Archives for the month of: April2013

JoannaNew Home Resource’s very own Joanna Piette has been nominated in this year’s Best Of Silver State Awards. With three competitors for Best Real Estate Agent in the Real Estate category, she needs your vote via the Facebook voting app which closes on June 1, 2013.

The Best of Silver State Awards award ceremony will be held June 25, 2013 at the Summerlin Performing Arts Center. The televised ceremony will be hosted by Emmy-award winning news anchors, Nina Radetich, Chris Saldaña and Dayna Roselli, along with multiple Emmy-award winning actor, Ian Buchanan.

Tickets to the awards show are limited and can be purchased from The Best of Silver State Awards.

 

 

 

 

Screen Shot 2013-04-19 at 10.00.47 AMIn a world with soaring energy costs and warmer temperatures, more and more people are looking to make their homes more energy efficient and therefore ‘green’.

Many people don’t know where to start or are overwhelmed with what needs to be done.

 

What are the benefits of making your home energy efficient?

  1. You are doing your part in making the world a greener place.
  2. Reducing your energy expenditure for space heating and cooling.
  3. Higher resale and/or leasing values & marketability.
  4. Enhanced environmental quality & decreased pollution.
  5. Energy efficiency can also boost the local economy and create downward pressure on natural gas prices and volatility.

Here are several ways that you can make your home energy efficient:

  1. Insulate walls and attic. By insulating all the walls and attic in the house you are stopping heat from escaping during the winter or flow into the house during the summer. This will reduce both the cost and the need to heat and cool the house during the respective months.
  2. Caulk the exterior. Take a caulk gun and fill in any gaps around the exterior. Key places to caulk would be anywhere there are pipes running into the house, around doors and window frames and any cracks in the exterior wall. This will reduce air flow into the house and help the house to retain it’s heat.
  3. Plant shade trees and shrubs. By planting shade trees and shrubs around the house, you are creating an extra layer of protection from the sun’s radiation throughout the summer and an extra source of heat during the winter. And, of course, the yard will look beautiful.
  4. Replace existing light-bulbs with CFLs. Replacing the existing light-bulbs in the house with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), will reduce energy use by 3/4 compared to incandescent light-bulbs.
  5. Improve efficiency of your water heater system. There are 3 things you can do aside from buying a new water heater. 1) Turn your water heater down to the warm setting. 2) Insulate the hot water pipes. This will prevent the water from cooling down as quickly in between uses. 3) Use low-flow fixtures for the showers and baths.
  6. Upgrade or replace windows. Replacing windows, especially single-glazed windows, with Energy Star-rated replacements will improve your energy usage by 7-24 percent.
  7. Change your air filter. Check your air filter regularly. If it is dirty then replace it. This should be done at least every 3 months. A dirty filter will block the air flow and make the system work harder to heat or cool the house.
  8. Use solar film or solar shades on windows. Reflect heat, and therefore lower cooling costs, by shielding exterior windows with solar film or solar shades.
  9. Replace your refrigerator. This essential appliance is also the most energy-guzzling appliance. Replacing your refrigerator with a new Energy Star-rated refrigerator will see a 20-40% difference in energy use and cost.

The Las Vegas housing market is finally on the way up after being labeled the “Foreclosure Capital”.

With rock bottom prices, Las Vegas is seeing an influx of cash buyers as investors are grasping the opportunity for rental properties.

With over 59% of homes sold in February purchased by cash buyers, the market made a new record for Southern Nevada.

How should you play this fast-paced market to ensure the best price?

  1. Cash offers are more likely to be accepted by home sellers, due to quick closings and no appraisal valuation issues.
  2. Those with financing should not be discouraged, however, overbidding and guaranteeing the seller your offered price (regardless of appraisal) seems to be the way offers from financed buyers are being considered.
  3. The answer is not to be the ‘first’ offer, but the ‘best’ offer.
  4. Get aligned with a New Home Resource agent who is at the pulse of the market and knows how to get in the game!

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