Prudential Parks & Weisberg Louisville Real Estate Blog

How to do an Effective Property Search.

2013-01-22T09:42:00-07:00

How To Do an Effective Property Search. Before you begin to a real estate search you should seek out and hire a real estate agent. Pick your own professionals and avoid recommendations from other Realtors. This advice comes from CAARE. This is a consumer advocacy group for Real Estate. Choose an agent who comes recommended by a friend or acquaintance that has done business with the agent in the past. If this is your first home, or you are new to the area, hire a good real estate attorney before you begin your property search. Ask them about any possible conflicts. If they normally get referrals from Realtors, represent Realtors, or sell title insurance find another one. A good real estate attorney can be instrumental in protecting you throughout the process IF you cannot find a referral for a good buyer's agent. I recommend a variety of search engines for property searches. For example, the top home sale websites in the U.S. are Yahoo! Real Estate, Zillow.com and MSN Real Estate. I like these sites because they have access to For Sale by Owner Properties. My site also has a very good search engine that can be trusted to show you all homes for sale. If you are a first time home buyer, I would avoid FSBO’s because they can be complicated and dangerous. Many agents will not show you FSBO’s anyway because the agents may not be oferred compensation, (I will, just because your satisfaction is my main concern). Again, for a complete property search, a combination of search engines will be keep you from missing a house that you may truly want to see. Search engines that show Realtor listings are properties in which the seller owes a commission to the listing Realtor. That commission is usually split between the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent. If there is no buyer’s agent, or if there is a dispute as to who showed the buyer the home first, the seller’s agent will typically earn the whole commission. If you are a first time home buyer or a do it yourself buyer, it is very important that you are very careful about how you set up appointments during your property search. If you just deal with the seller’s agent, and do not have your own agent, you may lose your right to representation during the sales process. This is because there is a legal agreement in place where the seller’s agent solely represents the seller, not the buyer. If this occurs I suggest you hire a Real Estate attorney immediately. The easiest way to avoid the problems identified above is to hire your own Realtor or attorney. It is simply a fact that the real estate industry is highly protected and holds a high level of anti-competitive behavior that at times can seem harmful to consumers. In reality, the laws are in place to protect consumers. An effective search for real estate should include a professional who can protect you and guide you through the process. NEVER go to an open house or contact the firm listing the house. If you do, you will likely lose your right to hire your own agent and ensure that the listing broker gets paid a double commission.

Market Statistics in Louisville

2013-01-15T02:52:00-07:00

Winner's Visit Elite Homes House 4 at Homearama 2012

2012-07-17T08:43:00-07:00

New Homes in Louisville at Notting Hill

2012-06-28T08:41:00-07:00

Ball Homes of Louisville Partners with Prudential Parks and Weisberg

2011-11-29T08:49:00-07:00

We are happy to announce that in Louisville, Ball Homes is partnering with Prudential Parks and Weisberg to market our new homes. Ball Homes and PPW have previously had the pleasure of working together in the Louisville area, and we are excited to renew that partnership. We look forward to being able to take advantage of the synergy and support a larger office offers in the Louisville area. The same knowledgeable and experienced team of Ball Homes Specialists will continue to represent us, now in association with Parks and Weisberg. Ball Homes will continue to expand and build in the Louisville area, with several exciting opportunities opening up recently, and more to come in 2012. In addition to our existing locations in Southeast and Northeast Louisville, Ball Homes are now available on selected homesites in Oakwood, and also in Notting Hill. Our Central Kentucky market will continue to be served by the Lexington and Georgetown Milestone offices, and our new Knoxville locations by J. Honeycutt Real Estate, as we continually strive to partner with those local real estate professionals who can best provide exceptional service to all of our homebuyers.

Tips to Save Energy and Add Value

2011-10-13T09:13:00-07:00

When it comes to energy efficiency, look for smart features and expertise to help you save energy and money and add value to your home. 1. Begin with a Right-Sized Home. If the home you buy is simply too large for you or your family’s needs or plans, you stand a good chance of wasting energy through excessive heating and cooling costs. If it’s too small, you’ll feel cramped and uncomfortable. It’s a big investment, so seek balance and buy it “right” from the outset. 2. Purchase Energy Star Appliances Such as Your TV, Dishwasher, Washer and Dryer, and Microwave. And especially the refrigerator, as it alone contributes about 10 percent of the energy use in a home. Also, unplug electronics not in use or turn off power strips to avoid phantom charges. 3. Install Efficient Lighting Such as Compact Flourescent (CLF) or LED Bulbs in Every Fixture. Lighting accounts for about 6 percent of an energy bill each year. 4. Get an Energy Audit and Have Tests Performed to Identify Ways of Improving Your Efficiency. You can always upgrade your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system as well as your thermal envelope, which includes insulation, windows, and doors and the seals or weather stripping around them. Visit energy.gov/energytips for more tips.