Find Your Property

The River Valley Group Blog

The River Valley Group Guide to Old Louisville

There are quite a few areas of Louisville that are breath taking and contains some of the most remarkable and important architecture in the city; Old Louisville is one of those areas. Filled with amazing designs, wonderful schools, world-renowned museums, and much more, Old Louisville is a premier destination for many homeowners in Kentucky. This historic area can affordable as well; at the moment homes on the market in Old Louisville range from $50,000 to $980,000!

According to OldLouisville.com the area is a National Preservation District and is the third largest in the entire nation. Furthermore, Old Louisville is the largest Victorian district in the United States. There is an area population of roughly 17,000 people in addition to the students that come from all cross the world to learn at the University of Louisville. No matter where you choose to live in Old Louisville you will be minutes from I-65, Churchill Downs, the Speed Museum, Central Park, a nationally ranked top-50 high school (DuPont Manual), the University of Louisville, and much more.

Key Statistics & Facts

*The median listing price for Old Louisville is approximately $70,000.

*The median selling price for Old Louisville is approximately $52,000.

*The median age of an Old Louisville resident is 27, one of the youngest areas in the city.

*The average price of homes currently on the market in Old Louisville is $246,540

Top Restaurants

610 Magnolia | 610 W. Magnolia, Louisville, KY 40208

Buck’s | 425 W. Ormsby Avenue, Louisville, KY 40208

Granville Inn | 1601 S. Third Street, Louisville, KY 40208

Ollie’s Trolley | 978 S. Third Street, Louisville, KY 40203

Nearby Schools

Noe Middle...

Be a Part of the 6th Annual Race to End Homelessness 5K

The Coalition for the Homeless is hosting the sixth annual Race to End Homelessness 5k this Saturday, November 2nd at Cherokee Park. Whether you choose to walk, jog or run it is a great philanthropic event for everyone to be a part of. All proceeds will benefit the Coalition for the Homeless’ programs supporting homeless youth here in Louisville.

TODAY is the last day for early discounted registration, which is $25. Registration for those under 18 is $15 and anyone 18 or older registering after the 29th will have to register for $30. The first 300 participants to register for the 5k will get a free long-sleeved shirt.

For more information visit the website of the Coalition for the Homeless or call to register at (502) 636-9550.

...

VIDEO: 3003 Shaded Creek Court, La Grange, KY 40031

Enjoy this gorgeous Colyer custom-built home quietly tucked away in the beautiful Reserve at L'Esprit. Only minutes from historic LaGrange and I-71, this home provides a tranquil retreat while still being near major shopping, dining, and entertainment as well as easy access for a short commute to downtown Louisville and its surrounding areas. A spacious, open floor plan design yields a warm and inviting feel with plenty of versatile space to suit your every need. Beautiful hardwood flooring, immaculate paint in tasteful colors, an abundance of windows and natural light in every room, crown molding, plenty of kitchen cabinetry and counter space as well as closets-galore are just a fraction of the thoughtful features in this home. The exterior boasts an incredibly detailed landscape, exceptional yard and several lounge areas including the back yard, deck and walkout patio. The home has always been smoke-free and pet-free.

The Reserve at L'Esprit also features a 15 acre scenic park with walking trails, water feature, picnic areas and a full basketball court!

Call Katie today at 502-741-1366 to see this beautiful home in person!

Be sure to follow the River Valley Group on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!

...

A Guide to Anchorage!

The city of Anchorage in Kentucky is one of the most historically-rich cities you will find in the entire state. Known for its cool climate due to the plethora of shade from trees, Anchorage was incorporated as a city in 1878 and has formerly been known as ‘Hite’s Mill’ and ‘Hobbs Station’. According to the history of the city Anchorage was named after the estate of riverboat captain James W. Goslee as well as the fact that an anchor that was stolen from him was found in the center of the city.

Anchorage is known for hosting some of the wealthiest citizens in the state, including Yum! Brands CEO David Novak and Papa John’s founder John Schnatter, who owns over 5% of the land in Anchorage. There are nearly 2,400 residents in the city of Anchorage according to the 2010 census. Only minutes away from the city of Anchorage you will find Tom Sawyer Park, Shelbyville Road, and Westport Road.

Key Statistics & Facts

*The median listing price for Anchorage is approximately $210,000.

*The median selling price for Anchorage is approximately $232,000.

*The median age of an Anchorage resident is 42.

*The average price of homes currently on the market in Anchorage is $853,515.

Top Restaurants

Selena’s | 10609 Lagrange Road, Louisville, KY 40223

Limestone Restaurant | 10001 Forest Green Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40223

Village Anchor Pub & Roost | 11507 Park Road, Louisville, KY 40223

Fiesta Time Mexican Grill | 11320 Maple Brook Drive, Louisville, KY 40241

Fuji Japanese Steakhouse | 3576 Springhurst Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40241

Nearby Schools

Anchorage Public Elementary School | 11400 Ridge Road, Anchorage, KY 40223

Maryhurst Alternative School | 1015 Dorsey Lane, Louisville, KY 40223

Eastern High School | 12400 Old Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40243

Kentucky Country Day School...

Double Double Toil and Trouble...BOONANZA is coming to the KY Science Center!

This upcoming weekend, October 26th and 27th, the Kentucky Science Center will host BOONANZA. This will be a great opportunity for families to enjoy Halloween activities in a science-related learning environment. The event will run from 11:00am to 4:00pm on both days and is free with paid admission to the science center.

Everyone is encouraged to come in their best Halloween costume (no scary costumes or marks) and be prepared to have a great time with unique Halloween-themed events. Children will have the opportunity to play with pumpkin guys, visit the glow in the dark lab and potentially win prizes through a ‘Who Dun It’ style game in the mystery lab.

Ticket prices are $13 for adults (those 13 years old and up) and $11 for children. You can also purchase a 12-month membership for two individuals at $75, two adults and four children at $85, or two adults, one guest and all children for $109.

There are always fun and unique events taking place at the Kentucky Science Center so be sure to check them out!

For information on houses in Louisville, fun events in the city, and much more be sure to follow the River Valley Group on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!

...

Mockingbird Neighborhood Guide

Finding a neighborhood like Mockingbird Valley is like finding a needle in a haystack. The neighborhood is known for its amazing country-like feel despite being located in Louisville, the 27th largest city in the country. Another aspect that makes the area unique is the fact that despite hosting million-dollar homes and famous Louisville figures, you can find a beautiful house in Mockingbird for almost 1/5 of $1,000,000!

The very first home ever built in Mockingbird Valley was over 170 years ago near River Road, which still remains intact today. Only minutes away from the Mockingbird Valley neighborhood you will find the Louisville Country Club, the Mellwood Art Center, Brownsboro Road, Mockingbird Valley Sports Complex, and much more!

Key Statistics & Facts

*The median listing price for Mockingbird is approximately $270,000.

*The median selling price for Mockingbird is approximately $230,000.

*The median age of a Mockingbird resident is 43.

*The average price of homes currently on the market in Mockingbird is $594,446.

Top Restaurants

Cafe Fraiche | 3642 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, KY 40207

Frankfort Avenue Beer Depot and Smokehouse | 3204 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206

Boombozz Pizza | 3400 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206

Bluegrass Burgers | 3334 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206

Fat Jimmy's Pizza | 2712 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206

Nearby Schools

Chenoweth Elementary School | 3622 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, KY 40207

Trinity High School | 4011 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40207

St. Matthews Elementary School | 601 Browns Lane, Louisville, KY 40207

Waggener High School | 330 S. Hubbards Lane,...

River Valley Weekend Report - 10/18/13

The temperatures are dropping here in Louisville but that doesn’t mean there is a shortage of fun events! In between reading the River Valley Group neighborhood guides and checking to see how much your home is worth be sure to get out this weekend and bask in the beauty of fall. The River Valley Group has compiled the events below for this week’s River Valley Weekend Report. No matter where your house in Louisville is located be sure to take time out of your day to get out and have fun with family and friends!

Weekend Events for the Weekend of 10/18/2013:

2013 Pinktober Concert | October 18th | Louisville Hard Rock Café

http://www.hardrock.com/philanthropy/pinktober/pinktober-2013.aspx

UofL Football vs. Central Florida | October 18th | Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium

http://www.gocards.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/lou-m-footbl-sched.html

The Roast of Freddy Kreuger | October 18th | The Bard’s Town

http://www.louisville.com/louisville-events/roast-freddy-krueger

2013 Doctor’s Ball | October 19th | Marriott Downtown Louisville

http://www.jhsmh.org/About-Us/Events/Event-Details/ID/90/begin/10-19-2013/The-2013-Doctors-Ball.aspx

9th Annual O.A.K./Mary Cooper Memorial Golf Scramble | October 19th | Iroquois Golf Course

http://www.oakky.org/

American Diabetes Association’s Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes | October 19th | Waterfront Park...

Covington, KY City Guide

Covington, KY is a city nestled in Northern Kentucky right across the bridge from the beautiful city of Cincinnati in Ohio. Northern Kentucky real estate is of course gorgeous but the architecture of many churches and buildings in Covington are astounding. You will find a plethora of living options, ranging from downtown condos overlooking Cincinnati to multi-million dollar mansions to gorgeous homes nestled in wonderful neighborhoods. It is also an excellent place to find great opportunities with large companies such as St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Fidelity Investments.

Key Statistics & Facts

*According to the 2010 census Covington had a population of over 40,000 people, making it the 5th most populated city in Kentucky.

*While the median price for real estate in Kentucky is $124,000, the median price in Covington is $95,430.

*The Ascent at Roebling’s Bridge, which offers luxury living and beautiful views, sits along the Ohio River and was built in 2008. The average price of current listings at The Ascent is $1,596,071.

Top Restaurants

Keystone Bar & Grill | 313 Greenup Street, Covington, KY 41011

Sushi Cincinnati | 130 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011

Riverside Korean | 512 Madison Avenue, Covington, KY 41011

Giuseppe’s Pizzaeria | 2607 Madison Avenue, Covington,...

2013 Boo La-La Halloween Party coming up on October 26th

The Marriott Downtown will be hosting the 2013 Boo La-La Halloween Ball on Saturday, October 26th on West Jefferson Street. The event will consist of a ball from 6:30pm to 9:00pm and a bash from 9:00pm until midnight. The event will allow attendees to dress up in their most creative Halloween costume for a fun night of delicious food, dancing, and philanthropy.

During the ball portion of the night there will be cocktails, dinner and dancing for all attendees with entertainment provided by Endless Summer Band. Later in the night the bash will consist of more cocktails and dancing. Prices are $250 for the ball and the bash or $75 for just the bash; if you are a member of Olmsted Parks Conservancy or Louisville Public Media you can get a $25 discount off your ball ticket.

Speaking of Olmsted, the great-great-great-grandniece of Frederick Law Olmdsted, Fredericka von Olmdsted, will be making an appearance at the ball! It will mark her first visit to the United States and she will also visit the Olmsted Parks to learn more about how they work.

There are several events that are held at the Mariott Downtown in Louisville every year…imagine if you lived 2 minutes away? There are absolutely gorgeous and spacious condos in downtown Louisville that are waiting for you to view!

For more information on the event click here.

Be sure to follow the River Valley Group on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!

...

Germantown Neighborhood Guide

Germantown in Louisville is one of the more hidden gems when looking for a house in Louisville. You can find homes at great prices but they are few and far in between considering many Germantown homes stay in the family generation after generation. What makes it unique is that you get the vibe and excitement associated with the nearby Highlands without the usually-high Highlands prices.

The area is literally named after the Germans as they dominantly inhabited the area in the late 1800s. When looking at a map the Germantown area is within the parameters of Barrett Avenue, Eastern Parkway, and the South Fork of Beargrass Creek

Key Statistics & Facts

*The Germantown area has a population density of 6,364 people per mile.

*Approximately 57% of all Germantown homes are currently owned.

*The median age of a Germantown resident is 35.

*The average price of homes currently on the market in Germantown is $108,385.

Top Restaurants

Eiderdown | 983 Goss Avenue, Louisville, KY 40217

Hammerheads | 921 Swan Street, Louisville, KY 40204

Lynn’s Paradise Café | 984 Barret Avenue, Louisville, KY 40204

Come Back Inn | 909 Swan Street, Louisville, KY 40204

Monkey Wrench | 1025 Barret Avenue, Louisville, KY 40204

Nearby Schools

Jefferson County Traditional Middle School | 1418 Morton Avenue, Louisville, KY 40204

Bloom Elementary School | 1627 Lucia Avenue, Louisville, KY 40204

Meyzeek Middle School | 828 S. Jackson Street, Louisville, KY 40203

Noe Middle School | 121 W. Lee St, Louisville, KY 40208

DuPont Manual High School | 120 W. Lee St., Louisville, KY 40208

Events

Germantown/Schnitzelburg Annual Art...

ColorFest at Bernheim is this weekend!

This weekend marks the annual ColorFest at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in nearby Clermont, KY. It is a FREE event for Bernheim members and a $5 rate per car for non-members for a ‘weekend environmental impact fee’. It will take place on October 19th from 9:00am to 5:00pm and October 20th from noon to 5:00pm.

ColorFest is a great way for families to have a ton of fun through nature-related activities and events as well as experiencing the beauty of Bernheim Forest. There will be delicious and tasty food, beautiful crafts, pumpkin painting, and much more!

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest is a nonprofit organization that aims at being a leader in ecological stewardship and exploring the connections between people and nature.

In addition to Bernheim Forest there are absolutely gorgeous neighborhoods in nearby Shepherdsville and Mt. Washington! The forest is also only 20 minutes south of houses in Louisville.

For more information visit the Bernheim website HERE.

Be sure to follow the River Valley Group on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+

...

River Valley Weekend Report - 10/11/2013

We are nearly halfway through October and there are 81 days left of 2013! With all of the activities going on in the area be sure to take advantage of the beautiful fall weather here in Louisville. The River Valley Group has compiled the events below for this week’s River Valley Weekend Report. No matter what your house in Louisville is located be sure to take time out of your day to get out and have fun with family and friends!

Weekend Events for the Weekend of 10/11/2013:

Butchertown’s Portktoberfest | October 11th | Hog Operation

https://www.facebook.com/events/189045037939422/

Caufields Halloween Parade | October 11th | Baxter Avenue at Lexington Road

http://baxterparade.com/

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular | October 11th – November 2nd | Iroquois Park

http://www.jackolanternlouisville.com/

Belknap Fall Festival Eve | October 11th | Douglass Loop

http://www.thehighlandsoflouisville.com/WeekInTheHighlandsEvent.php?eo=60&pagetitle=Belknap%20Festival%20Eve

19th Annual Belknap Fall Festival | October 12th | Douglass Loop

http://www.thehighlandsoflouisville.com/WeekInTheHighlandsEvent.php?eo=70&pagetitle=19th%20Annual%20Belknap%20Fall%20Festival

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure | October 12th | Louisville Slugger Field

http://www.komenlouisville.org/komen-race-for-the-cure/

12th Annual Farmington Harvest Festival | October 13th | Farmington Historic Plantation

http://www.thehighlandsoflouisville.com/WeekInTheHighlandsEvent.php?eo=80&pagetitle=12th%20Annual%20Farmington%20Harvest%20Festival

Colors of Fall Hike | October 13th...

River Valley Group MYTHBUSTERS: Common myths to buying your own home!

You’ll hear it from many real estate agents and it’s no different here: right now is the time to buy houses in Louisville! Many sellers want to get rid of their home before the holiday season hits and with an expected jump in home prices and interest rates in 2014, the month of October is prime home buying time. Understandably, however, many fall into the trap of believing some of the myths that are out there pertaining to home buying.

The River Valley Group is confident that we can help you buy or sell your home in today’s market and at an excellent price…so we decided to compile a list of common home-buying myths and debunk them to help put you at ease!

MYTH #1: Why buy a home when you can just rent? Then you don’t have to worry about foreclosure!

There are a few facets to this myth that need to be understood in order to be debunked. First, although it’s not likely you can still be foreclosed on when you are renting a house or apartment. If your landlord falls into financial trouble and can’t afford to make payments to their bank then the house will be turned over to the bank and tenants will be evicted.

Second, with low rates in today’s market many homeowners are paying monthly mortgage rates that are not too far off from the monthly rent many tenants are paying. If you are going to be spending that much every month why not put it towards home ownership? If you are interested in learning about current mortgage rates the River Valley Group is partnered with Stonegate Mortgage and is absolutely worth checking out.

Status: BUSTED!

MYTH #2: You have to have good credit to buy a home.

To be perfectly clear having a good credit score absolutely helps in getting...

The 14th Annual Week in the Highlands is off and running!

The 2013 Week in the Highlands began Saturday and isn’t stopping until Sunday the 13th. This week long event celebrates one of the most prestigious and sought-after areas for Louisville homes.

This past Saturday the Week in the Highlands started off with the Highlands Cup 5K Run/Walk in which participants made their way through Douglass Boulevard to Big Rock Park and back. Approximately 400 people trekked through the rough weather for the race, which benefitted Highlands Community Ministries (HCM). Many then made their way to Christian Church Gym to enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast, also benefitting HCM.

The Big Rock Jazz & Blues Fest at the Big Rock area of Cherokee Park was scheduled for Sunday but was cancelled due to bad weather.

The events for the remainder of the week are below:

Empty Bowls Hunger Benefit | Thursday, October 10 | 5:30pm-8:00pm

Helping HCM feed the hungry with a light meal and silent auction at Frazier Hall at Bellarmine.

Belknap Festival Eve | Friday, October 11 | 6:00pm-9:00pm

Food and live music on the eve of the Fall Festival at Historic Douglass Loop.

19th Annual Belknap Fall Festival | Saturday, October 12 | 11:00am-10:00pm

Over 100 booths of juried arts & crafts plus local food vendors, kids fun and live music at Historic Douglass Loop.

12th Annual Farmington Harvest Festival | Sunday, October 13th | 10:00am-6:00pm

An 18th century festival set at the Plantation Home of John & Lucy Speed, hosts to Abe Lincoln.

Be sure to follow the River Valley Group on Facebook, Twitter, and ...

October Sports Schedule

October offers a wide variety of sports: NCAA football, NFL football, MLB postseason, soccer, and much more. This is your one-stop shop for all athletics events in your area for the month of October!

10/04 | UofL Field Hockey vs. Temple | Trager Stadium

10/04 | Cincinnati Swimming & Diving | Cincinnati, Ohio

10/05 | UofL Track x Field Greater Louisville Classic | E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park

10/05 | UofL Women’s Rowing | G. Garvin Brown III Rowing Center

10/05 | IUS Volleyball vs. Carlow | New Albany

10/05 | IUS Volleyball vs. IU Kokomo | New Albany

10/06 | UofL Field Hockey vs. Indiana | Trager Stadium

10/06 | Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots | Paul Brown Stadium

10/10 | UofL Football vs. Rutgers | Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium

10/10 | Cincinnati Volleyball vs. UCF | Fifth Third Arena

10/11 | UofL Swimming & Diving vs. Xavier | Ralph Wright Natatorium

10/11 | UofL Women’s Soccer vs. USF | Cardinal Park

10/11 | Cincinnati Football vs. Temple | Cincinnati, Ohio

10/11 | UofL Volleyball vs. USF | KFC Yum! Center

10/11 | Cincinnati Women’s Soccer vs. UCF | Gettler Stadium

10/12 | Cincinnati Swimming & Diving | Cincinnati, Ohio

10/12 | UofL Men’s Soccer vs. Rutgers | Cardinal Park

10/12 | Cincinnati Men’s Soccer vs. SMU | Gettler Stadium

10/13 | Cincinnati Volleyball vs. USF | Fifth Third Arena

10/13 | Cincinnati Women’s Soccer vs. USF | Gettler Stadium

10/13 | UofL Women’s Soccer vs. UCF | Cardinal Park

10/13 | UofL Volleyball vs. UCF | KFC Yum! Center

10/15 | IUS Volleyball vs. Midway College | New Albany

10/16 | Cincinnati Men’s Soccer vs. IUPUI | Gettler Stadium

10/18 | UofL Football vs. UCF | Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium

10/18 | Cincinnati Volleyball vs. Louisville | Fifth Third Arena...

Tips on Bringing Your Children to Fall Festivals

The River Valley Group creates several blog posts every week highlighting upcoming festivals and even reviewing festivals from the previous weekend. The fall season is the perfect time to get out and experience fascinating art, live music, and delicious food at various festivals. For those who have kids, however, it can be difficult navigating through large crowds and enjoying yourself when you have to keep any eye on your children.

We decided to highlight tips for the parents that enjoy (or would like to enjoy) the several festivals in the area but not sure how to handle the scene with children.

Be sure you pick the RIGHT festival

Although there are several festivals in Louisville and Southern Indiana they are not all appropriate for kids of all ages. If you are going to a festival where you know there will be a lot of loud music it might not be the best idea to bring your newborn baby. Furthermore not all festivals cater to kids and will only have vendor booths but usually there is at least one activity for children. At the NuLu Festival this past Saturday there was prizes, a bouncy castle, a bubble machine, and much more!

It’s usually a good idea to bring a stroller

Many parents believe that a stroller will get in the way and that it’s just another thing to carry around considering the kids may be getting out and doing activities anyway. However, festivals usually include a lot of walking depending on the size and the children will get worn out eventually. Therefore it’s a good rule of thumb to bring a stroller so that if and when the kids wind down, you can focus on enjoying the festival and the sights.

Come to festivals prepared

Diaper bag? Check. Bottles? Check. The aforementioned stroller? Check! These are all things that parents usually remember but you should also keep in mind to bring a small first-aid kit, any necessary medications, and to dress them appropriately for the weather considering most festivals are...

Our Latest Videos

Keep up with the latest video updates from the River Valley Team.

What Is My Home Worth?

Our professional analysis will include data on recent solds and current market trends.

Meet Heidi Fore

New Listing Email Alerts

Be the first to know as soon as new listings hit the market -- fast, easy, automatic and free.

Get New Listings