Getting 2012 Started Off Right

As I look back on 2011 I feel like it was a year that me and Megan accomplished a lot through hard work and grit and paved the way for 2012 to be a great year for us. We never stopped to take a vacation so we could tackle some debt and pay cash for Megan's grad school and we should reap the benefits of that in 2012. This new years I am going to set the same business goals for myself as well as some other goals to keep me mentally focused and ready for success. Here they are:

1. Have a record Sales year.


2. Read 1 book per quarter


3. Take 2 or 3 vacations


4. Dress More Professionally


5. Get in better shape


6. Pray More


7. Purchase an investment property

$100 Down Deals of The Week!

This week's deal is a list of 7 homes that you can purchase for $100 down if you qualify for FHA financing. The are all HUD foreclosure homes that can be a great deal if you are in the market to move. There is one condo in Prospect that I love they usually sale in the $140s and this one is listed for $103,500. Check out all the great deals on this website: mikefogledealoftheweek.info

I love showing Farms!

In the past few months I have shown a variety of farms, I have shown a few Thoroughbred farms and some other great horse farms in Oldham and Shelby Counties with price tags up to $850,000. These farms had outstanding top notch barns with beautiful four board fences and gorgeous rolling fields. The homes on some these farms had all the amenities anyone could ask for in a luxury home.

Here lately I have been showing more affordable farms (about $2,500 per acre) that are set up for traditional farming purposes. Farms that you would grow; hay, soy beans, tobacco, corn or raise cattle. I have learned a lot from Roy Weeks at United Citizens Bank in Cambellsburg. Such as farm loans are given at a very low rate, my clients are looking at a 2% loan but are financing it over 40 years. Another things is the payments on a farm are structured way differently for instance you only make farm payments only once a year after you have sold your grain or livestock.

I still have both of these buyers and hope to close a deal with them soon but until then I will keep soaking up more and more information on this aspect of Real Estate and make myself even more of a diverse agent.

Getting Your Home Ready For The Market

In this Real Estate market making sure your home is ready for potential buyers is more important than ever. These days buyers can be really picky and often have the mind set if I'm going to buy a home that has to have work done to it, "I might as well buy a foreclosure or a short sale". What savvy sellers must do is walk the fine line of improving their home without over improving. The reality of today's market is your not going to get a positive return from updating investment. In this link from American Society of Appraisers you will find an appraiser's list of improvements and the rate of return you can expect to get return you can get from your investments. Surprisingly replacing your front door with a new steel door tops the list. In my opinion the most important thing you can do is remodel or update your kitchen although your only going to see about 73% of your money back on this investment, it's the most appealing portion of the home to buyers and can really help move your home.

Some suggestions I have to potential sellers is to not totally gut and redo any portion of your home, but rather enhance the existing aspects of your home in a cost efficient manner. For instance instead of tearing out your existing cabinets, paint them or put a new counter top on top of them, maybe replace the faucet. This way you get a new fresh look on a fraction of the budget of a total kitchen remodel. Another easy thing to do is replace your brass hardware throughout the home with a nice brush nickel or an antique finish. Here is another great link from ask.com who suggest that the first step to selling a home is letting go of your home and disassociate yourself with your home, your home is now a product and must be treated as one.

Great Investment Deal

I think that now may be the best time ever to jump into a Real Estate investment home than right now. Interest rates are extremely low accompany that with low home prices and you have a got a steady long term investment when purchase a rental home in this market. For instance you can get a investment loan on this house with 25% down at 5.125% interest rate, which would put your principle and interest payment at $265.44 a month. My estimates of the tax and insurance payment would be an extra $97.00 a month. The house is currently rented with a long term tenet who is paying $750.00 a month. So so here is the simple math.

Money Out of Pocket:

$16,250 Down Payment

$1,900 Closing Cost and Prepaids (Estimated)

= $18,200 out of pocket cost.

Monthly Financials:

$362. 44 Monthly Payment

$750.00 Rent

= $387.55 Monthly Profit

If you want additional information on the home click here.

New Listing

I've got a great new listing out in the country but still convenient to eastern Jefferson county and is only about a 35 minute drive to downtown. The home is just five years old and is custom built with many upgrades throughout. Check out the two links below for a virtual tour and the other for more information.

Virtual Tour

Home's Webpage

QR Readers for Real Estate

I'm doing some new things that I'm really excited about with QR codes to help market myself plus my listings. Anyone who has a smart phone can now download an easy to use scanner app and instantly will have the capabilities to scan and store information to their smart phone.

Something else cool that I'm doing with them is posting them on home fliers and having them linked to a virtual tour of the home. This way people can get a virtual tour right on their cell phones as they set in front of the house.

Deal of The Week

This weeks deal is in Douglas Hills it a great traditional two story and its a bank foreclosure. It once sold for $210,000 back in 2003 and is now listed for $185,900. Click the picture for more details.

Deal of the Week

This weeks deal is a super cool condo located in the Clifton area on HWY 42. It once sold for $160,000 back in 2007 and is now on the market for $79,900. I've shown this places before and the are really neat inside, give me a ring if you want to check them out!

Click Below for more details:

http://mikefogledealoftheweek.info/

Louisville Makes the Top Ten list

Great News!! Our very own city has made the top ten "Cities for Families". We are also making our forth appearance on the list for top 100 places to live for young people. Check out the entire article on the link from Yahoo below.

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/summertravel/the-10-best-cities-for-families-2498408/

GRI Designation

I have been kicking around the idea of getting my GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) designation for a couple of weeks now and can't make up my mind about what I want to do. The GRI is basically a Master's degree for Realtors, that will help me be more knowledgeable in many different areas of my business. In order to obtain the designation you must take five 16 hour courses and 16 hours of elective courses. The five required classes are below:

GRI 1: Professionalism in Real Estate
GRI 2: Smart Marketing
GRI 3: Financing the Successful
GRI 4: From Offer to Contracts to Closing
GRI 5: Systems for Success

So what do you all think about me pursuing this designation? Would you be more likely to choose a Realtor who had a designation like this or would it matter to you? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.

Lyndon Deal

This week's deal of the week would make a great flipper or a rental home. Or it would be a great first house for anyone. The location is ideal and its priced incredible give me a call if you want to check it out. 502-551-9396

Click the link below for more pictures and all the details.

http://mikefogledealoftheweek.info/

New Listing in Crestwood Gardens

I just picked up a new listing in Crestwood Gardens..... I love the location of this place and the owner has kept it in new condition. Its in award winning Oldham County school districts and just minutes away from both the Genesnyder Freeway and I-71. Click the link below for more details: http://www.mikefogle.com/property-search/list/?searchid=632154

If we could only get some rain.....relief.

Unless you've been basking in the Florida sun for the past few weeks, you're as sick of rain as the rest of us. It seems like it's been raining for a month straight, and by the looks of the ditches, yards, and creeks, that's hardly an exaggeration. But how is your house coping? Is it screaming for help? Or is it too hard to hear between the thunder crashes and the speedboat zooming down your street?

Most folks don't give a second thought to their home when it comes to water, until a problem arises. By then, it could be too late. Water can destroy a house just as fast as fire. And the worst part is that it could be causing damage right now...and you don't even know it.

When a home is built, there are certain preventative measures put into place that help to defend your home against the perils of nature. Things like flashing, gutters (aka eaves troughs, as my northern friends say) and downspouts help control the water around your home. As a home inspector, some of the most common things I see are improperly installed or maintained gutters and downspouts. These very simple, economical items are one of the most important things that can be installed on your home. Believe it or not, they are there for more important reasons than keeping the water from dripping onto your head as you walk out the door.

Gutters collect the massive amounts of water from the roof, and channel it to the downspouts. When a gutter is not sloped properly it will hold water and not drain. This can give mosquitoes a perfect place to lay their eggs, and we all love mosquitoes, right?

Another issue that can arise with all that water standing in your gutters is vegetation growth. I've seen larger trees growing in gutters than you can buy at your local nursery. You may have your very own hydroponic system, and not even know it. Debris and trees can stop a gutter from draining, so keep your gutters cleaned out.

But gutters are only half of this equation. The second and most overlooked part of the system are the downspouts. This is where your problems can really get serious. Damaged downspouts, improperly installed splash-blocks, or clogged drainage pipes will allow all that roof water to discharge around your foundation. Water pooling or draining around your home's foundation is a huge no-no. This is the leading cause of leaking basements and crawlspaces.

Today's homes are built on concrete foundations, typically either poured or blocks (CMU). Concrete is a very porous material. It soaks up moisture like a sponge. If the proper waterproofing coating and or drainage system is not installed, it is only a matter of time before you start to get water where you don't want it.

Lets say you have a downspout missing the elbow, which directs the water away from your house. Without this elbow, the downspout will drain tons of water during a hard rain directly at the concrete foundation wall. Gravity will do its' part, and pull the water into the ground. If you don't have the proper "weeping system" around the perimeter of your home, that water is going to sit there, until the earth absorbs it. And, like most things, water will follow the path of least resistance...typically straight into your home.

When I enter a crawl space during a home inspection, I'm on high alert to moisture, because it can wreak havoc, causing nasty stuff like mold and wood rot. Moisture also invites unwelcome guests, namely termites. High moisture levels in crawl spaces is the number one problem I find in homes. Most of the time, this moisture and the problems that ensue because of it could have been avoided by purchasing an $8.00 splash-block, or by unclogging a drain extension. When it comes to your home, the old adage will always ring true. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

New Deal of The week.

I have been really anxious to get my hands on a rental property. They make a great addition to any ones retirement portfolio and are an excellent source of tax write offs. If I had the down payment in the bank I would snatch this one up tomorrow. Its in a great area right across Westport road to some of the largest industries in the city. If anyone of you want to check it out let me know I would be more than happy to show you!

http://mikefogledealoftheweek.info/

Should you let your heart lead you home?

I often work with very emotional, very stressed buyers in my career as they are searching for a new home. The decision of where they will settle down and raise their family can be over whelming. Sometime buyers can have unrealistic expectations as to what kind of home they can purchase for the money they have to spend. I always tell people that we definetely want a to find them a house that meets their needs and that sometime means they have to sacrifice on some of their wants. There have been plenty of times that my buyers have walked into homes and said immediately "this is the one", or something like "I just know it in my heart" or "God wants me to have this house". When this happens in the back of my head I'm thinking this person is on an emotional roller coaster and sometimes I have to try and talk them out of making a bad decision based on their emotions. I try to combat these emotions with as much fact and research as I can and try to get them to clear their heads and make a logical fact based decision. Most people don't realize that the Bible warns us about how wishy washy our emotions can be in Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all other things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" So my advice to all people who may be looking to purchase a home please ask your Realtor for as much information as you can get and sleep on your decision. I am a strong believer that you need to take all emotions out of your decision making process and rely on your agents knowledge and ability to gather information as much as you can. The Bible also advises against setting out and making decisions on your own instead off seeking council in Proverbs 15:22 "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed."

New Listing on Meridale Ave

I landed this listing that couldn't be in a more convinent location, check out the link for more details.

http://meridale.info/

New County Listing

I am really excited about this great listing near Taylorsville Lake. It has a supper view of the lake during the winter and fall. Its been totally refinished and redone from the inside out and if you buy soon you will have a chance to pick your finishings. Check it out for yourself below:

http://greenschapel.info/

New Crestwood Listing

I am really excited about this new listing in Magnolia Place I just picked up. Its a great home with all the bells and whistles. Located in the an area of Crestwood that seems to be growing rapidly even in the down economy. Check out the website that I made just for this home!

http://www.sweetbay.info/

New Listing, 8935 Gentlewind

I just listed this better than new home in The Reserves at Glenmary. The owners of this home have great decorating taste and this place shows like a model home. Its one of the last houses on a dead end street and has all sorts of great features on the inside. Click my link below to see all the details.

http://8935gentlewind.info/

Lake Houses!

There are lots and lots of Lake Front homes on the market right now and they are actually really affordable. To me there are very few things that beat being on one of Kentucky's beautiful lakes enjoying the sun. Check out some of these great lake homes that are priced between $30,000$110,000!

http://mikefogledealoftheweek.info/

Deal of The Week

This weeks deal is a Saint Mathews foreclosures. Everybody loves Saint Mathews so anytime I find a good deal in Saint Mathews I gotta let people know. This place is almost 2,000 square feet and is only $152,000 let me know if you want to check it out.

http://mikefogledealoftheweek.info/

The Art of Low Balling Revisited

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

As a follow up to my lastes posting I wanted to relist this old post from 2008.
There are many things to consider when offering a seller a low ball offer. Some homes are not susceptible to low ball offers and one would just be wasting there time trying to submit a low offer on these homes. Homes usually sell for around 96% of there asking price, but there are some homes out there that can be low balled and be thankful for even getting an offer at all. Here are some things to look for when considering a low ball offer:
Length of time on the Market: If a home has been on the market for four months or longer chances are the seller is becoming somewhat frustrated and is looking to move on.
Previous Purchase Price: Unless the property is outside of the Realtors area of expertise he or she more than likely can tell you what the sellers paid for the property and when they bought it. This information can be pulled from PVA records or from the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). If the sellers purchased the home for significantly less than the asking price I would say this is another sign that you can low ball them.
Motivation to Sell: Some people sale there home just because they like another home in the area and would like to move but don’t necessarily have to. These people can’t be low balled. But if you walk into a home and it is vacant or there are moving boxes around, this home may be ready to low ball.This isn’t a full proof recipe for getting a home below market value but homes that meet all of these qualification are totally vulnerable to be low balled. A good realtor can usually get you all this information and a shameless realtor like myself would be happy to deliver your low ball offer.

How to be a hard core negotiator!

In every Real Estate transaction there is a natural conflict between the buyer and the seller. The seller obviously wants to get top dollar for their property and the buyer wants to low ball them and try to steal the property. In this market sellers have less leverage than buyers during negotiations but still have the ability to be hard core the trick for both sides is to be willing to walk away from the deal if the other party doesn't see things your way. Each party needs to get a figure in their head for a target price and sticking to that figure as their bottom line.

For sellers in this market that figure may be unobtainable if that's the case they need to be prepared to pull their property off the market and wait until the economy rebounds until their property will fetch the desired price.

For buyers you must remember to make decisions with your head and not fall in love with a property and make an emotional decision. There are plenty of properties on the market and plenty of deals to be had so be patient and make sure your getting a home with some equity in it. Again the trick is getting a price in your head that you would be willing to pay for the home and come in with your initial offer being just below that figure. I like to make it where if the seller would come down and meet you half way you would be at your target figure. Again, if the sellers wont come down to your price move on to another property. Chances are they will contact you later hoping you will come back.

Coming out of Hibernation.

Its a near year and a new selling season is right around the corner. So I've come out of hibernation for the winter a little early this year and plan to hit the ground running in 2011. Statistics tell us the 75% of homes are sold in the first six months of the year so if your thinking of buying or selling you may want to start getting ready to enter the Real Estate market soon. interest rates are still low but they can't stay low for ever and I have a feeling they will slowly start to rise this year. So if you or anyone you know plan on buying or selling a house give me a call!