5 Mistakes Home Sellers Make (and how to avoid them) Selling a home can be a daunting task, filled with unexpected challenges and mistakes that can cost you thousands of dollars. Some of these mistakes can hinder or even prevent your home from selling. Whether it’s overlooking key details or misjudging the market, avoiding these common errors is key to a smooth and profitable transaction. Here are five mistake home sellers often make and tips on how to avoid them:  1.      Overpricing the Home: One of the most common mistakes sellers make is overpricing their home ..read more

2023 Real Estate Market Outlook (And What It Means for You)     Last year, one factor drove the real estate market more than any other: rising mortgage rates.   In March 2022, the Federal Reserve began a series of interest rate hikes in an effort to pump the brakes on inflation.1 And while some market sectors have been slow to respond, the housing market has reacted accordingly.   Both demand and price appreciation have tapered, as the primary challenge for homebuyers has shifted from availability to affordability. And although this higher-mortgage rate environment has been ..read more

There’s nothing more disappointing as a buyer than losing your dream home to a higher bidder. Almost anyone who’s tried to buy a house this spring in Louisville knows that the real estate market is seeing unprecedented demand right now. New listings receive tens of showing requests almost immediately, and many are under contract within days after receiving multiple offers. Fortunately, there’s some tried-and-true ways to help your offer compete in a market like this — and it’s not just about the price. Sellers are looking for the offer that is not only the highest and best, but also the most ..read more

Spring has always been the best time to list your house. After a long, cold, dreary winter, springtime welcomes us out of hibernation with green leaves, warm weather, and a sense of new beginnings. People start getting outside, feeling better, and start looking to the future, imagining where they could be or what they could have. Maybe they want a pool for their kids to swim in over the summer, or a home with more outdoor space, or they want to be closer to a park for their dog. Families like to time their moves around school schedules and will often wait until the end of the school year befo ..read more

Kentucky Shakespeare’s Shakespeare in the Parks has returned to their live, in-person parks performances this spring with Romeo and Juliet! Every weekend through the end of this month, bring chairs or blankets and watch the classic tale of star-crossed lovers for free in Louisville’s beautiful parks. RSVPs are necessary for some shows. Check out their website for a full list of dates and locations ..read more

Every Mother’s Day, I take a step back and reflect on all that my mother has done for me, every day of my life. But I think this past year especially has shown us a lot of the things we had been taking for granted. For me, one of those things was my relationship with my mother. All the phone calls in the world didn’t replace being able to visit my parents in person, and I am so, so grateful to be able to safely see them again.  Growing up, I don’t think I ever fully appreciated all that my mother did for me. Now, I’m a mom myself to two daughters, and I look back at everything she did fo ..read more

The most important number to know before you start thinking about getting a mortgage is your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). It’s easy to calculate, and it’ll tell you two important things: first, whether or not you’re likely to qualify for a mortgage; second, what mortgage payments (and what price range) you’re going to be able to afford on your home. To calculate your DTI, all you have to do is add up all your monthly debts, including your expected future mortgage payment, and divide that number by your gross monthly income (before taxes). Then, multiply that number by 100 to get a percentage ..read more

Looking for more horse-racing fun this spring and summer? Twilight Thursdays are back at Churchill Downs! Watch and bet on live thoroughbred racing, play lawn games, and enjoy a selection of $1 Blue Moon and other domestic beers, live music, food trucks, and more every Thursday night through September. For tickets and more information, check out the Churchill Downs website here. See you at the track! Twilight Thursdays website: www.churchilldowns.com/twilightthursdays Promotional photo @ChurchillDowns on Twitter ..read more

YES, you can still get a mortgage with student loan debt! Outstanding debts like student loans, medical bills, or credit card debt aren’t actually all that important when loan officers are determining your eligibility for a mortgage. As long as you have reliable income, stable finances, and your required monthly payments don’t use too much of your monthly income, you’ll probably qualify. When determining your eligibility for a home loan, the most important number that loan officers will look at is your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). It’s a calculation that takes your current monthly income and ..read more

Staging showcases your home in its best light, making it more attractive — and more valuable — to potential buyers. When you’re getting ready to put your house on the market, it’s one of the most important things you can do as a seller to make sure your home sells quickly for top dollar. According to a survey by the National Association of Realtors, 82% of buyer’s agents believe that staging properties helps their buyers to better visualize the property as their future home. Staging your home can raise its dollar value 1%-5% or more over similar properties that are not staged, helping you get ..read more