Postcard from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Windsurfing and sailing keep us busy when we are not actually in the gorgeous lake swimming. With our vacation home only a 5 minute walk from the beach, this has turned out to be one of the best investments of time and money we've
made.

  

About Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Only an hour from Chicago and Milwaukee, Lake Geneva is a premier summer vacation destination for the nearby city dwellers. It offers high-end luxury developments as well as cottages, cabins and small homes. Prices tend to be higher here than even 20 minutes north, because of the size of the lake and proximity to the cities. With almost half the housing renter-occupied, the location is perfect for a second home with good rental opportunities, due to a strong vacation rental market from the city weekenders. With property appreciation in the low-teens, it is also a great investment spot.

Not far from the great Lake Michigan, Lake Geneva is surrounded by rolling countryside, green in the summer, white in the winter. At the heart of the city of Lake Geneva sits Geneva Lake, formed by glacier movements thousands of years ago, and the second deepest lake in Wisconsin, (135 feet within its 21 mile circumference). The clear water and lots of public access make the lake the center of year round activity, from biking and boating in the summer to ice skating and ice fishing in the winter.

Housing
Options: Lake Front, Lake Access, Single Family and Condos, Luxury Homes and Cottages
Median house value: $121,200 (year 2000). Pricing depends on proximity to the lake.

For example, one Chicago Sun Times article quotes over $1million for lakefront, with $650,00 being common. Houses start at $250-300,000 in walking distance of the lake, and $100-150,000 when they are 1/2 mile drive away.

47% of the houses are rentals, with a fairly low vacancy rate of 18%.

An Average Lifestyle in Lake Geneva
A great portion of the people here are weekenders coming from the city to their vacation home by the lake.  Both the high-end resort communities and the condos offer comfortable second home living. At the same time, there are still small cottage homes nearby for a down-home vacation. By and large, it is a summer hot spot, with people coming to vacation rather than retire, since the winters are snowy and cold.

Things to Do in Lake Geneva
• Fishing, Fishing, Fishing - great lake fishing
• Golf at one of five golf courses
• Spend a day at a five-star spa
• Summer Sports: Biking, boating, hiking, tennis, swimming, waterskiing
• Winter Sports: Downhill skiing, crosscountry skiing, ice skating, ice fishing, snowmobiling, sleigh riding
• Enter the National Snowsculpting Contest in the winter

Near-By Excursions
• For a change of scenery, enjoy nearby Lake Como

Cultural Activities
• Enjoy the Music by the Lake series in the summer

Location
Lake Geneva is located in Walworth County, Southeastern Wisconsin, 10 miles north of the Illinois state line.
Elevation: 889 feet
Size: 5 miles
Distance to other major cities:
Chicago, Ill: 75 miles
Rockford, Ill: 39 miles
Milwaukee, Wi: 45 miles
Madison, Wi:  59 miles

Getting To Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
By air: O'Hare International Airport in Chicago (90 minutes) or General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee (45 minutes)
By Car: on Interstates from any of the nearby cities

Weather in Lake Geneva
Four distinct seasons
Annual Average Temperature: Winter: low of 16, high 30; Summer: low 59, high 78
Annual Average Snowfall: 48 in.

Population
Population: 7,196
Growth Rate: 1997: 6453; 5 year growth rate of 11%
Median Age, 2000: 36.5

Total Population Within:
50 miles 200,000  (Milwaukee)
100 miles  1 million plus (Chicago)

Economics
Median household income: $40,924 (year 2000)
Principle Industries:  Manufacturing

Local History
As with most of the US, this area had been settled by Native American Indians for a fairly long time, prior to the European settlements. Lake Geneva attracted people from the East Coast, via the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes, in the early 1800's, and a town took shape by 1840. Proximity to Chicago attracted vacationers to create summer homes in the late 1800's. The abundance of water power helped create the local milling industries including lumber and flour.

Higher Education
McHenry Community College (25 Miles)