Rusty Underwood was installed as the 2022 president of the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors® (Bluegrass REALTORS®). He has served Bluegrass REALTORS® in many leadership positions including a three-year directorship, was treasurer in 2020 and has held many committee roles including finance, young professional network and executive. Additionally, Underwood is the acting president of the Realtor® Community Housing Foundation.
Continuing a long-term commitment to healthy communities for central and southeastern Kentucky homeowners, the Bluegrass REALTORS® (Bluegrass REALTORS®) announced its $2,000 investment in Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority. Over the past 18 years, Bluegrass REALTORS® has made available over $685,000 to promote economic development across the region.
Over the warmer months of summer and fall, homes sold in less than three weeks on average, reaching as low as 17 days in August. That number rose to closer to four weeks in November, hitting 25 days. Although still 5 days lower than last year at this time, the spread was closer than any time since last summer.
Realtors® from the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors® (Bluegrass REALTORS®) joined other local associations from across the nation for a Ring Day, an annual event where real estate professionals volunteer at as many Salvation Army red kettles as possible in their local communities.
Properties listed for sale in Central and Southeastern Kentucky have experienced an increase in showings over the past two months. Appointments to view listings have seen a 10% and 7% uptick in September and October, respectively. This follows three months of decreases after back-to-back all-time highs for showings in April and May.
After a small blip in July, real estate sales over the past two months have lunged forward and reached all-time highs in both August and September. Some of the increase is due to the addition of newly reported sales in the counties surrounding Lake Cumberland, however, sales across the board remain strong. Transactions in September pushed total sales to 1,494 in 2021 compared to 1,384 last year, an increase of 5% year-over-year and a new record for the month.
Transactions in August reached an all-time high for the month and second highest on record thanks, in part, to an agreed merger with the local Somerset-Lake Cumberland Association. The additional listings from the four counties around the lake region pushed total sales to 1,535 in 2021 compared to 1,460 last year, an increase of 5% year-over-year. With the pandemic pushing the 2020 selling season into the fall months, a strong August this year is a promising sign for the remainder of the year.
The Realtor® Community Housing Foundation (RCHF), the charitable arm of the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors®, is hosting its inaugural charity gala on Thursday, October 7. The gala, in partnership with Lexington Habitat for Humanity and REACH (Resources, Education, and Assistance for Community Housing), will be held at Limestone Hall, inside the historic courthouse.
