Chris Thomas

Everybody likes to know about the most expensive properties in their area, out of curiosity, if nothing else, so I've compiled the data for fun. The following 25 properties located in Louisville, KY (Jefferson County) sold for at least $1,000,000 in 2009. The list is comprised of all residential property including condos (CND), resales (SFREX), new construction (SFRNC), & farms (FRM) that have closed since 1/1/2009 according the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. Here it is:

1. 5813 Orion Rd.--$1,900,000--SFREX--57yrs--5Bed/4fb/3hb--6,392 s/f--3CarGar--1.66ac--Glenview

2. 6600 Seminary Woods Pl. #1202--$1,625,000--CNDNC--3Bed/3fb/1hb--4,282 s/f--2CarGar--SeminaryWoods

3. 6309 Innisbrook Dr.--$1,450,000--SFREX--4yrs--4Bed/5fb/1hb--5,075 s/f--3CarGar--.99ac--Prospect

4. 25 Stonebridge Rd.--$1,425,000--SFREX--83yrs--4Bed/4fb/2hb--4,325 s/f--2CarGar--2.93ac--IndianHills

5. 7904 Farm Spring Dr.--$1,385,000--SFRNC--4Bed/5fb/2hb--4,766 s/f--4CarGar--.97ac--Prospect

6. 5230 Avish Ln.--$1,360,000--SFREX--11yrs--4Bed/5fb--7,658 s/f--2CarGar--2.0ac--Harrods Creek

7. 222 Mockingbird Gardens Dr.--$1,300,000--SFREX--5yrs--5Bed/4fb/2hb--5,365 s/f--3CarGar--.33ac--MockingbirdGardens

8. 14912 Landmark Dr.--$1,225,000--SFREX--2yrs--4Bed/5fb--4,400 s/f--3CarGar--.60ac--LakeForest

9. 5304 Old Heady Rd.--$1,200,000--SFREX--16yrs--4Bed/4fb/1hb--3,976 s/f--2CarGar--75.24ac--Louisville, 40299

10. 10 River Hill Rd.--$1,175,000--SFREX--169yrs--3Bed/3fb/2hb--3,956 s/f--2CarGar--1.97ac--IndianHills

11. 12343 Forest School Ln.--$1,150,000--SFRNC--5Bed/4fb/2hb--5,625 s/f--3CarGar--1.4ac--Anchorage

12. 222 Witherspoon St. #1703--$1,130,000--CNDEX--3Bed/3fb/1hb--2,660 s/f--2CarGar--WaterfrontParkPlace

13. 902 Old Harrods Creek Rd.--$1,122,900--SFREX--20yrs--6Bed/5fb/2hb--4,659 s/f--3CarGar--1.84ac--Anchorage

14. 5605 River Knolls Dr.--$1,109,000--SFREX--57yrs--5Bed/4fb/2hb--4,050 s/f--2CarGar--3.65ac--RiverKnolls

15. 2322 Village Dr.--$1,100,000--SFREX--84yrs--5Bed/3fb/1hb--4,223 s/f--2CarGar--.83ac--CherokeeHills

16. 12348 Forest School Ln.--$1,100,000--SFREX--3yrs--5Bed/4fb/1hb--5,133 s/f--4CarGar--1.15ac--Anchorage

17. 7909 Farm Spring Dr.--$1,100,000--SFREX--3yrs--5Bed/4fb/2hb--5,210 s/f--3CarGar--.85ac--Prospect

18. 11011 Owl Creek Ln.--$1,080,000--SFREX--29yrs--5Bed/4fb/1hb--4,473 s/f--3CarGar--2.85ac--Anchorage

19. 69 Warrior Rd.--$1,075,000--SFREX--59yrs--4Bed/4fb/2hb--4,566 s/f--2CarGar--1.29ac--IndianHills

20. 1302 Bellewood Rd.--$1,050,000--SFREX--98yrs--5Bed/4fb/3hb--5,132 s/f--1CarGar--2.0ac--Anchorage

21. 463 Swing Ln.--$1,050,000--SFREX--55yrs--4Bed/4fb/2hb--4,977 s/f--2CarGar--.71ac--RollingFields

22. 12349 Forest School Ln.--$1,030,000--SFREX--4yrs--5Bed/3fb/2hb--4,340 s/f--3CarGar--1.42ac--Anchorage

23. 12354 Forest School Ln.--$1,020,000--SFREX--5yrs--5Bed/5fb/1hb--4,100 s/f--3CarGar--1.36ac--Anchorage

24. 1626 Dundee Way--$1,013,233--SFRNC--4Bed/4fb/1hb--3,700 s/f--2CarGar--.20ac--Aberdeen

25. 6600 Seminary Woods Dr. #1105--$1,012,820--CNDNC--CustomBO--4,282 s/f--2CarGar--SeminaryWoods

Key:

CND=Condo; EX=Resale; NC=New Construction; SFR=Single Family Residential; yrs=years; fb=full baths; hb=half baths; s/f=square feet; ac=acres

***All information deemed reliable but not warranted. Sales info pulled from the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service.***

Happy New Year!

Search thousands of Louisville area listings from the cheapest to the most expensive at:

http://metrolouisvillemls.net

Without question, people like to "save" money whenever & wherever they can. Some people's mantra is, "Never pay commission." I can understand that reasoning. Heck, I don't like sales people either. So in the spirit of the New Year, I offer my 6 rules for selling your home yourself for potential home sellers in Louisville, KY.

1. Clean the home (professionally if possible) & de-clutter. Cleanliness and the removal of everything that does not add to your home's attractiveness are two relatively easy & inexpensive ways of ensuring that every single potential buyer who walks through your front door takes notice of & remembers that, if nothing else, your home was presentable. It also feeds the perception that a clean home is a well-preserved home.
2. Use as much signage as is legally permissable. For Sale signs are one of the best marketing vehicles at your disposal. Directional signs at major thoroughfares are a great idea as well as long as they are allowed by your neighborhood. Make sure written text is LARGE & neat.
3. Complete minor repairs/maintenance-related tasks PRIOR to putting the sign out. Buyers are fickle. If they see any obvious short-coming associated with your home that could have been addressed prior to showing, they will either use it in negotiating the price or worse, they'll walk away. Don't assume buyers have vision to see past the "little things" never bothered you. Even the ones with vision will act like they don't have any. It's absolutely crucial to eliminate all reasonable objections up front BEFORE the first potential buyer walks through the door.
4. Find & use as many inexpensive internet marketing vehicles you can. There are lots of social media options. Use as many of them as you can because at least 85% of the home buying public is using the web to aid their home search. Remember, you don't have even a fraction of the resources a REALTOR does in terms of on-line marketing so you have to use everything you have because your home is competing for buyers in a market where there aren't a ton of them.
5. Create a feature sheet chock full of color photos highlighting the best features your home has to offer. Keeping a box of flyers full can be a hassle & wastes a lot of paper. I suggest laminating a double-sided flyer & attaching it to your for sale sign.
6. Get as much help from any agents who call inquiring about the property as you can. When you put your house up for sale by owner, you're bound to get all kinds of solicitations from real estate agents. Some will want to list your home, and some will have potential buyers. If you're serious about selling, don't waste these information gathering opportunities by being defensive. If you're willing to pay a buyer's agent a commission should one of them present you with an acceptable offer, let the inquiring agents know that up front. Don't make the commission contingent upon a specific price because that is understood. Whatever commission you're willing to pay, stick to it. Ultimately, it's up to you to pull the trigger on the sale of your home.

These six steps are absolutely crucial to getting the most money for your home as the current market will bear. Of course, the statistics show that these six strategies coupled with professional marketing exposure increase your chance at success substantially. Please contact me on how my approach to selling homes can put more money in your pocket in a shorter period of time.

Christmas is almost here, and before you know it, we'll be ringing in the New Year (which for me means staying up until around 10 p.m.). I've just launched a great home search website for potential buyers looking in the Greater Louisville, KY area. I've had agents call me thinking that my search site is our MLS. That's how incredible I believe the site is. If you or anyone you know is in the market for a home in the Louisville area, please visit or refer them to:

http://metrolouisvillemls.net

Happy House Hunting!

I'm excited to announce the launch of my brand new home search engine for the Greater Louisville, KY area. Please give it a spin by visiting: http://metrolouisvillemls.net.

The importance of this post is rather obvious: We have to eat. There are few neighborhoods in the Louisville area that boast as many great restaurants as St. Matthews. Here are some of my favorites, and if I've missed anything, please feel free to alert me. Ranked in no particular order:

Cafe Lou Lou, 106 Sears Ave. www.cafeloulou.com

This is one of my favorite places to eat. Cajun flair meets exceptional pizzas, pastas, & sandwiches. Great service & atmosphere, Cafe Lou Lou recently also opened a second restaurant in the Highlands/Douglass Loop Neighborhood.

Havana Rumba, 4115 Oechsli Ave. www.myhavanarumba.com

Another great one, Havana Rumba features Cuban flair such as Lechon Asado which is Cuban pork marinated in citrus juices & Cuban spices & slow roasted for hours. My wife likes the Hemingway Daquiri.

Jack's Lounge at Equus Restaurant, 122 Sears Ave. http://www.equusrestaurant.com/jacks_menu.html

Jack's Lounge features an abbreviated menu from Equus Restaurant. Best nachos I've ever had. They are individually made. Jack's Burger is also a favorite, and of course, there's an elegant but relaxed atmosphere with leather couches & coffee tables.

El Tarasco, 110 Fairfax Ave.

Family favorite for sure, it seems like we've eaten here more than at home. A huge menu doesn't deter me from getting the #11 every time. Loud, hustling service & a nice price. Perfect for small kids!

Frankfort Avenue Beer Depot, 3204 Frankfort Ave.

My favorite barbeque in town. Wonderful wings & pulled pork sandwiches, cheap prices, & an atmosphere that is just what you'd expect from the name.

Brendan's Restaurant & Pub, 3921 Shelbyville Rd. http://www.brendanslouisville.com/

Brendan's is located in the old Maier's Tavern location in the heart of St. Matthews. It is a traditional Irish Pub and features one of my favorite appetizers around, the crab dip. They also regularly update their draft beer selection.

Kayrouz Cafe, 127 Wiltshire Ave.

We like to walk to this restaurant. The indoor dining area is small, so it's a great place to go to sit outside. I usually get the fish & chips w/rye.

Asahi, 3701 Lexington Rd.

I'm one of those people who took way too long to give sushi a shot, but since I did, I haven't looked back. This is a great addition to Louisville's sushi options. Lots of interesting rolls.

Stan's Fish Sandwich, 3729 Lexington Rd. http://www.stansfish.com/stans.html

You simply can't beat Stan's Fish Sandwich. Great sides & very casual, this is a perfect lunch spot.

If haven't tried one of these eateries, I highly suggest you do this weekend!