Lake Geneva Bachelorette Party Destination of the Mid-West

Lake Geneva is on the verge of liberalizing short term rentals regulations.

More penalties but harder to apply.

“There is a panic when a house goes up for sale in your neighborhood. We just had one go up for sale. And the person that bought it makes her living having rental homes” says Sarah McConnell Lake Geneva.

“My family has been in this house for 60 years. My dad built this house, never built a house, knowing that there would be a hotel next door with different people at it every single weekend.” Sharon Meister Lake Geneva.

“They don’t care about Lake Geneva. It’s all money.”  Scott Robinson Lake Geneva

The history of Short-Term Rentals in Lake Geneva.

In the state of Wisconsin residential property owners have always had the right to rent out their property for 30 days or more. Lake Geneva city attorney Dan Draper pointed out, “trying to restrict them to a certain number of people, regardless of the number of bedrooms and things like that and that’s where you’re going to run into problems, because if you do a 30-day rental or more.” The owner also does not have to pay either sale or room tax on such a lease.

At least one real estate company in the past would get around the 30-day minimum by cancelling a “30-day lease” agreement after one week. The beginning of STR.

In 2017 changes at both state and federal level were made; sparking the current problems Lake Geneva is having with STRs.

In 2017 the Wisconsin Republican administration slid two changes through the legislature as part of the 2017-2019 state budget, Act 59.

• Allowing property owners, the right to rent out their homes for less than 30 days.
• Changes in how room taxes municipalities collect are distributed.

 At the federal level in 2017 the Republican Trump administration passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

• allowed for accelerated depreciation, permitting businesses to immediately deduct 100% of the cost of eligible property in the year it was placed in service.
• lower tax rates for real estate rental income.  A special 20% off for hotel income.

Lake Geneva has always had a thriving secondary housing market, now owners can rent out their second homes when not in use as a STR and write off the expenses of owning and fixing it up from their income taxes. The local jackals (real estate brokers) are only too happy to point this out to prospective homeowners and provide a service to manage the rental, fee typically is 20 to 30%.  This also started the beginning of new businesses renting and managing multiple single-family homes.

A widespread practice in the United States, particularly during the mid-20^th century was “blockbusting”, where real estate brokers convinced homeowners to sell their homes by instilling fear that racial minorities would move next door. Now the fear is the home next door being converted into a STR.

Private equity firms and large asset managers have been increasingly active in purchasing single family residences and STR adds to the financial incentive to maximize returns. Up until now the current city of Lake Geneva Ordinance says the STR must be rented a minimum of 7 days per reservation, but the ordinance was not enforced. Wink Wink. Private equity does not invest in a Wink Wink.  The current changes Mayor Todd Krause wants to make to the local ordinance regulating STRs will open a whole new class of investors in Lake Geneva single family homes.

In 2020 the covid pandemic had big impact in the United States real estate market.

• People moved from the cities to rural area, seeking more space
• Remote work.
• Historically low mortgage rates. 30 mortgages could be had at 2.4%-3%.
• Supply shortages of homes for sale.

Is it any surprise that Lake Geneva second family home market increased in price and combine that with the changes in 2019 from our state legislators and the numbers of STR’s businesses exploded in Wisconsin.

Lake Geneva Bachelorette party destination of the Mid West-Lake Geneva.

Lake Geneva Wisconsin is becoming the wedding and bachelorette party destination of the Mid-West; fueling this trend is the tax money from the city’s secretive Tourism Commission. Ten years ago, the city gave $40K/year to promote tourism, now the city is spending millions of dollars per year on tourism advertising.

Gen Z likes to sing. They sing while renting pontoon boats on Lake Geneva. They sing both with music and “a cappella.” They sing and dance when partying and thanks to social media they know that whole house rental is the way to go.

A favorite bachelorette party song is WAP (feat.Megan Thee Stallion) Cardi B.

Cardi B Lyrics

“WAP”
(feat. Megan Thee Stallion)

[Repeating:]
There’s some whores in this house

I said (hold up), certified freak
Seven days a week
wet-ass pussy
Make that pull-out game weak

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, you fucking with some wet-ass pussy
Bring a bucket and a mop for this wet-ass pussy
Give me everything you got for this wet-ass pussy

Beat it up, nigga, catch a charge
Extra large and extra hard
Put this pussy right in your face
Swipe your nose like a credit card
Hop on top, I wanna ride
I do a Kegel while it’s inside
Spit in my mouth, look in my eyes
This pussy is wet, come take a dive
Tie me up like I’m surprised
Let’s role play, I’ll wear a disguise
I want you to park that big Mack Truck
Right in this little garage
Make it cream, make me scream
Out in public, make a scene
I don’t cook, I don’t clean
But let me tell you how I got this ring

Gobble me, swallow me
Drip down inside of me
Quick jump out ‘fore you let it get inside of me
I tell him where to put it, never tell him where I’m ’bout to be
I run down on him ‘fore I have a nigga running me
Talk your shit, bite your lip
Ask for a car while you ride that dick
You really ain’t never gotta fuck him for a thang
He already made his mind up ‘fore he came
Now get your boots and your coat
For this wet-ass pussy
He bought a phone just for pictures
Of this wet-ass pussy
Pay my tuition just to kiss me
On this wet-ass pussy
Now make it rain if you wanna
See some wet-ass pussy

Look, I need a hard hitter, I need a deep stroker
I need a Henny drinker, I need a weed smoker
Not a garden snake, I need a king cobra
With a hook in it, hope it lean over
He got some money, then that’s where I’m headed
Pussy A1, just like his credit
He got a beard, well, I’m tryna wet it
I let him taste it, now he diabetic
I don’t wanna spit, I wanna gulp
I wanna gag, I wanna choke
I want you to touch that little dangly thing
That swing in the back of my throat
My head game is fire, punani Dasani
It’s going in dry and it’s coming out soggy
I ride on that thing like the cops is behind me
I spit on his mic and now he tryna sign me, woo!

Your honor, I’m a freak bitch, handcuffs, leashes
Switch my wig, make him feel like he cheating
Put him on his knees, give him something to believe in
Never lost a fight, but I’m looking for a beating
In the food chain, I’m the one that eat you
If he ate my ass, he’s a bottom feeder
Big D stand for “big demeanor”
I could make you bust before I ever meet you
If it don’t hang, then he can’t bang
You can’t hurt my feelings, but I like pain
If he fuck me and ask, “Whose is it?”
When I ride the dick, I’ma spell my name

Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, you fucking with some wet-ass pussy
Bring a bucket and a mop for this wet-ass pussy
Give me everything you got for this wet-ass pussy

Now from the top, make it drop

(Editor’s note: I include the whole song lyrics here because GEN Z sings it all).

Neighbors aren’t too thrilled about this harmonious singing , or the colorful batter amongst GEN Z in their backyards.

The city council recently changed the Load and Excessive noise ordinance to make it apply 24/7, but singing “a cappella” is not covered and the content of a song cannot be regulated.

Technology created this problem and technology can regulate it

Lake Geneva is a seasonal weekend tourist destination. 90% of all rentals are between 2-3 days in length.

Americans are increasingly vacationing overseas, before 2007 only about 3 to 4% would vacation overseas. In 2023 about 22% did. Disney Corp in 2024 in reporting their third quarter earnings cited decreasing sales to their resorts because of the propensity of Americans to vacation abroad. Mayor Todd Krause took his whole family to Italy for two weeks right after helping Brian Pollard expand his real estate development Symphony Bay. Retired elementary librarian City Council President Mary Jo Fesenmaier has been partying in Europe for six weeks every summer for the last ten years. It is very affordable. Which leaves tourist towns like Lake Geneva dependent on “events” and branding to attract a more budget conscious clientele. The Lake Geneva Tourist Commission has gone big in branding Lake Geneva as a wedding /bachelorette party destination.

In 2010 Instagram was launched and in 2012 Facebook (now Meta) went public and acquired Instagram. Social media platforms make it possible for the masses to find and share their overseas vacation experiences. Next came online booking platforms like Air BnB and VBRO.

In the winter of 2023-2024 then mayor Charlene Kline and council president Mary Jo Fesenmaier, despite having a deep-seated animosity toward mayor, got together and found two tech companies that specialize in helping communities monitor and enforce STRs. One of the companies pointed out there are over 165 vacation home rental platforms and that one in every three single family homes sold are being converted to STR. They have the ability (via bots) to scan all four times a day to determine if a STR was being rented for less than 7 days and report it. The current STR ordinance requires a 7-day minimum stay.

Mayor Todd Krause is working behind the scenes with STR operators Tom Keefe with Geneva Lakes Vacations, Jason Smolarek with Elite Lake Rentals, and Luke Pfeiffer with Maxwell Mansion to rewrite Lake Geneva’s STR ordinance to their benefit not to the benefit of the people who want to live in peace in Lake Geneva.  

90% of all rentals are between 2-3 days in length.

The STR operators a scared to death of the 7-night minimum stay per reservation. At the plan commission hearings all kinds of reasons were given as to why a 7-minimum was not enforceable by Luke Pfeiffer, a perpetual whiner before the city council, who wants his recommendations to “just be approved.” The excuses are pure BS. For example, a 7-day minimum will result in people renting for 7 days so more rentals will occur. But only 10 to 15% of the market would be interested in renting for 7 days and those would most likely be families. A 7-day minimum will chase the weekend party animals out of the residential neighborhoods and into the hotels, where there are staff on site.   It is the city council who has the ultimate authority to change or modify any ordinance.

The city is relying on complicated debacle of various fines on the owners to police STRs. A more effective strategy some cities as using is to fine the guests heavily for things like parking on the street, one city started issuing $500 fines. These now very unhappy guests will now post reviews about their experience on social media.   

It is technology (social media and online booking platforms) that is in part wrecking the quiet neighborhoods in Lake Geneva and now technology can partially solve it. Time for Feisty Mary Jo Fesenmaier and her side kick Peg Esposito to come to the rescue. A true BRAT is needed.

Now for the question which are the STRs vs. commercial indoor lodging establishments (hotels, motels, Airbnbs.)

Location of Vacation Home Rentals Lake Geneva Wisconsin

The above interactive map was created by information provided by the City of Lake Geneva through an F.O.I.A. request for “all Commercial Indoor Lodging Establishments, Bed and Breakfasts, and Short-Term rentals as of 8.28.24.” This information has not been independently verified. To open up the control panel go to upper left on map tab or open full screen and you will be able to see the markers.

The first thing you may notice is that there are none located in a development like Symphony Bay. Associations and homeowner’s associations (HOA) can ban STRs. According to the U.S. Census roughly 84% of newly built homes sold in 2022 were a part of a HOA. So not all neighborhoods are affected by the party houses. A HOA doesn’t have to be large, several in Lake Geneva only include 4 homes and have banned STRs.

One Last thing.

Your correspondent contacted Airbnb and sent the most recent draft of Lake Geneva’s new STR ordinance, specifically asking about Mayor Todd Krause’s wet dream where all STR rental platforms will have to display a license number in a specific location.

“As you inquired about the possibility of displaying a license number in a specific location on the listing due to a city ordinance in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and I explained that there is no specific option to display the license number as requested but suggested adding it to the listing description.”

Airbnb

The “listing description” is buried two deep via a drop-down.

A recent search on AirBnB for “Lake Geneva” turned up 443 listings. Lake Geneva does NOT have those many, it is a common marketing tactic to cross list on the Lake Geneva name. Same applies to hotels and resorts and they also use vacation home rental platforms as their marketing channels.

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