#louisville real estate show

[weselllouisville]

(Louisville Real Estate Show)

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Rob Rogers

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

April 16, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

APR 17, 2023

A few quick notes tonight about some ongoing stories: There is more news about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his misreporting of his financial connections. This morning, Shawn Boburg and Emma Brown of the Washington Post reported that for twenty years, Thomas has reported rental income totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars from a real estate firm that was shut down in 2006. The misstatement might be dismissed as a problem with paperwork, the authors note. “But it is among a series of errors and omissions that Thomas has made on required annual financial disclosure forms over the past several decades, a review of those records shows. Together, they have raised questions about how seriously Thomas views his responsibility to accurately report details about his finances to the public.” The cascade of stories about Thomas threatens to continue to undermine the legitimacy of this Supreme Court. Last night, the nation suffered one mass shooting in Dadeville, Alabama, that killed four people and wounded twenty-eight others, and another in Louisville, Kentucky, that killed two and wounded four. On Friday, Republican hopefuls for the 2024 presidential nomination courted members of the National Rifle Association, the NRA, at the organization’s 2023 annual convention, promising looser gun laws. South Dakota governor Kristi Noem complained about liberals who “want to take our guns,” and boasted that her granddaughter, who is not yet two, has a shotgun and a rifle. Meanwhile, the Biden administration continues to focus on rebalancing the Indo-Pacific to counter China. Just two weeks after the fiftieth anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam and nearly thirty years after the restoration of diplomatic ties in 1995, the U.S. has broken ground on a new $1.2 billion embassy compound in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh yesterday and vowed to “broaden and deepen” relations between the two countries. Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, U.S. Agency for International Development administrator Samantha Power, and members of Congress have all visited Vietnam recently as part of a long-term strategy to help area friends and allies counterbalance China in the Indo-Pacific region. Yesterday, Blinken emphasized how the U.S. and Vietnam, working together, “can advance a free and open Indo-Pacific, one that is at peace and grounded in respect for the rules-based international order.” But, as Vietnam has a one-party communist government, he explained, “When we talk about ‘free and open,’ we mean countries being free to choose their own path and their own partners and that problems will be dealt with openly; rules will be reached transparently and applied fairly; and goods, ideas, and people will flow freely across land, the seas, the skies, and cyberspace.” Vice President Harris spoke yesterday at a march for reproductive rights in Los Angeles, where she emphasized how deeply our international standing depends on our commitment to freedom at home. “I’ve been traveling around the world as your Vice President,” she said. “When we, as Americans, walk in those rooms around the world, we have traditionally walked in those rooms, shoulders back, chin up, having some authority to talk about the importance of rule of law, human rights. “But here’s the thing we all know about what it means to be a role model: People watch what you do to see if it matches what you say. So let us understand that what is happening in our nation right now, by extension, can impact people around the world who dare to say, ‘I want my country to be like the United States and protect rights.’ And those autocrats and those dictators might look at those folks and say, ‘What are you pointing to as the example?’” “We are seeing, around the country, in a myriad of ways, those who would dare to attack fundamental rights and, by extension, attack our democracy,” Harris said. “Around our country, supposed so-called extremist leaders…dare to silence the voices of the people.” “A United States Supreme Court, the highest court in our land, that took a constitutional right that had been recognized from the people of America. “We have seen attacks on voting rights; attacks on fundamental rights to love and marry the people that you love; attacks on the ability of people to be themselves and be proud of who they are. “And so, this is a moment that history will show required each of us, based on our collective love of our country, to stand up and fight for and protect our ideals…. [W]e have been called upon to be the next generation of the people who will help lead and fight in this movement for freedom and liberty based on our love of our country…. [W]e stand for our democracy. And we stand for foundational and fundamental principles that have everything to do with freedom, liberty, and equality for all people.”

—

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[datascraping001]

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[weather-usa]

People moved to Asheville to avoid extreme weather, overlooking its tragic past.

Asheville was promoted as a climate refuge, a place to escape the worst impacts of extreme weather. But the deadly destruction caused by Hurricane Helene shows that this North Carolina city, like any other in America, was never truly safe — it’s just that memories are short, and the scale of the climate crisis is often underestimated.

"If you live in a place that can rain, you live in a place that can flood," said Kathie Dello, North Carolina's state climatologist. This reality became starkly clear in the past week.

After making landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday, Hurricane Helene tore through six states, leaving widespread devastation and over 160 fatalities in its wake.

On Friday, the storm battered western North Carolina as a tropical storm. In Buncombe County, where Asheville serves as the county seat, over 50 people have died, with many more still missing.

Asheville, a city of around 95,000, has been left in ruins. Highways are torn apart, and power lines lie tangled like spaghetti. Residents are struggling to access basic necessities like food, water, and electricity.

Survivors have compared the aftermath of Helene to a "war zone," while officials are calling it "post-apocalyptic."

Climate and Average Weather Year Round in 40223 - Louisville KY:

The devastation stands in stark contrast to the image some media outlets, real estate agents, and residents once painted of Asheville—a city, located hundreds of miles from the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, thought to be relatively safe from the climate extremes plaguing other parts of the U.S.

Jesse Keenan, associate professor of sustainable real estate and urban planning at Tulane University, noted that "climate migrants" have been arriving in Asheville for years, coming from places like California, Arizona, and the coastal Carolinas.

Asheville frequently appears in online discussions as a refuge from heat, floods, and wildfires. In one 2019 post, a user wrote they were planning to move to Asheville because they wanted to avoid areas where “natural disasters could destroy our property.”

Even some climate experts living in Asheville believed they were shielded from the worst risks. Susan Hassol, a longtime climate change communicator, admitted that she and others “labored under the illusion that we live in a relatively climate-safe place.”

However, in a world reshaped by human-caused global warming, no place is truly safe. Hurricane Helene, said state climatologist Kathie Dello, bore “the fingerprints of climate change.”

The hurricane intensified as it passed over the exceptionally warm waters of the Gulf, which fueled its growth. Additionally, a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall.

A rapid climate analysis released Tuesday by scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory revealed that fossil fuel pollution caused over 50% more rainfall in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas, and global warming made the extreme rainfall in these regions 20 times more likely.

In many ways, this picturesque region of western North Carolina was already primed for disaster.

Buncombe County’s bowl-like topography allows heavy rain to funnel quickly into low-lying areas, making neighborhoods highly susceptible to flooding. “It’s a mountainous area with steep hill slopes, so it doesn’t take much rain to trigger a landslide,” said Kathie Dello.

Asheville, situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at the convergence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, has long been vulnerable to floods, as history has shown.

In 1916, two consecutive hurricanes unleashed relentless rain on Asheville and surrounding areas, causing catastrophic flooding that swept away homes and claimed around 80 lives.

A nearly identical event occurred in 2004, when tropical storms Ivan and Frances followed similar paths along the Appalachians, bringing torrential rain to western North Carolina and killing 11 people.

More recently, Tropical Storm Fred brought devastating floods to the region in 2021, leading to a major disaster declaration.

Asheville has long been vulnerable to heavy rainfall, but the severity of Hurricane Helene "seemingly caught people off guard," said Ed Kearns, chief data officer at First Street Foundation, a non-profit specializing in weather risk research.

Weather Forecast For 89147 - Las Vegas NV:

https://www.behance.net/gallery/203348551/Weather-Forecast-For-89147

Kearns explained this reaction stems from relying on past experiences that no longer apply in a rapidly changing climate. “Risks are increasing faster than humans can perceive,” Kearns told CNN.

A recent First Street report revealed that areas of North Carolina devastated by Helene could now face what was once a 100-year flood every 11 to 25 years.

As floodwaters recede, Asheville faces the daunting task of rebuilding. “I can’t even think about a time frame for how long it’s going to take to recover,” Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer said Monday.

Although Helene shattered the notion of Asheville as a "climate-safe" city, Tulane University’s Jesse Keenan doesn’t think it will curb people's desire to relocate there. “I believe this will actually accelerate the process,” he said.

Ironically, disasters like hurricanes often "clean the slate" for outside developers and investors to buy properties at lower prices, redeveloping them into denser, more expensive housing, Keenan noted.

“People tend to have short memories about these things. There are always those willing to take the risk,” he added. “This is the story of post-disaster development in America.”

See more:

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-90087

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-90088

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-90089

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-90091

https://weatherusa.app/zip-code/weather-90093

Adding to the challenge is the growing sense that there’s nowhere truly safe to go. “Canada has fires, Vermont floods, West Virginia suffers drought, and Phoenix faces extreme heat,” Dello pointed out.

[cocktailsfairytales]

Read CUL-DE-SAC by Liz Crowe today!!

DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT....

here are some others' words for it....

From Publisher’s Weekly an Editor’s Choice Book Life review:

Tense, delicious novel of suburban swingers spinning out of control.

Crowe deftly incorporates page-turning suspense, social satire, and a sense of lives spinning out of control and towards tragedy. Sharp characterization and slicing dialogue grip from the start, as does Crowe’s keen eye for jealousies and deliciously mixed feelings.

Bookaholic Bex:

Crowe writes incredibly well and develops characters which are well rounded and credible in their motivations.

If you enjoy a steamy story that slow cooks into a web of deceit and lies, then this is the book for you.

Reedsy Discovery reviewer:

The slices of mystery had me guessing until the end, with a few plot twists I wasn't expecting. I was heavily invested in each couple's trials and tribulations, lending to a more well-rounded reading experience.

Goodreads reviewer:

Oh the drama. The secrets. You are always left guessing. Just when you think you've cracked the mystery, Liz is right there with a little twist that puts a wrench in your thinking.

Synopsis (from Amazon):

Welcome to Connelly Court. A secluded, old money neighborhood, harboring a web of desires and deceit behind pristine facades and manicured lawns, where the lives of a group of neighbors, bound by their shared secrets and unconventional lifestyle, are about to unravel.

Michael and Amelia Ross move into their dream home, and get drawn into the seductive allure. But their house once belonged to a family whose lives were seemingly ruined by their participation, which leads Amelia to question everything about her new-found friends. Suspicions run rampant as the close-knit group turns on each other. Lies, betrayals, and hidden agendas are revealed, ripping apart the fabric that once bound the group together.

“Cul-de-Sac” is a dark tale of marriage, friendship, desire, and betrayal, where nothing is as it seems, and the truth may be more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Discover the twisted secrets of Connelly Court in this chilling domestic suspense novel that will leave you questioning just how well you truly know—or should know—your neighbors.

Author Bio:

Liz Crowe is a Kentucky native and graduate of the University of Louisville living in South Carolina. She's spent her time as a three-continent expat trailing spouse, mom of three, real estate agent, brewery owner and bar manager, and is currently a digital marketing and fundraising consultant, in addition to being an award-winning author.

The Liz Crowe backlist has something for any reader seeking complex storylines with humor and complete casts of characters that will delight and linger in the imagination long after the book is finished.

Her favorite things to do when she’s not scrolling social media for cute animal videos is walk her dogs, cuddle her cats, and watch her favorite sports teams while scrolling social media for cute animal videos.

Website: https://lizcrowe.com/

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ORHrxk

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205844908-cul-de-sac

The perfect book for a long holiday weekend!

#culdesac #neighbors #mystery #friendships #marriages #lifestyle #secrets #thriller #fivestars #holidayread #beachread

[mappingthemoon]

Wow, this is a fucking outrage. I remember when Megabus first showed up, advertising $1 trips to wherever, but the catch was there are no bus terminals and they just dump you off on a street corner in the middle of some fucking industrial wasteland so you'd have to drag all your crap several miles to get to whatever city center you were attempting to travel to. It sucked ass, but I figured, well, you get what you pay for -- plus, I was still young/able-bodied enough to angrily walk the miles with an overstuffed backpack. Didn't realize that kind of "disruption" would eventually inspire other carriers to dump their own terminals. What the fuck.

Copypasting the text of the entire article here because I fucking hate having to go to CNN dot com for any reason:

Greyhound bus stops are valuable assets. Here’s who’s cashing in on them

By Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Updated 8:52 PM EST, Mon December 18, 2023

New York CNN  — You can’t get here from there. That’s the increasing problem facing around 60 million people who depend on intercity buses.

Intercity bus lines like Greyhound, Trailways and Megabus, an overlooked but essential part of America’s transportation system, carry twice the number of people who take Amtrak every year. But the whole network faces a growing crisis: Greyhound and other private companies’ bus terminals are rapidly closing around the country.

Houston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Tampa, Louisville, Charlottesville, Portland, Oregon, and other downtown bus depots have shuttered in recent years. Bus terminals in major hubs like Chicago and Dallas are also set to close. Greyhound and other companies have relocated their stops far away from city centers, which are often inaccessible by public transit, switched to curbside service or eliminated routes altogether.

These stations built decades ago are shuttering because of high operating costs, government underfunding and, surprisingly, the entrance of an investment firm buying up Greyhound’s real estate for lucrative resale.

Greyhound terminal closures in one state can unravel service in others, and the closures threaten to break the comprehensive web of national bus routes. Greyhound suspended service for a year in Jackson, Mississippi, after the terminal closed and also left Little Rock, Arkansas, after a closure.

“All this happening at once is really startling,” said Joseph Schwieterman, a DePaul University professor who researches intercity bus travel and directs the university’s Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development. “You’re taking mobility away from disproportionately low-income and mobility-challenged citizens who don’t have other options.”

Roughly three-quarters of intercity bus riders have annual incomes of less than $40,000. More than a quarter would not make their trip if bus service was not available, according to surveys by Midwestern governments reviewed by DePaul University.

Intercity bus riders are also disproportionately minorities, people with disabilities, and unemployed travelers.

A spokesperson for Greyhound, which is now owned by German company FlixMobility, said it strives to offer customers the most options for connections, but has “encountered challenges in some instances.” The spokesperson also said they “actively engage with local stakeholders to emphasize the importance of supporting affordable and equitable intercity bus travel.”

The terminal closures have been accelerating as Greyhound, the largest carrier, sells its valuable terminals to investors, including investment firm Alden Global Capital.

Last year, Alden subsidiary Twenty Lake Holdings purchased 33 Greyhound stations for $140 million. Alden is best known for buying up local newspapers like The Chicago Tribune, New York Daily News and The Baltimore Sun, cutting staff, and selling some of the iconic downtown buildings.

Alden has started to sell the Greyhound depots to real estate developers, speeding up the timetable for closures.

“I don’t know the specific details of each building, but it is clear what is happening here: an important piece of transit infrastructure is being sacrificed in the name of higher profits,” said Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, a professor of real estate at Columbia Business School.

Twenty Lake Holdings did not respond to requests for comment. Attempts to reach Alden were unsuccessful.

Greyhound selling stations

The closures are the latest pressure point for intercity bus travel, which has been neglected for decades.

Local, state and the federal agencies have underinvested in intercity bus travel and relied on private companies to provide an essential public service for mostly low-income passengers. Some cities have been hostile to intercity buses and blocked efforts to relocate terminals.

“The public sector has turned a cold shoulder to buses,” DePaul’s Schwieterman said. “We subsidize public transit abundantly, but we don’t see this as an extension of our transit system. Few governments view it as their mandate.”

Bus terminals are costly for companies to operate, maintain and pay property taxes on. Many have deteriorated over the years, becoming blighted properties struggling with homelessness, crime and other issues.

But terminal closures cause a ripple effect of problems.

Travelers can’t use the bathroom, stay out of the harsh weather or get something to eat while they wait. People transferring late at night or early in the morning, sometimes with long layovers, have no place to safely wait or sleep. It’s worse in the cold, rain, snow or extreme heat.

Bus carriers often try to switch to curbside service when a terminal closes, but curbside bus service can clog up city streets with passengers and their luggage, snarl traffic, increase pollution, and frustrate local business owners. In Philadelphia, a Greyhound terminal closure and switch to curbside service after its lease ended turned into a “humanitarian disaster” and “municipal disgrace” with people waiting on street corners.

In Cincinnati, the Greyhound terminal downtown closed last year after a sale and relocated to a suburban area far from public transportation.

A trailer in a parking lot became the new Greyhound stop, with limited seating inside, two restrooms and no food. It’s open 12:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“It was plopped in the middle of nowhere,” said Cam Hardy, president of Better Bus Coalition, a transit advocacy group in the Cincinnati area. Hardy himself takes the Greyhound bus to Indianapolis frequently.

“It’s suffering big time. I’m really concerned,” Hardy said. “I think about my elders and people waiting in inclement weather. People need a secure, safe place to wait and clear instructions if there’s a delay.”

Rise and fall of intercity buses

Although intercity bus travel is an afterthought to many people today, it has been an important part of American transportation since the early 20th century, delivering both rich and poor families across the country.

Greyhound, which was started in Hibbing, Minnesota in 1914, became the largest intercity bus company in the United States.

Beginning in the 1930s, Greyhound built hundreds of modern bus terminals, often in the “Streamline Moderne” architectural style in the largest cities to match its streamline buses.

In many cities, bus terminals were the only business open 24 hours a day. The terminals and intercity buses were sometimes symbols of Americana and adventure, used as scenes in numerous films ranging from Midnight Cowboy to Forest Gump.

But demand for intercity buses weakened as the interstate highway system grew, car ownership increased, air travel expanded, and city centers deteriorated. Companies cut service and closed terminals starting around the 1960s.

Cities lost nearly one-third of intercity bus service between 1960 and 1980 and more than half of the remaining service between 1980 and 2006, according to DePaul University research.

Federal deregulation of the intercity bus industry in the 1980s sped up service cuts. Deregulation allowed carriers to abandon their unprofitable routes, resulting in a wave of service reductions in smaller cities.

Ridership dropped from 140 million passengers in 1960 to 40 million by 1990.

Traditionally, buses operated from their own private terminals or from city-owned facilities. But beginning in the late 1990s, buses going from Chinatown to Chinatown in different cities along the Northeast Corridor emerged. These discount carriers avoided terminals and operated from the curb.

The success of the so-called “Chinatown bus” model led to a boom in curbside carriers, offering slightly more perks (free internet!) and newer buses with sleek branding and lower prices than Greyhound buses.

In 2006, Megabus debuted, followed by BoltBus a year later. Companies found that operating curbside saved money by reducing labor costs and eliminating high costs of running their own terminals.

“The industry has been increasingly leaving the terminal to operate on the curb,” said Nicholas Klein, an assistant professor in Cornell University’s department of city and regional planning who studies intercity bus travel.

While the growth of curbside carriers like Megabus has helped the intercity bus industry draw new riders, curbside carriers usually only operate in major cities and typically do not offer routes that require transfers.

“Losing out on terminals means that cities are going to have to regulate curbside service,” Klein said. “Someone has to deal with the consequences of lots of people waiting for buses where there’s not sufficient services.”

New solutions

As Greyhound terminals close, transit advocates say the public sector needs to step in to play a larger role in supporting intercity bus travel.

“Intercity buses should no longer be an invisible mode to city governments,” said Joseph Schwieterman. “The era of privately-run stations is rapidly ending, so governments need to figure out how to assure that service continues without pushing people out into the rain and cold.”

One promising model is in Atlanta, where Greyhound opened a new 14,000 square-foot dedicated terminal this year with financial support from the federal government. The station is used by other intercity bus operators and is near public transit.

Some public transit advocates note than train stations are more anchored and less movable than bus stations. And, in many cases, they can serve as dual train and bus stations. Milwaukee and Boston, for example, also have municipal intercity bus terminals located next to train stations.

“Access to publicly owned intermodal facilities is crucial for providing communities across the U.S. with intercity bus service,” the Greyhound spokesperson said. “We strongly urge local and regional governments to support intercity bus access to these centers.”

In Houston, Greyhound last month closed its centrally-located terminal and moved to a smaller stop with less access to public transit.

Gabe Cazares, the executive director of transportation advocacy group Link Houston, wants to see a publicly-owned, centralized transportation hub in Houston as a permanent replacement for the Greyhound terminal.

“As long as public sector takes a hands-off approach, we’re going to continue to see the cascading problems every time a bus operator closes,” Cazares said. “We’re going to have to come up with creative solutions to tackle this.”

Correction: A previous version of this article mischaracterized Alden Global Capital. It is an investment manager.

[dankusner]

Affordable housing developer LDG plots two projects for Dallas

LDG Development has plans for two new multifamily communities in Dallas.

The affordable housing developer based in Louisville will bring hundreds of dwellings to the city between a project along Southerland Avenue and another at 1200 N. Walton Walker Blvd.

Filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation show that the Southerland Avenue building, called the Legacy on Kiest, will include 180 affordable units with an estimated construction cost of $55 million.

The Cedar Crest area project will have 36 one-bedroom, 84 two-bedroom and 60 three-bedroom units, all slated to be available for households earning between 0% and 60% of the area median family income.

Construction on the development near East Kiest Boulevard is expected to begin in July 2025, with completion slated for December 2026.

Details for the Walton Walker project are sparser.

TDLR shows a start date of January 2025 with a July 2027 completion.

An application with the Dallas City Plan Commission shows LDG is seeking to build 300 mixed-income units on more than 15 acres along the North Walton Walker service road, south of Goodman Street.

Part of the site, located in the Arcadia Park area, is being used for truck parking.

LDG will construct one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units, catering to families. Some 5% of the units, 15, will be earmarked for households earning 81% to 100% of the area median family income.

HEDK Architects, based in Addison, is listed as the design firm for the Walton Walker complex.

Engineering firm Dunaway Associates is part of the project, as well.

Arrive Architecture Group out of Bedford is doing the design work for the Legacy at Kiest.

LDG has a Texas office in Austin.

A new mixed-use development could rise within the North Texas community of Wilmer.

Wilmer eyes nearly 70-acre mixed-use development

A new project in Wilmer could bring hotel, retail, residential and office and warehouse development to the community.

Layne's Chicken Fingers moved its headquarters team to Cobb Business Park in Frisco.

Layne’s Chicken Fingers relocates HQ and other commercial real estate deals of late

Here’s a look at other recent lease and sales transactions across Dallas-Fort Worth, including the shift of Layne's Chicken Fingers' headquarters team to a new space in Frisco.

[louisvillehomes]

Louisville Real Estate Show 7-14-24 youtube from The Real Estate Bulldogs on Vimeo.

[kyhomebuyersplus]

Easier Ways to Sell My House Fast Louisville

Selling a house can often feel like navigating a maze of uncertainty, especially when time is of the essence. At KY Home Buyers Plus, LLC, we understand the challenges homeowners face when they need to sell quickly. Whether you're downsizing, relocating, or simply eager to move on from an unwanted property, there are streamlined options available to simplify the selling process.

Working with a Real Estate Agent

One traditional route to selling your home involves partnering with a real estate agent. Agents bring market expertise, listing services, and negotiation skills to help you fetch the best price for your property. While this method can be effective, it often requires time for listing preparations, showings, and waiting for the right buyer.

Selling Your Home on Your Own

For those who prefer more control over the selling process, selling your home independently (FSBO - For Sale By Owner) is another viable option. This approach allows you to manage the sale firsthand, potentially saving on agent commissions. However, it demands significant effort in marketing, paperwork, and legalities, which can be daunting for many.

Opting for a Cash Home Buyer

If speed and simplicity are top priorities, working with a cash home buyer may be the ideal solution. Companies like KY Home Buyers Plus, LLC specialize in purchasing homes quickly and hassle-free. Cash buyers can often close within days, eliminating the uncertainties and delays associated with traditional sales.

Exploring Real Estate Auctions

For a more dynamic selling experience, real estate auctions provide an alternative platform. Auctions can attract motivated buyers and expedite the selling process, though final sale prices can vary based on bidding activity.

Leveraging Local Real Estate Investors

Another effective strategy is selling your house directly to a local real estate investor. These investors often buy properties in any condition and can offer flexible terms to suit your needs. This route bypasses the need for repairs or extensive staging, making it an efficient choice for selling as-is.

Conclusion

Navigating the Louisville real estate market doesn't have to be overwhelming. By exploring these easier ways to sell your house fast, you can find the approach that aligns best with your timeline and goals. Whether you choose the guidance of a real estate agent, the independence of FSBO, the speed of a cash buyer, or the dynamic nature of auctions, KY Home Buyers Plus, LLC is here to support you every step of the way. Let's simplify your selling experience and help you move forward confidently into the next chapter of your life.

For more information on sell my house fast Louisville, contact us today!

[rfhomebuyerscom]

Sell My House Fast in Louisville: Your Guide to Quick and Hassle-Free Transactions

Selling a house can be a stressful and time-consuming process, especially if you're looking to close the deal quickly. Sell My House Fast Louisville Whether you need to relocate for work, downsize, or address financial concerns, selling your house fast in Louisville is possible with the right strategies and assistance. Here’s how you can achieve a quick and hassle-free sale with RF Home Buyers.

Why Sell Your House Fast in Louisville?

Job Relocation: A sudden job transfer or new employment opportunity might require you to move quickly.

Financial Needs: Urgent financial needs such as medical expenses, debt repayment, or avoiding foreclosure can necessitate a speedy sale.

Downsizing or Upgrading: Changes in family size or lifestyle can prompt a need to sell your current home swiftly.

Inheritance: Inheriting a property you don’t plan to keep can be a reason to sell it quickly.

Steps to Sell Your House Fast

Choose the Right Buyer: Partnering with a reliable home buying company like RF Home Buyers can streamline the process. They specialize in quick sales and offer fair prices.

Prepare Your Home: While some buyers, especially home buying companies, purchase properties as-is, making minor repairs and cleaning can enhance appeal and potentially increase the offer.

Price It Right: Pricing your home competitively is crucial. Overpricing can deter buyers, while underpricing might lead to financial loss.

Market Effectively: Utilize online listings, social media, and word-of-mouth to spread the word about your property.

Be Flexible: Accommodate showings and be open to negotiations to facilitate a faster sale.

Benefits of Selling to RF Home Buyers

Fast Closing: RF Home Buyers can close deals in as little as seven days, ensuring you get your money quickly.

No Repairs Needed: They buy houses in any condition, saving you the time and cost of repairs.

No Commissions or Fees: Unlike traditional real estate transactions, there are no agent commissions or hidden fees.

Simple Process: The process is straightforward and transparent, with RF Home Buyers handling most of the paperwork.

How the Process Works

Contact RF Home Buyers: Reach out via their website or phone to provide details about your property.

Get a Cash Offer: After evaluating your home, you’ll receive a no-obligation cash offer.

Accept the Offer: If you’re satisfied with the offer, accept it and choose a closing date that works for you.

Close the Deal: On the agreed date, finalize the sale and receive your payment.

Testimonials

Jane D. from Louisville: "Selling my house to RF Home Buyers was the best decision. They made the process quick and stress-free, allowing me to move to my new job without any hassles."

Michael S. from Louisville: "I needed to sell my house fast due to financial reasons. RF Home Buyers offered a fair price and closed the deal within a week. Highly recommend them!"

Conclusion

Selling your house fast in Louisville doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the help of RF Home Buyers, you can enjoy a smooth and efficient selling experience. Sell My House Fast Louisville Visit RF Home Buyers today to get started and see how they can help you achieve your real estate goals quickly and effortlessly.

[weselllouisville]

(Louisville Real Estate Show)

[rfhomebuyers118]

We Buy Houses in Louisville KY even with a Lien

Are you facing financial difficulties or have you inherited a property with a lien? Selling a house with a lien can be daunting, but “we buy houses in Louisville KY” Rapid Fire Home Buyers is here to help.

We will explore who Rapid Fire Home Buyers are, what a lien on a house is, and why someone would want to sell a house with a lien. We will discuss how Rapid Fire Home Buyers can assist with selling a house with a lien, the benefits of working with them, and how you can get started.

Stay tuned to learn more about selling a house with a lien in Louisville, KY.

We Buy Houses in Louisville KY Key Takeaways: You can sell your house in Louisville KY, even with a lien, with the help of Rapid Fire Home Buyers. Rapid Fire Home Buyers offers cash for your house and handles the lien negotiation process, making selling with a lien hassle-free. Selling to Rapid Fire Home Buyers means no need to pay off the lien, make repairs, or go through a lengthy selling process, providing quick and convenient solutions for those in financial difficulties or needing to sell quickly. Who Are Rapid Fire Home Buyers? Rapid Fire Home Buyers are a professional real estate buying company operating in Kentucky, specifically in Louisville. They specialize in offering competitive cash offers to individuals looking to sell their houses quickly and hassle-free.

With their extensive knowledge of the local market and streamlined processes, Rapid Fire Home Buyers can provide homeowners with a stress-free selling experience. They understand the importance of a quick turnaround in real estate transactions, ensuring that sellers receive fair cash offers promptly. Rapid Fire Home Buyers offer a convenient solution for those seeking to sell their properties efficiently by eliminating the need for repairs, showings, and the uncertainty of traditional listings.

What is a Lien on a House? A property lien is a legal claim that a creditor can place on a property to secure the payment of a debt. In real estate, a lien on a house means that the property cannot be sold or transferred without satisfying the debt owed to the lienholder.

This can significantly impact real estate transactions, as potential buyers may be hesitant to purchase a property with an existing lien, and lenders may be reluctant to provide financing for such properties. The presence of a lien creates a cloud on the title, affecting the marketability of the property and complicating the closing process. Sellers need to resolve liens before selling the property to avoid delays and legal complications. Creditors have the right to foreclose on the property if the debt remains unpaid, leading to a potential loss of ownership for the current owner.

Why Would Someone Want to Sell a House with a Lien? There are several reasons someone may consider selling a house with a lien, such as financial difficulties, inherited property with existing liens, or the need to sell quickly due to legal issues or impending foreclosure.

Financial challenges are often a significant factor driving individuals to sell their property despite the encumbrance of a lien. When facing economic hardship, selling a house with a lien can provide much-needed relief by alleviating financial burdens and generating immediate cash flow. Inherited properties with existing liens pose a unique dilemma, prompting heirs to opt for a sale to resolve legal obligations efficiently.

The urgency to sell quickly, especially in cases involving pending legal issues or foreclosure proceedings, can lead homeowners to explore options for a fast sale. Cash offers from investors or real estate companies present a viable solution for those seeking a swift transaction and a way out of the complexities of owning a house with a lien. Such scenarios highlight the diverse motivations behind selling a property under lien and the various considerations that come into play.”

Financial Difficulties Financial difficulties, such as falling behind on mortgage payments or facing foreclosure, can prompt homeowners in Kentucky, especially in Louisville, to seek solutions like selling their house for a fair cash offer to alleviate their debts.

When individuals find themselves struggling to keep up with the mortgage, the stress and pressure can become unbearable. In Louisville, where the real estate market can be competitive, selling a house for a cash offer may resolve the financial strain quicker.

Many homeowners facing foreclosure may see selling for cash as a way to avoid the complexities and uncertainties of traditional sales methods. Cash offers often involve a streamlined process, offering a convenient and efficient way to offload a distressed property.

Inherited Property with a Lien Inherited property with a pre-existing lien, such as an estate tax lien, can create complexities for individuals in Kentucky looking to sell the house, requiring a lien resolution before a successful house sale can occur.

Resolving estate tax liens and other property-related debts is crucial in Kentucky, as these issues can significantly impact the selling process.

One of the main challenges heirs face inheriting a property with liens is determining the total amount owed. Addressing these liens often involves negotiating with creditors and finding ways to settle outstanding debts. Property inspections and appraisals can also pose challenges in accurately assessing the property’s value, significantly when liens complicate the ownership status.

Legal guidance may be necessary to navigate the complex legal processes of resolving property liens.

Need to Sell Quickly Urgent situations like being behind on mortgage payments or facing foreclosure may drive homeowners in Louisville and across Kentucky to seek fast solutions by engaging with cash home buyers for a quick house sale.

These homeowners often find themselves in a tight spot, struggling to keep up with monthly payments and fearing the repercussions of potential foreclosure.

Cash home buyers present a practical solution by offering to purchase properties in as-is condition, eliminating the need for repairs or costly renovations.

Their ability to provide a quick turnaround on property transactions can help homeowners alleviate financial burdens and avoid the stress of a prolonged selling process.

How Does Rapid Fire Home Buyers Help Selling a House with a Lien? Rapid Fire Home Buyers assists in selling houses with liens by providing cash offers in Kentucky, including the Louisville area. They streamline the process of handling lien negotiations and ensure a quick closing for the sale.

By offering cash offers, Rapid Fire Home Buyers eliminate the uncertainties often accompanying traditional sales, providing sellers with a straightforward and efficient option. Their expertise in navigating the complexities of properties with liens allows them to expedite the process and offer competitive deals that benefit both the buyers and sellers.

Offers Cash for the House Rapid Fire Home Buyers make competitive cash offers for houses with property liens in Kentucky, where the buyer assumes responsibility for resolving the lien issues, ensuring a hassle-free transaction for the seller.

By offering cash deals for properties entangled in liens, Rapid Fire Home Buyers distinguish themselves as dedicated buyers committed to simplifying the selling process for homeowners. Their expertise in handling lien-related matters alleviates the burden on the seller and speeds up the transaction, providing a quick solution to a potentially complex situation. Sellers in Kentucky can benefit from the swift and efficient services this reputable buyer offers, ensuring a seamless experience from offer acceptance to closing.

Handles the Lien Negotiation Process Rapid Fire Home Buyers take charge of the lien negotiation process with lienholders, ensuring efficient resolution of lien issues to facilitate a smooth house sale experience for homeowners in Kentucky.

By leveraging their expertise in handling intricate negotiations, Rapid Fire Home Buyers diligently work with the lienholders to reach mutually beneficial agreements that pave the way for a successful property transaction. They navigate the complexities of lien resolutions with finesse, showcasing their commitment to streamlining the selling process. Clear communication and transparency play key roles in their approach, fostering trust and cooperation among all parties involved. This strategic handling of lien negotiations expedites the sale and minimizes potential roadblocks, allowing Kentucky homeowners to embark on their next chapter seamlessly.

Closes the Sale Quickly Rapid Fire Home Buyers expedite the closing process for house sales, minimizing the time and costs associated with real estate transactions in Kentucky, particularly in Louisville. This provides sellers with a swift and efficient selling experience.

Their streamlined approach involves a quick evaluation of properties, often within 24 hours, allowing for rapid decisions. Once an offer is accepted, they work diligently and efficiently to push through the paperwork and legalities. Their strong network of professionals ensures a smooth process from start to finish, eliminating unnecessary delays.

This agile method saves time and helps reduce costs related to traditional sales, such as agent fees and extensive repairs. Sellers benefit greatly from the convenience and speed offered by Rapid Fire Home Buyers, allowing them to move on quickly without the typical hassles of selling a house.

What Are the Benefits of Selling a House with a Lien to Rapid Fire Home Buyers? Selling a house with a lien to Rapid Fire Home Buyers comes with advantages like no need to pay off the lien before selling, no requirement for repairs or improvements, and a quick, hassle-free selling process in Kentucky with fair cash offers.

By selling your property with a lien to Rapid Fire Home Buyers, you can sidestep the burden of settling the lien amount out of pocket, allowing you to move forward without delays or financial setbacks swiftly. You are relieved from the responsibility of carrying out any costly repairs or renovations to make the property market-ready, saving you both time and money. The efficient and transparent selling process offered by Rapid Fire Home Buyers ensures you can enjoy a smooth transaction backed by competitive cash offers that cater to your needs and timeline.

No Need to Pay Off the Lien Before Selling Selling a house with a lien to Rapid Fire Home Buyers eliminates the necessity of paying off the lien before the sale, streamlining the process and reducing closing costs for homeowners in Kentucky.

By bypassing the requirement to settle the lien independently, homeowners can save substantial money that would have otherwise been spent on lien satisfaction. This cost-saving benefit not only speeds up the selling process but also eases the financial burden of dealing with liens.

Rapid Fire Home Buyers’ streamlined approach simplifies the entire transaction, making it a hassle-free experience for Kentucky residents looking to sell their property quickly. This efficient process is designed to provide homeowners with a stress-free solution to their property sale needs.

No Need to Make Repairs or Improvements Rapid Fire Home Buyers allow sellers to offload houses with liens without requiring any repairs or improvements, offering fair cash offers based on the property’s existing condition in Kentucky, particularly in Louisville.

By taking the hassle out of handling liens and extensive property repairs, Rapid Fire Home Buyers presents an ideal solution for homeowners looking to sell quickly and effortlessly. Their process involves evaluating the property as-is, ensuring that sellers receive a competitive cash offer that accurately reflects the current market value. This approach saves sellers time and money and provides a convenient way to bypass the traditional real estate sales process. In Louisville, Kentucky, Rapid Fire Home Buyers stand out for their transparent and efficient transactions, helping homeowners easily navigate challenging situations.

No Need to Go Through a Lengthy Selling Process By choosing Rapid Fire Home Buyers, homeowners with liens can skip the extended selling process and enjoy a quick offer and closing timeline in Kentucky. Engaging with efficient cash home buyers facilitates this.

Upon contacting Rapid Fire Home Buyers, sellers find relief in the seamless transaction process tailored to expedite the sale of properties with existing liens.

Through close collaboration with experienced professionals, homeowners receive a competitive cash offer, eliminating the uncertainties typically associated with traditional real estate transactions.

The streamlined approach ensures a stress-free selling experience with a rapid closing timeline, allowing homeowners to resolve their property-related challenges swiftly.

How to Start Selling a House with a Lien to Rapid Fire Home Buyers? Initiating selling a house with a lien to Rapid Fire Home Buyers involves contacting the company, providing details about the property and lien, and ultimately receiving a competitive cash offer to close the sale swiftly.

To initiate this process, contact Rapid Fire Home Buyers via their website or contact number. Once in touch, share all relevant information regarding your property, including the specifics of the lien on the house. Transparency is key in these transactions to ensure a smooth and efficient sale process. After conveying all necessary details, you can anticipate Rapid Fire Home Buyers to thoroughly evaluate the property and lien situation. This evaluation stage is crucial as it will lead to the formulation of a lucrative cash offer tailored to your unique circumstances. Upon receiving their offer, you can consider the terms and swiftly move towards finalizing the sale, enabling you to resolve the lien on your property promptly.”

Contact Rapid Fire Home Buyers The initial step in selling a house with a lien to Rapid Fire Home Buyers is to contact the company, providing essential details about the property to receive a fair market price assessment in Kentucky, particularly in Louisville.

Upon contacting Rapid Fire Home Buyers, a dedicated team member will guide you through the process, emphasizing the importance of sharing accurate property specifics. This information includes the property’s location, size, condition, and any relevant details about the lien on the house.

By furnishing these details promptly, you enable the experts at Rapid Fire Home Buyers to conduct a thorough evaluation and provide a personalized fair market price for your property in Louisville, ensuring a transparent and efficient selling experience.

Provide Information about the House and Lien Following the initial contact, sellers must furnish detailed information about the house and the existing lien, allowing Rapid Fire Home Buyers to conduct a property viewing and present a fair cash offer based on the assessment in Kentucky, especially in Louisville.

Providing this comprehensive data is crucial as it helps the home-buying process proceed smoothly and efficiently. By offering a transparent overview of the property and any financial obligations attached to it, sellers enable Rapid Fire Home Buyers to make an informed evaluation.

A thorough understanding of the house and lien allows the buyers to tailor their cash offer to reflect the property’s condition and market value accurately. This level of detail ensures a fair and satisfactory transaction for both parties involved.

Receive a Cash Offer and Close the Sale Upon evaluating the property and lien, Rapid Fire Home Buyers present a cash offer to the seller, initiating the closing process that concludes with a seamless sale, allowing for a swift transition, particularly in Kentucky, including Louisville.

Through this final stage, the focus shifts to expediting the process efficiently, ensuring sellers can swiftly move on to their next chapter without unnecessary delays. Rapid Fire Home Buyers’ cash offer adds a layer of convenience, eliminating the uncertainties associated with traditional financing.

As the closing procedures kickstart, the seller can witness a streamlined transition, underscoring Rapid Fire Home Buyers’ hands-on approach to facilitating a hassle-free experience.

Frequently Asked Questions What does it mean for a house to have a lien? A lien on a house is a legal claim against the property that ensures the owner pays off any outstanding debts or obligations before selling the house.

Can I still sell my house in Louisville, KY if it has a lien? Yes, you can still sell your house even with a lien. However, the lien must be paid off before the sale can be finalized.

How can I sell my house in Louisville, KY, with a lien? You can sell your house with a lien by working with a professional home-buying company, such as Rapid Fire Home Buyers, who can handle the lien payments and facilitate a smooth sale.

Will I still receive a fair price for my house with a lien? Rapid Fire Home Buyers is committed to providing fair and competitive prices for all houses, regardless of any liens or other issues.

What type of liens can you help with when buying a house in Louisville, KY? We can help with various liens, including tax liens, mechanic’s liens, and mortgage liens. Our team has experience dealing with all types of liens and can navigate the process efficiently.

Are there any fees or commissions when selling a house with a lien in Louisville, KY? No, there are no fees or commissions when selling your house to Rapid Fire Home Buyers. We cover all closing costs and handle the lien payments, allowing you to sell your house without additional expenses.

[best-louisville-ky]

Unlocking Savings and Expertise: Louisville's Discount Real Estate Brokers at 1 Percent Lists Purple Door

In the bustling real estate market of Louisville, homeowners are constantly seeking ways to maximize their profits while ensuring a smooth and efficient selling process. Enter 1 Percent Lists Purple Door, a revolutionary full-service discount real estate brokerage that is transforming the way properties are bought and sold in the Louisville, KY area. With a mission to save homeowners thousands of dollars in commissions, this innovative agency combines cutting-edge technology with expert real estate services, making it the go-to choice for those looking to sell their Louisville homes.

At the heart of 1 Percent Lists Purple Door's approach is the commitment to offering full-service real estate solutions at a fraction of the cost. While traditional real estate brokers may charge up to 6% in commission, this forward-thinking agency charges as little as 1% on the listing side, potentially saving homeowners a substantial amount of money. By leveraging technology and streamlining processes, they have managed to cut unnecessary overhead and increase marketing exposure for their clients, ensuring that every home gets the attention it deserves.

Selling your Louisville home has never been easier, thanks to 1 Percent Lists Purple Door. From handling all paperwork and negotiations to managing showings and providing expert advice, their dedicated team takes care of every detail for only 1% commission. Plus, their expertise in the Louisville area ensures that you'll receive top-notch guidance throughout the entire process.

If you're ready to unlock significant savings and experience a hassle-free home-selling journey, look no further than 1 Percent Lists Purple Door. Visit their website https://www.1percentlistspurpledoor.com/ or call them at (502) 208-5820 for more information. Don't miss out on the opportunity to partner with the leading discount real estate brokers in Louisville and take the first step toward selling your Louisville home with confidence.

Exploring the Charms of Louisville, Kentucky

At the heart of Louisville lies its renowned tradition: the Kentucky Derby. Dubbed "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports," this annual horse race is a celebrated event that draws people from all over the world. Beyond the race, the Kentucky Derby Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of this legendary event, showcasing its impact on the city and the world of horse racing. For those seeking a taste of Louisville's equine heritage, a visit to Churchill Downs, the historic racetrack where the Derby is held, is a must. Here, visitors can watch live horse racing, explore the grounds, and even embark on a guided tour to learn more about the sport.

Beyond horse racing, Louisville boasts a thriving arts and culinary scene. The city's NuLu district is a hub for artists and artisans, showcasing galleries, boutiques, and creative spaces. Meanwhile, food enthusiasts can savor the city's signature dish, the Hot Brown, at the historic Brown Hotel, or embark on the Urban Bourbon Trail to sample some of the finest bourbon whiskey produced in the region.

One interesting fact about Louisville is its underground history. Beneath the bustling city streets lies a network of tunnels known as the "Louisville Mega Cavern." Originally a limestone quarry, this cavern has been transformed into a unique adventure park where visitors can enjoy zip-lining, tram tours, and even an underground bike park.

The Magnificent Louisville Waterfront Park

At the heart of the Louisville Waterfront Park is the Big Four Bridge, an iconic structure that connects Louisville to Jeffersonville, Indiana, spanning the Ohio River. Originally built as a railroad bridge in 1895, the Big Four Bridge has been transformed into a stunning pedestrian and bicycle pathway, providing breathtaking views of the river and the Louisville skyline. The bridge is not only a vital transportation link but also serves as a symbol of unity, connecting two states and bringing people together in the spirit of recreation and exploration.

The Louisville Waterfront Park offers a plethora of recreational opportunities for visitors of all ages. Families can enjoy the expansive playgrounds, picnic areas, and open spaces for games and relaxation. The park hosts numerous events throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, and cultural celebrations, making it a hub of entertainment and community engagement. Moreover, the waterfront park features a picturesque lake with fountains, a cascading waterfall, and beautifully landscaped gardens, making it a perfect spot for leisurely strolls and picnics.

The Bluegrass State's Rich Heritage and Natural Beauty

Kentucky's history is deeply intertwined with the westward expansion of the United States. It became the 15th state to join the Union in 1792 and played a crucial role in the Civil War, with battles like Perryville and Mill Springs taking place within its borders. The state is also renowned for its contributions to music, particularly in the realm of bluegrass and country. The birthplace of legends such as Bill Monroe and Loretta Lynn, Kentucky continues to influence the world of music with its rich musical heritage.

One of the state's most famous traditions is the Kentucky Derby, often referred to as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports." Held annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, this thoroughbred horse race draws visitors from around the globe, showcasing Kentucky's passion for horse racing. Additionally, Kentucky is celebrated for its bourbon whiskey production. The state's rolling hills and limestone-rich water provide the perfect environment for crafting this beloved spirit, with famous distilleries like Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve, and Buffalo Trace offering tours and tastings to eager enthusiasts.

Beyond its cultural offerings, Kentucky's natural beauty is equally captivating. The state is blessed with lush landscapes, including the picturesque Bluegrass Region, named for its abundant bluegrass and rolling hills. The Red River Gorge, a geological wonder, attracts outdoor enthusiasts with its rugged terrain, rock formations, and over 100 natural sandstone arches. Meanwhile, Mammoth Cave National Park boasts the world's longest cave system, a mesmerizing underground world to explore.

[jeanearhart]

Situation-Ship

Short story following the inner dialogue of a young man in his first (and last) gay relationship.

6086 words

JUNE

Love. We love to love. It’s inescapable, the media is polluted with love, our literature, every social event. First ten minutes at a party and your friend is asking, still seeing that girl? Turn on spotify, hit shuffle, you’ll hear a song about finding love followed by a song about losing it, wanting it, hating it.

We all have been through the ringer in love, love troubles are as common as spring allergies. Sneeze, they say bless you, break up they say I’m so sorry.

I’m a good looking guy, I’ve had plenty of girlfriends; theater girls, sporty girls, an emo chick who drew her eyeliner all the way to her hairline and pierced her own ears with a hot sewing needle.

I’ve had one boyfriend.

My one and only, I met him at a house show in Portland.

Ex-boyfriend, as of now.

Newly graduated from high school, I had no clue what my plans were for the next year. I could take a gap or enroll late, sure I’d be doomed to the nearest community college or trade school, I’d lead a mediocre life, marry an orange skinned blonde and have insufferably Kentuckian children. I’d had this delusion as a kid that I’d be famous when I was older, it lasted up until my sophomore year when despite my pretty face not a single casting audition I sent in received a callback. Sure, I was still in high school, my chances at success were higher if I auditioned as an adult with a real education in acting. It was a shame I wouldn’t be caught dead in drama school, surrounded by wannabes in desperate need of a shower, already so drenched in self-entitlement they miss the point of it.

The house was small, three rooms on the first floor, three on the second. The living room had been converted into a 10 by 10 concert hall, the only indicator of a stage being a thick red rope that separated the band from the mosh pit. As I made my way through the sweaty sea of stoned teenagers and drugstore James Hetfields, I asked myself again and again why I had decided to attend the show.

I hadn’t been since last summer when my ex, the emo chick, dragged me to some abandoned warehouse where the ‘Dickswatters’ abused instruments for three hours while a swarm of underaged kids took acid and mindlessly rammed into one another. I was no different than the others, in fact I got so shitfaced that when I stumbled upon said emo chick blowing a guy in the forest out back I said;

“Wow dude, your lay looks just like my girlfriend, that’s some insane shit,” In complete, honest awe and disbelief. It wasn’t until she pulled off and faced my way, still on her knees might I add, that I realized she was the real deal.

We broke up after that, but stayed friends. She was the only person in Louisville I didn’t find insufferable and her life was always interesting enough that I didn’t need to bother to have one of my own. She never saw it as an issue that I had no friends outside of her, if anything I think she liked it, all of my attention and focus was spent on her problems and her priorities. I was the guy best friend girl’s dream about, laid-back, non-judgmental, and completely uninterested in her sexually.

She was out of town the first few weeks of that summer, she had decided to celebrate her freedom from highschool with a trip to Italy. She took a few friends of hers, paying for all of their plane tickets and hotel rooms with her parent’s money. The first time I’d seen her parents' three-story estate I’d understood her completely. Rich and bored, pretty and neglected.

I think I missed her.

I recognized some of the punks at the show from her instagram posts and the last show I’d been to. They seemed nice enough and no doubt would have let me join them if I’d made an effort, however, I was intimidated by their crowns of hair and heavy jackets. I found a corner to press myself against in the kitchen. Unlike other parties the only way to get a drink at a show was to buy it, make friends, or bring it. I had forgotten this fact, expecting the usual array of intoxicants to be sitting out in the kitchen, perspiring in anticipation of my arrival. Painfully sober and visibly out of place, I kept stiff and pretended to scroll through my phone. Without any intoxicants in my system the music was intolerable, the kitchen was stuffy and hot, I doubted the house had a working ac, an accurate assumption given the trashy state of the kitchen I was standing in. This was where I met him, the beginning and the end of everything I ever believed about myself.

He owned the house.

“Hey, polo shirt,” His voice was just deep enough. I've always found high pitched voices grating, but bass tones were worse. They unsettle me, sound way too out of place. I’ve never seen a man I truly believe looked the part of a bass, so anytime I’ve met a man who’s Adam apple drops that low I’ve been petrified, effectively frozen in fear. I must have given him a stupid look, something torn between awe and fear because the man laughed and pointed at the fridge behind me. “I’m trying to get a drink,”

“Oh sorry,” I peeled away from my spot and stood awkwardly to the side as he opened the fridge and got a beer. He offered one to me as well, which I took, despite the fact I’d never really enjoyed the taste. Too bitter.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you here before,” He commented, not so much as making eye contact. It wasn’t an obvious thing, first he was looking at the fridge, then his drink, and now the crowd that filled his property. It made sense for him not to be looking at me, he had plenty of other things to look at. “I’m Caesar, the host.” He took a long gulp of his beer and I watched as his Adam's apple bobbed at the action. I still hadn’t moved back to my spot against the fridge, I was suspended in time, lagging. “And you are?”

I barely registered the words. “What?”

“And you are?” He repeated, this time with heat. “I’m asking you your fucking name,”

I tensed at the harsh words, still reeling from being approached at all when I’d been completely prepared to spend the whole night standing in the back of the venue with my arms crossed and my head dully nodding to the music. I was going to take some pictures, bathe in the online validation and praise, you’re so hot, then fall asleep to a cult classic so I was only half-lying when I would later tell smart girls I’d seen it.

“John,” I finally replied.

His laugh had a roughness to it, years of smoking tearing up his throat. “You’re kidding, your parents couldn’t think of anything better?”

“My dad’s a christian, I’m named after John the Baptist,”

“I didn’t ask,”

I opened my mouth to retort, pausing when I noticed the slight tilt to his lips. Oh, he was fucking with me. I was so caught up in my own head I forgot this was simply how these kinda men spoke to each other.

“At least I make good pizza,”

He made a face, took a sip of his beer, his Adam's apple bobbed. “What?”

“Get it, uh,” I shrugged, I still hadn’t drunk any of my own beer. I probably would be throwing away a full bottle at the end of the night. “Little Caesar’s Pizza, and Papa John’s, Papa John’s is better,”

Caesar snorted into his drink, averting his eyes from the crowd to peer at me from the corner of his eye. “Really?”

He pronounced his words so clearly that despite the clamor of yelling and cymbal crashing echoing around us I could understand every word he said perfectly. Either he’d won the genetic lottery, or he spent many years in speech therapy. Given his sharp eyes, height, and broad shoulders, I concluded it was the former.

“C’mon,” He motioned toward the living room with his drink and under the kitchen strobe lights his silver rings shone. A snake, a skull, and a die on one hand. A singular dark band on the other. I followed after him into the other room, let him slide an arm around my waist whilst we listened to the music, and protested only once as he dragged me into the mosh pit.

We saw each other often after that, every day of the next two weeks in fact. Caesar was a hurricane, assertive, intelligent, and impossibly stubborn. He insisted on doing everything himself, cooking, cleaning, fixing, paying. Caesar didn’t owe anyone anything, even the government.

“College is a scam,” He told me one day while we were sitting in his driveway, Caesar’s hands black with grease. He’d just changed the oil in his car, I watched his back muscles flex, sweaty and shiny in the glaring sun. His shoulders were freckled with acne that gathered at his chin, obscured mostly by the scruff he’d allowed to grow. “There are plenty of jobs that don’t require a college education, and anything really important you can just teach yourself, everything you’ll learn at an institution will be capitalist propaganda,”

“How do you make money?” I prodded. I used to admire Caesar’s ability to support himself without answering to anybody, but looking back it was actually quite pathetic. Constantly his wifi or power would be out, turned off due to unpaid fees.

“Renting out the house, fixing shit,” Caesar leaned back and tilted his head toward the sun. “It’s really easy, no one knows how much fixing a car should cost, they pay whatever you tell em’ to,”

“Awesome.”

Pathetic.

One of the best things about going out with Caesar was his cooking. He didn’t believe in following recipes, but knew how to make a damn good dish. I left his house early late one Thursday with a tupperware of fried tortellini smothered in marinara. I took it down to my dad’s apartment, a studio situated unbearably close to the train tracks. He couldn’t hear me knock over the wheels slamming into splintered tracks, long overdue for repair, so I took the extra key from his mailbox and let myself in. I’d be worried about someone robbing my father if there was anything to steal.

I found him lying, passed out on his bed, a single mattress on the floor, surrounded by Dorito crumbs and empty bourbon bottles.

“Dad, I brought food,” I sat at the end of the mattress and tapped his foot. He peeled open a crusty eye, looking over the pregnant bump of his beer belly.

“Ah, John, good boy John, it’s so good to see you,”

“Eat,” I nudged his foot again, prompting the man to sit up. He took the tupperware and peeled it open. "Caesar made it,"

"It looks good, is Caesar Italian?"

"No dad," I picked up his empty bottles of bourbon and took them to the kitchen. Vines of rusted cracks branched out beneath my feet, overhead a broken strobe light flickered. The cheap bulb gave everything in the kitchen a yellowish appearance, as if it were molded.

“Itailians are such wonderful cooks,” I could hear the food in his mouth as he spoke. I opened his pantry and tossed the bottles into his trash can, they sounded like wind chimes as they clinked against each other on the way down. “Where is her family from?”

“His,” I corrected. I closed the pantry door behind me and opened his fridge, it was mostly empty besides a few unlabeled takeout boxes and lines of beer cans. “Do you have any water?” I asked.

“Take from the tap, Louisville water is real clean, don’t gotta pay for overpriced plastic,”

The water from his tap always tasted like iron, and occasionally had a faint brown tint to it. “I’m alright,” I replied, leaving his kitchen empty handed. I came back to him already half-way finished with his pasta, he had smudges of marinara across his bulging cheeks that I assume he’d felt around his lips and attempted to wipe away. I studied the ombre lines of spotted red as I continued talking. “I don’t know where Caesar’s family is from, I haven’t asked,”

“Should soon, he could be illegal, you don’t want to be caught up with someone like that,”

I don’t think I would have cared if he was. “He’s not,”

“We have really good genetics you and I, blue eyes, strong enamel, don’t impregnate someone with bad genes, your kids will miss out,”

“He’s a man dad,”

My father’s face pinched. “A real one? Not one of those weird pussy boys you bring around,”

I wasn’t sure how to reply to that one. I wasn’t even sure who he was talking about.

“Your generation is doomed, boys are girls, girls or boys, back in my day we just called em dykes and moved on with it,” He shoveled more of the food into his mouth, little pieces spewing as he preached. “Nothing wrong with being a bull dyke, nothing wrong with dating one either, your mom looked a little like a bull dyke when I met her, real angry,”

I just nodded dully. He took that as a sign to keep talking.

“This boy have a penis?”

“Yes dad, he has a penis,”

“Do you take it up the ass?”

Years of similarly uncomfortable sexual questions had made me immune to the embarrassment of answering them. “We haven’t had sex,”

“But you want to,”

I considered it. Caesar was tall and broad, he had a nice face, nice hands. I’d never slept with a man before, but as far as relationships go we already did everything else associated. We went out to dinner, saw movies, we held hands, shared a bed, held each other while we slept. “I think I do,”

“I think you should, trying new things is good for you, teaches you things about yourself,” My dad finished the last of his tortellini and set the tupperware on the floor beside his mattress. “I’ve participated in sodomy with a woman, it was okay, no better than the usual penetration,”

“I don’t think I needed to know that,”

He laughed, raspy and wet. “You’re a grown man now, you can take it, you’re what, 19?”

“18,”

“18, I remember being 18, best years of my life,” I sat down on the end of his mattress and listened as my father began to recall the tales of his youth. He spent his later teen years working in a factory, he told me, a factory that belonged to the company he later became a higher up in. He told me that was where he met my mother, she was a receptionist, impossibly pretty with a strong attitude. She took her coffee black and didn’t tolerate any disrespect. He told me to stay away from women like that, that if I’m going to marry a woman, marry a real one.

As I walked back out to my car I stopped at the headlights and lifted my chin up to stare into the full moon. The moon has always looked fake to me, too round and picturesque. The lines of its craters are so vivid that as a child I had once tried to climb a ladder and grab it. At 18, I was still just as much of a child, silently I lifted my arm up into the air and hovered my hand over where I could see the moon. As I closed my hand I imagined it crushing and turning to dust between my fingers.

JULY - AUGUST

Caesar and I started hanging out less, he got a new job at some warehouse that had him on from six in the morning to eight in the afternoon every weekday. I still worked at the same grocery store I’d started working at freshman year. I felt a little emasculated when Caesar would talk about his job, lifting wooden panels, crates, and gas tanks seemed a lot manlier than checking out housewives in an apron. I didn’t know what it was about being with another man that made me so determined to reassure myself I was still one as well, maybe I’d spent too many years picturing gay men as skinny twinks in booty shorts and wearing glittering lip gloss. One day while in the bathroom at work I practiced saying gay slang in the mirror. When I cocked my hip and limped my wrist with the work apron on I did look like a real fag. It was a strange concept to comprehend. Did I want his dick up my ass? I didn’t think so, I’d never been interested in a thing like that before. Plenty of other guys seemed to like it, girls even.

I decided to text my ex about it. She told me to meet her at Barnes and Noble that weekend, I agreed.

The ex’s name was Singe, she stood at an unimpressive five feet four inches that she overcompensated for with obnoxious platforms and tall updos. Her hair was 'singed' at the ends, as she liked to say, fading from black at the roots into a crimson red at her ends. I found her perusing the psychology section, carefully looking over each book with narrowed eyes and a manicured finger.

“We don’t take well to shoplifters,” I said behind her, holding my voice an octave lower. She rolled her eyes and slid the book she’d been holding back into its spot on the shelf before turning to face me.

“Hey John, took you long enough,”

“Traffic,”

“I’m sure,” She motioned with her hand for me to follow, an array of beaded crystal bracelets sliding down her wrist at the action. “So you think you’re gay?” She inquired, non-accusatory. In Singe’s circles everyone was gay, genderqueer, polyamorous, it might as well have been a prerequisite to being punk. I knew she’d be the last person to judge me, but I still hesitated to answer, as if a camera crew were going to walk out from behind the bookshelves and expose me for my perverted attraction.

“I still like women, or at least I think I do, I liked having sex with you,”

“Did you? You never seemed as into it as I was,” She replied.

“I was into it, just, I don’t know,” I tapped my fingers against my pantleg. “Wasn’t as into as you in the ‘frequency’’ sense,”

“You’re the first guy I’ve known who was put off by a girl who wants to bone 24/7,”

“There’s other more interesting things to do,”

“Like what?” She led me into Barnes n’ Nobles adjourning Starbucks, sitting us down at a table by the window so we’d get to enjoy the beautiful view of an outlet mall parking lot.

“Movies,”

“Movies are boring, why would I care about fictional lives when I could be living my own?”

I frowned. “There’s a lot more to them than that,”

“For you, I actually get out of house and live my life,”

She had a point.

“So you’re what, bisexual?” She followed up.

“I guess,”

She tapped her long nails against the tabletop, considering. “Who’s the guy?”

“Caesar,”

“The guy who owns the PotStop?”

I didn’t know it had a name. “Yeah, him,”

“He’s really standoffish,” Singe commented. “I don’t see him actually talk to people much. Do you know who he normally hangs out with? Everyone I know knows him but no one I know hangs out with him. Have you met any of his friends?”

“Not yet, why’s it matter?”

She gave me a look, a deadpan ‘are you serious’? “Number one red flag is no friends, either they’re a narcissist too obsessed with themselves to put time into other people or they’re such a dick no one wants to be around them,”

I opted to ignore the implications that had on myself, seeing as my own personal circle consisted only of Singe, my dad, and now Caesar.

“Have you ever done anal?” I asked her.

“A few times, why?”

“Did you like it?”

“Yeah, it’s okay, I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite but I enjoyed it,”

“Do you think I’d enjoy it?”

She laughed. “I can’t tell you whether or not you’d enjoy it John, you have to figure that out for yourself,”

“I don’t want to do it if I’m not going to like it,”

“So don’t do it,” Signe clapped her hands together. “Problem solved,”

I didn’t end up doing it, not anal at least. Caesar and I rarely got each other off and when we did it was strictly hand stuff. He thought doing anything else would make it weird, too gay. I should have realized early on that a guy who doesn’t want to be ‘too gay’ is not a guy you should be in a gay relationship with. For the first time in my life I worried that I was unattractive. Even if I wasn’t super interested in having sex with Caesar, it felt weird that he wasn’t at all interested in doing it with me. I wished at times I was more feminine looking, another first, I thought eventually he’d meet a girl he wanted to penetrate and either cheat or leave. I couldn’t stand the thought that Caesar would leave me.

We only dated three months.

I think back on those three months quite often and I find myself standing in front of two Caesars; the man I fell in love with and the man I dated. The man I fell in love with knew me and understood me in ways no one ever had before, and in ways no one ever would again. He saw through every lie I told, every fake smile and charade. This Caesar loved the parts of me only he saw and took no offense to the many idiosyncrasies I have that were exposed during our while short lived, intimate relationship. This Caesar is deep and intelligent, with good intuition and a drive to be better, do better, that I could respect.

This Caesar, funny enough, didn't exist, and would never exist. Even if one day he grew out of all of his immature habits and actually tried to make something of himself, maybe went to therapy and self-reflected on the way he treated me, the man I dated would never be the man I fell in love with.

The man I dated left me stoned and strung out downtown Louisville with no car and no wallet to hook up with a chick because I, just as I had dreaded, was not fulfilling his needs. His very real, manly needs to get off inside of something. I will admit, he was not completely to blame, he asked for my permission to swing and I, ever eager to please, had said 'batter up'! I had hardly expected him to find a girl that same night, nor did I expect him to abandon me for her on the dirty concrete of the city sidewalk. Too many drinks and a 10mg edible in, I could barely walk. Luckily enough, my tall frame and the bulge in my jeans saved me from being kidnapped or date raped. No, the worst outcome of the night was a thirty dollar bullet to my bank account. Initially the uber was only twenty, but I left a ten dollar tip after he'd been so kind as to even walk my crossfaded ass up to my apartment door.

I fell asleep as soon as I hit my bed, the cheap mattress I’d thrifted had never felt firmer, my decade old sheets softer. I almost didn’t want to get out of bed the next morning, if the source of my tribulations hadn’t let himself inside I would’ve stayed buried in those soft sheets all day.

“Rise and shine beautiful, I brought a hangover cure,” Caesar placed a strange drink concoction on my kitchen island, along with a tupperware of breakfast food.

“You make that or her?” I asked him, my voice was raspy from drunk singing and it added an extra edge to the sharp tone of my inquiry.

“I did,” He opened the tupperware and grabbed a fork from my cabinets. “I didn’t spend the night at her place, just hit it and went home, I hope you like meat in your scrambled eggs,”

“Meat?”

“Chicken,”

“Normally people use pork,”

“I’m not a normal person,” Caesar came around to the side of my bed and nudged my shoulder with the tupperware. “Eat,”

I felt sick to my bones. It’s a much different feeling than feeling sick to your stomach, you feel it through your whole body. It’s a cold feeling, on the edge of nausea, it makes you tense and void. Not sad, not angry, not jealous, sick.

I sat up and took the food from Caesar, it smelled delicious. I wasn’t sure if I could stomach it.

“How was it?” I prodded. He shrugged.

“Okay, sex is sex,”

Sex is sex.

The eggs looked like clay, mushy, impenetrable. I grit my teeth.

Sex is sex.

“I’m not hungry,” I gave the tupperware back to Caesar, who leveled me with an odd look. “Too hungover?”

“Yeah, sorry, thank you for the thought,”

“Of course,”

I thought about that for days. Sex is sex. I’d had sex very few times in my life, strangely enough. You’d think, wow John you’ve dated so many girls, and you’re so hot, you’ve probably done it a million times, but I haven’t. The very few times I did have sex it was awkward and weird, I hardly enjoyed it. Hand stuff with Caesar was good, really good, I genuinely enjoyed it and it made me feel connected to him. It was like him and I were in on this secret, we knew each other's bodies in ways others didn't.

Sex is sex. I began to question if he saw our hand stuff the same way. I began to question if he saw any of our relationship the same way. Was I so delusional as to believe this man and I had this insane, unfathomable bond, unlike anything I've ever felt before, when in reality I was nothing more than an experiment? Not even that, if I was an experiment I'd know, he'd be more curious, want to try more things, no Caesar enjoyed my company, he liked my personality.

He liked me.

I'll never know if he loved me. I loved him, I know that much. I was obsessed with him, the way he wore his hair, the rings on his fingers, the shark tooth necklace that hung over face when we roughhoused and the forgotten skateboard in his garage. I loved his tenacity and when he'd act stubborn, scrunching his face to convey his silent protest. I loved his sharp eyes and soft cheeks, I loved his worn out Doc Martens and his wall of stolen street signs. I loved Caesar. I loved him so much that when he looked at me, really looked at me, I felt like I couldn't breathe.

I was sure during the time we were together that he was my endgame. That we had some connection no one else could understand, that my allowance of his misdeeds was a test of my love for him. I realize now that kind of thinking is idiotic. Real life isn’t a romcom, there is no fate, no destiny. Caesar and I weren’t meant to be, we weren’t soulmates, we were two losers without friends who just happened to be at the same place at the same time.

I’ve never been a good sleeper. It doesn’t help that my dad likes to stay up most nights watching conspiracy theory documentaries and listening to ‘underground’ podcasts. I could hear them from my room, the apartment walls thin enough that even the heavy breathing of dad’s neckbearded idols reached my ears as I searched desperately for sleep.

I started calling Caesar anytime I couldn’t sleep, and soon enough every night ended with the two of us deep in conversation over the glitchy speakers of our androids.

“Would you step on a bird to put it out of its misery?” Caesar asked me one night during an exceedingly more abstruse game of 21 questions.

“No,” I replied. “I couldn’t,”

“I could,”

“I’m not surprised,”

He laughed. “The bird is better off dead than suffering,”

“Did you ask me this just to sound edgy,”

“No no,” Caesar sounded earnest. “I wanted to know your thoughts, why wouldn’t you?”

“I’d feel bad,”

“You should feel worse about letting it suffer, if you really felt bad you’d kill it,”

I shifted uncomfortably in my bed. It wasn’t my fault that the bird was suffering, but it would be my fault the bird was dead if I killed it. There was no certainty that the bird would suffer forever unless I killed it. Why was the first option to step on it rather than to rescue it? In all honesty, the apartment might benefit from having something bright and energetic like a bird. I thought to myself that if the next morning I found a bird with a broken wing or legs that couldn’t care for itself, I wouldn’t step on it, I’d take care of it.

“If you had a pet bird what would you name it Caesar?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never wanted a pet bird,”

“But if you did,”

“Bladee,”

“Like the artist?”

“Yes,”

Naturally. “You’re obnoxious,”

“I’d be boring if I wasn’t,” I rotated onto my side so my hand rested in the palm of my hand and I faced the side of my phone. “Would you rather I named it something like Tweety?”

“No,” I said through a yawn. “But maybe something like Carl,”

“Carl?”

“Or Steve, Miles-”

“John,”

“Yes?”

“A name like John,” Caesar reiterated. “What’s with you and lameass names?”

I didn’t respond to that comment, it was true, I had a lame name. It wasn’t my fault, I didn’t pick it.

“Have you ever considered renaming yourself?” Caesar continued to dig. “Like Singe did,”

“I’m not alternative like Singe is,” I flipped back onto my back. “I don’t see the point, John fits me,”

Caesar grunted in agreement, then began on a tangent about the latest homicide he’d heard about in the news. He echoed the same sentiments I’d heard from other proud anti-fascists our age, not spouting a drop of his own thought out opinion. The line of reasoning he followed wasn’t wrong, it wasn’t stupid, just vague and overused, empty showy protest against a system he didn’t understand but pretended to know better than. I suppose his name fits him as well, if taken ironically. He was the personification of misquoted Caesar, a buzzword finding itself quite often in the wrong place; a politician's shitty speech, a school wall, a teenagers social media bio.

SEPTEMBER

I’ve recently started college, my major is still undecided but for my electives I’m taking Introduction to Film Studies and Spanish.

I enjoy Film Studies, it's easy. You don't have to learn how to feel, just the words to describe it.

The scene before you is dark, a single light flickers, the pole it stands upon is rusted. Beneath the actors feet the ground is moist from the morning's rain and one man awkwardly regards his partner's back pressed against the alley's brick wall with hesitation.

He can feel the ghost of wet brick on his back.

In class he'd describe these details as ominous, foreboding, and dreadful.

The man against the wall lifts his head and laughs, his voice is smoother than is normal; he is drunk.

"I don't like when you drink," Now that the man has spoken it becomes aware to the viewer that he's not a man, no not nearly, he's just a boy.

An eighteen year old boy.

"You're seriously no fun," Caesar mocks. "Weren't you just drinking with me? Fucking hypocrite,"

I looked anywhere but at him. The night was alive, the beating blood of Louisville's punk scene pumping around us, but never touching. "I had one shot, you've had six,"

He didn't digest my comment well, looking as though he might puke up five months worth of built up grievances onto my adidas. "So judgy," He settled on.

"I'm calling us an uber,"

"You're not,"

I didn't reply.

"You know what your problem is?" He lifted his head up, hair askew. "You think you're so much better than everyone else, you're so caught up in your own head you've convinced yourself that you're the only person that matters,"

I struggled to push my phone up and out of the pocket of my skinny jeans. I couldn't be sure if my hands were shaking, not when the light barely reached them.

"Do you even feel anything?"

"Of course I feel things," I pressed hard against the outline of my phone. The corner was caught on my pocket seam.

"You never show it," Caesar shook his head, hair beads rattling against one another. They were new, silver to match his rings.

A skull.

A snake.

A die.

All rusted on the inside.

I finally got my phone out of my pocket and it was heavy. A lead weight in my hand. Beneath the street light shone a glare on the screen that made it difficult to find my uber app.

"Do you love me John?"

I ignored him. Requested two stops.

"Do you love anyone?"

"Would you stop."

Caesar laughed. "Predictable,"

I grit my teeth. "What, what's predictable?"

"You," He pushed away from the wall so that he towered over me. "You're just like every other entitled, emotionally constipated, middle class white boy, it upsets you that I actually want us to feel something,"

"Want us," I echoed.

"Us, I want to feel something together, collectively, connected," He took my free hand, interlocking our fingers. "Don't you want that too?"

"Our uber will be here any minute now," I pulled my hand away from his and stepped back. His dark eyes remained trained on mine, locked into my irises.

"I can see why everyone leaves you, John," I stifled. "You never gave them a place to stay to begin with,"

In a movie scene you can see the ground is wet but you can't feel that the air is humid. You can infer from the blue hues and the main character's shivers that it was cold, but you'll not always be right. There was no shiver, just a violent twitch, as though someone hooked up spark plugs around my big toes. Caesar's pretentiousness was painful, and his snobby, accusatory attitude extremely off-putting. I hated dramatic assholes who pretend they can see right through you, that they understand the world in ways you're incapable.

I put him in the uber when it came and ordered a separate one for myself, let the driver know the second stop was unneeded, but could keep whatever pay they gave him for it.

My ride took me to my dad's, where I didn't bother to peel off my wet shoes, instead just stumbled into his bedroom and sat on the edge of that stained, crusted, rickety old mattress. I crumpled like a paper wad, head in my hands and joints stiff. I stayed there until the sun came up and my father's alarm rang.

He slid his glasses onto his face with sweaty, wrinkled hands, almost dropping them as they journeyed from the bedside table to his bed.

"John," He coughed out. "What are you doing here,"

"I'm breaking up with Caesar,"

"Who?"

"Caesar," I repeated. "The real boy,"

"Ah," My father slapped his lips together, kissing away his morning mouth gunk. "Never quite liked the kid anyways, give it just a few years and they'll have him locked up for one thing or another."

"Yeah," I kept my head in my hands, embarrassed that my dad might see the puddles that had begun to form in my palms if I dropped them. "He wasn't really my type anyways."

[cashforhousescolumbusohio]

Are central Ohio housing prices increasing in 2023? A Columbus realtor explains

Following a year of rising inflation and mortgage rates, Columbus realtor predicts that the Central Ohio housing market will remain solid in 2023. Columbus Realtors President Patti Brown-Wright anticipates that Central Ohio home prices will remain steady this year, even as interest rates keep climbing. This comes after the U.S.'s annual inflation rate decreased to 6.5% last month and Columbus' house prices witnessed a decline for five consecutive months in a row. “Even though rates have gone up a little bit, I don’t anticipate them to climb to a point where it puts buyers out of the market of being able to buy or sell their homes,” Brown-Wright said. “It’s still a great time to buy. Interest rates were 18% at one time when I was buying, they’re still really, really low and I wouldn’t discourage anyone from buying.” Realtor.com's Top-100 Housing Forecast for 2023 predicts that Columbus will be the 14th healthiest housing market in the country this year, with Toledo ranked 10th and Cincinnati 19th in Ohio. Dayton comes up 23rd, Cleveland 32nd, and Akron 60th - making it to the top spots of Hartfrod Connecticut; El Paso Texas; Louisville Kentucky; Worcester Massachusetts; and Buffalo New York. Last year, the listing site named Columbus one of the most rapidly growing real estate markets in America. Brown-Wright pointed out that its affordability compared to other cities has earned it considerable recognition nationally - especially for median income households. Year-over-year analysis shows that this trend is continuing and even increasing as more people recognize how accessible housing in Columbus can be. Realtor.com anticipates that the number of home sales in 2021 will reach its lowest level since 2012, with 14.1% nationwide--a 27% decrease from last year's record-breaking 3,018 homes sold in November alone! Brown-Wright further expects a continued decline in housing inventory to ensue as we move into 2021 and beyond. “That’s not always a bad thing, because we went from two days on the market to now we’re at an average of 24,” Brown-Wright said. “The market always corrects itself, just like the stock market.” Brown-Wright encourages buyers and sellers entering the market this year to do their “homework in advance” to understand their financing and the areas they can afford. She said knowing what and where buyers can afford to shop for a house is crucial. “Nothing is more upsetting to buyers is if they want to be in an area they can’t afford,” Brown-Wright said. “Do your research, be in front of it. Buy what you can afford, don’t overspend.”

[cashforhouseselpasotexas]

El Paso housing market ‘positioned for growth’

With El Paso at the forefront, a national housing forecast projects this area to be one of America's fastest-growing real estate markets in 2023. Despite the increasing mortgage rates and home prices, along with the more stringent lending standards that are affecting many markets across the country, economists at Realtor.com forecast a surge in house sales by 8.9% and an appreciation of 5.4% in El Paso's housing market during 2023 - outpacing last year’s figures! “Even in an environment where families are finding that their dollars no longer stretch as far as they did just a few months ago, cities like Hartford, El Paso, Louisville or Chattanooga offer a larger share of affordable homes for a median income,” the report states. Realtor.com's ranking of the top 10 housing markets with promising growth rates for 2023 has placed El Paso in an impressive second-place standing, just after Hartford, Connecticut! El Paso real estate experts are hopeful for 2023, yet they do advise that Realtor.com's predictions may be overly ambitious. “El Paso is probably going to have one of the most dynamic housing markets in the country in 2023. That is safe to say,” said Tom Fullerton, an economist at the University of Texas at El Paso. “The Realtor.com sales projection is substantially higher than ours. They don’t say what goes into their calculations.” As for his predictions, Fullerton drew on the data from Greater El Paso Association of Realtors. His UTEP group anticipated that home sales would rise 3.2% in 2023 when compared to 2022. Unfortunately, despite our request for an interview, Realtor.com didn't respond back with a comment or statement regarding this prediction. Rick Snow, a broker at EXIT West Realty and vice president of the Greater El Paso Association of Realtors, mentioned that homes in El Paso remain more affordable than other cities. Nevertheless, as property values have risen over the past several years it has become increasingly difficult for people living in El Paso to make ends meet. “When you look at El Paso’s market in comparison to other parts of the United States, it’s like, ‘Wow, El Paso’s super affordable,’” Snow said. “As far as true affordability goes for the average homebuyer in El Paso, it’s a tough market.” Patrick Tuttle, the broker and owner of El Paso-based Coldwell Banker Heritage Real Estate, highlighted that El Paso's median income has an obvious influence on its housing market. Despite El Paso's wealth of history and culture, the city continues to struggle with a poverty rate of 20%, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2021. In November, the median sales price of residential homes in El Paso was a whopping $247,000 – 17.6% higher than the year prior! This data comes from none other than the Greater El Paso Association of Realtors, who are experts in their field. “The statistics being this way might be because there are many people here who don’t report their own income,” Tuttle said. “But the people that are accounted for still shows the median income in El Paso is not high enough to support the rising prices that we’re seeing.”