Buying a Home in Lake Geneva, WI: Downtown, Geneva Lake, Condos and Country Property
Quick answer: This buyer report covers the City of Lake Geneva, the Town of Geneva and the Town of Linn, the three governments behind most "Lake Geneva, WI 53147" addresses. Over the 12 months ending September 30, 2026, in-town homes sold 127 times at a $556,300 median, lake access homes 64 times at $525,950 and country homes 33 times at $600,000.
Most buyers searching "Lake Geneva" are shopping one of those three groups. Geneva Lake lakefront, by comparison, recorded 9 sales in the same stretch.
This report starts with what a Lake Geneva address actually tells you, then the school districts inside it, then what each segment sold for, what's on the shelf and what to check before you write an offer. Every sale and listing figure comes from the City of Lake Geneva, the Town of Geneva and the Town of Linn only, on the same Metro MLS data as our .
What a Lake Geneva 53147 mailing address means
53147 is a Postal Service delivery area. ZIP codes exist to route mail. The local government, a city, town or village, sets the tax rate, the water and sewer service, the zoning and the rental rules. The two maps overlap, but they don't match.
Per , the 53147 ZIP covers about 76 square miles, entirely within Walworth County. Its main name is Lake Geneva, and portions of it fall in the Towns of Geneva, Linn, Lyons, Bloomfield and Walworth. Williams Bay has its own ZIP, 53191, so a Williams Bay address is a separate search.
The line runs the other way too. In our MLS records for these three governments, a few Town of Geneva homes carry an Elkhorn mailing address, and some Town of Linn homes carry Fontana, Walworth or Zenda addresses.
What that means for a search engine. Listing searches for "Lake Geneva homes for sale," including the one on our own site, typically match the city name in the mailing address. So it returns City of Lake Geneva homes, Town of Geneva and Town of Linn homes with a Lake Geneva address, and homes in other towns that share the ZIP. It can also miss a Town of Linn home with a Fontana address. On October 15, our Lake Geneva search showed 221 properties, while the MLS held 180 active listings in the City, Town of Geneva and Town of Linn combined.
This report uses the government, not the mailing address:
| Government | Type | Sales, trailing 12 months (all property types) | Single-family median | Active Oct 15 | Effective tax rate (one 2025 bill) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Lake Geneva | City | 210 | $575,512 on 135 sales | 70 | 1.228% |
| Town of Geneva | Town | 171 | $470,000 on 60 sales | 77 | 0.843% |
| Town of Linn | Town | 45 | $1,379,000 on 39 sales | 33 | 0.670% |
Single-family medians match our , October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Before you write an offer, look up the tax key in the . The tax bill names the government and the school district.
Several school districts in each town, and Wisconsin's open enrollment
Each of these three governments holds more than one school district. The district follows the parcel boundary, not the ZIP code or the town line.
ZipDataMaps lists the Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union High School District, the Big Foot Union High School District and Linn Joint No. 4 inside 53147. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction lists which elementary districts feed each union high school:
| Union high school district | Elementary districts that feed it |
|---|---|
| Lake Geneva-Genoa City (Badger High School) | Lake Geneva J1, Geneva J4, Genoa City J2, Linn J4 |
| Big Foot (Walworth) | Linn J6, Fontana J8, Sharon J11, Walworth J1 |
Source: . Williams Bay and Elkhorn Area are K-12 districts of their own.
Here's what the 426 sales in the City, Town of Geneva and Town of Linn over the trailing 12 months recorded:
| Government | School districts recorded on the listings |
|---|---|
| City of Lake Geneva | Lake Geneva J1 (193), Geneva J4 (3) |
| Town of Geneva | Lake Geneva J1 (127), Williams Bay (20), Geneva J4 (7), Elkhorn Area (7) |
| Town of Linn | Linn J6 (20), Lake Geneva J1 (7), Linn J4 (6), Geneva J4 (5), Williams Bay (2), Walworth J1 (1) |
Another 28 listings named only the union high school district. These fields are entered by the listing agent, so treat them as a starting point and confirm on the tax bill and with the district.
A Town of Geneva home with a Lake Geneva mailing address can sit in the Williams Bay or Elkhorn Area district. A Town of Linn home can sit in any of six.
Wisconsin also has public school open enrollment. Under the , a Wisconsin resident in 4K through grade 12 can apply to attend a public school in a district other than the one they live in. For the 2026-27 school year, the regular application window ran February 2 through 4:00 p.m. April 30, 2026, and an alternative application is available during the school year when certain criteria are met. The parcel sets the resident district, and open enrollment is a separate application to another district.
What's for sale in Lake Geneva by segment
Supply runs tight in town and looser in the townships. Closings over the 12 months ending September 30, 2026 against active listings on October 15, 2026:
| Segment | Sold | Median sale | Active Oct 15 | Median list | Months of supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In town (City of Lake Geneva) | 127 | $556,300 | 29 | $634,900 | 2.7 |
| Lake access | 64 | $525,950 | 19 | $655,000 | 3.6 |
| Country (Towns of Geneva and Linn) | 33 | $600,000 | 21 | $675,000 | 7.6 |
| Geneva National | 77 | $610,000 | 33 | $849,900 | 5.1 |
| Condominium | 73 | $265,000 | 22 | $320,000 | 3.6 |
| Condotel | 11 | $229,000 | 11 | $170,000 | 12.0 |
| Geneva Lake lakefront home | 9 | $4.7M to $20.0M | 4 | $6.0M to $24.0M | n/a |
| Geneva Lake lakefront lot | 1 | $6,750,000 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Other vacant land | 29 | $80,000 | 41 | $318,000 | 17.0 |
City of Lake Geneva, Town of Geneva and Town of Linn, Metro MLS. Lakefront home sales run October 21, 2025 through October 7, 2026. Months of supply is active listings divided by average monthly sales: 29 in-town listings against 127 sales a year is 2.7 months.
Search the shelf: , updated from the MLS.
In-town homes in the City of Lake Geneva: 127 sales
In-town single-family homes in the City of Lake Geneva sold 127 times at a $556,300 median over the trailing 12 months. The typical sale was a 3-bedroom home of about 1,800 above-grade square feet on a 0.21-acre lot, at $294 a square foot. It sold in 14 days at 100.0 percent of its original list price.
New construction drove the count. Of the 127 sales, 52 were homes built in 2024 or later:
| City of Lake Geneva, in town | Sales | Median | Above-grade sq ft | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built 2024 or later | 52 | $583,040 | 1,750 | $306 |
| Built before 2024 | 75 | $515,000 | 1,902 | $274 |
| All | 127 | $556,300 | 1,800 | $294 |
Symphony Bay accounted for 25 of the new homes at a $507,887 median, Edgewood Vistas for 8 at $637,580 and Stone Ridge for 5. Eight of the 29 active in-town listings on October 15 were built in 2024 or later.
The resale side runs older and larger per dollar. Of the 75 existing homes, 31 were built in 1950 or earlier, and the group sold in a median 25 days at 96.7 percent of original list. That's where buyers find more square footage and established blocks closer to downtown.
Where the 127 sales landed by price:
| Price band | Sales |
|---|---|
| Under $400,000 | 31 |
| $400,000 to $499,999 | 17 |
| $500,000 to $599,999 | 40 |
| $600,000 to $749,999 | 24 |
| $750,000 to $999,999 | 12 |
| $1,000,000 and above | 3 |
Utilities are the simple part here: 126 of 127 sold on municipal water and 124 on municipal sewer.
Lake access homes: 64 sales across three markets
Lake access homes sold 64 times at a $525,950 median over the trailing 12 months. That median blends three very different markets:
| Jurisdiction | Sales | Median | Typical water | What the access usually is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Geneva | 38 | $405,000 | Municipal or district water (35 of 38) | Lake Como associations |
| Town of Linn | 22 | $1,662,500 | Private well (22 of 22) | Geneva Lake associations |
| City of Lake Geneva | 4 | $1,375,000 | Municipal | Geneva Lake associations |
Lake Como Beach is the largest single lake access market in the area: 20 sales at a $337,500 median, ranging from $177,000 to $839,000, on a median 1,495 above-grade square feet. None of those 20 listings recorded a slip. In the Lake Como Beach Association, piers go back to the association's wait list when a home sells, so a buyer gets the beach and a place in line.
Town of Linn associations sit on Geneva Lake and price accordingly, from $400,000 to $8,880,000. Of the 22 sales, 19 recorded a pier, dock or slip on the listing, and 5 sold under $1 million. Sales ran through associations including Academy Estates, Shore Haven, Sunset Hills, Trinke Estates and the South Shore Club.
On October 15, 19 lake access homes were listed: 9 in the Town of Geneva at a $488,000 median, 9 in the Town of Linn at $655,000 and 1 in the City.
"Lake access" covers four different property rights:
| What the listing says | What you may actually get |
|---|---|
| Deeded boat slip | A slip that transfers with the deed |
| Association pier, wait list | A place in line for a slip |
| Association beach or park | Swimming and launching, no boat storage |
| Lake rights, unspecified | Read the declaration before assuming any of the above |
A slip tag on a listing shows what the seller listed, not what the deed transfers. Our shows how rights convey association by association, and our guide to lists the questions to ask.
Country property in the Towns of Geneva and Linn: 33 sales
Country homes, meaning single-family homes in the townships without lake rights or golf, sold 33 times at a $600,000 median over the trailing 12 months. They're the most house per dollar in this guide: a median 2,250 above-grade square feet at $225 a square foot, on a median lot of about 1 acre.
| Jurisdiction | Sales | Median | Median lot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Geneva | 21 | $600,000 | 1.12 acres |
| Town of Linn | 12 | $605,000 | 0.95 acres |
Lot sizes spread wide: 15 of the 33 sat on an acre or less, 10 on 1 to 2 acres and 8 on more than 2 acres.
Thirty of the 33 ran on a private well with septic or a holding tank. That changes the inspection list. The recommends testing a private well for bacteria and nitrate every year, so order a well test and a septic evaluation inside the inspection contingency.
The school mix is wide here too. Country sales recorded Lake Geneva J1, Linn J6, Williams Bay, Geneva J4 and Elkhorn Area districts. On October 15, 21 country homes were listed at a $675,000 median, a 7.6-month supply, which leaves more room to negotiate than in town.
Where the room to negotiate is
Across the three largest segments, a listing that had already cut its price sold slower and further below its original list:
| Segment | Never reduced | Days | Of original list | Reduced | Days | Of original list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In town | 92 | 5 | 100.0% | 35 | 78 | 92.3% |
| Lake access | 45 | 18 | 98.9% | 19 | 122 | 84.8% |
| Country | 19 | 33 | 98.6% | 14 | 64 | 87.2% |
Trailing 12 months ending September 30, 2026. "Reduced" means the list price at sale was below the original list price.
For a buyer, that splits the shelf in two. A newly listed in-town home that's priced in line with recent sales typically goes under contract in days, so have financing approved before you tour. A listing that has already been cut and has sat for a couple of months is where an offer below asking has the most precedent.
Geneva Lake lakefront: 9 sales by address
Nine single-family Geneva Lake lakefront homes sold in the City of Lake Geneva and the Town of Linn from October 2025 through October 7, 2026. We list them individually because a midpoint of 9 sales on 50 to 222 feet of frontage prices none of them.
| Closed | Address | Jurisdiction | Sale price | Frontage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21, 2025 | 837 Bayview Dr | City of Lake Geneva | $8,575,000 | 102 ft |
| Oct 24, 2025 | N2224 Bonnie Brae Ln | Town of Linn | $8,700,000 | 110 ft |
| Oct 31, 2025 | 620 S Lake Shore Dr | City of Lake Geneva | $10,286,000 | 121 ft |
| Nov 7, 2025 | 8 Hillside Dr | City of Lake Geneva | $7,395,000 | 105 ft |
| Nov 7, 2025 | W3240 Park Dr | Town of Linn | $5,999,500 | 50 ft |
| Nov 17, 2025 | 831 Bayview Dr | City of Lake Geneva | $8,250,000 | 100 ft |
| Jul 16, 2026 | N1933 Bluff Ln | Town of Linn | $4,700,000 | 75 ft |
| Aug 14, 2026 | N2017 S Lakeshore Dr | Town of Linn | $8,490,000 | 160 ft |
| Oct 7, 2026 | N2290 Folly Ln | Town of Linn | $20,000,000 | 222 ft |
A vacant Geneva Lake lakefront lot at 630 S Lake Shore Dr in the City of Lake Geneva sold January 12, 2026 for $6,750,000. Four lakefront homes were listed on October 15, from $5,995,000 on 50 feet to $24,000,000 on 560 feet.
Pier permitting on Geneva Lake is controlled by the , and the lake's municipalities set a pierhead line 100 feet from shore. Lakefront owners also live with the public Shore Path along the water; in the City, developing a lakeshore lot requires recording a Shore Path easement under . Our maps the route, and our compares frontage across 26 lakes.
Condos, condotels and Geneva National
Condominiums. City of Lake Geneva residential condos sold 59 times at a $278,000 median, and Town of Geneva condos outside Geneva National 13 times at $255,000. Under Wis. Stat. 703.33, a condo buyer may cancel within 5 business days of receiving the association documents. Our breaks out each complex.
Condotels. Hotel-managed units at The Cove, Harbor Shores and Timber Ridge Lodge sold 11 times at a $229,000 median, with 11 listed: a 12-month supply. We never blend them with residential condos. See our .
Geneva National. The Town of Geneva golf community on Lake Como sold 77 times at a $610,000 median; its 15 detached homes sold at a $1,135,000 median. Most detached homes there are condominium units on paper. Home ownership carries no golf privileges, and owners pay a Community Fee and a Master Fee on top of sub-association dues. Our and the on LakeGenevaWeekend.com cover the details.
Your offer-ready checklist
| Item | Why it matters | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Tax key and jurisdiction | Sets tax rate, utilities and rental rules | Walworth County parcel search |
| School district | Follows the parcel, not the ZIP | Tax bill, then the district |
| Water and sewer | Municipal, district, well, septic or holding tank | Listing, then inspection |
| What the lake right conveys | Deeded slip, wait list or beach only | Deed and association declaration |
| Association or condo documents | 5 business day review for condos under Wis. Stat. 703.33 | Seller delivers |
| Real Estate Condition Report | Due within 10 days of acceptance | Seller delivers |
| Price history | A cut listing has negotiated further below list | Your agent |
Under , if the condition report arrives late, the buyer may rescind within 2 business days of receiving it. An attorney answers questions about your rights under either statute; Kim and Joel are licensed real estate agents.
If Lake Geneva is a little to busy, the next Geneva Lake village west with a more laid back vibe, is covered in our . Buying a second home from Illinois? Our covers carrying costs, and our maps all 26 lakes. For life in town, start with the and the on LakeGenevaWeekend.com.
Why buyers work with Kim and Joel
Every row on that checklist is a place where a Lake Geneva purchase can go wrong after the offer is signed. We pull the tax key, confirm the school district on the parcel, read the association declaration for what conveys and check the price history before you commit, and we publish the sales data behind each recommendation.
Joel has held a Wisconsin real estate license since 1986. On an inspection, he reads the report closely, asks the inspector the follow-up questions and brings in the well, septic or building professional whose report governs. Kim, licensed since 2012, works the preparation side of the market: renovation planning, staging and photography. They have more than 50 years of combined experience, have been with eXp Realty since 2019 and have owned their Williams Bay home since 1988.
Read more , or see how they cover the region on .
Frequently asked questions
What does a Lake Geneva 53147 address mean?
53147 is a Postal Service delivery area. Per ZipDataMaps, it covers about 76 square miles of Walworth County, including the City of Lake Geneva and parts of the Towns of Geneva, Linn, Lyons, Bloomfield and Walworth. Williams Bay has its own ZIP, 53191. The government on the tax bill sets taxes, services and the school district.
What school district is a Lake Geneva 53147 home in?
It depends on the parcel. Town of Geneva sales over the 12 months ending September 30, 2026 recorded Lake Geneva J1, Williams Bay, Geneva J4 and Elkhorn Area districts, and Town of Linn sales recorded six. Check the tax bill and confirm with the district. Wisconsin's open enrollment program also lets students apply to a nonresident public district.
How much does an in-town home cost in Lake Geneva WI?
In-town single-family homes in the City of Lake Geneva sold 127 times at a $556,300 median over the 12 months ending September 30, 2026, typically 3 bedrooms and about 1,800 above-grade square feet. Homes built in 2024 or later sold at a $583,040 median on 52 sales, and older homes at $515,000 on 75 sales.
What does a Lake Geneva lake access home cost?
Lake access homes sold 64 times at a $525,950 median over the 12 months ending September 30, 2026. Town of Geneva sales, mostly on Lake Como, ran a $405,000 median on 38 sales, with Lake Como Beach at $337,500 on 20. Town of Linn sales on Geneva Lake ran $1,662,500 on 22 sales.
What does country property cost near Lake Geneva?
Country homes in the Towns of Geneva and Linn sold 33 times at a $600,000 median over the 12 months ending September 30, 2026, on a median lot of about 1 acre with 2,250 above-grade square feet. Thirty of the 33 used a private well with septic or a holding tank.
What does Geneva Lake lakefront sell for in Lake Geneva?
Nine Geneva Lake lakefront homes in the City of Lake Geneva and the Town of Linn sold from October 2025 through October 7, 2026, from $4,700,000 at N1933 Bluff Ln to $20,000,000 at N2290 Folly Ln, on 50 to 222 feet of frontage. A vacant lakefront lot at 630 S Lake Shore Dr sold for $6,750,000.
Ready to buy in Lake Geneva?
We work with buyers and sellers in Lake Geneva, Williams Bay, Fontana, Geneva National, Delavan, Elkhorn and the lakes around Lake Geneva.
, request a if you're selling first, or . You can also call or text (262) 325-9867
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