Interest rates are still at historic lows.  As rates start to rise this will make the cost of buying a home even higher.  Now is the time to speak to a lender and see how much money buying now will save you.  Don't forget the tax credit for first time home buyers and those that have not owned a home for the past three years!

Call today and let us show you how we can help.

The new stimulus package is offering a tax credit (not a loan like the 2008 package) of $8,000 to any eligible buyer that is a first time home buyer or has not owned a home in the last three years.  There are some income limits and you should consult with a tax attorney before any major purchase but what better time to buy than now?

If you'd like any information on buying a home or the new tax credit, give us a call today and we'd love to help.  You can reach The Melinda Duncan Team at 859-422-2035.

With all the efforts of the government your best bet is always to contact your lender and try to work out an affordable payment schedule or refinancing with better terms but sometimes neither is possible.  If you find yourself in this situation, let us help you.  We will market your property and once we get an accepted offer we will negotiate on your behalf with your lender to take less than the amount owed on the loan but releasing the lien and therefore releasing you from your burden.

First and foremost don't wait until you get a foreclosure warning.  The quicker we start the quicker a resolution.  Make sure you get an up to date payoff on any and all mortgages on the property.  Sellers are often shocked and surprised by the fees and penalties that quickly add up.

Call The Melinda Duncan Team and let us show you how we can help you.  We offer a complimentary consultation and we will keep your business private.  You can reach us at 859-422-2035.

Secondly, as you may have heard the government has taken over Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  With the government controlling these entities it has once again instilled confidence in lending.   With this take over mortgage interest rates have dropped significantly.  This should spur some action in the real estate market.  According to many lenders rates should stay down in the 5 to 6 point range for some time.

This is a great time to buy if you have been contemplating it and waiting for the right time.  Please give The Melinda Duncan Team a call at 859-422-2035 if you have any questions.

I have got a beautiful historic home in the much desired area of Lexington.  Walk to work at the hospitals, University of Kentucky, and a short drive to downtown.  Please check out our listing at 1623 Nicholasville Rd.

Welcome to this beautiful historic home. You are welcomed into the home by a southern style covered front porch, perfect for sipping lemonade and watching the kids play on the huge front lawn. Offering all the charm and character of days gone by with the amenities of today you will love all it has to offer. This over sized shaded lot has a fully fenced private backyard with a two level slate patio. The home offers large rooms with gleaming hardwoods and updated baths. It also has a walk up attic with heating and air making it easily finished for extra square footage. The family will enjoy the partially finished basement with a warm and cozy fireplace. The kitchen offers todays conveniences with touches of the past in its built in butlers pantry and rounded doorway. Walk to work at Central Baptist or UK.

For more information give us a call at 85-422-2035 and we will be happy to give you a private tour.

Although we are not seeing the appreciation as we did over the last five years, Lexington stills offers a great investment opportunity.

Let us show you how a home purchase is one the purchases you can make.  It will likely be one of the best investment choices you make.

As a homeowner facing these terrible situations you must realize that it doesn't make you a bad person or fiscally irresponsible.  Loans were given to buyers that should have never been made and now those borrowers are facing a situation they never thought they'd see.

With foreclosure you not only face a loss of pride and your home but also your financial future.  In order to avoid this you must act quickly.  Call the lender and see if you can refinance to get out from under the variable rate or higher interest rate you may have taken.  Contrary to belief, lenders do not want to take your home.  This ties up money they could be lending and puts them in the position of becoming a seller themselves.

By employing a Realtor to help you sell your home before foreclosure proceedings begin you may be able avoid the inevitable.  Most lenders are willing to work with a Realtor on your behalf to come up with an amount they are willing to take to relieve you of your debt to them and your house.  This is called a "short sale".  By acting quickly you give yourself the time needed to sell and can stay in the home usually till the transaction is complete. 

The lender will notify you several times before the foreclosure filing.  When you determine that there is no way out give us a call.  We can help and are awaiting your call.  Please give us a call at 859-422-2035 if this sounds like something that may help you or you just want more information.

First, many sellers make the mistake of not having their home ready to sell.  Before selling your home you need to get rid of all the excess "stuff" crowding potential living space.  As much as you admire your knick knacks most buyers don't.  You need to present a generic home ready to personalize to their taste.  Sellers may also want to consider having a professional "stager".  For as little as $300 this professional will use your things, their things or a little of both to present your home in the best light.

Secondly, not taking the first offer.  No matter what you think the house is worth, what it was appraised for or what you owe on it, it is only worth what the market is willing to pay.  Many sellers overlook the first offer especially if it comes quick thinking there must be more on the way.  Two years later you may still be waiting.

Small price reductions don't help much unless they lower your price to a new range.  It is better to position yourself 10% under the market you are competing with and be the first choice by price alone.  Offering a buying incentive is also a good way to put your home above the rest.  A lot of buyers are asking sellers to pay closing costs or provide home warranties so why not offer it in the beginning?

Hire the right broker.  Make sure the broker you choose can get your house on the web where it can be seen by millions more buyers.  Buyers today are INTERNET savvy and want to first shop on the web.  Your house will be missed if it's not there.

If you need anymore information on this topic or would like to discuss selling or buying a house please contact The Melinda Duncan Team at melinda@melindaduncan.com.

If you are a buyer and all you hear is real estate prices are going down, why would you want to invest your money there?  As a seller, you hear prices are falling and you think why sell if I'm going to lose money.  This only exacerbates the problem and makes the predictions come true.

First time home buyers will never go away.  Those buyers add to their family and they become move up buyers and a seller.  There are also those people forced to move due to a change in life or job.  The main area of slowing sales are those people moving to a larger or more luxurious home just because they can.

Real estate is still a great investment in most areas of the US.  Those people that lived through the 70's and 80's real estate market know that this too will change.

If you find yourself in need of a real estate professional that can help you find your dream home or sell that property in the least amount of time for the most money with the least hassle, call The Melinda Duncan Team at 859-422-2035 or email us at melinda@melindaduncan.com.

First of all, take a look around the property as if you are the buyer.  Forget that you love this house or that your babies have grown up in it or you spent $20,000 adding that custom deck.  From the front door back critique the house with objective eyes.  Does the front door needed paint or those flower boxes replanted?  As you go through make a list of all the things you meant to do but just didn't get around to.

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness" or so they say.  But this is so true in marketing your home.  Don't just burn candles or kill them with potpourri.  Actually clean the house till it smells fresh.  Nowadays you can find a good cleaning crew to give it the once over and you will be glad you did.

Pack away all the knick knacks.  You do not need to "decorate" the house for the buyer.  Chances are your taste and theirs are very different.  Clear off all the counters of anything unnecessary.  Pack away the toys and the dreadful stuffed animals.

Lastly clean up the yard.  Trim the bushes and rake the leaves.  The yard is the first and last impression a buyer has, don't you want it to be a good one?

For a complete list of "Getting your home ready to sell", please call The Melinda Duncan Team at 859-422-2035 or email at melinda@melindaduncan.com .

The major cause of this occurrence is the loss of a majority of the sub prime mortgage market.  Buyers lost their loan commitments having them to back out of deals all together or search for alternate means of financing.

The overwhelming inventory of homes is allowing buyers to better negotiate prices and have a far larger choice of homes to pick from.  The sellers today are mostly those people that are forced to sell out of relocation, downsizing or financial.  Buyers are expecting these sellers to have their homes in top condition with fresh paint, new carpet and essentially in move-in condition.

New construction has also been hit by this downturn in the market and are now offering unheard of concessions.  From closing costs to free or reduced price upgrades, it is sure bet that if new construction is what you desire now is the time to check it out.

If you need to buy or sell please call The Melinda Duncan Team and we'll be happy to help!  We can be reached at 859-422-2035.

How then do you protect your piece of the pie?  Some neighborhoods in the Lexington area were noticing a decline in appreciation or even a loss in value in a time that most neighborhoods were in the rise.  To combat this many neighborhood associations are putting together a list of "to do" items on the houses in their neighborhood.  When even one house is run-down it affects all the houses around it.  Whether a roof needs to be replaced or siding redone or even new landscaping this can affect what buyers are willing to pay to live in that neighborhood.

Even if you are not in the market to sell take a look around as if you are a buyer.  20 years of deferred maintenance and outdated decor lead to lower prices.  When you drive by would you want to move here?  If not talk to your neighbors about ways to spruce up your area.  It could help for the day you are ready to sell.  You never know when the need or desire may arise.

For more ideas on updating your home or a free home valuation please call The Melinda Duncan Team.  We are always happy to help.  Our office is 859-422-2035 or email us at www.melindaduncanteam.com .  The best compliment we can get is a personal referral of your family and friends.  We sell houses, big or small!

What we are finding on The Melinda Duncan Team is that buyers are looking at several more houses before making a decision and making lower offers than before.  Therefore, homes are staying on the market much longer and selling for a lot less.  As a seller, you are competing to get the few sales available.  For this reason, sellers must have their home in tip top shape and be priced right to be one of the chosen few.

The Melinda Duncan Team can show you our points of difference in getting your home sold for the most money in the shortest amount of time.  We offer the latest technology and a team approach to getting your home sold.  Please call us if we can ever help.

We sell houses big or small!

What if I find a property I like but it is listed by another agent?  When we are representing you as a client we will be glad to show you anything in our multiple listing service.  Instead of calling each agent let us show you all the properties you would like to see.

Give us a call and let us show you how we can help find the home of your dreams!

You ask what this means to you?  For sellers it means that now more than ever you must have your home priced correctly from the beginning.  No more leaving in room to "wiggle" on an offer.  Typically your first offer is your best and you should try to negotiate it out if at all possible.  10% of the homes are selling.  Do you want yours to be one?

For a buyer, now is the time to purchase the home you have been waiting for.  Sellers are becoming more conscious about pricing so you may now have as much room to haggle as you think but real estate is still a great investment.

Using The Melinda Duncan Team for your home buying or selling needs will give you the experience and know how a tough market demands.