Toni Schafer Realtor

Toni Schafer Realtor Real Estate Resources in ASL nationwide. Creating accessibility for the Deaf community when buying or selling a home. Central Kentucky Realtor.
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06/01/2026

I was talking with some clients who are planning a move to Kentucky, but before they can make the move, they need to sell their current home in another state first.

In situations like this, I usually recommend starting with a pre-qualification instead of jumping straight into a full pre-approval right away. The pre-qualification gives us a really good starting point. It helps us understand what the monthly payment range may look like, what price point makes sense, and what options may fit their goals once they get here. We can start narrowing down areas, land options, homes, or even talking through custom builds without putting them through the full approval process too early. Since they still need to sell their current property first, a full pre-approval right now may not even be necessary yet because so much can change during that time.

The process is not about rushing to the next step. I want to create a smart game plan in the right order so you are prepared when the timing lines up.

This is the reason why I created the ASL Real Estate Collective. There are so many parts of buying, selling, contracts, financing, and building that people are trying to navigate without fully accessible information. Inside the membership, we have courses, resources, contract education, and live masterclasses with Deaf professionals in the real estate industry all presented in ASL. We also keep all previous masterclasses and weekly call replays available so people can continue learning at their own pace.

If you want more clarity around real estate in ASL, comment “Collective” and I’ll send you the information.

05/31/2026

A lot of people don’t know what questions they should actually be asking when they hire a real estate agent.

The interview questions for someone helping you buy a house should look very different from the questions you ask somebody listing your home for sale too. Different skill sets matter depending on what side of the transaction you’re on.

On this week’s call, we’re going to walk through:
• how to find an agent
• how to interview them
• what answers you should be paying attention to
• and how to know whether somebody is actually the right fit for your situation

At the end of the webinar, I’ll also send you:
• a list of interview questions for buying a house
• a list of interview questions for selling a house
• plus the replay so you can go back through everything later

Comment “weekly call” and I’ll send you the registration link.

JUNE 4TH
7P EST

05/31/2026

A newly built home can look perfect on the surface, but there are still a lot of things you want to pay attention to before you move forward.

Who built it?
What kind of warranty comes with it?
Were corners cut to keep costs down?
What upgrades are actually worth paying for and which ones are mostly marketing?
Is the lot going to work well long term with drainage, privacy, future resale, and your lifestyle?

And if you’re thinking about building custom, there’s a whole different set of questions you should be asking before you even buy land or meet with a builder.

This week I want to open up conversations around new construction and custom building. If you have questions about:
• finding a builder
• choosing between custom vs spec
• what to watch for during walkthroughs
• financing new construction
• hidden costs
• land prep and utilities
• builder contracts
• timelines and expectations

Drop your questions below and I’ll answer them throughout the week.

And if you’re in Central Kentucky looking for a builder, wanting to build custom, or wanting to know where current spec homes are available, reach out to me. I work closely in the new construction world and can help you understand the process before you commit to something that feels overwhelming.

05/31/2026

Every time someone tells me I can’t do something, I kind of laugh a little. Sometimes externally. Sometimes internally because they really don’t know who they’re talking to. If I make up my mind that I’m going to do something, I’m going to figure it out.

I don’t usually sit around waiting until the entire plan is perfectly built out before I start moving either. Most of the time I start first and figure the rest out while I’m going. That has pretty much been the story of our whole life.

Moving states.
Building businesses.
Learning construction.
Starting over financially.
Creating resources that didn’t exist yet for the Deaf community.
Helping clients through situations other people said were “too complicated.”

A lot of the things we’ve built started with “I think this could help people” and then we just kept moving one step at a time from there. I think people underestimate what can happen when someone becomes fully committed to something. Especially when it’s tied to helping other people around them too.

I've had to learn A LOT, adjust, fail a few times and then keep going.

05/30/2026

If you have been watching homes online lately, you have probably noticed a LOT of “price improvements.”
A lot of people are still looking at prices from a couple years ago when homes could hit the market and immediately get multiple offers no matter what they were listed for. That is not what I am seeing happen with many properties right now in Central Kentucky.

The homes priced correctly are still moving. The homes priced based on emotion, hope, or what a neighbor listed for are usually the ones sitting longer and reducing later. The hard part about starting too high is that you lose the strongest attention period your listing will ever get. Those first couple weeks on the market matter a lot because that is when buyers are paying the closest attention to new listings.

By the time the price gets reduced, buyers sometimes start wondering why it has been sitting there so long or assume something must be wrong with it. This is also important for buyers to understand too. Just because a home is listed at a certain number does not automatically mean that is what it is worth or what it will sell for. Market data, condition, location, financing, negotiation strategy, and days on market still matter a lot. A good agent should be helping you understand what homes are actually closing for not just what sellers are hoping to get.

If you are thinking about buying or selling and want someone who will help you look at the market strategically and realistically while also communicating clearly in ASL, send me a message. I would love to help you navigate it.

05/29/2026

Comment Weekly Call to register for our FREE weekly call.

The questions you ask someone helping you buy a home should not be the same questions you ask someone helping you sell one.

A great buyer’s agent needs to know how to guide you through contracts, negotiations, inspections, timelines, and helping you make smart decisions under pressure.

A great listing agent needs to understand pricing strategy, marketing, buyer psychology, communication, and how to position your home so it actually stands out in the current market.

The hard part is that many people don’t know what questions they should even be asking in the first place.
That’s exactly what we’ll be talking about on our weekly call June 4th at 7 PM EST. We’ll walk through how to interview agents, what to pay attention to in their answers, and how to better understand who is actually the right fit for your situation.

Comment “weekly call” and I’ll send you the registration link.

05/29/2026

One of the biggest mistakes people make when buying or selling a home is choosing a Realtor before they get clear on what they actually need.

Not every agent works the same way, communicates the same way, has the same strengths, experience, negotiation style, or availability. Before you hire someone, get clear on what matters most to YOU.

Do you want someone who explains everything in detail?
Do you need someone experienced with land, custom builds, or renovations?
Do you want frequent communication and updates?
Do you need someone patient who can guide you through the process step by step?
Do you want someone aggressive in negotiations or someone more relationship-focused?

Once you know what you are looking for, interview a few agents and ask questions. A good Realtor should not be offended by that. This is a huge financial decision and you deserve to feel confident in who is helping guide you through it. You are hiring someone to help protect your money, your time, your stress level, and your future plans.

And the best agent/client relationships usually happen when both sides feel aligned from the beginning. If you are looking to buy, sell, build, or invest in Kentucky and want to see if we would be a good fit to work together, send me a message. I would love to hear more about what you are hoping to accomplish and help you figure out the best path forward.

05/28/2026

Building a custom home should not feel like you are being left in the dark while everyone else speaks a different language. That is exactly why I work with clients as a new build consultant from the very beginning of the process all the way through final walkthrough and beyond.

Whether you already own land, still need to find the right property, or are moving here from out of state, I help you understand every phase so you feel involved, informed, and confident the entire way through. I have built proprietary resources, planning tools, checklists, and systems that help organize the process and keep communication clear between you, the builder, lender, contractors, and everyone involved.

From helping you choose the right land and builder to reviewing layouts, discussing functionality, tracking phases, preparing for walkthroughs, and helping you avoid costly mistakes, this process is designed to help you feel supported instead of overwhelmed.

A lot of people think building a home means you just trust the process and hope things go well. I believe you deserve to actually understand the process while your future home is being built.

And if you are relocating to Kentucky from another state, I help bridge that gap so you do not feel disconnected while your build is happening here before your move.

If you have been thinking about building in Central Kentucky and want someone in your corner through the process, send me a message and let’s talk through what that could look like for you.

05/28/2026

There are certain homes that immediately feel calm the second you walk inside, and this one has that feeling throughout the entire space.

Join us this Saturday, May 30 at 2 PM for an open house at this beautiful brand new 2026 ranch style home.

Part 2 of this home is all about the spaces that make everyday living feel comfortable, open, and functional.

The living room features soaring 15-foot vaulted ceilings, incredible natural light, and a floor-to-ceiling tiled fireplace that creates a clean focal point without overwhelming the space.

The layout flows naturally and gives the home that bright, open feeling buyers are searching for right now.

And one feature that deserves more attention is the garage space. Whether you need room for storage, hobbies, tools, parking, or simply want extra functionality in your day to day life, it adds flexibility that homeowners always end up appreciating.

This home was clearly designed with both style and livability in mind, and it’s one you really need to experience in person to fully appreciate.

Listed by:
Rola Duran | 859-270-6789
FC Tucker Bluegrass | 859-303-6500
[email protected]

05/28/2026

A lot of buyers think a plat and a survey are the same thing but they definitely aren't. Especially when you are buying land or property with acreage, understanding the difference between these two documents can save you from major headaches later.

A plat is basically a map that shows how land is divided up. It can show lot lines, easements, road access, neighboring parcels, and how the property was originally laid out or recorded. A survey is much more detailed and specific to the actual property. That is where you see the measured boundary lines, markers, encroachments, improvements, fences, buildings, and sometimes elevation or utility information depending on the type of survey completed.

Just because a fence exists does NOT mean it is on the property line. Just because somebody “has always used that driveway” does NOT mean they legally have access. And just because land looks usable online does NOT mean there are not easements, setbacks, floodplain issues, or boundary concerns affecting it.

This is why I spend so much time helping clients understand the documents tied to a property before they buy it, especially with farms, acreage, and custom build lots here in Kentucky. Land can be an incredible investment but only if you understand what you are actually purchasing. If you are looking at land in Kentucky and want someone who can help you understand the details before you buy, send me a message. I would love to help you navigate the process.

Address

Lexington, KY

Telephone

+18596124044

Website

http://aslrealestatecollective.com/

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