Comparing Home Improvements in Louisville with the Nation
I culled through the official Realtor yearly Making Home Improvements Pay report to see how Louisville compares with the nation. From the look of things, we more than hold our own.
(more…)Interest Rates Still at Historic Lows
Lately, we’ve all been bombarded with negative news from the media regarding a “down housing market.” It’s everywhere you look! What we don’t hear enough about is the amazing interest rates that are currently at historic lows. These rates should be prompting more investors to consider real estate as part of their overall investment plan.
Renting Your Home for Derby
With Derby right around the corner, what could possibly be worth the risk of renting your Louisville home to total strangers? How does $20,000 sound? That’s something certain homes will garner when renting your home for Derby.
Louisville Home Prices Rise in 1Q
Compared to the national housing market Louisville is in great shape. Louisville sales are up 2.3 percent for the first three months of the year. This while the national market…
Versailles Road Castle Getting a Makeover
This property is hardly your typical piece of residential real estate. What an amazing story! First, the idea that a medieval stone castle was being built off a rural Kentucky stretch of highway is literally unique. Rex Martin started building the castle in 1969 but after divorcing from his wife never completed the building. So it’s been vacant ever since. We’re talking 30+ years.
Foreclosures Affect Us All
Generally speaking, I try to focus on the positive. But every once in a while a problem is so great that we can't help but pay attention and then, hopefully,…
Staging Ideas for Louisville Sellers
Sellers, need some great ideas to help improve your showings? Today we’ve got 50 of them! Courtesy of the Unique Real Estate blog comes 50 Tips To Get You Started on Your Home Staging Journey.
New Development Innovating on Highway 42
The Courier-Journal is reporting that a 7-home, elevated development is being planned for Highway 42. The primary obstacle is the severity of the land's grade. The 4.1-acre wooded site at…
Sellers Getting Aggressive and Creative
There are more homes on the market this year than last—36% more nationally and 34% more in Louisville, KY. This, my friends, is what’s known as a buyer’s market.
New Home Sales Drop Again
The Courier-Journal published an article Tuesday that talked about the decline in sales for new construction. On the whole the news is as expected. Some builders are feeling the pain,…
Survey Says: Technology Important, Full Service Agent a Must
Isn't it great when technology can make our lives easier? Of course it is. Which is why so many home buyers and sellers are looking to technology to help them…
Agent Tips for Better Marketing
Even though I wish Claudia Wicks wouldn’t have broken her article up into four pieces she does present some valuable information for Agents new and old.
The Right Realtor for First Time Buyers
I came across this How to Buy Your First House today. Not all Realtors are the same so finding the right Realtor is key.
The piece includes some common sense and valuable points, such as setting a budget and finding help, but I do have to take issue with the following section:
(more…)1. Hire the dumb guy. The top agents want to make money from the top houses. You’re more of a hassle with your small budget. But the dumb guy? He’s not making as many sales. He wants to work for you (especially if he knows you want to upgrade in a few years and will need someone to sell your house and take you out to find a new house). Yet the greatest reason for hiring the dumb guy? He’ll have the inside story on everything. “He’s made it to where he is through his people skills. Other agents don’t take him as a serious threat; they look at him as a friendly guy. He’s the one to share a beer with. He’ll joke about beating up cops. Other agents tell him anything. Sure, his words might embarrass the heck out of you. Yet your agent could be the one who accidentally took the key to the new house with him on vacation, so no one else could view your prospective house. Other agents will just laugh at his slip. What a silly guy! Then they might give him some hot tips because what’s he gonna do?”
House Hunters Flock to Internet in Greater Numbers
Four out of five homebuyers use the Internet when shopping for a house, according to the National Association of Realtors. That's up from 73% last year. It also underscores the…
Home Ownership Up for 2006
I received a handful of interesting facts from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) today. Let me know what you think. The biggest group of home buyers by far is…