Life...Fun and Kentucky Real Estate

Barbaro's Brother in Kentucky - Future Triple Crown Winner

Last year was heartbreaking as we saw the breakdown of Barbaro in the 2006 Preakness and followed his recovery.

His injury had not broken the skin and Dr. Bramlege felt he might be saved. So we watched as this brave horse struggled to live for 8 months.  Despite valiant efforts of his doctors, owners and fans he had to be put to sleep. For my friends that followed Barbaro and The Kentucky Derby I saw this clip today of Barbaro's brother.

http://www.heraldleaderphoto.com/multimedia/barbaros/brother.html

Today, Sunday, April 29, a foal on Mill Ridge Farm in Lexington will turn nine days old.He is the son of Dynaformer and LaVille Rouge. His legacy is that he is Barbaro's little brother. Now the world will be watching him as he plays in his paddock and munches on Kentucky Bluegrass.

You may be looking at the future Triple Crown Winner. He has some BIG shoes to fill.

Friday was the last day for Keeneland (check out the picture below) And now all focus is on Churchill Downs. 

 I love racing and I can't help shedding a tear or two when they play "My old Kentucky Home" at the Derby next Saturday. Barbaro will be on my mind as what could have been. A sad moment in all the excitement. 

Lizette Fitzpatrick - Broker of Lizette Realty 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, Lizette Realty, 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.

While talking to a potential seller the other day I had a brainstorm. We are always wondering just what sets us apart from other agents.

What would be a deciding factor that a client might pick one agent from another?

 It might not be that I could stick a sign in the front yard, I could have an open house or that I could put a picture in a newspaper or magazine.

What sells your property these days is complete Internet presence. I'm not talking about just the local MLS. That's a start, but now I can tell clients that they will be listed on over 200 websites. I add more each day. I spend hours and hours researching how to best sell a property on the Internet.

I now tell them"Google My Name"! I know that when they do they will see me on over 3 solid pages or more.

Next, they can Google whatever agent they were thinking about using. Need I say more?

These days it's all about the Internet.

Make sure you aren't wasting any time in marketing your property.

Google for the best agent!!!

Exquisite Boatwright Estates

No longer listed but may be available. Please call Lizette  859-979-2834 

Superb countryside with 10 to 16+ acre tracts just waiting to be enjoyed! Gently rolling pastureland. Come build your dream home on spacious land with mature trees. Bring your horses & experience spectacular sunsets. 6 mini horse farms available priced $84,500 - $100,000

Lots of road frontage. The view from these farmsof the sunset and mountains is spectacular. Extra bottomland acres are also available. Only 5 miles from I-75 on a newly paved Hwy21.

 Kentucky Bluegrass is becoming extinct. Own a piece of history before it is gone.

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.

Last Saturday, while I was out showing horse farms, I was in the middle of a beautiful plot of land out in Boatwright Estates in southern Madison County. This Sycamore tree is majestic and ancient. Just lean against one and feel the wisdom and peacefulness transfer to you! It made me wonder why developers move off all the beautiful trees when grading an area for a subdivision.

It includes 6 tracts that are 10 acres or more for mini horse farms. I know one couple that bought one just for the sunset factor. I went out there with them right before they bought it and we enjoyed an incredible sunset overlooking the gently rolling hills and trees. I can just picture how a home would look with a black plank fence and a horse or two in the backyard.

You just can't find that type of land here anymore. Especially one that has been developed for such a purpose. I took this picture of the tree that is in one of the lots. I would have loved to climb this when I was younger! Being a tree-house tomboy I can appreciate the land and trees.

I read today that if builders took care and stayed 40 foot from the tree it will not injure the roots. Tree damage usually doesn't manifest itself until one to five years after the initial abuse. Most builders won't do it, however, because it could cost up to $10,000 to move the dirt off site and bring it back.

Anyway, this tree is for sale along with 10 acres.

Out-of-towners show up to see the horses but Kentuckians go there to watch the people.

Keeneland Race Track in Lexington is quite a legendary place and horse race aficionados will tell you that there is no place in the world like it.

It is with out a doubt the most beautiful race track anywhere. A jewel-box showcase for owners to present their best horses to well heeled spectators and serious horse people.

It's hard to put it into words, but here it is about pageantry, nobility, elegance and thrill of Thoroughbred racing. The feel here is very much like racing in England. My picture is of the walking ring where the brightly dressed jockeys get final instructions from trainers and get ready to be walked to the track.

This has been the same here since the 1930's. Amazing to many is that it is only open for racing twice a year...in the spring and then in the Fall.

Today when this picture was taken it was a rainy day and the big race was The Bluegrass Stakes...a prep race that sometimes determines what colts are ready to go to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 

Fillies will prep in the Ashland Stakes. Everything is built with comfort and beauty in mind. I don't think a single drop of rain touched my head once I arrived at the door and had fun all day upstairs in a glass front corporate box overlooking the track.  Many people like the Phoenix Room that has a view of this paddock. I visited with good friends and snapped a few pictures from the windows.

What a lovely rainy day it was!

The Church of What's Happening Now!

This doesn't have anything to do with Easter or real church(if you are looking for a religious story).

One of my favorite investor clients came up with this phrase a few days ago when we were discussing how to approach someone that was asking way too much for some Richmond Kentucky real estate (In his opinion).

He went through his long list of reasons for the price to be lowered then said, "He need's to come to the church of what's happening now!" I cracked up! I told him that if there was such a church I really wanted to be a member. 

Since then, that phrase has stuck in my head. So I am finding ways to say it when I find a funny situation to use it in. Note: This works best on new clients that haven't heard it before.

Other ways to use it:

After you walk through an extremely messing house you are showing. Say it then discuss the merits of staging.

When trying to get your point across in a meeting.

Works great to add a laugh when arguing with a family member or friend.

Diffuse any heated argument that has become way too serious! Life is short, people need to have fun. 

Hope this adds some humor for your day.

You are becoming way too serious!

You need to come to the church of what's happening now! 

######

Lizette Fitzpatrick - Broker of Lizette Realty 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, Lizette Realty, 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.

Normal Richmond, Kentucky day...showing some houses to my out of town clients. It's a nice family from Maryland and it's their first time here. I apologize about how cold it has become. Last week was in the 70's. They even ask me if it ever snows? Are there snakes?? Does it get humid in the summer? 

By the third house it starts snowing...sideways...like a blinding snow storm!!! Can you believe it is REALLY coming down !

At one point the husband had to get out of the car to shake off a street sign just so we can see where to go! It was pretty funny! Hmmmmm...just where is Hunter Rd? He gets out his GPS to help out. I haven't bought one yet. We figure out we had turned on the right road but it should say Hunter Lane on the MLS. All this in a blinding April snow storm!

One of my earlier blogs I talked about all the winters we have here. This one was a WHOPPER of freezing cold, gloomy day, chilled to the bone YUCK! I dropped off my clients after we stopped to regroup in the morning. I guess I can't convince them that it is normally nice here! LOL Steak n Shake is looking pretty good about now...cause I'm starving and want to get to my warm house. Back in on the computer to plan tomorrow and another tour in Lexington. Ahhhhh.....whadda Realtor life HUH?     

We all have moments in our lives that define who we are.

I read somewhere events that happen before you turn age 18 impact how you deal with your life in the future. This includes child abuse, divorce of parents, death of a family member, moving, bullying, good or bad teachers, accidents, etc. All these freaky things roll together and form who you are and how you live.

April 4, 1974 was the night of the tornados in Madison County, Kentucky. Today is the anniversary. I was a senior in high school and my brother was in the Navy so I was thrilled that he had left me his car, a red Ford Pinto that I drove everywhere.  

I remember the evening being fairly warm but windy. As I was traveling back home from Berea I thought the sky to the West was beautiful...sort of pink as the lightning would brighten the black sky. I had been visiting my boyfriend's mother in the hospital and was only a few miles south of exit 90 on I-75. We lived on the White Hall exit on a 33 acre farm that had a beautiful newly restored 2 story home with plaster walls, 6 fireplaces and 2 staircases. Nestled back a few acres in maple trees you could hardly see it from the road. The farm had a creek, woods and 2 barns.  My Dad had built a Texaco service station on the road frontage across from White Hall Elementary School.  There were a few houses down the road but mostly it was farmland where I rode my horse everyday. I managed my own stable where I taught riding lessons and rented stalls. The money I earned paid for clothes, supplies for my horses and gas for the car.

I must have arrived about 20 minutes after the tornado had hit.

As I came across the bridge what I noticed first was that the stately trees lining the road were all chopped off and grotesque. Inching closer behind cars I finally drove up to the service station and pulled over. It looked like a war zone! There were no lights and I could barely see power lines on the ground sparking. State Police and were everywhere keeping cars moving away from the area. They were trying to keep me out too! I jumped over the power lines running toward the station. Someone was out there with a flashlight was coming toward me. I was so glad to see it was my Dad. In that moment we stood there I looked back behind the station where the house should be. Pitch black darkness...a lightning strike lit the sky...finally I could see the hill where the house should be and only a few broken trees remained!

Where was the house??  

Dad told me that Mom and my little brother (Mark) had been in the house when it hit. He had called her as she sitting upstairs at the window watching the black clouds. He warned her that tornado was heading to the house and to run for the basement. She had grabbed my brother and raced toward the basement. As she closed the door the wind took the house right off the foundation and piled the whole thing in the neighbor's field next door. He had sought cover under a heavy table in his office as it took the roof off the building. Shaking and then looking around he peered out the back door and saw the house was gone. I'm sure he ran up to where the house had been in a second flat! There under bricks and sheet metal from the furnace lay Mom and Mark. Still alive but scratched and beat up. He got them out and helped them toward the station. Someone took them to the hospital but he stayed to keep looters out of the station. He was worried but was doing the best he could in a crazy situation. He wanted me to go find them and see that they were OK.  

There were so many cars in the road that I had to drive out US25 all the way to Boonesboro exit on I-75 to get to the hospital back in town. Once there I found Mom all scratched up, no glasses or shoes and Mark was sitting next to her with his arm in a sling. They looked pitiful and sad. She didn't remember anything after she had closed the basement door and was on the 2^nd step. I put them in my car and took them to my boyfriend's house where we stayed for a few days so our lives could be sorted out. Dad stayed at the station to protect it. All I had left were the clothes on my back and my car. My senior year was in shambles right before prom. No clothes, shoes, cherished childhood mementos, furniture, my horses were missing, no barns and since I was a kid (no insurance).

What I can figure out now is that it taught me that I can start over at any time. It's easy to let things go that don't work. I've wiped out at least 4 times in my life all for different reasons. Each time I start over I end up with more. Like a new and improved, stronger version of Lizette. Last night, we had many storms in our area and I headed for the basement to be safe. As I curled up with my little dog I felt comfort in all I had accomplished and amazingly I have no fear about a tornado. Starting over is part of life and makes you strong. Life is good!   

I remember a conversation I had with my Dad long ago when were watching TV and the news guy said we were in a recession. We had no idea that we were supposed to be feeling different till we saw it on TV!

Now what do we do??

We laughed a long time over that one!

Now why would anyone know there was a name for some situation like a recession unless it was announced that you were in one? Our lives seem to change with an announcement of how we should be or what we are supposed to be experiencing.

What if it were just another day....really that's all it is.

So today the buzz word is buyer's market.

Instead of a seller's market.

What does that mean for you?

As a seller you might wonder if your home was going to sit on the market longer that you want it to. A buyer might feel he can get a better deal or take his time looking. My investor clients are all out there right now snapping up all the great deals with cash in hand. I haven't seen much of a change of prices although houses above the $200,000 range are taking a bit longer to sell in the Central Kentucky area. It's strange how a few words can change a whole real estate market.

ONE OF A KIND CENTRAL KENTUCKY NEWSLETTER

My days are filled showing real estate, helping new and old clients find the perfect properties and sitting on my deck contemplating my creek!

One part I REALLY enjoy is writing my weekly Central Kentucky newsletter. Since I have been a Realtor, I have always sent a newsletter to my clients, friends, family, Realtors, bankers, mortgage brokers, etc. It used to be a 4 page letter sized brochure in a red envelope mailed once a month. That was very time consuming and involved a trip to the printer and post office. Since it has become larger than as it started (sent to over 200 people and they forward it on to many more!).

My newsletter from me to you on the state of real estate and fun in Central Kentucky (Lexington, Richmond, Winchester, Nicholasville, Georgetown, Berea and more!). The Central Kentucky Newsletter is the place to find out the down low of what is going on here.

FUN is key and finding more interesting things to do in our beautiful state. We have some of the most breathtaking landscapes, the best horses on the planet and one of the world's richest cultures right here! I'm always excited to write about it! I also provide up to date info on the latest listings and properties sold that you can't find anywhere...unless someone is forwarding you my newsletter! I also include articles on home improvement and tax savings.

If you are getting your listings from a homes magazine they are already 2 weeks old and may be off the market.  You can receive my one of a kind Central Kentucky newsletter every week...

I can send you the next one on Thursday.

I love Kentucky news! You can too!

Have some fun today!

Send me a Newsletter

Lizette Fitzpatrick - Broker of Lizette Realty 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, Lizette realty, 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.