Residential Real Estate

Articles and News about Residential Real Estate

Credit Cards and Mortgages: There’s a Link

Photo of man applying for a Louisville mortgage.
Applying for your Louisville mortgage can be quick and easy. Preparing to apply by being smart with your credit cards, which affects your credit rating, really pays off!

There is a direct link between your credit cards and mortgage in Louisville! You believe me, don’t you? And… it does not have to do with using your credit card with a 30% rate of interest to purchase your new home.

The link between your card and your mortgage lies in your credit rating. If your credit is out of whack, you are not going to be able to qualify for a mortgage. If you want to buy a house and get approved for a home loan you need to make sure that your credit card bill payments reflect responsible credit ownership so that the lenders consider you a good risk.

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Final Walk-through: Your Final Steps Towards Owning Your New Louisville Property

Every homebuyer should take a final walk-through of their soon-to-be new Louisville property before signing the closing papers. This is done to ensure that there has been no new damage to the property. It’s also to ensure that everything that is supposed to be included as part of the transaction is in the home and has not been removed.

Photo of wallpaper inset into a built-in nook for a formal dining room Rock Springs Homearama
When completing your final walk-through, make sure to cover all the bases, even things you might not have found in the home inspection.
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Receiving Mail from Louisville Real Estate Agents

When you begin showing an interest in real estate and start talking to a few agents you are likely to start receiving mail, email and phone calls from agents working for your business. From open houses to new houses available in your area, each will try to provide something useful in the most attractive method possible.

Photo of some post it notes
Paper communication isn’t what it used to be.
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Louisville Green Houses: Finding, Changing or Building

One of the largest trends in Louisville real estate is green houses. There is no denying that. We might not have the sheer number of green homes that you can find in other cities, but there is a very real push for Louisville green housing.

Building Green in Louisville
Not all Louisville home builders promote themselves as Green Builders but most are following the trend and have green features included in their homes.
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Your Louisville Retirement Real Estate Options

Retirement can be a wonderful time. The potential is there to relax and enjoy the rest of your life without the rigors and responsibilities of work. But before that happens, you must take a look at all of your options and “get your ducks in a row.”

Photo of mature couple
When exploring all your retirement real estate options, pay close attention to both your special interests, as well as, the money that’s needed to support them.
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How to Maintain a Vacant Louisville Home While Up For Sale

So… what is the best way to maintain a vacant Louisville home while you are trying to sell it? Leaving a vacant home in Louisville up for sale can be very costly but it doesn’t have to be. You will still have to pay your taxes, mortgage payments, and other expenses. Generally speaking, it is always best to avoid selling a vacant property whenever possible.

Photo of a vacant room
Selling a home that is vacant is always more challenging as many buyers have a difficult time imagining a room’s purpose.
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Top 3 Real Estate Myths About Louisville Real Estate Agents

Note: This is the second of a 3-part series on real estate myths. There are many misconceptions when it comes to working with Louisville real estate agents that are valuable to understand. If you have more specific questions, feel free to contact me.

Photo of hard working Realtor with a client
If you think all real estate agents are wealthy, think again. In 2010, the estimated average income for all real estate agents was $27,364.
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Louisville Home Values Changes for 2011, Winners and Losers

Updated: 2/3/2012. Thanks to Chris Cox who found a calculation error.

Many held high hopes for an improving real estate market heading into 2011. Well, maybe that’s an exaggeration but there were some signs that the housing recession was lessening and perhaps we would all see improvement in 2011. In most locations, that didn’t occur. But it did in some!

Map of Louisville with real estate price changes for 2011
This map gives us a better picture of how the real estate market was behaving by area. Outlying areas performed well in 2011 while much of the county was down.
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Top 10 Wealthiest Zip Codes in Louisville – #1 Glenview, KY 40025

Today is our final Friday covering the wealthiest ZIP codes in Louisville, Kentucky. Drumroll please *ratta tat tat* The #1 wealthiest ZIP code in Louisville is 40025! With only about 130 addresses in this area, it’s a very exclusive and affluent part of Louisville.

Photo of a home in Glenview, KY 40025
Many of Louisville’s most stately mansions are located in Glenview.

Average Household Income: $186,271
Average/Median Home Value: $571,386/$400,000
Number of Homes over $1M: 15
Source: BusinessFirstofLouisville.com

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Buying A Condo In Louisville – Digging Deep Before Setting Pen To Paper

If you’re thinking about buying a condo in Louisville you should take some steps to dig deep and find out more about the unit and the association. On the surface, everything can look fine, even when there is trouble brewing below. Here are some things you can do to really find out what’s happening in the condo community you are interested in.

Photo of a young couple in front of a condo
Purchasing a Louisville condo is similar to purchasing a new home but with a few important differences. Make sure your trusted advisor in real estate understands them.
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