The Dobbs Team Louisville KY Real Estate Blog

Steve Dobbs with The Dobbs Team at ReMax Champions is proud to announce our newest listing at 6402 Price LN in LOUISVILLE KY.  This move in ready home is waiting for you!  Schedule a showing today.

This recently renovately 3 bedroom home with a bath and a half is truly move-in ready.  The changes started with removal of all the old carpet and vinyl.  We added ceramic tile to the full bathroom upstairs. Laminate flooring was installed in the kitchen, half bath, and laundry area.  A neutral higher grade carpet was installed in the remainder of the house.  We changed out several light fixtures to give that more modern feel.  We even put on a new roof this past month.  Fresh landscaping will greet you as you pull up to your attached 2-car garage.

For the cook in you, plenty of counter and cabinet space can be found in the kitchen.  Off the kitchen is a separate laundry room.  Back the hall from the kitchen, in the rear of the home, you will find a light-filled room that could be a playroom, craftroom or home office.  You will enjoy the fenced in rear yard.  I can envision many weekends and evenings spent out on the deck grilling or just relaxing with an icy cold beverage.  Did I mention this home also has a whole house ventilation fan?  This energy saving feature will cut back on those summer cooling bills.

Nearby is McNeely Lake Park…fun and fishing galore.  If golf is your thing we’ve got that covered too.  Visit  Quail Chase golf club, (public) to enjoy playing 27-holes of golf.  

Are you ready to make this house your home?  Call Steve Dobbs today at 475-3312 to schedule a showing and get all the details.  If this lovely home doesn't fit your needs, take a look at other Foreclosed Homes in the Louisville MLS in Area 6, Steve can help you with those too.

The Dobbs Team likes the condos at Worthington Glen due to their modern architecture and proximity to the shopping conveniences of the eastern side of Jefferson County.  Our listing is at 10401 Trotters Pointe. Unit #204 is on the second floor which many people like as there is no one overhead and the ceilings are vaulted. 

Most of the condos in Worthington Glen are 2-bedroom units with a few 3-bedroom units thrown in for good measure.

As you enter the condo, the open concept reveals itself as the kitchen, dining area, and great room are all open to each other.  The master bedroom suite is on the far end of the condo. The second bedroom with second bathroom is at the other end giving it a split design.

Since many of the units are similar, how is one to choose the best condo for them?  One defining characteristic would be whether the unit has a garage and it does, is it attached or detached?  Unit #204 not only has a garage, it is attached to the building giving you added security and a dry head during rainy weather.

Another important difference will be the condition of the condo.  The sellers of 10401 Trotters point are very meticulous and it shows.  Fresh paint and newly shampooed carpet greet the eyes instantly as you enter.  Several lights and plumbing fixtures have been upgraded to brushed nickel.

Worthington Glen Condos are set apart from other condo developments with their amenities.  They have a well outfitted fitness room, great swimming pool, tennis courts, and plenty of area to just walk the dog.

If you would like more information on our condo listing, call Steve Dobbs at 502-475-3312. He can also help you with other Worthington Glen Condos for sale as they come off and on the market with regularity. At this writing, there are 11 active listings and 5 pending sales.

The Dobbs Team is proud to announce their newest listing at 11615 Chenoweth Hills Place in Louisville KY.  We like this house because it is unique, yet what lots of families are looking for.  This all brick home has 4 bedrooms and we have priced it at less than $97 per square foot.

Bedrooms are always a concern when shopping for a new home.  Oftentimes, the bedrooms are all upstairs.  This home features a first floor master bedroom AND 2 more bedrooms on the first floor.  The second floor is divided into 2 halves; one is the fourth bedroom.  The other side could be converted into a bedroom with the addition of a privacy door and closet.  The fourth bedroom is absolutely huge and contains a couch, big screen television, and a king-sized bed!

If a person is looking for a 4-bedroom home with a 3 or 4 car garage, there are only 12 homes in Jefferson County priced under $350,000.  Our home is a superior value and among the newest of this bunch at only 10 years old.  Once you see the garage, you will see why we think that this is a unique home.  It is more than a typical 3-car garage as it has in excess of 900 feet.  The doors are insulated and the area is extremely well lit.  You could work on your projects in year around comfort.

The Estates of Chenoweth Hills is located in the Jeffersontown area, but without the Jeffersontown city property taxes. The Estates section is the newest section in the Chenoweth Hills complex and these homes will average about 10 years old.  You will find very few cars driving up and down the streets in this area and the cul-de sac makes it even better.

If you would like to see this home for sale in Chenoweth Hills, contact Steve Dobbs at 502-475-3312.  If you would like to see other homes in the area, The Dobbs Team set up a unique search set for Jeffersontown KY Homes for Sale.

I have been working with a client for a couple of months that had spotted a property in Houston Acres that met her fancy.  We had done a little homework and knew that it was slated for the Jefferson County Commissioner sale of October 30^th.  As I did my research, I could see that it was listed as a short sale a year ago and cancelled after 3 months.  In the listing, the agent notes mentioned bringing a flashlight as the power was off.  This tells me that it has also been vacant since that time.

We started off by contacting the owner and trying to work a short sale. I talked to the owner and I could tell that he was disgusted with the short sale process.  It turns out that the sellers accepted an offer on their short sale home and sent it to the bank.  Just before it was to be approved, the bank changed hands.  The real estate agent and sellers were told that the short sale process would now have to start over.  With this piece of information, the listing was cancelled.

As time grew nearer to the commissioner sale date, my client employed me to be their buyer’s agent in this transaction.  I told them that I would work with them to successfully bring it to the closing table.  I suggested that they contact the owner directly and see if they could get inside the house before the sale.  I then ran some comps of the area and we discussed pricing strategy.

The day of the sale arrived and after a spirited bidding war with the foreclosing bank, my clients bought the house.  Since then, we have been working with the loan officer, utilities, title companies and others.  At this point, it appears that all is good for a close in 30 days.

If you are interested in other Short Sales in MLS area 7 or Foreclosures in MLS area 7, contact Steve Dobbs at 502-475-3312.

The Dobbs Team often has clients looking for a home in a central location.  We just picked up 1221 Witawanga Avenue as our newest home for sale in Lyndon.  We think that the area is great as you are close to shopping at the malls on Shelbyville Road as well as the eclectic shops in Westport Plaza.  In this area, most homes are older and 1221 Witawanga is only 9 years old.

In a modern home, you would the floor plan to be open and this home would fit that bill.  You also desire a 2-car garage that is attached enabling you to walk in the kitchen with an armful of groceries. The kitchen has been upgraded with Stainless Steel appliances and features a convenient side by side refrigerator with water and ice through the door.

 1221 Witawanga has the normal 3 bedrooms; but in a modern home the master bedroom is all important.  This master bedroom is unique with a large Palladian window to let in natural light and a nice walk in closet.  The master bath is only accessed from the master bedroom giving you lots of privacy. There is a second full bathroom on the second floor for the other two bedrooms to share. The laundry room is handily located on the second floor in between all of the bedrooms.  After all, this is where the dirty clothes originate.

Having instant mature shade is not common with relatively new homes for sale.  Since 1221 Witawanga was built in between some older homes, we reap the benefits of older trees.  There is even a walnut tree on the rear of the property.  Did we mention that the back yard is has a wood fence?  This will enable you to keep an eye on Fido.

If you have more interest in 1221 Witawanga, or other homes for sale in Lyndon, give Steve Dobbs at The Dobbs Team a call at 502-475-3312.  For all other homes, our home search tools let you narrow your focus, just as a Louisville REALTOR would do.

19007 Long Grove Way is our latest addition to The Dobbs Team Inventory.  This was a foreclosed home in Locust Creek that we are able to sell at a great price.  It was built four years ago and only occupied for two.  There are usually several Homes for sale in Locust Creek.

This home has a colonial look and it has dramatic appeal from the street.  Upon entry, the look continues with a granite inlay at the doorway and the stairs leading up into two directions for the bedroom suites.

In a true luxury home, everyone needs an elevator and this home provides one.  This is a new experience for us and we have made a video of how this elevator performs.  If nothing else, it is a convenient way to get the laundry from the second floor to the first floor.

It is not unusual to see the appliances “disappear” when the homeowner leaves and such was the case here.  The new homeowners will be getting brand new GE appliances made right here in Louisville, KY.  The French Door refrigerator is particular amazing in all of its functions.

When we interview new homebuyers, a constant refrain is that they want an open floor plan.  This home certainly qualifies and makes entertaining from the kitchen area a breeze.  The hearth area has a vaulted ceiling and numerous windows and is really one big area with the kitchen.  The vaulted ceiling makes it even more of an open feel.  The great room is also off the kitchen area and its 2-story height with floor to ceiling windows is quite impressive.

Along with an open floor plan, homebuyer’s in the luxury price range also want an impressive master bedroom suite.  The master bath screams luxury as you enter with the oversized whirlpool tub as the focal point. His and hers walk-in closets are adequate sized and finish out this suite.

There is another bedroom and bath in the walk-out basement along with 2 more rooms that could be finished into bedrooms or craft rooms.

Some of you reading this are wondering if there are any more Locust Creek foreclosures in this area.  The Dobbs Team has set up a search for Foreclosures in Louisville MLS Area 8 for those of you with interest.  Contact Steve Dobbs for more detailed information on this home at 502-475-3312.

One of the unique features of our newest listing at 19007 Long Grove Way is that it has an elevator.  Of course, we had to check it out and make sure it works.  I will admit that I did have my cell phone with me just in case something went wrong.

As we made the video, we had repair people doing some touch-ups and a cleaning crew going through the entire house.  It takes a while to clean 31 windows inside and out!

There are 20 Homes for Sale in Locust Creek and only one other has an elevator.  The 20 homes would include 6 that are proposed to be built as Locust Creek is still being developed.  Our home is in the Estates section of Locust Creek.

If you have any questions about this Locust Creek Foreclosure, give Steve Dobbs a call at 502-475-3312.

Locust Creek Homes  are an exclusive neighborhood of luxury homes in far eastern Jefferson County. One of the newest areas of luxury homes is in “The Estates of Locust Creek” and that is the subject of this article.  Every so often, someone falls behind on their house payments and even luxury homes go into foreclosure.  The latest casualty was at the Jefferson County Commissioner’s sale of July 10^th. 

As I drove up to the house the next day, I could see that the rear door was ajar.  It is apparent that there is forced entry by breaking the door jamb. This will cause delays starting with a police report and getting an insurance adjuster to investigate.  I knew then that it was going to take a while to get this house on the market.

After I opened the door, I see that all of the kitchen appliances are missing.  This house was initially listed at just under a million dollars, so all of the appliances were high end. We ordered new GE appliances from Home Depot including a 36” gas cooktop and a General Electric French door refrigerator made right here in Louisville KY.  While we are on the subject of missing items, I am always amazed at why people would take something as simple as switch plates when they vacate a house.  I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count the number missing.  This is not a big thing, but surely an aggravation.

In some of the Louisville Luxury homes, you will see an elevator.  This one did not work, so I called Executive Elevator, and they arranged a visit. It turns out that we needed a new battery charger and batteries to run the electronics.

Feel free to contact Steve Dobbs at 502-475-3312 if you would like more details on this luxury home.  We should have this listed on The Dobbs Team website very soon.  This executive home is located in Louisville MLS area 8. If there is interest in other Foreclosed homes for sale in Louisville, we have a search set up for you.

2405 Tyler Lane is conveniently located in the Upper Highlands between Bardstown Road and Taylorsville Road in the city of Kingsley.  Kingsley is within metro Louisville and Strathmoor would be close by.  In 2007, the home was purchased and the updating began.  The hardwood floors were refinished and look absolutely great.  The last bit of updating was caused by a hailstorm in April that has caused some damage to the roof, gutters, etc.  The new owners will receive $20,000 of repair work done that will include a roof with 3-dimensional shingles.

One of the charms in a Highlands home is the landscaping and this one does not disappoint. Flowers and shrubs were tastefully added to the front and rear over time.  Rose of Sharon shrubs at the rear make natural border. The stamped patio is perfect for outdoor grilling and parties.

The fireplace adds a great focal point to the living room.  It was just upgraded to vent-less gas logs this last winter and has never been used.  The kitchen is modern and all of the appliances have been upgraded over time.  The range is unusual as it has a convection oven.  Decorator ceiling fans are spread throughout the house.

In 2008, the screened in porch was removed and replaced with a Florida Room with floor to ceiling windows.  A separate heating and cooling system was added to make this four seasons living.  The guy that laid the slate tile had full artistic control over the floor and did a great job.

We took a video using our Flip camera about 2405 Tyler Lane and posted it to YouTube.  If you are interested in other Highlands Homes for sale, we have a neighborhood search set up on our website.  For those that are looking for a move in ready house in the Highlands, this could be it.

Feel free to call Steve Dobbs at 502-475-3312 to set up a showing of 2405 Tyler LN, Louisville KY.

Our newest listing is 4652 Shenandoah Drive in Brooks of Hickory Hollow.  We have found the housing market in the northeastern end of the county to be recovering faster than other parts of Jefferson County and are excited to have this listing. This home appears much larger than it looks from the street as it opens up inside. And, there have been improvements in all areas of the house since the sellers first purchased the house.  The husband is quite the handyman and has done a great job.

They purchased the house in late 2006 and started their renovations.  The first thing of consequence was a new roof and eliminating the carpet in 2007.  2008 brought in a new 3-ton A/C unit.  Once the air compressor was installed, they upgraded to new Pella windows.  Both bathrooms were remodeled with ceramic tile floor, vanity tops, and bath surrounds.  They also put whirlpool tubs in both.  Their last update was a new electrical service panel in 2011.

There was some concern about allergies and all of the carpet was removed.  In the great room, you can see the hardwood floors and stone fireplace that has been converted to gas.  The hardwood floor was extended to the first floor master to finish the look.  The entire upstairs has a nice looking laminate floor.

Travertine Tiles welcome you on the entry and flow into the kitchen and dining area.  To make the kitchen pop, the countertops were replaced with granite tiles.  The dining area lets of light shine in with its Palladian window.

We made a video of 4652 Shenandoah Drive Louisville listing with our FLIP camera and you can find it on YouTube.  It gives a different look than still pictures.

There are a lot of Open Houses in MLS area 9 each weekend and we have made it easy to see Open Houses in Louisville MLS Area 9.  In Area 9, you will find the Ford Motor Truck plant along with several other businesses.

Feel free to call Steve Dobbs at 502-475-3312 to set up a showing of 4652 Shenandoah, Louisville KY.

We see over and over that the housing market is in the recovery mode.  We think that a strong example would be the Hillcrest neighborhood in Prospect.  This is a luxury subdivision with homes that are both active and SELLING.  There are 4 pending sales as I write this and there have been 11 completed sales since the first of the year.  Homes here range in price from $400,000 to in excess of $800,000 with the oldest home 11 years of age.  In this price range, you expect to see many homes on the market for a long time, but 5 were on the market less than 45 days. 

The Oldham County School System is always a draw to this area and Hillcrest would be no exception. Oldham County Schools are award winning and highly regarded in KY and a model for which other communities strive to master.

People would consider these executive homes as most of the homeowners commute to Louisville for their work, but love the slower lifestyle of Oldham County.  you will find that there is more room and houses with acreage in Oldham County.  There are several golf courses and country clubs close to Hillcrest.

Finished basements are common in all of these homes, with several focused on entertaining. Other basements have exercise rooms or more bedrooms for guests or the teenager.  Kitchens are meant for the gourmet chef and granite countertops would be the norm. The Master Suites are meant to pamper the owners and many have a separate reading area as well.  The landscaping is ornate which requires plenty of water in the summer with an irrigation system.

Hillcrest amenities would include the clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis courts, and a playground.  Garbage pickup is also included in the Hillcrest HOA fees.

If you have other questions about Hillcrest, contact Steve Dobbs with The Dobbs Team in Louisville KY.  Please visit Prospect Homes for sale at Hillcrest to see the current homes for sale.

We have always thought that the original Kingswood Subdivision has some of the best bargains in the Greater Louisville Area.  This subdivision is located about 4 miles east of Mount Washington, KY.  It is a little strange, but Kingswood has a Taylorsville, KY mailing address, yet is located in Bullitt County.  I am not sure why it is labeled as such since it is several miles to Taylorsville and no clear way to get there.  Houses in Kingswood sell in the mid $200’s to upper $300’s.

We picked up 205 Princess Ct about a month ago through the foreclosure process.  This was one of the rare foreclosures in the Kingswood neighborhood.  The house sits on a .8 acre lot at the end of a cul-de-sac with trees for a backdrop. The yard had not been maintained for the last couple of years and was overgrown.  Ryan Wilson with Green Thumb Landscaping made quick work of cutting trees, grinding stumps, trimming bushes, and of course, cutting the grass.

The kitchen appliances had magically disappeared before our possession.  We decided to put in top of the line Maytag Stainless Steel appliances.  You can see that this is a high level kitchen by the wood encased hood over the range.

 There is a lot of architectural design throughout this house with vaulted ceilings in 3 rooms upstairs.  This house has no carpet as all flooring is oak hardwood or 16” ceramic tile.  With 4200 square feet, there is plenty of room to spread out.  There are 4 bedrooms with the basement bedroom probably the largest of all.  There is lots of potential for entertaining in the basement as the wet bar has already been built.  The fireplaces on both levels add to the coziness.

In addition to the pictures that we have posted online, we also made a 205 Princess Court video with our “flip” camera.  The video gives a little different perspective than normally seen in real estate virtual tours.

If you would like more information, contact Steve Dobbs with The Dobbs Team in Louisville KY at 502-475-3312.

Keller Williams Real Estate agents believe in giving back to their community and dedicate a day each May. The ongoing project is the West End Boys School for Keller Williams Louisville East.

West End Boys School was founded in 2005 by Robert and Debbie Blair. It is a free, private, middle school for at-risk young men. The boys eat their meals and sleep here making it a true boarding school. The proof in what they do is their graduating young men.

Barb LaMaster is a KW real estate agent in our office and has coordinated “Red Day” for years. Barb also puts together a Christmas meal for the boys and Barb’s fellow Keller Williams agents.

Our function started with a meal with the students and faculty. Of course, the teachers were honored by starting first and the KW agents finished up. One of our goals was to get to know each young man a little better and they were scattered about with one or two fine gentleman per table. And, the word, “gentleman” would be an understatement. When they were introduced to us, they met with a firm handshake and looked us in the eye. Their table manners were impeccable. At our table, the conversation covered a lot of topics, but the highlight was Nelson Mandela and Apartheid. I asked them if they understood what Apartheid meant and further discussion ensued.  I was very impressed.

The West End School always has projects for volunteers and we had more jobs to do than time allowed.  Three classrooms are being added this fall as part of their expansion. We cleaned and painted the ceiling grid in 3 rooms and the hallway.  We also knocked down a temporary wall that was part of their current lunchroom. For those wanting fresh air, the courtyard had weeds that needed to be eliminated and mulch applied. As the old saying goes, “Many hands make light work”. This summer, the boys have a required reading list and our KW office donated books for the boys to enjoy.

If you want to know more about the West End School in Louisville, or see what The Dobbs Team is up to, we would be happy to share our experiences.

Or, if you want to know about the Louisville Real Estate Market, call Steve Dobbs at 502-475-3312.

1811 Shelbyville Road in the Elk Creek area of Taylorsville, KY has been on the market for a while.  Our sellers have found another home nearby that is calling their name. We had discussions in the past on what could be done to sell their house and price has come up several times. So now, they are serious and have had a 10% price reduction.

The last weekend in April is a big push for open houses nationwide from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).  With this large price reduction and the big weekend of open houses made this a no-brainer.  So, we welcome you to our featured Open House from The Dobbs Team.

This home is set apart as it is fairly new and modern sitting on over 1.5 acres.  The curb appeal is great as it is architecturally interesting and not a square box. The first thing that you notice is how open the floor plan is and the cathedral ceiling.  The kitchen has been recently remodeled and is a sight to behold. Cherry cabinets and quartz countertops give this modern kitchen some pizzazz!  The dining room is right off the kitchen and is illuminated with natural daylight from 6 windows. The great room completes this side of the house and it leads onto the deck with its panoramic view.

On the first floor is a luxurious master bedroom and master bath suite.  They have not one, but two walk in closets. Finishing this side of the house is a large laundry room with ceramic tile floors.

The bottom floor houses the three bedrooms along with the family room and entry into the huge attached garage.  One unique feature of this garage is the cabinets from the kitchen remodel have been installed here.  On this floor you will also find a nice patio for some quiet entertaining.

We invite you to come by our open house on April 29^th. If you can’t make it, contact Steve Dobbs with The Dobbs Team and he will arrange your own private showing.  If you would rather start your search on your own, feel free to use the Advance Search Tools of our Louisville MLS to find other homes for sale. Or, if you know the area desired, search for homes using a map with our Map Search Tools.

 505 Watkins Glen Way in Taylorsville, KY is our newest listing and a bit of a surprise.  Before I went, I looked up the price history to see what they had paid and the features of their home at that time.  My clients told me that they had made several changes; they were understating their work.

Curb appeal of a home is always important and this one did not disappoint.  They have spent $5,000 on landscaping and it shows.  They defined their lot lines with evergreens and planted several fruit trees.  I can just imagine how the place will look in a few years with some growth on the evergreens and peaches hanging from the trees.

As I entered the home, I could see that the homeowners had good taste in decorating and paint colors.  I asked if the carpet was new and was told that it is less than a year old.  I then turned and looked at the kitchen and was blown away. They have completely remodeled the kitchen with new laminate flooring, light fixtures, granite countertops, and Stainless Steel appliances.  We are talking some major bucks here.

 This house was also unusual as it had 4 large bedrooms and 3 full baths. The walkout basement was finished and quite the retreat.  The bedroom in the basement is perfect for the teenager looking for a little privacy from the rest of the family.

I don’t think that you will find a nicer home for the money than you will find at 550 Watkins Glen in Taylorsville.

If you are looking in the Elk Creek, KY area, you owe it to yourself to take a look.  Give Steve Dobbs with The Dobbs Team to set up with your own private showing.  If you would like to see how this home compares with other homes for sale in Taylorsville, we have a custom search set up for you. For more information, call Steve Dobbs, REALTOR, at 502-475-3312.

The Dobbs Team has worked with several buyers for investment homes in the Louisville area and we have scored some really good deals for our investors.  We had one of our remodeling experts call about a house in Highgate Springs that needed a lot of work.  We did a little homework on the Jefferson County PVA site and the Louisville MLS to learn about the neighborhood of Highgate Springs. Jo and I met the owners at the property to check it out.

We knew a little history of the property as the current owners bought it in 1965 and lived there for years.  They moved away and decided to rent the property.  A property management company was hired to look over the affairs of this house.   The renter vacated after several years of renting.  When the sellers got the keys back, they were shocked at the condition of their home.  Many years of neglect had taken its toll.

The bright spot was that it was an all brick home, it had a full basement, and it was in Highgate Springs.  The negatives were the condition of a home built in 1956.  Original windows, furnace, and linoleum flooring had exceeded their useful life.  There was carpet over the hardwood floors in the living room soaked with dog urine.  The deck was rotten and the back yard overgrown.  You get the picture.

We spent about 10 minutes looking at the house and made an offer on the house.  The sellers wanted a few days to think about our offer and see if anyone else would possibly pay more.  They accepted our offer and we closed 3 days later.

Jo and I have worked on a few houses in our lifetime, but this is the first that we have purchased strictly as an investment.  This is our biggest challenge to date and we are using several people to reach our goals.  We will keep you updated on how The Dobbs Team in Louisville KY moves on this.  If you have any questions about buying or selling an investment property in Louisville KY, contact the Dobbs Team.

9402 Clubview is a first floor condo off Bardstown Road south of the Gene Snyder Freeway.  It is a short drive to downtown Louisville, or even shorter to Mt. Washington, KY.  Bates Elementary school is just north of here.  The bottom line is this place is close to shopping and work!

As you look for a place to hang your hat, you notice that 3 bedroom condominiums are not that common.  You find this well-built condo in a great location and see that it even has a Master Suite with a spa tub!  And to add to this, the floor plan is open, and the kitchen is large.  No more going out to wash your clothes as a separate laundry area is conveniently located next to the kitchen. 

9402 Clubview was sold new for $163,250.  After a year, the owners moved out taking the kitchen cabinets and appliances with them.  The present owners have given the place a facelift and remodeled with new paint throughout.  They have installed new cabinets along with brand new Stainless Steel appliances.  The rest of the condo and mechanicals have only had a year’s worth of wear and tear.  The carpet looks next to new.

Do you need immediate possession?  Do you need move-in ready?  Do you need your home to be affordable at $125,000?  Then, this is it!

The Dobbs Team would be happy to arrange a private showing for you.  Feel free to give Steve Dobbs a call at 502-475-3312 and he can answer more questions or give you a personal tour.

The Dobbs Team has been in Forest Village for about 7 months.  When we moved in August, the first thing I noticed was that there was no grass for ME to mow.  We were so consumed with moving and getting set up, it seemed a blessing.  As fall approached, leaves were starting to drop; yet we left the rakes in the attic along with the typical allergic reaction to oak leaves.  As winter approached, I left the snow shovels in the attic, as I knew that the Forest Village Condo Association would take care of the streets and driveways if there were to be a significant snowfall event.  We had a little snow this week, but a push broom was adequate to get the area cleared.

So now, I am starting to get used to this lack of normal outdoor activity.  We still pull our own weeds and maintain our shrubbery, but it is not a big deal.  In Forest Village, the association maintains the horticulture in the very front.  The individual homeowner can add shrubbery on the side and front nearest the living quarters.  They are also responsible for maintaining what they planted.

Inside the house, we still maintain and make the normal improvements that we would in a normal single family residence. There is still the toilet to fix, carpet to clean, and walls to paint that we have been used to our whole life.

Is Patio Home living for you?  Feel free to contact Steve Dobbs at (502) 475-3312 to discuss the pros and cons of condo-style living versus living in a stand-alone house.

If interested, Forest Village Patio Homes will give an in depth description and show you Patio Homes for sale.

The Dobbs Team attended the Louisville Home, Garden, and Remodeling Show this weekend.  This is an event that has been going on for the last 60 years and is held indoors at the South Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center.  The show is produced by the Louisville Home Builders Association and is a showcase for home improvement possibilities.

It seemed there was a large emphasis on outdoor living this year.  There were landscaping displays and covers for your existing deck or patio.  Then, we found over the top displays of what your back yard outdoor living space could become.  Most all of these displays had a fire feature from a regular wood-burning fire pit to one using the convenience of gas.  We both agreed that the burning fire in the middle of the water feature would be spectacular at night.

We found 3 suppliers that dealt in spray on foam insulation.  We learned about the difference in open-cell and closed-cell foam insulation.  Just as important as insulation would be your HVAC system.  We were surprised at the number of companies offering geothermal options.

As real estate agents, we are always urging our clients to be sure and get their biggest bank for the buck.  A bathroom re-model is usually on top of the list.  The bathroom remodel people were well represented and ranged from refinishing your existing tub to a complete demo and makeover.

Also high on the list that helps in resale value of your home is a modern kitchen.  There were vendors exhibiting products to make your existing cabinet space more user-friendly and there were cabinet makers with exquisite cabinetry for your dream kitchen.

No home show would be complete without the full complement of flooring products.  We were expecting to see lots of wood floors and we did.  We were not expecting to see granite floors that were made from scrap pieces of granite countertops.  This recycling effort was definitely thinking out of the box and was quite attractive.

Feel free to comment on what you thought were the highlights of the Louisville Home show, or contact The Dobbs Team and how some of these remodel ideas may add value to your home.

There have been several changes in the FHA backed mortgage market in the last year and the newest will occur on April 1. We will see upfront Mortgage Insurance increase from the current 1.0% to 1.75% that will help strengthen the capital reserves of FHA.  On top of this, the annual renewal premium will be as high as 1.25%. This will significantly increase a borrower’s cost.

This is important because a good many of our home buyers in Louisville utilize an FHA backed loan. As I look over my clients in the past, our first time home-buyers are often using FHA mortgages due to the low down payment required.

One complaint that I hear is that MI (Mortgage Insurance) is required with an FHA loan.  I think that it is hard to complain about paying mortgage insurance when you are able to buy a new home with a lot less than 20% down payment.  With this being said; the increase in Mortgage Insurance on a yearly basis and upfront will make a difference in the monthly payment of our Louisville real estate clients.

FHA loans will also work with some condominium purchases.  The key here is for the condo development to be FHA approved.  If I am showing homes to an FHA buyer, I always make sure that the condo is approved first.  I don’t want to waste our time showing something that won’t work.  Your FHA loan officer will be able to tell you if the condo development is approved or not.

Feel free to contact Steve Dobbs with The Dobbs Team if you have any questions about this or the Louisville KY Real Estate Market.