It’s time to come home for the holidays! But is your home ready for the holiday sell season? Just because people are busy shopping, planning holiday parties, baking and spending time with family and friends, does not mean they are too busy to purchase a new home for the holidays! That is definitely good news for you sellers! There are thousands of buyers nationwide who will be buying a home during the holiday season. These buyers are highly motivated due to job transfers and some will be relocating to the Central Kentucky area and to the City of Lexington. These transferees can not wait until the spring to find a home. Chances are, if they look at your home and like it, they will be quick to bring an offer to purchase. Here you will find the Top 10 tricks of the trade to get your holida... 01/22/2009

Today is Black Friday 2008! Oh, the madness that comes along with today. It feels like National Door Buster Special day! Shoppers hop in lines during the wee hours of the morning, or even camp out the night before. If you ask me, it's simply crazy...but exciting at the same time! But what do all these bargain hunting buyers have in common? Besides getting a bargin on anything and everything, they usually have one red-hot ticketed item at the top of their wish list. Have you ever waited in line all night? You're freezing to death and burning up your Blackberry minutes chatting away to kill time. Then finally it's time for the doors to open! You roll into the store only to find you were merely seconds away from getting your frostbitten hands on your prized possession! You're heartbroken a... 01/20/2009

Greetings from the Horse Capital of the World!I would like to say ‘thank you' for stopping by and reading my very first blog posting! Today is a perfect day to write, especially since it's getting really cold outside (hello, winter!) and I would much rather stay warm indoors and chat with you :) It's a quiet Sunday for sure, wrapping up a less than stellar week from our University of Kentucky basketball team. Our Wildcats did grab their fist win of the season on Saturday in Lexington's historic Rupp Arena, but I am still not sure that was enough to ail our broken hearts over the lost again rival North Carolina earlier in the week. Don't worry, though...I'm sure our Cats will rebound over the next few games!Yes, I bet you can already tell, I am a huge Kentucky Wildcats fan. Most people w... 01/20/2009

  Hi Everyone, I am so happy that I remember how to start over. I have been licensed in four different states and each time I have had to start over by going back to the drawing board and doing the things that you have to do in the begining to  be successful. Back to knocking on doors and adding names to my database and keeping in touch with people by calling and sending notes. Once you are an established agent we tend to not do as much of this and rely on referrals only but not in this day and age. To be successful we gotta go back to the begining and remember what it was like to start from scratch. that is one of my new years resolutions is to do better with my lead generating and make more contacts. I wish you all a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year. Your friend in Real Estate, M... 01/19/2009

One of the causes for the housing crisis, in my opinion, is that most home buyers did not understand the differences in the types of mortgages.  There are really two main types of mortgages; a fixed-rate mortgage and an adjustable-rate mortgage.    Fixed-Rate Mortgages have one set interest rate with a fixed monthly payment and is fully amortizing, which means that the loan will be paid in full over a given number of years.  The most common terms are 15 and 30 year lengths.  A portion of each payment goes towards the principal balance and the remaining goes towards the interest of the loan.  Most loans allow you to make additional payments toward principal as you wish.   Adjustable-Rate Mortgages are often referred to as ARM's.  They have interest rates which go up or down based typical... 01/16/2009

  This afternoon I hosted an open house in my neighborhood.  I met some very friendly people and some first time home buyers.  When I meet buyers I always ask if they are working with an agent.  Four of the people I met today were not working with an agent.  I love helping people be informed well enough to make wise decisions.  So I always explain buyers agency to them.  The purpose of this blog is to once again help buyers understand the importance of having a buyers agents. I will explain buyers agency by telling a story. Judy and Joe Buyer have decided they want to start looking at homes to buy since interest rates are low and they have finally saved enough to qualify for an FHA loan. Judy and Joe begin their home buyer adventure by searching for Open Houses on the LBAR mls site.  Th... 01/11/2009

Find Lexington KY Real Estate The Easy Way! Now, it's SUPER easy to search and discover homes for sale in the Central Kentucky area. 1. Click open the button below to begin your search. 2. Next save the page to your favorites to be able to quickly search anytime.   Need to see the latest listings, homebuyer information and more  delivered to your email mailbox every Thursday? Sign up for the ONLY Central Kentucky Email Newsletter about Real Estate Click the link below to find out how to get one:  Getting to know Lizette through her newsletter, convinced us that she was the right Realtor for us. We continue to read "I Love Kentucky News" each week. The newsletter always gives us ideas on local events to attend or new places to try. Often when "I Love Kentucky News" comes out, my husband ... 01/11/2009

A few years ago I never considered myself old.  Now when I look in the mirror the evidence is overwhelming.  I still don't feel old most of the time but am easily reminded that the muscles are not as flexible and the energy is not as available. A few week ago I listed a home of a Lexington woman who is in The North Point Lexington Health Care Center. Like so many of our senior citizens she is dependent on Medicaid paying for her care and she no longer can maintain her home.  I believe this listing came my way for a purpose.   It wasn't many years ago that I would visit a Health Care Center and leave with a depressed feeling.  Looking back I think I didn't want to deal with aging.   I certainly am reminded of my own mortality now but my experiences have been filled with hope rather than ... 01/09/2009

Several years ago, when I moved to Kentucky, I asked my Exclusive Buyer's Agent in Austin, TX to recommend a Buyer's Agent in the Lexington Kentucky area that could help me find a home for my family.  He sent me to Gale & Mark Fulton.  Now I feel sorry for what we put them through, but back then her attention to the idiosyncratic needs of my family and her unstinting efforts to help us find a home (over four months) was most appreciated.  I've always (since my first bad experience with a dual agent) used Buyer's Agents.  First order of business for me was to find an agent that was more about my family's needs than playing a dual agent role for the paycheck.  We were fortunate to find Gale & Mark.  I won't delve into the details but my family's  idiosyncrasies were enough to drive a pers... 01/08/2009

Dear Friends in Lexington, I want to ask you all to be objective about what you hear and believe in this current new world of real estate.  Growing up in the Northwest often the news would be filled with the latest Sasquatch siting.  The evidence including very grainy video, plaster imprints of tracks and of course an impassioned plea from the witness.  After several decades of rumors and fantastic stories there a real sasquatch has yet to have been discovered.  The world of real estate right now seems to be filled with Sasquatch sitings.  Dear friends in Lexington before spreading false information please ask yourself, does this sound like a sasquatch siting?  So many rumors, half truths and outright lies are being told right now about what is happening in real estate and especially in... 01/06/2009

I hear this from home buyers quite a bit.  I'll bet a lot of agents here it too!  Do you have an answer for your buyer's.  Are you increasing your liability by NOT recommending a private third part inspection of new homes.  What happens three years from now when your buyer is now your seller and the new buyer hires a quality third party home inspector. Here's my answer: (the pages flip themselves or you can use the arrows to flip them.) (Click on the document to open it in a new window where it can be resized to be readable.)  Open publication     Protect yourself.  Get educated with a quality third party home inspection.  No, not that guy that was doing computer work last week and now decided to be a home inspector after his layoff.  Get a quality education on your new home. Make sure ... 01/06/2009

Today is going to be a little less educational and more personal impression. There has been alot of talk about what the market is and whether or not it's a good time to buy or sell or refinance.  Real estate is definitely a hot topic right now.  What is my opinion? First, about a week ago, I decided that I'm so tired of watching the national media focus on Detroit, Phoenix, and Las Vegas that I refuse to talk to anyone that mentions those cities.  Those are the EXCEPTIONS to the market.  Things aren't perfect, but we had 3 consecutive years of historical sales, it had to go down at some point. As of last week, my new slogan is, I create "My Market."  Since doing this, I have actually recieved phone calls on 4 different listing.  One has already turned into an offer, I'm awaiting another... 01/02/2009

Another topic that so many home buyers get confused with is the mortgage.  The first aspect of the mortgage that "we" the real estate community is guilty of throwing around some of "our language" is with Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approvals.  What is the difference and which should you have when? Pre-Qualification simply means that you have contacted the bank, either by phone, internet, or in person, and you have told them some of your personal information.  With the information that you told them, the loan officer has ran those numbers through his/her computer and come out with a number that they think you could afford.  There has been no verification of any of the numbers and typically your credit report has not been drawn. Pre-Approval is the next step.  This is when the loan officer ... 01/02/2009

Have you been worrying about how you can make your payments?  I recently met a man at the mall who had arranged with his lender to postpone two payments.  He has working feverishly trying to find a way that he doesn't have to declare bankruptcy and/or lose his home to foreclosure. I explained to this gentleman that he also may have the option of short selling his home. He was very interested in talking with me and I was able to hang around between the customers he was serving and explain enough to him that he is eager to have a consultation in his home. I have been preparing myself to help families avoid foreclosure.  I became a Certified Distressed Property Expert just a couple of weeks ago.  I am one of only a few realtors in Lexington with this designation.  It is my passion and goal... 01/01/2009

Inspectors should police themselves, shouldn't they! You'd think so, but no mechanism exists for that policing other than the free market and some weak licensing laws.  Here's a take on it from one of my fellow home inspectors:  Posted with permission but I've decided to withhold his name.  I will send him a link to this sad commentary on our profession.  If he desires to identify himself, he can do so in the comments section. ===== To all of my Fellow Home Inspectors: I have a story to tell that may be a little long winded but bear with me; it may open your eyes as it surely did mine. I set out last year to increase my business with the Real Estate sector.  I wanted to make my Home Inspection business viable with greater income.  Now keep in mind I have been doing this in my area for o... 12/28/2008

Rector-Hayden, Realtors publishes a monthly report of sales activity of the Lexington Bluegrass Association of Realtors. This encompasses Lexington and surrounding counties in Central KY. Follow this link to see results through November, 2008. NOVEMBER HOUSING REPORT     12/27/2008

One of the most common misconceptions that I see right now is about the first-time home buyer tax credit.  I want to take a moment to do my best to explain this.  I am not an accountant, so please if you think you are eligible, go talk to your accountant, but here is some general information on the topic. First, let me say that it is a really good thing.  If you qualify, you get  a $7500 interest free loan.  Yes you read that correctly, it is a loan.  What the government is willing to do is to give you up to $7500 on your tax return.  It is a "tax credit" and not a "tax deduction" so you get the entire $7500.  Let's assume that you eligible and take out the full amount.  If you do this, then you will be require to repay the loan over the next 17 years.  The first 2 years, they do not re... 12/26/2008

Is Your Home for Sale or Going to be put on the market soon?Are you thinking how will you have a yard/garage sale in the winter??Then this blog is FOR YOU.... it's the season of Giving... so why not "Give" and clean out your clutter at the same time??As an alternative to a garage sale, or to put unsold items to good use, you may wish to make donations to local charities, community organizations or religious organizations.If you're not sure of which charities operate in your area, you should check your local yellow page listings for "Charities," "Associations," "Thrift Stores," "Social and Human Services" and other categories to find local organizations. Internet searches will usually turn up additional charities in your area, and we've provided a list of major national charitable organ... 12/11/2008

OK back on track today. But first I must make one quick rambling thought about foreclosures. I can't figure out these lenders. They don't want these properties, right? They have quit foreclosing in many cases, which in effect allows a person to live for free in the home with NO incentive to maintain it, or they allow them to sit empty and deteriorate which costs them money. They buy them back at the court sale 95% of the time, bidding against all other purchasers, (there are many reasons I know and that is for a later post), they will not sell them to investors for the price they are willing to pay, owner occupied buyers can't get financing on them or they will not qualify, they will not lend to non-owner occupied buyers, what is the deal. Are they waiting for some miracle? At what poin... 12/02/2008

Dear Move Up Buyers, There has probably never been another time in history when you have such an opportunity as right now to buy a home.  Interest rates are historically low.  Prices have generally fallen and there is a large inventory of homes ready for you to choose from. If you are thinking you will lose money on the home you bought you need to think again and read this very, very carefully. Let me keep the math very simple to illustrate the truth about the market for move up buyers. If you bought your home for 100,000 and it will sell for only 90,000 right now due to 10 percent deflation, moving up will make you money.  If you buy a larger home that sold for 150 thousand before the 10 percent deflation your price will now be 135 thousand dollars.  You may think you lost 10 thousand ... 12/01/2008