Paul Foster decided it was time for him to do work that he enjoyed. After being employed for many years at the same job for someone else, he wanted to put his passion for art to work for himself and others. Paul has been painting and making art since he was a child, but about 4 years ago he started learning the painting techniques of famed TV artist, Bob Ross. When the Covid-19 pandemic struck in early 2020, Paul decided to take things one step further and he set out to bec

One of New Albany's most popular events in recent years has involved people walking through the streets of downtown in search of unique and delicious tacos. After a one year hiatus due to Covid-19, the Taco Walk is back in 2021. We had the opportunity to sit down with Heather Trueblood who is a program director with Develop New Albany, and she gave us the details on this year's event. This year's Taco Walk is being held on September 18th, from 1-5pm. VIP packages are availab

This weekend marks the 73rd Annual Louisville Home, Garden, and Remodeling Show taking place at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Each year, companies bring their best products to showcase and pitch to people looking to build, remodel, or just wanting to keep up on the latest trends in all things home related. This year there will be approximately 90 different vendors offering everything from windows to gutters and dog crates to mattresses. We interviewed Brent Calloway, Owner

If you've been on Facebook or other social media platforms long enough, you either have had your account hacked or know someone who has. Recently, there has been an uptick in Facebook accounts being stolen. That's right, stolen. One of my colleagues recently had her account ripped off to the point where she could no longer access it and all of her memories, photos, and business pages were at risk of being lost for good. She quickly learned that Facebook was unable or unwilli

If you like economic data and how it impacts the economy, especially the local market, then you are definitely going to want to click on the link below. Respected Indiana University Southeast Professor, Dr Uric Dufrene, recently weighed in with his thoughts on the housing market and what it means for buyers and sellers in Southern Indiana. I have had the opportunity to hear Dr. Dufrene speak on a couple of occasions and I've found that he is gifted at analyzing complex econom

More than half of first time homebuyers that apply for an FHA mortgage each year have some level of student loan debt. Because of how this debt is factored against the borrowers debt-to-income ratio, it can make it harder for first time home buyers to qualify for the financing they need to make a home purchase. Last week, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) updated lending guidelines as they pertain to student loan debt. Brad Sea with Kentuckiana Mortgage Group joined us

When it comes to buying a house, you’re looking for the perfect place to call home. The problem is, in today’s market there just aren’t that many homes available to purchase. With inventory hovering near record lows and sky-high buyer demand, a multi-offer scenario is the new normal. Here are five things to keep in mind when you’re ready to make an offer. 1. Know Your Numbers Having a complete understanding of your budget and how much house you can afford is essential. That’s

As my appliance guy handed me the bill for the repairs he just completed, he gently suggested that a $20 surge protector likely could have saved me the nearly $700 cost to replace the electronics in my refrigerator that had been fried. Add to it the hundreds of dollars in food that went bad, and a week's worth of frustration, and I decided to take his advice. Today’s appliances are loaded with new age features. Many refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, and microwaves are Wi-F

If I told you that you could make or save thousands of dollars, but you had to listen to some boring information for 15 seconds, would you do it? Well here’s your chance to trade just a few seconds of your time for potentially thousands of dollars saved in fees on your next mortgage. In 2008, Congress passed the Truth In Lending Act as a consumer protection law aimed in part at making the mortgage industry and loan process more transparent for borrowers. In 2011, they added t

It's those three words every home shopper wants to hear: Inground Swimming Pool! From the front curb appeal to the oasis out back, you can tell this house is unique from the moment you pull in the driveway. A hardwood floor entryway leads you to a first floor full of over-sized rooms and custom finishings. The Living Room has open 20-foot ceilings with a lofted study and built-in bookshelves up above overlooking it. The kitchen has cabinets galore and an eat-in nook looking o

Buyers and sellers in the Southern Indiana real estate market have endured a red hot market that spilled over from 2020 into 2021. For several consecutive months now, there have been more houses that go "pending" each week, than new listings that hit the market for sale. The housing shortage has been well documented on this blog over the last couple of years and the lack of housing inventory continues to create a difficult environment for buyers. But that may be changing. T

Hey all you 812'ers. If you are in the market to buy a home in Southern Indiana, then you know how tough it is to find a great place right now. We wanted to highlight one of the areas newest listings that is worth taking a look at this weekend or sharing with someone you know who is looking. *Listing courtesy of Rapier Real Estate Group This home is located in the Harmony Woods subdivision in Memphis, Indiana making it an approximately 20 minute drive to either downtown Loui

In today’s market, finding a home you want to buy is only half the battle. Winning that home against other aggressive home buyers is often the bigger challenge. So what is today's home buyer to do? We are obviously biased, but we believe connecting with a Realtor who has the experience required to guide you through the buying process is goal number one. Real estate agents who are new and/or don't know the purchase contract inside and out will put you at a negotiating disad

CURRENT MARKET TRENDS MAY 2021 At the 812 Living Group, we track real estate data in order to spot local and national housing trends that may provide useful information to our clients during the home buying and selling process. Please note some of these trends can be attributed to seasonal patterns, national and regional economic forces, and/or issues specific to our local market. Here’s what you’ll learn in this article: The current state of the Southern Indiana real estat

Here's what you'll learn in this post: Expectations for next year's Indiana property tax bills Process for how you can appeal your assessment Contact information for your local government officials who can help Links to state resources regarding property tax assessments. Each year as springtime arrives in Southern Indiana, it brings with it sunshine, budding trees, blooming flowers, and the dreaded property tax assessments. This year is no different as counties in our area be

Property values are rising in Southern Indiana and all over the country. That’s good news for property owners. In fact, most experts are calling for home prices to continue appreciating over the next several years. The average expert projection for home price appreciation is roughly 6% in 2021. And the most recent Home Price Expectation Survey, a survey of over one hundred economists, real estate experts, and investment and market strategists, expects home appreciation to c

There has been a lot of discussion as to what will happen once the 2.3 million households currently in forbearance no longer have the protection of the program. Some assume there could potentially be millions of foreclosures ready to hit the market. However, there are four reasons that likely won’t happen. 1. Almost 50% Leave Forbearance Already Caught Up on Payments According to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), data through March 28 show that 48.9% of homeowners who h

The market remains strong. We shared these three tips with our buyer clients in the Summer of 2020 and the market has only grown more competitive. Take a look at just three of our tips for preparing to 'win the house' when you're shopping for a home this year. For even more tips, visit us at 812Living.com or message us via email at 812Living@gmail.com #812LivingGroup #RealEstate #WinTheHouse > 812 Living Group - More than just a real estate company, but a community partner <

As a real estate team, we believe in home ownership. And when you are ready to buy or sell a home, we want to be the team that helps you. But sometimes our clients aren't ready to move. In fact in recent years, we've helped dozens of clients purchase a home who may not be ready to move again, but still may be able to take advantage of the booming local real estate market by reconfiguring their mortgage. Southern Indiana mortgage expert, Brad Sea of Kentuckiana Mortgage Grou

So you want to sell your home? That's great, after all it is one of the best "seller's markets" our market has had in decades. Finding you a buyer may be the easy part. But getting you the best offer will still require some upfront work on your part. Here are some things you can do to prepare your home to get the most attention and thus the highest offer(s) for your home. Some Highlights With so few homes available to buy today, houses are in high demand, and they’re sellin