Million dollar listings: The 10 most expensive homes for sale in Brown County

GREEN BAY - One is a 12-acre, wooded estate with a dedicated art studio.

Another has a three-floor elevator and a 625-square-foot master bedroom.

A third includes a sport court, indoor pool and fireplace … in the kitchen.

If you’re waiting for Robin Leach to usher you into a palatial beachfront mansion on either coast, think again.

Any one of them could be yours, if you have a few million dollars to spare. They're three of the 16 Brown County homes currently on the market for more than $1 million. 

They’re part, but not all, of the luxury home segment of Green Bay’s housing market. Keller Williams Realtor Sandra Ranck said “luxury homes” in Brown County start around $450,000 and, right now, go as high as $8.4 million. She said Brown County’s $1 million-and-higher luxury housing market generates national and international interest.  

“In Green Bay, in Brown County, we’ve never had more than a handful of $1 million-plus (homes) sell in one year, but the market’s grown quite a bit,” Ranck said. “It’s a niche market, but one with a lot of beautiful properties in the Green Bay area. It surprises people.”

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Ranck used to call a home like the most expensive on the market, at 4735 Fonda Fields Court in Hobart, which is listed for $8.4 million, a “unicorn property” because they were once-in-a-lifetime real-estate listing and a challenge to match the house with a buyer.

Now, though, there are four properties for sale for more than $2 million, some of which would exceed the most expensive sale of an existing home that Mark Olejniczak, of Mark D. Olejniczak Realty, remembers: $2.6 million. 

Olejniczak said the luxury market has seen an uptick since 2015 as real estate agents worked through the backlog created by the housing market's crash during the Great Recession. He also noted there is now more selection in the $1 million-plus range, as well. 

"It was more difficult selling upper-price-range homes from 2007 to 2014," he said. "The backlog got to be up to 6 years (of inventory) during that period. Now, it's starting to balance out much better since we've been in a seller's market for three years."

He said luxury homes on the market right now showcase unique styles and a very high level of amenities like large kitchens with pro-grade appliances, luxurious master bedroom suites, garages with finish levels that rival the home, bar areas, and elaborate pools and grilling spaces. 

"The floorplans are awesome and the materials used on everything from bathrooms to kitchens and great rooms show we're really blessed to have quality builders in the region," Olejniczak said. 

That doesn't mean they're easy sells, though. Some have been on the market for several years, and finding the right match of buyer, price and home remains a challenge.

“The housing market is busy in all segments, but it’s busy in different segments in different ways. The luxury market is really competitive,” she said. “It’s not as busy as smaller price markets, but it’s competitive. If you want to sell in those markets, you have to be price-ready, market ready and some patience. Those bigger houses take some time, like a year, to sell.”

Real estate histories, available on Zillow, that bear out the challenge of selling a property with a high price tag and limited number of potential buyers. 

4735 Fonda Fields Court, Hobart

Located in Hobart, this French chateau-style home  on more than 10 acres includes seven bedrooms, eight full bathrooms and three half-bathrooms. It also has a sports court, three-floor elevator and sauna. The property was sold in 2011 for $2.8 million and re-sold in 2015, while it was only partially finished, for $1.2 million, according to Zillow. It was listed for sale for $8.4 million in June. Brown County property records indicate the property's assessed value was $1.6 million in 2017.

2387 Lost Dauphin Road, De Pere

This ranch-style home in  De Pere features an office, billiard room, theater, exercise room and spa room. It was listed for sale for $3 million in 2014, then taken off the market until it was re-listed in 2015. The price dropped $200,000 in 2017 and was reduced another $100,000 in July to its current price, $2.7 million. Brown County property records indicate the property's assessed value was $1.5 million in 2017.

3383 New Plank Road South, Rockland

This 12-acre estate in Rockland includes a 32-foot by 24-foot art studio and riverfront views. Zillow's price history shows it was originally listed in August 2016 for $3.9 million. The price was reduced to $3 million in 2017 before being removed in August. It was re-listed Sept. 13 at $2.5 million. Brown County property records indicate the property's assessed value was $568,300 in 2017.

2080 W. Muirwood Drive, Green Bay

Located on Green Bay's west side, this five-bedroom, nine-bathroom home's kitchen includes an adjoining hearth area with a fireplace and wet bar. It's got a theater room, fitness room and an indoor pool with slides and a waterfall. It was sold in 2012 for $2.6 million and listed for sale in 2015 for $3 million. The price was dropped to $2.7 million in 2016 and to $2.5 million in 2017. Brown County property records indicate the property's assessed value was $1.6 million in 2017.

3687 Lost Dauphin Road, Lawrence

Complete with a tennis court, swimming pool and geothermal heat, this home overlooking the Fox River in Lawrence was sold in 2003 for $1.6 million. It was listed for sale again in August 2017 for $5.9 million. The price was cut to $2.9 million in May and has been further reduced  to $1,995,000. Brown County property records indicate the property's assessed value was $1,630,400 in 2017.

"Our luxury market is ... adapting"

Ranck, a Realtor for more than 20 years, attributes growth in the luxury segment not to Green Bay Packers players, whom she said don’t make up as much of the luxury market as you might think, but to technology and value.

Instead, the market benefits from people who work remotely and are free to live wherever they want. That enables more people to consider living in regions like northeastern Wisconsin where they can avoid the headaches and cost of living in a large metropolitan area.

Ranck said she recently sold a home on Fox River Drive listed for $2.5 million that likely would have cost more than 10 times that if it was on the West Coast.

“People have taken positions here because of the affordability factor here," Ranck said. "Our luxury market is … adapting. And our high-end builders all have waiting lists.”

Olejniczak echoed Ranck, noting that asking prices might seem steep to the average house hunter, but buyers who can afford a luxury property can probably buy one for much less than it would cost to build new. 

He said having a variety of homes — historic restorations, riverfront ranches, French-style chateaus and new homes with modern design — is important in catering to a segment of buyers that can be very specific in their wants and needs. 

Ranck said there’s also a growing demand for upper-middle to high-end properties in areas like downtown Green Bay, too. She continues to work with DDL Holdings on a proposal to develop one of the last Larsen Canning Co. buildings in the Rail Yard District into high-end condominiums that would be priced right below the $450,000 luxury threshold.

“What I love is that we have people in positions here that recognize the changing market and are offering products to suit it,” she said. “It’s amazing where Green Bay is at, both in downtown and the Packers’ (Titletown residential plans). Luxury gets a bad rap, but there’s a lot of really great, different lifestyles that are coming up that will be great for our area.”