Selling Your Home

Where is the News Media when you need them? One of the biggest Louisville stories of the past 2 years and the media is absent, missing, nowhere to be found!

Louisville Home Sales for the month of April were red hot.  The number of homes going under contract in April was up 16 percent over the same period a year before. The number of homes sold during the same time period up almost 13 percent.

The reasons for the increase in Louisville Real Estate prices is simple:

1. Interest rates are at an all time low. In fact last month after a slight rise above 5 percent on a 30 year fixed loan, the rate actually dropped.
2. Home prices are starting to climb in some areas of Louisville. In fact the average sales price jumped from $155,406 in April of 2011 to $169,552 last month.
3. There is a tremendous amount of pent up buying power! Let’s face it a number of buyers sitting on the fence waiting for the price of homes to bottom out. Well as of now, based on price trends, we have passed the bottom and heading up the hill.

How busy are we? We planed for 13 home sales in April. We hit 22 sales during the last week of April and carried another 5 over to May. We’ve sold several homes and condos in days not weeks or months.

If the media ever picks up on the story home sales may pick up even more. Thinking of selling? Let us know and we’ll put together a CMA to check the value of your

Selling your home can be difficult is any city. From Real Estate in Louisville Kentucky, to Los Angles California to Westchester N.Y home sales are at best slow. Sometimes it’s the market your, in sometimes it’s the lack of marketing from the realtor you choose. As a Louisville KY Realtor selling more than 100 Louisville homes a year I hear about the problem from fellow Realtors all across the country.

So I had to smile when my friend and Westchester N.Y. Realtor Mark Seiden created the Suck-O-Meter to show home sellers why selling their home can be difficult. The meter is part of a website Mark created a website called Selling My Home Sucks. One of the sections of the website asks home owners to take the “Why Didn’t Your Home Sell” test. It’s a cute idea that starts with a basic question like “Did your agent sell 25... 20... Okay, how about At Least 15 properties last year?” Based on your answer the “Suck-O-Meter: begins to move.

 The questions continue” When Your Agent Was Sick, On Vacation Or Just Plain Unavailable, Was There Anyone Else Around To Answer Your Questions or Take Care of Your Needs?” The final question of the test asks” Did Your Agent Have The Necessary Skills and Resources To Get Your Home Sold In This Market? (A Winning Smile or Walking your Dog For You When You Were On Vacation Does Not Qualify)”

 Marks’ website doesn’t stop there.  Another test asks how long you’re home has been on the market.  You then compare your...

When it comes to energy efficiency, look for smart features and expertise to help you save energy and money and add value to your home.

1. Begin with a Right-Sized Home.

If the home you buy is simply too large for you or your family’s needs or plans, you stand a good chance of wasting energy through excessive heating and cooling costs. If it’s too small, you’ll feel cramped and uncomfortable. It’s a big investment, so seek balance and buy it “right” from the outset. 

2. Purchase Energy Star Appliances Such as Your TV, Dishwasher, Washer and Dryer, and Microwave.

And especially the refrigerator, as it alone contributes about 10 percent of the energy use in a home. Also, unplug electronics not in use or turn off power strips to avoid phantom charges. 

3. Install Efficient Lighting Such as Compact Flourescent (CLF) or LED Bulbs in Every Fixture.

Lighting accounts for about 6 percent of an energy bill each year.

4. Get an Energy Audit and Have Tests Performed to Identify Ways of Improving Your Efficiency.

You can always upgrade your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system as well as your  thermal envelope, which includes insulation, windows, and doors  and the seals or weather stripping around them. Visit energy.gov/energytips for more tips.