©AndyLyons/Getty Images According to Forbe's America's 100 Cheapest Places To Live, Louisville ranks as the third best option in the East South Central region, just behind Knoxville and Chattanooga. Louisville ranked 40th on the overall list with even numbers across the rating scale of: Avergage Salary, Unemployment Rate, Crime Rate and Culture Index. Here's how they conducted the research. We measured America's 380 metropolitan statistical areas and metropolitan divisions (or metros)--geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for use by federal age

This piece in the NYT is aptly titled Home Sales, All Over the Map and that's exactly the point! Depending on where you live, housing markets are extremely different from one another. Areas like D.C. and San Francisco which had seen home values dropping drastically are leveling out, whereas, Las Vegas and most of Florida are still seeing these numbers fall. Like I just posted yesterday, Louisville isn't seeing those dramatic drops because we never saw dramatic increases years before. So is this a good time for you to buy? As always, that depends on your situation. For Amy Musial,

The data isn't very different from when I posted Home Prices Drop Nationally, Louisville Holds Steady but with, perhaps a slightly better result. First American Core Logic puts out reports from time to time and just recently published, National Home Price Declines Continue to Improve. I already know that the national numbers have little effect on Louisville's market, but they do a good job of supplying data for many metro cities. Here's the part I really liked. In Louisville/Jefferson County, home prices have decreased 1.79 percent in May compared to a year ago. In April 2009, Louisvil

I'm constantly surprised by the number of clients I speak with who don't fully understand how real estate agency works. So many people looking for a new home go straight to the listing agent to schedule a showing rather than find themselves a buyer's agent. I'll briefly tell you why this isn't in your best interest. The listing agent has an agreement with the seller, to market and sell their home. That's their first agency responsibility. Agency simply means "authorized to act on behalf of another." When a buyer comes to this same agent, their responsibility gets split between two parti

Alia is a small but unique subdivision in Louisville's East End. These high-end single family homes and condos are truly luxurious. Located just off Highway 22, near Northfield and the Woods of St. Thomas, Alia is in a great location, near shopping, restaurants and the expressways. This neighborhood began in the last 90s and is nearing completion now. Read More » This post is one in an ongoing series of spotlights on the Best Louisville Neighborhoods. If you have a neighborhood that you think deserves coverage, please contact us.

Homearama this year is taking place at Shakes Run & Poplar Woods from July 11th to July 26th. Shakes Run is located on Eastwood-Fisherville Road just a mile and a half south of Shelbyville Road. Poplar Woods is located in North Oldham County just 7 miles east of the Gene Snyder Freeway on Hwy 42. Both are Canfield Development but at different price points. Homes in Shakes Run start in the $400k's while home sin Poplar Woods begin in the $700k's. If you're in the market for luxury, new construction make sure to visit this year's event. For more information, directions and ticket prices,

Wood decks require you to stain them every few years to insure a longer life. Home improvements can cover anything from replacing a faucet to adding an addition onto your house. Given that it's the 4th of July, I thought I'd post how you can improve your outdoor experience by updating your deck. Just three steps... let's get started! 1. Wash the Deck It may sound like an unnecessary step but experts agree that washing the deck first make repairs easier, and more importantly, helps the staining process. Rent a power washer and have at it! Make sure to let the wood dry overnight befor

Mixed again this month as East End areas are up and those to the South are down. If you didn't see, here is last month. This is the last time I'll post about this but if you haven't read Louisville Kentucky Real Estate Review of 2008, here's your chance. Like always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. June 2009 AREA SALES AVERAGE DoM 0 Central Downtown District 12 $97,479 53 1 Downtwn/Old&WestLouisville/Shively 78 $44,148 77 2 Butchertown/Highlands/Germantwn 104 $182,447 67 3 Brownsboro/