Opinion Pieces on Real Estate, Home Improvement, Interior Design and More

Top 10 Energy Saving Tips for the Holidays

Now that the holiday season is upon us, many people have already begun preparations for entertaining friends, visiting loved ones and enjoying the spirit of the season.  But as most of us know, the holidays are not without their own set of unique concerns.

Glade jul by Viggo Johansen
Glade jul by Viggo Johansen (1891)
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Home Data Installation is a Great Thing

If you take a look underneath any desk that holds a computer or behind the setup holding audio and video equipment, you’re very likely to be confronted by a snarl of wires and cables. These wires have been added over time in order to meet the needs of various new types of communication. These lines compose the other wiring in your home—low-voltage communication lines.

Photo of computer and wires
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Keeping Your Louisville Home Clean and Safe This Spring

As spring comes to your Louisville home, many homeowners will be investing in home improvement projects. Maybe you want to improve the look of your home. Or, possibly improve the security of your loved ones. It’s smart to check some home maintenance tasks off your to-do list in order to avoid expensive fixes later on. This way, you will raise your home’s value and save yourself money down the road.

Could this be your Louisville home?
Does your Louisville home need some updating? Making sure to complete routine maintenance ensures gains in your largest personal investment—your home.
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Kentucky Derby Festival Balloon Events

Louisville is a great town. A party town some might say. Lots of people are moving to Louisville Kentucky… I know that’s true. We used to have just a single Great Balloon Race as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival. Then they added the Balloon Glow.

Photo of the Derby Festival Balloon Glow and Race - Kentucky Derby Festival Balloon Events
With three days of Kentucky Derby Festival Balloon Events, there’s something for everyone!
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Want to know the biggest danger in Louisville real estate?

Some might consider this article’s title pure hyperbole. Let me be clear: It’s not. In July of 2012, the Flood Insurance Reform Act was passed. Some of its pieces weren’t “plugged in” until recently, but because of this piece of legislation, buying a certain home now can be like playing Russian roulette. Let’s learn about Louisville flood insurance.

Photo of waterfront homes in Louisville KY
Just because your Louisville home is near water doesn’t mean it’s in a floodplain. But it could… and that could cost you thousands of additional dollars with the recent legislation regarding flood insurance.

Here’s the inside scoop…

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Successfully Negotiating a Louisville Home Sale

Some people believe that all it takes to get a super deal on a Louisville home sale is to run into a desperate seller who will take a low-ball price. This rarely happens.

Photo of a Louisville family home
When thinking about negotiating a Louisville home sale, this happy family likely followed the tips outlined below.
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The Housing Reform and Relocating to Louisville

Housing finance reform has seen progress since its inception and across the nation, house prices are beginning to bounce back. Here in Louisville, the housing industry has seen significant gains as of August.

Photo of great Louisville neighborhood when relocating to Louisville KY
Thinking about relocating to Louisville? This post shares of the great reasons why such a move would really pay off.
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When Can You Trust Your Realtor?

Trust. It’s the key facet of every human relationship. Before I became a Realtor, I thought Realtors enjoyed a great reputation. Why? Because my Realtor was a great guy—hardworking and trustworthy. I would refer him to all my friends and family, who each shared glowing recommendations. But how about you? Do you trust your Realtor?

Photo of hard working Realtor with a client
Can you really trust your Louisville Realtor? That’s a great question. Learn how here.
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Louisville Homes Appreciation Up in 2013 But Have a Great Deal of Ground to Make Up

Rather than publish a treatise on a topic. I prefer pictures. I bet you do too!

With our shared interest in mind, I’ve created the following chart to show how Louisville homes have performed in recent years during the housing recession.

Chart of Louisville Home Appreciation/Deprecition from 1981 to 2013
This chart only shows Q1 performance for 2013 but hopefully, this gain will be extended through the year as we return to a more traditional 4%-5% annual appreciation here in Louisville.
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The Good, Bad and Ugly in Louisville Real Estate

I’ve spent a good many posts ranting about things that bother me in my career as a Louisville Realtor. Blog ranting is a good way to blow off steam.

(Better that than actually telling someone they’re a bad person. Heh.)


Perhaps the best movie theme music of all time.

Today I thought I’d hit the topic from a new perspective… all of them.

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Louisville Home Loan – Where Your Payments Go

If you have a Louisville home loan you will be paying interest monthly on the whole balance that is still owed. At the beginning, almost all of the payment goes towards paying off the interest. As the years go by, however, less money is put towards the interest and more gets put towards the principal.

Photo of two cute homes in Clifton Louisville KY
Sometimes the smart choice is buying less home than you can afford and saving money on all those interest payments, which can really add up.
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