Virtual interior designer/home stager Stuccco.com compiled a wish list from numerous online sources that experts say homebuyers want in 2022. Many popular features aren’t what home sellers may think. Before you upgrade your home to sell, consider these top five homebuyer preferences:

• Laundry rooms 
• Exterior lighting 
• Ceiling fans 
• Patios  
• Walk-in pantries 

Laundry rooms. Homebuyers don’t want to go down to the basement to do laundry, so make room somewhere on the first floor. Include a built-in table for sorting, room for a steamer and drip-dry area.

Well-lit outdoor living spaces. Homebuyers want exterior lighting (87%), patio (82%) and a front porch (81%), a rear porch (75%) or a deck (75%). Landscape lighting adds a luxurious glow to outdoor spaces as well as an extra element of security.

Ceiling fans. With the sudden rise in energy prices, it’s not surprising that homebuyers want lighting fixtures to do double duty as an air conditioning aid, especially when cooling or heating a larger home.   

Walk-in pantries. Homebuyers want to be able to stockpile food and paper goods. They want to open the door to the pantry and see at a glance what’s on hand.

Homebuyers also prefer two-sided kitchen sinks over farmhouse sinks (81%.) They want a full bath in the living area (80%) and kitchens open to the dining room for less formal dining (85%.)  

Homebuyer preferences are changing home design. The National Association of Home Builders reports that new home buyers...

If you’ve been discouraged about buying a home because the housing market is too competitive, you’ll like the latest 2022 forecast update from Realtor.com.

Inflation, higher home prices and higher mortgage rates are impacting affordability, which caused many homebuyers to move to the sidelines. In April 2022, existing home sales dropped 2.4% from March, and 5.9% year-over-year, partly due to mortgage interest rates crossing 5% for the first time in decades. Meanwhile, home prices in April rose 14.8%.   

Home sellers are responding by putting more homes on the market in an effort to cash in before prices possibly begin to fall. Active listings, or homes listed for sale, are anticipated to grow 15% year-over-year in the second half of 2022. Home builders are stepping up production, too by about 5%, so buyers will have more inventory to choose from. Home sellers will have to become more competitive which will invite wait-and-see homebuyers back into the market. Housing sales volume for 2022 should be the second-highest in 15 years, even though a decline of 6.7% from 2021 is anticipated.

With unemployment rate near 50-year lows, wage growth should rise 3.8%, and flexibility to work remotely, even out of state, will continue. First quarter data showed that 40.5% of Realtor.com^® ...

A new study by the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) found that between 2010 and 2020, nearly 980,000 households shared $2.1 trillion in housing wealth. How did they do it? Time and patience.

NAR defines a middle-class homeowner as one earning an income of over 80% to 200% of the area median income in markets with 50,000 or over middle incomers. If they purchased in 2010 at $162,600, they were likely to accumulate $229,400 in housing wealth, 86% of which is attributable to price appreciation over time. Within these markets, median single-family residences appreciated by 8.3%.

The top 10 rising middle-income housing markets were Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale (103,690), Austin-Round Rock (61,323), Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin (55,252), Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (53,421), Houston-The Woodlands-Sugarland (52,716), Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell (48,819), Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford (35,063), Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro (34,373), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue (31,284) and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (28,979).

Another word for housing wealth is equity – the percentage of ownership you have in your home as opposed to the bank. When the housing market is good, it raises the value of your home because homebuyers want homes like yours. You can also build equity by paying down your mortgage, making extra payments toward your principal, and making attractive improvements to your home.

Housing typically increases...

Should you sell your home? Should you be on the market looking for a home? Find out all the answers from Principal Broker/Owner, Judie Parks and Broker/Owner, Dave Parks from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Parks & Weisberg, REALTORS®

https://www.wave3.com/video/2022/06/10/wave-listens-live-berkshire-hathaway-parks-weisberg-june/

Judie, the National News is talking about market shift, what does that look like in Louisville?

[Judie] We have had a shift; it’s not going to be as dramatic as the national shift yet. The main thing to keep in mind is this: it is still a great time to sell your house because we have low inventory. If you don’t price your house really well to begin with, you could be on the market a little bit longer than you anticipate. The other thing is interest rates have continued to go up and will continue to go up. Everyone should keep it in perspective. For us, it is still a very affordable market. The interest rates haven’t affected that much as far as being able to buy, it might affect how much you can buy. The one thing that is probably has been a big change now is that there are some sellers that are being asked to pay closing costs and prepaids for a buyer just because they are trying to get their rate down.

Dave, we know there’s all different price ranges when it comes to homes. Does price point make a difference as far as this market change or is it pretty uniform?

[Dave] It’s definitely not uniform. Different parts of the city are affected differently. You’re first thing to realize is other than inventory, the greatest impact on the cost of buying a house today is really interest rates. It kind of follows...

New Building Update! 1.22.2021

NEW BUILDING UPDATE! 12/23/20

As we say goodbye to 2020, we would like to thank our clients, agents and staff for a wonderful year. 2020 was a tumultuous year for many. We were blessed at BHHS Parks and Weisberg, Realtors that we were able to assist our clients in selling and finding homes.

We are very excited to welcome 2021. We are especially looking forward to moving into our new headquarters on Herr Lane. Construction is moving forward, and we wanted to share an update.

This project would not be possible without the support and trust that our clients have placed in our family business.  Thank you to everyone that chose to work with us through the years.

The new building is starting to become more real every day. This week the structure is being laid as well as our drainage piping. The sprinkler sub system is starting, and our risers are installed.

Next week LG&E will be on site to determine where our power supply system will be placed, and installation will take place soon after. 

We have designed a building around the client and agent experience. We have learned and utilized new ways of conducting business in 2020, and the layout of the building will reflect those changes. We will be utilizing open office concepts paired with smaller meeting rooms and offices to...

Halloween is looking a little different this year, but it can still be full of fun! Fall is in full swing and the Halloween movie marathons, pumpkins and sweet treats have us all in the eerie mood. Local places in Louisville have worked hard to find ways to execute safety and appropriate social distancing. Below you will find a list of places offering Halloween activities and how they may be operating differently this year due to Covid. The Holidays are almost in full swing and the year 2020 is coming to a close. We hope you spend your holidays with loved ones and that Halloween is just as spooky and spectacular as ever!

The Devil's Attic

Devil’s Attic is still up and running with their haunted house! Be aware of the COVID-19 requirements in place like mandatory face coverings. This haunted attraction on Hill Street includes themed rooms and spooky characters.

Waverly Hills Sanitorium

Although there will not be a haunted house this year, there will be guided tours with socially distanced actors and props. 

Zoneton Halloween Open House

It is certainly disappointing that trick or treating won’t look the same as previous years. However, the Zoneton firefighters are traveling to different neighborhoods to pass out candy beginning Oct. 25 and over the next five days. More than 4,000 bags of candy will be distributed. Woo! 

The American Horrorplex

The American Horrorplex is a Haunted attraction located on Northwestern Parkway and is returning with restrictions in place, including mandatory face coverings and temperature screenings. The Horrorplex is currently operating from...

Well, it’s official folks! It’s football season! Cue the hunting down of tickets, the transitioning weather, and the empty tailgate lots. We all know that Gamedays in the South are no joke and always lead to many celebrations on the weekend. Gamedays may look super different this year due to Covid-19, but that doesn’t mean they still can’t be fun! Just like all of us are learning to do, we are adjusting to make the most out of this “new normal”. Below you will find a list of ideas of safe activities along with some gameday themed food recipes! Whether you are going to the game or watching at home, you can still have a great time this season. The weather is cooling off, we are finally getting used to this school year, and it is just nice to finally get to watch some sports! 

At-home tailgate- It is very possible to follow the CDC guidelines and have a pre-game celebration! Put some hot dogs and burgers on the grill and just hang with the family this year! Even if you invite the neighbors or some friends over, you can hang out outside and be socially distant. It would be fun to buy an outdoor projector (a lot of them under $100 dollars) and hang up a white sheet or find a blank area to stream the game outside! 

Zoom game watch party- If you are used to normally watching the games with a big group of people, consider having someone share their screen on zoom, teams, or whatever video conference site you are familiar with to watch the game together! Everyone can still be “together” from the comfort of their own home. You can still fill the void of your social outing experience!

Weekend trip- If you typically...

Moving, especially in these times, can seem like a hassle and a headache! But, it doesn’t have to be! When finding your dream home, there are many steps you can take to make the moving process as smooth as possible. There are many different ways to go about buying and selling your home but today we are going to discuss the moving process specifically and ways to facilitate and organize the process! 

Before move:

There are many things that need to be done before the move besides just packing up some boxes. If you are moving to a new city you have to allow yourself time to become familiar to your community and with the city’s housing market. Remember to pre-plan all your traveling arrangements: flights, hotels, etc. in advance so it is not a stresser on actual moving day. Even if you are staying in your same town remember to research if you are in a new school district and what options you have. 

Moving is certainly not a cheap process and selling any furniture or items from your old home you no longer need could go towards moving costs. Plus, decluttering before a move saves you time packing and will make it easier to organize your new home. This includes using up refrigerated /freezer items if you don’t plan on taking them with you! If you know you have items you are keeping that won’t have a spot in your new place, go on ahead and reserve a storage unit so those items are out of the way come moving day. 

Making a budget will be tremendously helpful to keep a running tab of how much is spent over the course of a move. Depending on your flexibility you may want to consider hiring and scheduling movers or reaching out to family and friends to help. Make sure to set a time and day...

In this current Pandemic and with the rising social movements, we know it is even more crucial to support local businesses at this time. The economy has majorly been suffering and although our world is facing major issues, we know that we all love our community and the people that keep it running! Louisville is a wonderful place because it has the intimacy of a small town with the activities and accessibility of a big city. We are so lucky to live and work in this town and it is so devastating to see job loss and business closings. Below you will find a compiled list of my favorite 10 local restaurants and 5 local retail businesses that we can all show some extra love to during this time!  

Restaurants: 

1.Feast BBQ

A delicious BBQ restaurant with southern sides, cocktails, + more! Located in NULU. 

2. Highland Morning

A yummy brunch spot where you would be proud to take out-of-towners! 

3. Home Run Burgers and fries

Can never go wrong with a good burger! The type of place you never leave hungry and always hits the spot!

4. Le Moo Steakhouse

An amazing food spot no matter what time of the day! They also have entertainment with scheduled shows throughout the week. ...

As we navigate through this strange time where we are wondering about the future of school, sports, and everything else in between, we know that we have to make the most of this time regardless. Especially for our kids, these are impressionable and crucial years for them. The transition of learning at home was not necessarily easy for anyone last school year. However, we can be more prepared for virtual learning this year since we know it is coming. Below is a compromised list of tips to make this school year the best it can be. One day we will be back in classrooms full time and not have to be dissapointed from cancellations, postponed events, and everything else that Covid-19 has caused. But until that day, let’s stay positive for our children, and make this school year as fun and fulfilling as it can be! 

1. Have a strict schedule. 

Just like a typical school day would have, there has to be serious structure in order for your child to be as productive as possible. Try to make the home schedule reflect a typical school day as much as possible, including a scheduled lunch break and “recess” or play time each day. Also, making a visual chart that has due dates and zoom schedules could go far! 

2. Have designated school areas set aside in your home. 

It is really challenging for a child to have to differentiate school time in the place where they have play time. Having areas set aside as their new school desk space will be helpful in mentally preparing them to get work done and stay focused....

No one wants to have to compromise when buying their dream home! So, I can assume most of us would probably be thinking of how to save money for the furnishing and decor afterwards! There are of course many ways to shop furniture on sale or buy used, but today I will be focusing on how to procure some good home decor. In my opinion, the decor is what really showcases the personality of your home and makes it personalized to your taste. Enjoy decorating and styling your home, don’t have it be a burden! Below you will find a list of places and websites where you can find home decor for less. In my experience, these places have less of your typical cookie-cutter decor and look more unique and custom compared to what some of the more expensive stores carry. 

1. Peddlers malls/ Garage sales

There are so many hidden gems at these places if you are willing to take the time to look! Find super rare items that can’t be replicated. You may have to fix or add some final touches to what you buy but you can get a wonderful outcome for barely any money spent. 

2. Thrift Stores

Similar to peddlers malls and garage sales, thrifted items can be super special and add so much zest to your home. 

3. Amazon

Everyone knows that Amazon is undeniably the most convenient site on the Internet and it definitely applies to home decor shopping as well! Amazon is very easy to navigate and I can guarantee you will find what you are...

Ever since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been encouraged to only go out for essential purposes and our needs. Our needs have remained the same despite the world’s circumstances and one thing everyone needs is a home! Buying a home at this time may seem intimidating or like it is not a good idea, however there are definitely benefits to buying right now! Certain elements of homebuying have changed for safety protocols, however we are certain the homebuying experience is not compromised right now, it just looks different! Below you will find a list of reminders when buying your new home in this time period. The real estate market has not stopped and we hope you will not stop finding your dream home either! 

1. Be prepared for virtual home tours. 

To ensure the utmost safety of clients and agents, most showings will be virtual or by appointment. But, this can be a great thing! This gives you the opportunity to view more homes and not have to coordinate all the time it takes to schedule in person visits. Virtual home tours have been in existence, however now your realtor can zoom into details and personalize the tour to you and your needs. Be prepared to encounter some properties that are exclusively virtual tours. 

2. There is less buyer competition. 

Although the spring season is always hot for real estate, there are of course some that have decided to postpone the buying and selling of their home this year. Take advantage! There is more room to negotiate on price and there...

It is time to get out of the house! Whether you are seeking a good workout or a quiet meditation spot, go out and enjoy the beautiful weather and fresh air. The state of Kentucky, and specifically Louisville, has so many beautiful parks and trails to offer. Amidst the pandemic, getting outside is a great opportunity to maintain social distancing while still doing an activity. In this post you will find a list of some of my favorite parks nearby with tips of how to stay healthy outside and how to fight the intense summer heat! 

Louisville Parks: 

Cherokee Park is located in the Highlands and is the perfect place to go for a stroll or have a picnic by the creek. 

Iroquois park is a beautiful walk completely immersed in the trees and has a nice overlook of the city. 

The Parklands have vast open fields for sports and also offer activities like kayaking! 

The Waterfront park has a great view of the Ohio river and Indiana right across the bridge! It is a great spot to take the whole family and walk to dinner downtown after.  

Central Park in downtown Louisville is a great place to sit on a bench and unplug. It also features a historical amphitheatre.   

Kentucky Parks: 

Mammoth Cave- Mammoth Cave, KY 

Mammoth Cave has beautiful...

It is safe to say that quarantine has taught us all one very valuable lesson: how to slow down!  Of course we have still been balancing work, school and home life but nonetheless, we have had to learn how to occupy ourselves while stuck at home. As we are transitioning into our “new normal” and trying to enjoy summertime, there are a lot of people who want to utilize this time to reset and improve their home. Below is a list of 10 simple and affordable ways to make your space feel like new again! 

1. Add Plants

There is no better way to spruce up your home than to add some greenery! Not only can you improve your outdoor space with new plant additions but add them to the inside as well for a summery and lively touch. 

2. Get to the five-minute fixer uppers you have been putting off

Every person definitely has little projects around the house that they have always said they will get to “someday”. Now, as we are encouraged to stay at home, is the perfect time to knock them out! These little projects can be as simple as touching up something with spray paint, changing the hardware on a dresser, replacing light bulbs, or even updating your picture frames! 

3. Swap out pillows

A much more affordable way to give your furniture and space a new feel is simply by changing your throw pillows. You could even consider getting a few different sets of throw pillows that you could rotate out during...

Our Broker/ Owner, Dave Parks and John Allgeier, CEO of Southern Vintage recently joined WAVE 3 Listens Live to discuss unique ways to take design, update and beautify your home. 

Southern Vintage uses rustic reclaimed wood from 100 year old barns to create unique furniture, flooring and sidings. They do this to create an unexpected combination of styles, textures, and elements recreated into something new, beautiful and timeless.

"We want to allow customers to have an experience that is not normal in our industry, and that excites us. We're passionate about it." - John Allgeier

That passion carries over into the unique design and styles that Southern Vintage offers. Some of the more unique and beautiful things that the company creates are live edge furniture pieces. Live edge furniture delivers practicality, beauty, warmth and nature all at once. Southern Vintage carefully selects their timber to ensure they can preserve the character of each piece. The rough edges of our furniture are left to be what they were in nature, but we plane the pieces to reveal rich wood grain inside.

"This not only brings value but also brings history, it brings something timeless and it allows people to actually come in and add an essence to a room you cannot get unless it is reclaimed." - John Allgeier 

With Louisville continuing to grow in popularity and homes becoming more and more desirable, there are some unique ways that you can really make your house pop. In this market,...