October 2011 Louisville Home Sales – UP!
Author: Bob | October 2, 2011
The Medley Sokoler Team Home Sales
Ford employees transferring to Louisville may be playing a small part in keeping Louisville homes sales moving upward! The number of Louisville Homes going under contract in September 2011 was up 4.8% over September 2010. Additionally the number of homes that sold and closed during the same period was up 15%.
On the surface those numbers are encouraging, but remember last year at this time we were still suffering from the tax credit whiplash. Many people who were going to buy during the 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2010 jumped in the housing market early to take advantage of the tax credits.
The point is it’s not terribly difficult to beat last year’s home sale numbers. Still the influx of Ford employees could help keep Louisville area home sales moving in a positive direction. Many of those employees are looking for homes in the $150,000-$250,000 price range with some acreage.
But almost all want deals because they are coming from towns where they’re selling their homes for less than appraised values expecting to make up their loss on this end. The homes they will buy will be perceived as the best values in the area.
The same can be said about all buyers moving to Louisville from other towns. If you’re a seller you need to have your home looking near perfect, staged properly, de-cluttered, priced at the lower 1/3 of the comparable homes in your area. Any deviation from that formula and you’ll sit on the market.
A point of interest for you, that formula works! Most of our our sellers who followed that formula have sold. In July we put 19 homes under contract, in August 21 homes under contract and in September 14 homes under contract. We’re ahead of our goals and on target to set a new record. If your thinking of selling or buying we’d love to help!
September 2011
| Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 1093 Last month: 1272 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 976 Last month: 1133 This month last year: 0 |
| Average Selling Price
This month: $164,662 Last month: $169,023 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 88 Last month: 86 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
135,000 |
September 2010
| Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 1041 Last month: 1092 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 826 Last month: 935 This month last year: 0 |
| Average Selling Price
This month: $165,562 Last month: $172,949 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 75 Last month: 74 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
137,500 |
September 2009
| Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 1215 Last month: 1211 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 1160 Last month: 1074 This month last year: 0 |
| Average Selling Price
This month: $150,847 Last month: $166,106 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 86 Last month: 84 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
132,000 |
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago, and co-owner of The Medley Sokoler Team in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team by clicking Louisville Real Estate.
Topics: Trends | No Comments »
The Real Estate Sky is NOT Falling!
Author: Bob | August 1, 2011
Despite record temperatures and fear of a faltering economy, Louisville Homes going under contract for the month of July 2011 actually increased almost 11 percent from the year before (see data below). The numbers may be artificially low for July of 2010 because many homebuyers had purchased a home earlier in the year thanks to federal tax incentives. Still the trend from year to year shows some positive signs.
For example the July 2011 homes going under contract numbers are only off 2.5 percent from July 2009. Better yet 2011was actually up 20 percent from 2008. You can make the argument that these are the bad years, recession, foreclosures, short sales and bank bailouts. But The past 3 years are actually the new normal. The good old days are gone, we can only hope for their return.
So imagine my surprise tonight when I read a fellow realtors’ blog explaining to his clients that home prices are off 15% over the past 2 years. Maybe in select sections of Louisville, but according to the new Greater Louisville Association of Realtors data released today, July 2010-2011 median home prices remained the same. Additionally the average sales price of homes increased almost $3000.
The numbers are not all good! The number of homes that closed was actually down 5 percent from July 2010-2011. That may be a sign of a bigger problem. We’re seeing a disturbing trend with appraisers. Appraisals are coming in low in some areas of town. That’s a concern because even if a home sells for a decent price, an appraiser may feel the property is not worth the value of the contract. We’ve had it happen to us 6 times in the past year. I’ve had to challenge the appraisal each time and I’ve won 5 out of the 6 times.
So to all my fellow realtors here’s the recipe to challenge a low appraisal.
- Ask the buyers agent and buyer if you can challenge the appraisal to the bank and appraiser.
- If the answer is yes, ask your seller to immediately put together a list of all upgrades they’ve done to the home while they owned it (in a list form) with the cost of the upgrades.
- Check the comps used by the appraiser for foreclosures and short sales. If necessary call the listing agent on those comps to find undisclosed data.
- Nicely put together an e-mail showing your comps and an explanation of why they should be used along with the upgrade sheet provided by the seller.
- Remember as my mom use to say you get more with honey than you do with vinegar. The appraisers are use to people yelling and arguing with them. Be nice, explain your case, it may save the deal.
July 2011
| Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 1252 Last month: 1341 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 1048 Last month: 1137 This month last year: 0 |
|
Average Selling Price
This month: $179,662 Last month: $174,466 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 84 Last month: 79 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
145,000 |
July 2010
|
Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 1119 Last month: 1118 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 999 Last month: 1477 This month last year: 0 |
|
Average Selling Price
This month: $176,838 Last month: $170,039 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 79 Last month: 76 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
145,000 |
July 2009
|
Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 1284 Last month: 1331 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 1276 Last month: 1174 This month last year: 0 |
|
Average Selling Price
This month: $171,793 Last month: $166,023 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 89 Last month: 84 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
140,000 |
July 2008
|
Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 998 Last month: 932 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 1015 Last month: 1191 This month last year: 0 |
|
Average Selling Price
This month: $173,521 Last month: $182,971 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 92 Last month: 88 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
141,000 |
Topics: For Buyers, For Sellers | No Comments »
Looking for a new place to eat? Try ap Crafters Kitchen and Bar
Author: Bob | June 10, 2011
You have to hand it to Louisville entrepreneur Tony Palombino. His newest creation “ap Crafters Kitchen and bar” (ap stands for Antony Palombino) is packing in crowds at Westport Village after only a couple of weeks in operation. The restaurant has done no advertising during their soft opening, (it’s all word of mouth) and the word has been mouthwatering food at reasonable prices in a friendly atmosphere!
If you’re new to Louisville you need to know that Tony is the brain behind a number of local Louisville restaurants including Tony BoomBozz Pizza and BoomBozz Taphouse. This new restaurant is Tony’s first gastropub.
My wife Norine and I had the Charred Chicken Wings for an appetizer. I have to tell you Norine is not a big wing fan, bit she really enjoyed the flavor of the dry rubbed with smoked paprika wings with cheese ranch dressing and the crafters hot sauce. That’s saying a lot! I loved the taste of the hot sauce but Tony could have turned the heat up on the sauce for my taste buds!
We also ordered the side salads which were enormous and that cheese ranch dressing really made the salad a tasty treat!
We both tried burgers for our main dish, I had the signature El Vez (a burger with green chili jam, sweet potato straws and arugula) and Norine had the Bella Burger (Portabella mushrooms, swiss cheese, griddled onions and garlic mayo). Both were delicious in fact I stopped and wondered what grade meat the restaurant was using because these burgers put others to shame!
For desert we tasted the warm doughnuts with salted caramel sauce. I’m not normally a desert fan but this one dish could change anyone’s mind.
Tony reportedly visited a number of restaurants around the U.S. to create ap Crafters epicurean delights. I can tell you the time on the road was well spent. Tony you’ve done it again, Louisville is proud of you and ap Crafters!
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: Trends | No Comments »
Louisville’s Home Sales Market out performs much of the nation!
Author: Bob | June 2, 2011
If you’ve followed home sales reports around the nation you know the housing recovery is see-saw at best. But the new Louisville numbers for May 2011 of homes going under contract show some encouraging signs. We’re up 6% over May 2010 and that’s quite an accomplishment!
Remember in April 2010 we had just completed the first time buyer $8,000 and move up buyer rebates. So you could make the argument that May 2010 was a bad month for home sales because anyone in the market to buy a home would have made the purchase by April 2010. But that doesn’t account for the dismal home sales around the country in May 2011 compared to Louisville seeing a 6% jump in homes going under contract.
Additionally there’s more good news to report. The average sale price from May 2010 to May 2011 has gone up $3,1079. On the down side, the average days on market has gone up from 81 days last year to 93 days this year. That is a direct result of the number of homes on the market and fewer buyers out there.
Still the signs are strong that at least the Louisville market is showing signs of a housing recovery. Combined with some of the lowest interest rates we’ve seen this year (they were hovering at 4.65 on Monday), this is the time to buy for anyone sitting on the fence waiting to see if housing prices will drop any further.
If our Louisville trend holds steady, waiting to buy a house may cost more money in 2012 and interest rates will most likely not go down. Our office phones have been busy with people looking for homes and deals and they are there. We’ve added 3 new agents to help with the e-mails and visits to our web sites.
May 2011
| Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 1284 Last month: 1222 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 987 Last month: 921 This month last year: 0 |
| Average Selling Price
This month: $163,788 Last month: $155,243 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 93 Last month: 85 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
132,500 |
May 2010
| Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 1204 Last month: 2109 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 1345 Last month: 1108 This month last year: 0 |
| Average Selling Price
This month: $160,609 Last month: $160,442 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 81 Last month: 88 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
138,000 |
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: For Buyers, For Sellers | No Comments »
Texting while driving – Pass this along and save a life
Author: Bob | May 19, 2011
Our blog posts are designed to keep you up to date on Louisville Real Estate market trends and the latest news on our Medley Sokoler Team.
BUT THIS BLOG post is different! It’s about a subject that hits close to home for many of us. Like many, I have tried TEXTING WHILE DRIVING.
After seeing this video my texting while driving days are over! I’ll be sending this to our kids, you may want to consider sending it to people you love and care about!
We want to be your Louisville realtors… but more importantly we want you to be around to enjoy Louisville and the wonderful life ahead of you!
This video may save the life of someone your send it to!
WE CARE and we know you do too!
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: For Buyers, For Sellers, Trends | No Comments »
Mouth on fire!
Author: Bob | May 8, 2011
Like Spice? Heat? Burn? Endorphin Rush?
I thought I could handle anything Louisville served up. I was wrong… boy was I wrong! Beef O’brady’s has kicked my rear with their New Nuclear Hot Wing Sauce! Sure it starts out find… one..two..three.. but by the time you hit 10 you feel it. The Sauce is apparently made with ghost peppers…Ouch! Try them.. but be prepared to say uncle!
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: Trends | No Comments »
Louisville Home Sales – May 2011 – By Bob Sokoler – www.weselllouisville.com
Author: Bob | May 1, 2011
Louisville home sale numbers from April 2011 compared to April 2010 are down 17% and homes going under contract are down 44%. But don’t let the numbers fool you; remember tax credits last year artificially accelerated home sales. This year we’re looking at terrible weather, rising gas prices and an economy that still hasn’t stabilized.
Yet despite the numbers, mother nature and uncertainty, homes are still going under contract and being sold. There are more people out now looking for homes than in past months but they are looking for bargains and are not afraid to wait until they find one.
Some Louisville home sellers are coming to the painful realization they may not make a major profit if they want to sell this year. Deals are out there, sellers are willing to deal, interest rates are stable for now at below 5% and once Derby is over and the weather gets better we should see home sales pick up even more.
| Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
April 2011 |
|
Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 1222 Last month: 1374 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 921 Last month: 891 This month last year: 0 |
|
Average Selling Price
This month: $155,963 Last month: $152,801 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 85 Last month: 87 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
127,000 |
| April 2010 |
|
Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 2109 Last month: 1437 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 1108 Last month: 990 This month last year: 0 |
|
Average Selling Price
This month: $160,442 Last month: $157,639 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 88 Last month: 88 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
135,000
|
Topics: For Buyers, For Sellers | No Comments »
Learn about Louisville Real Estate the easy way
Author: Bob | April 20, 2011
How do you spend your time on the computer? Work? Surfing? Exploring? Learning? With two words I’m about to show you a way to do what ever you do on the computer and kick it up a notch or two.
Save time, get more out of your computer with “Google Alerts”! Never heard of them? It’s simple and yes, Free! The alerts are a way for you to have Google actively and continually look for whatever interests you and bring the information back to you! The process is fairly straightforward and simple.
1) Go to https://www.google.com/accounts/
2) Create a g-mail account
3) Go to http://www.google.com/alerts
4) Now pick a hobby or work interest even your name and create a Google alert.
5) Just sit back and let Google bring you the world
From this point on Google will search around the clock trying to find any words written and published on the Internet that match your search and bring them to your e-mail in box. (You can also set up your Google e-mail account to forward all of these alerts to your normal e-mail in box).
Set up a search for your name or business or topic and you’ll get e-mail when there’s a match. For example I have a number of alerts for things that I follow like Louisville Real Estate and Louisville Homes. Anytime someone writes about those topics or include those words in a story or blog post I know about it thanks to Google alerts.
Try it, let me know how it works and if you have questions about it send me an e-mail at bob@bobsokoler.com.
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: Technology, Trends | No Comments »
Encouraging signs for Louisville home buyers and sellers
Author: Bob | April 2, 2011
New Louisville Kentucky home sales numbers for March 2011 show some promising signs. The number of homes sold last month was down 10% from March 2011.
Ok, you may be saying “down 10%… that’s promising”? Heck yes… remember March 2010 saw large numbers of first time and move up home buyers in the market skewing home sales up for the first 6 months of 2010.
The number of homes going under contract was also positive for home sellers. Even with snow, cold temperatures and rain for a majority of March home buyers were still out looking at homes and asking their Realtors to write contracts. That brought the number of homes going pending in March 2011 to within 4.4% of March 2010.
The average home sale price is dropped 3.1% so home sellers need to check with their Realtor about their listing price.
For Buyers the news is good. Interest rates are saying under 5% as of this writing and sellers are willing to make deals. If you’re on the fence about buying a home take a look at prices now compares to 3 years ago. All signs point to interest rates going up this year along with home prices as the economy recovers. New encouraging unemployment numbers Friday show signs of the recession slowing that will move interest rates upward. Call us to schedule appointments to see homes!
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: For Buyers, For Sellers | No Comments »
This could change your life!
Author: Bob | March 27, 2011
I have been inspired by a TV Commercial! I know that sounds crazy but sometimes something comes out of no where and hits you! This commercial will take 2 minutes of your life.. but if I’m correct it will change your perspective on your family, your work and your life!
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: Trends | No Comments »
Louisville Home Sales hold steady!
Author: Bob | March 1, 2011
Weather played a key roll in slowing home sales in February. Yet despite snow, ice and freezing temperatures, 7% more Louisville homes went under contract during February 2011 than the year before. Sure it’s not a big increase, but hopefully it’s a sign of good things to come.
Remember last year at this time we had the 1st time home buyers $8000 tax credit and the $6500 move up buyer credit. Additionally during the month of February 2011 interest rates inched upwards for several weeks reaching the 5.25% mark.
So the increase actually in homes going under contract last month says a lot more about pent up buyer demand and bottoming out home prices.
The number of homes actually closing was down 5% from February 2010. The median sales price was up $1100, while the average sales price dropped about $5,500. For your information, the median sales price is the price that lies in the middle of the list of prices of homes sold, ranked in order of amount (lowest to highest or vice versa). In other words, half the homes in your area sold for more, half sold for less.
I will tell you our phones at the Medley Sokoler Team are very busy with perspective Louisville real estate buyers. We’re seeing more calls earlier in the buying season. So if the weather holds off and interest rates stay below 5% and gas prices don’t shoot further thru the roof (I know a lot of if’s here) we may see a housing recovery this year!
Feb 2011
| Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 1027 Last month: 895 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 614 Last month: 657 This month last year: 0 |
| Average Selling Price
This month: $153,612 Last month: $154,236 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 85 Last month: 93 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
131,450 |
Feb 2010
| Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 958 Last month: 770 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 645 Last month: 700 This month last year: 0 |
| Average Selling Price
This month: $159,105 Last month: $156,021 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 85 Last month: 81 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
130,350 |
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: For Buyers, For Sellers | No Comments »
We Love Our Clients 2-13-2011
Author: Bob | February 15, 2011
We Love Our Clients 2-13-2011.
Topics: For Buyers, For Sellers | No Comments »
We’re #2….Another new honor for Louisville!
Author: Bob | February 10, 2011
That noise you hear is your waistline expanding! The reason most likely… Fast Food! Have you noticed there’s a fast food restaurant on almost every Louisville corner? It’s not just by accident, remember there is a reason YUM Brands is headquartered here.
Now according to a new survey commissioned by the website “The Daily Beast “ Louisville ranks second for the number of fast food restaurants based on a cities size. Independent data collector AggData totaled the number of fast-food locations of the nation’s 30 largest chains in nearly 500 cities. The “Beasts” final list was limited to cities with a population of at least 200,000, and was ranked based on total locations per 100,000 residents.
Number one on the list (not surprisingly) was Orlando Florida. But Louisville coming in 2nd is a real shocker. Hate the thought of eating at a fast food restaurant? Consider Springdale, Utah, which passed an ordinance banning chains from setting up within city limits,
Ray Kroc (the original fast food founder of McDonalds) would be amazed at how the industry has grown in recent years. In fact, a new report says there are 15,000 more chain restaurants now than there were five years ago. The equals a 5 percent increase. Who knows where the fast food industry will grow next?
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: Trends | No Comments »
From our did you know department!
Author: Bob | February 9, 2011
Did you know there was a magazine indexing iPhone apps? Oh yes just what you may have been waiting to see! 947 apps all under one cover for the one low price of $19.99. Wait Nineteen dollars and ninety-nine cents? Are they kidding? Has anyone at the publishing company heard of the Internet? Remember Google? One click and hundreds of apps. Yet this magazine has already had 5 editions and appears to be raking in the bucks…but who is buying these magazines?
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: Trends | No Comments »
Louisville home sales for Januarry 2011
Author: Bob | February 2, 2011
Tonight there is some encouraging news for Louisville homeowners. New Louisville home sales numbers for January 2011 show the number of homes going under contract up some 14% over January of 2010. Not impressed, oh but you should be. Remember we had a first time and a move up buyers tax credit in effect last year. Add to that January weather was terrible! I can personally tell you it’s no fun slipping and sliding into and out of driveways and walkways. So 14% is a respectable number for homes going under contract.
The rest of the news for homeowners was not quite as encouraging. The number of homes actually closing was down 6% and the median sales price of homes was down $5000 from the year before. But Hopefully those numbers are the result of a slower December 2010 for home sales.
Our Medley Sokoler Team has been busy this past month. More activity than we can remember for a January. The glass is half full and filling up.
January 2011
| Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 895 Last month: 711 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 657 Last month: 847 This month last year: 0 |
| Average Selling Price
This month: $154,236 Last month: $172,640 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 93 Last month: 86 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
125,000 |
January 2010
| Number of Houses Under Contract
This month: 770 Last month: 735 This month last year: 0 |
Number of Houses Sold & Closed
This month: 700 Last month: 972 This month last year: 0 |
| Average Selling Price
This month: $156,021 Last month: $150,486 This month last year: $0 |
Average Days on Market
This month: 81 Last month: 83 This month last year: 0 |
Median Sales Price
130,000 |
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: For Buyers, For Sellers | No Comments »
What makes The Medley Sokoler Team top Louisville Realtors in town?
Author: Bob | February 1, 2011
Yea..yea..yea.. a lot of Louisville Real Estate agents make claims about selling a home! So what sets us apart from other Louisville Realtors? It’s our marketing, contact, staff and experience. But we’re also high tech! In fact we would much rather let our sellers tell you about The Medley Sokoler Team! So take a moment and watch the video.
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: For Sellers | No Comments »
All you can eat Lobster.. takes you back to the 1960′s!
Author: Bob | January 30, 2011
Lobster Feast an “All You Can Eat” dinner for Actors Theatre is an ‘annual fundraiser. The event was held Saturday 1/29/2011 at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. I went with my Kodak Zi8 camera. It’s very portable but as I found out doesn’t do well in low light.
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: Trends | No Comments »
All you can eat Lobster…No Kidding!
Author: Bob | January 27, 2011
One of my favorite foods in the entire world is Lobster! I can just about eat my weight in the Crustaceans in one sitting. I’ve even mastered a unique way to get the meat out of a tail without having to do any cutting. So combine an all you can eat lobster event with a fundraiser for one of my favorite Louisville organizations, Actors Theater, and you have a win – win!
That’s the background and why I’m thrilled this Saturday is the annual 2011 Lobster Feast. This year the theme is Pop Goes The Sixties and so we’ve been invited to come comfortably casual or dressed as a beatnik, hippie, mod or our favorite Mad Men character.
The price is nothing to sneeze at, $195 a person but how often to you get the chance to eat your heart out for a good cause! I plan to shoot video of the event and post it here so if you can’t make it to the event, you can see what all the fuss was all about when I post the video.
I have a history at this event. A number of years ago Jean West and I had a gentlemens bet to see who could eat the most lobster. When the clarified butter cleared the air, Jean had consumed 3 crustaceans to my 9. I’m sure she’s glad we didn’t place a monetary wager with that bet.
If you’re interested; the event will be held at the Louisville Marriott Downtown . In addition to the food there will be cocktails, silent auction items and a new-and-improved live auction, again all in support of Actors Theater. I’m not sure if there are any tickets left but if you’re interested click here.
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob, his Team and Louisville Real Estate at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: Trends | No Comments »
AT&T Are you Kidding?
Author: Bob | January 25, 2011
I just read the latest “AT&T Enhances Wireless Coverage in Downtown Louisville” This must be a press release from AT&T’s PR division. So if this e-mail/blog post reaches at least one of them I’ll feel better:
To all management at AT&T; you must be nuts. I used to be a supporter of AT&T. I ignored the reports of service problems in cities like San Francisco because I never had a major problem living here in Louisville.
That changed 2 weeks ago. I’m told after almost daily calls to your company that at least 1 cell tower is having major problems. That’s forcing calls to other cell towers. That’s why I can’t place a call from my office. The phone stalls in the calling mode. Noting! It sits! I wait! The phone stops dialing. I try again. The phone sits! I get angrier!!!!
Get the picture? So for you to release a press release that AT&T enhances wireless coverage is a disgrace! Do you think we’re oblivious to your attempt to promote your service in the wake of new I phone competition with Version? Come on AT&T give us an ounce of credit.
Equally disturbing in a quote in this self-manufactured news story is a quote from Jim Wood, president and CEO of the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau “This new system means arena guests can better communicate using their cell phones no matter where they are on game or event days.” Hey Jim, what cup of Kool-Aid are you drinking from? How much money is AT&T dishing out to the city for a quote like that? I hope is substantial because it’s destroying your credibility.
I ask any AT&T manager to come to my office and try my phone. Better yet, try calling me (502) 376-5483. Often (when call traffic is up) inbound calls go right to voice-mail. I’m thrilled we’ll be able to make calls from the new YUM center. Rick P. will be happy. Now how about helping the rest of us who may have been loyal AT&T customers but are eying Version as an alternative. I know AT&T is coming out with new rate plans to try to retain customers. But if we can’t make or receive phone calls what good is a cheaper plan?
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob and his Team at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: For Buyers | No Comments »
Oh my… how about a Trader Joe’s in Louisville
Author: Bob | January 21, 2011
I’ll admit I’ve never been to a Trader Joes but I’ve heard plenty about them! In fact a roar of approval went up around my office today when we read that they might be considering Louisville as an expansion city. The two operative words here “read” and “might”.
Now follow this…. The Courier Journal’s Chris Otts’ quoted a Business first story by John Kaman that “Several sources, who asked not to be identified, have told Business First that the Monrovia, Calif.-based chain — one of the hottest retailers in the country — plans to bring a store to Shelbyville Road Plaza in St. Matthews”.
The problem is sources are keeping quiet. No one from Trader Joe’s will talk until a deal is signed and according to Chris Otts “Tommy Edwards, who oversees leasing for Middletown-based Hagan Properties, the strip center’s owner… declined to say whether Hagan is in talks with the grocer”.
Getting sources to go on the record can be tough. But I think I can help Chris with this one (at least maybe). A Louisville Realtor by day and former reporter in my past life, I’m also a new member on the Louisville Hot Bytes website forum.
Now here’s where it gets a little interesting… according to a forum poster who writes under the name Nimbus Couzin The St. Mathew rumor has been confirmed… well sort of. Nimbus says “At the site of the Craftman Collection… and Kid Castle on Shelbyville Rd.. Apparently, the tenants there said their leases were non-renewed because a Trader Joe’s is coming to town! A second source has also made this claim”.
OK Nimbus spill the beans, who’s your source (did you get it from an insider at Business First) or did you just read a little further into the Business First story than I did?
Not sure what all this means to you? Well take for example Real Estate Attorney Chuck Crosby. Chuck and wife Sherry have been known to jump in their car on weekends and head to the closest Trader Joe’s in Cincinnati. You’ll find the two of them frolicking thru the isles grabbing Trader Joe this and Trader Joe that. I asked Chuck to find me some Ba-Tampte Hot Cherry Peppers (my favorite) but alas they don’t stock them.
Reached by phone Friday night (he was at the movies viewing The Green Hornet Movie), Chuck was all smiles. Chuck calls “Trader Joe’s the Temple of grocery stores, second to a North East chain called Wegmans (The Cathedral of grocery stores)”. By now you realize Chuck is both religious and a gourmet.
So Chris, there you have it. An almost on the record conformation of Trader Joes coming to Louisville and a Real Estate Attorney will save wear and tear on his car possibly no longer having to drive to Cincinnati.
Ok on to the next story… lets track down the rumors of a pro basketball team coming to Louisville!
Bob Sokoler is a former Anchor/Reporter turned Louisville Realtor 7 years ago in Louisville Kentucky. You can learn more about Bob and his Team at www.weselllouisville.com
Topics: Trends | No Comments »
« Previous Entries