Steady Weeks Build Big Years

[Rob Bergeron]

One of the bigger local economic stories this week went a little sideways. Ford announced it’s ending its joint venture with South Korean battery manufacturer SK On for the EV battery plants in Kentucky and Tennessee. Ford will take sole ownership of the two buildings at the BlueOvalSK site in Glendale, while SK On assumes ownership of the Tennessee facility.

That puts the future of the $5.8B Glendale plant—often called the largest economic development project in Kentucky history—into a period of uncertainty. Governor Beshear said more clarity should come early next week and expressed confidence that Ford will keep activity in at least one of the two Kentucky buildings, even if timelines or use cases shift.

Reading between the lines, this feels less like a collapse and more like a strategic unwind. We’ve seen this pattern before with domestic and non-domestic partnerships, especially when incentives change midstream. Between softer EV demand and the recent federal legislation that eliminated the $7,500 EV tax credit and tightened manufacturing credits tied to foreign ownership, the math clearly changed. Ford appears to be simplifying the structure and regaining control rather than walking away.

Zooming out, it’s been a steady week. Steady interest. Steady results. No fireworks, but no cracks either.


Quick Case Study (This Is How Deals Actually Happen)

Yesterday, we got an offer accepted in Shelby County.

The property was listed at $270,000.
Our offer: $213,000.

Built after 1990, strong fundamentals, and it’s going to cash flow extremely well.

Here’s the part people miss: the offer was submitted, and it sat. No drama. No chasing. Then six weeks later, the seller came back around.

That’s it. That’s the game.

In a market like this, patience plus consistent outreach wins. Especially when everyone locally knows there’s a major announcement coming to Shelby County and sellers are quietly reassessing their positions.

If those numbers don’t get your attention as an investor, I’m not sure what would.

As of December 12, 2025, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is sitting roughly between 5.99% and 6.23%, depending on lender and structure. The window isn’t wide open forever, but it’s open enough for people who are actually taking action. Inventory is sitting at 3,416.