Dave Halpern's Blog Central

Need to know about selling, buying, short sales, foreclosures, or anything else about the Louisville market? You have come to the right place!

Enjoy!


Dave Halpern

Keller Williams Realty Louisville East

(502) 664-7827

Dec. 25, 2016

Help Wanted: Executive Assistant For Real Estate Team

SEARCHING FOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT FOR REAL ESTATE TEAM

 

Who are we?

You will have the opportunity to be part of an existing real estate business, grounded in the fundamentals of the Millionaire Real Estate Agent Models and Keller Williams Culture by helping build and grow to the next level and beyond.

Who are we looking for?

The Executive Assistant is an individual who is willing and able to earn the right to be an Assistant Executive. This person relishes the opportunity to build, implement, and manage multiple systems with minimal supervision. The Executive Assistant is deeply committed to completing tasks the right way with a high degree of quality, attention to detail, and consistent communication. This person has immense focus and can do one thing for a long time without getting distracted. This individual's overriding marker of his/her behaviour is persistence and stability.

An Executive Assistant is deeply committed to supporting the lead agent in achieving greater and greater levels of success, and to growing his/her own skills and developing into a supportive leader within the team. As the success of the team grows, this individual will be responsible for hiring, training, and leading additional team members to ensure all administrative tasks of the lead agent’s business continue to be completed to high standards with maximum efficiency.

What will you do?

  • Build, implement, and manage all systems for sellers, buyers, lead generation, database management, information management, and back-office support

  • Responsible for all financial systems, including maintaining the books, paying the bills, handling payroll, assuring the collection of commissions, maintaining the budget, and generating financial reports

  • Oversee all contracts through closing

  • Create and maintain an operations manual that documents all systems and standards

  • Coordinate the purchase, installation, and maintenance of all office equipment

  • Be the first point of contact in handling customer inquiries or complaints

  • Keep the lead agent informed regarding any problems or issues that need to be handled

  • Responsible for hiring, training, consulting, and holding accountable all additional administrative team members

Essential duties and responsibilities

  • System development, implementation, and management

  • Information management

  • Oversight of contracts through closing

  • Customer/vendor relations

Knowledge/Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

  • Exceptional organizational and project management abilities

  • Great ability to focus

  • Concerned about doing things the right way

  • Calm under pressure

  • Learning based

  • Service-based attitude

  • Proven ability to succeed

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred

  • Real estate license preferred

  • 3 – 5 years of administrative experience

Job Type: Full-time

Job Location:

Required education:

  • Bachelor's degree preferred

TO APPLY:

Submit a cover letter, resume, and a copy of your results to the DISC Assessment (can be taken at: https://www.tonyrobbins.com/ue/) to the following email address: Candidate@DaveHalpernGroup@gmail.com. In the subject line please write the following: "Executive Assistant, Dave Halpern Real Estate Group"

Posted in Join Our Team
Feb. 29, 2016

Hot Iron Skillet Covers Yoshimi at Louisville Tailspin Ale Fest

Hot Iron Skillet is a 7-piece band from Louisville, KY. They play a wide range of Jam-Funk-Rock-Folk-Bluegrass, originals, covers, and everything fun!

They woo crowds at such cool venues in Louisville as The Hideaway Saloon in the Highlands, The Monkey Wrench in the Original Highlands, and Time and Space. 

On February 20, 2016 Hot Iron Skillet rocked the crowd of about 2,000 festive revelers at the Tailspin Ale Fest at Bowman Airfield in Louisville Kentucky. Rave reviews on Yelp included "I danced my butt off to the live music all day long" and "The live music is incredible." 

Always a crowd pleaser, Hot Iron Skillet covered "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots", as you can see in the video, the partiers were swaying and rocking to the music. 

Schmitty (guitar), Ryan (bass), Benny (mandolin), Eve (flute & sax), Scott (drums), Nick (percussion) & John (organ/keys)

Posted in Louisville Events
Jan. 19, 2014

I Want To Buy A Louisville Fixer-Upper But Don’t Have The Money To Fix It Up

By Dave Halpern, Realtor, (502) 894-9194


Many home buyers want to take advantage of cheap foreclosures and cheap interest rates. Intuitively they know they can get a good house at a good price, fix it up and have instant equity.
The main questions are:

  • How do I find the deals in Louisville?

  • How do I know that it’s a deal?

  • Will a bank in Louisville lend me money to buy a fixer-upper?

  • After I get the loan to buy the house I won’t have the cash on hand to pay for the renovation. How can I get renovation money?

Well the good news is it’s not easy! Why is that good news? Because if it were simple everyone in Louisville would do it and there wouldn’t be enough opportunity left for you.


How do I find the deals?
You can try to scout out the deals on public websites. But to really get plugged into the cheap foreclosures you need to work with a Louisville area Realtor who understands the foreclosure market. Keep in mind, when you are buying a house you are not the one paying the Realtor’s commission. The seller is paying the Realtor’s commission. It does not cost you a penny to put a professional Realtor on your side dedicated to helping you find the deal.


How do I know that it is a deal?
Same answer as the first question. You need to work with a Realtor who understands the Louisville market. You need a professional Realtor who will understand the after-repair-value of the house. The Realtor should have the ability to look at the fixer-upper and know what the end result can be. You want a Realtor who understands renovations and can speak contractor language and understand your vision for the project.


Will the bank lend me money to buy a fixer-upper?
Most lenders will not, but some lenders in Louisville will. How do you find those lenders? I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but, the answer is going to sound familiar. You need to work with a professional real estate agent who understands the renovation market and has actual experience with local or national lenders who lend money on fixer-uppers right here in Louisville and surrounding counties of Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Bullitt. Your Realtor will be able to suggest several specialized lenders. You are also encouraged to research lenders on your own, as well, and compare rates, terms and conditions.


How do you get money for the renovation?

There are several programs available that enable buyers to borrow both the purchase money and the renovation money. The FHA 203K renovation loan is an example. They lend you the money to buy the house and set aside the extra money you need to get the house renovated. Again, you need the involvement of the professional Realtor who understands the program and the process and who can connect you with loan officers who specialize in renovation loans.

This whole process becomes very easy when you have the right professionals on your side.


Find a Louisville fixer-upper, get the money to fix it up, get it fixed up, have instant equity and a happy ending.

To get more information about buying foreclosures fixer-uppers in the Louisville Kentucky area call Dave Halpern, Realtor, with Keller Williams Realty Louisville East. Office telephone (502) 894-9194,  direct line (502) 664-7827. Dave has helped many buyers and sellers in Louisville and surrounding counties. Foreclosures, fixer uppers and short sales are everywhere. Let Dave help you. Come visit at www.DaveHalpernRealEstateAgents.com


Dec. 1, 2013

Buying Foreclosed Homes In Louisville KY – Frequently Asked Questions FAQS

Interested in buying a foreclosure in Louisville? There are great opportunities waiting for you, but surely you have some questions abut the process. Here is just a sample of questions I get asked all the time;

  • Can I get a good deal on a foreclosure in Louisville?

  • Are all foreclosures fixer-upper’s?

  • What if the Louisville foreclosure is a fixer upper but I don’t have money to do the repairs?

  • Are there foreclosures in all price ranges and in all areas of Louisville?

  • Do all real estate agents know how to help me by a foreclosure house in Louisville?

  • How do I choose the right Realtor to help me by a foreclosure?

  • Do I have to use a Realtor to buy a foreclosure or can I buy directly from the bank?

  • If I buy a foreclosed home do I have the right to inspect it?

  • What is the difference between buying a short sale house or a foreclosed house?

  • What if the foreclosed home does not pass the property inspections?

  • How long does it take to get a response to my offer to buy a bank owned property?

  • Are there a lot of buyers competing to buy foreclosures in Louisville Kentucky?

  • When the bank sells an REO (Real Estate Owned by the bank) do they care if an investor buys the house or an owner occupant buys the house?

  • Will my lender loan me money to buy a foreclosure in Louisville?

  • Can I buy a fixer-upper foreclosure in Louisville, fix it up and resell it at a profit?

  • There is a foreclosed house that I know about but it’s not listed with a Realtor. How can I make an offer on it?

  • How can I help someone I know who is losing their house to foreclosure?

  • There is an abandoned foreclosure in my neighborhood. What can I do to get someone to maintain it and cut the grass?

  • Will any of the debts from the previous foreclosed owner attach to the house even after I buy it?

Answers to all of these foreclosure related questions will be answered by Dave Halpern in his blogs. Please subscribe to my blog to stay current on how to buy a foreclosure.


Please call me at any time if you would like to buy a foreclosed home in Louisville, Kentucky or surrounding counties such as Oldham County, Shelby County, Spencer County and Bullitt County.


I have helped hundreds of buyers and sellers right here in Louisville. I specialize in foreclosures, short sales, and fixer-upper’s in all price ranges. I am passionate about helping homeowners buy good deals, especially fixer uppers were the buyer can get instant equity.

I work with lenders who specialize in renovation loans so the buyer will not have to pay for the renovations out-of-pocket.

Please call me at any time if you have any questions at all about buying foreclosures.

Please sign up to get personalized foreclosure property alerts to your email.

If you have to sell your house to avoid foreclosure – please call me immediately! I have helped hundreds of homeowners avoid foreclosure by negotiating a short sale with their lender.

Dave Halpern, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Louisville East
(502) 664-7827
(502) 894-9194


Nov. 29, 2013

Behind on Mortgage Payments in Louisville? Take Action, Don’t Wait!

If you are behind on mortgage payments then please, please take action immediately!

Millions of Americans are in the same situation no fault of their own. Too often that results in foreclosure and bankruptcy.

 It is extremely hard and painful to come to the realization that the house cannot be saved.

The worst thing that you can do is deplete all of your savings just to keep up the mortgage payments and then lose the house anyway. Another terrible reality is running up credit cards and other loans just to keep up the mortgage payments but eventually lose the house to foreclosure anyway. In these cases the house is gone, savings are gone and extra unnecessary debt has piled up with nothing to show for it.

The major problem is that house prices have plummeted well below the amount owed on the mortgage. If you are struggling to make the mortgage payments please keep in mind that it may be many years until house values come back up to make the house worth more than what you owe.

Did you know there is a totally valid and legal way for you to sell your house for an amount short of what you owe and never have to pay back the difference? It is called a short sale.

In a short sale your lender allows you to sell the house for whatever the market is willing to pay, even if that amount is short of what you owe. The bank calls it a short sale because they accept an amount short of the payoff. In most cases the bank forgives the difference and you never have to pay it back.

That debt forgiveness is documented in a short sale acceptance letter, so you get that in writing and never have to worry about paying back the difference.

The lender requires you to list the house with the local Realtor who specializes in short sales. That ensures that the house will be marketed to the broad public and get the highest price, as opposed to just selling for sale by owner or calling up individual homebuyers. Don’t worry about paying real estate commissions or closing costs. Your lender allocates money from their proceeds to pay all of your closing costs and commissions.

 I have personally helped hundreds of homeowners in the Louisville area avoid foreclosure by successfully completing a short sale on their house.

Please call me, Dave Halpern Realtor, at any time for a confidential and compassionate discussion about how you can put your mortgage behind you and start the rebuilding process as soon as possible. My direct phone number is 502-895-3100 and you can call me any day of the week and any time of the day.

Please take action immediately. Imagine a life without the overwhelming debt.

Posted in Sellers, Short Sales
Nov. 28, 2013

Choosing The Location Of Your Next Home

When looking for your next home make sure to select a Realtor who will listen to your needs and will help match the location of your home to your lifestyle.

Here are sample of questions your Realtor should be asking you;

Where do you work? How important is it to you that your home be close to your workplace? Is it important your home be close to highways to enable you a comfortable commute to work?

If two people are buying the home together, and if they both work, which spouse needs the shorter commute time to the job location?

Are there any non-work commute time considerations? For example taking kids to and from school, and taking kids to and from extracurricular activities.

Are there any frequent trips to community centers, shopping or recreation locations?

What are your hobbies and would they be a factor in the location choosing the location of your next home? For example, if you are an avid bicycle rider do you want to be near bicycle paths and other bicycle friendly venues? Are you an avid runner or jogger, therefore would proximity to certain parks be a factor?

At any given time there are many houses on the market for sale. Why not optimize the location of your house? The right location could mean so much more time that you will have available in your life to relax, be with family and friends, and even save money on gasoline and wear and tear on your vehicles.

Of course, on the other hand, you may desire your home to be far, far away.

As a Realtor I believe that people’s needs and wishes come first. It is my pleasure and my commitment to you to match a home that is best for you. I want my buyer clients to enjoy their new home every day and know that out of all the homes on the market you selected the one that will be your home base for creating new memories.

Please call me to help find you the home of your dreams.

Dave Halpern, Realtor, (502) 894-9194

Keller Williams Realty Louisville East

Posted in Buyers, Schools
Nov. 28, 2013

Crestwood KY Elementary Schools

Buckner Elementary School
Lisa Cheek, Principal
Profile Website Report Card

Camden Station Elementary School
Stu Martin, Principal
Profile Website Report Card

Centerfield Elementary School
Julie Scott, Principal
Profile Website Report Card

Crestwood Elementary School
Lori Wright, Principal
Profile Website Report Card

Goshen Elementary School
Lisa Peters, Principal
Profile Website Report Card

Harmony Elementary School
Michele Horn, Principal
Profile Website Report Card

Kenwood Station Elementary School
Lane Morris, Principal
Profile Website Report Card

LaGrange Elementary School
Heather Thomas, Principal
Profile Website Report Card

Liberty Elementary School
Jane Smith, Principal
Profile Website Report Card

Locust Grove Elementary School
Andy Moore, Principal
Profile Website Report Card
Posted in Schools
Nov. 24, 2013

Matching Homes to the Buyer’s Needs and Wishes

Matching Homes to the Buyer’s Needs and Wishes

Did you know that when The Dave Halpern Real Estate Group helps you search for the home that meets your criteria, we can search on 57 features?

We want to ensure that we match the home to your requirements. Dave Halpern will ask questions and listen carefully to the buyer's needs and wishes. Need a first floor master bedroom? We can search for that. Want a creek in your backyard? We can search for that. Want acreage? We can search for that.

Take a look at all the features we can search for.

Call Dave Halpern, Realtor, at (502) 429-9000 today to find your dream home.

  1. Number of Bedrooms
  2. Number of Total Baths
  3. Area of town
  4. City
  5. County
  6. First Floor Master
  7. Property taxes, county property taxes, city property taxes
  8. Price range
  9. Property Type; Single Family, Condo, Farm
  10. School District
  11. Street; main busy street, side street, cul-de-sac
  12. Style; A Frame, Berm, Bi-level, Bungalow, Camelback, Cape Cod, Colonial, Contemporary, Farm, High Rise, Manufactured, Mobile, Open Plan, Patio/Garden, Quad-Level, Raised Ranch, Ranch, Shotgun, SA Condo, Townhouse, Traditional, Tri-level, Other
  13. Subdivision
  14. Zip code
  15. Proximity to; shopping, schools, community centers
  16. number
  17. Acreage
  18. Age
  19. Area
  20. Type of financing; 203k,fha, VA,
  21. Basement; square footage, finished, layout, windows, walkout
  22. Condo Features
  23. Condo:Location In Building
  24. Condo:Maintenance Fee
  25. Condo:Number of Units
  26. Construction Status; Construction Complete, New, To Be Built, Under Construction
  27. Construction; Aluminum, Block, Brick, Brick Veneer, Frame/Wood, Log, Stone, Stucco, Vinyl
  28. County; Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Bullitt
  29. Fencing; Brick, Chain Link, Electric, Farm, Full Fence, Partial Fence, Privacy Fence, Split Rail, Stone, Wood
  30. First Floor Master
  31. Exterior features; Balcony, Creek, Deck, HandicapProv, Hot Tub, Lake, OutBuilding, Patio, Pond, Pool Above Ground, Pool Inground, Porch, Sauna/Steam, Tennis Court, Water Front, None, See Remarks,
  32. Foundation; Concrete Block, Crawl Space, Poured Concrete, Slab,
  33. Is there an HOA? How high are the payments. What services are included? Is it run by an outside management company or resident board of directors? How strong are the cash reserves? Does it have a reputation of driving away residents? Is it hated?
  34. Heating and Cooling type; Central Air, Window or wall Units, central air, Electric Heat, Forced Air Heat, Gas Heat, Geothermal Heat, Gravity Heat, HeatPump, Radiant Heat, Steam Heat
  35. Lien Holder Approval Required? Is it a short sale? How long will it take for the seller to accept the contract?
  36. List Date; How long has the property been on the market? If for a long time, why?
  37. Lot Description; Additional Land Available, Cleared, Corner, Covenants/Restrictions, Cul-De-Sac, Dead End, Easements, Flood Insurance Required, Golf Course, Irregular, Level, Sidewalk, Storm Sewer, Wooded, Zero Lot Line,
  38. Lot Dimensions, Lot size
  39. Is it in the flood plain? What are the monthly flood insurance payments?
  40. Garage; 1 Car Garage, 2 Car Garage, 2.5 Car Garage, 3 Car Garage, 4 Car Garage, 5 Car Garage, 6+ Car Garage, Tall ceiling for truck or SUV or boat, Attached garage, Detached garage, Lower Level, NO GARAGE, Entry Front, Entry Rear, Entry Side, Carport, Driveway, Circular drive, Off Street Parking, Street Parking,
  41. Preservation District; Anchorage Historic, Butcher Town, CherokeeTriangle, Clifton, IndividualLandmarks, LaGrange Historical District, Limerick, Old Louisville, Parkland, W. Main Street
  42. Listing history and pricing history
  43. Price Per Sqft
  44. Roof Materials; Flat, Roll roofing, Metal, Shingle, Tile, Slate
  45. Total number of rooms
  46. Square footage above grade
  47. Square footage in basement, finished
  48. Square footage in basement, unfinished
  49. SQFT: Total Living Area above grade and basement
  50. School District
  51. Stories; 1 Story, 1.5 Story, 2 Story, 2.5 Story, 3 Story, 3.5 Story, 4 Story, Multi-Level
  52. House Style; A Frame, Berm, Bi-level, Bungalow, Camelback, Cape Cod, Colonial, Contemporary, Farm, High Rise, Manufactured, Mobile, Open Plan, Patio/Garden, Quad-Level, Raised Ranch, Ranch, Shotgun, Stand Alone Condo, Townhouse, Traditional, Tri-level
  53. Subdivision
  54. Subdivision or Condo Amenities; Additional Storage, Clubhouse, Dock, Elevator, Fitness Room, Gated Community, Golf Course, Guest Room, Hot Tub, Interior Wheelchair Friendly, Laundry Facility, Marina, Pets Allowed, Playground, Pool, Sauna/Steam, Secured Building, Tennis Court, Rental Allowed,
  55. Total Closets
  56. Total Fireplaces
  57. Utilities; Public Sewer, Public Water, Cistern Water, Well Water, Electric, Fuel Natural Gas, Propane, Septic System

 

 

Posted in Buyers