Easy Mistakes For First-Time North Las Vegas Home Buyers To Make

First Time Home Buyers Ask me about downpayment 

According to the National Association of Realtors^®, nearly 40% of home buyers will be first-timers this year. In other words, if you are new to the housing market you are certainly not alone. Since first-time home buyers in North LasVegas experience the same learning curve as anyone everywhere, reviewing some of the more common missteps can spare them some of the angst those common mistakes cause. Some examples:

 1) They Don’t Check Their Credit Score

New home buyers focus on the seller’s asking price, but don’t realize how greatly their credit score will affect how much they actually pay. They know their score is important to qualify for a home loan, but not how a low credit score can result in a higher down payment and interest rate. A single percentage point of higher interest over a 30-year timeframe is…you get the picture! The takeaway? Start improving your credit score as soon as possible.

2) They Don’t Lay Out a Budget 

   North Las Vegas first-time home buyers frequently don’t realize the impact of secondary costs. In addition to administrative, insurance and legal costs, there are also closing and other fees which can add 2%-5% to the purchase price. Add in property taxes and possibly monthly neighborhood homeowner’s association fees, and you can see why experienced home buyers first determine their maximum monthly budget figure — then stick to it.

3) They Don’t Double-Check the Neighborhood

Once you’ve set your sights on an exciting new home, it’s natural to quickly proceed to the purchasing details without second-guessing your choice. That’s all well and good — unless you have only visited it a few times, and all at the same time of day or day of the week. Make several return trips to the neighborhood on weekdays and weekends, daytime and nighttime: you want to be sure that your family will be comfortable with the neighborhood (and your future neighbors).

If this winter will find you searching for your new house, I want you to know that I’m here to help my clients every step of the way. Calling me for a consultation is your first step!

Andrea Gonzalez-VIP Realty Group/call or text 702.485.7887

Follow me on Facebook- http://facebook.com/vipdreamhomes

 

Most North Las Vegas Listing Photo Fumbles are Easy to Prevent

The photos that make up your North Las Vegas listing will be key to your home’s marketing effort. If that first impression is positive (or even if it only raises curiosity), those images will have helped you past the all-important first hurdle.

What makes a North Las Vegas listing a visual triumph? I’m afraid that belongs in realm of art, so to a certain extent remains unclassifiable. But some factors that inevitably prevent a good listing shot are a lot easier to describe. Chief culprits:We’ve all seen listing photos where you can barely to make out what you’re supposed to be looking at — dim shots that make a house look grey and dirty. Since everyone is drawn to a home that’s brightly lit and inviting, when in doubt, turn on more lights! Bright photo highlights make a home look clean and sparkly, so help your North Las Vegas agent plan the photo shoot at the time of day you know your house looks its brightest -- and if the weather doesn’t cooperate, be willing to re-schedule.A North Las Vegas listing that shows even a few rooms that haven’t been properly de-cluttered can end up alienating potential buyers. Serious buyers want to be able to envision how a house will look once they move in: hard to do when the floors, walls or shelves are packed with your belongings.

Sometimes it’s easy to overlook garbage cans, gardening equipment, or exterior décor touches that once looked nice (and now, let’s face it, don’t). Even though we’re in the midst of the holiday season, don’t let holiday decorations show — in a few weeks they will make it harder for buyers to envision what the property looks like any other time of year. If possible, photograph the house on a bright day with the sun behind you (but remember to keep your shadow out of frame).

You don’t have to be an Ansel Adams to take winning North Las Vegas listing photos. Acing the North Las Vegas listings is just part of a good campaign — and if you’re ready to market your own home, part of why you should give me a call. It’s actually a great time of year to sell!

Andrea Gonzalez/VIP Realty Group/call or text 702.485.7887

www.vipdreamhomes.com

Like me on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/vipdreamhomes

Certification for Relocationg Military Families

I was so excited to hear about this new certification for Relocation Military Families, I had to blog about it.  Coming from a military background, I can relate to moving constantly unless we had PCS (permanent change of station).  Implementing this new certification will give Realtors the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and how to better serve our troops.
Presently, there are 22 million military veterans and another 1.1 millions active-duty personnel in the United States, representing a significant potential client base. Therefore, encourage Realtors to take advantage of the opportunity to help veterans and service members find housing that best meet their needs.  This certification will teach you how to help clients take full advantage of military benefits and support, how to work within the tight time frame for relocation, and working with deployed military and their families.  I have personal experience in dealing with military families, so I'm aware of the process.
 If you need my assistance, I 'am here to help. 
Andrea Gonzalez- VIP Realty Group/702.485-7887/www.vipdreamhomes.com
For you Las Vegas Market update follow me facebook/http://www.facebook.com/vipdreamhomes
SERVE THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY.

New Home Search Goals Change with Circumstances

As you begin any search for a new home in North Las Vegas, it’s worthwhile to take a step back — to take a momentary time-out to consider widening the range of possibilities.

For many families, the kind of home they are looking for is a foregone conclusion. Either they want a customized house in a new development, or a new home that they will build themselves, or they may be pointed toward an existing house in an established neighborhood.

It’s a worthwhile exercise to look at the assumptions behind those fundamental housing preferences. After all, this is a very basic choice that will greatly affect every family member’s quality of life for a very long time. As you would expect, most of the time such evaluations result in confirming the original direction: people who prefer a sparkling new home will wind up checking out the new developments; those who gravitate toward stately, tree-lined streets will point toward existing homes in established neighborhoods.

No surprise there. But there is value in understanding the root causes why one direction has more appeal than another. Understanding those reasons can tell you what qualities are really most important in your new home. It can clarify what you should be looking for in your search.

 If you have become a true do-it-yourselfer who takes satisfaction in presenting a distinctly individualistic personality to the world, a model home in a sparkling new development might now hold less appeal than it did previously. But if your new promotion has made for a more high-energy, career-centered lifestyle, time factors alone might make the advantages of a turnkey new home in a development decisive.

What turns out to be as important as anything else is whether your current living situation has changed enough that a new kind of home choice might be worth considering. Especially when you are about to embark on as important a project as finding a new home in North Las Vegas, take a moment to be sure that more than momentum lies behind your basic direction. Then I’ll be ready, willing and able to help you find a North Las Vegas new home that fills the bill!

Andrea Gonzalez- VIP Realty Group/702.485.7887

www.vipdreamhomes.com

Higher North Las Vegas Appraisals Come From Active Preparation

Interest rates may have been rising, but they are still invitingly low. As a consequence, some North Las Vegas homeowners are looking to refinance their mortgages to lock in interest rates while they can. A key element in both refinancing and home sales is, of course, the formal appraisal.

Most homeowners regard the appraisal process as a spectator activity: the appraiser comes, checks out the house, goes back to the office and writes up an appraisal. But, as with most of life’s endeavors, taking a proactive stance is more likely to garner the best results. When it comes to the appraisal, there are several factors that you do control.

First — before you even call in the appraiser — prep the house. Now is the time to address any flaws that could materially affect the valuation. Next, be sure to select an appraisal company with local ties. Appraisers who live and work outside the area are typically more likely to render a conservative valuation. Having less familiarity with the neighborhoods breeds caution. An appraiser from North Las Vegas will be aware of the local amenities and attractions which make a property more desirable.

If you have made significant improvements to the property, point them out to the appraiser. Organize evidence proving what you spent for each. If you can provide ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos, provide copies the appraiser can take with him. This is particularly important for improvements such as heating or cooling systems: they can add considerable value to an appraisal, but are difficult to see.

Don’t leave it up to your appraiser to find comparables for your property – you (or me, if I am your agent) can provide the ones that tell the story you want it told. Comps are particularly important if you can find properties that have sold without an agent — the appraiser may not have access to these. It’s not unknown for an appraiser to accidentally miss one or two that are similar to your property and well priced. Why leave it to chance?

For this and any other real estate questions, I’m always pleased to offer experienced guidance. Call me anytime!

Andrea Gonzalez-VIP Realty Group/call or text 702-485-7887

website: www.vipdreamhomes.com