A new Wandawega lake house foreclosure !

The Wandawega Country Club just notified us that a lake home is in foreclosure and will go into a 'sheriffs foreclosure sale Nov. 7 at 10:00 a.m., and have asked us to tell our friends.

* SITS ON FOUR WOODED LOTS. = big yard.
* 150 FEET FROM THE PRIVATE BEACH AND BOAT LAUNCH.

* SITS ON A HILL, DECK WITH LAKE VIEWS.

* SECLUDED ON 3 SIDES BY A PARK AREA, AND 2 NARROW LAKE LANES. 

* 1930S COTTAGE COMPLETELY UPDATED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

* IT WILL BE SOLD ON FORECLOSURE FOR WHATS LEFT ON THE MORTGAGE (read: cheap)

THE CATCH: it is a project house. not for the meek. this is a DIY. It's been abandoned & needs someone with vision. 

Tucked in between 2 tree-lined community lanes.
An upcoming short sale from the bank could be as low as $50k*
My posts on the nearby Hann House (40 feet away) led to so many inquiries, we wanted to let folks know about a new one. But- THIS ONE IS A DIFFERENT STORY. It was built as lake cabin retreat nearly 80 years ago, perched on a hilltop, overlooking the lake. We started to dig and discovered that this little abandoned lake house just down the street from us ... Through tax records, bank calls, questions to neighbors, etc. this is what we were told:

Taxes: $1,820.99

Size: 4 ajoining lots (.23 acres)

Roof: new 

Siding: new

Address: N6971 Oak Lane, Elkhorn, WI 53121

It claims that $80k in improvements where made - the neighbor said that they were made in the last ten years. From what it looks like, it's the new roof, siding, kitchen, drywall inside.

THERE IS A REASON ITS CHEAP: The owners were told to leave by the bank. so they decided not to clean it out.  That said, it also has the parts that you should care about: new pergo floors, drywall, relatively new kitchen, new appliances, etc. It could be neat as a pin in a day, given some serious elbow grease. But remember, it's been abandoned, so have low expectations please.

THE WAY TO BUY THIS HOUSE: 
http://www.co.walworth.wi.us/Sheriffs%20Office/Sheriff/ProcessMap.aspx

go to zillow.com, pull up the address- contact the attorneys handling the foreclosure. they said that 4 days before they sherriff sale, they can tell you what the opening bid will be (which were told is typically what it goes for) the bank that holds the note: HSBC, 866.435.7085, REO DEPT. handles the note. Loan control dept - THH MORTGAGE SERVICES   1-888-788-7432 ext 20229. RESNET.COM  (800 760 7036)  (REO dept)- bankownedproperties.org

Here are some snaps of the exterior from the drive-by we did this afternoon (as well as a couple of old postcards showing what the area looked like back in the '20s)

This is the view from the deck (see the lake in the distance?) It's only about 150 feet.

The deck is bigger than most Chicago condo living rooms, and is on the 2nd level of the house, so that it has nice views of the lake.

The siding is relatively new. The roof is too. It's  tucked into a lush landscape. This is the view of the house on the west side (it sits perched on a hilltop to give good lake views).

The driveway is huge, enough to park at least 4 cars. It winds down to the first level of the home.  The lawn has been neglected, but this is the view of the side yard. This is the view from the east side. 

The house and grounds are shown here (see the house marked '$119k'. (this is not the sale price, its just what zillow says.). Following are a few old surveys.

We hope that somebody out there that appreciates the simple pleasures of lake life buys this place and brings it back to life! It's truly a diamond in the rough. But please do your own homework. We're not real estate agents or lawyers, just neighbors looking for good neighbors to join our community.

And: an apology to friends who would prefer that we didnt share this with our broader friends / lake community. (Unfortunately, we've learned from 3 other home sales near us that we told friends about who said they were interested- then they ended up not buying them, and the homes where sold to folks who turned into rental properties or worse). So- all of this information is already public- and we'd prefer to have good neighbors instead of someone who owns 32 pitbulls or wants to build a boat storage lot.


Thanks for understanding :)

the lakehouse: WE GOT INSIDE. I am blown away. ITS A TIME CAPSULE.

I didn't know if we had just walking into the Moonrise Kingdom house or onto the set of the Notebook... but we've been utterly seduced.

Typically, lakehouses are stripped of their character by layers of bad 80s wallpaper and new formica countertops. This one shows very clear evidence of nearly a century of a family of lake lovers.  (Thank god) 

(I'm not gonna lie, it made me really sad to see so many generations of summers and family memories - all coming to an end with the sale of this house.... I met Mrs Hann last summer and she is as charming and lovely as you can imagine)

So with a tinge of guilt ....

I hope this post helps this little piece of history find its way to new owners who will love every detail as much as we do.

Oak beamed ceilings. (With forged nail detailing)

Cedar shake walls and a beamed exposed ceiling in the old store.

Original wrought iron light fixtures and brass ones too.

Oars and 1940's transistor radios and beach furniture dating back to the 50's.

Original farm kitchen cabinets with a gazillion coats of paint.

a big fat white cast iron farm sink (sigh).

Here are some quick shots I just took with my phone-

more details below no what's what.

one of the original signs hanging above the garage entrance & an antique beer advertising thermometer from the days of when it was a lakefront store.

the interior of the old lake store features a concrete floor and vaulted oak exposed beam ceiling a cedar shake wall tell us that the front portion was once screened in.. the back room was used for store storage. (the front room is surrounded with windows, the backroom has none- probably for security purposes). the place is still full of Hann family heirlooms. 

this photo was taken in 1936 and shows the position of the Hann property as it relates to the beach and boat dock (still intact). notice the retaining wall (it needs to be restored).  

more details from the interior of the former store / guest house. the wood, trim, shingles, everything has been kept in such fab condition. all you would need to do is paint the floor, furnish and kick back.

two of the bedrooms in the main house. (the upstairs features 2 bedrooms and an open living area space. the bottom has the masterbroom.)

there is currently only one bathroom in the house (in the center, no windows).

the kitchen is perfectly farm rustic. i love the old cabinetry, and the huge white porcelin farm sink. the window looks out over the (huge) yard.

 Beamed ceilings (detail of the finish and nails. perfect.)

Views all around.

the house is full of textiles dating back to 40's through the late 60's.

underneath the shag & linoleum are pine floors (so we're told). the room shown here on the right is currently called the 'laundry room' but it looks like it was once also a bar, craft room and sewing room. its HUGE and has tons of storage, built-ins, and super tall ceilings.

shown above left: one of the upstairs bedrooms (there are 2 up there)

and david showing the access to the attic (which is currently completely insulated)

THE IMPORTANT STUFF:

The basement has been completely rebuilt, new concrete pour, 

all electrical box, water heater, furnace and mechanics are fresh + new.

(see pics)

HOW FAST WILL IT GO?

We just left  the house an hour ago

and as we were walking to the car,

the realtor's ('Connie') cell rang for an inquiry

and a car pulled up for a tour. 

GOOD NEWS:

If you want it, there is still time.

Connie (the realtor) said that she would start taking offers- the listing is so new (days old) she doesn't have one on paper yet. - it typically takes a few daysfor the owners to accept an offer once its made. (To leave room for others who may be also interested, to also make an offer)..

MORE GOOD NEWS:

For ease of getting a loan, all the local comps were pulled and It appraised at $210k. But the owners want a quick sale, so they dropped it to $180k.

Whoever lands this house will have the feeling that  they've won the lottery

and I think karma is gonna kick in on this one... 

It will go to the folks who were meant to have it, love it and do right by the Hann family and the amazing community history it has here on this little lake.

**SORRY TO ANYBODY READING THIS LOOKING FOR CAMP STUFF**

We've never done this before on this blog, but this little slice of heaven hasn't been on the market for EVER- and we will not be pushing real estate on here in the future. Promise.

But- Because of all the inquiries the last post got, here is some more information: (video tour, photos, etc) The last house that was up for sale a few doors down sold in 10 days, so if you are even remotely interested, call the realtor, like yesterday. All I can say is that when David and I walked through it, it made our heart hurt we love it so much. We didn't think that it would ever come up for sale, and now that it has, after all these years, we want to share it with our Camp W friends - in hopes to share the love that we know as this lovely, private lake. Enjoy & good luck!

DISTANCE: @90 miles from Chicago. (see map below) This house sits on the east end of the lake, a few hundred feet from us at camp wandawega. We are a short canoe ride door to door. (Less than a half mile)

CONDITION: This family took impeccable care of the home, the grounds, the cottages. All it needs is an interior decorator. We've been told that underneath the carpet is the original wood, and that it has a basement. It features mature landscaping, shrubs, trees, hostas, and a large concrete patio between the cottage and the house.

NEIGHBORS: Thre's a neighbor on one side, a very well kept home. There is no neighbor to the west (it faces the lake) there is no neighbor to the north - it is the Wandawega private home owners association beach & boat launch. No neighbor to the east (street side). 

PRICE: There is no other lake in the area where you will you find this much house for this low a price. On the water. On this much land. With multiple buildings. my headmath says they might take $150. put 10% down, you could be paying $1200 a mo. to own this place. rent that guest house in the back as a little vaca B&B for a week at a time and pay your mortgage. go in with a friend & you each pay $600/mo. ($150 a week!) i cant really add, but i think this is the neighborhood;)

POTENTIAL: everything is neat + clean + ready to move in.

Keep in mind, the vast majority of Lake Wandawega was developed with the lakefront as communal park lands, so there are VERY few homes that are truly waterfront, like this one. Literally walk out your back door, across your yard, and into your boat.

(In our fantasy life- if this retreat were connected to camp on either side of us, we would have closed on it by now)

This clip starts at the back of the house, scans across the guesthouse, to the garden shed to the teensy workshop building.

 Peering in the window of the old store. Concrete floors. Vaulted exposed beam ceiling. Cedar shingled wall. All woodwork in original condition.

 The view from the backyard looking north. (a view of the private association beach and pier). The block is the retaining wall for the backyard. (The pier once started where the tree is.)

The view from the backyard looking towards the mainhouse and guesthouse. (See center fire pit)

Heavy wooded treeline surrounds the property all the way around- except for the lake facing portion.

Main house on right. Notice the proximity the lake.

Here is its proximity to us:

And- the website with  more info on the area, the history, the real estate, local stats and the Wandawega Country Club.

the listing says contact 'connie'  262-215-7644 - poggconnie9@gmail.com 

*while we dont claim to know every person reading this blog, we know one thing for sure: we are blessed to have somehow attracted like-minded creative types who have great taste, imagination, and love for historic properties like this one.  and we somehow know that by sharing this news in this way-- this retreat will find its way into the hands someone who will love it with all of their hearts, as much as we do camp. david and i both confessed that if we didnt make Camp W our home 10 years ago, this property would be our dream home.

MORE HISTORY ON THE PLACE:

This is what the beach in front of the house looked like in the 20's and 30's.
(neighbors shown in the boat)

 The neighbors of the house in the 40's. The lake now has big mouth bass, pike (and yes, still blue gill as shown here)

When the Hann's rented boats (as part of their store)- they were similar to boats (wooden skiffs)

 These folks were the owners of the property in the 20's.  (this image came from a scrapbook one of the neighbors had - of the history of the home and their neighbor- the hangs.)

 We were told that the house in the back is the home for sale now (this image was from the 50's.)

Our friend peter penned some of the history down about the former grocery store- is was originally called 'ungers'- then changed to 'hanns'.

In the 1930s the Hanns house was a lake store.

You could get live bait, rent a boat and buy beer.

Miss Hann (now well in to her 90's) kept it in immaculate condition.
(check out the history of this little house's community- some of the photos we shared in this post)
Its going for $180k- you could likely get it for $150k ($1200 a month)
ITS A LAKEFRONT COMPOUND

*  Main house (1600 sq ft- 3 bdrm)

*  guest 2 bedroom cottage (formerly the lake store)

* 1.5 car garage (could be another adorable cottage)

*  outbuilding (craft building?)

*  a half acre of lakefront.
DETAILS: 3 bedroom, 1 bath with apprx. 125' of flat frontage. Home reminds me of ''On Golden Pond''. It's an original lake house with grandma's touches for you to update. There is also a detached Guest quarters (rustic) with 3 season room and more sleeping area. Wandawega is a 119 acre fishing lake. Great for kayaking.
STATS:

$180K, MLS #: 1312909 PIN #: 8176, Taxes: $3,647.04 / 2012, Bedrooms: 3, Full/Half Baths: 1 / 0 Est., Total Sq. Ft.: 1,650, Garage: 1, Detached Lot Size: .40 acres

LISTING AGENT - CONNIE M. POGGENSEE ABR p: 262-275-2185 41, c: 262-215-7644, e: poggconnie9@gmail.com, w: rauland.net 

 One of the original camp store signs

Here is  a 360 view video clip taken from the side yard.

The old sidewalk leading down to where your peir goes (and where the boat rentals used to be)

 The side yard (guest house on right, main house on left)

The main house in on the right, to the left you can see the wandawega lake association peir and loading dock.

 Part of the front yard huge. manicured. mature trees. Ready for a private boat dock  /pier

The cottage in the back. (I am in love) Simple. Clean interior - would be great vacation rental. Renting it for a half a week once a year could pay your whole monthly mortgage.

The garage- so neat & tidy. Could also be a great studio, converted to a guest house.

 Lake facing side

 North facing side- mature trees, opens up to lake loading area & communal park area

 The outbuilding- an adorable maker's workshop?

 Backside of main building, cottage in background (formerly the lake store)

 Back of main house.

Interior shots. Grandma didn't change it for 60 years. Very well kept.