Bruce Moore

New price of only $99,900 on this great home for sale in Louisvilles Germantown neighborhood.

Updates include:

Beautifully refinished hardwood floors
New roof
Basement waterproofing

Call today for your private showing!

Bruce Moore, Realtor
RE/MAX First
Louisville, Ky
502-640-6861

1236 Lexington Road

Only $79,900!
Won't last at this price

Call me today for your private showing

Bruce Moore, Realtor
RE/MAX First
Louisville, Ky
502-640-6861

NO!  Why? There are many reasons you should not try to sell your own house. Here are just a few:

• MLS FiSBOs (For Sale By Owner) homes will not be listed on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). Only licensed Realtors can post a home to the MLS and home buyers working with a real estate agent search the MLS for houses to show to their clients.

  

• In general, real estate agents wont show FiSBOs because they have no guarantee of being paid. The main reason home owners try to sell their own house is to save money. Therefore, even if they offer a commission to real estate agents in the transaction, it is generally much less than the agent would earn with a Realtor listed house.
• Would you do your own surgery?  Of course not! And while selling your home may not be a life threatening event, it can be a legal nightmare. Sellers can get in a lot of legal trouble if they dont know what they are doing.
• FiSBOs typically sell for less money. See stats below
• Buyers may be intimidated by a FiSBO. Real estate agents have certain legal obligations to their clients which a home owner selling their own house, does not. Many buyers feel uneasy dealing directly with the seller of a house, without a Realtor representing their best interests.

Some FiSBO stats:

For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Statistics

FSBOs accounted for 9% of home sales in 2012. The typical FSBO home sold for $174,900 compared to $215,000 for agent-assisted home sales.
FSBO Methods Used to Market Home:

• Yard sign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48%
• Listing on Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32%
  • For-sale-by-owner websites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20%
  • Other websites with real estate listings (e.g. Yahoo, Google, etc.) . . . 11%
  • Social networking websites (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc.) . .  10%
  • Video hosting websites (e.g. YouTube, etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . .     2%
• Friends, relatives, or neighbors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30%
• Print newspaper advertisement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   14%
• Open house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12%
• Direct mail (flyers, postcards, etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2%
• Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1%
• For-sale-by-owner magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1%
• Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  <1%
• None Did not actively market home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31%
• Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2%

Do yourself a favor. Leave the home selling process to a professional Realtor. Youll be glad you did! 

Bruce Moore, Realtor
RE/MAX First
Louisville, Ky
502-640-6861 

ABR  Specialist in working with Home buyers.
E-Pro  Specialist in using the latest Technology to help buyers find and buy their dream home.
IRES  International Real Estate Specialist

1. A buyer does not pay the agent.... in most cases. Generally, the real estate agents in a given transaction are paid by the seller.
2.  Since real estate market information such as comparable sales and median home prices is now readily available on the internet, many people feel they dont need an agent to help them buy a home. This is only a small part of what a qualified agent brings to the table. I may be able to change the spark plugs in my car, but that does not make me a mechanic!
3. Isnt the listing agent representing me, the buyer?  Yes and No. The listing agent was hired by the seller of that home to get them the best offer possible. Their main goal is to get the most money for their client, the seller.
4. One agent representing the buyer and the seller amounts to a divorcing couple using only one lawyer. How can you be sure that the agent has your best interest at heart? How can one agent thoroughly represent both parties without comprising one side or the other?

By the way, not all Realtors are qualified buyers representatives. Many specialize in helping sellers. How will you know?  Ask! What is your agents specialty? Does your agent have the  ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative) designation?

For most of us, buying a home is a huge investment. This is not a DIY moment! Make sure you get the best representation you can find with a qualified buyers agent.

When you are ready to find your perfect home, call me!

Bruce Moore, ABR (Accredited Buyer's Representative)
RE/MAX First, Realtor
Louisville, Kentucky
502-640-6861

Are you overwhelmed by all the Realtors out there? How do you choose the best one for you?

Louisville Best Place in America to Start a Road Trip?

AOL Travel calls Louisville the Road trip hub of America. Why?

- Within driving distance of half of the US population

- Lonely Planet ranked Louisville the top U.S. travel destination for 2013

- Cond Nast Travelers Readers Choice awards ranked Louisvilles 21c Museum Hotel among the top 10 hotels in the world in 2009 through 2011

- The cheeseburger!  Invented right here in Louisville

- NCAA baskeball champs the Louisville Cardinals

- How about Louisvilles own Muhammad Ali and the famous Muhammad Ali Center right in downtown

- And, of course, world class horse racing and bourbon!
See full article here

Ready to visit our wonderful City?  Thinking of moving here?
Call me to find your perfect home in Louisville.
Bruce Moore, Realtor
RE/MAX First
Louisville, Ky
502-640-6861

Sometimes a good deal, especially a foreclosed home for sale is a nightmare in disguise.

Dont get stuck with a dangerous dud. What looks like a good buy on a house could mean good-bye to your hard-earned cash and your health. Find out why.

Beware of bankers bearing repossessed homes

Its natural to want the most for your money when youre shopping for a house. However, if youre considering a foreclosure, you need to be very careful! This is one time when what you dont know could really hurt you.

Banks and foreclosure agents are touting foreclosed homes as great deals.  But dont be fooled. Banks price these buy back properties to recoup as much of their investment as possible.  Foreclosures are a HUGE risk, and you cant count on the banks or agents to know everything about the property youre considering.

A couple in Oregon found this out the hard way when they bought a home that had once been used as a meth lab. They were unaware of the houses history until residual meth fumes started making them sick. They ultimately got their money back from the federal lender, Freddie Mac, which is now reviewing its policies on foreclosed properties, but it was a nightmare that could have been avoided.

Doing your homework can save you heartache

If you have your heart set on a foreclosure, do some digging first. Work with a reputable real estate agent and find out everything you can about the homes history. Nowadays its not uncommon to find that your prospective property is a former meth lab or has other serious problems. Like the couple in Oregon, many unsuspecting buyers are in the same sad situation. And you cant always count on recovering your money. Information about illegal dealings (or other shady practices) is not readily available on listed properties. In fact, Freddie Mac is encouraging prospective buyers to inspect homes carefully and get any necessary tests done, depending on the area youre considering.  Youll also want to check state and federal registries for a listing of known/suspected meth labs, to make sure your property isnt on the list. In the case of foreclosed properties, it really is buyer beware!   Your real estate agent can assist you in making sure youre walking into the home of your dreams and not into your worst nightmare.

Bruce Moore, Realtor
RE/MAX First
Louisville, Ky
502-640-6861

House hunting?  Here are some basic dos&donts when you are looking at homes for sale.

1. Be respectful Keep in mind that this is someones home. Its ok to look at all the rooms and closets, its not ok to snoop through their personal belongings and furniture

2. Rule of thumb If its open, leave it open. If its closed, leave it closed. In other words, leave things the way you found them

3. Hold your tongue Is the homeowner present during your showing? Be polite and hold your criticism

4. Open House? Be polite to the Realtor

Ready to look at some houses? Call me
Bruce Moore, Realtor
RE/MAX First
Louisville, Ky
502-640-6861

Trying to sell your house? Did your Realtor suggest holding an Open House? Here are some tips for making your  Open House a success:

1. Depersonalize.  Give the buyers a chance to visualize their belongings in your house by removing personal items such as photos or your childrens artwork.

2. Clutter be gone.  Obvious, yes, but sometimes not so easy to see in your own home. Walk into each room and try to see it from a buyers perspective.

3. Bake some cookies. Weve all heard it bake something before your open house to make your home feel warm and inviting.

4. Brighten up. Open up the curtains and let in the light.

5. Leave! Buyers wont feel comfortable looking around your house when you are present.

Selling a home can be stressful but it doesnt have to be. A high quality, experienced Realtor will make your selling experience as smooth as possible.

Bruce Moore, Realtor
RE/MAX First
Louisville, Ky
502-640-6861

Could FHA mortgage loan changes hurt your loan chances?

If youre a first-time or cash-strapped home buyer, an FHA home loan may be your best option. But thanks to the housing crisis of recent years, the FHA has tightened some of its lending guidelines. Can you still get in on the best FHA rates before several changes go into effect? Nows the time to find out.  

FHA mortgage insurance: what the changes mean for potential home buyers

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has traditionally given less affluent homebuyers their best chance at owning a home. FHA loans require little (or no) down payment and come with lower interest rates than traditional loans offer. But the rash of foreclosures and bankruptcies in the last few years has prompted the Feds to clamp down on its lending policies. So youll need to move quickly if you want the lowest rate/payments for your loan.

On April 1, the FHA raised its Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) rates by 0.1 percent. MIP is the insurance you (the buyer) pay to protect the lender if you cant make your mortgage payments. This percentage, while small, increases your monthly mortgage payment. The actual fee depends on the amount borrowed, the terms, and your down payment. Thats because the MIP is a portion of the overall payment the less you put down, the higher the insurance.

In early June, another major change is coming to the MIP terms. In the past, you could drop this premium once your loan was paid down to 78 percent of the original value or five years, whichever came first. However, this new change requires you to keep the MIP for the life of the loan. This requirement is a key factor youll need to consider as you decide how much home you can afford.

Is FHA still your best way ?

only your Realtor knows for sure. If youre considering going the FHA route, be sure to have your Realtor get the complete details on what changes will be in place by the time you close and what you can do to get in under the wire. Get the facts before you get the loan.

Bruce Moore, Realtor
RE/MAX First
Louisville, Ky
502-640-6861