Home Sales Increase Across the Country

Home Sales Increase Across the Country

Tis the season - Shopping list for the new homeowner

Tis the season - Shopping list for the new homeowner 

 Basic tools every home and homeowner needs

The Holidays are the perfect time to purchase gifts new homeowners can use to maintain and personalize their new home.

Every home needs care, maintenance, and repair work done. Most new homeowners do not have the tools they will need and the same applies to some homeowners that have owned the home for a while. Homeowners are not equal in repair, and maintenance skills. 

First, know your limits if you attack a repair that is to far over your head, the repair to the repairs you have done will be more expensive. If you are over your head call a professional to make the repair. There is a tremendous library of information available to you on the internet, books, magazines, and television shows, to show you how to on most repairs... Although most repairs can be done by the homeowner, they have to be done right! Tools are the first step in doing a good job. Without them, the job will be frustrating, and it probably will not be completed or it will be a hurried disrepair job.

Here is a list of tools that most homeowners should have. Many other tools that are useful these can be purchased as the job at hand indicates. Get what you need and need what you get is a great rule. Of course there are some tools you, will have to have, GOLF CLUBS, AND FISHING RODS! These are essential to your personal maintenance!

Interior Tools:Set of socket wrenches, Set of screwdrivers Phillips and pan head various sizes, Set of open end wrenches, Set of Hex wrenches, Hand saw for wood, Hack saw for metal, Stud finder, Voltage tester, Flashlights, Pluming snake, Needle nose pliers, Gas pliers several sizes, Putty/drywall knifes, Circular saw, Framing square, Caulking gun, 2 Pry bars, a small 6” and a medium 12”, 2 foot and 4-foot level, Small claw hammer, Standard claw hammer, Rubber mallet, Cordless and/or power drill, Pipe wrench 2 sizes, Measuring tape 25’ , Set of drill bits, Staple gun, Paint brushes various sizes, Paint rollers and pan, Painting drop cloth, Belt sander, Saw horses, Work bench and vice

Exterior tools:Lawn mower, Fertilizer/seed spreader, Rakes for leafs, Lawn trimmer, Thatch Rake for lawn, Hoses 5/8 Diameter, Pruning shears, Wheelbarrow, Flat shovel, Sprinklers, Spade shovel, Leaf blower, Pruning saw, Garden rake, Pruning scissors, Brooms, Dust pan with small broom, Snow shovels, Stepladder, Extension ladder, Plastic tarps

You need to decide how involved you want to become with your home maintenance tasks.  There is no shame in not doing repairs yourself and hiring a contractor.There is shame if you know a repair needs to be done and do not do it yourself or hire a contractor. Ignoring a repair will not make it go away it will make it more expensive when the repair is done. If there is a problem do not wait fix it right away!

Please feel free to call me for any of your real estate needs, including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home in Waukesha County, Jefferson County, Dodge County, Washington County, Milwaukee County or any county in Wisconsin. Real Estate is an excellent investment!

When you are looking at buying a Waukesha county home , real estate agent, finding a Waukesha real estate agent, finding a Delafield, Chenequa, Pewaukee, Oconomowoc, Hartland, Waukesha, Wales, Mukwonago, Wales,New Berlin, Brookfield, Dousman, Eagle or any other of the great municipalities in Waukesha County,Wisconsin.

If looking for LAKE COUNTRY LIVING on one of Waukesha County's great lakes: Nagawicka, Pewaukee, Pine, Beaver, Okauchee, Moose, North, Oconomowoc,I would be glad to help you in any relocation to Waukesha County, or help in buying a home in Waukesha County, or selling a home in Waukesha County. I strongly encourage any seller that is looking to market their property this year to get a sound feeling for what it is worth. Real estate in Waukesha County is now an excellent investment, prices of superb, selection is great, and the rates are outstanding.

When you are looking at buying a Jefferson County home , or DODGE County real estate agent, finding a Watertown real estate agent, finding a Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Fort Atkinson, Ixonia, Lake Mills, Hartford, Ashippun, Slinger, Beaver Dam,or any other of the great municipalities in Jefferson County or Dodge,Wisconsin.

Please feel free to call me for any of your real estate needs, including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home in Waukesha County, JEFFERSON County, Washington County, Dodge County, Milwaukee County. Real Estate in Waukesha County is an excellent investment!

262-893-5555 Office/Cell

(888) 872-0526 

Direct Fax

 
Proudly Serving Southcentral and Southeastern Wisconsin with Referrals from my Clients

Look for properties across Wisconsin on MLS at http://www.lisabear.com

For Sale: 8BR/9+BA Single Family House in Oconomowoc, WI, $5,750,000

For Sale: 8BR/9+BA Single Family House in Oconomowoc, WI, $5,750,000

Life is good in WINSCONSIN

Scoreboards are lighting up and crowds are getting "beastly"  ----
It's Sports in Wisconsin and its been a GREAT October 

Last weekend the MILWAUKEE BREWERS clinched the DIVISION Championship and wrapped up home field advantage for the first series in the playoffs.  The WISCONSIN BADGERS welcomed the new addition Nebraska Cornbsukers to the BIG TEN with a DOMINATING victory and the GREEN BAY PACKERS closed out the weekend with a WIN in PACK ATTACK fashion. 

This weekend the momentum continued in even more exciting fashion -- FRIDAY night , the BREW CREW "T' PLUSHED" their way past the Diamondack 2-1 in 10 innings in game 5 to advance to the National League Championship series.

Yesterday's SUPER SUNDAY had WISCONSIN's Fans and the band wagon jumpers alike eager for the "HIGH" to continue.... and our teams did not let us down!
GAME ONE in the NL PENNANT RUN - The BREW CREW, hosting the CARDINALS in first game of the day at MILLER PARK had fans teetertottering in their seats before ralling midgame to delivering a 9-6 WIN!
Aaron Rodgers lead the PACKERS to a come from behind  Sunday NIGHT FOOTBALL WIN ............

It's intense but man is it fun!
The BREWERS, like the Harvey Wallbangers of 1982, are a team.  Thats whats makes this Brewers team so dangerous and fun to watch, it's more than just the Prince and Ryan Show. This is an offense that can leave its imprint in all sorts of ways, via all sorts of people.
The fun continues tonight, and 7:05pm can't get here soon enough...MILLER PARK will be rocking!!!


 Find yourself wanting to get in on the action -- MOVE to WISCONSIN--- and I will help!
Please feel free to call me for any of your real estate needs, including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home in Waukesha County. Real Estate in Waukesha County is an excellent investment!
When you are looking at buying a Waukesha county home , real estate agent, finding a Waukesha real estate agent, finding a Delafield, Chenequa, Pewaukee, Oconomowoc, Hartland, Waukesha, Wales, Mukwonago, Wales,New Berlin, Brookfield, Dousman, Eagle or any other of the great municipalities in Waukesha County,Wisconsin.
If looking for LAKE COUNTRY LIVING on one of Waukesha County's great lakes: Nagawicka, Pewaukee, Pine, Beaver, Okauchee, Moose, North, Oconomowoc,I would be glad to help you in any relocation to Waukesha County, or help in buying a home in Waukesha County, or selling a home in Waukesha County. I strongly encourage any seller that is looking to market their property this year to get a sound feeling for what it is worth. Real estate in Waukesha County is now an excellent investment, prices of superb, selection is great, and the rates are outstanding.

262-893-5555 Office/Cell

(888) 872-0526 

Direct Fax

 
Proudly Serving Southcentral and Southeastern Wisconsin with Referrals from my Clients
 
Look for properties across Wisconsin on MLS at http://www.lisabear.com

 

Discover Wisconsin in Waukesha County Lisa Bear, Real Estate in Waukesha County, 262-893-5555: RENT to HOME PROJECT

Discover Wisconsin in Waukesha County Lisa Bear, Real Estate in Waukesha County, 262-893-5555: RENT to HOME PROJECT: Interested in owning your own home... but unsure how to start or even a bit scared. Find out more about the RENT to HOME PROJECT .. from t...

For the More Affluent Home Seller

For the More Affluent Home Seller

Homeownership: Why Wait?

Homeownership: Why Wait?

What If You Could Buy Shoes…?

What If You Could Buy Shoes…?

Why They Are Saying to Buy A Home Now

Why They Are Saying to Buy A Home Now

Feeling ambitious -- looking to purchase a FIXER- UPPER? What you need to know first!

Fixer-Uppers

Is it smart to even consider a fixer-upper?

It depends. Distressed properties or fixer-uppers can be found anywhere, even in wealthier neighborhoods. Such properties are poorly maintained and have a lower market value than other houses in the neighborhood.
Many experts recommend that before you make such an investment, first find the least desirable house in the best neighborhood. Then do the math to see if what it would cost to bring up the value of that property to its full potential market value is within your budget. If you are a novice buyer, it may be wiser to look for properties that only need cosmetic fixes rather than run-down houses that need major structural repairs.

Is there a tax break for a fixer-upper house if it is considered historical?

Qualified rehabilitated buildings and certified historic structures currently enjoy a 20 percent investment tax credit for qualified rehabilitation expenses. A historic structure is one listed in the National Register of Historic Places or so designated by an appropriate state or local historic district also certified by the government.
The tax code does not allow deductions for the demolition or significant alteration of a historic structure.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 203 (K) rehabilitation loan program is designed to facilitate major structural rehabilitation of houses with one to four units that are more than one year old. Condominiums are not eligible.
The 203(K) loan is usually done as a combination loan to purchase a fixer-upper property "as is" and rehabilitate it, or to refinance a temporary loan to buy the property and do the rehabilitation. It can also be done as a rehabilitation-only loan.
Plans and specifications for the proposed work must be submitted for architectural review and cost estimation. Mortgage proceeds are advanced periodically during the rehabilitation period to finance the construction costs.
For a list of participating lenders, call HUD at (202) 708-2720.
If you are a veteran, loans from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also can be used to buy a home, build a home, improve a home, or refinance an existing loan. VA loans frequently offer lower interest rates than ordinarily available with other kinds of loans. To qualify for a loan, the first step is to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility.

Are there special loans for fixer-uppers?

If you need a home loan to buy a "fixer-upper" and remodel it, look at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 203(K) loan program. The program is designed to facilitate major structural rehabilitation of houses with one to four units that are more than one year old. Condominiums are not eligible.
A 203(K) loan is usually done as a combination loan to purchase a "fixer-upper" property "as is" and rehabilitate it, or to refinance a temporary loan to buy the property and do the rehabilitation. It can also be done as a rehabilitation-only loan.
Investors must put 15 percent down while owner-occupants are required to come up with only 3 to 5 percent. HUD requires that a minimum of $5,000 be spent on improvements.
Two appraisals are required. Plans and specifications for the proposed work must be submitted for architectural review and cost estimation. Mortgage proceeds are advanced periodically during the rehabilitation period to finance the construction costs.

What are building codes?

Building codes are established by local authorities to set minimum public-safety standards for building design, construction, quality, use and occupancy, location and maintenance. There are specialized codes for plumbing, electrical and fire, which usually involve separate inspections and inspectors.
All buildings must be issued a building permit and a Certificate of Occupancy before it can be used. During construction, housing inspectors must make checks at key points. Codes are usually enforced by denying permits, occupancy certificates and by imposing fines.
Building codes also cover most remodeling projects. If you are buying a house that has been significantly remodeled, ask for proof of the permits involved before you purchase to avoid future liability for fines.

How do I find a good contractor?

While hiring contractors recommended by friends is usually a safe route, never hire a construction professional without first checking him or her out. If your state has a licensing board for contractors, call to find out if there are any outstanding complaints against that license holder. Also, call your local Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints on file.
If you are satisfied with the answers you find there, interview the contractor candidates. Ask what kind of worker's compensation insurance they carry and get policy and insurance company phone numbers so you can verify the information. If they are not covered, you could be liable for any work-related injury incurred during the project. Also be sure that the contractor has an umbrella general liability policy.
If they pass the insurance hurdle, next check some of their references. A good contractor will be happy to provide as many as you want.
Finally, don't let yourself be rushed into making a decision no matter how competitive the market may seem. Also, never pay a deposit to a contractor at the first meeting. You may end up losing your money.

Is remodeling worth the price and time?

Remodeling magazine produces an annual "Cost vs. Value Report" that answers just that question. The most important point to remember is that remodeling a home not only improves its livability for you but its "curb appeal" with a potential buyer down the road.
Most recently, the highest remodeling paybacks have come from updating kitchens and baths, home-office additions and extra amenities in older homes. While home offices are a relatively new remodeling trend, for example, you could expect to recoup 58 percent of the cost of adding a home office, according to the survey.

How do I look for fixer-uppers? ASK LISA BEAR!

You can find distressed properties or fixer-uppers in most communities, even wealthier neighborhoods. A distressed property is one that has been poorly maintained and has a lower market value than other houses in the immediate area.
Ascertaining whether the property you're interested in is a wise investment takes some work. You need to figure what the average house in a given area sells for, as well as what the most desirable houses in that area are like and what they cost.
Some experts suggest that buyers who take this route try to find a "cosmetic fixer" that can be completely refurbished with paint, wallpaper, new floor and window coverings, landscaping and new appliances. You should avoid run-down houses that need major structural repairs. A house price that looks too good to be true probably is. A smart buyer will find out why before buying it.

The basic strategy for a fixer is to find the least desirable house in the most desirable neighborhood, and then decide if the expenses needed to bring the value of that property up to its full potential market value are within one's rehab budget.

Looking for a fixer upper --- I will help~! 

Have a productive day and we will see you at closing!

262-893-5555 Office/Cell

(888) 872-0526 

Direct Fax

 
Proudly Serving Southcentral and Southeastern Wisconsin with Referrals from my Clients
 
Look for properties across Wisconsin on MLS at http://www.lisabear.com

Check out my Blogs!

 http://realestateinwisconsinlisabear.blogspot.com

http://movingtooconomowocwisconsin.blogspot.com/

http://activerain.com/blogs/lisabear01

http://lakecountrylife.wordpress.com

"HELPING YOU MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION"

What About the Cost of Delaying Your Dreams?

What About the Cost of Delaying Your Dreams?

KNOLLWARD The finest mansion in MIDWEST 4 sale. 5+ million, Oconomowoc, Milwaukee, Waukesha County

KNOLLWARD The finest mansion in MIDWEST 4 sale. 5.75 million

KNOLLWARD The finest mansion in MIDWEST 4 sale. Montgomery Ward Estate established in 1928

KNOLLWARD - A Marjorie Montgomery Ward Estate established in 1928

You have to see this one to believe it…

800 N Lake Rd - Oconomowoc

an encompassing 350 ft of prsitine frontage on Lac LaBelle

Rooms: 30 / Bedrooms: 8 / Bathrooms: 10.5 / Garage Spaces:4.5 / Sq Ft: 15,222

Price - MVP'd 5.5 to 6.5 million

Directions: From Milw/Chicago take I94 to Hwy 16 (From Madison I94 to Hwy 67N to Hwy 16)into Oconomowoc. Go through the roundabout and at Wisconsin Ave/Main Street intersection turn north.Follow to home on left.

Welcome to Knollward - Showplace of the Midwest

Imagine gables roofs, dormers, oriel, French Provincial windows, black marble, wrought iron, cypress beams, gold plating and turreted outlines framing 355feet of Lac La Belle lake shore. Picture traveling through 30 rooms with seven fireplaces and 17 chandeliers in a time still suspended in the year 1928.


Now picture yourself owning incredible KNOLLWARD; the former summer home of Marjorie Montgomery Ward Baker, a monument paying tribute to an unsurpassed era of glamour, grace and style.

Marjorie Montgomery Ward Baker was the adopted daughter and only child of Aaron Montgomery and Betty Ward. Aaron Montgomery Ward was the founder of the nationally known mail order firm and first “wishbook.”


Commanding the east bank of Lac La Belle, the mansion is located at 800 N Lake Road, Oconomowoc. Known for its picturesque lakes and historical integrity, Oconomowoc captures the beauty of small town America combined with the sophistication of metropolitan Milwaukee just 30 miles east.

The story of Knollward is as fascinating as the house.

Aaron Montgomery Ward was born on February 17, 1844 in Chatham, New Jersey. When he was about nine years old, his father, Sylvester Ward, moved the family to Niles, Michigan, where Aaron attended public schools. He was one of a large family, which at that time was far from wealthy. When he was fourteen, he was apprenticed to a trade to help support the family. According to his brief memoirs, he first earned 25 cents per day at a cutting machine in a barrel stave factory and then stacking brick in a kiln at 30 cents a day.


Energy and ambition drove him to seek employment in the town of St. Joseph, a market for outlying fruit orchards, where he went to work in a shoe store. Being a fair salesman, within nine months he was engaged as a salesman in a general country store at six dollars per month plus board, a considerable salary at the time. He rose to become head clerk and general manager and remained at this store for three years. By the end of those three years, his salary was one hundred dollars a month plus his board. He left for a better job in a competing store, where he worked another two years. In this period, Ward learned retailing.


In 1865, Ward located in Chicago, worked for Case and a lamp house. He traveled for them, and sold goods on commission for a short time. Chicago was the center of the wholesale dry-goods trade.


In the 1860s Ward joined the leading dry-goods house, Field Palmer & Leiter, a forerunner of Marshall Field & Co. He worked for Field for two years and then joined the wholesale dry-goods business of Wills, Greg & Co. In tedious rounds of train trips to southern communities, hiring rigs at the local stables, driving out to the crossroads stores and listening to the complaints of the back-country proprietors and their rural customers, he conceived a new merchandising technique: direct mail sales to country people. It was a time when rural consumers longed for the comforts of the city, yet all too often were victimized by monopolists and overcharged by the costs of many middlemen required to bring manufactured products to the countryside. The quality of merchandise also was suspect and the hapless farmer had no recourse in a caveat emptor economy. Ward shaped a plan to buy goods at low cost for cash. By eliminating intermediaries, with their markups and commissions, and drastically cutting selling costs, he could sell goods to people, however remote, at appealing prices. He then invited them to send their orders by mail and delivered the purchases to their nearest railroad station. The only thing he lacked was capital.


After several false starts, including the destruction of his first inventory by the Great Chicago Fire, Ward started his business at his first offices at the corner of North Clark and Kedzie streets, with two partners and using $1,600 they had raised in capital. The first catalog in August 1872 consisted of an 8 by 12 in. single-sheet price list, showing 163 articles for sale with ordering instructions. Ward himself wrote the first catalog copy. His two partners left the following year, but he continued the struggling business and was joined by his future brother-in-law Richard Thorne.


In the first few years, the business was not well received by rural retailers, who considered Ward a threat and sometimes publicly burned his catalog. Despite the opposition, however, the business grew at a fast pace over the next several decades, fueled by demand primarily from rural customers who were attracted by the wide selection of items unavailable to them locally. Customers were also attracted by the innovative and unprecedented company policy of "satisfaction guaranteed or your money back", which Ward began using in 1875. Although Ward turned the copy writing over to department heads, he continued poring over every detail in the catalog for accuracy. Ward himself became widely popular among residents of Chicago, championing the causes of the common folk over the wealthy, most notably in his successful fight to establish parkland along Lake Michigan.


In 1883, the company's catalog, which became popularly known as the "Wish Book", had grown to 240 pages and 10,000 items.


In 1896, Ward acquired its first serious competition in the mail order business, when Richard Warren Sears introduced his first general catalog.


In 1900, Ward had total sales of $8.7 million, compared to $10 million for Sears, Roebuck and Co., and the two companies were to struggle for dominance for much of the 20th century. By 1904, the company had grown such that three million catalogs, weighing 4 pounds each, were mailed to customers.


In 1908, the company opened a building stretching along nearly 1/4 mile of the Chicago River, north of downtown Chicago. (The building, known as the Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalog House, served as the company headquarters until 1974, when the offices moved across the street to a new tower. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1978 and a Chicago historic landmark in May 2000.)


At age 50, A. Montgomery Ward retired from the business a very wealthy man.


Seven years prior to his retirement, he came to Oconomowoc and purchased Colonel Durand’s three hundred acre horse breeding farm on the southwest corner of Lac La Belle, in what is know the Mary Lane area and he named it La Belle Knoll. For the next twenty years he carried on there an extensive horse breeding operation and sold many horses. He also hitched them to his elegant carriages and drove in numerous horse shows in the country, acquiring a great number of trophies and ribbons.


The Wards had no children, but in 1892 when Mrs. Ward’s sister died in childbirth, they went to Michigan and adopted her daughter, who became Marjorie Ward. As a small girl, she went along with her parents to the International Horse Show in London, where her father won the world champion trophy with his tallyho drag and team, a four horse hitch, winning over the King of England and the Czar of Russia.


Ward had a love for the city of Chicago and fought for the poor people's access to Chicago's lakefront. In 1906 he campaigned to preserve Grant Park as a public park. Ward twice sued the city of Chicago to force it to remove buildings and structures from Grant Park and to keep it from building new ones. Ward is known by some as the "watch dog of the lake front" for his preservationist efforts. As a result, the city has what is termed as the Montgomery Ward height restrictions on buildings and structures in Grant Park. (However, Crown Fountain and Jay Pritzker Pavilion were exempt from the height restriction because they were classified as works of art and not buildings or structures.) Ward is said to continue to rule and protect Grant Park from his grave.


In 1909, while the Wards were at their California winter home, the home on the La Belle Knoll estate burned to the ground, but the stables remained unharmed. Mr. Ward returned to Oconomowoc, but he never rebuilt a home there. Instead he rented a double suite at Draper Hall Hotel and each morning he bicycled out to the stables to watch the coachman working with the horses. In 1911, he drove a Modoc four cylinder touring car, which was sold by his company.


In late 1913 Ward broke his leg, and death soon followed. He died at the age of 69. Ward willed $20 million to his widow, Betty, and $2 million to his adopted daughter Marjorie.


In 1926, the Simmons property, with 700 feet of Lac La Belle frontage, came on the market. This land is where KNOLLWARD now stands. Mrs. Ward purchased it and had the existing buildings razed.


Mrs. Ward engaged architects and builders to erect the gracious mansion at a cost of $80,000 just before the country sunk into Depression. The elegant touches that such money bought are evident from the moment you set your eyes upon it. It was considered the finest example of French-Provincial Manor type architecture in the Midwest and still carries a reputation as a “Showplace of the Midwest”.


It took two years to build, and when it was finished, Mrs. Ward and Marjorie were in California. They returned to the Midwest, but before they got to Oconomowoc, Mrs. Ward died at their Chicago home. So, Marjorie came to live at Knollward, given the name of the family home on the other side of the lake, which had burned.


Marjorie, by all accounts, lived a fairy-tale life at the mansion. She filled the dream house with treasures such as 17 crystal chandeliers, walnut paneling in the salon, a marble bathroom, seven fireplaces (all real, emblazoned with the Ward coat of arms), Cyril Colnik wrought iron and gold plated telephones and faucets, a private telephone booth, fountains, garden frescoes and even a miniature marble tub for her dog. She imported students from the Chicago Art Institute to hand paint walls and even the ceiling of her bathroom.


The elder Wards did not give many parties, but Marjorie didn’t share her parent’s aversion to social whirl. She became famous for entertaining the glittering folk of Hollywood, kings and politicians. Her housewarming skills were memorable. She hired a nine piece band, minstrel singers, and a cabaret show. Chicago caterers served 200 guests on Crown Derby and Dresden china. Small tables were set up on the lantern-lit patio all around the grounds. And there were other parties, too. A Gypsy Party for one hundred and fifty guests had two bands, fortune tellers giving out favors, acrobats, and clowns. And then, of course, there were those affairs where guests were in formal attire and arrived at the front door in black limousines.


In 1932, Marjorie married Robert Baker, an Oconomowoc man whose family “made their money in coal.” The couple met in 1913, but all four of the couple’s parents disapproved of this match, so the courtship was a long one. They waited for the demise of all their parents before marrying, at which time they were both forty years old.


The Baker’s built an addition to Knollward, an elegant wing for the mister, including the master bedroom suite, library, curved halls, turrets, spiral staircase and his own front door. The Zebra Lounge, a party lounge complete with black and silver art deco-style fireplace was also added under the library along with a tunnel through which the butler replenished the liquor supply unobtrusively (during the Prohibition era.)


The Bakers spent time at Knollward, living most of the winter and spring in Chicago, until Marjorie’s death in 1959. Her will stipulated that her husband could use the mansion during his lifetime. Instead he moved to Chicago. He died, at age 85, in Bronxville, NY.


After he moved out the estate became property of the Montgomery Ward Foundation, which was offered to the Milwaukee Episcopal Archdiocese first, and then to the City of Oconomowoc as a library and civic center. The gift was valued at $300,000. Lutheran Homes of Oconomowoc was a willing recipient in 1961, as long as the home was used as a home for elderly people for 25 years. The Foundation’s gift included fund for construction of a new two story wing to match the original exterior, remodeling and decorating.


By the early 1990’s, government guidelines and restrictions caused Lutheran Home to build a new building, Shorehaven Tower, across the lake. It opened in 1996. Thus, Knollward was put up for sale and purchased in June 1997.


In 1997, with new owners and a vision to “get it back to what it was”, a complete renovation began to restore the integrity and bring the house into the modern century. The house needed a complete overhaul, including a new electrical system, new plumbing, new mechanicals, including the entire heating system and the addition of air conditioning. About 9,000 square feet of hardwood and marble floor also needed refinishing. Further, because it had last functioned as a retirement home and the graciously sized rooms had been subdivided to create more bedrooms, multiple wall partitions needed to be torn down.


A symbol of beauty in a bygone era, the existing owners also updated the kitchen and baths with modern facilities while maintaining the revel and character. The original detailed ironwork of the world famous Cyril Colnik remains, as do the fountains, urns, the original Montgomery Ward coats of arms, as well as many of the chandeliers, sconces, and marble floors.


Now in 2010, Knollward becomes available to a new family who will appreciate the splendor and history of this estate. Knollward, with its 30 some rooms (50 if you count baths and storage areas) encompasses 15,222 square feet, boosts 8 bedrooms, 10.5 bathrooms, 4.5 car garages located on 335 feet of sparkling frontage on Lac La Belle in Oconomowoc which offers exquisite lake views, crystal clear waters and gorgeous sunsets.


Today’s value is estimated at between 5.5 and 6.5 million

262-893-5555 Office/Cell

(888) 872-0526

Direct Fax


Proudly Serving Southcentral and Southeastern Wisconsin with Referrals from my Clients

Look for properties across Wisconsin on MLS at http://www.lisabear.com

Check out my Blogs!

http://realestateinwisconsinlisabear.blogspot.com

http://movingtooconomowocwisconsin.blogspot.com/

http://activerain.com/blogs/lisabear01

http://lakecountrylife.wordpress.com

"HELPING YOU MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION"

 

Posted by Lisa Bear Waukesha County & Lake Country WI Real Estate Agent on 06/01/2011 05:28 PM

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Finest Mansionin MIDWEST for Sale - a Montgomery Ward Estate in the Home Selling Channel

mansions for sale, lisa bear, luxury homes in the midwest, luxury homes, lake homes for sale in waukesha county wisconsin, lake living, laclabelle

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Originally posted at: Real Estate in Wisconsin Waukesha County - Lisa Bear : KNOLLWARD The finest mansion in MIDWEST 4 sale. 5+ million, Oconomowoc, Milwaukee, Waukesha County

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