Renovated house in Barbourmeade sits on large quarter acre lot. Upgrades throughout. Four bedrooms with possible fifth in finished basement. Kitchen opnes unto beautiful patio. Gilkey replacment windows. New roof and water heater in 2009.    03/30/2013

  In Louisville, we love our history and are committed to recycling and refurbishing old buildings, landmarks, and structures. One such structure, the Big Four Bridge, was rescued from the obscurity and is on its way to being a vital part of Waterfront Park and among major Louisville attractions.    From Railroad Bridge To The Bridge To Nowhere    Originally built to connect Louisville and Indiana back in 1895 when Louisville was a major commerce center, the bridge was mainly used as a railroad bridge for the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railway, aka the "Big Four Railroad." Ultimately the railroad became part of the New York Central Railroad, which was swallowed up by Penn Central in 1968. The Bridge was closed down and the approach spans on both the Kentucky and India... 03/29/2013

If you have a dog with a friendly, laid-back personality that everyone adores, you may have a pet with a special calling to help others. By receiving special training as a therapy dog, your lovable pooch can offer love and companionship to children and adults with illnesses, psychiatric disturbances, socialization problems, learning challenges, or disabling stress as a therapy dog. My own dog, Joe Cocker, recently received his certification as a therapy dog so I thought I'd share with you some of the great training programs for therapy dogs in Louisville for turning personable pets into invaluable lifesavers. Joe fits the profile for a therapy dog, as the pictures in this article show. Why Therapy Dogs? Dogs have the special ability to communicate with people and are... 03/23/2013

The popularity of the FHA mortgage for home buyers following the economic downturn of 2008 increased heavily in 2009, and peaked in 2010 before decreasing two straight years in terms of overall market share of all types of purchase home loans.  Regardless of the recent decline in FHA mortgage popularity, FHA mortgages remain a staple in many housing markets across the United States.  For Louisville home buyers, the FHA mortgage continues to fund a substantial percentage of Louisville home buyers as they go to buy Louisville homes.  FHA loans are for primary residence purchases and refinances. Since the demise of most 100% financing options following the economic collapse of 2008, FHA mortgages have become the choice of home buyers with little cash and little credit.  Home buyers can ge... 03/19/2013

Move right into this St. Matthews condo. Large rooms with crown molding. Washer & dryer, plus refrigerator, stove, & dishwasher all stay. Maintenance fee include it all - heat, water, maintenance, & more. Private entrance to beautiful St. Matthews park.   03/18/2013

I must say, I've never been a huge museum buff.  Then again, I never did like to read until I got out of college (Go figure).  So the prospect of Louisville's Downtown revitalization including what is now call Museum Row on Main was not something I had thought of as a main reason to head downtown, until now.  In February of 2013, four of the museums located on Museum Row on Main offered Kentucky and Indiana residents a $5 admission special for entry into all four museums.  My inlaws happened to be in town during February, and my wife, the ever-attentive bargain hunter, noticed the special, so we decided to spend a day in Downtown Louisville on Museum Row on Main.  To my surprise, this experience far-exceeded my expectations, and here are a couple of reasons why: 1.  Louisville Slugger ... 03/18/2013

As a Realtor®, I help my clients buy and sell homes in Louisville. That's my job, but I love my profession and my clients too. I try to go above and beyond to make everyone feel like they are getting a high level of service and offer many services and resources to make the transition from one home to the next as easy as possible. There's a reason why many of my clients become my friends, and vice versa.  Here Are Some Of The Services I Offer  Looking for a house? Search Greater Louisville listings for sale on our website. You can set yourself up to receive emails of new listings to give you some great ideas of what's available.  Don't see what you want? When a client is looking for something extremely specific, I will knock on doors on a few houses that fit their needs to see if those ... 03/13/2013

The circus is coming to Louisville in late April, but if you are outraged at how circus animals are treated, you'll want to find some other activities for your family. Here are four alternative activities for kids that are fun without giving the wrong message First, from April 5-7th, LEGO®KidsFest is coming to the Kentucky Exposition Center with activities to appeal to all age groups. There's a LEGO museum where you can see miniature and full-sized sets, plus plenty of opportunities for hands-on fun. Kids seven and over can attend the Master Building Academy to learn the basics of Lego building or improve their skills and then enjoy building, playing games, and participating in contests in the activity areas. If your kids love LEGO superheros, Star Wars, Chima, Friends, or any other LEG... 03/12/2013

It was announced recently that National Geographic Named the Kentucky Bourbon Trail a Top 10 Trip.  This is quite an honor considering that of the Top 10, only three trips are within the United States.  Included on the remainder of the list are trips to locations such as New Zealand, Argentina, India, and other exotic locals.  The Kentucky Bourbon Trail attracted more than a half-million visitors in 2012, the first time it has broken that mark since it was created in 1999.  One would assume that with a source with such   international reach as National Geographic has, that this number would stand to increase in 2013.  Distilleries included in the tour are Four Roses and Wild Turkey in Lawrenceburg; Heaven Hill in Bardstown; Town Branch in Lexington; Woodford Reserve in Versailles; Jim B... 03/11/2013

Brick ranch in Rockford Manor. Short Sale in great condition. New roof, new deck, hardwood floors. Don't miss this one.     03/08/2013

This weekend join the Ancient Order of Hibernians as they bring to the Highlands the St. Patrick's Day Parade! As the oldest Irish Catholic organization in America, the parade supplies an opportunity to celebrate their Irish culture and heritage in a more visual way with the community.     The 2013 parade will be the 40th parade put on by the Ancient Order of Hibernians and it was decided by the division that the theme of this years parade would be "Forty Shades of Green"! The parad always takes place on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day and this year it falls on this Saturday, March 9.  Starting at 3:00 p.m., the parade line begins at Baxter Ave and Broadway, and ends at Windsor, cutting straight through the hear of the Highlands!  Depending on the weather, expect to be among 50,00... 03/08/2013

So, you are upgrading your bathroom, and after visiting some websites and brick and mortar stores, browsing through catalogs, and watching a little HGTV, you are have an extensive list of "must haves." Separate tub and shower... Vessel sinks… Heated floors… Granite or marble countertops… Double sinks…. The more you look, the more costly your renovation list will be.  Who Are You Remodeling For?  Before you begin, you need to confront the basic question in home remodeling these days: are you doing the remodel for yourself or for resale?  Everyone eventually sells their home. Some upgrades you might want will ultimately help you sell it, while others will limit its appeal. You definitely will not get a dollar-for-dollar return on your investment. Cost Vs. Return  According to the latest ... 03/05/2013

Have you been to The Blind Pig and Meat Bar Louisville?  Hopefully your answer was ‘yes’ because if you haven’t, you’re really missing out in my opinion.  Located in Historic Butchertown at 1076 E. Washington St. Louisville KY 40206, just on the outskirts of Downtown Louisville, the downstairs gastropub and upstairs Prohibition Era Bar are one of the finest one-two combos in the city of Louisville.  Meat Bar Louisville opened in 2011 and serves a variety of cocktails and seasonal drinks that vary with the Kentucky weather.  Staying true to their location and vibe, they incorporate Kentucky Bourbons and other spirits that really transport you back in time.  I liken it to being in an episode ofMad Men for those of you who have never been.  I’ve never had a cocktail here that I didn’t thin... 03/05/2013

Welcome to 307 Chelsea Green Court, a spectacular luxury townhome located in the heart of St Matthews.  It is rare that a St Matthews townhome of this age and stature comes on the market.  Simply put, St Matthews homes for sale typically consist of older, charming cape cods, ranches, and 2 Story Brick Colonials, but this spacious, architecturally pleasing St Matthews townhome features a number of delightful surprises. First, this St Matthews townhome is large enough to properly entertain many guests.  It features around 3,600 square feet of finished above grade living space.  The welcoming foyer is flanked by a fabulous towering 2-story Great Room with built-in bookshelves, gas fireplace, sublime Brazillian Cherry floors, lots of natural light, and it adjoins the formal dining room in ... 02/27/2013

The Afro-Cuban All-Stars are being hosted by the Clifton Center on Wednesday, March 20th at 7:30 p.m. as being part of the "MINI of Louisville LIVE at the Clifton Center" series. The show will be held in the vintage Eifler Theatre and a cash bar will be available.     Devoted to promoting the full range of Cuban music, the Afro-Cuban All Stars are a unique orchestra that embraces several generations and all musical styles! Juan de Marcos Gonzalez is the leader of the band as well as one of the driving forces behind the Buena Vista Social Club, whose 1997 recording stands as one of the most popular world music recordings ever! Additionally, the recording is one of the only two albums on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time that was produced in a non-Englis... 02/24/2013

Louisville, Kentucky is known for basketball, the Louisville Slugger bat, The Kentucky Derby, and in recent years, GREAT restaurants, so it's about time we showed off a bit.  As a man who got engaged at one of Louisville's restaurant treasures, I am absolutely looking forward to participating in the inaugural 502 Restaurant Week, which runs Friday, February 22 through March 3, 2013.  The idea is simple:  Some of Louisville's favorite restaurants are offering a special three-course dinner for $50.20 per person or $50.20 per couple, depending on the restaurant.  502 Events came up with the idea, and based on some unscientific research, I doubt this year's edition will be the last! You can view a complete list of participating restaurants at 502 Restaurant Week.  A sampling of the diversi... 02/24/2013

Open House Sunday, February 24. 2013, 2-4pm WELCOME TO THIS COMPLETELY RENOVATED, GORGEOUS ST MATTHEWS DREAM! PERFECT BLEND OF OPEN FLOOR PLAN & ORIGINAL CHARM ON YOUR WISH LIST!  Every room is newly refurbished to be new & move in ready. CENTRALLY LOCATED IN PRESTIGIOUS TRINITY HILLS near public & private schools, dining, shopping, parks, Heine Brothers, downtown, & more.  UPDATES ALSO INCLUDE: NEW ROOF w/DIMENSIONAL SHINGLE (July 2012), ALL NEW WINDOWS, all new exterior & interior paint, new electrical box, updated wiring, new plumbing (in kitchen, laundry, & basement bath), repaved & sealed driveway w/new stone walls bordering, stamped concrete front porch, landscaping beds, new garage door, recently sealed driveway, new front door, & more.   02/22/2013

The 2013 National Farm Machinery Show is set to start today, Wednesday February 13th and run through Saturday, February 16th. This is the 48th year for the show and is set to bring the future of farming to show-going patrons!   Guests can expect to browse rows and rows of quality products and services, while also enjoying hands on demonstrations of the latest technological advancements! Several free seminars will also be provided! Additionally, make sure to catch the high-intensity Championship Tractor Pull! The competing trucks and tractors are competing for the glory that comes with winning at the oldest indoor tractor pull in America! To find more fun events in the area, please visit the website of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team. 02/16/2013

  Once they find out that I am a real estate agent specializing in St Matthews, the majority of folks I know always ask about the market.  Is it a Buyer's Market?  Is it a good time to invest in real estate?  Is it...dare I say...a Seller's Market?  Of course, there is not a one-size-fits-all answer to any of these questions, or at least, I refuse to give one. Something that comes up in every home sale is the timing.  Is it a good time to put my house on the market?  Is it a good time to buy a home?  These are just personalized way of asking the aforementioned questions.  Most of the time, people looking to sell their homes are looking to time the market so that they can sell for the maximum amout of money during the peak of the market. If you live in St Matthews (40207 zip code), it m... 02/15/2013

    You can't believe everything you see on TV, but a recent Love It Or List It episode on HGTV reminded me of a trap anxious homeowners can fall into all too easily. The TV homeowners had a three-year-old home that was new construction when they bought it. Very spacious, the attic and basement there could easily be finished. When they went to finish the attic they found out that they had serious structural problems that precluded them from just having some finishing work done to the floors and walls. "How," the TV host asked, "did you get into this situation?" The unhappy owner replied, "We were in a multiple offer situation and we skipped the home inspection." Home Inspection Contingency Adding a home inspection contingency to a sales contract is common, but can make an offer less att... 02/15/2013