What I’m Thankful for this Thanksgiving

I’m feeling bluesy since the holidays are around the corner.  This will be the first Thanksgiving without my mother.  My mother passed away April 19^th 2013 from pancreatic cancer. We were like silly sisters, who should have had our own comedy show (lol).  The only thing I can hold on to is our memories we created throughout the years. I can truly say my mother raised a respectful strong-willed woman.  My mother was intelligent, a go-getter, had loads of wisdom and compassionate.  I’m just thankful for the morals my mother instilled in me and in turn will be taught to my son.  I’m thankful for being alive and being able to volunteer my time to those who are battling cancer.  I’m thankful for being healthy, even when occasionally sneaking into (yummy treats).  Overall, I’m thankful for being alive and spending the holidays with my son, brother and significant other. 

Happy Thanksgiving.

   On this note, if you need a Realtor I’m here to work hard for you….Andrea Gonzalez- 702-485-7887- www.vipdreamhomes.com

North Las Vegas Vacation Home Makes Sense When You Add It All Up

Deciding to buy a vacation home in North Las Vegas can be one of the smartest investments there is. Or it can turn into an irksome drain on time and pocketbook. As much as with any real estate transaction, buying a vacation home that fulfills its upside potential takes thoughtful weighing of all the advantages and drawbacks a second home entails.

There’s nothing better than having your own place to escape to when it’s time to get away… and if the same sanctuary can be rented out now and again, that extra income only adds appeal. Especially when you find a place that strikes an emotional cord, it can be hard to resist the impulse to just make an offer and work out the kinks later. All the same, it pays to keep an eye on some of the issues that don’t leap to mind when you think “vacation.” 

Even if it’s only a part-time venue, that North Las Vegas vacation home will need ongoing maintenance attention.  If you are a dedicated DIY hobbyist, that may not be a large issue; but if not, part of your due diligence will be verifying the availability and price of professional help.

For a second home to make financial sense, all expense items should be part of the budget calculations. A vacation home might be near enough to the water to warrant flood insurance (or extra work done to prepare it for floods), just as a cabin in a wildfire-prone area might be at greater risk of fire and need extra coverage. If your vacation home will involve a home loan, be prepared to pencil in a higher interest rate than what’s expected for a primary residence. Even if it’s just a bit higher, the total amount will add up over the life of the loan. Taking all expenses fully into account from the beginning means there will be no surprises later on.  

An North Las Vegas vacation home should be a place that lowers everyday stress levels — not adds to them. There are plenty of properties available, so do give me a call. One of them might be just right for you!

Andrea Gonzalez-VIP Realty Group/702-485-7887-http://www.vipdreamhomes.com

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North Las Vegas Seller Financing Can Be a Powerful Inducement

October’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index shows a slight relaxation in lending standards — but as most North Las Vegas home buyers and sellers will agree, getting a mortgage is still difficult. With mortgage availability benchmarked at 100, although it’s currently at  111 ½, compared with the 800 it stood at in 2007, today’s is still a tough environment.

That’s why seller financing is being considered by more homeowners. When a home is owned outright, seller financing can draw a higher selling price (with future interest payments as a bonus). But before making such an offer, North Las Vegas homeowners need to consider all of the ramifications: there is more involved than just the assumption of added risk.

Of course, ordering and examining a buyer’s credit report is the starting point. If the story it tells needs too many explanations, it’s time to walk away. Foreclosing on a seller-financed home can be more difficult than through a traditional foreclosure —particularly if the financing documents are substandard.

At first blush, seller financing might seem to simplify the whole transaction, but in fact some details usually handled by a bank must be hammered out:

·         Who will pay for the appraisal; who for the inspection?

·         Who is going to be responsible for property taxes and upkeep?

·         Will the deed be transferred to the buyer right away, or only after the home is paid off? 

Those issues point out why a “handshake deal” can’t be recommended for a seller financing arrangement. Just consider the last two points: if the deed hasn’t been transferred and taxes are in arrears, whose credit is harmed?

A good attorney will draft an agreement that nails down responsibilities and penalties for a buyer default as well as a detailed payment structure. A well-drafted seller financing agreement protects both parties by preventing misunderstandings and providing an unambiguous inducement for good behavior.

Given the right buyer, clear communicating and a framework cemented by the proper paperwork, North Las Vegas seller financing can provide the missing element that makes a sale possible. If you will be listing your own North Las Vegas home this fall, when you give me a call, we can discuss many of the different paths to success.  
Andrea Gonzalez- VIP Realty Group/call or text 4857887.

North Las Vegas Virtual Tours Are a 2-Dimensional Experience

Virtual tours in North Las Vegas can be potent selling tools over the coming holiday season. To make the best use of those tools, it’s important to prepare your home with the special requirements of the medium in mind. How doing so differs from prepping for in-the-flesh showings is a subtle but real distinction. Some photographers use a couple of tricks:

Close One Eye

Virtual tours are assemblages of still or video shots —raw material that is all filtered through the single lens of a camera. When anyone walks through a home, they do so with both eyes open. They experience a three-dimensional impression of their surroundings.

What the “camera sees” is different — it’s why some people and places are said to be more “photogenic” than others. It’s also why you sometimes see a film director examining the next shot through a single-lens viewfinder — he’s viewing the set the way the camera will. The quickest way to start seeing what your virtual tour will convey is to simply close one eye. Strange but true, when you stand back and view each room that way, you get a two-dimensional (flat) version of what’s there.

Snap a Test Shot

After you have arranged a room to look pleasing in a one-eyed view, take an actual test shot, then view it critically. You will probably notice how the camera lens picks up and seems to magnify any flaws that were less apparent before. You’ll want to -  

·         remove excess furniture (and all clutter) to “open up” the space, expanding apparent size

·         scrub any surface or thing that appears less than Q-tip clean  

·         place tasteful accessory combinations (lamps, plants, books) of varying heights next to one another to add dimension 

The goal of virtual tours is to show a comprehensive view of the subject properties, inside and out — a view that will ignite the imaginations of potential buyers. As we enter the hectic holiday season, the importance of North Las Vegas virtual tours can’t be overemphasized! The buyers (and they are out there!) will be busier than usual. Call me today to discuss how to reach them!

 Provided by: Andrea Gozalez/VIP Realty Group

Knowing Common Mistakes Helps First-Time Home Buyers

When a North Las Vegas first-time home buyer begins hunting for the prize that has to serve both as a satisfactory home base and a solid investment, most feel a mixture of excitement (a home is a landmark achievement!) and maybe just a touch of apprehension. Like any expense you’ve never encountered before, it’s appropriate to take extra care the first time out — and to pay attention to what experience teaches. Along those lines, here are some mistakes that are easy for a first-time home buyer to make. Fortunately, they’re also easy to sidestep:

1. Waiting for a better rate

Adjustable rates may well be about as low as they’re going to get right now – and some signs point to an increase in the coming months. For a North Las Vegas first-time home owner who will be taking out a loan, if the property is right, hesitating to make a commitment based on a loan rate gamble is seldom a good idea.

2. Thinking short term

Consider thinking of a home as a lifetime investment. Even for those who are single or newly-wedded, it’s possible that being open to a house with extra rooms could end up saving considerably on moving, transaction and agent fees, taxes, etc. It’s equally important to look at neighborhoods and how they are changing and developing. If you do resell your home, location can make a big difference in how.

3. Underestimating hidden costs

The monthly mortgage payment isn’t the ultimate bottom line. When a first-time home buyer comes across a property that fills (or exceeds) everything he or she has been looking for, if the mortgage payment looks to be right, it’s easy to overlook other homeowner expenses. Experienced buyers make hardheaded estimates of maintenance fees and property taxes — they will be every bit as consequential as the mortgage bill.

For a first-time home buyer in North Las Vegas, when thoughtful perspective goes into your final decision, it’s that much more likely to be a decision that pays off in the long run. If you are preparing to buy this fall, I’ll be standing by to help get you started!
Provided by: Andrea Gonzalez-VIP Realty Group/call or text 7024857887

Drug Operation’s Hidden Damage Discovered via Inspection

This could be any new North Las Vegas homeowner’s worst nightmare: shortly after closing on their new house, a family in Canada discovers over $100,000 in hidden damages — the kind of damages that have to be fixed before the house can be deemed safe for occupancy. The cause? HGTV’s Mike Holmes made the discovery after doing a proper inspection on the property: the dream home they’d just bought had previously been used as an indoor marijuana-growing operation!

Believe it or not, it’s an increasingly familiar scenario. Last year alone, our own U.S. DEA busted more than 2500 “grow-ops.”

The damage such operations wreak on homes can be staggering. Increased humidity leads to warped wood, crumbling walls, and health-endangering black mold outbreaks. Holes are punched in walls and floors to run ducting. Electrical panels are circumvented to disguise high energy use, resulting in illicit wiring schemes that create true fire hazards.

Drug operations may be a rising current problem, but the issue is an older one: when housing modifications are hastily covered up, the next unsuspecting owner pays the price.

So, as a buyer in North Las Vegas, how do you avoid purchasing a home with the grow-op kinds of damages?

A thorough inspection is a must — but there are also some telltale signs you can be aware of yourself. You’ll want to be aware of mold, especially in corners of walls and ceilings. Look for patterns of screw-holes in the walls (where reflective sheeting would have been put up) or on the ceiling (where grow-lights would be hung). Ventilation is a huge issue for growers, so look for patched-up holes in walls and ceilings, modifications to fireplaces, and unusual numbers of roof vents.

Outside the house, your own inspection should include signs of electrical meter tampering or clumsy outside wiring. And look for evidence of hasty masonry patches (especially in the garage).

Fortunately, any of our reputable Las Vegas inspection companies should be able to spot more obscure signs. If you will be buying this fall or winter, I’ll be able to recommend some of the best. The first step, however, is to start your search! 

Andrea  Gonzalez- VIP Realty Group/call or text 7024857887