With great homes in short supply In Louisville, you might have to get creative if you want to buy a home, especially if you are on a strict budget. This may mean you need to look outside your preferred neighborhood and/ or consider a fixer-upper to find what you want. Since Louisville is a city that places great value on preserving and rehabbing the past, you might be able to find a home that has been updated in an interesting neighborhood. The Portland Neighborhood Initiative The Portland neighborhood is a perfect example of an area where you might soon look for a renovated home that offers history and personality. Through the efforts of Habitat for Humanity, New Directions Housing Corporation, and private developer Gill Holland, over $25 million will modernize three areas within a mi... 05/12/2013

People who want to enjoy a certain quality of life may have plans to move to the Cherokee Gardens Neighborhood, which is a residential section that's just 6 miles to the east of Louisville, Kentucky. This residential area is a grouping of unconnected and modest-sized subdivisions that run right along Lexington Road and the huge estates that are constructed right outside Cherokee Park. Historically, much of the area's elite lived in this residential space, at least back in the early part of the 20th century. The majority of the houses in this area were constructed between the 1920s and the 1960s. Information About the People Here Based on neighborhood data, there are more females than males in this area, with females outnumbering males 490 to 456. The median age of the males in this neig... 05/11/2013

Join in the fun of the 2013 Waggin' Trail Walk for the Animals on Saturday, May 18th! This year's event takes place at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and participants have the opportunity to walk or run with their favorite pet! There will be hundreds of area pet lovers on a journey to save lives and celebrate the human-animal bond!     There will be tons of fun for the whole family, including picking your favorite duck from the duck pond, (or "bobbing for tennis balls" for the dogs!), a ring toss, a lollipop tree, a cake walk, a dunking booth and much more! There is even a tie-die station, where you'll be able to tie-dye your event t-shirt and a bandanna for your dog! This is a wonderful event that serves the thousands of homeless pets that the Kentucky Humane Society take... 05/11/2013

Amazing renovated home in Oakdale Addition. The upgrades in this place make it look like an HGTV home. Plenty of cosmetic updates with a new roof too. porch & deck add additional living space. Spacious yard!     05/08/2013

A Fun Day at Churchill Downs with my REALTOR Family. This was a great RPAC Event, Lots of Food, Fun and  Fellowship!!!   Barbara,Patsy, Charlie, and Jeff Anetha, Rip, President John May Patsy Smith and Barbara Flannery   It was a beautiful Day On Wednesday We all had a Wonderful Time! Thanks RPAC Committee and Anetha for all your hard work!! 05/06/2013

  When you buy newly constructed house, you may be looking for home for your family but your purchasing dollar goes a long way toward enhancing the local community. As noted in our previous blog about the benefits of buying local, you can keep the maximum amount of money in town by using local suppliers and independent businessmen men and women. Real estate money is local money! Local Impact Of Housing Construction The National Association of Home Builders (NAB) recently offered some statistics about   the economic impact. They claim that during the first year a house priced at $321,000 creates 3.24 full-time local jobs, $211,000 in local income $22,000 in taxes and fees for the local governments. On a permanent basis, this same house generates $31,000 in local spending, $7,430 in local... 05/04/2013

The almost-behind-us month of April is National New Homes Month. After a slump in permit issuance, the number of new homes being built in Louisville and around the country is way up. Elite Homes, Inc. a local builder, reports rising traffic in model homes that exceeds that at the top of the housing boom in 2006. Key Homes, LLC reports the same and expects a 40% increase in new home sales this year. Why The Increase In Housing Starts? An improving economy, low mortgage rates, pent-up demand for new housing, and a shortage of properties that the current crop of homebuyers want to purchase are all contribute to this increasing interest in new construction. For homebuyer, new construction offers a viable alternative to the declining inventory of what is currently on the market. As the Natio... 04/29/2013

Every year, theatregoers flock to Louisville, Kentucky for the Humana Festival of New American Plays. This festival brings to light new and innovative voices in the theatre world by opening up a space to preview new shows before they hit the big stages of cities like New York, L.A., and Chicago. This year, with new Artistic Director Les Waters at the helm, many of the plays have received impressive critical reviews. Here's a look at some of the top-rated performances so far. Gnit This play is a playful modern-day adaptation (or "mis-adaptation") of the highly regarded but rarely staged epic poem "Peer Gynt," which was originally written by the legendary Norwegian poet and playwright Henrik Ibsen. The contemporary version, written by celebrated writer Will Eno, takes its audience on a ro... 04/28/2013

Completely renovated home in Germantown with amazing upgrades! Poplar floors, custom cabinets, artistic touches you've love. New kitchen and baths, new windows and doors, new fixtures and lighting, new furnace and AC. Enchanting deck and patio. Move in ready.     04/27/2013

If you follow my blog, you know that I like to promote local business. As a small businessperson myself, I know that I can provide great service to my customers, patronize other local firms that provide photography, staging, painting, appraisal, and other services, and still make a decent living while keeping costs in check. When you talk about the value of buying local, it is easy to relate when you're talking real estate. That gets you where you live – literally. Real estate is local. In the words of the current Zillow commercial, when you buy a home, "You're not just looking for a house, you're looking for a place for your life to happen." Local Community Assets If Louisville is where you make your home, the prices of property are important to you, but so is the general prosperity of... 04/25/2013

From ten-minute plays to classic rock symphonies to Broadway musicals, Louisville, Kentucky is host to a variety of groundbreaking and world-class productions. For Louisville residents and visitors alike, there is always the opportunity to take in and enjoy plenty of culture. Here's a brief look at some of the highlights that will be coming up in April. Memphis: The Musical (From April 2nd to 7th at Whitney Hall) A Broadway show is coming to Louisville! This production, written by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, is the winner of four Tony awards, including Best Musical in 2010. This is a story full of parties and Rock 'n' Roll, and is loosely based on the life of radio DJ Dewey Philips, who was one of the first white DJs to play songs by black artists in the 1950s. The Humana Festival of ... 04/23/2013

The 2013 Taste of Frankfort Avenue is being held at The Clifton Center on Sunday, June 23rd from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. The event is looking for volunteers to fill positions such as event set-up, registration, greeter, ticket takers and restaurant assistants. If you or anyone you know is interested in these volunteer opportunities, please visit Taste of Frankfort Avenue Volunteers.     If you're more interested in attending this great occasion, this year's event will include food tastings from more than two dozen of Frankfort Avenue's finest restaurants! Additionally, there will be a cash bar, live music and a silent auction! If you buy tickets in advance they're now on sale for $50 or you can buy at the door for $60. Friends of the Clifton Center members receive an additional $5 discoun... 04/23/2013

The Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby otherwise known as "The Run For the Roses" or "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" is a race for three year old thoroughbred horses over a length of 1.25 miles. Many flock to the Derby annually including celebrities and even sometimes members of royal families! Among the 150,000 or so visitors to the Derby each year are of course locals. Locals such as the residents of Lake Forest  are full of a love of all things Kentucky and the members of this affluent community love this beloved race full of tradition and community. During the Derby, those who call Louisville home, or any Kentucky Derby attendee for that matter can be found enjoying a Mint Julep ( the official drink of the Derby) or Burgoo(the official meal of the Derby). A Mint Julep consi... 04/18/2013

    So you're thinking about investing in real estate, huh? There is a lot more that goes into it then what you see from the late night "Get Rich" info-mmercials, any real estate agent will tell you that! I thought I would pass along some interesting statistics to give you an idea of where the investment market is headed in the near future, especially after the rough few years that we have put behind us.   Via Steve Harney, KCM:   Investment purchases of residential real estate remained elevated for a second consecutive year, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR)’s2013 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, covering existing- and new-home transactions in 2012. Here are the key findings from the report: Raw Numbers  Investment home sales declined 2.1% to 1.21 milli... 04/18/2013

When you live in Louisville, Kentucky, you know that most of the month of April is devoted to preparing for the Kentucky Derby that is held on the first weekend in May. The event attracts 100,000 visitors, many from out of town, and brings well over $200 million to the city. Many of the events so associated with the Derby are underwritten by corporate sponsors to ensure plenty of activities even for people who don't attend the race. Off To the Races? You might say, "if you live in Louisville, why wouldn't you go to the race?” Going to the event is a pricey affair. The celebrities who sit in Millionaires Row, decked out in pricey hats, pay $5,000 for a seat and a buffet lunch. Tickets to see the race at Churchill Downs start at $65 per person for admission to the infield. Few attendees ... 04/17/2013

When it comes to the ‘Run for the Roses’ it’s often said that it’s a marathon, not a sprint.  That’s true for the horses vying to win at Churchill Downs and even more true for the distance runners that are descending upon downtown Louisville for the 40th annual Derby Festival Marathon the Saturday before the horses get their turn.   On April 27th more than 2,000 entrants are expected for the 26.2 mile race that begins on the corner of Main and Floyd Street and stretches all the way to Iroquois Park before looping back to where it began.   Finding a home in Louisville for what has now become the premier distance race in Kentucky was the vision of Phil Fowler, a then member of a prominent track club in Louisville.  Real estate downtown and Louisville homes in the South end served as the ... 04/16/2013

Renoavation makes this updated Cape Cod a must see! Sharp new kitchen & baths, nearly new roof & HVAC, spacious deck, & plently of usable space on a nice lot. St. Matthesw location is near shopping, parks, & all conveniences.     04/11/2013

Thunder over Louisville, one of the nation’s biggest firework displays, is back for its 23rd year on April 20th.  It’s a day full of fun events and locally serves as the unofficial kick-off to the heart of spring and the Derby Festival. For those living in Louisville the spring excitement is building as one of the world’s premier firework displays is just around the corner:  Thunder over Louisville.  Homes on the river are already gearing up for the annual party event and come April 20th the streets will once again be filled to capacity with people crowding around to see the show in Southern Indiana and Louisville.  Real estate for a nice seat at Thunder is always a premium commodity so get there early and stake out your ground as the party starts early on Saturday with the amazing Thu... 04/11/2013

So...this is a day I will take a few liberties with my "Louisville Real Estate Blog" and focus on the task at hand:  The Louisville Cardinals' bid(s) to win the NCAA Basketball Championship(s).  That's right, there are two opportunities for Louisville to win the NCAA basketball championship.  One for the men, which will occur tonight at around 9:23 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time against the Michigan Wolverines at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, and the Lady Cards will get their shot tomorrow night in New Orleans versus the vaunted UConn Huskies. I must say, I've not ever been much of a women's basketball fan, and I won't pretend and say that I am now, but the thought of both the men & the women winning the national title during the same year is exciting.  But mainly, I recall the Louisville m... 04/08/2013

With the spring real estate market in Louisville much hotter than the weather, you might be ready to join the frenzy and buy or sell your home. Inventory is low at some price points in some locations, so if you put your home up for sale, you might find that it is quickly scooped up by an eager buyer. As a home buyer, you might have to settle for a great home that doesn't match all of your wish list items, and even then, may be in a multiple bid situation with other house–hungry buyers. A couple months ago, we wrote about the importance of home inspections and the problems that the inspector might turn up. Now that sellers are rushing to get their homes on the market to take advantage of the current boom and buyers are considering homes with potential, what types of problems are deal bre... 04/03/2013