Greater Louisville Real Estate Blog

Things to Consider When Buying a Condo [2022]

[Estimated read time: 5 minutes]

What is Condominium?

A condominium is an individual unit that is within a larger building, similar to an apartment style building. As a condo owner, you are investing in a shared interest in a community with a group of other owners. An HOA governs and maintains the community and the common areas. Funded by a monthly maintenance fee that is collected from the residents living within the association.

Steps to Buying a Condo

Let's take a quick look at what to expect during the process of buying a condominium, a patio home, or even a townhome. These are all similar styles of properties and are usually categorized the same and present the same approach when analyzing a property.

1. Find an Agent (and Loan…

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Could You Afford to Live in One of these 90s Iconic Homes?

[Estimated read time: 5 minutes]

We recently took a look at the value of the most iconic homes from our favorite 90s TV Shows and wondered if they would still be affordable in today's market.

Based on the average salary for their profession and considering all things were equal. Good credit, little to no debt, and enough savings to put 20% down. Would it be possible for them to still comfortably afford that same house today?

List of Shows:

Seinfeld | Roseanne | Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Full House | The Simpsons | Married with Children | Friends | Frasier | Family Matters | The Sopranos

1. Seinfeld Apartment

Location: 129 W 81st St New York, NY
Estimated Rent: $3,000-$3,500
Affordability/Income: $125,000+ year

Owner/Tenant:…

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Best Playgrounds and Parks in Oldham County (With Pictures)

[Estimated read time: 8 minutes]

Are you on the hunt to find some of the best restaurants in Oldham County? We've put together the perfect list - a guide for anyone. From long-time residents to someone thinking about moving to Oldham County. Below are some of the top restaurants in the area that you must try.

As a local real estate team in Oldham County, Garretts Realty strives to provide the best service to our clients just like these top restaurants.

Most Popular Places to Eat in Oldham County KY

Oldham County is known as the kindness capital, and even though it is a small community it offers a wide variety of dining options. From a quick bite for lunch to visiting your favorite Mexican Restaurant. Oldham County has something to suit…

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Top 5 Home Improvements that Add the Most Value

The real estate world has changed at a greater rate than perhaps any other industry in the last two years. Millions of homeowners have become far more aware of what makes their house unique, what it boasts, and the areas that it could improve upon. For those very reasons, home renovation projects have multiplied recently with the desire to get the most out of one’s home and to maximize its value.

Key Takeaways

• Not all home improvements have a positive ROI
• New improvements to your home shows that your home is well taken care of
• Home buyers love energy-efficient features when looking at homes for sale

Whether looking to stay in your home for the long haul or prepare it to get top dollar on the open market, knowing exactly what home…

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What is a Home Appraisal and How Does it Work?

When it comes to the value of a home, it may seem pretty straightforward. There may be some negotiating back and forth between a Buyer and Seller, but once both parties agree on a price, that should be it, right? Unfortunately, most of the time a contract is contingent on an appraisal. Especially when there is financing involved. Some buyers and sellers may even be surprised to find out that an appraiser must give their "stamp of approval" on the purchase price before moving forward.

Key Takeaways

• An appraisal is typically paid for by the buyer in a real estate transaction.
• Appraisers review the exterior and interior of the home. Measuring the square footage while looking at features of the home and possibly any safety concerns.
• Common…

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Do you Need a REALTOR to Buy a House?

This is a common question that runs through the minds of many homebuyers. Some may have even heard from either a family member or friend that they have purchased a home in the past without a Buyer's agent.

How is that possible?

Well, that's because you don't actually have to use an agent to purchase a property. In fact, every day people decide to navigate the home search, contract negotiation, appraisal, inspection, and all the nitty gritty details on their own. Truth be told, you can actually forgo using a buyer's agent. But as a Buyer, do you feel comfortable enough to go about it all on your own?

The expertise that an experienced and professional Buyers agent can bring to the table can be the difference between signing the dotted line on the…

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How to Measure Square Footage for a Home

[Estimated read time: 4 minutes]

Calculating Your Square Footage

There could be a variety of reasons why you might want to know the square footage of your house. Whether it be for a potential construction project, a home addition, or just out of curiosity, finding out the real square footage of your current home, or perhaps of the home you are interested in buying, can be very valuable. Believe it or not, there is actually no universal standard for measuring square footage in a residential property. This could mean your home or the one you are looking to purchase, may not actually be as large or small as you may think.

Why is Square Footage So Important?

You may be thinking that it can’t be that important to know the exact square footage of a…

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How much is the Simpsons House Worth?

742 EVERGREEN TERRACE: Beautiful two-story home with basement. Through the arched, front door you are welcomed into the foyer. To the left is a cozy sitting room with a bay window, and to the right, is the dining room that also features a nice bay window. Towards the back of the home, is the living room and kitchen. The second story features four bedrooms! A master bedroom that offers a nice ensuite bathroom. There is also an additional bathroom upstairs. The backyard is surrounded by a wooden picket fence and a low box hedge. Also a patio and a custom treehouse!

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16 Questions You Need to Ask Real Estate Agents

Buying and selling property and homes is a massive financial and often personal undertaking. Depending on which state you live in, the process can vary in how easy or difficult it may be. But what remains the same regardless of your zip code is how great of an asset working with a qualified real estate agent can be as opposed to navigating things all by yourself. Some real estate agents do a great job of marketing themselves through television, local ads, and the radio, but that does not mean that they are necessarily the most qualified or most skilled for the specific transaction you need them to assist you with. When looking for the best realtor for you, it is critical that you approach them very similar to how a prospective employer approaches a…

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Is Credit Karma Accurate (vs actual score)?

Credit Karma vs Actual Credit Score

When it comes to buying a home and getting pre-approved, one of the most important numbers is our credit score. This little three-digit number carries a world of importance and can have an impact on many things in our lives. Surprisingly, millions of adults do not actively monitor their credit scores and millions more don’t understand the importance of having a good score. If you are looking to develop solid financial habits and improve your financial health, learning where and how to monitor your credit score is an important first step in accomplishing these goals.

Credit Karma ranks towards the top of the list year after year when we discuss free services that allow users to monitor and help to understand…

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