2009 December | Milestone - Kentucky Houses

December 31, 2009

By Becky Locknane

It is time for us all to winterize our Kentucky houses!
We may not have had a “White Christmas” in Kentucky, but the cold weather has shown its face in the last couple of weeks.

Winterize Your Kentucky Houses

Heat loss can really hurt your pocketbook

It is very important to make some adjustments in your house in order to keep those heating costs affordable. Below are some ways that should help your house to be warm and cozy.

Make sure your windows are free from drafts. You can do this by caulking or sealing your windows.
Make sure you are not losing heat through your fireplace. Using sealed units can eliminate the heat going up the chimney.
Have your chimney cleaned by a professional Chimney Sweep .
Have your heating system checked by a professional to make sure it is operating efficiently. If it is time to replace it, you will save money in the long run on your utility bill.
Replacing your system with a high-efficiency system could earn you an income tax credit of up to $1500. To learn more about the energy tax credit visit energystar.gov
Use weather stripping to seal your outside doors and garage doors.
Be sure to remove hose from outdoor faucets to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.
Clean debris from your gutters and downspouts to prevent rainwater from backing up and freezing.
Have your furnace and heating ducts professionally cleaned and replace any dirty filters.

Hopefully, doing all or some of these things will not only help you stay warm, but help you save money on your heating bills.

Have a Wonderful Winter!

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Lights around Georgetown, KY

December 30, 2009

By Judy Giannasio

Lights Around Georgetown

The Kentucky Horse Park does a great job every year with their Southern Lights display. One of my favorite things to do at this time of year is to drive around Georgetown and look at the lights on all of our Georgetown homes. Of course we can not compete with the Southern Lights but other than $2.50 for a gallon of gas, the neighborhood lights are free. Several of my favorite neighborhoods are Bradford Place, Derby Estates and Old Armstrong. You may know of others and have your favorite places to visit each year.

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It’s a New Day!

December 28, 2009

By Judy Craft

New Year...New Attitude

We are all guilty of it…excessive spending, using our homes as ATM’s, expecting our real estate investments and stock portfolios to keep on growing at a rapid pace insuring our financial future. When the mortgage crisis and subsequent real estate bust happened most of us were caught completely off guard. The good news is that Lexington homes and for the most part, Bluegrass homes weren’t nearly as effected as other parts of the country, so much of our equity has remained fairly intact.

The Coastal regions were hit hard and will have to endure a much longer recovery than most of the United States, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. What this ordeal has taught us, hopefully, is that we need to start today to plan for our financial future and there is no better time than January 1st starting off the New Year Year with a new attitude! For some great tips, check out this article on RISMedia.

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Get the Most of the Tax Deductions That You Deserve!

By Mary Layton

Tax Time in the Bluegrass

Hope everyone had a great holiday, but the New Year is approaching quickly and so is tax time! Don’t forget to deduct the interest paid on any of your Bluegrass Homes in 2009. Your lender will most likely be sending a statement to you, but don’t count on it. Make sure you get a statement and don’t forget any deductions that might be coming your way shown on your HUD 1 from any closings you may have participated in this year. All Kentucky houses should be accounted for. Check with your tax accountant for more information.

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Richmond, KY

By Mary Layton

Richmond is the county seat for Madison County. With a population of over 30,000 in Richmond city and 75,000 in Madison County, Richmond is the 6^th largest city in the state of Kentucky. Madison County is the 9^th largest county out of the 120 counties in our state and is conveniently located just 20 miles south of Lexington. Our largest employer is Eastern Kentucky University and we boast 20 primary and secondary schools in our county. The newest addition to Richmond is our 120 acre Richmond Centre that includes major shopping and dining as well as a large movie cinema.

Richmond Centre in Richmond, KY

Richmond Property is selling very well in 2009. According to the MadisonCounty Board of Realtor’s multiple listing service, the average days on market is 179 and homes are selling for 95.37% of listing price.

When looking for Bluegrass Homes, come to Richmond and Madison County. It’s a great place to live and work!

by: Mary Layton, Milestone Realty Consultants

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Lexington Home Sales Increase 48% Over Nov 2008

By Becky Locknane

November home sales rose nationally by 7.4 percent and are at the highest level in nearly three years according to Lexington Herald Leader today. As expected, the $8000 Tax Credit for First-time homebuyers is being touted as the reason sales have risen so much since November 2008.

Lexington homes sales increase!

NAR’s Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, says,“We should expect many more potential buyers to enter the market in the months ahead and that hopefully, the market will be self-sustaining by the second half of 2010.”

Lexington Homes have increased in sales 48% over November 2008. With this being said, I believe that we will experience a “surge” in homebuyers after the Holidays. I believe we will see not only first time homebuyers, but buyers that currently own Bluegrass homes, will take advantage of the $6500 tax credit as well.

Becky Locknane

Milestone Realty Consultants

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Deal or No Deal?

December 21, 2009

By Judy Craft

Are you getting a deal or inheriting someone else’s problems? Due to recent economic conditions, we have seen a record number of foreclosed or distressed properties on the market. Nationally foreclosures are decreasing. Bluegrass homes have fared very well and have had fewer foreclosures than almost any other state. There are however still some “deals” to be had for the savvy buyer. Just be aware that things are not always as they seem and that most, if not all of these properties are being offered in their “as-is” condition with no warranties expressed or implied. When considering purchasing a foreclosure you shoule refer to RISMedia‘s article that uncovers 10 signs that may indicate that trouble is around the corner.
Also, check with your Milestone Realty Consultant about purchasing a Home Warranty. This could be the best money you ever spend!

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Real Estate Professionals Host Holiday After Hours To Benefit The Realtor Community Housing Foundation

By Becky Locknane

On December 8, 2009 Realtors, builders, lenders, remodelers and other associates came out in the pouring rain to attend “Holiday After Hours”, a fundraising event for the Realtor Community Housing Foundation. This foundation is a 501(3)(c) tax-exempt nonprofit organization that was organized in 1992 by Lexington Bluegrass Association of Realtors to help low-income and elderly owners of Bluegrass homes.

The turnout was huge and the event was a wonderful success! We raised close to $800 to benefit the Realtor Community Housing Foundation. This was a magnificent tribute to those in need in spite of these challenging times.

Donations collected for Kentucky Military Families Annual Toy Drive

Charity event to fix Bluegrass homes and gather toys for kids this season.

At this same event many toys and Kroger gift cards were collected as well for the Kentucky Military Families Annual Toy Drive. Milestone has always been heavily involved in the community and especially during the holidays when the need is great. The Kentucky Military Families Annual Toy Drive is something that all of our Realtors love to sponsor. In addition to our agent’s donations, Milestone sponsored a $500 shopping spree to buy toys and gifts for the kids to show our support. The mountain of toys will be distributed this holiday season.

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My take on the First-Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credit

December 15, 2009

By Judy Craft

For those who say the Federal Tax Credit didn’t help housing sales, I say the proof is in the pudding. According to recently released statistical information from the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors the number of closed sales jumped 50% in the month over month comparison of November 2008/November 2009. Milestone Realty Consultants exceeded the local market by posting a 54% increase in dollar amount for the same time period with an 87% increase in number of units sold for Bluegrass homes. This points directly to the first-time homebuyer market as a pivotal source of sales.

LBAR - Sales '08 vs '09

LBAR - Inventory '08 vs '09

With the recent extension and expansion of the Federal Tax Credit , 2010 promises to continue the trend upward as first-time homebuyer’s as well as move-up buyers scurry to take advantage of the generous Tax Credit coupled with historically low interest rates.

To view the full statistics, visit the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors statistic’s page.

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Milestone Realty Consultants Launches New Website

December 10, 2009

By Judy Craft

New Milestone Website!

Kentucky based real estate company, Milestone Realty Consultants, has just launched their new website in collaboration with Active Website. Understanding the importance of their customers, Milestone’s website was designed with enhanced usability based around the needs of their users. By establishing a more customer centric business model, Milestone has embraced the new age consumer and is working towards meeting their technology demands.

With a heritage deeply entrenched in the real estate industry, the founding family of Milestone Realty Consultants has been a pillar of the Central Kentucky community since 1959. Starting as a family owned business, Don and Mira Ball have built their real estate company from a family owned and operated homebuilding company along with their three children, into one of the most professional and respected real estate companies in the nation. The success of Milestone has been unsurpassed in Kentucky by attracting many of the areas most seasoned real estate professionals searching for a company with an emphasis on customer service. If you’re looking for Lexington homes, Louisville houses, or property in a surrounding region, Milestone is the perfect place for all your needs.

To view the entire article please visit the Newletters section of the new milestoneky.com.

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