I wanted to share some very exciting news. I have recently teamed up with Cypress Property Group, a great group of commercial Realtors here in Lexington. We have created an exciting new brand, the Cypress Residential Group. I am now working to help grow our residential division and expand our market share, while the commercial side continues to focus on and cultivate the already established multi-million dollar commercial division. Rest assured though; I will also continue to work as your lifetime Realtor and continue to be your eyes & ears out in the Lexington and Central Kentucky real estate world on a daily basis.

 

 

Our residential team is growing like a leaf. We already have several top players in the real estate industry on our team and expanding daily. The Cypress Property Group & Cypress Residential Group are already strong forces in the marketplace. Just during the first half of 2010, we have successfully closed over $20 million in transactions and our happy clients include hundreds of happy buyers & sellers, Raising Canes, Firehouse Subs, Drakes, Malone’s, Harrys, Sleep Outfitters, Smashburgers, CRM Hotels, MedPro and White-Reach developers just to name a few.

 

If you are in the market for a home, farm or any type of residential property, our team can assist you as always. If you have any commercial needs, property management, retail or office space, our commercial division will take care of you.

 I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and thank you for your friendship & support! Look for “Cypress in the City” in your neighborhood soon and join the official Facebook page: Cypress in The City!

Not often do I get to say that I am gearing up to watch a live basketball game in the middle of August. But here within the hour, I will be doing just that.  Our Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team is playing in a pre-season tournament in Windsor, Canada.


The game, along with Kentucky's games tomorrow night and Tuesday night, will be televised nationally across the United States.

As you know, I am a huge basketball fan and have been going to the Kentucky games since I was an infant. It is such a treat to have the chance to see a live game in August. I know my entire family will be tuning in. This is going to be a great chance to see Coach John Calipari and the guys in action. As you know,  we lost 5 players to the NBA draft back in June. All 5 were lottery picks and our man John Wall, was the overall #1 draft choice.

Tonight is a sneak peak as to what the new team has in store for fans.  I will be catching the game live at  Harry's Bar and Grill, one of Lexington's favorite hot spots. Where are you watching the game? Don't forget to wear your favorite Kentucky shirt! GO CATS!

Today sure was fun, but very hot! As temperatures hit the upper 90's my buyers and I hit the great outdoors and headed on over to check out a Lexington, Kentucky Horse Farm! Everyone was out today. Ha! You will see what I mean in our video.

While in the barn, we wanted to make sure the water was working over at the utility sink, but we sure got a little surprise and a big laugh! We found a little mouse in the sink. And this is why people always have cats around the barns! 

Cute and so funny. We had a super time today. Sometimes the best part of the days are the fun, unexpected life moments you share with your clients. That is when the real memories are created and become lasting memories forever!

Today, was just another hot summer day in the heart of horse county. Topping at 95 degrees it sure made you want to stay inside and work. However, I am a total summer girl and I love being outdoors. I am the kind of person who loves to roll down the car windows and just go! No need for AC in the car. I love to embrace nature's beauty and take in the fresh air.

On this hot Kentucky day, I drove down my favorite road in the entire state, Paris Pike, which is the main road connecting Lexington, Kentucky to Paris, Kentucky. To read more about this road, click here and see why it is so special.

I had an appointment in Paris (Bourbon County). The home I toured today was beautiful. The home was built in 1869 and played a huge role in the horse industry.  That is really all I can say right now, but check out these two pictures I snapped on my visit. More details will be forthcoming very soon!
  
 (On Right is the Door knocker.  Home built by father & given to son as a  wedding gift)

Tomorrow looks to be yet another busy day. I will be meeting with some clients who just recently purchase a horse farm  in Lexington, Kentucky. We are meeting with the inspector tomorrow to make sure the home gets a clean bill of health. Another busy day and school starts back tomorrow here in Lexington-Fayette County. Better leave a few minutes early to beat the back to school traffic rush! Good thing I love my job & summer heat! If you watch the national news, they say real estate is dead. It is far from dead here. It is hot, hot, hot!! Great time to be in the market and lots of deals around every corner. If you are looking for a home or need the perfect place for your horses, call me today. I will put you on the right track to finding your dream place!

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!

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!

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 is 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 will 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!

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!

Brrr! Winter has officially hit here in the Lexington Kentucky real estate market. You definitely can feel those colder temps the minute you walk out your front door. But before it gets bone chilling cold here in Lexington, spend a few minutes walking around your house to troubleshot and winterize your home to prevent future cold weather related issues. Here are 6 ways from Kim Soper, your Lexington KY Realtor on how to winterize your home:

1. Remove all garden hoses and water equipment from all of the outside faucets to help prevent frozen spickets, pipes and possible water damage to your home.

2. Have your furnace checked and serviced prior to heavy use. It is extremely important to change or clean your filters every 3 months to receive maximum performance from your heating system. If you live in a new construction area where homes are still under construction, it is recommended you change your filter every month.

3. Close up crawl space vents during the winter. This cuts down on drafts and helps keep pipes from freezing.

4. Check attic insulation for settling or movement.

5. Adjust all door thresholds to prevent air leakage.

6. If you are away from home during extended periods of time, it is recommended to keep your thermostat set at 68-70 degrees. Turn off your main water values and check your sump pump to assure it is working correctly.

Remember we’re in Lexington, KY and the famous joke about Kentucky weather is if you don’t like it, it will change in 5 minutes. That is so true! So just remember when you finally think those cold temps are behind us, they can sneak right back up. Always strive to maintain your beautiful Lexington, KY home year around and you will be A-ok!

Contact me today to receive more winterization tips or to receive your free hot sheet for HOT new listings on the Lexington, KY real estate market. If you are looking in Versailles, KY, Paris, KY, Georgetown KY and Nicholasville, KY, I’ve got you covered too! Don’t miss out….the market is already hot this first week of January!

Can you believe summer is officially over? Well, it’s Labor Day weekend and that is usually the marking of the end of summer. It sure was a busy real estate summer here in the Bluegrass. Hopefully, you had an enjoyable summer as well. During this weekend of rest and recreation, it's a good time to remember what's really important -- celebrating family and home. I hope yours is a happy family in a happy home. And I hope you think of my services whenever you think of happy homes. Have a great Labor Day Holiday!



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

Greetings from the Horse Capital of the World!

I would like to say ‘thank you’ for stopping by and reading my very first blog posting! Today is a perfect day to write, especially since it’s getting really cold outside (hello, winter!) and I would much rather stay warm indoors and chat with you :) It’s a quiet Sunday for sure, wrapping up a less than stellar week from our University of Kentucky basketball team. Our Wildcats did grab their fist win of the season on Saturday in Lexington’s historic Rupp Arena, but I am still not sure that was enough to ail our broken hearts over the lost again rival North Carolina earlier in the week. Don’t worry, though…I’m sure our Cats will rebound over the next few games!

Yes, I bet you can already tell, I am a huge Kentucky Wildcats fan. Most people who live here in Lexington, Kentucky are! But I am also a big fan of the city of Lexington! That’s why I would like to dedicate this blog primarily to the topics of Lexington Real Estate (where I live and sell homes everyday) with special emphasis on the Bluegrass Region. And also fun events and special happenings around the city. This will be told through a completely candid perspective, but will hopefully offer some really cool facts, sound advice, and valuable insights.

If you have ever thought of buying a home, but the actual process frightens you, then sit back and relax. In fact, make sure to bookmark this site as your ‘go-to’ destination for all things Lexington, Kentucky Real Estate. I’ll tell you all about my role as your Realtor and what that specifically means to you. You will soon see that buying a home is not frightening, but very liberating, instead. Once you know what to look for and are educated on the process, it can be a very fun and rewarding opportunity for you and your family! We will cover the basics on what to do once you see your dream home in a magazine to actually buying the home, including such things as the tax credits of homeownership and all the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of financing.

If you are a seller, check back frequently to read about such things as how to obtain top dollar, all the secrets to selling your home quicker and to maximize your leverage in a down market, as well as utilizing the internet for a quicker sale.

If you’re wondering just who I am exactly, let me tell you a little bit about myself! I am a true native of Lexington and LOVE this city! In fact, I plan to never move away! I graduated from Transylvania University with a BA in Business Administration and worked in media and public relations immediately afterwards. However, I always knew that one day I would be calling the neighborhoods of Lexington 'my office.'

Today, I work for Keller Williams Bluegrass Realty and for years now, I have been selling homes in Lexington, KY and the surrounding areas of Versailles, Paris, Georgetown and the entire Central Kentucky region. I specializing in helping first-time homebuyers achieve the American dream. Additionally, I work with horse farm owners, home sellers, investors, and anyone who needs help with real estate. And yes, I have won several Realtor awards, which I will not bore you to death about the details, but just always remember that I am qualified to help you with any of your real estate needs!So, that said, do you or someone you might know have a burning real estate question? Then send it my way – I’m always up for the challenge! Also, feel free to utilize any and all resources – such as mortgage calculators or listed homes for sale – from my primary website: http://www.kimsoper.com/

Happy reading! I look forward to future times together! -Reporting live here in Lexington, Kentucky, your LexVegas Blogger AKA www.KimSoper.com

                                                Kim Soper, REALTOR
                               Residential & Commercial Real Estate
                                         http://www.kimsoper.com/
                                           Multi-Million Dollar Producer                                                 Relocation Specialist
                                         CMS-Certified e-Marketing Specialist
                                                 Cypress Residential Group                                                                               153 Patchen Drive, Suite #51                                                                                               Lexington, KY 40517                                                                                               (859) 509-8008 cell                                                                                               (859) 269-0065 fax
                                                                                             kim@kimsoper.com