From “Someday” To “It’s Happening”: Lisa And Ken’s Journey To A Lake Como Home
Lisa and Ken’s story didn’t start with a house — it started with a dream that quietly followed them for more than 25 years.
A chance encounter at a seaplane event, a joke about retiring on Lake Como, and a shared curiosity for Italy slowly turned into something far more real than they ever imagined. What once felt like a distant “someday” idea began to take shape over time, conversations, and life’s unexpected connections.
Lisa & Ken hiking.
Like many of our international clients, Lisa and Ken were drawn not only by the beauty of Lake Como, but by the idea of truly living it — experiencing the area, its culture, and its unique rhythm, not just visiting it.
And when the right moment finally arrived, everything started to fall into place in the most natural way.
This is the kind of journey we love most: authentic, patient, and guided by genuine emotion rather than urgency. A dream that didn’t rush — but waited for the right time to become real.
Read their inspiring story below and let yourself be carried into their beautiful journey to Lake Como.
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR STORY. WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN LAKE COMO AS A LOCATION FOR BUYING YOUR SECOND HOME IN ITALY? DID YOU KNOW THE AREA BEFORE? HAVE YOU EXPLORED THE REST OF ITALY? WHAT DID YOU KNOW ABOUT LAKE COMO / WHAT WAS YOUR PERCEPTION OF THE LAKE FROM ABROAD?
Ken says - The story started long ago with a dream. Lake Como has the world's oldest continuously operating seaplane club, (https://aeroclubcomo.com/en/) which Ken, an avid seaplane pilot, learned about at a seaplane event over 25 years ago. We would joke and say that when we retired, we would go live on Lake Como. Granted we had not been to visit there, so this really was just the glint of a dream. We didn't know the area but had heard how lovely it was. Fast forward many years, and we are now planning our actual retirements, and Lisa's friend from college and her husband bought an apartment (and then a villa for rentals) from Lakeside. We immediately went to visit and took a vacation there with them. We also shared our dream, and they apprised us that it was totally possible to do so with Sara, Elisa, and the Lakeside team. How surprising to think that our faraway dream was even possible! On that vacation trip, Ken was able to fly a seaplane around the lake and the Alpine area with the Aeroclub Como, so the first part of his dream came true. Our friends then arranged an appointment for us to meet Sara, which we did, and then we were signed up for the weekly email Round Up. It took about a year or so of looking on-line, lots of discussion if this was even a possibility, and finally our home-to-be turned up on the Roundup. I sent the listing to my friend, with the caption of, "Hmmm...?" She immediately texted me back that she and her husband had made an appointment to see the place the next day. I was stunned. With Sara, they went to see the house, and everyone agreed it was a great candidate. Ken then bought a ticket to get there, while Lisa stayed at home to tend their horse farm and animals. Sara showed Ken several homes, with Lisa on FaceTime, and once again, everyone agreed that this was The One. It went quickly from there. We should note that when we traveled to Menaggio to close on the house, Lisa hadn't seen it in person until after the close. That's how much she trusts Ken and now Sara!
Lisa is of Italian descent and has lived in France in the past. Both of us have traveled extensively in Europe with a special focus on Italy. One year we helped a friend harvest his olive crop in Rionero in Vulture. We've biked around Sicily. Our love of Italian food, art, and culture is shared. With the Lakeside team, it all became miraculously doable.
Ken posing in front of a seaplane at Como Aeroclub.
WHAT MAKES LAKE COMO SO SPECIAL COMPARED TO OTHER LOCATIONS IN ITALY OR EUROPE?
Location, location, location. The Lake Como area has it all, lakes, stunning mountains, rivers, great hiking, wonderful food, culture, lovely people. The proximity to Milan helps greatly with travel arrangements, as we still are going back and forth from our home and farm in Western New York State while we prepare for retirement to Menaggio.
YOU END UP BUYING A LOVELY HOUSE IN MENAGGIO, A TRULY CHARACTERFUL PROPERTY THAT MANY HAD NOTICED ON THE MARKET. WHAT MADE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH IT?
It's an architectural beauty! Everything with the house has been done well and in an ultra modern style that we found highly attractive. The glass circular staircase stands out, as does the well-appointed kitchen. There is stonework laid above into the skylights, and below that a glass floor. It's just so unique. It also has a small yard, so Lisa's propensity for gardening can be satisfied. The placement is perfect. It's a five minute walk down to the piazza, perhaps a little more back up. The views of the mountains are just gorgeous, and within walking distance we can reach many hikes and trails. We both enjoy walking the Sanagra River Valley. Conveniently, we can hike to two wonderful agriturismos for delicious lunches. There are also Refugios nearby, again with home-cooked meals at the top. Hiking just doesn't get better than that.
Their lovely new home.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FEELING OF MENAGGIO AND SURROUNDINGS? WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THESE VILLAGES IN PARTICULAR?
Menaggio is small enough to be easily walkable but large enough to have enough going on culturally. We are excited to explore the adjacent villages, as well.
DO YOU THINK IT’S EASY TO BUY A PROPERTY AT LAKE COMO OVERALL? DID YOU FIND ANY DIFFICULTY OR CHALLENGE ALONG THE WAY?
This is the part where Lakeside comes in very strongly. We cannot say enough about them and the entire process. They oriented us as we began looking, guided us through the purchase and closing, and MOST IMPORTANTLY supported us once it was all done and finished. We cannot overstate how important the latter was for us. While we are scrambling to learn Italian now, that takes time. Elisa repeatedly helped us after the purchase to orient, answering a panoply of questions, walking us through all the details, often managing them for us. She literally walked us to the bank where she translated some of the more complex issues of opening a bank account in Italy and then again to the electric company. She has communicated with other agencies as we set up internet, garbage disposal, myriad things. For after support, she goes above and beyond and is competent, friendly, kind, efficient, and ever responsive. I don't know what we would have done without her support. It is not an open book buying a home abroad. Lakeside made it possible and even enjoyable. Even at the close of the home, Sara was there guiding us through each step. Lakeside is utterly remarkable.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE RECOMMENDING TO FOREIGN CLIENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR SECOND HOME AT LAKE COMO?
We would recommend none other than Lakeside highly and without reservation. Purchasing our home and then following up with having a home abroad wouldn't have been possible without them.
ARE YOU PLANNING ANY UPDATE TO YOUR HOUSE IN MENAGGIO? HOW OFTEN ARE YOU PLANNING TO LIVE IN THIS HOUSE?
Right now we are coming to Menaggio several times a year on vacations. It is in a rental program the rest of the time through My Home in Como. In the next few years when we fully retire, we will live there full-time.
WE THINK EVERY HOUSE HAS ITS OWN SONG. IS THERE (YET) A SONG YOU LINK TO YOUR LOVELY NEW HOME?
Haha! Maybe, "It's a Miracle"?
IS THERE ANY OTHER LOCATION OF LAKE COMO YOU PARTICULARLY LIKE, AND IF SO, WHY?
I think both of us love the Sanagra Valley and also hiking into the Alps. Give us a little more time to explore, and I imagine our range will expand. Lisa also found a riding stable within a ten minute drive, so she may be spending some time there too...
From left to right: Marliese, Kai (their long-time friends & our beloved clients) and Lisa hiking.
Has Lisa & Ken’s story inspired you? Are you thinking about investing in a property in Lake Como?