Louisville Real Estate Blog | Brad Long Real Estate Group | Keller Williams Louisville East

Are You a First Time Home Buyer?

Are You a First Time Home Buyer?

As of 2013, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 64.5% of Americans own their own home. However, only 29% of those people own their home "free and clear," meaning they no longer owe the bank, or anyone else, for a home mortgage. According to Real Estate ABC, average home costs range from $159,500 to $282,000, depending on the region you are looking to settle in. Wherever you go, it is clear that buying a home will be a huge financial decision that will affect decades of your life. If you are looking for first time home buying tips, here are three of the best.

  • Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

One of the contributing factors to the economic collapse beginning in 2007, now known as the Great Recession, was unfair and predatory lending practices on the part of...

The Time Is Nigh. Have You Considered Buying a House Yet?

Your First HouseThe time has never been better for buying a home first time. Rates are at historical lows. And prices still remain 30% below peak from before the crash. With how cheap things are, and all of the first time home buyer assistance programs available, first home buying steps can be short and sweet. To make things easier, all one need do is follow a few first home buying tips.

Of course, before you should even be looking for first time home buying tips, you should be saving money for a deposit. The deposit is often one of the most important things to have, because it is necessary for the buying process. The more that you put down, the less you need to borrow, which means the less you pay interest on.

Before you begin looking at homes, and getting your hopes up, visit a few banks. Talk to them about how much you can get, how...

Why Louisville Should be Your Next Home

Louisville, Kentucky is a great place to visit, but an even greater place to live. Whether you are a single person looking for a place to start the best years of your life, or a married couple looking for an established and wonderful place to raise your kids, Louisville definitely fits the bill. He when you think of calling Louisville home.

The Louisville Zoo

You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy seeing the different animals at the zoo. There is no greater attraction than nature and seeing the animals in their habitats. The Louisville Zoo has won multiple awards over the years, and is conveniently, yet remotely nestled on 135 acres. It is close to I-264 (the Watterson Expressway) and the Poplar Level area in Louisville. The zoo is open to the public 362 days a year, and is also referred to as the Louisville Zoological Gardens. There are always multiple exciting exhibits to check out while you are there, including the award winning, amazing Glacier Run; an...

Curb Appeal- It Is Really That Important!

Though hundreds of Louisville real estate professionals’ aid in the buy and selling of a home, there are tips that can improve the likelihood of potential homebuyers making the purchase on your home. Oftentimes, all it takes is low-cost improvements and/or maintenance that you can apply each day or week. The ‘curb appeal’ of a home is the general first impression given to anyone taking a quick look at the interior or exterior of a home for sale. The potential homebuyer will be more likely to place a bid on a home if the upkeep is noticeable; most buyers are not looking for fixer uppers, they are going to want something that’s worth their investment and move in ready. Following are several tips you can use to spruce up the inside and the outside quickly and cost efficiently before potential buyers come to look at the home in Louisville for sale.

Dressing up the door

When a potential homebuyer walks up to the home, the front door will...

Exploring the St Matthews area of Louisville KY

If you are on the search for a new home, then you absolutely must learn about St. Matthews, one of the most acclaimed and luxurious of all Louisville real estate locations. St. Matthews has 12 prime neighborhoods to choose from, all accommodating to your wants and needs. Every area of St. Matthews’s real estate has its own unique character and scenic views, appealing to interested home buyers of every type. Let me tell you more about each neighborhood.

• Beechwood Village – Established in the mid 1950’s, the City of Beechwood Village is bounded by Hubbards Lane and Shelbyville Road. With less than 600 homes in the city, the neighborhood boasts long-time community ties with its residents, many have lived there longer than 50 years. One of the most desirable locations in Eastern Louisville, the city offers not only tranquility and peacefulness to residents, but also convenient access to the best restaurants, shoppes, banks, and more. Annual events...

The Highlands- Neighborhood Explanation

If you are looking for the best place to let loose and relax in Louisville, then the Highlands is where you need to head out to. Not considered a party area, the Highlands is a unique collection of approximately 8 neighborhoods that are populated with local bars, restaurants, and shops that gives residents and visitors the best in both day and nightlife. Located between Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue and sitting on top of Beargrass Creek, the 3 mile stretch called the Highlands is home to more than 35,000 people.

Louisville Highlands BoulevardThe neighborhoods are diverse, and include both the most luxurious homes in Louisville, and also many historic homes to the middle class and upper class. If you are looking for real estate in Louisville, then the Highlands will certainly compliment your...

A Peek into the History and Culture of Louisville’s Neighborhoods: Germantown and the Highlands

Germantown is a small town located within the city limits of Louisville/Jefferson County in the state of Kentucky. The small town was officially founded by Whitfield Craig in 1784. Originally settled by mostly German immigrants, this area began as mostly small farms and butcher shops. It is small community that registered a modest 154 inhabitants as of the 2011 census. The biggest event in the area is the annual Germantown Fair that takes place between late July and early August. This annual event includes agricultural exhibits, youth exhibits, the youth market livestock auction, Demolition Derby, and several other popular attractions. The Germantown Fair has been held every year since its inception in 1854, and is known by locals as “Old Reliable.”

The Germantown area is comprised mostly of small "shotgun" houses that get their name from their small size and the way that the rooms are arranged. The rooms are arranged one behind the other, and if a person were to fire a shotgun through...