Doug's Northern Kentucky Real Estate Blog

Would $221,000 in cash stimulate you to buy a new house?

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:03:31 -0500

One lucky winner will get the chance to win $221,000 toward the path to their new home .

Century 21 Path To Your Dreams Sweepstakes Entry Form.

Century 21 Path To Your Dreams Sweepstakes Official Rules

Eligibility :

Open and offered only to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia ("DC"), except KS, MO, NJ, OK and RI, who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.

Sweepstakes Promotion Period :

The Sweepstakes portion of the Promotion begins at 12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Time ("ET") on 4/1/2009 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on 5/16/2009 ("Promotion Period").

Limit :

Limit one (1) entry per person/email address per day.

Prize(s) :

One (1) Grand Prize: $221,000 toward the purchase of a home. The Grand Prize winner must select and close on, a residential home of his/her choice (based on availability) through a CENTURY 21 office (except where this condition is prohibited by law) between 5/29/2009 and 11/29/2009 or the prize will be forfeited and may be awarded to an alternate winner.

Eight (8) First Prizes (One (1) First Prize will be awarded to one (1) winner per Region): $5,000.00, to be awarded in the form of a check. ARV: $5,000.00 each.

10,500 Instant Win Prizes: A Sponsor-specified $10.00 Gift Card. ARV: $10.00 each.

Kenton County Fair 2009

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:07:56 -0500

The fair season is well under way for behind the scenes planners and vendors. This years Kenton County Fair promises to be filled with fun for the whole family, offering something for everyone.

The 2009 Kenton County Fair will begin on Mondy July 20 and run each evening through July 25, with events and rides all day on Saturday July 25.

Find out more about the Kenton County Fair at http://kentoncountyfair.com

Market Report Northern Kentucky - Bank Owned (REO's)

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:31:22 -0600

I've had a couple of people comment to me recently that there seemed like a lot of foreclosures (Bank owned) property on the market. I was thinking the bank owned inventory was down a little so I did some checking on market conditions for foreclosed properties.

Market Absorption Trend : Northern Kentucky
Neighborhood: all Lender Owned in Northern Kentucky
* Single family residential only, excluding condos


	Bank Owned	All SFR excl condos
Market Activity in the Past:	1 Month	1 Month
Closed Transactions:	63	234

Listings Currently Active on MLS:	261	2968
Months of Supply on Market	4.14	12.68
% of total Market	11.37%	100%
Average List Price:	$85,909	$145,862
Average Sales Price:	$81,779	$138,983
Average Days on the Market:	50	85

Market Absorption Analysis:
6 Months Supply = Balanced Market
Less than 6 Months Supply is Sellers Market
More than 6 Months Supply is Buyers Market
Please Note: Data obtained from NKMLS is deemed reliable but not guaranteed	12/10/2008

Where is your neighborhood in the market?

Give us a call and we can help you determine where you stand.
CENTURY 21 Garner Properties
Independence Office 859-363-9900

Bank owed properties accounted for almost 27% of sales for the last 30 days. The bank owned inventory is dropping fast. Although we are still receiving new listings for bank owned property on a daily basis, the indications are that the banks are succesfully negoiatiing many buyers out of foreclosure. That fact, coupled with December is typically a very low foreclosure month (the banks hold off until January), the bank owned inventory is actually reducing rather than increasing.

If your an investor or have any interest in purchasing a foreclosed home. Now is the time to buy!

Friday Night Lights...... are Still Shining in Independence for Simon Kenton Football

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:12:48 -0600

It's a first in the 70 year history for Independence's Simon Kenton High School. They are playing in the 2008 State 6A Championship football game. The FIRST time a number 4 seed from Northern Kentucky has made it to the final championship game. For many years now the 6A championship teams have been limited to the Louisville power houses, Trinty High School and Louisville Male High School.

The entire town is beaming with pride. Even Kenton county (a county with 6 high schools with football teams) has put its support behind the Simon Kenton Pioneers in their shot at the state title.

Northern Kentucky has had several state championships from Kenton County's Beechwood High School in class 1A division and Campbell counties Highlands High School seems to always been a contender in the 3A Division. Northern Kentucky is a GREAT football and high school sports area.

Simon Kenton's previous sports claim to fame was a state championship basketball team in 1981. That same year an explosion at the school killied one student, injuried many and closed the school for almost a full year.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: at Louisville's Cardinal Stadium Saturday December 13, 2008 at 7:00PM

http://www.khsaa.org/football/

Real Estate Auction 12-20-08 10:30AM Independence, Kentucky

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:44:25 -0600

3570 Richardson Road Independence, Kentucky 41051

Approx 3.25 Acres Parcel 4 of Richardson Business Center

Saturday December 20, 2008 - 10:30 AM

The developer of the Richardson Business Center has authorized us to offer at auction the above described parcel on Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 10:30AM. Don't be late, it may only take a few minutes to sell this parcel. This property is zoned RC2 (rural commercial) and has many approved uses. All utilities available including storm water detention. It is ready for your building.

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION: Parcel #204-0018-0002-00 is located in the West Price Hill section of Cincinnati, Ohio. Zoned 404 Retail/Apartment Over. This 3-Story Brick building with multiple add-ons was built in 1900 and boasts loads of character. Total Square Footage is 4,441sf. Square footage is currently divide into 3 Residential Units of 533sf, 1,392sf, 1,272sf and Retail Unit of 1,244sf. There is ample paved parking and a high traffic count. Property Taxes are $1,026 per half. This asset offers respectable upside income potential to the successful bidder.

AUCTION TERMS: Property sells As-Is with no contingencies for financing or inspection. Prospective Bidders are strongly encouraged to conduct all inspections and arrange financing prior to auction day. Seller guarantees to convey property with marketable title, free and clear of all encumbrances. Taxes will be prorated to and current as of the date of closing.

DEPOSIT & CLOSING: A deposit of $5,00 in the form of a Cashier's Check, Certified Check payable to yourself, is required to bid on auction day. Successful bidder will endorse check in favor of listing broker and deposit with listing broker until date of closing on or before January 20, 2009.

INSPECTION: Property is vacant land, Call Auctioneer for a time to visit the site.

BUYER BROKER: To register a buyer, you must: 1) Conduct a showing. 2) Complete the required Registration/Opening Bid Form (attached above) and submit to auctioneer no less than 48 hours prior to auction. 3) Accompany your client to the auction

Doug Garner, Auctioneer

CENTURY 21 Garner Properties

http://NorthernKentuckyHomes.com

Doug.Garner@CENTURY21.com

859-363-9900

Co-List by Delta Realty USA

Independence Kentucky, Simon Kenton Pioneer High School Football

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:05:47 -0600

Our hometown Simon Kenton Pioneer football team will play tonight, December 5, 2008, in the state 6A playoffs against a pwerhouse in Louisville's Male High School on Males home field.
Records: Simon Kenton 9-4, Male 9-4.

Tonights winner will face Trinity-St.Xavier winner in Class 6-A title game, 7p.m. Dec.13 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Ky

The 2008 Cinderella Pioneers have had a steller season. The Pioneers entered the playoffs as a No.4 seed and took to the road to beat Lafayette High School in Lexington, Ky, Conner High School in Hebron, Ky and Boone County High School in Florence, Ky, avenging regular-season losses to the latter two along the way. The Pioneers will go as far as junior running back Miles Simpson takes them. The 6-foot-2 190-pounder has rushed for 2,071 yards and scored 38 touchdowns this season. "He may be your Mr.Football next year," Male coach Bob Redman said. "He's the stuff, baby. He's special." Male has a all state runner of their own: Justin Green (1,004 yards, 17 TDs). He rushed for 254 yards and scored five TDs in last week's 56-35 win over Scott County.

"They're good. They're legit," Redman said of Simon Kenton. "They're physically a lot better than we are. ... I think this is a 50-50, 40-60 kind of game. If we play hard, we have a chance."

GO PIONEERS!!!!

Google - Makes my life easier for FREE

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:35:53 -0600

The geeks at Google just plain "get it". They look at things from the perspective of the consumer and not the, "how can we make more money", point of view. As a result, they have grown into one of the most significant computer/internet companies of all time, and their stock value shows it. I've compiled a list of how I use Google everyday in the real estate business. All of this stuff makes staying organized, getting tasks done quicker and easier for me. The best part is, it's very affordable; it's all FREE. Maybe you already use some or all of this stuff. Maybe you'll learn about something your not using. Either way, I'm certain some of these things will help you in your business.

Google.com, the search engine. 80% of you probably already use it. Simple, easy, the best results.

Google toolbar. A better pop-up blocker, spell check anything you type, even on web pages. Google search directly from the toolbar among many other customizable things.

iGoogle.com- Custom search engine page. Just when I thought Goggle.com was the greatest, along comes iGoogle.com. Now the Google geeks have made their simple search engine customizable to me. When I click on my web browser I not only get the good ole trusted search engine at the top of the page but I get to decide what else I want to see on the page. gMail. After fighting with POP3 email service companies for the last 10 years, and thousands of dollars, I think I have finally found a POP3 service that works. And it's not just satisfactory, every time I turn around I find some other reason that it works better than anything that I've spent lots of money on.

· Works Great with MS Outlook, I have no problems with outgoing or incoming mail from whatever ISP I'm connected to at anytime.

· Internet based. I can check my mail from any computer anywhere and it doesn't mess up the mail coming to my outlook.

· Mobile gMail. I can read, respond and compose mail from my mobile phone without using a huge amount of data transfer.

Picasa3. Google's version of a photo organizer and editor just got even better. It EASY to use and has most of the photo editing features that will make your photos BETTER than they are now. With the recet upgrade you can create slideshows, edit video, and upload directly to youtube.com with no problems.

Maps.google.com When my GPS fails me I go to Google maps. If you haven't checked it out yet, pull up a an area and click on "Street Scene". It's a 360 degree, traveling street view. Just like your driving down the street. Google's goal it to have everything "street scene-d" within a few years.

Maps for mobile.I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've used Maps for Mobile. It has rarely not found what I'm looking for, even in residential subdivisions in rural areas. There's easy to follow driving directions and the real cool part; There's REAL TIME TRAFFIC!!!!. I can plot out my route in seconds and if there is heavy traffic the map shows roads with a yellow or red line. This is the closest thing to a GPS you can get, for no up front cost and no monthly fee.

GOOG411. It can't get much easier. GOOG411 is information by text message.You have a name and need a phone #? You have a phone # and need a name? You need an address? You want to know the score of the ball game? The weather forecast? Send a text message to GOOGLE (466453) and seconds later you get a response. I just heard from someone last week that I introduced this too a couple months ago and they decreased their monthly cell phone bill $40 by using GOOG411 as opposed to traditional 411. Just last week we were out and trying to decide where to eat, Someone said, Texas Road House. We love to eat there but usually avoid it due to the long wait to be seated. GOOG411, "texas road house" (It already knows my home zip code, if not I would enter the city), 10 seconds later, I get the address, and phone number, I click on the phone number and my cell phone dials, I'm connect to call ahead seating, they tell me 25 minutes. The whole process took about 2 minutes. We arrived and had about a 5 minute wait.

Google Calendar.This just became 100x more useful with the new sync add on. Google calendar now syncs with your MS outlook! Your outlook calendar is available to you on any computer anywhere. And guess what?....... your computer crashes, no worries, your calendar is online on Google; get your computer fixed or a new one and re-sync with Google Calendar. The features are incredible, you can have a family calendar, work calendar, you can share specific events or calendars with other Google Calendar users.

Google Docs- Share your Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc with people you want to share with. An online storage space for all those docs you don't want to loose in case of a computer crash.

Groups.Google.com- A tech guy introduce this to me years ago. I had a problem that he didn't have to answer to, so he Google grouped it. BAM! There was a solution to my problem. If you can dream it up there's probably a Google group dedicated to it. Just type in a problem and up pops questions and answers to other people's posts with the same problem as you. If there are no answers you can always post your problem and someone more knowledgeable about it than you will answer your question. Many times, it's a factory representative or software company tech that answers your questions.

YouTube.com This is fairly new to me. In the past I always thought this was a novelty and didn't want to spend any time there watching someone's 4 y/o play the piano. Then up pops http://youtube.com/century21 CENTURY 21 has launched this as a contest/ promotion but I can see huge possibilities in the future of youtube and real estate. Virtual Tours could easily become a thing of the past when this catches on. Why pay $30 a month for a virtual tour provider when you can have a 3 minute video tour of every listing? For FREE. I started looking around a little after I saw the possibilities with YouTube. Agents from across the county have already started taking advantage of YouTube. I found some fantastic, short videos of home tours, city tours and relocation information. The possibilities are unlimited. Don't discount this as a novelty, be creative, be the first in this area to market yourself and your property with video.

Google Alerts. Alerts let you customize what you want to be alerted about. Want to know if your name pops up on a web site" Alert it. You website? Alert it. Your competitors web site? Alert it. Anything you want to know about before anyone else knows about? Alert it.

Google just made it easier to upload slideshows to YouTube

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:58:42 -0600

With the release of Google's Picasa3 Google has just made it simple to upload your slide shows to YouTube.com. I've been using Picasa for a couple years to manage, basic edit and print my photos. This new upgade makes is simple to create a slide show, add captions and music to your slide shows and then upload them to YouTube.com, all from your desktop. Best of all, it's free!

Picasa3 is just another addition to the arsenal of Google tools I use on a daily basis to make a life a technology and Internet, easier.

Check it out. Go to Google.com and type in Picasa. Enjoy

Hardware - the cycle of a name...... Is "Real Estate Broker" Next?

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:07:32 -0600

When was the last time you seen a corner hardware store? They are a dying breed. I hope you still have one in your neighborhood. If you do, stop in a buy something. I'm not taking about the Home Depots, which refers to itself as a home center. I'm talking about the good ole hardware store, where there were rows of bolts and nut bins. You could almost smell the oily metal before you even opened the door. The door, which was usually adorned with a cowbell or some other sort of loud device that gave the store owner notice that a customer had arrived. The store owner, who was probably in the back fixing someones screen door or cutting glass to fix someones broken window pane.

I stopped by a "Home Center" store just last week and ask the first person I could get the attention of, where I might find an 8 ft cutting guide. After a few seconds of his spacey stare, I said, "you know, a big long straight edge I can use as a saw guide for cutting plywood straight. OK, he says, that's at the end of isle 24. So I look up and realize I'm at isle 2 so I began my hike to isle 24 past the kitchens, appliances, carpet and an entire isle of plastic totes. Now where can I find a cutting guide, I'm in the middle of lumber and I realize the kid sent me to the panel cutting area where they would cut my plywood for me if I needed it cut. Finally, a grey haired gentleman ask if I needed help and I again explain my need for a cutting guide. Of course, he knows exactly what I'm look for...... in isle ....3. As a side note. after I tried to use it the first time I tossed it in the garbage and went to the HARDWARE store, where I should have went in the first place. Paid double but got 3 times the quality, Lesson learned......... again.

Hardware: via wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardware

Hardware is a general term that refers to the physical artifacts of a technology. It may also mean the physical components of a computer system, in the form of computer hardware.Huh? That's not what my father taught me. Am I already to the age (46) where I have to start referring to "the old days"? Gee, I don't feel that old until I ask my 19 year old if he needs anything from the hardware store and he says "I could use a Gig of Ram". ???????

Hardware historically meant the metal parts and fittings that were used to make wooden products stronger, more functional, longer lasting and easier to fabricate or assemble.^{[citation needed]} Now THAT's what I'm talking about...... HARDWARE as it was meant to be....... In historical usage it includes equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, corners, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts, especially when they are made of metal.^{[citation needed]} In the United States, this type of hardware has been traditionally sold in hardware stores, a term also used to a lesser extent in the UK.^{[citation needed]}

HARDWARE Stores. Where the person behind the counter can sell you what you need to fix your leaky faucet AND tell you how to fix it. HARDWARE stores. Where every-ones attitude is share your knowledge openly and learn how to figure the rise, run and and tread of the new deck steps your working on. Or, lessons in life from the regulars who commonly stood around the hot stove on a winters day when it was too cold to work outdoors.

Real Estate Broker. Can a real estate broker, in the physical sense that we currently view it as human be commonly become known as a artifact of a technology that allows people to sell their homes? Is the term under threat of a generally accepted meaning, like hardware?

If you've ever learned how to fix something, spent 2 hours browsing hardware or belive in your heart that real estate is local and should remain that way for the good of buyers, sellers and the general public, then join our Hardware Store Group at Active Rain.

We'll also talk about weekend carpentry and wood shop stuff as well as tell a good joke now and then.

Woodworking Plans - Online

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:01:22 -0600

I found a place to upload your woodworking project plans online.

http://groups.google.com/group/woodworking-projects

This a a google sketchup plans group for sharing working plans. (your original work, no copyrighted plans please)

It's winter... cold.... dark early, My woodshop is open

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:27:49 -0600

For several years I've been wanting a lage book case for my office. I really needed a place to organize my miscellanous collections that now reside in multiple shelves, drawers and boxes. At the office, at home, in the basement and even the garage.

I set out to find a plan that was easy (of course, it has to be easy if I'm going to build it). I found some smaller cases with some basic plans, so I took one of those and altered it to fit my location. This plan has 60 ft of self space at 11 inches deep. The construction is designed so that it can be completed with ordinary tools, circular saw (although a table saw would be very beneficial) jig saw, drill, screw gun, sander, hammer and nails. But if you happen to have a nice shop you could probablu knock this out in a day. The plans include all the materials list and cut guide along with a drill guide for shelves and the back panel.

This plan can easliy be altered to the exact size for you space. Although it's already tall at 7'3" you can easily alter it to be a floor to ceiling built in book case. Or you can adjust the self length to fit a smaller location. Your plan could also include building a third or forth unit for more overall length or a wall to wall application. The enite case is easliy moved by seperating the individual units. Only the crown mold and center fluted stile are installed on site and make the unit look like a permnant install.

I'm starting construction on this plan this weekend, so I'll update this post with cost and hours once I've finished. Or, better yet, you could stop by my office sometime and check it out.

I'll be glad to send you a PDF of the plan detail if you leave me a message.

Or you can see the 3D model on Google Sketchup here.

My hometown, Independence Ky - the 99th fastest growing city in America

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:21:23 -0600

Forbes magazine has listed the Northern Kentucky city of Independence as the 99th fastest-growing suburb in America.

The city's population grew to 33.5 percent to 20,254 last year, from 15,169 in 2000, according to Forbes.

The Independence real estate market remains strong in comparison to other parts of the country. The currently absorption rate for single family residential housing is 7.7 months which would indicate a slight lean towards a buyers market.

While slightly still in a buyers market, real estate remains strong with a 7.7 absorption rate for single famly residential house

Independence, located about 15 miles south of Cincinnati in Kenton County, is one of the largest land mass cities in Kentucky, encompassing about 23 square miles, according to its Web site, www.cityofindependence.org.

Forbes compiled its list of the 100 fastest-growing suburbs using U.S. Census data. The contenders included cities, townships and villages that had more than 10,000 people in 2000.

Read the Forbes Article Here.

Wood Shed Plans Detailed with Google Sketchup

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:29:29 -0500

At the end of the wood burning season this past spring (2008), Mom asked me to come up with an idea to redo her wood pile, which wasn't much more than a fence with a tarp thrown over it to keep the wood dry. The tarp spent more time on the ground than it did covering the wood. I had an idea for an 8 ft by 16 ft, 3 sided structure with a permanent roof. I searched the Internet for some plans but never could come up with anything like I had in mind so I sketched up something while standing at the lumber yard and set out to build a new wood shed. My son and I spent 3 days removing the remaining fire wood from the area and preparing the site. The end result was pretty good so I decided to detail the plans using Google SketchUp. These plans have every component down to and including the drip edge for the roof. You can view and download this 3D model with Google Sketchup. I free program from Google.

Here's the actual photo of the shed we built.

The plans are free. Feel free to use them in any way you want. With Google SketchUp you can even modify the plans to fit you particular need. If you find the plans useful, leave me a comment and let me know that you got some use from them.

The Murals at Roebling's Suspension Bridge

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:11:44 -0500

A little known treasure to even Northern Kentuckians are the fabulous murals located on the flood wall between the suspension bridge and Madison Pike in Covington, Ky. The murals where painted in 2002 by the Robert Dafford Company and were made possible by generous sponsors and donations. So, the next time your at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center or the Marriott or Embassy Suites, walk down towards the riverfront and take the 1/4 mile walk toward the suspension bridge. It's a walk through the history and heritage of Northern Kentucky with depictions of people like Simon Kenton, Daniel Boone, Danial Beard and events such as the flood of 1937.

Kentucky Wool Festival ranked Top 10 by Ky Tourism Board

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:14:28 -0500

In a region rich in fairs and festivals, especially fall festivals, the Kentucky Wool Festivalstands out among the best of the best. Held each year over the first weekend in October, the Kentucky Wool Fest has much to offer for the entire family.

Located about 35 milessouth east of Cincinnati and also easily accessible from Lexington and all parts in the region.

The Kentucky Wool Fest owns it's own facilities adjacent to Kincaid Lake State Park.

This festival is filled with Craft's, primitive craft's, vendors, food, and of course SHEEP.

Market Absorption Rates - Independence, KY 41051

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:17:48 -0500

I was working on some market data today and thought it would be a good time for a market update on Active Rain and Localism. Although not quite a buyers market, Independence has maintained a decent balanced market throughout 2008.

Like most market this year, Independence has seen it's fair share of ups and downs but it has maintained a fairly well balanced absorption rate. For the absorption rates in your neighborhood give us a call.

CENTURY 21 Garner Properties

Independence Office 859-363-9900

Florence Office 859-525-6777

Got Shingles? None to be found from Ohio to Texas

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:35:44 -0500

UPDATE: DAY 10 - Only 6 Customers remain without power in Northern Kentucky. Number from Cincinnati were not available.

INDEPENDENCE, KY. (September 17, 2008) Day 4, since the inland hurricane and there are still 200,000 without power in the Duke Energy Cincinnati service area. We definitely consider ourselves among the lucky ones. We were only without electric for 40 hours, and lost a few shingles. We also had the luxury of an occasional generator boost from a couple good friends and neighbors so we wouldn't lose our refrigerator/freezer food stuff.

It's almost embarrassing when you come to the realization of how dependent we've become on electric and technology. Here's a blow-by-blow, so to speak, of my personal experience of 40 hours with no electric. I'm sure thousands of people have similar enlighten experiences, and many who won't consider any of the recent events enlightening or won't even care to recollect. I try to look at it as an adventure that's part of life. Another 20 years from now and our children will be saying "Remember when the electric was off for 4 days?". Wait...... I bet it's only nine months from now and delivery room nurses on overtime will be saying "Remember when the electric was off for 4 days?.

40 Hour Journal

12:30PM Sunday. As soon as we got home from church I had the bright idea to more tightly secure the tarp covering our chimney from the lightning strike 6 weeks ago. The impending high wind warning had me thinking the tarp would not hold.
12:35PM - NEWS FLASH, the wind blows much stronger on my roof than it does on the ground. After being repeatedly pelted upside my head by a flapping tarp, I realized that 35 ft off the ground on an extension ladder during a high wind warning was not the brightest idea I ever had. I lassoed the worst part, tossed the rope over the edge and headed to the ground. Let the tarp fend for itself.
1:22PM - Power outage - Darn the inconvenience, I won't get to watch the end of the football game. The Bengals were loosing anyways. No big deal, I guess I'm just a fair weather fan this year.
1:30PM Not really sure why, maybe is was just because there was nothing else to do with no power, but the whole family gathered in the garage. Cat's, dog and the 4 of us all in one place at the same time. It was quite cozy and sort of gave ya that Sunday afternoon homey feeling.
1:45PM There goes a porch chair flying by. OK, that's not totally uncommon, the wicker backed chairs always act like a sail in even a light wind. Time to carry in the wicker, take down the porch swing, lay the rockers over on their side, turn off the fountain. At least we all have a place to sit in the garage now.
2:00PM was around the time when we started to think that maybe it was a little more wind than we anticipated. It was about that same time when someone looked up the road to see this massive cloud of dust stretched a quarter mile or so back to a point were we couldn't really see the origin. OK, thats weird, but least it's not raining.
2:15PM A quick walk through the front yard to check on the tarp reveals the beginnings of the unwillingness of our shingles to stay put. We were waiting on a roofer to repair the lightning damage anyways. Thank goodness the tarp is still holding; shredding, but holding none the less.
2:30PM A closer look at the countryside was the first sign that not all the trees were fairing so well. Without looking to hard, we spotted many snapped branches in the upper parts of trees all around us. The poor sunflowers in the garden scummed to the pressure and laid down in a row just like they stood tall though out the summer. It's September, the birds had almost cleaned the seeds and it was near the end of their time anyways.
2:45PM It's raining.......... shingles. What's a few more shingles when we're waiting on a new roof anyways, just that much less the roofer has to take off, right?
3:00PM The first time we learned of the massive power outage was when our neighbor pulled in the driveway. He had just driven some 45 miles from Hamilton Ohio and announced that there were not even a half dozen working traffic signals between here and there. Anyone know the score of the game?
3:30PM the damage reports start coming in. Mom lost "the" oak tree in her side yard. No need to count the rings on this one. I helped plant it some 40ish years ago. We don't have to worry about scouting out any firewood this year. I think we'll have a good 2 year supply on hand after the 3 trees down in her yard are cut up.
4:00PM The time between gusts has lengthened from the 2:30PM sustained blast. A fresh walk around the yard says, so far so good. A few more shingles, a shed roof peeled back, some origin uknown debris strung about. Don't open the refrigerator or freezer door under any circumstances. Thinking.... I wonder when the power will be back on?
5:00PM Time to load up the chain saws and head out. Within a couple miles we could have cut for hours and not made a dent in the downed trees and limbs. In some ways, not as bad as what I expected, in other ways it must have been much worse. Anyways, off to Mom's house, her road is blocked by a fallen tree.
5:30PM Fired up the saw and before I could even look up a dozen people appeared from neighborhood houses. Before I could cut through the first 2 limbs, another chain saw was roaring on the opposite side of the tree. People were dragging off branches as fast as I could cut. Isn't it great how people just love to pitch in and help during an emergency.
6:45PM The winds have subsided, the majority of the outer limbs on the oak are now stacked in a mass and the saw just ran out of gas again. Time to head home and see if the power has been restored.
8:00PM Sun setting. Time to gather up the ridiculous supply of flash lights to see which ones really work and which ones have just been hanging around with dead batteries for the false sense of security.
9:00PM The distant hum of generators begin to fill the neighborhood. Time to start kicking myself in the butt for not buying one at a time when I didn't need it.
9:30PM No TV. No Wii, No Internet, No lights to work in the garage. Who wants to put the porch furniture back? Or, better yet, who wants to bucket some water up from the cistern so we can at least flush the commodes? The silent vote indicated it was more important to flush. Commence operation bucket brigade.
10:00PM A good 2 hour chain saw work out, the quiet hum of a distant generator, a dark room and comfortable recliner sure makes it easy to....... fall....... asleep.
10:30PM A tap tap tap at the garage door was all the dog need to go totally ballistic, leap from my lap like it was his personal spring board and go racing through the family room quickly bringing 4 sleeping people to their feet. Just in the nick of time, the neighbors thought we could use a couple hours a generator time to refreeze the freezers. Another 2 hours and we probably would have lost most everything in the refrigerators. In short order we had everything plugged in through extension cords and running. Wow, we'd better charge the cell phones while we have the chance. Surely the power will be back on soon. It's not like the lines are coated in ice or anything.
12:30AM Monday. My cell phone alarm goes off reminding me it's time to return the generator. I had forgotten how much light a full moon puts out when your in total darkness. It felt so good to be windless, but so Eire to look around and see no lights. Time to go the bed and boy will it feel good to get a hot shower in the morning. Think ....I'll just ..... hit the recliner here ....... until the power comes back on........YAWWWN.
1:30AM The dog can't stand the pressure of no background noise, we always have a couple fans running during the night. He must be hearing things he's never experienced before. You know how dogs have different barks? Well, our dogs "get your butt up and see what that noise is" bark is this really high ear piercing, smoke alarm sounding, repeated squeal. It's not the funnest thing you'll ever wake up to. Especially, when it's waking you up every 15 minutes or so.
3:00AM We finally figured out what the dog was sensing while we couldn't hear anything. Under the shadows of a full moon, in the depths of an area wide blackout emergency, the outdoor cats had invited some neighbors over for some late night World Wrestling Federation action. It's just hard to believe, until you hear it for yourself, how much loud noise can come from such a small creature with a tiny little meow. I run to the garage door and flip on the light switch (hah) to find.... nothing. I guess they heard me running through the house and decided to high tail it out of there before they seen one of their nine lives flash before their eyes. Pull the emergency cord, close the garage door, find my way back in the house without tripping over the half dozen extension cords thrown about in maze from the earlier generator boost. Then it's, calm the dog and back to the recliner.
4:15AM Chirp Chirp Chirp and the dog ballistic again. Who even needs a smoke alarm when you have a Moe? Evidently they were sending enough low voltage across the lines to make the real smoke alarms think they must warn someone of impending doom. Not just a few chirp chirps, they come in waves, about every 10 minutes. That's right, you guessed it. With every new chirp, starts the dog on a whole new cycle of his patent pending Banchy squeal that last not quite, but almost as long as the cycle between chirps. Come ON!!!! Just turn the darn power on already and stop teasing us with the false hope.
7:30AM the sun comes glaring through the window into my eyes and shortly my cell is ringing with the ever so welcome invitation to come and get the generator for a couple of hours.
8:30AM No power at the office, actually no power anywhere between here and the office, not one working traffic signal. Of course no power means no phones and no internet. May as well go back home.
9:30AM Return the generator. A hot shower sounds good about now. I drag out the turkey fryer, hook up the propane and drip the bucket in the cistern for some water. Heat the water on the driveway pour it in a tea pot and head for the ole sink bath routine. Not the most refreshing experience but hey, it's the thought the counts.
10:00AM The roofer drops by on his way to look at the neighbors house. Bad news, he's already been on the phone with his shingle supplier and there are no shingles to be had anywhere from Ohio to Texas. Which is REALLY bad news because I've already been waiting 6 weeks for a new roof anyways and now, finally, the roofer could start after Wednesday, when the brick layer is done. Oh well, what's another couple weeks?
Noon A generator magically appears in my driveway. Enough said.
12:30PM Brick layer shows up and acts shocked to learn we don't have power yet. No power means no water, no water means no mortar, no motor means no brick laying. He builds some scaffolding and announces that we'll see him tomorrow. Wait! This guy lives 10 miles farther out in the country than I do and HE HAS POWER!
4:00PM I get the offer of some help and a log splitter if I'm ready to cut up the tree in Mom's yard. I'm tired, a little hungry for a hot meal and I'm off to cut some wood. I'm never one to turn away volunteer help.
7:00PM Hot, sweaty, tired and perfectly satisfied that we just rip through and split and stacked 3 cords of fire wood in about 2 hours. Time to head home and get the flashlight situation organized before dark.
7:10PM Although I've spent very little time in the car with the radio on. Anyways, on the way home I hear this really annoying public service announcement by Duke Energy. It starts with something like. We have had a very serious wind storm (DUH) and please be patient while they repair thethe lines and restore power to 900,000 customers. And, BTW, it might be another 5 or 6 days before we can get your power back on. WHAT? 8 days without power? I wanted to pick up the phone and call them. We've had region wide blizzards with ice strorms in below zero temperatures and 18 hours was as lon as it took to restore power. This is September, it's was a high of 72 degrees today and sunny. How could it possibly take 8 days to restore power? Now I'm just mad, get out of my way.
9:00PM As the sun sets and the full moon rises we are huddled arounf the turkey fryer with our mouths wattering over some boiling maccaroni. Mac and cheese on paper plate with a side of tomatoes never tasted so good.
10:00PM Heat the water for another sink bath. Exhausted and achey from using a chain saw for 2 hours I was ready to crash. From lessons learned the night before, close the garage door to deter meandering stray kitties, flip off the breaker that supplies power to the smoke alarms. Settle in for a much needed sleep without distraction.
4:00AM Tuesday - Like walking from a dark cave, face into the sun...... BAM. lights blaring from every direction. FINALLY....... we have electric.
4:06AM Yeah, Yeah, I bet some line crew is busting a gut in laughter. Power off again. Like a carrot on a stick, it was just a tease. Good thing I didn't even have time to turn off the generator. Back to sleep.
6:30AM We wake to find power fully restored. 40 Hours later, just as though it never happened. Who won the Bengals game anyway?

Ground Level Condo, Crescent Springs, KY 41017 REDUCED to $104,700

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:19:43 -0500

REDUCED!! This 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo in the Emerald Springs development
of Crescent Springs offers a walk out Living room to ground level patio.
It would work very well for owners with pets.
It Includes the Oven/Range, Microwave, Refrigerator, Washer, Dryer.
It has just been updated with NEW carpet, FRESH Paint,
Now Vacant - immediate possession.
Don't miss opportunity

1 1/2 Story on 1.5 Acres Independence Ky

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:41:11 -0500

2000+ sq. ft. in this 1 1/2 story situated on
1.49 acres with a pond. 1st floor master suite with
full bath. Full unfinished basement with walk out.
Fenced on sides and rear. This is a great "country" home
Located just 2 Miles from the Mt Zion road exit on I-75.

3407 Spring Valley Dr. Erlanger, Ky 41018

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:50:08 -0500

UPDATE! NOW PENDING, SOLD in 4 Days! Priced for immediate sale!
Take advantage of the $7500 first time buyer tax credit. Newer exterior doors,
newer windows, newer siding, newer roof, newer heat pump. Needs some carpet. 3 bdrms,
1.5 baths, fenced yard with a yard barn. Very nice deck & patio.

Are you still flying your flag?

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:56:36 -0500

On Thursday, September 11th, 2008, an American flag should be displayed

outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States.

Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this

seventh anniversary of one our country's worst tragedies. We do this honor

of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones

who continue to endure the pain, and those who  today are fighting at home

and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.

In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in

American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood

shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but

disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it

shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity.

Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail

over Terrorism of all kinds.

Interest free money for first time homebuyers after 4-9-2008

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:04:59 -0500

As part of the "Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008" that was recently signed into law, Congress has created a new, temporary federal income tax credit to provide an incentive for first-time buyers.

The highlights of this federal tax credit are as follows: ( see the details here )

The amount of the federal tax credit is 10% of the cost of the home, up to a maximum credit of $7,500. In essence, this is an interest free loan that enables hoem buyers to receive a tax credit on a dollar-for-dollar basis on their personal income tax return in the calendar year following the year of closing on their home. They begin paying the tax credit back the year after that and make equal installments during the next 15 years. If the homeowner sells the home at any point during the 15-year payback period, then the remaining amount is recaptured, unless they sell the home at a loss, at which point the balance is forgiven.
- e.g., If a home costs $65,000, the allowable credit would be $6,500. If a home costs $120,000, then the allowable credit would be $7,500.
Eligibility is for first-time homebuyers only. In this case, a first-time homebuyer is defined as an individual who has not owned a primary home at any time during the past three years, but who may have done so previously. Although certain income limits do apply, the amount of the credit is the same for all taxpayers, married or single.
Individuals whose Form 1040 filing status is single (or head of household) are eligible for the tax credit if their income is no more than $75,000. Individuals who file a joint return may have no more than $150,000 in income.
Individuals with incomes between $75,001 and $94,999 (single) or $150,001 and $169,999 (joint returns) are eligible for a partial tax credit.
Individuals with incomes greater than $95,000 (single) or $170,000 (joint return) are not eligible for this tax credit.
The federal income credit can be claimed on one's individual or joint tax return for the purchase of any single-family home between April 9, 2008 through July 1, 2009. Individuals should consult a professional tax advisor for exact tax calculations.
- e.g., If an individual's actual tax liability was $5,000, then after the tax credit is applied the purchaser would receive a total refund of $2,500. The refundable amount is the difference between the $7,500 tax credit and the amount of one's tax liability.
- e.g., If an individual's actual tax refund was $2,000, then after the tax credit is applied the purchaser would receive a total refund of $9,500.
This tax credit is required to be repaid without interest in equal installments of 6.67% of the total credit each year for 15 years beginning the year after the tax credit is claimed.
- e.g., If a homebuyer claims the $7,500 credit in 2009 on their federal income tax return for a closing that occurred in 2008, then the credit is received in 2009, so repayment begins in 2010 with an annual repayment amount of approximately $500 a year.

Check here for NAR's quick reference chart.

Scenes from the Kentucky State Fair

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:02:57 -0500

The Kentucky State Fair has been celebrating the history, heritage and culture of the Bluegrass State for more than 100 years. Renowned as one of the best state fairs in the country this annual event is held in Louisville at the massive Kentucky Exposition Center with indoor and outdoor exhibit space stretching across 400 plus acres, the fair offers a fun-filled combination of honored traditions, current day expositions and top of the line entertainment.

For several years now we have made the 90 mile trek from Northern Kentucky to Louisville during the fairs first full weekend so that my wife's 4H club can participate in the 4H talent show. The most amazing thing about the fair, or any county or state fair is that it's as important to the youth who've entered a handcrafted birdhouse as it is to the people who travel from across the county with horses in tow to participate in the world championship horse show. It's not just about being there for most of these people, it's about what it took to get there. Every fair has its glitzy thrill rides and headline entertainment, it wouldn't be a fair with it, but the real fair is in the people. So my "scenes from the fair" is the stories, whatever they may be, behind what it takes to create the content of these photos.

4H's "Cloverville" at the Kentucky State Fair. This 1 acre under roof enclosure is cleverly designed with mock buildings and store fronts where 4Hr's arts, crafts and products are judged and displayed for public viewing.

Burley Tobacco hung just as it would be dried in a tobacco barn. Tobacco was once Kentucky's number 1 cash crop. The government price support was withdrawn and Kentucky Tobacco tobacco farmers allotment was bought out using funds from the tobacco settlement. You still see a field or two of tobacco here and there but you have to search for it if you want to see it standing in a field.

Some of the best dairy farms in the state show their cows at the Kentucky State Fair.

This 2 acre barn is the 4 day home for show worthy cows and their owners during dairy week at the fair.

Countless hours over 2-3 years are spent to restore these antique gems to their former glory by FFA students from across the state.

The open class building at the Kentucky State Fair. Hobbies, Arts, Crafts, Wines, Photography, Quilts and just about anything else imaginable can be found displayed and judged in the open class building.

Grand Champion Quilt for the 2008 Kentucky State Fair

And last but not least, all time favorite at the Kentucky State Fair. The ugliest Lamp competition.

Learning something new every week - Blended HDR photos

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:22:35 -0500

Of all the great things of learned on active rain I would have to say that better pictures has to be the one I have utilized the most. Until 6 months ago I was under the misconception that my property photos were excellent. That's, until I started reading about Pole Aerial Photography and HDR Photography. Here's my latest PAP and Blended HDR photos of a listing at 10271 Limerick Circle in Independence, Kentucky. Priced at $309,921.

This shot was taken from the side walk on the opposite side of the street at about 30 ft height.

The interior images where taken with a Kodak V705 at the widest angle. Three images for each shot at -2, o & 1.3 exposes settings. I am using Paint Shop Pro X to process the HDR's and do the tone mapping. I'm then using Paint Shop Pro X to layer the HDR image over the under exposed image and bring exterior landscape through the windows by erasing the top layer in the window locations. The shot on the left is taken with normal auto setting mode with flash. the shot on the right is a blended HDR.

Again, the shot on the right is normal with flash. The shot on the left is blended HDR.

The following are some additional HDR shots with no blending.

Independence Day Parade from...... Independence KY

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:15:02 -0500

Everybody loves a parade and Independence does it up right. With a name like Independence you would have to think that "Independence Day" would have to spawn a celebration. For 2 days at the first of July this once sleepy little country town in the center of Kenton County puts on a festival celebration, parade and at all culminates in a 30 Minute fireworks display that seems like a perfect fit for creating all those 4th of July memories that your kids will remember forever.