids will be here from Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota. Follow the action on Sailgroove, or on any of the websites linked to these organizations.
In Wisconsin, spring comes in its own good time. Since we can’t always count on that beautiful, sunny day bike ride or walk along the lakeshore, we hunt for fun and exciting things to do that may occupy a chilly evening, or a rainy afternoon. Lake Country offers many such activities. I’d like to highlight a gem of an organization, which many area locals are not familiar with. It is called the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, or WASB for short.
It resides at Carroll University, in Waukesha. “The Waukesha Area Symphonic Band began in the fall of 1976 as the result of concerned musicians who recognized the need for an adult music organization in the community that was dedicated to the serious performance of outstanding music for winds and percussion.” The band is comprised of adults from various professions; doctors, attorneys, music educators, business owners, and even a realtor or two.
Being a lifelong French Horn-playing “band-geek”, I have sought out community orchestras and bands, my entire adult life. It is such a treat to find an organization of this caliber, in my own back yard, and one that offers such a beautiful facility, in which to perform. There are old friends, and new friends within the group, and several from my culture-rich-hometown of Oconomowoc. We are currently planning a joint concert with the Oconomowoc High School Bands for this fall in the newly built Oconomowoc Performing Arts Center.
Each year, the band’s spring concert features a community organization as the benefactor of a portion of the concert proceeds. This spring, as in many years past, proceeds will benefit ACAP, the Waukesha Adaptive Community Approach Program. It’s mission: “ We encourage people with disabilities to achieve their highest potential and acquire life-long skills which will enable them to become contributing and valued members within their communities.” The concert will feature a French Horn solo, by one on our local high school juniors. Click here for a bio on Ms. Duffy, a Waukesha West High School Junior. So, for some great local culture, benefiting a good cause, please consider an evening of beautiful music.
Concert time is at 7:30 p.m. in Shattuck Auditorium, on the campus of Carroll University. Tickets for the May 1st concert are $10 and are available by calling 262/370-6129 or in the Shattuck Auditorium lobby on the evening of the concert.
- Full Time Real Estate Professional
- Lake Country Native
- Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist
- Master Sales Professional
- Multi-million Dollar Producer
Specialties include:
Luxury Home Marketing
Waterfront Properties
Home Staging and Remodeling Services including a Referral Network of Home Improvement Specialists
April 15, 2009 at 08:54 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
The finishing touch for the City of Oconomowoc’s Wisconsin Avenue road project is the round-about. Recently I was taking aerial pictures of our fair city and snapped a few quick ones of the focal point of downtown. I must admit at first I thought the roundabout would not work very well, but using it almost daily it sure makes travel through this part of the city much quicker and easier. The Oconomowoc Rotary Club (of which I am a proud member) is donating a sizeable amount of money for the sculpture that will be displayed in the island of the roundabout, which is now the gateway to the city. Just west of the roundabout you will come upon the beautiful bricked city hall that houses the police department, mayor’s office and many other departments. For those of you who are unfamiliar with roundabouts the city has instructions posted on their website on how to use the new (old) interchange. So much is happening in Lake Country and especially in Oconomowoc—a great place to live, work and have fun!
April 15, 2009 at 04:57 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
In the fall of 2008 Oconomowoc unveiled their two new middle schools, Silver Lake Intermediate and Nature Hill Intermediate Schools. The School District quite frankly hit a home run with the two intermediate schools–first, for their great locations and second, for the stunning style that each school displays. As you can see from the picture each school is loaded with great residential architecture. Poised for growth, each setting is ideally situated within minutes of much of the future growth for Oconomowoc. With the addition of an Arts Center and an expanded indoor field house at the high school, the district has positioned itself to take advantage of the upcoming expansion in housing in Oconomowoc. I have written in past blogs about the Oconomowoc Arts Center and seeing IS believing! If you are relocating to western Waukesha County and Lake Country, you will want to visit the school district to get a firsthand experience of everything Oconomowoc has to offer. One of the services I offer are school tours to relocating families. As a Certified Shorewest Relocation Specialist, I know how important finding the right school for your children is. Feel free to email me at ghanon@shorewest.com for more information about our Relocation Services.
If you live in the Lake Country area of Waukesha County in Wisconsin, you may be interested to know how overpricing your home could cost you thousands of dollars. The statistics below show single family homes sales during the last 6 months of 2008 in the $400,000 - $500,000 price range.
(Not your price range? Contact me at stomlinson@shorewest.com or
262.470.2000.)
Click on Graph Below for Full Size
In this instance the difference between selling in 60 days or less and one that takes more than 9 months is almost 5%. With an average original list price in this price range of $487,045 this equates to a $24,532 loss.
Even comparing some simple numbers for those homes that sold in less than 60 days to those that sold in more than 60 days we find some striking comparisons. Homes that sold in less than 60 days averaged a sales price of $447,093 in an average of 37 days. Home that sold in more than 60 days averaged a sales price of $439,635 in a little more than 188 days. One average sellers waited an extra 5 months to receive almost $8000 less.
Wow, when you live in the country, you are truly blessed. On my way home this evening, the sun was shining bright and I had the most relaxing drive home. As I headed south on Hwy. 67, I was amazed at how fast they seem to be coming along on the new Aurora Hospital. Next, I heard the roar of thunder as I passed the Harley Davidson shop. As I continued on my journey, I was reminded of all of nature’s beauty. I noticed the ducks playing in the stream. I then turned onto Hwy. 18, and observed several people walking on the Drumlin Bike Trail, of course, many with their furry friends. Finally, I turned onto Rustic Road/Waterville Road, and I was reminded of why I live where I do. I had to stop the car as a squirrel decided to dart across the road, and as I looked into the field, I noticed several deer were out looking for food in the fields, when a mother doe and her fawn crossed the road to join the others.
One needs to count their blessings when they live in the Lake Country Area of Waukesha County, WI. If you are looking for something fun to do, please take a drive down Rustic Road. I know you will enjoy the sounds and sights that nature has to offer, not to mention how beautiful a drive it really is!!
If you live in the Lake Country area of Waukesha County in Wisconsin, you may be interested to know how overpricing your home could cost you thousands of dollars. The statistics below show single family homes sales during the last 6 months of 2008 in the $200,000 - $300,000 price range. (Not your price range? Contact me at stomlinson@shorewest.com or 262.470.2000.) The stats show that sellers who priced their homes competitively and sold it in less than 60 days received on average almost $20,000 more than sellers who overpriced their home and sold in more than 60 days.
Lake Country Single Family Homes Sales
$200,000 - $300,000
7.1.08 - 12.31.08
Click on Graph Below for Full Size
In this instance the difference between selling in 60 days or less and one that takes more than 9 months is over 8%. With an average sales price in this price range at $246,332 this equates to a $19,707 loss.
Even comparing some simple numbers for those homes that sold in less than 60 days to those that sold in 60 or more days we find some striking comparisons. Homes that sold in less than 60 days averaged a sales price of $248,223 in an average of 20 days. Home that sold in 60 or more days averages a sales price of $245,110 in a little more than 145 days. One average sellers waited an extra 4 months to receive over $3000 less.
When pricing your home make sure that you are comparing apples to apples and comparing original list prices to sale prices when considering where to price your home.
Glenn Hanon
Karen Trepton
I decided to work on a ride for our office called TEAM SHOREWEST. We had Jersey’s designed and have lots of fun as an office. Our route is a little easier 17.5 miles and we also leave every Wednesday night at 6pm unless it is raining. The ride is open to all who want some good exercise and a quick ride. If you are an experienced rider this could be your coasting night. Regardless of skill level we would love to have you join us. We do not ride in the rain so you can plan accordingly. If you like these cool jersey’s let me know and we can order one for you on your next order.
Eileen Mooers, a Delafield resident, is the co-founder of Lake Country Caring, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those who are less fortunate in our area. Founded in 1990 this fantastic group serves 1400 plus families locally providing clothing and household items FREE of charge to those in need. To find out more about Lake Country Caring, 
If you live in the Midwest, especially in Lake Country, it is inevitable that you are familiar with our area’s prime winter recreation activities; ice fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, and skating. But are you familiar with one of the oldest and most unique winter sports, ice boating? Ice boating is every sailor’s favorite winter activity! If the love of wind and water gets your adrenaline running in the summer, ice boating will put you over the top, in the winter!
south to downtown, through the round-about westward on Wisconsin Avenue, and then south on Main Street to Roosevelt Park.
Many of you may know that I blog about youth sailing in Southeastern Wisconsin. It’s a big part of my boys’ lives, and something my family is passionate about. I will have another article in the next few days, about the updates of our local 
If you are wondering where summer was in July, it waited to arrive in Wisconsin until September! We have been experiencing some absolutely beautiful, summer-like days over the last two weeks! My 7th grade son reminded me that in fact, summer doesn’t officially end until September 23rd. So thank you “Mother Nature” for serving up summer until the last possible second!
Sharon Tomlinson
In spite of a questionable start, summer has arrived in Wisconsin, and with it, comes the youth sailing season. A “boat load” of regattas are available for kids to attend. Last weekend, young teens showed up on North Lake, for the annual QUINT regatta. Sailors from North Lake, Lac LaBelle, Pewaukee, Nagawicka and Okauchee sailed a very challenging regatta due to very little, and ever shifting breezes. 20+ boats were on the line, and the event ended with the top three skippers, tying for points and using a tie breaker for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Home lake skipper, Blake Kenney and crew, won the tie breaker and the 1st place overall finish.
Trepton nudging into the first place spot. The last, and fourth race of the day, was in heavy wind, also. Kids were hiking out of their boats, and using their skills to maneuver a course in heavy air. Trepton and Pewaukee skipper David Winquist, were neck in neck on the last downwind, and finished the race in a very exciting upwind tacking duel. Trepton inched ahead at the finish, to win the race, and the overall first place title in the senior fleet. Henry Chapman secured the overall first place finish in the junior fleet. 
As a parent of 3 boys, all of whom attend schools in the Oconomowoc system, I was thrilled to see my youngest and my middle son, thrive at Nature Hill. I’ve always been an advocate for Oconomowoc Schools, but the technology and resources available to the teachers in these classrooms was incredible! Teachers were able to incorporate lessons into a DVD format for projection on their permanent, in classroom, media screen, which was linked to their desktops. These “smart screens” also allowed for viewing a wide array of multi-media. The teachers were also treated to teacher resource/conference rooms for their respective bases, allowing for greater teacher interaction and planning, within the school day.
If you ever have the opportunity to drive through this community I would urge you to drive down Main Street. There you will find a Bread and Breakfast, a few specialty shops, post office, bike trail and two parks and if you looked up and around you will observe the Wales Flag. To learn about the national flag of Wales, 
Sellers have priced this 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom Colonial to sell. Plenty of room to roam! Living room is perfect for entertaining, large eat-in kitchen overlooks backyard & has a wood-burning stove. Office/den completes the main level. Upstairs you will find 4 generous sized bedrooms & 2 full bathrooms. Lower level completes this home with 2 more additional rooms. All of this, plus 1 acre lot, fenced in yard & award winning Kettle Moraine schools! For more information on this home or any others in Wales, please call Sharon at 262-470-2000 or e-mail 
As a Realtor®, for Shorewest in the Lake Country area, transferees often ask me about the “Lake Country Lifestyle”. “What are the schools like? How is the shopping? Where can we find interesting and unique things to do relative to the arts and entertainment?” Of course, all of Southeastern Wisconsin enjoys the beautiful attributes of Greater Milwaukee. In addition to the shops and restaurants in Milwaukee County, Waukesha County offers many wonderful and diverse places to eat, recreate, and shop.
Cathy Butschke
has an equal and passionate following on Lake Michigan.
In Wisconsin, spring comes in its own good time. Since we can’t always count on that beautiful, sunny day bike ride or walk along the lakeshore, we hunt for fun and exciting things to do that may occupy a chilly evening, or a rainy afternoon. Lake Country offers many such activities. I’d like to highlight a gem of an organization, which many area locals are not familiar with. It is called the 
Each year, the band’s spring concert features a community organization as the benefactor of a portion of the concert proceeds. This spring, as in many years past, proceeds will benefit ACAP, the 
The finishing touch for the City of Oconomowoc’s Wisconsin Avenue road project is the round-about. Recently I was taking aerial pictures of our fair city and snapped a few quick ones of the focal point of downtown. I must admit at first I thought the roundabout would not work very well, but using it almost daily it sure makes travel through this part of the city much quicker and easier. The Oconomowoc Rotary Club (of which I am a proud member) is donating a sizeable amount of money for the sculpture that will be displayed in the island of the roundabout, which is now the gateway to the city. Just west of the roundabout 
you will come upon the beautiful bricked city hall that houses the police department, mayor’s office and many other departments. For those of you who are unfamiliar with roundabouts the city has 
In the fall of 2008 Oconomowoc unveiled their two new middle schools, Silver Lake Intermediate and Nature Hill Intermediate Schools. The 
I have written in past blogs about the Oconomowoc Arts Center and seeing IS believing! If you are relocating to western Waukesha County and Lake Country, you will want to visit the school district to get a firsthand experience of everything Oconomowoc has to offer. One of the services I offer are school tours to relocating families. As a Certified Shorewest Relocation Specialist, I know how important finding the right school for your children is. Feel free to email me at 
was amazed at how fast they seem to be coming along on the new Aurora Hospital. Next, I heard the roar of thunder as I passed the Harley Davidson shop. As I continued on my journey, I was reminded of all of nature’s beauty. I noticed the ducks playing in the stream. I then turned onto Hwy. 18, and observed several people walking on the Drumlin Bike Trail, of course, many with their furry friends. Finally, I turned onto Rustic Road/Waterville Road, and I was reminded of why I live where I do. I had to stop the car as a squirrel decided to dart across the road, and as I looked into the field, I noticed several deer were out looking for food in the fields, when a mother doe and her fawn crossed the road to join the others.
One needs to count their blessings when they live in the Lake Country Area of Waukesha County, WI. If you are looking for something fun to do, please take a drive down Rustic Road. I know you will enjoy the sounds and sights that nature has to offer, not to mention how beautiful a drive it really is!!
