I know I usually focus my attention on coffee shops in the DC Metropolitan area, but this little place made me change my mind. There were so many remarkable things about this coffee shop that I simply had to take some pictures and write it up. Loud Music, No DecafOne of the other basketball moms heard about my two-minute rule and recommended I try a little diner called Wild Eggs. When we arrived, there was a pretty long waiting list. Even though they offered free coffee while you wait, we had passed a shop with the words, "loud music, no decaf" and it looked worth investigating. My daughters and I walked about a block to check it out and kill some time while my husband stayed behind and waited.Please & Thank You?Walking up to the shop called Please & Thank You, we noticed a sign saying ... 07/16/2018

Have you ever heard these musings from a friend selling or buying a house?My Realtor is too busyMy Realtor doesn't do open houses My Realtor doesn't do enough marketingMy Realtor doesn't communicate enoughMy Realtor doesn't move fast enough when a hot property hits the market and we lose out on a house we lovedThe Realtor may just be too busy!So, next time you need a Realtor, ask yourself:Will my Realtor be carrying an OVERSIZE LOAD? You should definitely consider using a Realtor who is a member of a team.There are real estate teams and there are solo agents. Solo agents have to do by themselves the 100+ activities needed from start to finish to get a real estate transaction done. If they have just a handful of active buyers and sellers they are bogged down with hundreds of tasks.Real e... 11/26/2017

When potential buyers walk through your home, you want them to get a warm and fuzzy feeling. You don't want them distracted by things that are wrong with the house.So here's a tip that will cost the seller five to thirty dollars. Replace the burned out light bulbs!Consciously or subconsciously the buyers may be asking what else is wrong with the house. If the owners don't even bother to replace light bulbs, what other maintenance are they neglecting? Are they servicing the furnace? Are they even changing or cleaning the furnace filters? Have they shortened the lifespan of the furnace, the central air, the water heater? Are they cleaning the gutters or are they overflowing and rotting the wood behind the gutters? Are they taking care of the plumbing system or are we going to find problem... 11/17/2017

You worked hard your whole life, now it's time for some fun and relaxation.What to do that is both fun, relaxing and healthy?How about safe bicycling?This wonderful couple was spotted in the established Bon Air Estates subdivision of Louisville.More power to this power couple! To find a home in Louisville that meets your needs, your wish list and your budget, callDave Halpern, RealtorDave Halpern Real Estate GroupKeller Williams Realty Louisville East Cell (502) 664-7827eFax (502) 554-9607www.Dave.SellBuyLouisvilleHomes.com  Submitted to 2017 Activerain Photography Contest, category Real Life / Best use of filter or special effectPhoto taken with an iPhone, set on "Live", then edited with the "Long Exposure" effect. Easy Peasy! 10/31/2017

Fact: Short sale properties sell for less than market value.Fact: Neighbors do not like when a home sells that can lower the comps of the neighborhood.Fact: HOA Directors by job definition have their noses in other people's business.Fact: HOA Directors sometimes complain that a short sale in their community is priced too low.Fact: The seller needs relief from the mortgage payments and the HOA fees and needs the property sold. In a short sale, usually, the price is not the seller's main concern.So how does the Realtor explain the lower price when accosted by the HOA Directors? Fewer buyers will be interested in the property because of the uncertainty of how long they have to wait to get a short sale approval, or counteroffer, or total denial. Buyers are especially wary of short sales in ... 10/20/2017

Lyndon and St. MatthewsGood news? Shelbyville Road is known for slow moving traffic in the Lyndon area and the St. Matthews area of Louisville, KY. So, why is that good news? Because it's a sign of the enduring popularity of the area!Great Shopping and Great Access to HighwaysSome of the best shopping in Louisville is concentrated right where Shelbyville Rd intersects with I-264, which is just a short hop to I-64 and I-71. Mall St. Matthews, Oxmoor Mall, Shelbyville Road Plaza and many other shopping centers are concentrated in the area.Hospitals and Medical OfficesSome of the premier hospitals of Louisville are located in St. Matthews.Parks, Schools, and EntertainmentParks, schools, movie theatres, restaurants, bars, and other entertainment venues all enhance the desirability and livab... 09/09/2017

The risks of lead based paint are real, and some older neighborhoods in Louisville have a higher likelihood of harboring the problem.Picturesque neighborhoods such as Clifton, Crescent Hill, Germantown, Highlands, Old Louisville all have houses built in the early 1900's. Portland, the West End, Downtown, NuLu, Limerick, Churchill Downs area, all have the risk of lead based paint.You don't even have to have lead based paint in your home to be susceptible. If your neighbor's home, or nearby homes, have, for example, wood siding with chipping paint, you and your family are at-risk. The paint chips or lead dust can be tracked into your home. Children can be playing in the yard that may have paint chips and lead in the soil.When buying older homes, always have a Realtor on your side who is e... 08/20/2017

Attractive landscaping for office buildings makes a more pleasing work environment, increases client satisfaction, and creates goodwill within the overall community.When employees and company owners drive and walk up to their workplace and are greeted by beautiful landscaping and flora, they can't help but feel a little better about their day. Pretty flowers and sculpted shrubs create a pleasing environment and can have a calming effect to offset the ups and downs of running a business.When clients and customers arrive at a place of business that is tastefully adorned with appealing landscaping, their first impression increases the respect for the place of business and puts them in a more positive mood. It also contributes to the image of success and professionalism of the specific comp... 08/13/2017

https://www.brivity.com/listings/3500-ripple-creek-louisville-ky-40229/propertyhttps://www.brivity.com/listings/3500-ripple-creek-louisville-ky-40229/propertyNew Listing!Buy your own 1.15 acre park-like setting! 4 bedroom home, 2 full baths. Private driveway splits and expands into large nice concrete parking pads. Got a bunch of cars, trucks, boats, trailers? This is the place for you! Room to park 10 to 15 cars. 3 bedrooms upstairs and master bedroom on the first floor. Located close to I-265 and I-65.Dave HalpernDave Halpern Real Estate Group9911 Shelbyville Rd.LouisvilleKY40223 06/17/2017

Dear Seller,Disclose!!!Did the basement leak? And you know it? Disclose!!!Is the fireplace missing a flue damper? Is the chimney missing a cap? And you know it? And you got a bid to fix it? Last year? And you're not disclosing it now? Disclose!!!Is there termite damage? And you know it? And you're not disclosing it? Disclose!!!The seller disclosure is there for a reason. Read the preamble to the seller disclosure form. You are obligated to disclose. Don't try to outsmart the system. It will backfire.The buyer's home inspector will find these defects and you'll lose everyone's trust. You'll end up fixing or lowering the price. The buyer may terminate the agreement and then you'll have to disclose everything to the next buyers, including whatever the home inspection report uncovered.  If ... 04/14/2017

There really is never a wrong time to sell your home. Contrary to popular belief, if a home is priced correctly it can even sell during the dead of winter. While each time of year has a different set of reasons why it might make sense to sell your home, there are a few certainties why NOW is the time sell.1. Low InventoryThe first few months of the year tend to show a lesser amount of homes available for sale. This is certainly the case for 2017. When looking at January’s statistics, there were a total of 6,559 homes either active, pending, or closed during the month as a whole. This is significantly less than the 6,944 homes that were either active, pending, or closed during December 2016. The number of homes during November 2016 was even greater than that, so a steady decrease can be ... 02/16/2017

Louisville is becoming know as one of the country's top restaurant towns.  The city seems to open, close, and reinvent restaurants overnight.  What about coffee?  Well, coffee's a solid venture as well here in the Derby City.  Here are 5 coffee shops we recommend, and if there's one substance The Thomas Group of Keller Williams Realty Louisville East thrives on, it's coffee!1.  Heine Brothers Coffee (multiple locations):  The original independent local coffee shop that was way ahead of its time, Heine Bros has been serving Louisville since 1994(!).  I spend way too much money at Heine Brothers.  My morning ritual is to make a large cup at home, drink it while I'm driving to drop my sons off at school, and then pick up another from Heine Brothers on my way to the office.  My main shop is... 11/01/2016

~Sponsored PostCatalpa Farms is a long awaited new construction residential  community in Louisville. This community sits on 200 acres of land in Jefferson County off of Old Clark Station Road near the county line. It will be one  of the first housing communities of its kind in the area.  Learn more about Catalpa SpringsLouisville residential developer, Signature Green Properties, is the company behind the development of the community The community will have 566 new homes and cost around $250 million to complete. Homes will be arranged in small village type settings along ridges. Each village will consist  of 10 to 30 homes and each  village will have its own distinct features. The first forty homes are expected to be finished this November. The entire community is expected to take arou... 10/19/2016

If you are from around the Louisville, Ky area, you are fully aware of the Kentucky Derby and the preceding Kentucky Derby Festival! If you are not from around here....let us teach you a few things. The Kentucky Derby is a nationwide famous horse race that takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky, also known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports". People from all over the world visit to attend the race, famous and fanatics. This race is the first leg of the Triple Crown. The horse that wins this race will go on to race in the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. If the horse happens to win all three races, like our prestigious American Pharoh from 2015, they will be placed in the short list of Triple Crown winners. So if you ask anyone from this area, they can surely explain ... 04/27/2016

View East Louisville homes for sale under $200,000.View East Louisville homes for sale under $250,000.View East Louisville homes for sale under $300,000.When beginning the process of listing and selling your home, you are sure to come across the term “home staging”. There are whole businesses focused solely on provide home staging services. Whether you are familiar with the term or not, there’s no need to worry! Home staging is an important step in preparing your home for the real estate market, but it does not have to be complicated. You don’t even need to hire a professional home stager. Your real estate agent should have the experience to guide you through some basic steps to stage your home so it is showing ready. A solid understanding of what it means to stage a home for sale will ... 04/26/2016

Homes for Sale in the Lexington Manor / Fairlawn Neighborhood Louisville, KYWhy Do People Live here?Defining a neighborhood in St. Matthews can be tricky. There aren't big, grand signs out front or lavish "gated" entrances to these neighborhoods.  In fact, I would guess most residents don't even know the actual name of their little subdivision.  So it is with Lexington Manor and Fairlawn.  What is quite obvious, however, is there are few little rectangles of real estate in Louisville that command the type of attention and activity as the real estate rectangle bounded by Lexington Road to the north, Breckinridge Lane to the east, Cannons Lane to the west, and Dayton Avenue to the south.  People gravitate toward this edgy residential section of St. Matthews that is just far enough away f... 02/11/2016

Pictured above:  18705 Weatherford Circle is for saleHere's your Locust Creek Neighborhood Real Estate Snapshot:Currently Listed for Sale in Locust Creek:  17 Active ListingsCurrent Average List Price in Locust Creek:  $582, 139Current Number of PENDING Sales in Locust Creek:  4Current Average List Price of PENDING Sales in Locust Creek:  $657,475Average Days on Market of Current PENDING Sales in Locust Creek:  103Number of Closed Sales from 1/1/2015-2/8/2016 in Locust Creek:  31Low Closed Sale Price from 1/1/2015-2/8/2016:  $350,000Average Closed Sale Price from 1/1/2015-2/8/2016:  $497,710Average List Price of Closed Sales from 1/1/2015-2/8/2016:  $506,771High Closed Sale Price from 1/1/2015-2/8/2016 in Locust Creek:  $773,000Average Above Grade Square Footage of Closed Sales in Locus... 02/08/2016

View Louisville homes for sale under $150,000. View Louisville homes for sale under $300,000. View Louisville homes for sale under $200,000. View Louisville homes for sale under $350,000. View Louisville homes for sale under $250,000. View Louisville homes for sale under $400,000.  via GIPHYValentine's Day is right around the corner! Have you made your romantic dinner reservations yet?? Check out our list of the Top Louisville Restaurants to celebrate Valentine's Day...See the full post here.Looking for an experienced real estate agent in the Louisville area? Contact Pam Ruckriegel with Louisville Real Estate Pros at Keller Williams Realty Louisville East. She's the best agent for the job! 502-435-5524. 02/01/2016

Numerous magazines and websites have rated the food at Louisville's Blue Dog Cafe and Bakery as some of the best, especially if you're looking to have brunch. The next time you're in the Crescent Hill area and you've got time to enjoy some delicious eating, drop into the Blue Dog.Brunch at the BakeryThe Blue Dog is much more than your average bakery. It's well-known for artisanal bread and a variety of delicious tastes, everything from savory to sweet. Drop into the Blue Dog Bakery and Cafe for brunch any time from 9 am to noon any day. Reservations aren't required unless you have a party of 6 or more.  Parking is available on and off the street, but one of the best ways to approach the cafe is on foot. In fact, on foot is one of the very best ways to enjoy the Crescent Hill neighborhoo... 01/31/2016

Meet Michael Thacker - Louisville KY - Rainmaker Since December 2015Meet  Michael Thacker - a man of many careers who started in real estate and now returned to real estate. Michael serves as an Ambassador for the Greater Louisville Chamber of Commerce which unites 15 local Chambers of Commerce under one umbrella organization.Michael follows his dreams as a plan for life and has been successful along the way. "I am not afraid to change with the times," Michael says. "While I would have loved to be an architect, my skills directed me towards Merrill Lynch right after graduating the University of Louisville. I absorbed all the technology I encountered there and have benefited from that exposure."Along with 16 years in developing hotel properties, Michael has served as a Flight Steward whi... 01/30/2016