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Shopping for a new home is always an intricate process, but buying a home in Las Vegas as a senior brings additional considerations to the forefront. Thanks to perks such as low tax rates and an awesome climate, Nevada has the fifth-largest number of migrating retirees (those relocating after retirement) in the country. Whether you are relocating or already a Las Vegas local, there are a few extra items to ponder before signing on the dotted line.

Location, Location, Location

Location is one of the biggest factors in any real estate purchase decision, but for seniors, there are other important deciding factors to consider. If you are limiting your driving or rely on public transportation, choosing a home that is close to grocery stores and other essential retail shopping allows you to buy what you need when you need it without worrying about how you’ll get there and back.

Also take into consideration where you’ll need to travel for medical care. Las Vegas may seem like a small city, but it can take more than an hour to drive across town. If you live in one area and regularly see a specialist in another, that adds up to a lot of time, vehicle wear and tear, and gas mileage.

Budgetary Concerns

Most home buyers know about the upfront costs associated with purchasing a home, but it’s the ongoing costs that pose a financial threat for seniors who are on a fixed income. Things like leaky windows aren’t just pricey to replace; they also result in higher utility bills in the interim. From rising property taxes to homeowners insurance to community HOA assessments, the wrong house in the wrong area can result in unexpected financial strain seniors may struggle to deal with.

Accessibility

Seniors buying a home in Las Vegas should consider not only what they need today, but also what they may need in the future. It’s not always pleasant to consider the physical limitations that come with age, but a little foresight now can save a bundle later.

Remodeling an existing home to be more accommodating is a complex and costly process. It could include removing stairs from the home’s entrance, widening doorways and hallways, adding handrails, changing the height of countertops and light switches, installing grab bars in the bathrooms as well as comfort-height toilets and a walk-in tub.

While few people will buy a home with all of these features already included — especially when not all of those features are immediately required — choosing a single-story home with wide hallways and a smoothly paved entryway could save tens of thousands of dollars should your mobility become limited.

Potential Resale Value

While younger buyers may be searching for a dream home they can grow into, for seniors, the end goal is different. Being comfortable in your home for the length of time you reside there is critical, but it’s also smart to consider how easy it will be to sell the property if you eventually decide to relocate to one of the many assisted living communities in Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas housing market is one of the hottest in the country. With home values and demand both increasing, seniors shouldn’t have much difficulty selling their home when the time is right. The process is even easier when you enlist the services of a local real estate agent who can help you evaluate potential properties for suitability as well as resale potential.

Maintenance

How much work do you want to do on your home? The lack of grassy lawns in Vegas pretty much guarantees you’ll never have to worry about mowing, but there are other tasks that come with a higher-maintenance property. You might not be willing or able to garden every day, sweep a large patio or tend to a pool. Recognizing that up front allows you to eliminate unnecessary features and focus your energy — and your budget — on the kind of property that fits your activity level and abilities.

To keep stress at a minimum, look for properties with desert landscaping that requires little weeding, pruning or watering. Do without a pool, or choose a community with shared amenities overseen by HOA-funded grounds crews. Finally, don’t forget about all that extra space; investing in more square footage than you need just means you have more to clean, heat, cool and furnish.

If you are a senior looking for a new home, and/or planning to relocate to Las Vegas to enjoy your retirement, our team at New Home Resource can help you find a property to love!

One of the things we recommend home buyers and sellers pay close attention to when interviewing a real estate professional to handle their transaction is whether or not the professional they are speaking with is an actual REALTOR®.

The fact is, many people, both inside and outside the industry, use the terms “real estate agent” and “REALTOR®” interchangeably. What those IN the industry are relying on, though, is that the consumer doesn’t really know the difference – and that one is just as good as the other. After all, they both just help you buy and sell real estate. Right?

WRONG.

While they’re both licensed to sell real estate, the names each refer to a specific type of real estate professional, and there are notable distinctions between the two.

What Is a Real Estate Agent?
A real estate agent is anyone who is licensed by your state/county/city to help people buy and sell property (both residential and commercial). They may be a sales professional, an associate broker, or a broker themselves. In Nevada, becoming a Real Estate Agent simply requires completing 90 hours of pre-licensing education, then passing the Nevada Real Estate Division exam. This exam covers national, state, and local real estate law, standards and practices, and also requires continuing education to renew licensing fees.

What is a REALTOR®?
First, “REALTOR®” is a trademarked term that refers to an agent who is an active member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). (Fun fact: This is the largest trade association in the United States.)

Second, to join the NAR, it requires joining one of 1,400 local NAR real estate associations, an application fee, and approval by the Board of Directors.

BUT… the requirements to join the NAR are very specific:

• Agents must hold a valid real estate license
• They must be actively engaged in the real estate business
• Can have no records of official sanctions involving unprofessional conduct
• Not have a recent or pending bankruptcy
• Must adhere to the NAR’s Code of Ethics

At first glance, these may not seem like the strictest of standards, but they do whittle down the field to those who are wholly dedicated to the industry. The truth is a large percentage of ‘real estate licensees’ in any given state are not full-time agents. Many dabble with real estate on the side, list homes only for friends and relatives, discovered that they’re not really the right fit for the industry – but they’ve put in the time and paid the license fee, so they’re keeping it active ‘just in case.’ To put it mildly, these are not the type of people you want to handle the purchase or sale of your home – your most important and personal investment. So those first two bullet points are very important.

The next whittling down eliminates those who have ever been involved in unethical, illegal, or even just shady real estate transactions. (These requirements are starting to sound a little more important now, aren’t they?)

And while hard times (such as bankruptcy) can hit people unexpectedly (which we certainly saw by the boatload when the economy crashed in 2008) – knowing that your real estate professional is not driven by financial hardship can also give you, as a client, some peace of mind that they are acting in your best interests at all times.

Finally, the NAR’s Code of Ethics is what separates REALTORS® from non-member real estate agents. It outlines the agent’s duties to clients, customers, the public, and other REALTORS®.

These five requirements are the reason many serious real estate professionals choose to become REALTORS® – as it verifies the expectation consumers have (or should have) that they are working with an agent who has sworn to treat all parties fairly and honestly.

And now – you know what it means when you see the title of REALTOR® in advertisements or marketing materials for those in the real estate industry. As REALTORS® at New Home Resource, it insures that all of our agents are dedicated to performing honestly, ethically, and legally on behalf of every client we serve. Give us a call – we’d love to explain to you how we do it!

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for property management, a newly built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to provide the service you’re looking for. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or visit www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, Kathy Paterniti and Heidi Colón are all here to help!

Summer is a busy time for home sellers in Las Vegas. Well, for that matter, given our amazing lifestyle, climate, and all the other great things about our city – pretty much most times of year are busy for both home buyers and home sellers.

As a seller, though, you need to remember that you are always in competition with other homes that are for sale. To make sure your home is at the head of the line for receiving the best (and most) purchase offers, we’d like to remind you that no matter when home buyers are shopping for a home, there are some things they ALL hate to see. Make sure they don’t see them at your home!

Bad Listing Photos.

Most home buyers begin their search online. If your photos aren’t appealing on the internet, there’s a good chance they won’t even bother to see your home in person. Make sure whoever is listing your home gets the best photos possible of both inside and outside your home. They matter more than you know.

Dirty Homes.

And yes really, we do need to say this. Because it seems not everyone instinctively knows that a clean, neat, and appealing presentation of your home is critical to the interest of the buyer. It’s true what they say: You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. And that means both inside and outside. You may not even think twice about your unkempt yard – because you know the landscape maintenance guys will be there tomorrow. Or to you, a messy patio or play area might just look normal and ‘lived in.’ The problem is, you’re not trying to make you comfortable by picturing yourself living in this home…you’re trying to impress home buyers you don’t know anything about. They may actually think just like you, but you have no way of knowing that. So always use the “Best Foot Forward” rule for any part of your property that a potential buyer sees.

Sellers Being Home During the Showing.

Yeah, it’s true. Even if you’re immensely proud of your home and would like to be there to “point out all the little things they might not notice, but are so important and add value to this home!” But all your being there will do is make everyone feel awkward, make visitors shy about asking their Realtor® questions that you may overhear, and encourage potential buyers to want to rush through the home and get out; which is, ironically the very thing you were trying to avoid. The longer a shopper takes to explore your home, and the more comfortable they feel, the more it sticks in their mind, compared to all the other homes they’ve seen. We’d even suggest doing something out-of-the-norm – like leaving cold bottles of water and freshly baked cookies out, with a note that it’s just for them. (A welcome idea in Las Vegas during the summer, for sure!) Anything that makes their visit to your home stand out (in a good way, we mean!) – is going to be to your benefit.

There are other words of wisdom that our experienced team of Realtors® at New Home Resource would be happy to share with you about how you can help show your home in the best possible way – and maximize your chances to sell rapidly and at the best price. Just get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to share those ‘inside tips’!

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for property management, a newly built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to provide the service you’re looking for. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or visit www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

We SO don’t blame you. Even though it’s one of those cities that when you tell people that’s where you’re from, they’ll respond with comments like “Oh sure, but where are you from originally?” (Because…. Las Vegas isn’t a real place?) Or with the ever favorite “You mean people actually live in Las Vegas?!!” (Said with some astonishment, as indicated by that exclamation mark.)

But you know what? That’s really okay. Because it means that we get to live with this little-secret-of-a-desert-oasis a bit longer – without the hordes having shown up yet to enjoy all the things we already know about Vegas. (Or, change that to – at least everyone hasn’t moved here yet!)

The City That Never Sleeps
We often associate Las Vegas with a 24/7 slot machine, but it’s so much more than that: You can also order Chinese food 24/7 (we could stop right there, right?), go grocery shopping 24/7, just about anything. In fact, it almost seems as if everything here is 24 hours (which it’s not, but it doesn’t take long to get used to what is). We have 24-hour taquerias, ramen shops, bars, grocery stores, athletic clubs, pharmacies, gaming restaurants, Starbucks, smoothie shops. You’re asking yourself right now “Do I really need a smoothie at 4 a.m.?” Probably not, but the point is you can get one. Ah….the taste of freedom!

Beautiful Scenery Just Minutes Away in Every Direction
Outside of the fact that many of the suburban areas surrounding the center of the city are well-planned to accommodate recreation, biking, hiking, and sports – there are some world-class recreation areas just a few minutes from the glamour and fast-pace of the city. Valley of Fire, Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Red Rock Canyon, to name a few, offer trails for every level of difficulty with incredible views of Vegas and the surrounding area. And Lake Mead National Recreation Area offers boaters and fishermen a place to get their water fix in the middle of the desert. A little farther afield and you can enjoy the skiing at Mt. Charleston or Brianhead, Utah, visit Death Valley, and the list goes on. (And dare we mention that a trip to the Pacific Ocean is a mere 4-hour drive?)

300+ Days of Sunshine
People often associate Las Vegas with brutal heat, but the truth is that on the whole, the weather is relatively mild. The average annual temperature in the valley is 67 degrees, with temperatures rarely dipping below 45. While it is true that it is hot here in the summer, this is a town that’s built to cope with that lifestyle, in more ways than you can imagine. And – as locals are always eager to point out, “it’s a dry heat.” That might sound crazy….but it really is true and makes a difference – as anyone who has dealt with “humid heat” can attest! It may surprise you to know that we get our share of rain, too. In fact, summer desert rainstorms aren’t that unusual around here.

It’s an Amazing Place to Live, Raise a Family, or Retire
There are lots of negative stereotypes for Sin City, and that’s a sad fact, because when you get outside of the glitzy downtown area, you’ll discover the churches, schools, and grocery stores of the town outside the inner city where everyone seems to know everyone. Las Vegas – even at its size – is famously known for being a “small town,” actually. There are the tourists, and then there are the locals. Las Vegas is like any other city – you shop, eat out, watch a movie, go to the dentist, wait your turn at the DMV (although, ours is pretty ahead of the game – with an app that lets you check in online and show up precisely timed for your appointment!), and hike in the national parks. It’s more than just a city of slots and roulette. For many of us, it’s home. Las Vegas has plenty of family-friendly neighborhoods and suburbs, too – like Summerlin, Providence, and Centennial Hills, just as examples. And Forbes states that Henderson has been voted the second safest city in the U.S. If you’re moving to Las Vegas, you won’t have any trouble finding a nice, quiet residential area that feels like home.

…And the Tourists Pay Your Taxes
Businesses headquarter in Nevada thanks to the friendly tax climate – and the same goes for those planning to retire, too. No Nevada state income tax is a big deal – whether you’re counting big bucks or trying to make that fixed income go farther. With almost 40 million tourists visiting Sin City annually, it’s no surprise that whenever you see those casinos flooding with people chunking their change in every slot machine, you’re watching funding to pay for all of your roads, schools, parks, and local services. In fact, Nevada hotel-casino operators accounted for roughly 45% of State General Fund revenues in 2014. Why does that matter? It means residents enjoy the third lowest state and local taxes in the U.S. Also, Nevada has low property taxes, and approximately 33% of the state sales tax is paid through the gaming industry. Thank you, tourists!

Add to all this the upcoming inaugural seasons of professional sports (go NHL & NFL!), the festivals, the entertainment, the food (some of the finest restaurants in the country are found in Las Vegas) – and you not only have a great place to live . . . and we’re just getting started!

If you’d like to know more about how to put down your roots in Las Vegas, our extraordinary team of real estate professionals is here to help!

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for property management, a newly built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to provide the service you’re looking for. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or visit www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

Earlier this year, the list of the 20 Top Selling Master Planned Communities for 2016 was released by research firm RCLCO, and to no one’s surprise, two extraordinary Las Vegas area master planned communities were included on that list – and you don’t even have to go past #7 to find them.

Clocking in at the #5 position is Summerlin, and at #7 is Inspirada. (Woo-hoo, Las Vegas and Henderson!) Plus, Mountain’s Edge, Providence, and Cadence also made the list of the Top 50 Master Planned Communities. That’s pretty solid proof that the real estate market in Las Vegas is recovering well from the Great Recession – (something we’ve known for some time). Considering the popularity of these areas, it occurred to us that if you’re just thinking about moving to the Las Vegas valley, perhaps a primer in a few of the successful master plans might come in helpful! Remember, this list is by no means exhaustively complete – because Las Vegas continues to grow and attract new residents from all over the country – but it can come in helpful to give you a sense of the ‘lay of the land’ to get your in-person home search under way soon.

Summerlin

Located along the western rim of the valley at the edge of Spring Mountain and Red Rock, Summerlin is the largest master planned community in Las Vegas – covering 22,500 acres. More than 100,000 people live there – which is about 5 percent of Clark County’s total population. Well-known for its thoughtful neighborhoods, beautifully landscaped avenues, and numerous parks, community centers, and hiking and biking trails – Summerlin lies at the higher end of the Las Vegas elevation with many homes offering picturesque views of both city skyline and nearby mountains – capped by the close proximity of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Many of Las Vegas’ finest homebuilders offer new communities in the various villages at Summerlin, where buyers can find both production and custom homes to choose from. Summerlin itself began selling homes in 1990, so the resale opportunities in this area are immense.

Inspirada

This 1,900-acre project is located in the heart of Henderson (which Bloomberg Businessweek ranked as one of America’s 50 Best Cities – and named America’s Second Safest City by Forbes Magazine in 2011). Situated on the southern edge of the valley, it’s among the top-selling master planned communities nationally, as we mentioned – with builders closing 564 new-home sales in Inspirada last year, up 45 percent from 2015. Nationally recognized homebuilders in this master plan include Beazer Homes, Century Communities, KB Homes, Pardee Homes, and Toll Brothers. Inspirada’s park system is one of the defining features here – with four already built and 85 acres of parks and trails planned. Community events are varied and inviting to residents of all ages, and homes range from approximately 1,500 to over 4,500 – priced from the $200s to the $400s.

Mountain’s Edge

Located in the southwest part of the valley, this 3,500-acre master planned community calls for 14,500 homes in more than 22 neighborhoods that will include multiple schools, stores, office space, and shopping centers. Builders include D.R. Horton, Woodside, Beazer, Pardee, Discover, Lennar, Toll Brothers, KB Homes and many others. Mountain’s Edge features hundreds of acres of land devoted to open spaces, parks, and trail systems. It was developed as the region’s first drought-tolerant community, estimated to save over 200 million gallons of water annually vs. traditional grass sod landscaping. Close to both the city and stunning mountainscapes and featuring an active community event calendar, Mountain’s Edge began in 2004 and was the #1 selling Las Vegas community from its opening through 2008. Both new and resale homes are available at Mountain’s Edge to explore.

Providence

Found in the northwest Las Vegas valley, Providence is a 1,200-acre master planned community that will ultimately include about 7,500 single and multifamily homes in 39 different neighborhoods. Located near schools, shopping, dining and the 215 Beltway/U.S. Highway 95 access. In addition to being in close proximity to both Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases, Providence attracted new-home builders KB Homes, Lennar, Pardee, Richmond American, Ryland, Warmington Residential, Woodside and Summit Homes. With acres of neighborhood parks and trail systems, a thriving community center and an active event calendar, Providence has previously ranked in the Top 10 master planned communities in the country. Winding avenues and numerous amenities have made Providence a lovely and peaceful addition to the Las Vegas landscape. Next stop: Mount Charleston!

Cadence

Located near the intersection of Lake Mead Parkway and Boulder Highway in Henderson, Nevada, Cadence is a 2,200-acre master planned community calling for 13,250 homes, over one million square feet of commercial property, 30 acres of trails, six schools, and a casino resort. Homebuilders include Richmond American, Lennar, Ryland, Woodside, and more. Schools, shops and restaurants are right inside this community – along with parks, pools, and trails – with the 50-acre Central Park a main draw (amphitheater, pickleball, and free wifi anyone?). Add in a bike-share program, and close proximity to Lake Las Vegas and Cowabunga Water Park – and you’ve got the makings for Las Vegas fun any time of year.

Keep in mind that both new and resale homes are available for purchase in all these areas, too. And whichever route you choose for your Las Vegas home, you can rely on the experienced services of the New Home Resource Team to look after your interests and ensure a smooth and seamless transaction.

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for property management, a newly built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to provide the service you’re looking for. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or visit www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

There are a lot of landlords in Las Vegas these days. In fact, ever since the Great Recession when investors took advantage of great opportunities in our city, the number of rental properties in Las Vegas has risen rapidly.

What hasn’t risen as rapidly is the number of quality property management companies. Notice our use of the word “quality.” Because as you know, when any new need in the market is filled – there are usually choices of great, good, so-so, and ‘stay-away-from-these-guys’ options for that service.

That’s why we would like to remind our Las Vegas clients and friends that New Home Resource Property Management is among one of the best choices that Las Vegas property owners can make – that is, if they want their rental homes to be managed professionally and cost-efficiently. And, all that while building a reputation that makes their homes the first choice of qualified renters.

Why hire New Home Resource as your Property Managers?

If any of the following reasons sound familiar, then we should talk:

• You have multiple rental properties.
• You don’t live near your rental property.
• Your time is limited.
• Hands-on management is not your preference.
• You’re inundated with too many tenant issues.
• You don’t want to hire “employees”, thus an independent contractor is your preferred option.

We’re in it for the long-term on your behalf, and we make it possible for you to rest easy knowing that virtually every detail of managing your rental home is being handled by experts. Even better, we provide a personal touch with dedicated software to stay on top of the details and allows you to be in the loop at all times.

That’s why you can rely on us to take care of it all – from marketing to finding and properly vetting new tenants, checking references, collecting rents, handling repairs, taking care of tenant complaints – even pursuing evictions, if necessary. We have the resources and the expertise to make sure it all happens smoothly, without a hitch.

The only thing you need to ask yourself is this: “How valuable is my time?” Let New Home Resource Property Management take the ‘tasks’ off your To-Do list and put them on ours.

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for property management, a newly built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to provide just the service you’re looking for. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or at www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

As you may recall, our last post dealt with some suggestions about how you can cope with the reality of family and friends coming to stay at your home this season (or anytime, really). We’d like to add an “addendum” of sorts to that post as a reminder about how you, yourself, can be the “Dream House Guest” the next time you’re the one imposing on, er, we mean, staying in someone else’s home.

If you’re the one doing the traveling and visiting soon, here are some valuable rules of thumb to remember. (Because few things stick in our mind more clearly than having walked a mile in a host’s shoes.)

If You’re the House Guest, Then Here’s the Rules
The best way to teach others how to treat you is by example. By following these guidelines when you stay with a loved one, there’s a slightly better chance that they may return the favor the next time they’re in your neighborhood for a few days.

1) Let them know exactly when you’re going to arrive and depart. Some house guests stay too long, and some don’t stay long enough. Strike the perfect balance (our rule of thumb, “Always leave them wanting more”. It’s the best way to get invited back.

2) Ask about the house rules ahead of time. This will help them as much as it will inform you. Plus, it will clearly display that you respect their boundaries before you even get there. A good start to a visit, indeed.

3) Take an appropriate hostess gift. If you’re the house guest of a family with children, a small gift for the children is fitting, too (maybe a puzzle or book). Other gifts might include a book or a kitchen gadget. Wine (if that’s their thing) or flowers (but bring one already arranged – don’t just hand them a wrapped bouquet so they have to do the work!)

4) Check beforehand on available activities and pack accordingly. Not that this necessarily makes you the perfect house guest, it just shows that you’re smart.

5) Don’t ask if you can bring your animals. Arrange to have them cared-for at home while you’re gone. It’s an awkward conversation; don’t put your host in a state of an obligatory answer.

6) Don’t rely on your hosts for anything other than a free place to stay (and by that, we mean lodging – not free meals, too).

7) Buy your own groceries, and buy groceries for your host, too. (Especially if you’re eating meals together at home). We can’t stress this enough.

8) Lend a hand whenever you can. Help clean up after meals; offer to prep food, wash dishes, take out the trash, etc. Your hosts are not your personal concierge service – and you never want to make them feel as though they are. (Little resentments can become big ones very quickly, you know.)

9) Conserve towels. (That’s being kind to your hosts AND the planet.)

10) Be sure and let your hosts know ahead of time if you have any food allergies (but make it clear you’ll be happy to shop for groceries and even prepare foods to meet those needs).

11) Be on-time for meals and for whatever activities have been planned. Arrive when you say you will, or call if you’re running late.

12) Give your host personal time and space. They may be happy to see you, but it doesn’t mean they want to spend every minute of every day with you. You’ll enjoy your time together more if each of you has time apart.

13) Always offer to take your hosts out for a meal or two so they can enjoy an evening without cooking and cleaning – and simply bask in the glow of your company!

14) Keep your room tidy. Another one we cannot stress enough. All it takes is a glance into a messy room to create the impression you’re not caring for their property. And remember that just being there creates extra work for everyone – but little things like this demonstrate that you’re willing to pitch in and do what you can to help maintain a sense of order.

15) When you leave, strip the bed and clear the bathroom of used towels. Ask your host where the clean sheets and towels are kept so you can make the bed and replace used towels.

16) Before you leave, check for anything left behind so your host doesn’t have to package and mail things back to you.

17) Leave a parting gift. During your stay, you should have gotten a good sense of what your hosts want, like, or need. Use this information to purchase a small parting gift that shows your gratitude and decency as a human being.

18) ALWAYS send a written thank-you note as soon as you return home. It will matter more than you know.

House guests can be wonderful when they know and really understand the rules. Go the extra mile to make your visit as easy and pleasant as possible on your hosts. After all, who doesn’t love being invited to visit?

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for property management, a newly built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to provide just the service you’re looking for. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or at www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

As Richard Florida notes in a recent CityLab article, “There are three big decisions we make in life: What we choose to do for a living, who we choose for a life partner, and where we choose to live.”

In all the rush and hurry of living our lives every day, it’s a bit compelling to read a statement like that, let it soak in, and suddenly realize well, yeah – those really are the three most important things (assuming children and pets are lumped in with the “life partner” choice, of course.) So why do we spend so much time worrying about a million-and-one other things – and often doing it at the expense of those three priorities that matter to us the most?

We agree with Florida’s assessment that the most important of those three items may very well be where we choose to live. Your home base is where all your energy, hopes, dreams, and ambitions come to rest every night. In addition, it only makes sense that you’re going to be working nearby and developing relationships with those who share your geographic location.

However, being happy where you live doesn’t simply depend on the house, neighborhood, city, or state you choose, as many people can attest. Many discover, after making multiple moves to places they thought they always wanted to live – that ‘happiness’ isn’t an enforceable clause in the mortgage documents.

Really, though – the ability to enjoy your environment can be affected more by your state of mind than the space you’re occupying. Now, don’t get us wrong – we’re not going all “woo-woo” on you here. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that – because we’ve been known to do it on occasion!) We’re not saying that all you have to do is “think” yourself happy. But we will say that even for those who feel they’re living in the wrong place and their true happiness lies in some distant locale, there are things we can all do to help ourselves invest emotionally in where we are right now.

Some people may call the ability to love where we live a form of “place attachment” – where an emotional bond is created between a person and a place. It’s a concept rooted in environmental psychology, and often displayed when a person chooses a certain city as a destination to live in, based on their personal experience and lifestyle preferences.

But life can lead us in unanticipated directions, as we all know. (John Lennon was right – “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”) So it’s not at all unusual that for many of us, where we’re living at the moment is not our first choice for this point in our life.

Rather than railing against the universe about it, though, it’s far better for us (both mentally and physically) to actively seek out some specific things that we can learn to love about our current place on the planet. By stepping outside your comfort zone (or in this case, your dis-comfort zone) – it’s entirely possible to create new experiences and memories that you consider as plusses or positive aspects and that you can look forward to repeating. (Some things stay pretty much the same from city to city, you know – like yoga, or exercising, or hobbies, etc.)

In doing so, whether those engagements are with individuals, like-minded groups, landscapes, or even spent in solitude – in many cases, by altering our behavior we, in turn, alter our perception of our environment. Or at least a little part of it. That alone can make a huge mental shift in our outlook. Coincidentally (and happily!) – that also makes it a whole lot easier to improve our attitude, our relationships, and even our health.

It’s a fact of human nature that most of us can find both good and bad in things, places, and situations. But it’s our frame of mind that often guides us more toward one direction than the other.

In the same CityLab article, the author of This Is Where You Belong, Melody Warnick concludes that, “My theory is that cities don’t make us happy. We make ourselves happy in our cities. The really good news is that place attachment doesn’t care if you live in the objectively best city on the planet. (Not that one even exists.) Contentment comes from being passionate about where you live, no matter what.”

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for property management, a newly built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to provide just the service you’re looking for. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or at www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

You know how sometimes you just need a change? And not just a personal change – but sometimes for your business, too. Especially if your business is in Las Vegas, because there’s always something new happening in this city – and the real estate market is no exception. At New Home Resource, we thought it was time for us to mix things up a bit– and the next thing you know, “Voila!” We have a whole new look for our website!

But not just a new look – a whole new way to navigate to find the things you need. Like what? Well, we thought you’d never ask! Allow us to give you a guided tour:

Easier to Find Exactly What You’re Looking For

• Search our gorgeous current New Home Resource property listings
• Search the MLS listings through our site
• Inquire about the value of your existing home
• Learn more about our stellar Property Management Services

Easier to Learn About Us

• You should want to know more about the people you’re doing business with. Fortunately, we’re not shy – we’re happy to tell you who we are, our experience, how to contact us, and let you know where to find us on Facebook, too.
• See what our customers have to say about New Home Resource on our Testimonials page. (May as well put your feet up, because there’s lots of reading to do!)

Helpful Information About Buying, Selling, Leasing, Owning, and Enjoying Your Home

• In our blog articles, we cover pretty much every topic from the local housing market to what to look for in a Realtor, how to shop for a mortgage lender, information for keeping your home maintained, insider tips for both buyers and sellers, statistics, interior design, landscaping, holiday décor, great recipes . . . you name it, and we’ve probably written about it. (Anything you’d like to see that we don’t have? Just send your topic suggestion to Joanna@NewHomeResource.com – we’ll be happy to explore it!)

Our goal – as always – is to make reaching your real estate goals – whether buying, selling, or renting – as smooth and worry-free as possible. We think our website now does a better job of reflecting that goal, too.

For more information about how New Home Resource may be the perfect match for your real estate needs, give us a call as 702.365.1000. Or <nudge/wink!> – you can visit our new website, too!

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for property management, a newly built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to provide just the service you’re looking for. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or at www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

There are a lot of landlords in Las Vegas these days. In fact, ever since the Great Recession when investors took advantage of great opportunities in our city, the number of rental properties in Las Vegas has risen rapidly.

What hasn’t risen as rapidly is the number of quality property management companies. Notice our use of the word “quality.” Because as you know, when any new need in the market is filled – there are usually choices of great, good, so-so, and ‘stay-away-from-these-guys’ options for that service.

That’s why we would like to remind our Las Vegas clients and friends that New Home Resource Property Management is among one of the best choices that Las Vegas property owners can make – that is, if they want their rental homes to be managed professionally and cost-efficiently. And, all that while building a reputation that makes their homes the first choice of qualified renters.

Why hire New Home Resource as your Property Managers?

If any of the following reasons sound familiar, then we should talk:

• You have multiple rental properties.
• You don’t live near your rental property.
• Your time is limited.
• Hands-on management is not your preference.
• You’re inundated with too many tenant issues.
• You don’t want to hire “employees”, thus an independent contractor is your preferred option.

We’re in it for the long-term on your behalf, and we make it possible for you to rest easy knowing that virtually every detail of managing your rental home is being handled by experts. Even better, we provide a personal touch with dedicated software to stay on top of the details and allows you to be in the loop at all times.

That’s why you can rely on us to take care of it all – from marketing to finding and properly vetting new tenants, checking references, collecting rents, handling repairs, taking care of tenant complaints – even pursuing evictions, if necessary. We have the resources and the expertise to make sure it all happens smoothly, without a hitch.

The only thing you need to ask yourself is this: “How valuable is my time?” Let New Home Resource Property Management take the ‘tasks’ off your To-Do list and put them on ours.

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for property management, a newly built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to provide just the service you’re looking for. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or at www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!