2010 January | Milestone - Kentucky Houses

Lexington, KY named a “Bronze Level Bike Friendly Community”

January 30, 2010

By billcole

Lexington, the biking city...

Buying a Lexington home means more than just buying a house. We often recognize that it means buying into a neighborhood, but all too often we forget that it also means buying into a city. Moving into one of our homes these days means that you also get a new commitment to helping the citizens of Lexington get and stay healthier. One of the things to know about the city of Lexington is that we are committed to becoming a more fit city. Obesity is an epidemic in the United States (especially in Kentucky) and Lexington is going the “extra mile” to try and help residents get and remain fit.

In September 2009 Lexington was named a “Bronze Level Bike Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists. Currently we have 19 miles of marked bike lanes on arteries moving directly to and from the downtown Lexington and University of Kentucky areas. There are 20 miles of paved trails available for both walking and biking scattered throughout the city and a total of 100 miles are planned. All city Lextran busses have easy-to-use bicycle racks on them which allow residents to leave the car at home, bike to a bus stop and take their bike with them on the cross-town bus.

When you add Second Sunday and the Bluegrass Cycling Club you can see that we are committed to a city infrastructure which is perfect for anyone who wants to maintain a fit, active lifestyle. So what is Second Sunday? Check back soon and I’ll let you know.

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Home Builders Association of Louisville

January 29, 2010

By Becky Locknane

The Homebuilders Association of Louisville’s Sales and Marketing Council held their Annual Awards Luncheon at Hurstbourne Country Club on Tuesday, January 26th.
Many Louisville houses that were constructed in 2009 were recognized for their design as well as their marketing efforts. Louisville developments were recognized for their beautiful entrances and community planning. Some of the categories for the Louisville houses were Best New Home Design (based on Price Range), Best Condo/Townhouse Design, Overall New Project of the YearBest Logo Design, Best Website, Best Brochure, and Best Advertising Campaign.
Outstanding performances in New Home Sales for members of the Sales and Marketing Council were also awarded based on their sales volume. Ball Homes had five of our own Sales Agents recognized at the luncheon. They were: Bob White, Louise Miller, Krista Wilson Greene, Sherry Spanyer and Jennifer Ater.
Milestone is very proud of these agents for their outstanding performance and would like to take this opportunity to say, THANK YOU!

Louisville SMC Awards

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Housing Market is Beginning the Process of Stabilization

January 26, 2010

By Judy Craft

Real Estate Brokers around the nation are now receiving the good news. According to REAL Trends, a trusted source for real estate statistics, home sales are continuing in recovery mode. Nationally the average price of homes sold rose 0.6 percent which is the first gain in over 4 years. Steve Murray, editor of REAL Trends states “While the results for December 2009 weredown substantially from November 2009, the fact that every region showed double-digit improvement in sales and that sales prices actually went up marginally shows evidence that the housing market is beginning the process of stabilization.”

This is good news for our local market as statistics show sales of Bluegrass Homes are also on the rise. Central KY statistics, our November 2009 showed a substantial uptick in homes sold several of which were directly attributable to the $8,000 tax credit. We will bring you the most recent statistics as soon as they become available but for now here are the national statistics:

: National & Regional Stats from Nov. 09-Dec. 09, TEAL Trends

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Walden Mortgage Group’s Mortgage Rate Update

January 22, 2010

By Walden Mortgage Group

Sellers Lowering Their Prices Less:
With home prices beginning to flatten in many areas around the country, home sellers are slowly gaining ground in their quest to hold on to their asking price.

A new report from Trulia.com finds that of all homes on the market today, 21 percent have seen at least one price reduction. That’s the second straight month that percentage has declined.

Remember, the ultimate reduction in selling price is really through historically low mortgage rates and tax deductions. Don’t wait too long expecting the price of your dream home to come down. The market has turned.

What Happened to Rates Last Week:

Mortgage Rates Chart showing from 7/20/09-1/11/10

Mortgage backed Securities rose +44BPS last week helping to lower 30 year fixed mortgage rates slightly. We traded sideways for most of last week but made some nice gains on Friday due to a mild CPI reading and weaker than expected Retail Sales.

The following are the major economic reports that will hit the market this week. They each have the ability to affect mortgage rates. We will watch these reports closely for you and let you know if there are any big surprises.

What to Watch Out for this Week

We know you are busy and it is virtually impossible for you to keep track of what is going on in the economy. We monitor the trading of Mortgage Backed Securities; the only thing conventional and government mortgage rates are based upon. So, we know if there is going to be a trend reversal in mortgage rates.

Please call on us any time for an industry update.

Respectfully,

Walden Mortgage Group
859-514-4444

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Becky Locknane, Managing Broker of Milestone, Appointed President of the Realtor-Community Housing Foundation

By Judy Craft

Becky Locknane, Managing Broker of Milestone, Appointed President of the Realtor-Community Housing Foundation

Congratulations to Becky Locknane, Managing Broker of our Lexington and Louisville Milestone offices on her appointment as President of the Realtor-Community Housing Foundation. The Foundation is the community service arm of the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors that repairs and improves Bluegrass Homes of the elderly and disadvantaged. The Realtor®-Community Housing Foundation (RCHF) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization incorporated in 1992 established from the Community Service Committee of the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors (LBAR) and several community partnerships. Members of this partnership include Realtors®, the Remodelers Council of the Home Builders Association of Lexington, businesses, civic clubs, churches, caring individuals, students and educators. By fostering a community commitment, RCHF’s goal is to empower families and strengthen neighborhoods by assisting homeowners in need to be able to stay in their homes and help single-parent graduates of the Viriginia Place program become first-time home owners.

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Milestone Broker wins REALTOR of the Year 2009!

January 18, 2010

By Becky Locknane

Milestone Broker, Judy Craft, Receives Realtor of the Year!

Our own Judy Craft, Principal Broker, for Milestone Realty Consultants was named Realtor of the Year today at the Lexington Bluegrass Association of Realtors Annual Installation and Awards Luncheon.
The luncheon was held at Embassy Suites in Lexington and over 250 Realtors attended. What a great indication that so many Realtors are still thriving and continue to sell many Bluegrass homes.

Judy has been a Realtor for 25 years (clearly,she got her license when she was ten, lol) and has proven to be a very successful sales person and now in her role as Principal Broker, she manages one of the most successful Real Estate offices in the Bluegrass and Louisville. As a Past President of the LBAR, Judy worked very hard to keep the association moving forward in trying times. Judy has so many accomplishments in LBAR, HBAL and Sales and Marketing Council that I can’t even name them all and continues to participate and donate her time to these associations. She is a great boss and she treats her agents and employees fairly and respectfully and is highly respected in return. I can’t think of a more deserving person to have received the most prestigious award presented by Lexington Bluegrass Association of Realtors than Judy Craft!

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Welcome to Georgetown!

January 13, 2010

By Judy Giannasio

Becoming a newly Certified Tourism Ambassador for the Bluegrass area has opened my eyes to the many sites and opportunities we have in

Come see our Georgetown homes!

Georgetown/Scott County. Having lived in Scott County for thirty four years my family has experienced many changes and growth. Downtown Georgetown has remained vibrant. Many of the Main Street, Georgetown homes have been refurbished and are opened to the public at various times. As you drive down your Main Street appreciate the old but welcome the new.

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256 Days Until The Alltech World Equestrian Games Comes to Kentucky!

January 11, 2010

By Judy Giannasio

: World Equestrian Games coming to Horse Capital of the World

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ is going to be in the United States for the very first time ever! This is like the Olympic Games for horses! These games will take place at the Kentucky Horse Park from September 25, 2010 – October 10, 2010 and are comprised of the world championships for eight different disiplines (Dressage, Driving, Endurance, Eventing, Jumping, Para Dressage, Reining, and Vaulting).

One of the questions Iget asked a lot these days “Is Georgetown ready for the Equestrian Games”? Many are wondering if they should rent out their Georgetown homes and leave town. What is the traffic going to be like? Are we going to be able to get to work, school, go out to eat? Not ever having the Equestrian Games in the U.S. we really do not know what to expect. But we are ready, ready for the experience and ready to greet our visitors and welcome them into our Bluegrass homes.

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Snow covers Kentucky…

January 8, 2010

By Judy Giannasio

Snow covering the hills and on the fences and trees can be a thing of beauty. Having to shovel and drive on it is another. This week in Scott County we have had two snow storms.

: Winter outside our Georgetown homes

The first on Monday caused school to be closed on Tuesday. The kids were back to school on Wednesday, but Thursday again the threat of snow closed schools for Thursday and Friday. So now the kids are tucked into their Georgetown homes enjoying the warmth, looking out at the thing of beauty – Snow.

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Goodbye 2009 and Welcome 2010!

By Becky Locknane

My motto is “ Win in Twenty Ten”! With all the woes and worries that many Realtors, Builders, Buyers and Sellers faced in 2009, I think a lot of us are glad to see 2010.
While the Media continues to only report the negative, such as November 2009 contracts being WAY down, they fail to mention that closed sales were WAY up from 2008. We must ignore all the “Negaholics” and think positively about our business in the New Year.
I think we will see a surge in Louisville houses selling in the coming months, including new and existing homes. The same goes for all Bluegrass homes.
The extended and expanded tax credits will hopefully, disturb complacency and motivate those buyers that have been waiting for things to get better before they purchase. Kentucky houses that are new construction may qualify the buyers to apply for the $5000 State Tax Credit .

Bluegrass Homes Sales Expected to Rise

The Kentucky State Homebuilders Association will begin a new advertising campaign mid- January to promote all tax credits. The campaign will include television commercials, yard signs and buttons.
We, as REALTORS have these tools in our kits to help buyers and sellers so we MUST be knowledgeable about the tax credits. If you are not confident in how to use these tax credits in your sales presentations, contact your local and National Homebuilders Association or your local and National Real Estate Association for more information.
Work hard, stay positive and don’t forget to wake up, dress up and show up for your “Win in 2010”.

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