Life...Fun and Kentucky Real Estate

I bet you thought I was going to write about Vampires since it is so close to Halloween!

Actually, I was contacted the other day to be interviewed for a story that is to be used for Kentucky high school students to research different careers. A Realtor was one that had been voted on by teachers to learn more about. I was honored that they had picked me for an interview!

So...I was invited to talk about the steps I took to become a Realtor in Central Kentucky. What classes or studies were involved, how long the classes were, things I might have studied in high school, what I enjoy about my career, etc.

Seriously, I wish I had been pointed this direction earlier in my life. I was not pushed to become anything! My parents didn't see my brilliance in a certain area and seek extra training for me. Left adrift...I believed I would be an artist. I had minimal formal training but I think of myself more as an artist that has become a Realtor.

At the end of the interview I was asked what two things I would say were extremely important in conducting my life as a Realtor. My answer off the cuff was:

1. Computer 

2. Kindness  

Now, I could think of a few more, but I know I would be lost without my computer. That contraption is totally how I function in my world for research and to stay in touch with everyone. Kindness is a part of how I deal with the pressure and negotiations involved on a daily basis. There are times I don't want to be kind. Then there is that little voice that reminds me that if I can just keep my cool for a minute or two the mean words I am thinking of flinging on someone will evaporate. (Most times this works! lol) I know I can keep the deal a deal till closing by being kind.

How many of you knew in high school that you were going to study to be in Real Estate now? I wasted a lot of time but I got here as soon as I could! How about you?

Lizette Fitzpatrick - Baby Boomer Real Estate Relocation Specialist with Prudential Don Foster in Richmond, Kentucky.

Rated number #1 featured Kentucky Realtor on Activerain.com and Localism.com. Publisher/Author for the only Central Kentucky email newsletter on local real estate listings and sold properties, Kentucky relocation, local events, homeowner information and fun! For more information on Lizette, Kentucky Horse Farms, Prudential Don Foster, Madison County, Fayette County, Richmond or Lexington, Kentucky click on Lizette.us.

See for yourself what Lizette's extraordinary clients have to say about their Kentucky real estate experience.

In Mt. Sterling Kentucky: October Court Day = A Wild Weekend of Shopping!

There is NOTHING in this world as whacky as October Court Day in Mt. Sterling Kentucky! It's completely in my blood and genes. There's no known cure for it and I am afraid it is terminal.

There is no way I would miss a year of attending. It always occurs every third Monday in October. That was when court was in session and country folk came into town to swap, trade, sell while they wasted away the day waiting to see how issues in court would turn out. It quickly expanded into Saturday and Sunday too since everyone came to town early.

I sort of grew up in Mt. Sterling since both sets of Grandparents and loads of relatives lived Montgomery County. Mom & Dad went to high school there as well.

My grandmother Elizabeth lived right downtown in an apartment over a grocery store on Main Street. I loved visiting the stores in town and there is something sweet and comforting about being downtown for me.

Normally a quiet little town of 6,317(2005 census) it grows to an estimated 130,000 during Court Day! The whole town is a giant flea market with most of the downtown streets blocked for traffic and turned into miles of vendors. I have seen every type of item for sale here. The smell of food cooking on the outdoor grills is fabulous too! Each year there is a new HOT ITEM!

This year it was designer knock-off handbags. We stopped at one table that was a small mountain of faux Chanel and Coach handbags. Surrounding it almost four bodies deep, were frantic women snatching, grabbing and bargaining with the seller in lightning speed!

The seller was this Oriental girl standing on two concrete blocks(so she could have a good vantage point) with a fistful of money in one hand and plastic bags on the other arm. She would tell you what the bag was priced... then grab your money. There were many more boxes under the table full of purses. It was the quick and the dead if you wanted one.

The seller said she would only be there one day...so you better get it while the gittin is good! WhooHoo, it was fun!

Back in the day my Dad said his favorite vendor was an old Indian that sold snake oil(with a bit of Magic Corn Salve and Black Draught). I didn't ever see him.

One of my favorites of October Court Day was an organ grinder with a monkey. He would stand in the street and the monkey would gather silver coins from the tight circle of children and their parents. Try to give him a penny and he would refuse to touch it. Everyone would laugh and give him a quarter. I always thought that guy was a genius for making money the easy way.  

I always look for the unique items like this toilet paper holder made from horseshoes!

I also thought these little pets called Sugar Gliders were neat. I held one in my hand and his little toenails were pretty sharp. They knew their names and would jump in the air over to their handlers. They were sweet but I didn't think I wanted to take another critter home. there was quite a crowd of parents taking a look at ownership. Kids were crying...you know the drill.

Anyway we parked kind of far from the event, so it made it a long haul to take back bargains to stash in the trunk. After one time back we were worn out and ready to call it a day.

Like I said, there is nothing like October Court Day but after the end of one you swear you will never do it again...then you are back again in Mt. Sterling the next year. Maybe it's like having a baby... you forget all the pain you endured and have another one. After I recover, I will be looking forward to next time!

Lizette Fitzpatrick - Baby Boomer Real Estate Relocation Specialist with Prudential Don Foster in Richmond, Kentucky.

Rated number #1 featured Kentucky Realtor on Activerain.com and Localism.com. Publisher/Author for the only Central Kentucky email newsletter on local real estate listings and sold properties, Kentucky relocation, local events, homeowner information and fun! For more information on Lizette, Kentucky Horse Farms, Prudential Don Foster, Madison County, Fayette County, Richmond or Lexington, Kentucky click on Lizette.us.

See for yourself what Lizette's extraordinary clients have to say about their Kentucky real estate experience.

Let me tell you that it was HOT here last weekend!

This is my third year for traveling on down to the St. James Court Art Show. I took my Mom with me and with map in hand we figured out what end of the festival we wanted to start in.

After circling around a bit I located a place to park for $10 in an alley close to 4th Street. After driving around awhile I was willing to pay the guy $20! The place was packed and if you want a good parking place you will need to pay a few bucks for it!

Suddenly, the ice cold air conditioning in my car was something I yearned for all day! It was HOTas blue blazes about there. We walked for miles between wonderful art, delicious smelling food, musicians, crafts and jewelry treasures. Did I tell you it was HOT? Just like we were in New Orleans on a steamy day!  If I stood too long in one spot I was sure my sandals were gonna be glued to to the pavement.

I looked over at my Mom (She's 76) and she was having a meltdown too! Why in the world is it in the 90's in Kentucky, in October? Does this have something to do with global warming? I kept asking her if she was OK because I knew I was dying! LOL

This was on St. James Ct. where the fountain was. Can you imagine painting a huge house pink?

I loved these dapple grey horses that the police rode. Everyone wanted to pet them.

The real estate was art candy for the eyes!

Well....we had a great time and enjoyed lots of food and plenty water. It sure felt great to get back into the car!

Lizette Fitzpatrick - Baby Boomer Real Estate Relocation Specialist with Prudential Don Foster in Richmond, Kentucky.

Rated number #1 featured Kentucky Realtor on Activerain.com and Localism.com. Publisher/Author for the only Central Kentucky email newsletter on local real estate listings and sold properties, Kentucky relocation, local events, homeowner information and fun! For more information on Lizette, Kentucky Horse Farms, Prudential Don Foster, Madison County, Fayette County, Richmond or Lexington, Kentucky click on Lizette.us.

See for yourself what Lizette's extraordinary clients have to say about their Kentucky real estate experience.

When life gets UGLY...AHhhhhhh....What a difference a vacation makes! I bet many of my AR friends here have wondered what happened to me lately.

I rarely time time off to go anywhere.I know I am a work-a-holic and perfectionist that is constantly tweaking something.  Part of the reason I never leave town may be that I don't like to leave my little dog (Chanel)behind. So, I decided to take her with me and one of my best girlfriends down to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in the heart of the Smokey Mountains. We found a fabulous new pet friendly chalet right on the Little Pigeon River.

Late in the night as I was packing for the trip, I took a break and wanted an ice cream bar from my freezer. When I got it out, I found it was dripping. DRIPPING???? What the @!*%!! My whole freezer had melted stuff! Now I had to get action and try to save some of the frozen meats. I packed some in a cooler with what was left of the ice in the bin. What was happening to my refrigerator?? I turned up the dials and went to bed after I called my handyman. Can you believe he answered his phone at 10:30PM? He said he would call a technician in the morning and take care of it. The next morning I frantically tried to stay on schedule and get out of town by 10AM...it turned into 11. I had thrown everything in the refrigerator in the trash on my way out. I thought about all the times I had started out by having nothing! LOL  Here we go again. 

We weren't very far out of town so we could be close to the shopping and shows. My plan was to take my laptop and do a little writing on my future novel and blog. That NEVER happened. We were having too much fun checking out the sights and doing nothing. My first night I stayed on the phone or computer working with some new clients. I sent them some new listings then planned to meet them this week. After that things settled down a bit. Chanel got used to the new place and was a big hit at all the stores we visited. She had to sleep with her green Teddy to feel secure. (She hugs him to fall asleep at night).

I have to say that I did have a busy day today getting back in to the swing of work. I wrote an offer that did get accepted, faxed off a relocation report and even showed some investment property.

Anyway...It's good to be back. I think I will be better about getting away next time because it all went smoothly once I left the house. The refrigerator was fixed by 2PM the day I left and all was well with all my clients. Life does go on without me!

If you get a chance go on down to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge and check out all the Fall decorations They really go all out in the displays.

Lizette Fitzpatrick - Baby Boomer Real Estate Relocation Specialist with Prudential Don Foster in Richmond, Kentucky.

Rated number #1 featured Kentucky Realtor on Activerain.com and Localism.com. Publisher/Author for the only Central Kentucky email newsletter on local real estate listings and sold properties, Kentucky relocation, local events, homeowner information and fun! For more information on Lizette, Kentucky Horse Farms, Prudential Don Foster, Madison County, Fayette County, Richmond or Lexington, Kentucky click on Lizette.us.

See for yourself what Lizette's extraordinary clients have to say about their Kentucky real estate experience.