Articles Tagged "First-time buyers"

Taking the leap into self-employment is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Unfortunately, it also leaves you with a whole new set of issues to deal with. Things that were once simple, like getting approved for a loan, are now more challenging. 

If you're self-employed and looking at Las Vegas homes for sale, you might wonder how much trouble you'll have getting approved for a mortgage. Don't worry too much: Our real estate agents help entrepreneurs buy new homes all the time!

These simple tips will help you go through the mortgage approval process with ease. 

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ARM, FHA, MLS ... the real estate industry is full of acronyms. If you're in the market for a condo, townhouse, or other Las Vegas homes for sale in certain communities, one acronym you should become familiar with is HOA, or homeowners association.

An HOA is established to manage a community to maintain a consistent standard of living benefiting all residents. Here's a helpful look at the pros and cons of buying a home in a building or neighborhood run by an HOA.

• PRO: Common Area Maintenance
  Have you ever seen a neighborhood that seemed to always look messy or shabby? That's never a problem in communities with an HOA, as it's the association's responsibility to ensure the upkeep of lawns, streets, and sidewalks.

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If you moved to the Las Vegas Valley recently, you might not know what locals do about Las Vegas homes for sale. Compared to other major cities in the country, the housing market in this city has swings in the supply and demand balance that sometimes start bidding wars among home buyers in the spring when housing sales start to increase.

A bidding war starts whenever two or more people want the home, and neither is willing to let it go. If you find yourself in a position where you have competition, one or more of these strategies from our real estate agents might give you the upper hand.

1. Get Pre-Approved
   Not only will it provide a ceiling for you in a bidding war, but pre-approval from a lender will also get your foot in the door with real estate agents and home sellers. Many agencies and sellers won't deal with someone who doesn't already a pre-approval letter. This practice is two-fold. First, it separates serious buyers from people who are just curious and second, it lets you know how high you can bid should the situation develop.
   
   

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First-time home buyers are often surprised to find that they are on the hook for more than just their down payment when purchasing Las Vegas homes for sale. For these buyers, closing costs can come as an unwelcome last-minute surprise, and in some cases, coming up with the funds to pay them on short notice can be difficult. So how to avoid such a situation? Here's what you need to know to be clued in on closing costs, courtesy of our real estate agents.

What are closing costs?

Closing costs are fees associated with the home buying process. These fees are collected at closing, which is when buyers sit down to formally take possession of their new property, with title to the property legally transferred from seller to buyer. Getting to the closing table is a process that involves a number of services along the way, and fees paid at closing are distributed to those who provide those services.

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Working out your home-buying budget before you begin shopping for your new home is essential. After all, nobody wants to waste time touring homes for sale in Las Vegas only to discover they cannot afford to buy their dream home. So what goes into working out an accurate home-buying budget? Budgeting for the down payment is the big-ticket expense home buyers tend to think of first, but there are other out-of-pocket expenses you're likely to face during the home-buying process. Our REALTORS® have created this list of some of the additional fees you should include in your home-buying budget:

1. Inspection Fees
   When you find the house that you want to be your new home, you will need to schedule at least one professional inspection to ensure that you have a reliable assessment of its condition. This is done after you have made an offer on a home and that offer has been accepted by the seller and is an essential step in protecting your interests. It is also often required by lenders to protect their interests. A general inspection of the home is the first step. If potential problems are found, other inspections may be necessary, such as a once-over from a termite specialist, for instance, or a perhaps sewer inspection. Depending upon your particular circumstances, you may spend anywhere from a few hundred to a thousand dollars or more on inspections.
   
   

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Moving to a new location always requires preparation, and that's doubly true when you're making an international move. Streamlining an international move starts with good planning, and it's important to start the planning process as soon as you know that you're serious about making a move. Having a job, support system, and necessary services in place when you arrive can make the adjustment to a new country a much simpler process. Our real estate agents are here to help you get started, with our guide for planning a move to another country. 

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By now, we've helped enough people find Las Vegas homes for sale to learn that, for first-time home buyers, the process is often stressful, confusing and overwhelming. We're here to help. 

If you ask an experienced home buyer what they wish they had done differently the first time around, chances are the answer would be, "a lot." So let's go over some of those first-time home buyer lessons now – so you don't have to learn them the hard way.

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Buying a Las Vegas Home? Use These Tips to Make a Winning Offer

Las Vegas is a hot real estate market. Home prices are up, interest rates are good. Existing homes sell quickly. If you're shopping for Las Vegas homes for sale and find one you love, you probably won't be the only person ready to make an offer.

Our real estate agents know the Las Vegas community. We realize a seller's market can make it difficult to find the right home at the right price. You can still buy the home you want if you Make Them an Offer They Can't Refuse. These buyer tips can help.

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With resorts, casinos, fabulous shows, and prime shopping venues, Las Vegas excitement draws visitors from around the world. But it's not just a big adult playground. If you keep family safety in mind as you tour Las Vegas homes for sale, you'll find the perfect Vegas neighborhood to live, work, and raise your family. 

Our real estate agents believe there's a Vegas neighborhood with a family-safe environment that's right for you. To assist you in evaluating a community before you make a commitment, we offer "6 Ways to Tell If Your New Las Vegas Neighborhood is Safe."

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