Archives for the month of: March2012

Finding A Neighborhood With Great Schools

If you have children, or even if you don’t yet but plan to in the future, schools are something you will need to take into consideration when you search for a new home.  In most areas, certain boundaries define which schools your children will go to, and switching to a different school can be complicated and expensive in many cases.

Fortunately, finding a great neighborhood with good quality schools is not difficult, thanks to the internet.  Online ratings and reviews of schools can help you to make the right call when it comes to finding a home that will offer your children a quality education.

Start With The District

The first thing you should look into is which school district you in which you are considering moving.  Find out if the schools in that district tend to be highly rated, and what kind of test scores are generally seen among students in the district schools.  All of this information is readily available online.

The school district Web site will be able to tell you which school your children would go to if you were to buy a particular house.  There is usually a boundary map you can check, or you can enter your address and search to find out which school is the right one.

Check The Reviews

The internet allows us to review everything from appliances to doctors, and schools are no exception.  Search for your school of choice online and you will find plenty of reviews from parents whose children have attended the school.  Getting an unbiased opinion of the school will help you to get an idea of what you can expect.

When You Love The Neighborhood, But Not The School

If you really want a particular house in a particular neighborhood, but aren’t too happy with the schools, you can look into your other options.  Most school districts have a system by which you can choose to send your child to a different school.  This usually involves either particular needs that can’t be met by the in-area school, or a fee or lottery system to allow your child to attend the school of your choice.  Find out what the rules are in your school district.

Your other option is to look into private schools.  This is, of course, the more expensive choice, but should you select a private school you will have the freedom to live wherever you like, without worrying about what school your child will be slotted to attend. You can find additional local schools and community information at http://www.hendersonrealtynow.com/mimarket/zip/89074/

 

DON’T FORGET to change your clocks ahead one hour before bed tonight!   Daylight Saving Time officially begins at 2:00am tomorrow!

Why Do We Change Our Clocks For Daylight Saving Time?

Benjamin Franklin was originally credited with the concept of Daylight Saving Time.    It was intended to help folks use less electricity and fewer candles for light.

The problem is that the early studies suggesting Daylight Saving Time could save energy only looked at home electricity use.   In fact, a 2008 University of California–Santa Barbara study found that Daylight Saving Time actually increased residential energy use!   Ok, ok, so perhaps it’s not such a great saver of energy after all.

So if it’s not such a great saver of energy, WHY do we do it?     It’s all about MONEY!!!    (are you surprised?)!!

Longer hours of natural sunlight at days’ end puts people in their cars, spending money for gasoline, and headed to the shopping mall, dining, sporting events, vacations and other activities.     In fact, it’s been reported that the golf industry makes over $200 million dollars in additional greens fees – just during Daylight Saving Time!!!

No matter who is benefitting financially from the additional daylight hours, it’s hard to deny that we’ve all grown accustomed to the change,  and that most of us look forward to the additional hours of daylight after a long day at work!     Looks like, energy saving or not, Daylight Saving Time is a keeper !     So don’t forget to “Spring Ahead” tonight before bed!

Btw, Hawaii and Arizona are the only two states who have not adopted Daylight Saving Time.

So don’t forget to ‘Spring Ahead’ tonight before bed!!!

 

 

Current inventory on the Las Vegas market is quite low today,  which has caused a home-buying frenzy unlike we’ve seen in years!

 

Any given property today will REGULARLY have multiple offers within days of listing, and often sell for MORE than the listed price!   

 

 

What’s a buyer to do?   First and most importantly,  get your loan prequalification.   Every offer today requires “proof” that you can buy the property so getting in order your financing is truly step #1 of this process.     I like to suggest Cheryll at Premier Mortgage Lending to our buyers because her lending knowledge and level of service is just flat-out amazing.    You can reach her at Cheryll@PremierMortgageLending.com.  

 

 

Then, get yourself a Realtor that specializes in buyers, like an agent from  New Home Resource!   We understand the market, have excellent relationships with many listing agents,  and utilize all of the necessary and cutting-edge programs to produce offers & get your signatures.  In this craziness, you can’t afford to have any delays – for any reason.   Acting quickly is the best plan!

 

   And last, but not least, make your strongest offer first.   Remember that there is much competition,  and you don’t want to lose the home of your dreams over a few thousand dollars.   Your New Home Resource agent can help you decide upon the most appropriate offer for the property.   

 

Don’t hesitate – with prices and interest rates at all-time lows, TODAY is the time to invest in a new home!!

Buying a home can be both exciting and stressful but, for those with past credit problems, the process may also seem intimidating.  The good news is that many lenders have adapted to the idea that many hopeful homeowners simply need a second chance, which means that past credit problems no longer have to define your future.

 

Credit Blemishes

 

When life unexpectedly takes a turn for the worst, it’s not always possible to come out without a few bumps and bruises.  Every day, people are faced with late or missed credit card payments, mortgage foreclosures, bankruptcy proceedings, auto repossessions and even civil judgments that will affect their credit reports for years to come.  Whether it’s from a job loss, injury or just a simple case of temporary hardship, credit blemishes are often a part of life.  The good news is that they no longer have to prevent you from becoming a homeowner.

 

Give Yourself A Little Credit

 

After experiencing a credit problem, most lenders will want to see an attempt to rebuild your credit through a steady payment history with a new account.  This can be accomplished by applying for a credit card and maintaining a responsible use of the account.  If you aren’t approved for an unsecured card, you can always apply for a secured credit card.  Either will rebuild your credit over time and will help to show lenders that your past credit problems are just that – in the past.

 

Clean Up Your Credit Report

 

Before applying for a home loan, make sure that you check your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies.  Every 12 months, consumers can request a free copy of their credit report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.  If anything is incorrect or found to be inaccurate, filing a dispute with the credit reporting agency can help to get the information corrected before speaking with a lender.

 

When you apply for a home loan, the lender will access your credit report for the purpose of determining your creditworthiness.  In an effort to ensure that you have the best possible chance at being approved for the loan at the best possible interest rates, making sure that your credit report is accurate is a must.

 

Save Up For A Down Payment

 

Some homebuyers often qualify for a mortgage with down payments as low as five percent (three percent for FHA loans), but those with past credit problems may be required to shell out up to 35 percent or more for a down payment on their new home.  A buyer who pays a larger down payment obviously has more vested interest in the home and may, thereby, be less likely to default on a loan.  If you have past credit problems, check with your lender about specific down payment requirements and start saving!

 

Creative Financing Options

 

If you’ve exhausted all of your conventional efforts and are still turning up empty, don’t give up just yet.  Alternative financing is an option that many homebuyers use to purchase a home.  Your REALTOR® can provide you with details regarding any lease purchase and/or owner financing properties, which may require no credit check, no bank qualifying, a low down payment and competitive interest rate options.