Joe Hayden, Realtor - Real Estate Louisville, KY

Homes for Sale in Louisville, KY

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:44:22 -0500

One great thing about searching for Homes for Sale in Louisville, KY is the ability to find individual property listings and homes that are in the local neighborhood. Louisville is a dynamic and vibrant city, a great place to live and it features a real estate market that has survived the worst of the recent downturn.

If you want to buy a home in Louisville, KY, or if you are interested in Louisville, KY homes for sale, then we should talk. You can follow the links on this post to contact me and discuss Louisville homes. You can also search for homes for sale in Louisville, KY on my website, both by using a simple search form and by perfoming a map search.

A Few Negotiating Tips for Buyers - Louisville, KY

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:19:44 -0600

A show of hands - Who considers themselves to be a skilled negotiator able to navigate a complex transaction, keeping sight of the big picture while remaining acutely aware of the pitfalls in the details? If you are like most people, your hand will be at your side right now. Why? Because the ability to negotiate and maneuver through a transaction as complex as buying or selling a home requires knowledge, experience, confidence, and specialized market information. This is why I strongly recommend partnering with a professional real estate agent whenever you decide to buy or sell your home.

In the event you are buying a home, and you are considering making an offer, here are a few tips you can use to your benefit during negotiations.

Remember that negotiating is very much a people game. Emotions run high, unforeseen or unimagined factors play into the process, and people can and do make decisions that fly in the face of all rational thought. Prepare yourself for this reality and ensure that you maintain your composure at all times, especially when in the presence of the seller...
Extensive, useful public documentation is available from your real estate agent. Any quality agent should be able to quickly provide you with prior deeds, mortgage notes, liens, plus tax and assessment information. Discovering that your seller purchased the home two years ago for $100,000 and is selling this year for $175,000 should raise a red flag to you. Was the home purchased as an investment, did the seller perform extensive updates, or did the seller get an incredible deal? You need this information prior to making an offer.
Study the immediate market around the home in great detail. You do not want to purchase the most expensive home in the neighborhood in this market. Ask your agent to provide all comparable properties, to calculate absorption rates, and to help you analyze the broader market looking at foreclosure rates, length of time on the market for comparable properties, and you may even want to preview other homes in the area just to compare condition and pricing.
Research local amenities and schools. Even if you do not have school-age children or if you are not a big shopper, you need to know exactly what the area has to offer because when you decide to sell your future buyer may find this information critical. Don't overpay for a home that is in an area isolated from amenities, or one that is in a questionable school system.
Most importantly, remain calm, cool, and collected. Approach the negotiations with your objective hat on, and leave your emotions behind. Your emotions played a role in helping you find your new home, but they can work against you during negotiations. The seller is counting on your emotions getting ahold of you and causing you to agree to a higher price. If you have trouble with separating objectivity and emotions, confide this to your real estate agent and rely on them to help you think through the process.

I hope these tips help you when you are negotiating for your new home! For additional information, or and even more detailed look at real estate negotiations, give me a call...

Joe Hayden is a real estate Realtor based in Louisville, KY. You can contact him and search for Louisville Real Estate through his website.

Louisville, KY Starts 2009 as a Buyer's Market

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:56:48 -0600

Here we are in another year in Louisville, KY! Louisville starts this year firmly in a real estate buyer's market, and it looks like that may remain the case for the next several months. What this means for sellers of real estate is that they must give great consideration to condition of their home and pricing to be competitve, or sellers may even consider waiting the market out before putting their home on the market. What it means for real estate buyers is that they must do everything in their power to position themelves to purchase a home while the market is down.

If you have any questions about the market in Louisville, or if you would like expert guidance when buying or selling your Louisville home, please contact me at anytime and I will provide you excellent, professional service...

Real Estate for Sale in Louisville, KY

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:01:10 -0600

One great thing about my job is I get to look at a tremendous variety of real estate for sale in Louisville, KY. People ask me all the time... Is there property to buy in Louisville? What is an MLS search? Where do I find luxury homes for sale in Louisville? Can you find me a home in Old Louisville? What if I want to do a Louisville, Kentucky real estate property search?

Better yet, where can I buy land for sale in Louisville? Do you know how to use a free MLS search? As an investor, where can I find investment properties for sale in Louisville? I just want to buy a house in Louisville, can you help me? Is real estate in Louisville, KY a good buy in this market?

I give them all the same answer... Contact me today and let me help you with all of your real estate needs. I guarantee you will be satisfied with my service!

Buy a Home in Oldham County, KY

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:40:13 -0500

Thinking of buying a home in Oldham County, KY? Let me suggest beginning your search on my website, Louisville, KY MLS Search. Now, why would you search for a new home in Oldham County on a website titled Louisville, KY MLS? Because Oldham County is part of the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors and all Oldham County listings of homes for sale are found on the MLS in Louisville, KY.

Not only will you find access to all homes for sale in Oldham County on my website, you will also find great information for both buyers and sellers of real estate in Oldham County. If you are a first time home buyer, you will find lots of information designed to help you make smart decisions about buying a home. If you are relocating to the area you will find information about the excellent Oldham County school system on the Community pages. There is something for everyone searching the MLS for a new home in Oldham County, KY on my website!

Please feel free to contact me at anytime for help with using my website, or with all of you real estate questions related to buying or selling a home in Oldham County.

Search the Louisville, KY MLS for Free!

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:07:45 -0500

I want to introduce to you my new and improved website you can use to search the MLS Louisville, KY for Free! It has all of the powerful search features you've come to expect when browsing for your new Louisville home with the added bonus of greatly reduced search times. You will be able to much more efficiently locate your perfect new home at your leisure.

Point your browser to the new site, MLS Louisville, KY, and enjoy!

In addition, there is a new and improved Property Tracker feature that allows you to save your favorite homes, save complete searches, and automatically have the system keep an eye out for the latest postings on the MLS in Louisville. This incredible tool will give you an edge in the market and allow you to act fast when quality homes appear...

As always, you can contact me, Joe Hayden Realtor, and I will be very happy to help you search the Louisville, KY MLS for your new home!

Home for Sale - 2116 W Madison Louisville, KY 40211

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:40:20 -0500

Nice, Updated Home at 2116 W Madison Louisville, KY 40211 for Sale!

No Longer Listed by Joe Hayden, Realtor

(Not a Current Picture, Does Not Reflect Exterior Updates!)

This home was extensively updated in 2006. New siding, a new roof, new HVAC, a new water heater, replacement windows, plus numerous interior updates were all done at the time. This home has four bedrooms and two full bathrooms. It is currently a rental at roughly $850/month, and could make a nice investment property. This home is a possible short sale so you are encouraged to submit an offer.

The home is in fair condition requiring paint, carpeting flooring, and minor carpentry updates.

Offered for sale by Joe Hayden, Realtor. Contact him for more information or with any of your real estate questions.

Home for Sale - 623 S 19th St Louisville, KY 40203

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:28:44 -0500

Newer Home for Sale at 623 S 19th St Louisville, KY 40203

No Longer Listed by Joe Hayden, Realtor.

This three bedroom, two and a half bathroom home features an open floor plan and a full unfinished basement. The basement has a rough-in for a full bath. The home currently is a rental at roughly $850/month, and could make a good investment property. The home is a possible short sale, so you are encouraged to make an offer.

The home is in fair condition requiring paint, carpeting, and flooring updates.

Marketed for sale by Joe Hayden, Realtor. Contact him for additional details or other real estate questions.

Home for Sale - 621 S 19th St Louisville, KY 40203

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:04:10 -0500

The Home at 621 S 19th St in Louisville, KY is for Sale!

No Longer Listed by Joe Hayden, Realtor.

This two year-old home features four bedrooms and three full bathrooms!! It has an open floor plan, plus a full unfinished basement. Currently, it is rented at approximately $850/month. It could make a nice investment property. In addition, the home is a possible short sale, so we encourage you to submit an offer on the home.

The home is in fair condition requiring paint, carpeting, flooring, and minor carpentry work.

Offered for sale by Joe Hayden, Realtor. Contact him for more information, or with any other real estate questions.

Home for Sale - 619 S 19th St Louisville, KY 40203

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:54:50 -0500

Home for Sale at 619 S 19th St Louisville, KY 40203!

No Longer Listed by Joe Hayden, Realtor

This home is two years old and features three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. It is currently rented for approximately $850/month and could make a nice investment property. This home is a potential short sale so all offers are encouraged and welcome.

The home has a full basement that has plumbing roughed-in for a full bathroom. The home is in good condition requiring minimal updates to move in...

Offered for Sale by Joe Hayden, Realtor. Contact him today for more information or with any other real estate questions.

Home for Sale - 617 S 19th St Louisville, KY 40203

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:46:17 -0500

Two Year-Old Home for Sale - 617 S 19th St Louisville, KY!

No Longer Listed by Joe Hayden, Realtor

View MLS Listing

This home is currently occupied as a rental property, but could easily make a great home for an owner-occupant. The home has three bedrooms and two and a half baths, a nice, open floor plan, and a full basement with a rough-in for a full bath.

The home rents for approximately $850/month and could make a nice investment property. The home is a possible short sale, so we encourage and welcome all offers. The home is in fair condition needing paint, carpeting, flooring, and minor carpentry updates.

Offered for sale by Joe Hayden, Realtor. Contact him for more information about the home, or with any of your real estate questions.

Home for Sale - 3906 Barbour Manor Ct. Louisville, KY

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:33:20 -0500

(SOLD!)This is a chance to own a great home in a fantastic location(SOLD!) - 3906 Barbour Manor Ct. Louisville, KY.

Click Here for Additional Photos and Information

This home has been tastefully updated and is ready for you to move in! Fresh paint and carpet, a one year-old roof, a new water heater, replacement windows, and new kitchen countertops are just some of the features that you will love.

A Showing is a Sale!

Exclusively marketed by Joe Hayden, Realtor. For additional information, contact him today!

Luxury Custom Home for Sale - 3000 Beals Branch Dr. Louisville, KY 40206

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:54:42 -0500

(Home Temporarily Withdrawn From the Market - Check Back for Updates)

LUXURY HAS A NEW HOME...

This exquisite luxury custom home located at 3000 Beals Branch Dr. Louisville, KY in the heart of Cherokee Gardens is sure to impress...

Inside you will discover rich hardwoods, meticulously detailed craftsmanship, bold, open spaces, and opulent nuance throughout the home. In addition to being located in one of Louisville's most prestigious neighborhoods, Cherokee Gardens, this home is just two years young. You will benefit from stunning old-world charm coupled with modern features that make this home unique for the area.

Visit www.3000BealsBranch.com for detailed photographs, room descriptions, floor plans, and construction specifications. This home was architecturally designed and constructed by the Louisville Building Company.

This home is exclusively marketed by Joe Hayden, Realtor, of S. G. Priest Realtors in Louisville, KY. Contact him for additional details.

Call today to schedule your private showing!

Condominium for Sale - 1972 Goldsmith Lane, Louisville, KY

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:18:15 -0500

(SOLD!)Very Affordable Condo for Sale on Goldsmith Lane in Louisville, KY(SOLD!)

The seller is offering 3% of the purchase price towards the buyer's closing costs and prepaid items. In addition, down payment assistance may be available for this home. This is a great first-floor unit that has new carpet and fresh paint throughout.

Offered for sale by Joe Hayden, Realtor. Contact me for additional information and pictures. Search all Homes in Louisville at my website.

Land for Sale - Wooldridge Ave., Pewee Valley, KY 40056

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:18:27 -0500

Click Here for More Information

Welcome to the Estates at Locust Lake! Where else will you find fully-developed, beautiful land for sale in Pewee Valley? These lots are in an excellent, historic Oldham County location, feature a private road and custom stone entranceway, and are ready for your luxury custom home today! The private entrance will also feature tree-lined fencing, plus tasteful landscaping. Water, electric, and gas available at each lot. Custom home building services are available. Hurry before this opportunity is gone forever!

Offered for sale by Joe Hayden, Realtor. Contact me for additional information and pictures. Search all Real Estate in Louisville, KY at my website.

Home for Sale - 5413 Hess Rd. Louisville, KY 40258

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 22:59:52 -0500

No Longer Listed for Sale by Joe Hayden

Click Here for More Information

This is a wonderful three bedroom, two full bath all brick ranch availble off of Lower Hunters Rd. This home features a tastefully updated kitchen, a brand-new full bathroom in the basement, and fresh carpet and paint throughout. You will love the huge yard with mature shade trees perfect for entertaining, room for children, and plenty of room for pets to roam. In addition, there is a nice two-car detached garage with a bonus one-car garage located behind it perfect for extra storage, a workshop, or to store additional vehicles. This is one home you do not want to miss!

Offered for sale by Joe Hayden, Realtor. Contact me for more information and pictures. Visit my website to search the MLS Louisville, KY for free!

Home for Sale - 6327 Hunters Grove Louisville, KY 40216

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 22:44:53 -0500

SOLD!! SOLD!! SOLD!!

Click Here to Learn More

This is a perfect opportunity to own the best home available for sale in Hunters Grove! This three bedroom, one bath brick and bedford stone ranch is a one-owner home in excellent condition. You will love the sun room addition in the rear of the home that makes this a unique and relaxing place to live. This home features high-quality triple-pane replacement windows throughout. The unfinished basement offers countless opportunities to expand the living area in the home. There are washer and dryer hookups on the main level, plus in the basement so you can choose what is best for you. All appliances, the refrigerator, and the washer and dryer remain with the home. Make plans to view this wonderful home today!

Offered for sale by Joe Hayden, Realtor. Contact me for more information and pictures. You can visit my website to search for all Louisville, KY homes for sale for free!

MLS Search - The K.I.S.S. Method

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:58:26 -0500

With a huge number of MLS search options available to the average consumer one can quickly become overwhelmed with homes and lose sight of the big picture. For example, the free MLS search tools we find in the Louisville, KY area all offer extremely detailed parameters that can reduce your results returned down to just a few homes. While for some this can be very beneficial and time-saving, it can also exclude quite a number of suitable homes from the results.

How, then, should you go about searching for your new home through the MLS and get the results you desire? My suggestion is to Keep It Simple, Silly... Start with the rudimentary basics of your wants and needs and input that data into the MLS search form. Here in Louisville, KY that means deciding on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you desire in your new home, but also a general location convenient to your needs.

In addition, decide on a broad price range to include several thousand dollars above and below your budget (this is for negotiating purposes). You may also want to add search parameters in the MLS to include parking and whether or not a basement is included with the new home.

These basic parameters are all you need to enter into the MLS, especially if you are searching in the Louisville, KY area, to get good results. Now that you have a number of possible homes to choose from you can begin to view each listing in greater detail and exclude the homes that do not meet your needs. Also, you can be refining your MLS search parameters as you begin to learn the area and amenities returned in your original search. It is possible that the area you need to be located in has homes that are styled differently than you are accustomed, and you need to adjust.

By starting your search in the manner I suggest, you will be starting with the broadest possible selection of homes. Importantly, you will not accidentally exclude your dream home, and you will be learning a great deal about the market in the process. This will help immensely when it comes time to put in an offer and negotiate for your new home. Searching the MLS for your new home can be a rewarding and enlightening experience. Remember to have fun as you embark on this journey!

Joe Hayden is a Louisville, KY-based real estate Realtor. You can visit his website and search the Louisville, KY MLS for free!

Louisville, KY Real Estate Sales Statistics - May 2008

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:12:54 -0500

Here are the latest real estate statistics for homes sold in Louisville, KY. Frankly, May wasn't a stellar month. On average compared to last year at the same time, the total number of sales are down over 20%, and we have seen a reduction in the average list and sold prices. The inventory of unsold homes has held relatively steady this year, but is still up over previous years by a significant percentage.

There are quite a number of economic factors that play into our local real estate market, and these numbers certainly reflect a great national real estate trend seen across the country. It is very important that when reading these numbers you keep in mind that Louisville is a local, isolated real estate market. Our job market, our wages, and the stability of our local economy primarily drive our real estate market. In addition, a hard-to-quantify notion called "consumer confidence" plays a role. Media stories that are national in scope can also cause troubles for our market as it can appear the another location's market woes affect us, which rarely happens.

The bottom line is Louisville, KY is still a robust real estate market, especially when compared to other regions in the country. Yes, our sales and prices our down, but we are far better off than a great majority of the other troubled markets. What this means is we must continue to work together to stabilize pricing by ensuring we are using the best market data for determining the market value of a particular home, ensure we are offering the best possible product to the market by making any and all updates feasible to the home offered for sale, and buyers in particular must work to improve their credit scores, get educated about the mortgage market, and be realistic about what they can afford in a home.

Sales Ave List $ Ave Sale $ DOM Inventory Months/Inventory

May 2007 1531 $178,708 $173,464 77.0 7691 5.02

May 2008 1160 $173,684 $170,361 83.0 9579 8.26

Joe Hayden is a real estate Realtor based in Louisville, KY. You can search for Real Estate in Louisville, KY, become a Real Estate Expert, or contact Joe for more informartion about buying and selling homes in Louisville.

All statistics courtesy of the Louisville, KY MLS system, Metro Search, and the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors, and are current as of the date of this post.

Got the Gas-Price Blues? Use the Internet to Search for a New Home

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:51:39 -0500

Goodness gracious, it looks like the laws of supply and demand are not favoring the consumer this Spring! With the rising costs of gasoline, and the corresponding increase in travel costs, it only makes sense to find alternative ways to search for a new home.

Have you had a chance to look at what information is available on the internet? While I cannot imagine a computer screen replacing the great personal feeling one gets when they see the home of their dreams for the first time, I also cannot imagine driving around without a solid gameplan in place to minimize wasted expensive travel.

The internet provides you with a huge variety of resources to search for your new home without putting a dime in the gas tank. For example, on my website, Louisville, KY Homes for Sale, you are able to search the entire Louisville, KY MLS for free, plus open an account to save any homes you find interesting. In a sense, you let are able to get into a virtual car and drive the city, plus surrounding areas, and actually learn far more than if you were merely cruising the streets in your real car.

You can compare prices, amenities, features, location, plus map out the best routing if you wish to see your favorite homes in person. You can get a true feel for the market to begin to lay the groundwork for your budget, in addtion to refining your wants and needs during the search. The MLS is a very powerful database tool that surpases all other available options.

I have taken the time to put together another website that is designed specifically to help you, the real estate consumer, become a Real Estate Expert. This site contains loads of useful information about the city of Louisville useful for a local move, or if you are relocating. In addition, I interview local vendors about such services as mortgages, home inspections, homeowners insurance, and other necessary components of a typical real estate transaction. You will find answers to a lot of your questions on this site.

I encourage you to use the rising gas prices as motivation to get on the computer and navigate the internet to search for your new home. It will save you money, time, and give you confidence that only comes with knowledge. Your efforts will pay dividends in the long run, during negotiations, and help make the process fun!

Joe Hayden in a real estate Realtor based in Louisville, KY. He can be contacted through his Expert Real Estate site, or throught his Louisville Homes site. He can help you with all of your real estate needs.

Search Louisville, KY MLS

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:51:57 -0500

What better way to begin your search for your new Louisville, KY home than on the internet!?!

Even with limited technical skills, you will be able to search the Louisville, KY MLS with ease and begin to refine exactly what you are looking for in a home! Click on this link, Louisville, KY MLS, and you will be directed to a free search form that offers a huge variety of parameters to help you find your new Louisville Home. This method of searching for a home will allow you unprecedented control and offer you an excellent opportunity to fully research the local market.

Prior to beginning the search, take a moment to jot down your specific wants and needs in a home, and if you haven't already consulted with a mortgage professional, you will want to do this, as well. You can contact me through this blog, or at my Expert Real Estate Louisville site if you would like help finding a competent mortgage professional. In addition, I do strongly recommend seeking the guidance of a professional financial planner to help you determine the your best strategy for buying a home.

Once you have the financial information detailed, plus a list of your wants and needs, now it is time to begin to utilize the free MLS search tool above to research the market. At first, I suggest being very general with the parameters. Just put a basic price range in (remember to search prices 3% over your top end to allow for negotiations), the number of bedrooms and baths, and a general area. See what results return. Once you get a feel for how the system works and how listings are categorized, then you can begin to refine the search for better returns.

If you use the MLS search function above, you will also find a feature that allows you to save your listings and email them to friends and family members. Keep track of your findings and continue to refine the search until the homes that could be your next one are returning regularly.

This is a great way to use the free Louisville, KY MLS search available to you. Contact me, Joe Hayden, if you would like help learning how to best use the internet to find your new Louisville home, and I will make every effort to ensure your home buying experience is positive and gratifying. Also, if you do find that special home, contact me immediately to set up a showing and I will help you with the next steps of the home buying process.

Homes in Louisville, KY

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:09:26 -0500

If you are considering buying real estate in the Louisville, KY area you need access to timely, accurate information about all available homes in Louisville. Since the internet has presented itself as the ideal way for a home buyer to research the market, decide on a location, consider home features, and prepare for negotiations, buyers have been afforded a new power in the real estate transaction.

As well, buyers are better able to communicate with the professionals they will encounter throughout the process of buying a home in the Louisville, KY area. For example, as a Realtor one of the most important aspects of my job is precise communication. I must quickly get inside the mind of my clients to comprehend their wants and needs and to provide them with superior customer service. The best way for this to happen is by introducing my clients to the power of the internet.

Because buyers have direct access to the Louisville MLS, they are able to give me actual listings that meet their basic wants and needs. I can look at the details of the home for sale, view the pictures, see the location, and in general have a much more objective way of communicating with my clients. It is one thing to tell me you are interested in a three bedroom, two bath ranch with a finished basement, and another thing entirely to show me three or four detailed examples directly from the MLS!

Once we have established some basic communication channels, I can then help my clients refine their search for a new home in Louisville and save everyone precious time and money. With my professional background and experience, I am able to help my clients filter through the search results to find homes that meet all of their wants and needs. It is these homes that we then go visit in person to determine if we are interested in making an offer.

The internet also plays a role in the negotiations process. I teach my clients how to locate all available information about a home they intend to purchase so they can negotiate from a position of strength. Buyers of homes in Louisville, KY have access to a significant amount of public information and it is very beneficial to research this information when structuring an offer to purchase. Your offer may change significantly with the discovery of all known information about a property!

I love helping my clients achieve their real estate dreams and goals! If you are in the market for a home in Louisville, KY I encourage you to contact me directly and let me show you what I can do for you... I guarantee you will be satisfied!

Joe Hayden is a Louisville, KY based Realtor. He can be contact through his Real Estate Louisville, KY website.

Vandalism

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:15:19 -0500

Recently, I had a listing that was subject to an act of vandalism. It was a vacant older home that was just on the edge of the residential zoning for the area. The owners were retired and had already moved to a more suitable home, and were leaving a home they had owned for over 45 years. It was in dire need of updating both inside and out, it had already sat for six months with another agent, and the owners were unable to spend much time at the property due to medical reasons.

I had put the home on a lockbox and agreed to stop by the home at least once a week to check on things, plus one of the owners tried to come just as frequently. Well, of course I went by one week and an over-zealous recycler had decided to break the glass on the rear door and remove all traces of copper piping from the home. Literally. They kindly shut the water main off and removed every visible piece of copper in the basement, under the sinks, and even cut a hole in the wall upstairs to pull the piping that went from one floor to the next.

I was understandably upset, and the owner even more so. He was already grappling with the fact the market was slow, his location was less than ideal, his home needed a significant amount of updating he could not afford, and now he had to factor the plumbing into the equation. I felt terrible that this had happened under my watch, but there was very little I though I could do to prevent this in a vacant home with no alarm that sat apart from the rest of the neighborhood.

The owner did not hold me accountable as he realized the difficulty with securing a home in this manner, but that still left us with the additional damage. He looked into insurance, but it was not feasible, nor practical to try to pursue any sort of claim for this act.

We did eventually sell the house, and we actually sold it for what I though it would go for on the open market. As you would guess, the buyers took it as-is. In the end, the owner was satisfied with my work, but I definitely wish I had found a better way to secure that property, or any other solution that could have prevented this situation.

So that's were you come in, fellow 'Rainers. What experiences have you had with vandalism? What did you do to prevent it? What are some suggestions for protecting a vacant home? How did you handle the situation if it happened?

Thanks for the great input in advance!!

Joe Hayden is a Louisville, KY-based Realtor. He can be contacted through his website, Expert Real Estate Louisville, KY.

Credit Reports, Credit Scores, Buying a Home, and You

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:19:02 -0600

Let's take a brief look at credit scores, credit reports, and how these items affect your home buying power, plus your long-term financial strength. Three companies provide this information to potential lenders, and others who deem this information necessary; Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Also, it is a federal law that you be provided a copy of your credit report from these three companies once a year. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com to view your reports.

First, your credit report is a compilation of your credit history related to things like credit cards, revolving charge accounts (gas card or Sears card), previous mortgages, student loans, car payments, etc. It contains detailed information on your payment history, whether or not you have any negative items affecting your credit, plus details of your personal information known by the credit reporting company. It is very important you immediately dispute any negative reports in these credit reports if they are incorrect, or take whatever steps necessary to correct the negatives if they are correct.

Several items on your credit report will affect your credit score, the number that is supposed to represent to the lender the risk they will take on by loaning you money. The factors are, in no particular order, the length of your credit history (the longer they have data for you, the better), the length of time you have had your accounts open (again, the more time, the better), the type of accounts you have (variety is good), your payment history with your accounts (on time, never late is your goal), and the ratio of your debt to your credit limit (Even if you have a credit card with a $100 max limit, if you carry a $100 balance, you are considered 100% financed, and this is viewed as a negative.).

How can you improve your credit scores by viewing the information on your credit report? Most credit reports will have a summary page that tells if there any negative items on your credit report. It is very important you do whatever necessary to remove these items from your credit report. Let me give you an example...

Back in the days before free credit reports existed, I had an outstanding medical bill that went to an old address and was never forwarded that I did not know about until I made an attempt to make a purchase that required my credit to be pulled. This negative showed up because the bill had gone to collections. All I had to do was call the doctor's office, explain what had happened, pay the bill plus a small penalty, and they immediately reported the matter resolved to the credit reporting companies. I also followed up with the credit reporting companies and it took a few weeks of time for everything to stabilize, but the action disappeared from my credit report and I was able to again get prime rates. It won't always be this easy, but you have to do everything in your power to resolve all negatives if you want credit and the best rates.

Another way to improve your scores is to get your debt ratios below 50% on your credit cards and revolving charge accounts. As I stated before, just because your balance is low in terms of dollars it doesn't mean that is a positive if your debt ratios are above 50%. Use your credit report to compare account balances and credit limits and devise a plan to get your balances under the 50% (25% is even better) debt-to-credit-limit ratio as soon as possible. This will definitely improve your credit score.

Two more ways to improve your scores are to pay all of your bills on time, and not to have too many people pull your credit at any one time. There is some debate as to how much your credit score is affected by numerous pulls, and it seems to be less of a problem if all of the pulls are for the same thing, but your score will go down with every credit pull no matter what it is for. Don't go buy a car on credit, then the next week buy a TV on credit, then a house...Space your purchases out reasonably and monitor your credit scores to see when they recover from each purchase.

Speaking of monitoring your scores, for a small one-time or monthly fee any one of the credit reporting companies will give you your credit score. It can be worth it to monitor your score as you prepare to buy a home to see what changes are improving your score and to have an objective goal to work towards to get the best possible rates and terms.

I hope this post has provided you with some helpful guidance to first gather your credit report, correct any negatives, and then improve your score. If you think of the thousands upon thousands of dollars in interest this work could potentially save you, I think it is well worth the effort...

Joe Hayden is a real estate Realtor based in Louisville, KY. Visit his website Real Estate in Louisville, KY for further information.

Defensive Buying - 5 Ways to Buy Smart in a Down Market

Joe Hayden - Louisville, KY Homes for Sale (S.G. Priest Realtors) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:31:28 -0600

Depending on where you live, your local real estate market may be experiencing a downturn. Historically, these market adjustments have served as a natural protection against runaway price inflation, and in the long-run can be very positive, but as a buyer in one of these markets you must buy smart to protect your financial future.

Here are 5 ways in which you can take advantage of a down market and protect your interests for the future at the same time...

1. Look at the local job market. Know who the major employers are in town and where their employees typically live. Read the papers and pay attention to the stability of these employers. If the company is in financial trouble, or is going to lay off employees, be careful about buying in areas heavily populated by their employees. Yes, you may get a great deal, but home prices may drop dramatically around you and cause you to lose money. Plan for that in your negotiations.

2. Research new commercial developments in your area. If you discover that a new retail / commercial center is going in near an area you desire to live in, take the time to find out what stores are planned for the development, and look at how things like traffic flow and access are going to be addressed. A bad plan can negatively affect area property values, but conversely a well-planned development can draw buyers like a magnet raising property values.

3. Learn about zoning. If you buy a home right next to land zoned for commercial development and you do not realize it, your property value could be negatively affected by the increase in traffic and the type of development. If you are looking in a fully-developed residential area this may not prove to be much of a factor, but be aware of any nearby open spaces and their zoning that could make access to your residential area more challenging. Again, good developments can be to your benefit, but consider how the changes could affect value in your negotiations.

4. Drive the area you desire to live in. Take a camera and a note pad to record what you find. Look for things like for-sale signs, blighted properties, new construction or residential developments, open lots and land, road construction and access, and the availability of retail services. Lots of 'for sale by owner' or real estate signs could spell trouble as numerous homes for sale could cause a price reduction war to sell. Again, it may be to your benefit, but you must consider this in your negotiations.

Blighted properties will reduce the value of homes in the immediate area, and new construction, or anything that increases housing density can ultimately reduce value in a slow market as inventory increases and the number of buyers decreases. Be wary of new developments without any noticeable construction activity as there may be financial issues that could affect the value of all of the homes in the area. Don't be the sucker that pays top price for a home nobody wants.

Open lots and the availability of land can be a positive depending on the area you are looking in, but keep in mind that zoning can change and there are lots of commercial developers out there looking for any sliver of land possible to develop in many markets.

5. Negotiate strongly with the seller. I am a firm believer in homes being exchanged for fair market values, meaning the transaction should be a win-win, but that doesn't mean you cannot, or should not attempt to negotiate your best terms. Do your research and come to the table armed with extensive, current market knowledge, and a willingness to set your final terms and stick with them. Be reasonable, but firm. Be aware of the long-term implications of your purchase and ensure you have an exit strategy in place. Most importantly, do not be afraid to stand your ground. If you have done your research, the numbers will speak for themselves.

I hope these ideas will help you make a smart purchase in a down market. You must keep in mind that even if you get a great deal on a home, the market can continue to slow down and negate your gains. Know your market well enough to withstand the fluctuations. Above all, secure competent, knowledgeable assistance from professionals in the real estate industry to answer your questions and educate you so you can buy smart in our current market.

Joe Hayden is a real estate Realtor based in Louisville, KY. He can be contacted through his website Louisville KY Homes for Sale at any time.