The French Lick Railway is the perfect thing to incorporate your child's favorite holiday story of the Polar Express into real life! This is the ultimate train enthusiast's destination and located just a short drive from Louisville, in Southern Indiana. In addition to your train ride, check out some of the most treasured railway cars and museum quality industry heirlooms in the United States! Spend the day riding one of the railway's historic trains through the beautiful Hoosier National Forest and through the Burton Tunnel. Afterwards, visit the museum store and purchase a piece of history to take home - or possibly a gift or two. For the holiday season, The Polar Express is a must attend event! Your and your children can ride on The Polar Express Train while being entertained with son... 12/21/2012

WELCOME TO THIS UPGRADED, SPACIOUS TOWNHOME OFFERING MAINTENANCE-FREE LIVING! First floor features an inviting tiled entry & large half bath. Spacious Kitchen offers lots of cabinetry & counter space, large pantry, & breakfast bar style counter overlooking the Great Room. KITCHEN APPLIANCES TO REMAIN: Newer large capacity refrigerator, self-cleaning range, built-in microwave, & dishwasher. Open Great Room & Dining Area offers arched doorways, NEW FLOORING, upgraded oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, & gas fireplace. Sliding glass door off Great Room opens to patio & LARGE, TREE-LINED GREEN SPACE. Second Floor offers NEW CARPET THROUGHOUT, 3 spacious bedrooms, 2 full baths, & Second Floor Laundry Room w/WASHER & DRYER to remain. Master Bedroom features vaulted ceiling, bay window seating area, ... 12/20/2012

WELCOME TO THIS COMPLETELY RENOVATED HIGHLANDS AREA HOME SITUATED ON OVER 1/4 ACRE CORNER LOT! Home features NEW WINDOWS in all the bedrooms, NEW ROOF, TWO FIREPLACES, custom colors, REFINISHED ORIGINAL HARDWOOD FLOORS, built-ins, oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, & wide-slat blinds throughout. Living Room & Dining Area offers OPEN FLOOR PLAN & lots of light. Living Room features large picture window, GAS FIREPLACE w/granite hearth, & coat closet. Dining Area offers floor to ceiling windows. FINISHED BASEMENT features Family Room, Kitchen/bar area, Second Bath, updated laundry room, space to finish a 4th Bedroom, & storage space. A PLEASURE TO SHOW!   12/20/2012

4 BEDROOM RANCH IN A QUIET, WELL-ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD. Updates include UPDATED ROOF W/DIMENSIONAL SHINGLE(2004), REPLACEMENT WINDOWS, NEW FURNACE (2009), & NEW AC UNIT (2011). Large Kitchen offers oak cabinetry & Eat-in Area. Spacious Laundry Room/mud room located conveniently off kitchen. All 4 bedrooms are a nice size. Large, flat yard is fully fenced. Property offers a storage shed, CARPORT, & covered porch.   12/20/2012

If you have pets to brighten your life every day, they will be part of your Louisville  holiday celebration too. As a pet parent, you want to keep them safe and non-stressed over the holidays. Here are a few cautions to make your holiday for you and your pets. As we noted in our last blog about common sense holiday tips, glittery trees beautify your home but pose dangers for pets. Curious cats and dogs can knock over an unsecured tree, drink stagnant tree water on live trees, or try to chomp on dainty glass balls. Holiday plants such as poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly can be deadly for pets. Either use synthetic versions, or keep these poisonous plants out of the way of pets. Holidays are full of temptations for pets. The wiring from trees and holiday can be dangerous if your pet che... 12/17/2012

CONGRATS to my good friend Josh and his stellar new home in the Hikes Point area of Louisville, KY. What is even better is his crazy low interest rate @ 3.25%. This is yet another 1st Time Home Buyer I have helped this year realize the dream of home ownership. Merry Christmas to Josh and his girlfriend Christina!! 12/17/2012

Homes for sale with basements in Louisville KY Are you looking for homes for sale with basements in Louisville, Kentucky? Basements are also sometimes called lower levels. Whatever your preference, we have lots of homes available for sale in Louisville with that amenity.  Some of you may prefer a walkout basement. A walkout is a basement that has an entry/exit door and built on a slope.  For those of you who never had a basement before, be aware that there is some maintenance involved. Basements are notorious for having water leaks or even getting flooded out. When it rains, sometimes ground water will escape through tiny cracks in the walls, windows, and drains.  Most lower levels should have sump pumps installed to drain the water out to a safe area in your yard. Most plumbing and sep... 12/16/2012

There are several restaurants around town this year that are catering to those indivisuals and families that want to enjoy their Christmas meals out this year! These establishments include, Proof on Main, French Lick Springs Hotel and the Brown Hotel.   For Christmas Eve, Proof on Main is inviting patrons to let them do the cooking! All you have to do is sit back and relax while feasting on their highly praised menu! The kitchen will be open and serving a special a la carte menu. After dinner, take a stroll through the vast art gallery adjacent to the dining room. The gallery brings works of art to the public through innovative exhibitions and programs that intergrate contemporary at into daily life.   The Brown Hotel is hosting a Christmas Day meal that is the perfect place to bring th... 12/14/2012

       St. Matthews has several great parks within the community.  The heart of the St. Matthews neighborhood is the award winning Brown Park. Brown Park holds many of the community events such as next month’s Light up St. Matthews and the recent 15th annual St. Matthews Halloween Festival that was a huge hit. When Brown Park isn’t hosting a huge neighborhood blow out, you can always find someone you know at the park using it’s many amenities. Brown Park has beautiful asphalt walking trails through the woods and next to Beargrass Creek, creating scenic but walkable paths. There is a pond on the East side of the park that has become the home of several species of wild duck. Children love to come to the pond and check out the ducks. Although there are posted signs saying not to feed them,... 12/13/2012

  Since it's the Holiday Season, and many Louisville home buyers (though not all, as my buyers' closing on 12/12/12 shows!) are taking a couple of weeks off to enjoy Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years, I thought a series on how to buy a home in Louisville KY would be helpful since many Louisville Home Buyers will enter or re-enter the market in 2013.  Today is Step 1:  Choose a Real Estate Agent. Well, this step 1 sure seems self-serving, doesn't it?  I happen to know a good real estate agent, and I'm happy to refer you to him...in all seriousness, I have gone back and forth on what the first step should be over the years that I've been practicing real estate in Louisville, but I do think this is the starting point. The reason that choosing your real estate agent should happen first is... 12/12/2012

Holiday time is one of the greatest times of the year to be a Louisville homeowner. You have your own personal space for entertaining, plus you can decorate to reflect your personality. Whether you make it look like an extravaganza worthy of Chevy Chase or Tim Allen or more a tasteful expression with lights in the trees and eaves, your home can be a welcoming place for the holidays. At this joyous time, however, there are some important holiday common sense tips to keep in mind to keep your home safe and energy efficient. Lighting tips Lighting your home for the holidays is beautiful, but can be costly. To prevent surprises when you open your electric company bill in January, make a switch to LED lights. These lights use 86% less electricity than other types and present no fire hazard. ... 12/10/2012

Condos for sale in The Highlands - Louisville KY 40204 About The Highlands A very popular area in Louisville, Kentucky right now is The Highlands. The Highlands are full of clubs and shops, which makes it trendy for all generations. Two universities reside here: Bellarmine and Sullivan, which are both well-established schools.  Sale prices for The Highlands The zip code for The Highlands area is 40204. As of today, December 10, 2012, here are market statistics for condos for sale in The Highlands' sale prices:                  Schools Information for The Highlands  You can also find out schools information here:                        How to Find Condos for Sale in The Highlands For all condos for sale in The Highlands in Louisville KY, click here.  Do granite countertops, custom tile b... 12/10/2012

Spirits of the Red City are putting on a concert at The Clifton Center this Sunday, December 9th, at 7:00 p.m. The performance is part of the MINI of Louisville LIVE at the Clifton Center concert series and will be held in the Clifton Center's classic Eifler Theatre. Spirits of the Red City is made up of nine friends and wandering musicians led by Will Garrison. Originally from all over, including Minneaplois, Alaska, and New York City, the members play time-weathered folk music with opaque lyrics and an explorative structure and melody. This is supported by an ensemble of strings, trumpets, drums and found percussion, banjos, accordians, vocal harmonies and more! Tickets are only $5 and can be purchased online or at Carmichael's Bookstore on Frankfort Avenue. To find more events in the... 12/07/2012

  Happy December everyone!  As the Holiday Season is in full swing, the winter real estate market is humming along.  People are always wondering if it's a good time to sell when the holidays get near.  I'll say this:  It's a better time to sell now than it has been in years, so that's my answer.  I believe it's a more personal question than a blanket answer can justify.  After all, neighborhoods are different, and so are the market indicators within them.  With all of this in mind, I give you your November 2012 St Matthews Real Estate Report Card!   Usual Disclaimers:  I'd like to point out that if you live somewhere other than St Matthews in the Louisville Area, and you would like a report card or market report specific to your neighborhood, just let me know.  I am happy to provide a ... 12/07/2012

When I first got into the real estate business after college, many people asked me why I was getting in an industry dominated by middle aged professsionals in a terrible economic downturn. I never quite understood this line of thinking and here's why: More and more young people are transitioning into the real estate business and are very successful due to their increasing understanding of technology. Because I am only 25 years old, at first glance my age might appear detrimental when going up against more experienced agents. Instead I use my age as an selling point to potential clients. Because I grew up in an era where I always had a computer, I can bring different things to the table than that of some older more and experienced agents who aren't as used to dealing with technology.   A... 12/07/2012

With the holidays approaching, your kids might be begging to add a puppy or kitten to the family this year. While you or Santa should not make this decision lightly, a new pet to love might be a perfect gift. In Louisville, where many rescue dogs and cats await new homes, it is easy to bring home a four-legged gift.    Are You Ready To Provide Forever Love?   First, the cautions. Having a pet is a big responsibility that goes far beyond the holiday season. Kids tend to ignore many of their must-have toys after they have them, but there is much more at stake if they ignore a pet. Dogs and cats are looking for "forever homes," so returning them to the shelter if they "don't work out" is a poor option. If you decide to adopt a pet this holiday, be committed. You may hope your kids will tak... 12/05/2012

  Home owners who are behind on their mortgage payments who might have otherwise faced foreclosure eviction activities during the holidays will get some extra time in their homes according to mortgage giants, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  Freddie Mac will suspend all bank repossessions starting on December 17, and Fannie Mae will suspend its foreclosure repossessions starting December 19.  Both Fannie and Freddie will resume foreclosure evictions on January 2.  Fannie Mae had previously postponed foreclosure evictions in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy for those areas affected through February 1, 2013. Additionally, Bank of America says it will not carry out foreclosure evictions for a stretch during the holiday season.  Other lenders, such as JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and CitiBank ... 12/05/2012

As the holiday season is in full swing, it is often times easy to forget what this magical time is truly to about! The Salvation Army Angel Tree is a great way to remember that this time of year especially, everyone should be in the giving spirit! Last year, Angel Tree provided gifts of clothing and toys to over 13,000 children and food to 6,000 families in Louisville. Without these donations, these families would have been without during the holiday time. To participate in the event, visit an Angel Tree table at Mall St. Matthews, Oxmoor Center or Jefferson Mall. Select your Angel and go shopping! The clothing sizes for your angel are provided and then return the gifts in the provided bag to the same table that you picked it up from. This year, the bags are required to be returned no l... 12/02/2012

If you missed out on Light Up Louisville or just can't get enough holiday spirit, visit Light Up Bellarmine! Bellarmine University will invite guests to attend the 21st annual tree lighting ceremony on Thursday, November 29th to enjoy a family-friendly event! Not only do attendees get to see the massive tree sparkle with colored lights, but this event will also feature Christmas caroling, holiday crafts and photos with Santa! No more waiting in long mall lines! Additionally, after the 6:00 p.m. tree lighting, a Christmas dinner will be served in Frazier Hall for $7.50 per person!  To find more fun holiday events, please visit the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team. 12/02/2012

    On Saturday, December 1, 2012 Light Up St Matthews will take place at St Matthews Brown Park beginning at 4 p.m.  The actual lighting is scheduled for 6 p.m.  This is a great St Matthews event.  It's one my kids look forward to every year.   In addition to the lighting of the decorations in Brown Park, there will be a number of activities including train rides, an appearance by Santa, an appearance by Ronald McDonald, petting zoo, carriage rides, hot chocolate, cookies, and even a trolley running every 30 minutes between your favorite St Matthews shopping spots and Brown Park as well as from the parking area at Baptist East Hospital.   Brown Park is located on Kresge Way where it intersects Browns Lane in St Matthews.  This is a wonderful event sponsored by the St Matthews Chamber. ... 11/29/2012