• Requiring Flood Insurance When Not Required

• WAIT! The Zestimate is Inaccurate?!

• Making Owensboro Neighborhoods Stronger

• License Renewals Require Vision Screenings

• Owensboro Racing & Gaming - My First Time!

• Is This the Most Popular Book Right Now?

• Growing The Newsletter - Let’s Do a Giveaway!

• 💭 Final Thoughts

• 📝 Survey Time!

Requiring Flood Insurance When Not Required

A story of yet another mortgage company doing a disservice to their borrower/my client.

Click HERE to watch my video on facebook talking about this entire story in detail.

Has this scenario happened to you?

I’ve been called a “bulldog” (and probably worse 😂) by my “competitors” because I’m not afraid of confrontation. And I’m okay with that.

I’ll go to bat in an instant with other agents, mortgage companies, contractors…whoever I need to battle with 😉 if they try to take advantage of my people. 👊🏼

WAIT! The Zestimate is Inaccurate?!

Did you sense the sarcasm in that heading?! I hope you did.

I can’t think of another thing in real estate that I roll my eyeballs about more than I do at Zillow “Zestimate” listed on their website for nearly every property.

🔥 For those of you who believe the Zestimate on Zillow is accurate, get your checkbooks ready!

My upcoming listing is actually over 1600 sq ft (not 624 like Zillow shows) and will be priced WELL below the Zestimate. 🙌

Yes it has more than 4 acres with a home, multiple buildings AND utilities & a septic tank on another part of the property where there used to be another home.😍

And no...it's not in an area that requires flood insurance.

By the time you receive this newsletter on Monday 2/17/24, I will likely be at the property with the photographer shooting the photos and capturing video to use in my marketing. If this property intrigues you, reply to this email with what questions you have and I’ll be sure to provide the info you requested.

This property will hit the real estate websites on Tuesday!

If you are considering selling your home, please give NO weight to what Zillow says your home is worth. You will be doing yourself a disservice if you rely solely on what an algorithm (who has never been in your home) has to say about your place.

Seriously though…this is a pretty sweet listing hitting the market. I’m already looking forward to the marketing I’ll be doing to help get this property sold for my sellers.

Making Owensboro Neighborhoods Stronger

Did you hear about the new Owensboro Neighborhood Alliance that has formed in our community?

According to their facebook page, “The Owensboro Neighborhood Alliances serve as a vital link between our neighborhoods and city government. The Alliances identify problems and develop solutions. Citizens like you know best what the needs are in your neighborhood.”

If you follow their page, you will learn about upcoming neighborhood meetings such as the one I’m excited about attending Monday evening. My real estate office is in this neighborhood so I’m looking forward to seeing what this great group has plans of doing to improve our neighborhood.

Here’s what they said about the upcoming meeting, “Attention Midtown East Residents & Businesses! Did you know your neighborhood has a dedicated alliance to help improve the community? The Midtown East Neighborhood Alliance is officially reactivated, and we’re looking for residents and businesses to get involved! See the map to check if you're in the area, and join us for the first meeting on Monday, February 17 at 6:00 pm at Owensboro Christian Church (Entrance G). Let’s make a difference together!”

By following their page, you’ll also learn about neighborhood cleanup initiatives like the one below. It’s definitely a page worth following!

Were you aware of this Neighborhood Alliance? Or is this the first time you’re learning about it? I’d love to know!

License Renewals Require Vision Screenings

I’m going to be vulnerable for a moment.

I’m nervous about this. I mean…I can see well enough to drive. But I cannot see out of my left eye. In fact, my left eye is so bad, that when I get something in my right eye when I’m driving, I must pull over immediately because it’s not safe.

And I’ve definitely noticed that everyone was right about turning 40 years old. I’m now 42 and I can hardly read anything at all without my readers.

It’s got me wondering if I’ll pass the vision screening.

Anyone else a little worried about it?

Starting January 1, 2025, all Kentuckians must undergo a vision screening to renew their license.

Vision screenings may be completed at no cost at the KYTC Driver Licensing Regional Office.

Drivers also have the option of conducting a vision exam with their vision specialist, or a vision screening with a KYTC-credentialed medical provider in advance of their license renewal visit.

This new requirement was passed by the General Assembly in 2021 to enhance highway safety.

Kentucky joins several other states, including Indiana, Ohio, and Missouri, in adopting mandatory vision screenings for license renewals.

Owensboro Racing & Gaming - My First Time!

Steve and I attempted to attend the Grand Opening.

When we got there, it was rainy (which doesn’t scare us), but the line was incredibly long. Folks were willing to stand in the rain, they were so excited for their chance to win the jackpot!

Rather than spend time hanging out in line to go in, we elected to head back to work for a few hours then come back. That ended up being perfect; we got right in!

Here’s your sneak peek of what we experienced at our first trip to Owensboro Racing & Gaming…Owensboro’s new casino! Click image below to watch.

It was odd being in a casino with no tables. I enjoy watching BlackJack, especially. I’m not a big gambler, at all. In fact, we didn’t gamble at all this time.

Well…it depends on what you call gambling. I feel like we were gambling when we were leaving the casino and pulling out onto the highway. Hopefully there will be a stoplight there soon.

Side note - if you don’t want to smell smoke, don’t go anywhere near the doors to the smoking area. Whew! It was really bad to this nonsmoker.

If you’ve been, what’d you think?!

Is This the Most Popular Book Right Now?

I bought into the hype and got the book. In fact, as I’m typing this, it’s raining outside and I’m thinking about how awesome it’d be to be cuddled up on the couch right now reading this book.

So far, it’s really good! But I’m not even a quarter of the way through it yet.

Have you read it?! Do you plan to?!

Once I finish it, I’ll give a review in the following newsletter about my thoughts on it. I have a feeling it’ll be a really positive review!

Here’s a quick link to purchase the book on Amazon if you’ve not yet gotten a copy!

Growing The Newsletter - Let’s Do a Giveaway!

I’m really enjoying writing these newsletters for you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy writing them.

We have a tremendous “open rate” on our newsletters which means folks aren’t just hitting the delete button…they’re at least reading some of the newsletter, and that makes my heart happy!

I hope you are finding at least SOME value in each one.

I’d love to reach more people. So let’s do a giveaway!

Here’s how to enter to win:

1. Take a screenshot of a part of THIS newsletter that you enjoyed reading.

2. Share it on any of your social media accounts letting your friends know that you recommend that they subscribe to the newsletter.

3. And add the hashtag #obkynews somewhere in your post.

Every publication, I’ll pick a random winner from those who shared something from the most recent newsletter…and I’ll announce it. So be sure to catch every newsletter to see if you are the winner! (I won’t know you shared it if you don’t use the hashtag so be sure to use it!)

The winner for each publication will receive a $25 VISA card as my gift of gratitude for you helping to spread the word. THANK YOU!

💭 Final Thoughts

It’s been a great week! A wet & rainy one, but a great one, nonetheless!

As you’ve probably heard, the real estate market is heating up. It looks as though the busy spring season may be upon us a little bit early this year. I think we’ll start to see more “multiple offer” situations on homes very soon despite the interest rates staying pretty steady.

I’m thankful for you being here. I’m thankful to be living in this great community. And I’m really thankful today for the peacefulness the rain is providing to us.

I’ll see you in your inbox in March (the 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month!) Until then, take care!

❤️ Sam

“OBKY News” is brought to you by Sam Ray’s real estate team Vega Group proudly brokered by Real Broker.

We would be honored to be your chosen real estate expert when you are ready to make a move. ❤️ 

We know that it can be fun to tour homes even if you’re not ready to make a move. So we’ve put together a list of the upcoming Open Houses just in case you’d like to tour them. 👇

** This is a “live” link which means it’ll update as Open Houses are added or removed. Be sure to check back closer to the weekend!

📝 Survey Time!