There is a lot to be said about the two.  I have lived in both worlds and personally consider the sunshine…. Not saying that I don’t miss a rainy day every once in awhile

 

There’s something to be said about the so called feeling you get when the whether doesn’t allow you to participate in your so called plans.  Maybe it’s the power of mother nature that is so inviting.  It’s like having a snow day when you’re a child.  You can’t go to school so typically it’s a free day to just be a kid.

 

The sunshine of Las Vegas is kind of like that snow day.  A majority of the days in Vegas are sunshine and so it allows you to enjoy the whether in a lot of different ways.  There is hardly a day of the year where you can’t go for a stroll, or anything you enjoy for outdoor entertainment. 

 

My family and lots of friends are in Iowa it I guess in a way it will always be home.  But Las Vegas it where I’m meant to be.  I love the weather, people, entertainment, beauty of the valley.  And one of my most favorite things to do is sell Real Estate here.  I love Las Vegas and the people it brings in to live here and enjoy the fun.. There’s plenty of sunshine to go around.

 

What are your intentions?

 

How long  are you considering living in Las Vegas

Do you want to live in Henderson, Green Valley, Summeriln, North Las Vegas

What kind of employement is necessary

How long of a commute do you want?

Have you owned a home before or will you be a first time buyer

Do you have free time to spend on a backyard etc.

Are you used to someone changing your light bulbs when they go out?  (no free maintance person when  you own a home)

Are you handy at fixing things or will you have to hire things to be repaired?

Do you like being neighborly or keep to yourself?

Do you want to be considered a “homeowner”

Do you understand they requirements of homeownership

 

Las Vegas is wonderful place to live either way. 

 

 

Questions to ask yourself

 

 

 

·         House or condo/townhome

·         Choose what part of the Las Vegas valley you want to live in

·         How many sq. ft

·         Number of bedrooms and bathrooms

·         Price

·         How long do I want to live in this rental

·         Is the backyard environment important

·         Are pets an issue

·         Flooring type

·         Appliances (need them or not)

·         What is the security deposit

·         Pool vs. no pool

·         Ameneties

 

 

These are just a few questions to ask when renting in Las Vegas and the surrounding areas.

Make sure you have the right agent helping to find you your place and has your best interest in mind.

 

 

In this market you have to be careful if you are in the market for a rental.  So many home owners /landlords are in default on the property they are renting out and you can get stuck being evicted from the property you’re renting.

 

There are legit landlords out there.  A majority of my investors are paying cash (who I call cash Kings) and are extremely solid landlords.  They are not going to be foreclosed on and in that case you are safe to rent from them.

 

What the landlords are doing is taking the rent you pay them monthly and not paying on their note to the bank.  How unethical is that? 

 

When you’re out looking for a rental just beware.  There are so many shady landlords. There are web sites out there that will help in knowing if your rental is going to be foreclosed on. 

 

There should be a sign you can buy out there that reads  BEWARE of LANDLORD..

 

 

 

My clients, a husband and wife couple whom bought a condo from me three years previous were in the market to buy their just first “home” in Las Vegas, actually in Summerlin. So we spend a couple of weeks searching and find them a beautiful home.

 

They are a young, honest and loyal couple who not only come back to me to buy their next place but they choose the same lender as before.  I’ve known this lender from when I first started Real Estate in Las Vegas.

 

Here’s where the gut instinct comes into place, the lender, buyers and myself all meet at the title company for signing.  Everything is going along really good and this one page document needs to be signed and the lender says “oh that’s redundant throw it out”  I on the other hand think no let’s have them sign it while everyone is together and in front of the notary. 

 

Well, now a week later we still have not closed thanks to the lender not knowing what she was talking about.  She didn’t look close to what she was telling the escrow officer to throw out and so we are where we are because of her.  Actually it’s part my fault for not going with my gut instinct and knowing what was right.  Remember that these papers the couple were signing were loan documents.  Lender requirements. 

 

Make sure to also stick with what your heart and gut have to say.  We know better at least I knew better I just didn’t want to step on the lenders toes and make her look bad.   

 

 

 

Before entering the home either in foreclosure or not:

• Always pay attention to your surroundings and any activity near the property
• When approaching the home to enter it, have your key in hand, and check the handles, locks, and around the corner..
• If there is someone loitering near the home, keep get back into your car..
• Do not leave the key in the door. Lock the door behind you.

While in the home:

• Keep the doors and windows locked..
• Avoid high crime areas, especially after dark.
• Turn on lights if power is on.
• Yell, saying something like this.  “hello I’m here to see the house”  “Hello” “Hello” (sometimes people are sleeping in the home without your knowledge).
• Never pick allow someone in if you here a knock on the door..
• If you feel uncomfortable, get out
• When leaving, check to make sure no one is outside the home that makes you feel threatened.

 it doesn’t matter where you live in the United States whether it’s Las Vegas or a small town, always use good judgement. 

 

 

 

 

Who’s doing all the talking?  Better question is who is listening?  If you continue to listen to the news you will never get true foreclosure industry scoop. I would love to have someone who has the power to report and show the true foreclosure scene.  Our market in Las Vegas is full of foreclosures and short sales YES that is true.  yet, if you spend a day with me you will see that a majority of these homes are NOT very appealing. 

Examples of what I’m talking about:

 

Pull up to the house, NO curb appeal

Go inside the house, poor floor plan

Go to the backyard (if any) either backs up to a busy street or has another home looking down on you

Oh, did I mention the neighbor has multiple barking dogs

the neighborhood has become saturated with non home owners

the previous owners decided to remove everything in the home, even things that were attached like toilets, kitchen cabinets, light fixtures, face plates for outlet, doors, windows, flooring,

Previous disgruntle owners even think it’s OK to make holes throughout the home so that the property needs to be re drywalled.

and then there’s the really upset homeowner that just couldn’t help themselves and decides to put a bag of powered concrete into the bathtubs and toilets and turn the water on when they close the door behind them. Never to look back again. 

 

Yes my friends this is just a few things I have experienced in my past 2 years of showing foreclosures in Las Vegas,

Don’t forget the banks are exempt from disclosing any faults etc.  so when you’re buying is property signing the Waiver of NRS Chapter 113 beware and do your homework.  The place could have been a meth lab.  I’ve seen that too, yes, in a million dollar home community..

 

there is danger going into these homes.  be careful

I’m proud to announce the launch of my new Las Vegas Realtor & Real Estate Blog.  I will be posting insider news, tips and tricks about buying and selling a home in Las Vegas, Nevada, in this turbulent economy, so visit again soon for tons of great articles!