Louisville Offers a Low Cost of Living & High Quality of Life!

As was recently reported in ProBuilder.com, Louisville, Kentucky, has been ranked by the research website Niche as one ofthe most affordable cities in America! 

Niche, which ranks places to live, K-12 schools, and colleges, analyzed 223 U.S. cities with populations of more than 100,000 to find out which are the most inexpensive to live in relative to income.

They focused on criteria such as the ratio of home value to income, as well as median home values. The cost of other expenses, such as gas and groceries, was also taken into account.

Cities were ranked based on consumer price index and access to affordable housing, which is measured by the ratio of monthly housing cost to income. Louisville came out ranked 13^th out of 223 cities, with an overall grade of A-.

Traditionally, experts say that people should spend no more than about 30% of their income on housing per month, but it’s not uncommon for residents in pricier urban centers such as New York City or San Francisco to spend more than half of their income on housing. In Louisville:  

·      The median monthly household income spent on monthly housing costs is around 20%

·      The median home value is $140,400 vs the national average of $176,700

·      The median monthly housing costs for homeowners is $817

·      60.8 % of people own the property they live in

As far as quality of life goes, Louisville has great schools, and was named as one of Niche’s 2016 Best Cities to Raise a Family, too.  It has a diverse population, an easy commute, and a dynamic array of recreational opportunities available.

Unsurprisingly, Louisville comes out as one of the Best Places to Live in the U.S. – something we here at Elite Homes have known forever!

How to Move into Your Elite Home Like a Pro

Despite your excitement about your new Elite Built Home in Louisville, chances are you’re not as excited about the acutal moving part. The good news is that we have a few tips and tricks to help you get more involved without sacrificing the quality and efficiency of a professional mover.  As your big day starts approaching, here’s how you can be sure to move like a pro!

Ask Yourself these Questions:

• When is the official move out date?
• What can we live without and get rid of before the move?
• What packing supplies do we need?
• What needs to be canceled at current house and what needs to be set up at the new home: utilities, internet, address changes, doctors, etc.
• What will we need immediately after the move?

Know your Timeline.  Moving isn’t an overnight process, so make it easier by starting to gradually remove junk and pack up smaller items a couple months out.

Remove the Junk. No matter how long you’ve been in your current home, you’ve most likely acquired a lot of “stuff.” Start going through each room and figure out what you can live without. Toss old items, hold a garage sale or donate them to a local organization.  The less you have to move, the better.

Snap Some Photos. Take quick photos of various TV/cable wires and other complicated assembly items to reference when you’re setting them back up in the new place.

Use Other Household Items to Help Pack. There are a lot of different items that you plan to take with you that can be used to help transport others. Use blankets and sheets to wrap picture frames and vases, while throwing spices and other kitchen items into trashcans, baskets or even crock-pots. They’ve all got to get to the new place somehow so why not multi-purpose them!

Buy and Resell Packing Materials. A lot of home improvement stores will have boxes for purchase, but try asking friends or other stores if they have some they’ve saved or need to dispose of. Websites like Craigslist also have free or inexpensive moving boxes available. When the move is over, break everything down and use the same resources to resell everything.  

Color Coordinate Rooms with Duct Tape. Aside from labeling ALL sides of the boxes, assign each room a colored duct tape to mark the boxes so it’s even easier to identify and organize once you’re unloading.

Don’t Overpack Boxes. You may be able to stuff A LOT into your boxes, but try to plan ahead by weight. Fill smaller boxes with heavier items so they stay about 50 lbs. or less, while trying to keep similar items together.

Separate Your First Day Essentials. Plan an overnight bag for each person that contains his or her specific toiletries and change of clothing. This bag is also a great place for laptops and other important electronics.  Anything else that you may need in the first 24 hours (i.e. trashbags, cookware, toilet paper, etc.) should be packed in a clear storage box so it sticks out from other boxes in the truck. It’ll be easy to find, so you’re prepared for the first night in your new home!

Prepare Your Home for This School Year

Summer quickly came to an end here in Louisville and now school is underway! It’s not always an easy transition to get back on schedule, but there are ways you can better prepare yourself- and your home- for the rest of the year.  Try a couple of these organization tips to make hectic mornings and busy after school schedules a little more manageable. 

Clothing Organizers. Cut in half the amount of time it takes to get ready in the morning by setting your kids up with clothing organizers.  These simple closet buddies prompt kids to figure out what they’re going to wear the night before and have it ready to go for the next day. No more running around for a missing sock or their favorite t-shirt minutes before the bus leaves.

Create a Calendar Corner. This area will be the central hub for the organization of all assignments, after school activities, sports, etc.  Use white boards or chalkboards for easy revisions and color code by family member for easier organization. 

Prep the Kitchen. Especially in the first couple weeks of the school year, premade meals are going to be a lifesaver as you get back into a routine.  Plan meals and healthy after school snacks before the week starts. Store the meals in the freezer and have the snacks in a designated spot, so they know where to go when hunger strikes!

Stock Up on Extra School Supplies. Pencils, pens and notebooks will all go missing or break throughout the year.  Take precautionary measures and make sure your home is fully equipped with the essentials for when that time comes. 

Create a Homework Station. Especially as kids get older, it’s important for them to have a designated space to study and do homework that isn’t the dining room table.  Create a distraction-free space in a bedroom, living room or an office with a desk or bookcases and no TV!

Sweet Surprises Stash. A simple surprise may be all it takes to make a tough assignment and stressful test seem not so bad. Keep candies, post-its and other little surprises on-hand to stick in their backpacks and lunchboxes when they have a big day ahead.  Nothing like an afternoon sweet or pick-me-up note to get them through the day!

The start of another school year doesn’t have to be a struggle if you take advantage of a couple of these home organization tips.  Your kids may not be ready to let go of summer and go back to school, but at least your house will be!

5 Things to Consider When Choosing Your New Home Builder

You’ve decided to build your new home – how exciting! If you’re not quite sure where to start when finding the builder that’s right for you, here are some good things to keep in mind!

11.) LOCATION. Does the builder you’re considering have or build homes in the area you want to live in?

22.)  PRODUCT & PRICE. Does the builder build the kind of home you’re looking for? Size? Features? Are the homes in your price range? 

33.)  COMMUNICATION SKILLS. Does the builder respond when you reach out to them? Do they return phone calls / emails in a timely fashion? How’s the front office? Are they giving you good customer service?  This is a big must!

44.)  REPUTATION. Does the builder have a lot of experience? Have you heard good things about them? Have you checked them out on social media? What kind of comments did you see?

 

55.)  GO WITH YOUR GUT.  When it comes to building your new home, listen to your little voice. What was your gut reaction when you met with the builder or sales associate? Did you hit it off or no? Make a list of pros & cons, but listen to your gut. Chances are, if your instincts are saying “YES!!”, then this is the builder you’re looking for!

We invite you to call, visit our website and check us out on social media when considering us as your new home builder. We’d also love for you to come meet us in person so you can see if we’re the right builder for you!

5 Reasons to buy a brand new home this summer

Newly built homes are in high demand these days. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Homebuyers appreciate the peace of mind and flexibility of brand new homes.  If you’re still sitting on the fence, we have 5 golden reasons why you want to buy a new home NOW!

1. Timing Is Everything!

Summer is the perfect time to buy a new home. The kids are out of school, everyone’s life is a little more flexible. And if you act quickly on certain homes, you can be moved in and settled by the time school starts! Added bonus: You’ll be able to spend the holidays in your new home!

2. Have It Your Way.

One of the most appreciated benefits of owning a brand new home is customization. You get to choose the cabinets, flooring, carpets, light fixtures, etc. With new construction, not only can they be custom tailored to your style, they can be custom tailored to your budget.

3. Speaking of budgets… Look for promotions & incentives!

You might be able to take advantage of budget-saving promotions and/ or incentives. You could save thousands on upgrades, closing costs, or other costs.  Don’t hesitate to ask!

4. The Green Factor

Homeowners are more green conscious, and many new homes offer double- triple-pane windows, energy efficient appliances, energy-conserving, long-lasting LED lighting and more; all features that decrease the homeowner’s costs and carbon footprint.

5. Pride in Ownership

A brand new home means that you are the first to own it, to live in it, to make it your own. It gives you a unique sense of pride. After all, you’ve been here since day one, had your style incorporated into the home, and made it yours every day since then.