While spring time is a busy time in the real estate market, sellers and those considering listing their home with a Louisville real estate agent shouldn’t wait until the weather breaks to start on the preparation for selling their home. There are many things to consider when selling your home at the height of the market, so don’t wait to act on them because last minute preparation will prevent you from really taking advantage of the large pool of buyers that comes out in the spring.

The following are a few tips to employ when the frost is still on, in order to be ready right at the beginning of the 2014 spring Louisville real estate season.

• Knowing What to Expect

Begin formulating your game plan during the winter months. Do your own homework and study the local market changes. Enlist a knowledgeable real estate agent to help you find a home and put you in touch with perspective buyers for your existing one. Confirm your financing options well ahead of time. Getting pre-approved is critical to ensuring all of your bases are covered.

• Get a Second Opinion

You are never obligated to employ any particular Louisville real estate agent or agency. When choosing the one for your real estate transaction, you want to be confident you have a full and open path of communication with your agent. Make sure you are comfortable and truly feel he or she has your best interests in mind. There is nothing wrong with searching further for the right real estate agent in Louisville to assist you in the selling of your home and finding a new one.

• Make the Most of What You Have

Small details can go a long way in...

Do you want the best of both worlds? Privacy and acreage but close to shopping, restaurants and activities? This beautifully renovated, mid-century modern, Ranch home in the sought after neighborhood of Ten Broeck has it all!

This home is located in a gated community on 2.5 wooded acres with a calming babbling brook on the property which attracts plenty of deer.

This beautiful home features a salt water, heated, in-ground pool with pool house, perfect for entertaining your friends and family all summer long. This 3 bedroom, 3 full bath home has an open living room (currently being used as an office), a gorgeous formal family room with hardwood floors, fireplace and built-in shelving. The master bedroom has a new custom built, walk-in closet.

The open kitchen has a gorgeous fireplace, granite counter tops, lots of windows and neutral tile flooring. The finished basement has almost 2,000 square feet of additional living space. Updates include custom silhouette blinds on the...

Awesome 3800 sq ft brick home in Bullitt county with almost 3 acre that backs up to creek, in ground pool, sauna, hot tub, huge out building with electric and insulation.

Formal living and dining room, rec room ,Florida room, galley kitchen with granite counter tops and lots of cabinets with a huge island, 2 fireplaces,new paint and carpet with hardwood floors in main areas, buck stove insert, HVAC and water heater 2 years old, land is flat and backs up to creek.

About the Author: Brad Long is the Team Owner of the Brad Long Real Estate Group - For all of Your Louisville Real Estate Needs.

In today’s fast paced world, the cliché stating “Home is Where the Heart Is,” has never been truer. There are inexpensive and convenient ways to improve your home in every aspect. If you are getting ready to sell your house in the Louisville real estate market, then it is critical you make the most out of your kitchen so buyers feel at home in the room. Renovate and update your kitchen by adding pullout shelves to your cabinets, a roll-out trash can in your pantry, and get gliding shelves installed in the current spaces that can’t be fully utilized with convenience and ease. When it comes to shelving installation, pullout shelves are one of the most popular cabinet solutions in today’s contemporary kitchens. They are affordable, durable, fit for every budget, and can even be customized to work with the cabinets you already have. You can choose everything about the shelves, from the number, to the wood grain, staining, hardware, and type of organization you desire. Having this type of customization adds to the value of your home if you decide later on you want to list your home for sale in Louisville.

What Does the Kitchen Really Need?

Since kitchen cabinet shelves aren’t your only option for making the most out of your kitchen, you can begin thinking about what else you would like to be able to keep in your kitchen pantry if you had full use of the whole space. Having sliding shelves installed in your kitchen pantry and other storage locations within your kitchen will...

These days’ appearance is everything when you are trying to sell anything, and this is especially true when selling your Louisville home. When you hear Realtors talk about ‘staging’ your home, this means getting everything ready to make a great first impression for prospective buyers when they begin to walk through the door.

Here are the top 12 tips to stage your home for fantastic first impressions.

• The number one rule for nearly all homes: paint. Even a fresh coat of a neutral shade will brighten the interior of any home, giving it a clean and fresh feeling to those seeing it for the first time.

• Green is in! When performing upgrades or modifications, use environmentally friendly labor resources and materials. This adds a great selling point to any property listing.

• Up-cycle what you can to save on money, as well as staying within the ‘green’ theme. Hardwood floors can be re-purposed to furniture or fencing, old counter tops can be made into shelves, and doors can be re-purposed into just about anything to compliment the home's style and offerings.

• Allude to more space. For a small space, paint the same color as the adjoining room. For example, painting a small kitchen and open dining room the same color will make the area appear larger than it really is. Another example of giving the impression of bigger spaces is by hanging curtains that are the same color as the walls. This gives the interior a modern and seamless look.

• Avoid overcrowding. That large overstuffed furniture may be comfortable to sit in, but if placed in a small room; it can appear cramped. Make the most of the space with size appropriate furnishings...

Let’s explore one of the most popular cities within a city, St. Matthews and discover what it has to offer people searching the listings of homes for sale in St. Matthews or those thinking about relocating to the Louisville area. Since Jefferson County KY has merged with the city of Louisville, Louisville Metro is in the top 18 largest metropolitan areas of the United States. This sprawling city is truly a melting pot of cultures located on the Ohio River and the residents of St. Matthews enjoy the best of a small city and a large metro city simultaneously.

History

The city of St. Matthews grew up around the intersecting points of Breckinridge Lane, Westport Road, and Shelbyville Road directly along the railroad. The area was originally farmland owned by farmers Monohan, Brown, Nanz, Rudy, and Oeschner. These are the same names you will find on streets, parks, and monuments throughout the city of Louisville. In the early 20th century, St. Matthews saw residential growth from the use of the automobile and transit traffic. In 1937, the Ohio River rose to dangerous levels, flooding much of the city. Many residents fled the flood plain in search of a drier area to raise their families. Many of these fled southeast from the downtown area into the area that is present day St. Matthews.

Today

In the new millennium, St. Matthews is a bustling mini-city that only continues to develop. The railroad still goes through the neighborhood, and it is still used for cargo transit today. St. Matthews is both residential and commercial; hosting a wide...

Welcome to 7206 Trail Ridge Ct. This beautiful, meticulously kept home is located in the neighborhood of Falls Creek.

This home sits on a mature treed lot towards the end of a cul-de-sac. The first level has new hardwood floors, newer carpet and an updated kitchen with granite and a Creekstone fireplace.

The second level conveniently has all four bedrooms, including the master and master bath along with the laundry room. The walk-out basement includes a family room or den with the second fireplace, a gym, another full bathroom and a work/storage room.


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This Traditional style home at 8308 Running Springs will surprise you with its OPEN FLOOR PLAN! Located in the sought after SPRING CREEK neighborhood, this home has it all! The cul-de-sac street will ensure minimal traffic and the floor plan is just perfect!

The first floor features amazing hardwood floors and the entire home is painted in subtle designer colors. Many updates have been made throughout the home by the current owners. Then to the right of the foyer you will see a formal living room which could be used as an office as well. This room opens up via pocket doors to the spacious informal living area with a marble framed fireplace and built-in shelving and cabinets.

This room is the perfect gateway to the deck outback for BBQ's and entertaining!Back inside, the open feel of this room continues through this living space to the kitchen with island breakfast bar and stainless steel appliances.

A large breakfast room is right off the kitchen and provides...

It is no secret that Louisville residents faced frigid temperatures last winter. With that being said, the concern and fear of high energy bills in Louisville is plaguing renters and homeowners alike. With these 10 tips, you can lighten the load on your heating and cooling system, save money year-round, and reduce your energy usage.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

To regulate your house temperatures around the clock; every single day, you can have a programmable thermostat installed. In comparison to a manual thermostat, the programmable units allow for the control of inside temperatures whether you are home or not. After you get home from work, you are welcomed by a comfortable and warm environment. Programmed to start heating at a certain time before your arrival, you reap many benefits. You aren’t wasting energy 24/7 or spending unnecessary money warming the house all day, plus you don’t come home to a cold house. You can purchase and install a programmable thermostat on your own or contact a professional Louisville HVAC company for expert opinion and installation.

Buy a Humidifier

If you want maximum comfort in your house, investing in a humidifier is the way to go. It will adjust the humidity level in your home, warming the air. This will allow for lower thermostat configurations. In addition to the energy savings, humidifiers keeps cold and flu germs from breeding. Using a humidifier in the wintertime saves you money, has multiple health benefits, and lessens static electricity in the house.

Warm Clothes are Not Just for the Outdoors

A lot of Louisville residents aren’t aware of their ability to automatically lower their monthly...

New York style condo at a Kentucky price tag!! Downtown Louisville LUXURY living in an iconic landmark setting -in Louisville Premier Historic Condominiums at THE LEVY BUILDING.

As if the short distance to the big name restaurants Louisville has to offer weren't enough, you can stroll over to Actor's Theatre or the Kentucky Center for the Arts. The YUM Center is just around the corner as well as the Louisville Convention Center, Museum Row, WHISKEY ROW, 4th Street the Great Lawn, Waterfront Park or Slugger Field. When you are ready to come home, settle in for the night, you can choose from one of the two large bedrooms, both with beautiful views of the city, framed up by the deep set window wells, that change with the seasons like a piece of art on the wall to compliment your decor.



Each room has a large closet with plenty of storage. Your foyer has an exposed brick wall that leads into the living and dining areas with original hardwood floors with all the foxings and character you would expect from this soulful building. The kitchen us updated recently with new appliances and is open to the living areas and features new cabinetry and St. Cecelia granite counter tops and breakfast bar.


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Super location in St. Matthews - just seconds from I-64 and Lexington Rd. This all brick home at 3406 Hycliffe Ave. has tons of traditional features with modern updates. Curb appeal is the first thing you will notice on this roomy 2 story home with a basement-but, once you enter this home- charm abounds!

The brand new front door draws you right in from the front walk and into the foyer. The first floor has original hardwood floors in living room and dining area and newer floors in kitchen and one of two full bathrooms. (One on main floor and one on 2nd level).

The original tiled fireplace and mantle are centered in living room- flanked between the beautiful windows allowing tons of natural light to stream in the home in each room. Off this room there is a small den area that the current owners turned into a main floor laundry room.


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Spacious cottage living at 2519 Brighton Drive in the desirable Louisville Highlands This 4 bedroom 2 full bathroom home has large, spacious rooms, updated kitchen and the bathrooms are sure to please. The location of this home offers convenient access to The Watterson Expressway and Bardstown Road.

The first floor features an eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, large living room with wood burning fireplace, a spacious formal dining room and two bedrooms. Hardwood floors throughout, with the exception of ceramic tile in the kitchen. Second floor features two bedrooms, a bonus playroom or office, a full bath and a second floor dedicated HVAC.

The finished basement includes a family room and bonus area. This home is located on a corner lot with full privacy fencing, a front porch with private french door access off the living room and large covered patio in backyard-perfect for outdoor entertaining!!

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The first full weekend in October each year means more to Louisville home owners than just beautiful fall weather and amazing color in the turning leaves. Derby City becomes an artistic Mecca annually this time of year when thousands flock to the St. James Art Fair to experience the vitality of today’s art against the backdrop of Old Louisville’s beauty and charm. What began as a small street fair is now an event that has put Louisville on the map with first-class artists and craftspeople across the nation. A look at the how this juried event has developed over the years provides a glimpse into Louisville’s love of the arts, capacity for growth and spirit of innovation.

Now that it’s in its 56th year and has become one of the most highly anticipated art fairs anywhere around, it can be hard to believe its humble beginnings. Known today as one of the premiere addresses in Louisville for its history and stately Victorian homes, St. James Court struggled financially back in 1957. With no money in the bank and heaping debt due to costly repairs to the St. James Fountain, the St. James Court Association had to come up with some way to pay the bills. The association president at that time, Malcolm Bird, thought an art fair might be just the remedy and could be a fun way to bring area residents together as well. So on Oct. 12, 1957, the St. James Court Art Fair was born.

In its first year, the focus was on art alone, and works were actually hung on clotheslines between trees as part of the exhibit. In the early years, music was also added, and the annual art fair became a time to honor notable homes and residents as well. By 1967, Mr. Bird’s last year as the chairman of the event, attendance reached 40,000. For the next 25 years, under the leadership of Ann Higbie and Oscar Stremmel, the annual event grew from 200 to roughly 600 exhibitors and included Belgravia Court as well as St. James. Over the next decade, new portions of the show developed to...

If you are looking to buy a home in Louisville, get some ideas to fix up your current house or if you just like to look at other people’s homes - hope, inspiration, or interest is just around the corner. The Home Builders Association of Louisville’s annual Homearama begins July 14th and runs through the 29th.  Homearama began in 1968, and is a tour of new homes, showcasing home builders, interior designers, landscape architects, and craftspeople. This year’s Homearama is unique in that it is taking place at two separate locations; the Rock Springs neighborhood and the Shakes Run neighborhood.

Rock Springs is located on Highway 22, a mile past the Summit. With a convenient location, and many amenities, the Rock Springs Community is a great neighborhood to be a part of. Rock Springs offers its residents a playground, nature trail, and is close to Springhurst and I-71. Rock Springs is marked by its impressive entry feature, a striking rock fountain. 

Shakes Run is located off of Shelbyville Road on Fisherville Road. Shakes Run is a beautiful community, with 70 acres of green space including creeks, a fishing pond, and walking trails. There is a clubhouse with a junior Olympic sized pool, and wooded lots available. 

For Homearama, Rock Springs will have ten new homes to tour, and Shakes Run will have seven. Many of the homes will be featuring energy efficient products, outdoor living spaces, and finished basements. Each house in Homearama will be given an energy efficiency index rating, so you can compare each home like you would compare two cars with gas mileage.

At Homearama, available homes are for sale, as well as artwork and furniture. If you find a home you like, you better hurry, of the ten new homes in Rock Springs, eight have already been sold.  

Bob Thieneman, the Rock Springs neighborhood developer, is expecting 30,000 to 40,000 people to show up to the event this year. Homearama is open Weekdays...

Music lovers are anxiously counting down the days until next weekend’s highly anticipated Forecastle Festival. Forecastle will be celebrating their 10th anniversary July 13-15 with the most impressive line up of bands yet. Headliners include Girl Talk, Wilco, Bassnectar, and Louisville’s own My Morning Jacket.

The Forecastle Festival began in 2002 as a free Summer festival in Tyler Park with the purpose of bringing the like-minded music community together.  A grass roots venture, talent played for free, infrastructure cost nothing, and the event only cost five-hundred dollars to produce.   JK McKnight, the brains behind the operation, decided the following year to add something special to the festival.  McKnight invited sculpture Mike Ratterman to head up the effort in bringing in the local art community.  The 2003 Forecastle Festival included over thirty local artists exhibiting their work under the Tyler Park limestone bridge. In addition to the artists, environmental and socially-conscience activists educated audience members.  This was the birth of the Forecastle trademark slogan Music.Art.Activism. Creating a unique experience where music, art, and activism went hand in hand was brilliant, and is working for the Festival to this day.  Over the next few years, Forecastle continued to grow in size and popularity. It quickly outgrew it’s Tyler Park home and needed to find a new one. The Festival moved to Cherokee Park, the Mellwood Arts Center and then finally found it’s current home at the Waterfront.  

The Forecastle Festival has been nationally recognized in many well-respected publications and media sources.  After a noteworthy performance by the all-female rock trio “Sleater Kinnley,” the Festival was shoved into the National spotlight.  The band announced that they would dismember shortly after their Festival performance,  so everyone, including MTV, CNN, Billboard, and the New York...

Why use a Buyer’s Agent when purchasing
 
Louisville, KY Real Estate?

Why is it that some people only consider using a Realtor when they are trying to sell their home?  For some potential homebuyers it doesn’t even cross their mind to turn to a real estate buyer's agent when purchasing a home.  I wonder why? Louisville Real estate agents, who work for homebuyers, or a Buyer’s Agent, can bring a tremendous amount of benefits and knowledge to the table for their home buyers.  On such an enormous, life altering purchase, why wouldn’t you want someone helping you make the very best decision you can make? Buyer’s agents are the same as any other Louisville real estate agent, they just specialize in helping home buyers search the Louisville MLS, schedule, view, and negotiate a Louisville home purchase with ONLY the home buyer’s interests in mind.

Since buyer’s agents view many homes every week, they are well versed on the current Louisville market.   They can tell you which homes will fit your needs and wants both personally and financially.  They can also give you information on Neighborhoods in Louisville, so you can make an informed and confident decision.  If you asked, I am sure they would even tell you where their favorite placed to eat, shop and have fun are; they work to help you and your family make the best possible choice.

Buyer’s Agents with The Brad Long Real Estate Group do not list homes; therefore, they are unbiased when informing you about and showing you potential properties. They work with buyers exclusively, and for this reason they have tremendous experience...

Fall is for Hiking in and around Louisville, KY!

It’s fall, my favorite season!  That means it’s time to get out your jackets, turn your clocks back, grab a cup of pumpkin spice coffee,  get out and enjoy the beauty that is nature. Fall is a great time to be outside, the temperatures are perfect-“hoodie weather”, you don’t need to carry your bug spray, and you can roll your windows down in your car and enjoy.  

If you live in Louisville Kentucky, the leaves in the fall are no doubt one of the most beautiful visions one can see.  The colors are so infinite, vibrant and mesmerizing, there is nothing quite like it.  Going for a hike is the best way to fully experience fall, and Louisville, KY has some great local hiking trails.  There are trails for everyone, whether you want to go a few miles down the road to Cherokee Park, or across town to the nation’s largest urban forest, Jefferson Memorial located close to South Louisville Homes and there are trails here for everyone.

Below is a list of trails around metro Louisville.  If you are looking for something close to home, hilly, paved, wooded, flat, close to lakes, creeks or waterfalls, there is something here for you.  All the trails do have one thing in common; they will leave you feeling relaxed, serene, peaceful, and connected to nature. It’s a great time to get out of  your Louisville Homes and experience some of the great aspects of living in Louisville.

Goose Creek Nature Trail in EP Tom Sawyer State Park This trail is great for a quick nature fix if you are running low on time.  Located in eastern Jefferson County, this hike is a 1.5 mile loop, is mostly flat, tree lined, and passes along Goose Creek.

Cull Hollow Trail in Bernheim Forest ...

What is going on in Louisville this Halloween?

So you spent the last 6 months finding all the trinkets and finishing touches to get your costume perfect for Halloween, but now you have nowhere to go.  No fear.  Check out some of the chilling events going on in Louisville this Halloween.

What:  Bardstown Bound Boofest.  Celebrate Halloween Highland style with Trolley Rides, Trick or Treating and special Halloween themed indulgences offered at participating businesses along the way as well as scary special offers.
Where:  Highlands-Douglas Loop to Lexington Rd.
When:  Saturday October 29th 12:00pm-?
*Proceeds benefit Gilda’s Club.

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