Real Estate Investing in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (53147)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Walworth County • Population: 18,440 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53147 (Lake Geneva, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 28.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Lake Geneva, WI (53147)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $465,610
Avg Monthly Rent $1,848
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $76,225
% Renters 32.4%

Market Analysis: 53147 Lake Geneva

In practical terms, ZIP 53147 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $466K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The investment case in 53147 is sturdy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $466K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Meanwhile, 53147 offers a low basis, the region around Lake Geneva has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 53147 ZIP's population of 18,440 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that sits at the need for careful underwriting.

appears to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Lake Geneva:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,848/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Whitewater, WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.4%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Whitewater, WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 53147

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+11.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$149,959/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $208,323 $1,010 3.5% +11.2% $208,323
2BR $299,919 $1,320 3.2% +9.5% $149,959
3BR $456,223 $1,660 2.6% +8.9% $152,074
4BR $706,532 $2,140 2.2% +9.7% $176,633
5BR $1,175,893 +9.6% $235,179

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$488K$425K$362K$300K$237K$174KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 53147 Compare?

Metric 53147 Lake Geneva Whitewater, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $465,610 $465,610 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.7% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,848 $1,848 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.1% 3.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53147? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 53147 (Lake Geneva, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Walworth County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

MPC Property Management offers a wide range of property management services for residential, commercial, and association properties in Wisconsin. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamilyCommercialHOA
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BK Property Management LLC offers landscaping services in Delavan, WI. summary from their website

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Lakes Property Management, LLC appears to offer property management services based on the domain and name, though homepage content is technical. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Whitewater, WI metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
44%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $465,610
Monthly Rent $1,848
Price-to-Rent 21.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.8%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
28.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53147

Population: 18,440

💰 Median Household Income
$76,225
This area
$76,225
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.4%
This area
32.4%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
37.9%
This area
37.9%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.0 years
This area
47.0 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
28.8%
This area
28.8%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.9%
Other/Mixed 10.6%
Hispanic/Latino 8.6%
Asian 0.9%
Black/African American 0.7%
👶 Under 18
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.3%
This area
22.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.1%
This area
6.1%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 53147

B+ Avg School Grade
10 Schools
36.9:1 Avg Class Size
$18,061 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Star Center Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
340 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,876 Per Student
A Very Good

Traver Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
87 Students
👨‍🏫
6.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,200 Per Student
A Very Good

Woods Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
150 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,927 Per Student
A Very Good

Central - Denison Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
548 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,876 Per Student
A Very Good

Lake Geneva Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
600 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,876 Per Student
A Very Good

Badger High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,275 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,688 Per Student
A Very Good

Reek Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
155 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,728 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Eastview Elementary

📚 04 – 05 Elementary
👥
247 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,876 Per Student
C Below Average

Maple Park Charter School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
26 Students
👨‍🏫
23.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,876 Per Student
C Below Average

New Visions Charter School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
35 Students
👨‍🏫
250.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,688 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is real estate in Lake Geneva, WI a good investment right now?

Lake Geneva, WI rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $466K and rents near $1,848/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What do rentals go for in Lake Geneva, WI?

Rental rates in Lake Geneva, WI average $1,848/mo. Tenant demand and $466K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Lake Geneva, WI?

Lake Geneva, WI falls under WI landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Are tenants stable in Lake Geneva, WI?

Working renters make up the core of the Lake Geneva, WI tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

How should investors approach Lake Geneva, WI?

In Lake Geneva, WI the solid play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $466K prices and $1,848/mo rents suits that approach.

You know 53147 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53147 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 53147 ranks in Whitewater, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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