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Louisville Kentucky Real Estate Home Buyer Costs

By Family Realty, LLC

Buying Louisville Kentucky Real Estate is one of the best investments you will ever make because you will be building equity from your first mortgage payment and there are many more benefits of home ownership but what does it actually cost to buy a home?

In this article we will break down your home buying costs so you will be more knowledgeable about the home buying process when you start searching for Louisville Kentucky Homes for Sale.

Common Home Buying Fees

Besides the actual cost of the Louisville Kentucky Real Estate you plan on buying there will be a variety of other fees to pay including the following:

  • Property Tax – Although this is a common tax that home buyers are aware they have to pay once they own the home the reality is that you may need to pay property taxes when you buy a home because property taxes are also pro-rated.
  • Escrow – Depending on the escrow company you choose typical escrow fees can average about $2.00 per every thousand dollars.
  • Home Inspection Costs – This fee can cost up to $800 depending on the home inspection company you choose.
  • Title Search – When buying a home the purpose of doing a title search is to confirm that nobody else has liens on the title. This cost will be rolled into your overall closing costs.
  • Owners Policy Title Insurance – This is an important part of buying a home since this form of insurance will protect you if someone else chooses to claim ownership on your property.

Learn More

These are only a few of the home buyer costs you can expect to pay when buying Louisville Kentucky Real Estate

To learn more about home buyer costs before you start searching for Louisville Homes for Sale contact Family Realty, LLC today by calling us at (502) 458-4100 or click here to connect with us online. 

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How to Buy a Louisville Kentucky Home for Sale You Can Afford

In today’s Real Estate market many people are searching for a Louisville Kentucky Home for sale but the reality is that some homebuyers are choosing homes they cannot really afford.

Don’t make the mistake of buying a home if it’s way over budget, stay on budget and buy the home of your dreams by following these simple tips.

Tip #1 – Check Your Credit Score

If your credit score is lower than 620 you must assume that you will qualify for a higher mortgage interest rate compared to buyers who have credit scores 700 or higher because, the higher the credit score the lower the mortgage interest rate you can expect to pay.

Tip #2 – Save Money for a Down Payment

When buying a Louisville Kentucky Home for sale in today’s Real Estate market you should consider saving at least 10% for a down payment on a home because your down payment will also affect the mortgage loan you qualify for as well.

For best results with buying a Louisville home you should work towards saving at least 20% because this will also help you to avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI) as well.

Tip #3 – Be Ready For Expenses

Remember that when you finally do buy a home in Louisville Kentucky there will be unexpected expenses like replacing a washer / dryer, water heater, fixing a leaky roof or worse so it’s better to save money for these unexpected expenses every month so you will have money to pay them when those expenses occur.

Search for Louisville Homes for Sale

To get started with buying Louisville Real Estate contact us today by calling (502) 458-4100 or click here to connect with us online. 

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Louisville Real Estate – Top Home Buyer Red Flags to Be On the Lookout For

By Family Realty, LLC

You just made the decision to sell your Louisville Real Estate and move up to another Louisville Home for Sale but, before you list your home have you taken the time to make sure that there are not any problems with your home which may cause red flags with home buyers?

In today’s post we will cover some of the most common home buyer red flags so you will know what to fix in your home before you list your Louisville Home for Sale.

Red Flag #1 – Bad Curb Appeal

The truth in Real Estate is that in spite of granite counter tops and media rooms good curb appeal still does matter.

If your home has dead flowers or vegetation in your landscape, an overgrown yard, fence that needs painting or a mailbox which has seen better days these are all things that should be replaced and improved on immediately because, bad curb appeal will turn buyers away.

Red Flag #2 – Your Home Smells

Although some homes smell because they have been lived in for years, the reality is that smells can paint “mental pictures” in the buyers mind and cause them to wonder what else may be wrong with your home.

To eliminate smells in your Louisville Home for Sale consider cleaning the carpets, painting walls, buying plugin air fresheners for every room and placing dryer sheets in your vents to eliminate smells.

Red Flag #3 – Signs of Water Damage

Last of all, if your Louisville Real Estate shows signs of water damage you should fix those problem areas immediately because even if you fixed the leaks years ago a stained ceiling or wall could lead buyers to still think that your home has water leaks somewhere.

List Your Louisville Home for Sale

To get started with listing your Louisville Real Estate for sale contact Family Realty, LLC today by clicking here to connect with us online or by calling (502) 785-0964.

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5 Things To Do When Moving Into A Louisville Kentucky Home

By Family Realty, LLC

LOUISVILLE – You just had your offer accepted and are ready to move into your new Louisville Kentucky Home but before you move in there are six things you can do to make sure that your home is ready for you to move in.

#1 – Clean Your Cabinets

This step is important because it will give you the confidence that the cabinets are clean / sanitary for your dishes and personal items.

#2 – Call A Pest Control Company

Take the time to call a professional pest control company and ask them to come out to inspect your home for pests like mice because, they will be able to professionally deal with any pest issues before you move in including spraying for ants and other common insect problems.

#3 – Change The Locks

Yes, you should change the locks on the home even if they previous owner claims to have given you all of the keys because since it’s so easy to make copies of keys in this day and age you want to be certain that you have all of the keys to the Louisville Kentucky Home.

#4 – Hunt For Leaks

Take the time to inspect all plumbing in your home to look for leaks and you should also leave your home for two hours and come back because if you check your water meter to find that your water usage increased while you were away this is a good sign that there’s a leak somewhere in your home.

#5 – Find Your Main Water Valve

Last of all, but most important, you will also want to find your main water valve as well since you may need to turn off the water in the event of an emergency in the future and will have to know where your main water valve is located.

Buy A Louisville Kentucky Home

To get started with buying a Louisville Kentucky Home contact Family Realty today by clicking here to connect with us online or by calling (502) 458-4100.

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BEAUTIFUL COLORS FOR EXTERIOR HOUSE PAINT - Exterior Home Color Ideas

Are you thinking about repainting the exterior of your Louisville Kentucky Home?

Summer is an excellent time of year to paint thanks to warmer weather and long days.

Painting is a great investment to make in your home and also an excellent way make it more desirable to buyers.

In this video you will learn more about the best exterior paint colors to use for your home in 2015.

Learn More

For more information on things you can do to boost the value of your Louisville Home For sale contact Family Realty, LLC today by calling us at (502) 458-4100 or click here to connect with us through our website.

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3 Tips for Buying a Louisville Kentucky Home Which Has Long Term Value

By Family Realty, LLC

LOUISVILLE – Are you thinking about buying a Louisville Kentucky Home? If so, you’re not alone, millions of people across the country are buying homes right now thanks to historically low mortgage interest rates and great home prices.

Before you search for Louisville Kentucky Homes For sale make sure you follow these simple tips for buying a home which has long term value.

Tip #1 – Choose the Right Location

Even though you may want to buy a home that’s away from it all, and not close to neighbors, you should focus on buying a home that’s in a great location, especially a home that’s close to the best schools because, unlike curb appeal or the interior of a home, location can never be changed and it will always be in demand regardless of the economy.

Tip #2 – Buy a Home with More Than Enough Space

Besides location you should also buy Louisville Kentucky Real Estate that has more than enough space for your family.

3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms should be the minimum in the home that you purchase but you should also consider buying a home that has an in-law suite as well since this space may come in handy later in your life and 15% of home buyers back in 2007 said that they would have purchased a home if it had an in-law suite.

Tip #3 – Purchase a Louisville Kentucky Home on a Large Lot

Yes, lot size is important when buying Louisville Kentucky Real Estate because a large lot means you will have more yard space for your family, storage space for your work equipment, boat or RV and a home on a large lot will be more appealing to buyers in the years to come.

Learn More

To learn more about what you should look for when buying a Louisville Kentucky Home, or to search for homes for sale, contact Family Realty, LLC today by calling us at (502) 458-4100 or click here to connect with us through our website.

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Can A Louisville Real Estate Agent Save You Time?

By Family Realty, LLC

You’re thinking about buying a Louisville Home but with your family, kids, responsibilities and job, there’s never enough time to search for a home, thankfully this is where hiring a Louisville Real Estate Agent can help you.

If you’ve wondered if you should hire a Realtor® before you start searching for a home the answer is yes and here are a few of the benefits you will receive when we serve you.

Save Time Searching For Homes

No longer will you have to waste your hard earned time searching for properties on websites like Zillow, or reviewing the latest listings that Trulia is sending you.

Your Louisville Real Estate Agent will use the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and other resources at their disposal to find the exact properties that match your home search criteria.

This also means that when you view Louisville Homes for sale you will be viewing homes which match your exact home search criteria.

Save Money When Submitting An Offer

With most Louisville Homes receiving multiple offers it pays to have a Realtor® advising you on the best price to offer for a home and this will insure that you don’t overpay or spend more money than you should when buying Louisville Real Estate.

Save Time And Hassle On Paperwork

Last of all, but most important, we will save you the time, money and hassle of filling out the paperwork which comes with buying a Louisville Home so you won’t have to do it all yourself including the escrow instructions, title work, seller disclosures and of course your closing documents.

Hire A Louisville Real Estate Agent

To get started with hiring a Louisville Real Estate Agent contact Family Realty, LLC today by clicking here to connect with us through our website or by calling (502) 458-4100

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Should You Buy A Louisville Home Before Mortgage Interest Rates Increase?

By Family Realty

They go up, they go down, then they go up again; this has been the norm for mortgage interest rates in 2015 but as we get closer to the fall the big question you should ask yourself is if NOW is the right time for you to buy a Louisville Home before mortgage interest rates increase again and the answer is yes.

Oh What a Difference 1% Makes

Did you know that although a 1% increase in mortgage interest rates amounts to an additional $145 on your mortgage payment the reality is that over 30 years this amounts to about $100,000 more that you will paying for your Louisville Home compared to if you were to stop waiting and buy now?

When Will Mortgage Interest Rates Increase For Real?

Although we still are enjoying mortgage interest rates near 4% right now, we could see a rate increase by the fall and the new mortgage interest rate could be 5% or higher by then, that’s why it’s best to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan now because you will be able to lock in your rate.

What to Do Before Buying a Louisville Home

If you’re ready to buy a Louisville Home now it’s important to use the following home buying process.

#1 – Get pre-qualified and pre-approved for a mortgage loan since both processes are separate but important parts of the home buying process.

#2 – Save at least 20% for a down payment on a home since this will help you to avoid paying PMI and make your monthly mortgage payment lower.

#3 – Shop for a home based on your budget (wallet), instead of your eyes because, you’re going to find lots of homes for sale across Louisville which have great features and amenities but if you go over budget by $10,000 or more that will make your monthly payment more expensive.

Contact Us

For more information about buying a Louisville Home contact us today by calling (502) 458-4100 or click here to connect with us through our website. 

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What Should You Not Do When Selling Louisville Kentucky Real Estate?

In the Real Estate world everyone will give you advice when it comes to selling Louisville Kentucky Estate but the reality is that very few people will give you the right advice when it comes to the sale of your home.

To save you the time, money and hassle of making poor decisions when listing your Louisville Kentucky Home for Sale here is the “worst advice” you can get when you are in the process of selling your home

Sell Your Louisville Home “As Is”

Although cleaning, de-cluttering and improving your Louisville Kentucky Real Estate might seem like a hassle, or an inconvenience, the reality is that selling your home “as is” can be considered to be the worst piece of advice that you could get.

When you sell your home as is you’re putting the success of the sale of your home in the hands of buyers who won’t always want to pay what your home is really worth, and if your home needs work they will offer you less money than what you’re asking for it.

Don’t Stage Your Louisville Home

Yes, staging a home could seem burdensome to a few people who are thinking about listing their Louisville Kentucky Home for Sale but the reality is that staging is a strategy for selling a home especially for these reasons:

  1. Staging presents all of the positive features of your home.
  2. Staging enables you to de-clutter your home while getting it ready for sale.
  3. Staging your Louisville home will bring to your attention any problems or defects in your home which need to be fixed or corrected

Leave Your “Stamp” On The Home

Another classic piece of bad advice you might get when listing your home among the many Louisville Kentucky Homes For Sale is to leave your mementoes or personal items visible when buyers arrive.

This is bad Real Estate advice because, if a buyer walks into a Louisville Home, and sees signs of the homeowner everywhere, they won’t be able to see themselves living in that home because, the current owner will have left a very obvious mark on the home.

Consult With a Louisville Realtor

Before listing your Louisville Real Estate for sale you should consult with a Realtor® if you have questions or concerns about how to get your home ready for sale.

Besides offering you tips on how to get your Louisville Real Estate for sale, your agent will also help you with the following tasks during the process of selling your home:

  • Marketing – Your Real Estate agent will be able to market your home online and offline so it draws the attention of buyers in Louisville Kentucky, and around the world, who would be interested in buying it.
  • Advocacy – One of the biggest benefits which comes from working with a Real Estate Agent in Louisville is that they will be your advocate during all parts of the home sales process and insure that you sell your home for the most money.

Sell Your Louisville Real Estate

To get started with selling your Louisville Kentucky Real Estate contact Family Realty, LLC today by calling us at (502) 458-4100 or CLICK HERE.

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