Karen Pannell Owensboro KY Real Estate / 270-903-2167 Homes, condos, land, Farms

There is good news for Kentuckians thinking about purchasing a home. Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC), the state housing finance agency, is offering the lowest rates ever in its 40-year history.

For a limited time, rates are as low as 3.375 percent, with a 30-year, fixed-rate term. KHC also has a program for down payment and closing costs assistance with a special rate of 3.625 percent.

"It has never been a better time to purchase a home through KHC," said Governor Steve Beshear. "With rates this low and down payment and closing costs assistance, Kentuckians who thought they would not be able to own a home now have an opportunity. These low rates will not last; buyers should contact a KHC-approved lender as soon as possible."

Purchasing a home through KHC is easy. Buyers work with a network of KHC-approved lenders and banking institutions that help the buyer throughout the purchasing process. There are also over 1,000 real estate agents who have become KHC-certified and have committed to helping their buyers with affordable home-financing solutions. A list of lenders and real estate agents is available on KHC's Web site. Buyers should ask for a KHC loan.

"Kentuckians can feel comfortable purchasing a home through KHC," said Richard L. McQuady, chief executive officer of KHC. "KHC home loans start with us and end with us. When homeowners make a payment or call about their loan, they are talking to a KHC staff person at our office in Frankfort."

Kentucky Housing is able to offer these low rates through an extension of the New Issue Bond Program (NIBP), a federal bond purchase program provided by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Call me today to find out how you can take advantage of these historical low rates and purchase your Owensboro, KY home! 270-903-2167

OWENSBORO, KY (11-18-11) - Owensboro is seeing huge improvements made to downtown, and it is getting attention as far away as New York City. In yesterday’s edition of the New York Times, a special article appeared featuring the city of Owensboro, its downtown renovations, and spotlighting the man spearheading the campaign, Mayor Ron Payne. Crediting Payne’s energetic personality and cavalier mayoral style as the catalyst for getting the ball rolling on the downtown renovation, the Times showed just what Owensboro is doing right, in an otherwise slow economy.

According to Keith Schneider, the author, under Payne’s leadership, the city of Owensboro and Daviess County has seen a time of prosperity, the like of which one may not see elsewhere. The 2010-11 fiscal year ended with a $ 1.1 million surplus in the city government’s accounts, while the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent. The national average is 9 percent. Much of Owensboro’s current downtown rejuvenation is financed in part by a 2009 insurance premium tax increase which raised insurance taxes to 8 percent to 4 percent.

City officials are happy about the article in the Times. One city official, who wished to remain anonymous, had this to say. “From our stand point, it doesn’t matter whether you are for or against the downtown project. The fact is, any publicity is good publicity.”

Alex Reid
SurfKY news

SurfKY.com is an eNewspaper providing local news FREE to Kentucky 24/7. Read News, Sports, Obituaries and more for Kentucky covering: Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Webster, McCracken, Daviess, Christian, Henderson Counties as well as the Kentucky Lakes Area. We also specialize in custom printing, check it out at: www.surfkyprinting.com

Sunday
Tumbleweed: kids eat free all day! (ages 11 and under)
Pizza By The Guy:  kids lunch buffet free with adult buffet
Texas Roadhouse:  kids eat free before 4 p.m. with adult meal
Roca Bar:  11-2pm (one child per adult eats free)
Salsa-Ritas:  Kids eat Free w/ purchase of adult entree
Zaxby's: 5-8pm, $.99 kids meals with purchase of adult meal
McDonalds: $1.99 Happy Meals from 3-8pm

Monday
TGI Friday’s:  1 child’s meal free (ages 12 and under) with adult meal
Grandy’s:  kids meals .99 (12 and under) with adult meal
Zaxby's: 5-8pm, $.99 kids meals with purchase of adult meal
McDonalds: $1.99 Happy Meals from 3-8pm

Tuesday
Pizza Hut:  1 child eats free with adult purchase
Wendy’s:  Taco Salad Tuesday $2.99
Grandy’s:  Country fried steak dinner $2.99
Fazoli’s:  kids eat for .99 (12 and under) with adult meal
Denny’s:  4 – 10 p.m., 2 kids eat free (10 and under) with adult meal
Beef O’Brady’s;  kids eat free with adult meal
Pizza By The guy:  Free kids dinner buffet with adult buffet 5 – 8 p.m.
Salsa-Rita’s:  kids eat free with adult meal
Zaxby's: 5-8pm, $.99 kids meals with purchase of adult meal
McDonalds: $1.99 Happy Meals from 3-8pm

Wednesday
Shoney’s:  2 kids buffets free (10 and under) with adult buffet, 4 – 8 p.m.
Shogun:  buy one entrée and get one free 4 – 8 p.m. (all ages)
Ole South Bar-B-Q:  one adult get 2 kids meals and drinks free (10 and under) 4 – 8 p.m.
House of Canton: one free kid’s entrée with adult entrée
Zaxby's: 5-8pm, $.99 kids meals with purchase of adult meal
McDonalds: $1.99 Happy Meals from 3-8pm

Thursday
Captain D’s:  2 kid’s meals free (12 and under) with adult meal
Zaxby's: 5-8pm, $.99 kids meals with purchase of adult meal
McDonalds: $1.99 Happy Meals from 3-8pm

Friday
Zaxby's: 5-8pm, $.99 kids meals with purchase of adult meal
McDonalds: $1.99 Happy Meals from 3-8pm

Saturday
Denny’s:  2 kids eat free with adult meal (4 – 10 p.m.)
Texas Roadhouse: kids eat free before 4 p.m. with adult meal
Roca Bar:  11-2pm (one child per adult eats free)
Zaxby's: 5-8pm, $.99 kids meals with purchase of adult meal
McDonalds: $1.99 Happy Meals from 3-8pm

First of all, home buyers should never make an offer on a house they have only seen once...... in the dark! Many times in winter, we have no choice but to look at properties in the dark. However, before making an offer, ALWAYS go back and inspect the home during daylight hours. You would be surprised what you will see! I once listed a house in the evening and went back the next morning to take photos, only to discover that the brick chimney was pulling away from the house - yikes! Most contracts allow for inspections, but why waste your time and money when there was a defect you could have discovered with just a little more examination. Instead of looking at the décor and family photos, check out the house! Here's a quick checklist:

Trees, yard, landscaping - Are there dead or overgrown trees? What about dead shrubs or grass? You may love the shade of trees, but don't forget all the leaves that must be raked in the fall. Also check for low lying areas where water might puddle or stand. Is there a drainage problem that will affect the foundation?

Outdoor electrical hazards - Are all outdoor outlets equipped with Ground Fault Current Indicators to prevent shock? Are there low hanging wires? Make sure the box where the electrical current comes into the house is not rusted out. What about the use of extension cords to illuminate landscape lighting? Dangerous!

Driveway, sidewalk, patios - are there visible cracks and shifting? What about in the garage foundation?

Garage or carport - make sure the garage door opens and closes properly and has a lock that works. Check for ample electrical outlets.

Outdoor water spigots - where are they and do they work? Have the home inspector check it out. If you turn them on and they have frozen and burst, they will likely leak inside the house - you don't want to be responsible for that mess! This leak is a common discovery during home inspections.

Home Exterior - Walk around the exterior of the house. Examine the roof, gutters, foundation, siding, etc. Look for cracks in mortar joints and brick. Check for mildew or signs of wood rot near lower edges of siding. Window frames should show no signs of wood rot or water damage. Window panes should be clear and not "foggy". Windows that are fogged could have a broken seal and need replacement. A Chimney in good condition should be plumb, with tight flashing and solid, undamaged brick. Make certain the chimney has a flue liner. All chimneys should be inspected by a professional before use.

House Interior - Leaky basements are the number one complaint of buyers after they buy. Look for signs of dampness; mold and mildew. Rust signs around the furnace are a dead giveaway. If there is a new coat of paint on walls and floors be suspicious. Is the seller trying to hide a previous leak? If it smells musty, there has been or is water somewhere. Also, be leery of a basement (or any area) that has so much "stuff" piled up; you cannot do a proper inspection. Ask the listing agent to have the seller move items away from the wall so a proper inspection can be done. You can write this in your offer as a condition of the purchase. Make sure your home inspector goes into your crawl space to check for water and other wood destroying varmints such as termites, powder post beetles, etc. Your home inspector will also check the attic, beams, trusses and joists.

Floors - uneven floors could be a sign of a foundation problem. Of course, if the home is 100+ years old, the floors will be uneven. Looks for bumps and excessive "springiness" as well.

Walls and ceilings - Don't expect walls and ceilings to be crack free - a few hairline cracks are normal. If you see large cracks, this could be a problem - may be the foundation again or just poor workmanship.

Windows and doors - All windows and doors should open and close easily. Go into a room and close the door from inside the room. Is the door fitting square into the door jamb? This is an easy and great way to get a feel for the quality of workmanship in the home.

Bathrooms and kitchens - All fixtures should be working and not leaking. Turn on the shower, flush the toilet, and see how water drains down all the sinks. If a home has a water pressure problem, it may be a deal killer. This is an easy test. Cabinet doors should open and close easily.

Appliances - if appliances are included, test them. Turn on the stove. If the frig is included and has an ice-maker, see if it is making ice. If not, ask "why"?

Plumbing, electrical system and HVAC - this is an area for the professionals. Make sure your home inspector thoroughly checks all these systems.

Most purchase contracts allow a buyer to perform a thorough inspection. Some sellers will negotiate repairs and some sellers are selling "as is" and will not perform any repairs. It's important for buyers to know where the seller stands before they spend money on an inspection. If there is an issue of major concern to you, you can also have a professional look at the property prior to making your offer. Just keep in mind that someone else may come in and buy the property and you will be out the money for the inspection. I recommend a professional home inspection to all my buyers, even on new construction. Over the years, I have found time and again that they are priceless. Taking the time to really look at the home can save homebuyers a lot of heartache, money and wasted time. Call me today - while interest rates are still low - to get your home search started! Karen Pannell 270-903-2167

1. NBA Playoffs - who cares?

2. 30 year fixed interest rates as low as 4.5%!

3. Low rates + lower Home Values = Home affordability at an historical ALL TIME HIGH!

4. They're air conditioned - AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

5. We have cookies!!!!!!!

Probably the most compelling reason for you to attend an open house is this one:

Invest in your future - Buy a house now!!! 100% financing is still available and loans are available with rates as low as 4.5% for those with credit scores of 580 and up! Call me for all you Owensboro, KY real estate needs! Happy house hunting!