Shorter Commute Times

I recently read an article that verified what I've has always seemed like plain old common sense to me. Buyers are willing to pay more for houses that reduce their commute time to work. Here's the link to the article which appeared in Realty Times:

http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20070810_affordnear.htm




I interpret this as a great reason in Lexington to look at those kitschy 1950s neighborhoods like Pine Meadows, Southland and Gardenside as solid investments -- affordable, well-built homes that are just minutes from UK & Downtown. In addition, these neighborhoods offer the charm of mature trees, nearby schools, and in most of these homes a larger lot than you'll find in most newer neighborhoods which allows room for some lovely additions I've run across in recent years.


For example check out this home at 828 Summerville in Pine Meadows is priced at $139,000, offers gorgeous hardwood floors and has 1650 square feet of very usable living space. A great price for reduced commute times if you work anywhere near UK, downtown or St. Joe's or Central Baptist Hospital.




As we all become more and more sensitive to the time we spend behind the wheel and the pollution we're creating, these neighborhoods are poised to become the next Chevy Chase, Hollywood, Kenwick and Tahoma, Terrace: affordable, convenient and just a little more character than your average new neighborhood! For the first time home buyer or investor, take a look at what these wonderful neighborhoods have to offer.

new scam targeting new mortgagees

I just learned about a new scam from a Realtor friend in Radcliffe, Kentucky and I feel compelled to spread the word. A recent past client of hers received a notice saying that their mortgage had been sold to XYZ company and that they would need to start making their monthly mortgage payment to XYZ company at a new address. The new home owners complied and two months later received notice from their original loan holder that they were two months behind on their mortgage payments! The authorities are investigating but the homeowners are out those two months payments and now have a blemish on their credit history. XYZ Company doesn't exist and they'd been scammed!

Apparently, these con artists are using notices of newly recorded liens and targeting new home buyers. My advice is, if you have purchased your home in the past two years and receive a letter saying that your loan has been sold, please take the time to verify its authenticity. It is common that new loans are sold but please be certain that it is legitimate!

What is home staging...

If you spend enough evening time with my husband flipping the TV channels, you eventually get to watch HGTV! I absolutely hate the Canadian shows where people can't sell their houses but I do enjoy getting sucked into the shows about home staging.

Staging has become a true buzz word in the real estate trade and it is an important one. Preparing a home for a faster sale and a greater return on your investment meets everybody's goals! In most people's minds staging is simply done by decluttering and this is absolutely the first step (see my earlier posts on this topic) but when staging you also want to create in people's minds ideal ways the existing spaces can be used. You want to help potential buyers see your space as their space and quite simply, want them to want to "live your life!"

Live Where You Work

If you are a UK employee and thinking of buying a home close to campus, be sure and check out the "Live where You Work" Program funded by UK and the city. This forgivable loan program allows you to borrow up to 5% of the purchase price of your home and if you live in the house for five or more years, you don't have to pay the loan back. And of course, you save lots in gas by cutting down on your commute time! What a deal!

The link for the program is: http://www.uky.edu/HR/benefits/EAHP/welcome.html

You'll find a property tool for the program to see if it is in the area and you can look a property up by the address as well to determine if it qualifies.

I have this link on my website as well but I think it's a great thing to know and a real perk of being a UK employee.

Green Lawns!

Although I wrote about "green" homes in my last post, I thought I might address some green lawns and getting yards in shape for the spring or, of course, getting ready to sell. I was looking at my own lawn and I have a lovely bare patch that looks like aliens landed and burned a whole in my yard with their space ship. Actually, someone left a wading pool filled with water too long in one spot, the sun got hot, and you can guess the rest of the story but aliens sound ever so much more fun!

Anyway, I have been staring at my personal bare spot (along with several places that my Jack Russells have been using as their potty all winter long) and contemplating some repairs. I took matters into my own hands with a rake and a bag of Wal-Mart grass seed but I may have gone about this all wrong. Today, lo and behold, I find this great website called American Lawns, http://www.american-lawns.com/problems/repair.html. This website has great tips for fixing not only my problem but lots of lawn problems.

Now if I can only find a great tip for pulling weeds!

Green Homes

One of my personal interests has long been ways to reduce my impact on the environment. I grew up in a home with a mother who was an avid environmentalist long before it became cool to be one. As a Realtor, I'm particularly interested in green homes and just found this great link that you may want to visit if it's something that interests you as well:

http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20070405_greenpaymore.htm

When you get to that site, there are other links to more Green Home information too.

Local Flavor Recipes

Now that Spring has sprung in the Bluegrass, it seems like we're getting ready for lots of entertaining: Easter, Derby Brunches, dinner after the Races. I decided for more of local flavors, I'd share here two of my favorite recipes from Creating a Stir that might be good to make at an event you might be hosting this Spring.

Creating a Stir has to be the best cookbook I've ever had! It was published by the Fayette County Medical Auxiliary in 1999 and has literally become my cooking Bible. I've yet to make a dish from it that hasn't become a house favorite. The book is also peppered with anecdotes about famous Kentuckians that add to the flavor! I love to give this book as a closing gift to people relocating to Lexington and it's a great graduation gift or wedding shower gift.

Always getting rave reviews from the book is The Feta Cranberry Walnut Salad

A bunch of mixed greens (about 8 people’s worth)

½-1 cup of craisins
1 cup of crumbled Feta
½-1 cup of chopped walnuts (I toast these but putting them in a little skillet with about a tablespoon of butter and then browning them)

Dressing is:
½ cup of vegetable oil
¼ cup of cider vinegar
¼ cup of chopped onion (chop very fine)
¼ cup of sugar (I’ve used splenda before but don’t really recommend it)

½ tsp. of paprika
¼ tsp. of ground mustard
¼ tsp of celery seed
1/8 ground pepper


Spinach Salad recipe is a

Baby Spinach for about 10 people
Sliced fresh strawberries (typically I use about 2/3 to a whole one of those plastic containers they sell strawberries in at Kroger)

Dressing
½ cup of sugar
¼ cup cider vinegar
½ cup vegetable oil
1 ½ teaspoons of minced onion
¼ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
¼ tsp paprika
1 tab. Poppy seeds
2 tablespoons of toasted sesame seeds (I literally “toast” these in the toaster oven now as I always burn them if I broil them)

Whisk all of those together but put the poppy seeds and sesame seeds in last.

These are the basic recipes from Creating a Stir (I’m writing them from memory so there might be some slight variations that I’ve added over the years)

Enjoy and Happy Spring!

Jean Farris Winery

Found a great new spot that's a definite highlight for local flavor. The Jean Farris Winery located out Old Richmond Road.

If you are new to Kentucky, or just been sleeping the last few years, one of the biggest changes in the local landscape is the absence of tobacco fields. Several years ago, the state started an initiative subsidizing replacement crops for tobacco. One of the funded crops has been vineyards and a number of lovely vineyards and wineries have popped in place of tobacco. One of the newest additions is the Jean Farris Winery which includes a remarkable bistro. The short five mile drive out Old Richmond Road is a reminder of what a treasure the Fayette County landscape is -- rolling hills, horses (and babies this time of year!) and beautiful Antebellum homes. Once your at the winery, the atmosphere and food is fantastic. The wine's quite good too! Their website is www.JeanFarris.com and you'll want a reservation!

Greetings from Atlanta!

Until Wednesday, I'll be attending the RE/MAX International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia networking with other RE/MAX agents from across the globe (!). I've already been learning about some great new ideas and techniques that will help me more effectively market and sell your home as well as lots of new strategies to help me be an even better negotiator on behalf of my buyer clients. I believe it's so important to stay current of what's new in this ever-changing real estate market. While I hate being away from my business for even a few days, I love the opportunity to "sharpen my saw" as Steven Covey would call it. In fact, tomorrow Steven Covey is the opening speaker.

I look forward to being back in Lexington Wednesday with new and powerful tools to put to work for my clients!

Magic Eraser -- a little cleaning goes a long way!

Showed a house this past weekend that had serious need for a "magic eraser." The house was only two years old but really dirty -- the sellers had neglected to clean off door frames, woodwork, and doors from grubby little fingers and it gave the whole house a feel like it just hadn't been well maintained. So sellers take note: a little cleaning goes a long way in getting a house ready to put on the market. A lot of buyers can even overlook dated if they get a general sense that the house has been well-maintained.

I have to give credit for my Magic Eraser knowledge to Kerri Buchanan. She taught me about Magic Eraser when we did a walk-through a new construction home she was purchasing and she got out lots of dark marks and surface wall blemishes out herself!

More local flavors

When I’ve moved somewhere, my favorite finds in a new city are always those little restaurants and shops that are locally owned and exclusive to that city. Lexington has a lot of great spots that are really special. Zuni, Part of Le Matin bakery, I’ve mentioned before and is probably my favorite lunch spots. And, if you’re looking for a great “Ladies who Lunch” stop you can’t beat The Greentree Tea Room. The Greentree requires a reservation and you’ll find it downtown on Short Street just before Victorian Square. The Greentree is absolutely delicious (the menu changes at the beginning of each month) and the atmosphere is simply charming.

Two more recommendations for Lexington visitors:

Joe Bologna’s has my vote for the all-time best pizza. It, too, is downtown on Maxwell (just north of the University of Kentucky) located in a converted synagogue. If you’ve never been there before be sure to order a breadstick.

And of course, you have to have some Barbecue. My hands-down fav? Billy’s BBQ. Located on the corner of Tates Creek (a.k.a. High Street) and Cochran. To the embarrassment of those who dine there with me, I love it so much I can practically drink the sauce! Love it! Check back later for more local flavor finds!

Moving damage

Just learned a great tip from a friend who recently moved back to Lexington from Kansas City. The movers had done an unbelievable amount of damage to her gorgeous furniture by not properly packing her furniture with pads. Fortunately, the movers on this end of her trip called her attention to the matter as they unloaded and she has digital pictures of the inadequate job that was done packing her valuables. She has great ammunition with those pictures now in her damage claim.