Kentucky Real Estate Business

Archive for December, 2009

Hialeah, Fl, the “City of Progress” is located upon a larger prairie between Biscayne Bay and the Everglades. The name Hialeah is translated as “pretty prairie” or “Upland Parries”. The Seminole interpretation of its name, “High Prairie” the area is home to the Seminole Indian tribe. The area was discovered by Missouri cattleman James Bright and Glenn Curtiss who was a pioneer aviator.

The culture of today’s Seminole Tribe of Florida can be traced back at least 12,000 years. In the early day of its existence, the US government carried out a policy of displacement and extermination against the American Indians in the east US systematically removing them from the path of “white “settlement. Two legendary leaders Osceola and Abaca. Osceola masterminded successful battles against five baffled general. Murdered the US Indian agent, took punitive action against any who cooperated with the white man and stood as a national manifestation of the Seminole’s strong reputation for non surrender… though his exploits were not so well published Seminole medicine man Abiaka may have been more important to the internal Seminole war machine. He was a powerful spiritual leader who used his medicine to stir warriors into frenzy. For all of the resistance the Seminoles began the 20th centaury where they had been left at the conclusion of the Seminole Wars, in abject poverty and hiding out in remote camps in the wet wilderness areas of South Florida. The tribe has matured both politically and financially and the challenge of maintaining the unique Seminole culture while operating in the mainstream economy is the priority for them today. Until 1821 Florida was under the control of the government of Spain.

Entertainment was plentiful in Hialeah during the decade known as the “Roaring 20′s” The Spanish sport of jai-alai and greyhound racing drew visitors from far and near. Even the 1926 hurricane that nearly destroyed the city those who believed in the future of Hialeah could not be deterred.

Hialeah Park racetrack opened in 1925 and is one of the oldest existing recreational facilities in southern Florida. Racing drew spectators and competing stables from all around. When the facility was severely damaged by a hurricane in 1926. Philadelphia horseman Joseph Widener and Kentucky horseman Col Edward Bradley hired architect Lester Deisler to design a complete new grandstand and a clubhouse in the Renaissance Revival style. Beautiful landscaped gardens with native plants and a lake in the infield stocked with flamingos. When is opened again in 1932 it was considered one of the most beautiful in the world and became so famous for the flamingos that is has been officially designate d a sanctuary for them by the Audubon society. The track is gone but the flamingoes remain in this park which was once considered one of the world’s most beautiful racetracks.

The flamingo Stakes race was an important stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby for 3 year old horses. The well known cult classic horse racing movie “Let it Ride” with Richard Dreyfuss, Terri Garr, JenniferTilly had most of its principal outdoor scenes at Hialeah Park.

The Hialeah Park Racetrack was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and was determined to be eligible as a National Historic Landmark. The park closed to the public in 2001 but the facilities remain intact except for the stables. Since the closing citizens to Save Hialeah Park Race Track have worked to preserve it. They offer this quote ” the Park was once the most beautiful rack track in the world, it marks the beginnings of the city of Hialeah and its founders, features a unique central park area, and is a symbolic resting place for the horses that raced there and the millions of people who once cheered from the clubhouse and grandstand. Hialeah Park is the city’s most evident and only historical link with the rest of the nation. It deserves nothing less than to be completely restored and preserved” What the fans will miss the most is the ritual after the seventh race, the flight of the flamingos. The quality of racing in general in the area was adversely affected when Hialeah did not open up the backside to accommodate 1,000 to 1,300 horses from all around the country who were normally stabled there. This reduced the number of horses coming into the area to race.

From a population of 1500 in 1925 Hialeah has grown at a rate faster than most of the ten largest cities in Florida. Predominantly Hispanic, Hialeah resident s has assimilated their cultural heritage and traditions into a hard working diverse community. Citizens are proud of their ethnic background and strive to keep neighborhoods family oriented.

Nearly 92% of the populations are Spanish speakers The city was once proposed to be a playground for the rich but in 1959 Cuban exiles flooded in a finished building this working class community. Several waves of Cuban exiles streamed in after Castor’s takeover in Cuba in 1959. There were even more in the Freedom Flights, the boat lifts and the desperate boat people who in the late 1990′s set out in any possible conveyance to try to reach our shores. They have created a very successful economy and industry that has seen continued growth.

The city’s first slogan was “All Ways Lead to Hialeah”. From the beginning Glenn Curtiss and James Bright knew of the potential of the area but could not have imagined how important Hialeah’s location would be for transportation. Hialeah has access to every major means of transportation. The I-75 and the Palmetto Pwky direct economical access to the Opa Locka and Miami International Airports. There is Amtrak, Tri Rail and Metro Road station conveniently located with the city.

The Miami-Dade Public School System serves the city with 3 high schools, 4 middle schools, and 17 elementary schools. The Dade Christian School (Baptist) is the largest private school in the area and is a ministry of new Testament Baptist church.

Monsignor Edward Pace Hitch School, St John the Apostle School and Immaculate Conception School serve the primacy and secondary private school students.

Miami Dade College Hialeah Campus opened in 1980. In addition to academics there are many cultural and community events sponsored by the college.

The larges Santero Community outside of Cuba is in Hialeah, the Santeria World Headquarters. In a lawsuit between the Church of lukumi Babalu Aye v. city of Hialeah, the Santeria practice of animal sacrifice was ruled unconstitutional.

Telemoundo is the second largest Spanish language network. It is headquartered in Hialeah. There are several studios working taping programming, talk shows, news programs and telenovelas.

Hialeah is the densest city in the United State without a skyscraper. The city’s tallest building is 14 floors and is only considered a mid rise.

Sports enthusiasts can enjoy Major League Baseball. The Florida marlins and Minor League Baseball, the Jupiter hammerheads and the Palm Beach Cardinals play and hour and a half north in Jupiter, Florida. The hammerheads are a Class A Advanced affiliate of the Florida Marlins, and the cardinals are a Class A Advanced affiliate of the St Louis Cardinals.

The National basketball League Miamian Heat, The National football League Miami Dolphins and the national Hockey League Florida Panthers are all within a small driving distance of Hialeah. The United soccer League is represented by the First Division Miami FC and fans of college football will enjoy the fact that nearby Miami is the home of the Orange Bowl

Hialeah restaurants and bars are a mix of traditional Cuban and international fusion food. Asturias features a unique menu that combines traditional Spanish menu items like tapas which are small plates of different appetizers that are eaten as a meal, with an American influence. Cantina Okeechobee is known for their delicious margaritas and fajitas. At Caf?aul on Palm Avenue the Cuban coffee, sandwiches and pastries are extremely popular amount the locals.

Shopping centers and malls abound in and around Hialeah. Westland Mall, just off the Palmetto Expressway, is a popular shopping destination. Anchored by Macy’s JCPenny and Sears, Westland Mall features nearly 100 stores. There are also cafes and restaurants like Crepe’s Land and Havana Madrid Restaurant, Just up the street from Westland Mall is the Miracle Mille Shopping Center, whose stores include Ross, TJ Maxx and Lane Bryant. Across the street there is Burlington coat Factory and Marshall’s. Other nearby shopping malls includes mall of the Americas, Dolphin mall and Miami International Mall.

On the southeastern section of Hialeah is the historic district called Deer park. This tiny section of Hialeah is unique because its street names were probably borrowed from the natives who lived in the area. Per-na-na and To-to-loche are but a few of the interesting names.

Growing in Eastern and Central North America from New York and Ontario, West to Minnesota and South to Kansas, Tennessee and Oklahoma, the Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is a moderately large canopy tree belonging to the legume family. It is known by several other names, such as American coffee berry, Kentucky mahogany, nicker treet, or stump tree. The Kentucky coffee tree was pitted against the Tulip Poplar for the distinction of being named Kentucky’s state tree. It eventually lost to the Tulip Poplar (also called Yellow Poplar or Tulip Tree) in 1994 but still retained the title of “unofficial Kentucky state tree.”The Kentucky coffee tree is one of the only two remaining species of Gymnocladus still in existence. Its closest relative is in china. Gymnocladus means “naked branches,” which the Kentucky coffee tree has six months out of twelve.The Kentucky coffee tree could reach heights of up to 60 to 100 feet, with its 1-2 feet diameter trunk dividing into several large branches. Its leaves are ovalish and about 2-4 inches long. The largest Kentucky coffee tree on record is found in Morgan County, Kentucky, at a height of 78 feet tall and over 17 1/2 feet in diameter. Usually, a Kentucky coffee tree may live to be about 100 years old. A legume, the Kentucky coffee tree is actually a flowering plant that produces pods containing seeds that are otherwise edible apart from the toxic substance called cystine that it contains, which is poisonous to humans unless the seeds are roasted thoroughly.The Kentucky coffee tree got its name because the early North American colonists used to make coffee out of the tree’s large seeds. The tree however has no relation whatsoever to the commercial coffee tree. Nevertheless, the Kentucky coffee tree is still considered a good alternative source of coffee. Only the female Kentucky coffee tree may produce the seed pods, measuring six to ten inches long. These pods usually appear in late summer and sometimes last throughout the whole winter. Inside, the beans are packed in green gooey substance and protected by a hard, dark green-brown shell. Today, the Kentucky coffee tree is commonly used as a shade tree on larger, ungroomed properties, such as parks, golf courses, and other large areas. The Kentucky coffee tree has also been identified as a close relation of the honeylocust with its furrowed, dark brown bark and large foliage and reputation for being a tough, messy tree.The Kentucky coffee tree has preference for deep, rich bottomland alluvial soils. They are perfectly suited to urban settings. In addition, the largest specimens can be found mostly in moist hollows on soil made of limestone. However, the plant is tolerant of most soil types. For this reason, the Kentucky coffee tree is highly valued as a hardy tree used for landscaping.

While many excellent articles exist detailing cost-versus-value of home renovations, the truth of the matter is… your home is only as valuable as the neighborhood it sits in. Period. Let me give an example. You buy a home for $200,000 in a neighborhood of $200,000 homes and dump $50,000 in a sun room, renovating the kitchen and bath, hardwood floors, and what do you have? If you’re lucky, a $220,000 home. If you’re lucky. Because the bottom line is, people who’re buying a $250,000 home don’t want to live in a $200,000 neighborhood. They want to live in a $300,000 neighborhood.

More importantly, if you did list it at $250k and happen to sell it to someone unfamiliar with the area, that buyer’s appraiser is going to backpedal their way right out of the deal. Because appraisers run their comps from the homes that sold in that same neighborhood. And while they may “ooh” and “aah” as they appraise your home, that won’t change the facts. Even though most of us buy a home based on emotion, lenders don’t loan money on the warm and fuzzy feeling they get when they see your home.

Think of the worst area in your city. Now think of the best. Take two identical homes; place one home in one area and the other home in the other. See what I mean? What you have is the same home, but two different values. The neighborhood sets the value. The exception to this rule, at least in terms of price flexibility, is the home that does not sit in a subdivision.

Having said all that, fear not. This article does have redemptive value! What it can offer you are tips on which renovations will attract more buyers and help sell your home more rapidly.

The first and foremost renovation is the kitchen. The kitchen is the ultimate hangout spot for most of us. I’m not even going to attempt to analyze what that says about our culture, because it doesn’t matter. We just like hanging out in our kitchens. It’s the social hub of the home. And because were a food-based society . . . er, kitchen gatherers, we want our kitchen to be attractive to our guests too.

Depending on how handy you are and how much money you’re willing to spend is going to dictate the extent of renovations. If you decide to knock out walls and start from scratch, keep in mind the kitchen “triangle” principle regarding placement of fridge, stove and sink. That means simply that a uniform triangle can be drawn between the three. My own kitchen is more of a K,” but that’s another story!

Depending on the mood you want your kitchen to convey is where to go with cabinetry. Cherry or dark-stained cabinetry exudes a more elegant ambiance, while maple, oak and lighter woods convey a warm and homey feel. The hardware you place on your cabinetry could have a significant impact, too. Shiny finishes on knobs and pulls are less desirable than matte-type finishes, such as brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze. A granite sink is gorgeous, if you can afford it!

If you’re just striving to bring your kitchen into the 21st century, even a fresh coat of paint on old, peeling cabinets can make a huge difference. While attractive cabinetry is important, countertops run a close second. Avoid ceramic tile countertops, because the thought of keeping the grout clean will put many people off. If you’ve got money to burn, Corian, granite or even marble is your best bet. If you’re working on a tighter budget and have a flair for routing, you can install laminate countertops yourself. The tip to countertops is to avoid bold colors. Unlike bold colors on walls, you can’t make it go away with a fresh coat of paint.

Although new linoleum or vinyl are a far cry better than old linoleum or vinyl for those on a budget, the most popular kitchen flooring would be some sort of hard tile or hardwood floors. Laminate wood flooring is great too, but only if you don’t have hardwood flooring anywhere close to the kitchen. It makes a scary contrast when laid side-by-side!

You can never have too much lighting in a kitchen, especially if its zoned, meaning you have a switch for this section of lighting and a switch for this one. Take your time in placing the lighting, keeping in mind the location of the work areas you’ll use the most. Recessed lighting is also a very nice touch. It’s effective without being intrusive, and it gives any space a more updated look. You might consider under-cabinet lighting as it adds more direct light to an area but also creates a warm ambiance when all other lights are turned off. Mini pendant chandeliers over a breakfast bar or island is a very nice touch and can be found in both a contemporary or classic look.

If room allows, a work island not only offers more storage and prep space, but also makes a great place for guests to rest their elbows while they’re chatting with the cook.

The backsplash is always a nice touch to any kitchen, especially tile. The days of the hard plastic backsplash have long since past. Wallpaper as a backsplash is never a good idea, if only for the reason that people’s taste in wallpaper varies as radically as their taste in food.

Though the master bedroom and baths run about even in terms of what draws people, I’m going to address the master bedroom next. People want decadence. Not in terms of rich decor, but in terms of space. Bigger furniture means more space needed. Folks love the idea of a sitting area, even if they never use it. A walk-in closet is always a good bet. And though lots of windows are attractive, think about where you’re going to put your dressers.

Renovating a bathroom could be the most time-consuming. If you’re thinking about replacing the pink tile floors and tub surround with a more neutral color, you’ll need to remove it first. Again, ceramic tile or slate makes a bigger visual impact than vinyl.

As with the kitchen, consider your choice of cabinetry and hardware. A double-bowl vanity is a bonus over a single-bowl vanity. Enclosing the commode doesn’t just allow for privacy, but is more effective in terms of confining unpleasant odors. The nicest and most beneficial improvement in vanities has been the gentleman’s height vanity. Simply put, it’s a taller version of the standard-sized vanity. No more straining your back stooping to brush your teeth or retrieve toiletries. Again, matte faucets and hardware over shiny. Recessed lighting over flush-mount lighting.

When it comes to shower versus tub, more and more people are opting for . . . both! The allure of the separate shower and tub is this: shower is all function; tub is all luxury, especially whirlpool tubs. However, if your budget doesn’t allow for a full-scale bath remodel, consider smaller, more cost-effective updates, such as paint, flooring and fixtures.

So while a sun room, tiered deck or finished basement would be a wonderful bonus to any home, your time and money might be better spent enhancing what you’ve already got without pricing yourselves right out of your neighborhood!

Louisville is Kentucky’s largest city and county seat of Jefferson County. Reflecting the national trend, Louisville Foreclosed Homes are on the rise.  It presents an opportunity for real estate investors to make profitable investments and also families with low budgets the chance to own a good piece of property. There are certain tips to make a good deal while purchasing Louisville Foreclosed Homes.

First task is to search for Foreclosure listings online. They may give you information on where the homes are being foreclosed or are heading towards foreclosure. The Internet has revolutionized the accessibility to information. As such, you can gain access to information on foreclosure listings via the Net. Sometimes these listings may not be free and you may need to subscribe with a membership of approximately $10-$30 per month. This may seem costly but consider the costs that you save on the foreclosure deal and it will hardly pinch your pocket. These websites are also a good place to search for attractive properties and they list even bank owned properties.

Louisville Foreclosed homes are sold at very cheap rates as banks holding the property are in a hurry to settle the deal. This presents the investors a huge opportunity to purchase a home at a fraction of its actual cost. But the investor needs to keep certain tips in mind before closing the deal-

Sometimes it is best to purchase a home before it is foreclosed – i.e. in the pre-foreclosure stage. A home in a pre-foreclosure stage implies the homeowner has missed on his mortgage payments and lender has not yet declared it for foreclosure. The ideal way to track a pre-foreclosure is through a realtor or business contacts.

Louisville Foreclosed Homes may be damaged and derelict. They may be fully damaged by the angry owner. Also when the Louisville Foreclosed Homes go into auction after foreclosure, you have to compete with a number of bargain hunters. So the bidding will go to high amounts.  It is best to negotiate a sale with the owner before the property goes for foreclosure or auction. The owner is usually eager to make a short sale and avoid the experience of foreclosure, which will affect his credit record. The banks will be happy to get back their money.

It’s not how smart you are; it’s how connected you are. The business coaching industry is increasingly looking at developments in the understanding of peak performance to help leaders and managers develop their skills. Valedictorians and technical experts are toppling from their pedestals as a large amount of research confirms a new formula for stardom in the workplace. The qualities of EQ, or one’s “emotional intelligence quotient,” turns out to be twice as important as IQ or technical expertise in determining who will succeed in the workplace. Categorized as “soft skills,” the structure of the EQ powerhouse includes objective self-awareness, effective self-management, and the use of social/communication skills that help facilitate understanding and collaboration with others. In Working with Emotional Intelligence, author Daniel Goleman confirms the importance of EQ with an exhaustive review of research on top-ranked managers throughout the business world. Outcomes show conclusively that those with higher EQ consistently surpassed colleagues with deficits in “soft skills,” despite the presence of superior IQ and technical expertise among the latter. Since these skills are not commonly addressed in formal education, their development is arbitrary for many. Fortunately, there are solutions. WealthBridge Connect, an elearning company that focuses on productivity solutions for businesses and entrepreneurs, focuses their training programs around EQ development in today’s workplace. Co-founder and Chief Learning Officer, Dr. J. Gregory Gillum, launched his personal journey of self-discovery through the coaching process, and it changed the course of his professional life. Recalling the moment of self-awareness, Gillum remembers looking at his business coach as he said, “I want to do what you do.” His coach responded, “Why don’t you?” Eight months later, Gillum became an entrepreneur in the coaching world. Prior to his role at WealthBridge Connect, Dr. Gillum served as the Chief Executive Officer of humanfusion, an award winning coaching and consulting firm that focused on leadership and management development. Gillum’s mission as a business coach involves teaching the skills of EQ to individuals aspiring to realize their full potential. His ideas follow the findings of Goleman’s research: “If you can develop core competencies in this area, you will enhance your ability to rise in any organization.” Gillum’s unique approach to EQ training utilizes the integration of EQ into the four life domains, all of which are essential to success. Taken together, they encompass elements such as the organization of physical space, time management, effective focus, an objective awareness of strengths and limitations, and the cultivation of a sense of gratitude and accountability to the community and world at large. Gillum reports that as clients began to practice the disciplines within each domain, they experience a powerfully expanded sense of vision and possibility. Gillum enthusiastically describes transformative outcomes with the coaching process. In addition to enhanced self-awareness and expanded vision, clients can anticipate dramatic increases in productivity. “I coached a group of realtors, and every top performer dramatically increased their productivity during the coaching process. One first-year real estate agent landed in the top 25 (of over 300) for her geographic area. She was astounded,” Gillum said. “I have had similar success with financial planners, small business owners and other entrepreneurs. Coaching has a dramatic impact on performance in any field.” Gillum addresses the area of management with a technique he learned in the pharmaceutical industry called assimilation, an intervention designed for managers with work performance problems. The initial steps involve individual sessions with the manager and interviews with workplace associates who can provide additional perspective on the problem. The coaching strategy culminates in a powerful, live version of the 360 evaluation in which all parties involved in the problem assemble together. With the support of the coach, the manager must decide how to handle issues concerning employees and workplace issues. Gillum summarizes the benefits of this high-impact learning experience: “It creates public accountability and also requires everyone’s participation in getting to solutions. The manager’s performance improves, and the resulting ‘buy-in’ strengthens the sense of community.” A critical part of the coaching experience is client behavioral assessment. To address this critical success factor, Gillum uses the Winslow Dynamics Profile (WDP), thought to be the gold standard of assessments by behavioral psychologists worldwide. WDP measures 24 critical traits, including the individual’s emotional intelligence. WealthBridge Connect is one of the few companies in the Midwest licensed to use the WDP. Apart from his own passion for the work of WealthBridge Connect, Gillum is confident about the future of coaching. “Coaching is rapidly being legitimized in the business literature, as well as through personal and organizational validation with objective outcomes. Rapid changes in the workplace will necessitate the need for coaching as we move deeper into the information age, with knowledge workers becoming more in demand. The new work environment will require a visionary style of management, which gives employees permission to explore, question, and participate in the development of their own potential, and to contribute meaning and significance to the mission of their organizations.” ###

Dr. Gillum is the Chief Learning Officer of WealthBridge Connect, Inc. As CLO, his primary role is managing the universe of information that WealthBridge members use to drive their business to new heights. He lives with his wife and two children on a farm in central Kentucky.

The down turn in the global economy has made pay cuts and job loss the order of the day. A lot of people are defaulting on their loan and mortgage payments and as a result they are being foreclosed by banks or financial institutions. That is why there are a lot of foreclosed properties available in the market for home buyers to choose from. Louisville in Jefferson County of Kentucky, USA is also not an exception to this trend. If you are planning to settle down in Louisville by buying a property there then you should first peruse various listing of Louisville Foreclosures.

There are various steps of buying a foreclosures property and these basic steps are as follows: ·        Know about the various types of Foreclosure properties and their legal aspects ·        Find out about your own specifications about the property you want to buy ·        Set your budget for buying a foreclosed property and secure your finance ·        Settle on a representative to bid for you in force closure auctions. However, before settling on a property from the Louisville Foreclosures you should keep certain key things in mind. You should glean extensive information about different types of foreclosed properties like Notice of Default (NOD), Notice of Trustee (NOT) and Real Estate Owned (RTO) foreclosed properties. You should decide which end of the foreclosure cycle you want to buy the property from. It would be safer to buy a property already foreclosed by a bank or government but then again with these properties you have to deal with a larger pool of buyers. Secondly, you should understand your own requirements first if you are planning to buy a property from Louisville Foreclosures for your own use. You should first decide what size of property you need, that means settling on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you might need. Then fine tune the other specification like pools and yards. If you have got small children then you surely need a home with a yard to play for them.Various foreclosures listing websites available in the internet can be of immense help to you in this regard. Before you refine your property search you can use these broader criterions to check out the various foreclosed properties available in the market. All you need to do is to log into these websites and get registered with them for a small fee. Then you can avail all those information about foreclosure listings which were earlier available to professional real estate agents.

Nestled just outside of Atlanta, Marietta, GA offers residents and visitors alike a rare glimpse into the quaint side of life that people here have come to know and love.A small city populated with impressive school systems, historic squares and miles of tree-lined streets, Marietta is worth a visit and certainly a good place to search an apartment, especially if you’re looking for a change of pace.Southern Polytechnic State University, Chattahoochee Technical College and Life University are located here, and the city operates its own school district, separate from the county. Dobbins Air Reserve Base is on the south side of town, separated from SPSU by a Lockheed-Martin manufacturing plant. The major local landmark in Marietta is the Big Chicken, a large, metal, animated chicken structure atop what is now a Kentucky Fried Chicken, located east of downtown at the city’s busiest intersection. Even as the city has become more urbanized, locals still give directions by referencing it.The school district, Marietta City Schools, is one of the smallest in Metro Atlanta, operating only one high school, Marietta High School, one middle school, Marietta Middle School, and several elementary schools. Many, such as Marietta High School, and A.L. Buruss are Georgia Schools of Excellence.The city also operates Marietta Power under the auspices of the Board of Lights & Water (BLW). The BLW is also party to the Cobb-Marietta Water Authority. The city formerly operated Marietta FiberNet, a fiber optic network, but was forced to sell the network to American Fiber Systems after substantial losses.Downtown Marietta features Glover Park, the historic town square and former location of the county courthouse. The Strand Theatre on the square is being renovated back to its original design. The Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum, also called “Scarlett On the Square,” houses one of the world’s most extensive collections of memorabilia related to both the book and the film. The CSX trains between Atlanta and Chattanooga (Western & Atlantic Subdivision) still run a block west of the town square, past the train depot (now the visitor center) and the Kennesaw House, one of only two buildings in Marietta not burned to the ground in Sherman’s March to the Sea.Marietta’s sister cities are Heredia, Costa Rica and Linz am Rhein, Germany.