Pretty soon this will be open water! Get ready to jump in as with this winter snow and the frozen water will lend itself to amazing water quality this year. I can’t wait as one of my favorite things to do is jump off the Fontana Municipal pier and lap swim…..a few more weeks!
Delavan Lake home – second home with boat slip.
The Digital House Hunt
To better understand the evolving role of digital media in the consumer home search process.
Google and NAR have collaborated to uncover trends and insights around digital media usage among home shoppers, whether they were looking for an existing home, a newly constructed home, or an apartment. Together, Google and NAR’s individual research results tell a cohesive story about today’s uber-connected home shopper.
Report Highlights
– 90 percent of home buyers searched online during their home buying process
– Real estate related searches on Google.com grew 253 percent over the past four years.
– Buyers use specific online tools during different phases of the home search process
– How important “local” search terms and websites are for buyers
– How mobile technology cements online to offline home buying — including the reading of online reviews
– How video and YouTube satisfy buyers’ research needs
– The role of age and gender in driving real estate decision making in the market by being the top demographics who searched online and took the next steps offline
– Top states for searches around first-time home buyer tips and specific housing segments like senior housing and foreclosures
To download the entire report click here: The Digital House Hunt: Consumer Trends in Real Estate
Peering into the 2013 Housing Market
“The last few months have brought a spate of favorable news on the U.S. housing market with construction up, more home sales, and home-value growth turning positive,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “This has been a big change from a year ago, when some analysts worried that the looming ‘shadow inventory’ would keep the housing sector mired in an economic depression. Instead, the housing market is healing, is contributing positively to GDP and is returning to its traditional role of supporting the economic recovery.”
In Freddie Mac’s U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook for December, Nothaft made the following predictions for housing in 2013:
- Long-term mortgage rates will remain near their record lows during the first half of 2013 and rise gradually during the second half of the year, but remaining below 4%.
- Property values will continue to strengthen with most U.S. house price indexes likely rising by 2.5% to 3% percent in 2013.
- Household formation should increase to a net 1.20 to 1.25 million household, while housing starts should increase to approximately 1 million (annualized) by the fourth quarter.
- Vacancy rates for both apartments and the single-family for-sale market could bring aggregate vacancy rates down to 2002-2003 levels, as household formation outpaces new construction.
- The refinance boom will continue into early 2013. However, single-family refinances will decline by 15% next year compared to 2012, while multifamily lending is expected to increase approximately 5 percent.
Source:
December 10, 2012
Townhome at Geneva National in Lake Geneva under 200K
This townhome is set in an ideal spot at the Woodlands of Geneva National. Eastern exposure with mature trees. Open the front 
door and the breeze through the home is very refreshing. Two bedrooms and two bath rooms are upstairs, main floor includes this view along with living area, kitchen, laundry, access to your garage and a half bath.
The lower level adds another bedroom, full bath, famly room and patio. There is something to be said for seperate areas of living as friends can have privacy on the lower level and you can have yours on the upper level. Recently renovated to include granite counters, new lighting, custom paint, along with wood flooring.
An early 2012 Lake Geneva Market snapshot.
If you haven’t been watching the change in the Lake Geneva market then let’s get you up to date. The weather during this 2012 winter spurred an early shopping season. Metro MLS statistics show that the inventory around Walworth county and the Geneva Lake area is going down with sales increasing over the past 3 months. Coupled with a slight increase in mortgage rates we are starting to see the ‘turn’. Keefe Real Estate shows about a 20% increase in scheduling showings and that translates into accepted offers and closing. As these current real estate sales trends gain momentum and the great pricing continues you may be late to the table if you don’t step in now and make your next real estate purchase. There are homes and land for sale around Lake Geneva, Fontana and Williams Bay. Click on my website and search for your home option around Delavan, Lake Geneva and other great lakes in Walworth County.
