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Still in Recovery Mode or back in a Slump?
February 20, 2010
By Judy Craft

According the the latest REAL Trends report the news continues to be good across the nation.  Although it is a slow recovery, any improvement is cause for optimism in the real estate industry.  Unit sales were up 8.6% in January 2010 vs. January 2009 and average price of homes jumped 7.9% for the largest year over year gain in nearly 3 years.  Locally our year over year sales were increased by 16% while our increase in sales price was lower than the national average at 1%. According to REAL Trends, a trusted source for real estate statistics, “While sales were up over January 2009, the increase was lower than was recorded in December 2009 when sales units were up 17.1% over December 2008.  The smaller gain shows that with the deadline for the homebuyer tax credits still 3 months away, housing consumers feel little urgency to purchase at this time.”

Over the past quarter new Bluegrass homes sales gained momentum with an increase of 67.5% for November 2009 and an increase of 4% for December 2009.  This is in stark contrast with the U.S. Commerce Department’s figures.  They reported a drop of 11.3% for new home sales nationally in November and a drop of 7.6% in December.

We will bring you the latest local and national market statistics for January 2009 as soon as the national figures are released.  Watch for our new Milestone Minute on our upcoming blogs. For now here are the national statistics:

REAL Trends Housing Market Report
  January 2010 (versus same month a year ago) December 2009 (versus same month a year ago)
  Closed Sales AVG Price Closed Sales AVG Price
National +8.6% +7.0% +29.8% -1.3%
Regional Report
Northeast +19.2% +18.6% +29.8% -1.3%
South +3.5% -2.0% +15.1% +0.9%
Midwest +9.6% +2.6% +19.2% +2.1%
West +8.8% +7.5% +10.8% +0.5%
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Community Relations, Louisville Milestone Office
February 19, 2010
By Dennis Miller

CASA is committed to work on behalf of abused and neglected children involved in the court system.

Good afternoon and I am back for my second blog.  As I have stated before, it is my goal to make those living in Louisville houses, Realtors, and affiliates more aware of what the Community Relations Committee of GLAR (Greater Louisville Association of Realtors) is doing for our community.  My intention was to focus on individual activities that we do in greater detail, but having had our monthly meeting last week there are just too many good things going on right now to talk about just one.
Our annual Bowl-A-Thon is taking place Feb. 23rd at Kingpin Lanes in Jeffersontown, KY.  For a twenty five dollar entry fee, you are entitled to three games, shoes and an outstanding lunch.  We are expecting over thirty teams of four to participate with all proceeds are going to go to the Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children (CASA). Last year we raised over $2,500 and with a little luck we will exceed that this year.
Every month we are collecting goods for the needy in what is called The Chest of Hope.  Offices around town collect various items and this month’s collection of coffee, creamer and sugar will go to St. John’s Center, a local organization providing services to the homeless.  It has been a great success with our last month’s collecting hundreds of pairs of gloves and hats.  On any one day, over 180 men not living in Louisville houses might walk through the door just to come in out of the cold for a hot cup of coffee or temporary shelter from the elements.

Louisville Realtors Swim the Ohio to Raise Money for Special Olymics

Our committee unanimously voted to financially support one of our committee members, Greg Taylor, in his efforts to support “The 2010 Special Olympics”.  On February 27th, Greg is going to jump into the Ohio River along with others to bring attention to this most worthy cause.  Our committee members will be out in force to encourage him and hope for 80 degree weather.
As you can see, this group has a passion for helping others.  I am looking forward to sharing with you the results of the Bowl-A-Than and Greg’s plunge into the icy Ohio.

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Ball Homes gives $10,000 cash away in cash and more in prizes!
February 15, 2010
By Becky Locknane

The 5th Annual Central Kentucky Ball Home’s Gold Key Club Breakfast was held Thursday, February 11th at Marriott Griffin Gate Resort Hotel in Lexington Kentucky.

Any Realtor can belong to the Gold Key Club that sells one of Ball Home’s new construction homes in a year. The homes that are built by Ball Homes include Lexington Homes, Nicholasville Homes,Georgetown Homes and homes in Frankfort and Versailles.

Along with several other perks of being in this club you get an invite to their exclusive annual event that all you have to do is show up for and you are qualified for the cash and prizes. Our new Gold Key Club President, Mike Wheatley and Lisa Ball Sharp, owner of Ball Homes selected ping pong balls out of a hopper to choose the winners. The more Ball Homes you closed last year, the more ping pong balls you got in the hopper. I’m sure that several Realtors are kicking themselves today as you had to be present to win and the one $5,000 cash prize was called four times before a winner was selected that was there. Ouch! All they had to do was just show up! That one probably stung the worst, but the same thing happened for the $1,000, $500 and several of the $100 checks that were given away. The prizes that were given away were a UK basketball autographed by Coach Cal., two Rick Brooks autographed footballs, a HUGE flat screen TV (donated by Venture Title) and several beautiful bouquets of flowers. Central Kentucky Realtors look forward to this event every year. This year there was standing room only and the breakfast was delicious with three omelet stations and two buffets. Delish!!!

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Scottsdale Properties…a Jewel in Georgetown
February 11, 2010
By Judy Giannasio

New Construction Builder & Remodeler

Scottsdale Properties in Scott County has had a great 2009 and is looking forward to 2010. with the first time home buyer federal tax credit of $8,000, the current homeowner credit of $6,500 and the state $5,000 tax credit for new homes there is a tax credit for nearly everyone. Now with the new Home Builder Association of Kentucky’s new campaign “Buy Now, Buy New, Save Thousands” more people are aware of the benefits of buying a new Georgetown home.

Scottsdale Properties which is building Georgetown homes in Violets Trace at prices starting at $110,000 is a front runner in affordable homes.

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Milestone Louisville Office, Community Service
February 8, 2010
By Dennis Miller

This is my first attempt at blogging, but I welcome opportunity to share with you some of the outstanding and most worthwhile activities Milestone Realty Consultants and the Community Relations Committee of the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors (GLAR) participates in.  I currently serve as chairperson of this committee of thirty six members, all having a passion for helping others.  Our past year’s activities include a  Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl-A-Thon, the Community Wide Cleanup, the Repair Affair (which repairs Louisville houses for fixed income eldery citizens), Camp Quality,  a Louisville Aids Walk, Habitat for Humanity (helps low income families build Kentucky houses and repair Bluegrass homes), the Chest of Hope and being a Dream Factory Holiday Party Sponsor. We also serve breakfast at The Wayside Christian Mission (for people without Louisville houses), provide meals for Kosair families of seriously ill children, participate in  the Stampede Walk/Run benefiting visually impaired pre-school children and we provide over $1000 worth of backpacks for needy children in the Jefferson County School System.

Donate, Serve and Support

Donate, Serve and Support.

Our mission statement reads: “The purpose of the Community Relations Committee is to be the face of charitable involvements and volunteerism on behalf of GLAR and Affiliate members in the areas that it serves.  We are committed to selecting projects that encourage member participation on a volunteer level as well as make a positive impact on the needs of our community.”
I have been a member of this committee for four years and have seen it grow in membership, but more importantly in reaching out to the community to help those less fortunate.  In my future blogs I will update you about our events in greater detail and hope that regardless of our profession, it will raise awareness of individuals or organizations needing a helping hand.

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Homebuilders Launch New Advertising Campaign!
February 4, 2010
By Becky Locknane
New Construction Kentucky houses

Save Thousands with New Construction

The Home Builders Association of Kentucky, in conjunction with Home Builders Association of Lexington, Homebuilders Association of Louisville and the Homebuilders Association of Northern Kentucky have launched a new advertising campaign to promote the new and extended tax credits. The Campaign is titled, “Buy Now, Buy New!”  The campaign includes television commercials, yard signs and website information to make buyers aware of the many tax credits and low interest rates available to them when they buy a newly constructed home.  The Sales and Marketing Council of the Homebuilders Association of Lexington held a membership meeting Feb. 2nd to explain all the tax credits, Federal Tax credits, Kentucky State tax credits, and Energy credits to Builders and Realtors. The speakers included Energy Star representatives, Mortgage Loan Officers,  a New Construction Realtor and the Association Executive Director. Walden Mortgage’s own Jeff Sharp explained how easy it is to apply for the Mortgage Credit Certificate (M.C.C.). You could save up to $2,000 a year in tax credits for the next 10 years! It is important to understand the all the tax credits and to be able to intelligently explain them our clients that are buying Kentucky houses, whether they are Lexington Homes or Louisville houses or any newly constructed Bluegrass home.  See what tax credits you qualify for.

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John Griffin’s Nicholasville, KY Sundries
February 1, 2010
By John Griffin

Here’s a few sundries about what has gone on in Nicholasville, KY this past week that maybe of interest…

Denger's Hearth and Home

A short seminar at Denger’s Hearth and Home (located behind Kohl’s just off US 27 in Jessamine County) was held on January, 27th. Milestone agents (some of which are Ball Homes Specialists) were gathered so we could be brought up to date on what is new in the world of fireplaces, and trends of the expanded offerings that Ball Homes will be providing for thier potential buyers, not only for Nicholasville homes, but everywhere that Ball Homes is building Kentucky homes.

New Sam's Club in Nicholasville, KY

For all you that are Sam’s Club fans, the new Sam’s Club is coming along and is located to the left of Kohl’s in the same area. The projected completion date should be by early summer.

Nicholasville, KY Winter

The snow storm  that was predicted all week finally arrived overnight on Friday with @ 4-5 inches.  A big kudos to the state and local road departments for all their efforts in getting the streets cleared of the snow. It seemed to slow everyone down some but it did not paralyze the area like I have seen it in years past. Even though temperatures remain cold, as far as the real estate market goes things seem to be heating up! Homes buyers and home sellers seem to be wanting mpre information on what is available now and also what the tax credits mean to them. I predict a busy early spring market as one will need to be under contract by April 30th deadline in order to take advantage of the tax credits being offered.  See what tax credits you are quailfied for! Although, if you are thinking of building a Ball Home, you must be under contract (including contingencies) by February 28th if you would like to take advantage of the tax credits. This is so that the builder will have time to complete the home by the June 30th closing deadline.

In Keene Crossing there is just one lot left now. The other seven lots have already started or finished construction on them. All of these homes will all be Energy Star rated homes. For those who are considering buying or selling a home this spring don’t wait, don’t delay, get started and pursue your new Bluegrass home today!

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“Toyota Gas Pedals: Is the Public at Risk?”
By Judy Giannasio

Toyota’s accelerator pedal systems have everyone talking about the

Toyota, Georgetown, KY

problem. A scheduled hearing entitled “Toyota Gas Pedals: Is the Public at Risk?” has been set by the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for February 4.

Bluegrass homes either has someone who works at Toyota or drives one of the recalled vehicles. Here in Georgetown, KY we do not have a dealer, but many of our Georgetown Homes has a stake in the solution to this problem. If not a Toyota worker directly, there are people employed by a supplier. Also with production stopped our income tax is diminished. Our hope here in our Kentucky homes is that a solution will be found soon and everyone will be back to work and driving safe cars.