Where I once saw multi millionaires I see older couples just trying to survive. I see younger couples trying to survive. My grandmother used to say "When poverty comes in the door, love can go out the window." I'm hoping she was very wrong in reference to these days. Money can breed arguments. The lessons that were learned from an economy have been very hard for some, unbearable for others, and devastating to many. Where I once saw the epitome of health I can see frailness and illness take it's toll on people. Life is short, very short. It is not a dress rehearsal and everyday is a gift and it's time that we will never get back. Where I once saw happiness and satisfaction I can see sadness, worry, fear, and people just grasping on for a brief prayer of reprieve from the suffering they ... 08/18/2009

Sunday, August 23rd is the date for the Love for Life Benefit at Roosevelt Park in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.  There is no charge to attend, many parts of the event are free with donations being accepted and all proceeds from this event will benefit the Beccee Smith- Kujawa family.  Beccee is the mom of two young girls fighting stage three lung cancer.  This event will include performances by the Eddie Butts, Rhythm Kings and  Love Monkeys Bands.  It will also include a beer and wine tent, food from great local vendors, silent auctions, drawings and more! Kids’ activities will include magicians, children’s Idol contest, arts and crafts, face painting, and bounce houses.  No matter what your interests, everyone is bound to have a great time.   Beccee is a professional singer, a non-smoker a... 08/17/2009

The City of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin is truly a beautiful city; it literally has everything that makes a great city enjoyable; a clean and wonderful atmosphere, a wide range of restaurants and shops that require many visits back to thoroughly enjoy them, and amazing people; lots of amazing people. One thing that is very unique to Oconomowoc  is the fact that it is has picturesque and beautiful lakes within your eye site and seconds a way. Lac La Belle is a Lake that is charming by all definitions. Fowler Lake is smaller but equally charming and the City Park known as Fowler Park is a gem. They have movies in the park some nights in Fowler park. Thursday all the activity was moved to downtown Oconomowoc where the streets where closed to celebrate the 70 year anniversary of the movie The Wiz... 08/15/2009

Now that I got your attention there is a certain logic to getting on a Waukesha County Lake and I am proud that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources does such a great job of maintaining the public boat accesses. many of these are free; my son and I went fishing and boating on Golden Lake in Waukesha County. The access/boat launch  was free and the parking was right across thestreet; complete with a bathroom. The one in this post is on Silver Lake in the town of Summit (Oconomowoc). The Silver Lake boat access is free, has a parking lot across the street, and is very nice. The Waukesha County Real Estate market has many boat accesses in the County. Some of them have a fee, but there are the ones that are free. So if you wanted to get on any of the  lakes in Waukesha County and m... 08/12/2009

It's a beautiful day in Waukesha County and I would be glad to, and if you need more information don't hesitate to email me at tom@tombraatz.com or call me at 262-377-1459. Waukesha County real estate is very alive this week, and it has been for awhile. The Waukesha County Lakes are thriving with activity, lots of fun, and they have all the makings of enjoyment and contentment on each and everyone of them. The Waukesha County Lake Homesare simply beautiful. When you are looking for  Waukesha County Real estate agents I am one  that knows Waukesha County lake properties well please feel free to give me a call. I welcome the opportunity to talk you about the many beautiful Waukesha County lake property Currently there are 352 active listings for Waukesha County Lake Property with Water fr... 08/10/2009

Few know that the impact the dairy business in Wisconsin has on the state's economy is more than twice that of the citrus industry's impact on Florida's economy and nearly nine times the economic impact as Idaho's potato industry?Dairying in Wisconsin is not just another industry among many, but the industry that's made Wisconsin famous. It is the one industry that defines us in the eyes of our fellow Americans and in the minds of people from around the world. Wisconsin has been aninternational leader in dairy and cheese technology for more than 150 years.  Dairy farming and cheesemaking date back more than 160 years, before Wisconsin was even granted statehood in 1848. In fact, Wisconsin's first cheesemakers were farm wives who, in the 1830s, began making cheese in their kitchens as a ... 08/07/2009

I have the luxury of having a friend in Greg Cavaiani (Response Realtors). Greg Cavaiani is one of the most solid men and committed individuals you could ever want to meet, and he and the rest of the Oconomowoc Police Department could really use your help for a great cause. The sense of community that Greg brings to the table is outstanding. Not only is he a superb Waukesha County real estate agent, and owns a very successful real estate company, he is also a dedicated Oconomowoc Police Officer. I believe he does it to always bring the best to the community and protect what he cherishes most; the people of this community. He makes that commitment. He maybe a part time officer with the community, but his law enforcement roots run long as a prior full time career as a SGT. Well, now some ... 08/04/2009

There is an old saying that "Seeing is believing". In my career of 23 years I have seen a lot of Waukesha County real estate agents come and go, and I have many that are my dear friends. some I have known for years, and some for just a few years. The one thing I do know is I need to always give thanks where thanks is due. I first came to Re/Max in 1989 and with an exception of a brief stint with another company, and owning two of my own companies for awhile, I have learned that I need to do what I do best; sell Waukesha County real estate until one day I make a geographical move. It does make me feel pretty good every time I turn on a TV and see another Re/Max commercial. The real thanks goes to the glue, the energy, the pulse that keeps this Re/Max office in Waukesha County humming; th... 07/27/2009

  As some of you may know, before starting my own company, or getting into real estate as a profession for that matter, I was a police officer for many years, ending my full time career as a SGT.  It is still in my blood and I continue to work at the City of Oconomowoc Police Department on a part-time basis.  It is truly a great department, in a terrific city, with some of the finest officers, detectives and command staff in the state.      To illustrate my point, the fine men and women of the Oconomowoc Police Department have donated their own time to help assist Breast Cancer Awareness and the Oconomowoc Free Clinic by sponsoring the: 2009 Oconomowoc Police Officer's Association Charity Golf Outing Officers are asking for donations and spending personal time organizing this great even... 07/27/2009

The amazing thing about the Lake Country in Waukesha County is that no matter what activity to enjoy; whether it is enjoying all the wonderful lakes that are in Waukesha County and the Lake Country, or the Waukesha County Park system, all the great festivals that are going on, or just walking down the streets of Oconomowoc,Delafield,Pewaukee,Hartland, and more you are just moments from some of the best dining available. Delis, bakeries, elegant and casual cuisine, and all types of magnificent foods are just waiting for you to enjoy.The Lake Country is known for its large number of lakes, and in the northwestern corner of Waukesha County it is often referred to as "Lake Country" by local residents. This includes Pewaukee, Delafield, Hartland, Merton, Nashotah, Chenequa, Okauchee Lake, Oc... 07/25/2009

The weather in the Waukesha County real estate cannot be beat and the Waukesha County Lakes are alive with activity, lots of fun, and they have all the makings of enjoyment and contentment on each and everyone of them. The Waukesha County Lake Homes are simply beautiful. When you are looking for  Waukesha County Real estate agents I am one  that knows Waukesha County lake properties well please feel free to give me a call. I welcome the opportunity to talk you about the many beautiful Waukesha County lake property; whether you need some questions answered, would like us to put you on our Waukesha County Dream Home Finder list, or would just like an on-line Waukesha County lake Homes Market Analysis evaluation. I hope the following information is helpful. Note: The following MLS properti... 07/23/2009

After a long morning in the Waukesha County Real estate market I ask my son this afternoon what he wanted to do and he said "Dad, lets go blue gill fishing." We just jumped in the vehicle and we head off to Golden Lake. Water sking, Fishing, and just plain peace and quiet make it all that much more of a reason to buy Waukesha County Lake homes if you are in the market for one. The prices, the selection, and the rates are superb, but it is a perfect season to buy one as well. Sometimes it just does not get better than a guy being able to talk with his 14 yead old son for 4 hours and laugh like crazy.     Looking for Waukesha County  real estate agents? Like to know what your Waukesha County Real Estate , or Waukesha County Lake homes for sale or what your homes for sale in Waukesha Count... 07/12/2009

The Waukesha County Real Estate market has lots to offer people in the way of relaxation and learning experiences. The Waukesha County Federated Library system is all the libraries in Waukesha County being able to use the resources of each others. I can take my Waukesha County Federated library system card which is for Oconomowoc and use it at any of the participating libraries for books, computers, and anything else they may offer. In the City of Oconomowoc sits an absolute jewel; the Oconomowoc Public library. This place has everything; amazing books, records, Cd's,new papers, magazines. If you can read it or listen to it you might find it here. There is something about the solitude of a library that is amazing and when you surround it with beautiful lakes, restaurants, and shops you ... 07/09/2009

 Og Mandino is one of the best authors I have ever had the chance to read. Og Mandino  also wrote an amazing book called "The Greatest salesman in the World." Mr. Mandino had an amazing way with words and is brutally honest in his books. In his book "The Return of The Ragpicker" a friend of his that is extremely street smart has Og Mandino take notes one day and had Og Mandino put it all to writing. The excerpt in the book is entitle "For the rest of my life.." Absolutely moving and enlightening about how an individual was so caught up in his past thinking about it, and at the same time was wrapped up with worry and fear and consumed at what the future could or would bring him that he never lived for the day. On day he just became acutely aware that the day he was in at that moment star... 07/01/2009

 In the Waukesha County Real Estate market the following activity took place for all single family,two family, land, commercial,business, and the entire MLS content for the week. In the Waukesha County Real Estate market 81 homes sold;14 were list and sold by the same company, and 67 were sold by co-brokes. In the Waukesha County Real Estate market there were 217 new listings.  In the Waukesha County Real Estate market there were 65 pending listings.  In the Waukesha County Real Estate market there were 6 withdrawn listings. In the Waukesha County Real Estate market there were 0 canceled listings. In the Waukesha County Real Estate market there were 107 expired listings. In the Waukesha County Real Estate market there were 16 back on market listings. In the Waukesha County Real Estate m... 06/26/2009

The weather is absolutely beautiful in Waukesha County real estate, everything is getting into the summer mode, and the lakes are sterling and magnificent in the Waukesha County Lake Homes market. When you are looking for  Waukesha County Real estate agents I am one   that knows Waukesha County lake Homes well please feel free to give me a call. I welcome the opportunity to talk you about the many beautiful Waukesha County lake property; whether you need some questions answered, would like us to put you on our Waukesha County Dream Home Finder list, or would just like an on-line Waukesha County lake Homes Market Analysis evaluation. I hope the following information is helpful. Note: The following MLS properties are for Lake, Pond, River properties directly having Water frontage, and doe... 06/23/2009

It has rained to beat the band in the Waukesha County Real Estate market in the last week. Amazing rain and storms have brought lots of water, and with it comes the humidity. When it gets real hot and the humidity is real high it gets uncomfortable. The beauty about living in Waukesha County is you can always go jump in a lake; literally. There are many great and wonderful lakes and beaches to be enjoyed in Waukesha County. What makes it even better is you can make a day out of it with swimming, boating, and beaching, and barbecuing. About the only way you can top this is to own your own lake home. Walk out of your home and jump off your pier or walk in from your own private beach. If you have ever thought about buying any Waukesha County lake homes or any Waukesha County lake propertie... 06/20/2009

Tom Braatz | Re/Max | 262-377-1459 233 Glenwood Road, Oconomowoc, WI Great neighborhood in the new Silver Lake Intermediate & Summit school areas. Space for growing family in 4 bed, 2 bath comfort. Sprawl on the dec 4BR/2BA Single Family House offered at $199,987 Year Built 1985 Sq Footage 1,680 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 2 Parking Unspecified Lot Size 12,155 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Great neighborhood in the new Silver Lake Intermediate & Summit school areas. Space for growing family in 4 bed, 2 bath comfort. Sprawl on the deck & enjoy the summer or shoot down to Silver Lake for summer fun. Golf at Paganica or Olde Highlander. Make your offer today! see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES Central A/C Central heat High/Vaulted ceiling Walk-in clo... 06/18/2009

Okay, our lunch choices in Oconomowoc is not bad. I love Sweetie Pies, downtown. Spinnakers has a nice porch, and view of Lac LaBelle. Winesteins is great for salads and wraps. But for real Italian food, you can't beat Porticello's on Silver Lake. Until last week, they opened at 4:00 pm. Now they open at 11:00 am during the week!! Be still my heart. I can get my eggplant fix early now. I heard their lunch prices are excellent. Lasagne for $4.00? Don't quote me, I'm not a lasagne eater. But give me those vegetables...it's a different story. If you're in Oconomowoc, check it out. I give it 5-stars. 06/18/2009

There is a term in the music industry called "testing for echo". Echo can be a real nuisance in a recording studio, on a stage it can give you real havoc and hence the use of a good monitor or monitors is crutial, and over all echo, outside of reverb or feedback can create problems. Similar to real estate echo and the sense of talking falling on deaf ears, or thinking that there is an echo in the room seems a little more prevalent these days. There was a anti acid commercial awhile ago with the comedian on stage going "I know your out there because I can hear you breathing" Whether you are in front of 10,000 people or a party of one the point can never be made clear enough. I had a number of buyers talk to me recently and said they were thinking of buying but they were thinking it was g... 06/15/2009