I just returned back from my very first trip to Aruba. Aruba is a beautiful county, boasting some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, while at the same time being home to the desert. Seems like a strange combination, but certainly makes this tiny island unique.

Over the last few years Aruba has found itself in the mist of a construction boom including both low and high end properties. Those properties include luxury hotels and condominiums on the beach. According to GlobalPropertyGuide.com, the average price of a beach front condominium ranges from $500,000 to $1 million in U.S. dollar. Houses in Aruba on average run about $1,476 per sq. m.
Aruba should continue to see prices rise as they are quickly becoming the tourism hot spot in the Caribbean partially because the pristine white beaches, constant trade winds cooling the atmosphere and maybe the most important factor - being located outside of the hurricane belt.

I also feel the residents of Aruba certainly have an impact on why the place is so popular amongst tourist and individuals looking for investment opportunities. The people are so nice! I can’t say that enough. Everyone truly goes out of their way to ensure visitors have a great visit to their beloved country. Excellent food, accommodations and hospitality are the norm in this county. We were even invited into the home of the former Ambassador of Aruba to enjoy a nice dinner. I can't ever recall a stranger inviting other strangers into their home for dinner here in the United States.

During one afternoon, my group took a private Jeep tour of the island. One member or our group asked the tour guide if he could stop for a restroom break. Guess where he took us? Over to his brother’s house. His brother was more than honored to welcome us into his home and was more than happy to be “the bathroom break” pit stop location. Just goes to show that native Aruban’s embrace kindness and know a thing or two about great hospitality!

(Pictures from the Ambassador of Aruba's home)

Are you looking to buy or sell a home in the Caribbean or in other parts of the world? I have been involvement in numerous transactions in various states and across the world. Feel free to contact me and I will put my connections to work free of charge to you!

Wishing you all my best! Reporting live here in Lexington, Kentucky! – www.KimSoper.com!

Here is a picture from the Ball Homes Gold Key Club breakfast recently held here in Lexington, Kentucky.  I am pictured with my good friend Meredith and Kentucky Basketball Coach John Calipari. Well, it's not the real Coach Calipari, but close enough!

The Ball Homes Gold Key Club breakfast is an annual program by Ball Homes to honor those agents who have a consistent track record of selling their new construction homes year after year. I have been a member of the club for several years and my clients love their Ball Homes. Ball is the oldest builder and the largest builder in Central Kentucky and have been building in the area since the 1950's. Ball Homes is locally owned and operated and have developed many great neighborhoods in Lexington, Georgetown, Versailles, Richmond and Nicholasville.


Are you thinking of building a new home? Let me guide you from the ground up! There are many aspects of building and you need a proven agent with extensive new construction experience. Building is an exciting and fun process and you can truly create the home of your dreams. Call/email/text me today and let's discuss your next home!

Wishing you all my best! Reporting live here in Lexington, Kentucky! – www.KimSoper.com!

Here is a picture of me standing next to a GIANT icicle while waiting to show a house in the Tahoma Terrace neighborhood in beautiful Lexington, KY! Thanks to my buddy Brian for taking the pic while we wait for our client to arrive!

Tahoma Terrace is a hotspot when it comes to Lexington living. Just minutes from Central Baptist Hospital and downtown Lexington, Tahoma Terrace is a sought-after older established Lexington neighborhood with large lots, tree lined streets and a picturesque setting of peace and quiet all neatly placed in the middle of the city. Located off of Nicholasville Road, this gem area is within walking distance to the University of Kentucky Arboretum. It has even been reported that one out of state buyer bought a home sight unseen, just to be in the neighborhood.




Bottom Line: Tahoma Terrace will continue to be a sought after neighborhood. Want to see the homes in Tahoma Terrace? Click here to email me and I will send them to you in minutes! These homes don’t last long so don’t miss out!

Wishing you all my best! Reporting live here in Lexington, Kentucky! – www.KimSoper.com!

Lexington is covered in a blanket of the white fluffy stuff! Overnight Lexington saw a good 3-4 inches cover the roads and the landscape. They are forecasting another 2-3 inches later today and when it’s all said and done, Lexington should see between 5-8 inches of snow. As I was out this morning snapping a few pictures for my website, I was stopped by a WKYT TV crew and Reporter Janet Kim.  I did a quick interview on road conditions and how the Lexington neighborhoods were being cleared by road crews (I’ll try to get a copy of the video). It sure was extremely cold just being out for a few short minutes. If you must go out, drive safe and allow for extra time to reach your destination. Of course, dress in layers too! Even though the snow is very beautiful, I’m so ready for springtime in Lexington, Kentucky! Keenelend, the Kentucky Derby and the Derby parties are the highlights of springtime in Kentucky. Hurry up Mother Nature and get spring here for us Kentuckians!



Wishing you all my best! Reporting live here in Lexington, Kentucky! – www.KimSoper.com!

Here is a picture I recently snapped at the Federal Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Cup Qualifier here in the Horse Capital of the World, beautiful Lexington, Kentucky. The jumping event took place at the brand new indoor stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park. Of course Lexington will host the 2010 World Equestrian Games beginning in September 2010. This will be the very first time the World Games have been held outside of Europe. The city is currently undergoing many projects to accommodate the guest and participants of the games. Lexington and its residents are abuzz and extremely proud to host the games for the very first time in the United States. For all things FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit the official site at http://www.alltechfeigames.com.  See you at the games!



Wishing you all my best! Reporting live here in Lexington, Kentucky! – www.KimSoper.com!

Since it is so cold and snowy outside, I was just looking back on some of the pictures I took in downtown Lexington, Kentucky this past fall. I love this picture taken in Gratz Park near the Transylvania University campus. Gratz Park is my favorite downtown park and it is located between Second and Third streets in Lexington, Kentucky.  This picture is a nice flashback of warmer times here in Lexington and is a good reminder that winter will soon be over and we will soon be able to get out and enjoy the Lexington area. The beautiful fall foliage is highlighted by this statue in Gratz Park. In the background, on the right you will see the Kincaid Towers building,  a 22- story office building that serves as the home of Central Bank and Trust Company and WLVK radio, just to name a few. On the left side of the picture, check out the “Big Blue Building,” as it is commonly called. This building is known as the Lexington Financial Center. It houses Fifth Third Bank and other financial institutions.


Just remember the worst of the winter is already behind us (fingers crossed) and we are just weeks away from spring. When the weather warms up, make it a point to get out, get downtown, get local and explore our community. Lexington has a great deal of history, historic sites, pretty views, nice parks, great shopping and dinning and thriving arts. Put on your walking shoes and get moving! You just might like what you find downtown Lexington!

Wishing you all my best! Reporting live here in Lexington, Kentucky! – www.KimSoper.com!

Wishing you all my best! Reporting live here in Lexington, Kentucky! – www.KimSoper.com!

Today I enjoyed a great lunch with my Lexington Realtor buddy Whitney Pannell and University of Kentucky basketball legend Tom Heitz. We ate at the famous Wheeler's Pharmacy in Lexington, Kentucky on Romany Road in the heart of the Chevy Chase. Word on the street is that every Kentucky coach since Adolph Rupp eats at Wheeler’s after a Kentucky basketball victory. Even current Coach John Calipari eats at Wheeler’s following every UK win. Tom visited with us and we reminisced about his playing days for the Kentucky Wildcats. He has many funny stories from his playing days and it was a blast getting to hang with him and Whitney for lunch. After lunch, Tom was headed over to the Joe Craft Center, the practice facility, to see the Kentucky team suit up for practice before tomorrow’s big SEC showdown against Vanderbilt.  Definitely a great day and if you get a chance, go visit Wheeler’s for lunch! You’ll love this little Lexington hotspot. Never know who you might see!



Wishing you all my best! Reporting live here in Lexington, Kentucky! – www.KimSoper.com!