Las Vegas Realtor

Chris LaHaie, MBA, Realtor Epic Realty 2820 S. Jones Blvd Ste. 101 Las Vegas, NV 89146 702-338-8256 ChrisLaHaierealestate@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Buy and hold Las Vegas Housing

The Las Vegas Housing market has gained momentum over the past 5 years.Tthe property values have gone up with rental rates exploding in certain parts of the city.  The time to buy a home in Las Vegas for rental income is now.  The interest rates make it possible to leverage your cash for outstanding returns.  You can double the rate you are getting with cash in the bank.  In a city like Las Vegas finding quality rental property is not difficult but it will take a 3-5 year plan to enhance profits.  The most important thing is to get financing at the extremely low rates and consider the projected rental rates and housing costs over the next 5 years.  The key is to find property that will give you small returns of $100 to $200 in cash flow each month rather than to look for the home run property.  The home run property will come along but there are money making properties on the market every single day.  Investment in real estate makes money exponentially over time.  Each day you do not own property you are losing potential future income.  If you calculate modest appreciation of housing values and modest yearly rental rate increases it is easy to see how valuable real estate is over time.  Building your net worth is the name of the game in real estate.  Building net worth is the master plan for success in life and investing.  If you have the ability to buy real estate and you are not doing so today you are making a mistake. 

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Las Vegas housing rental rates spiking in Summerlin

Rental rates are increasing rapidly in certain areas of Las Vegas.  An average size three bedroom two bath home in the Summerlin area of Las Vegas can rent for as much as $1300-$1400 a month.  Less than two years ago this same property would have brought a rent of about $1150-$1200.  This is a substantial increase and the actual cost of homes in the area has not risen quite as quickly so there are a few opportunities for someone who would like a decent return on their money from a rental unit.  This likely will not last long though because the Summerlin area is in high demand and with the new Downtown Summerlin open and doing extremely well, all areas around the 215 and Sahara exit are becoming even more popular than in the past.  If you are looking to buy a 3 bedroom 2 bath home in this area of Las Vegas you still can find homes near the $200,000 range.  I do not think the opportunity to buy reasonable priced real estate near Downtown Summerlin will last long.  I also think the prices are about to spike in this area over the next year right along with the rental rates.  It is a much better option to buy a home for $220,000 and take ownership considering rent will be $1300 a month or more.  

Home prices increasing in Las Vegas

The average sale price for the sale of home in Las Vegas is now $220,000.  If you bought your home in 2010, 2011 or even 2012 it is likely you have amassed a great deal of equity.   The market is beginning to stabilize in Las Vegas and the continued lower interest rates have helped the real estate recovery.  If you are planning to sell a house in Las Vegas or planning to sell and move to a different city, this is the ideal time.  Las Vegas is not one of the cheapest places to live in the country.  Compared to California or New York, real estate in Las Vegas appears to be very reasonable.  However, compared to most parts of the country Las Vegas home prices are quite high.  The reason I say it is the perfect time to move is because you will get top dollar for you home in Las Vegas now due to reasonable amounts of inventory and the extremely low interest rates.  The money you can make here can go a lot farther on house in Texas or Tennessee.  It is a completely different decision if you need to buy another house in Las Vegas.  The prices have rebounded fairly well and finding a home under $175,000 is no longer easy.  The good interest rates could help you with the purchase of the new home if you get a substantial gain from the home you are selling.  You could use this for the down payment and possibly get a larger house or different home for the same payment.  I would say that buying is still a much better than renting in Las Vegas and rents are sharply rising as well.  I will talk more about the increases in rents in another post. 

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

The holidays can be a good time to sell your Las Vegas Home

Contrary to popular belief people do not stop buying homes during the holidays.  Many people are only able to shop for homes because of their buys work schedule or if they are relocating to Las Vegas.  Many home owners in Las Vegas will decide to remove their home from the market in the fall or reduce the showings for their home.  This can always be to the advantage of other sellers in Las Vegas because their will be less inventory available for buyers and this could lead to shorter market time or even a higher price for those willing to put up with the hassle of showing their home during the holidays.  
The fall season is also a great time to sell you Las Vegas rental that has gone empty or that you have been considering selling.  There will be less competition and if your property is empty and easy to show it may be the first home agents put on their list.  It is hard to overestimate how important ease of access is to selling a home in Las Vegas.  Many people will be here for one or two days to view property and if they can not get in to see a home they will likely never come back.  If they have to buy that weekend they will find something else and they many have been the perfect buyer for your home.  Call me today to discuss your buying and selling options.  

Chris LaHaie
702-338-8526

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Seller's Market in Las Vegas

Las Vegas real estate is still considered to be in a seller's market.  The prices have escalated greatly in the past 5 years and we have traditional sales once again become the most prominent type of sale. Short sales and foreclosures only make up a small percentage of the sales.  However, inventory levels are still consider to be at a number that is slightly below normal.  Buyers do have more to pick from while shopping but in general the market still favors the seller.

The holiday season can make showing your home a headache so many people will take their home off the market or limit showings.  This is completely understandable because having your home on the market can cause major havoc with schedules.  But the fact that many people will pull their homes off the market often will benefit those who are willing to whether the storm of the holiday listing.  Regardless of when you decide to list and sell your home, remember that the sooner you have it under contract the sooner you can stop showing it! 

Chris LaHaie, MBA
Realtor
Epic Realty
Las Vegas, NV  89146

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Consider It Sold Las Vegas: Seller and Buyer Obligations

Consider It Sold Las Vegas: Seller and Buyer Obligations: Once the seller signs a contract to sell and the due diligence period is over for the buyer, the seller does typically have an obligation ...

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Consider It Sold Las Vegas: What Happens When You Make A Counter Offer?

Consider It Sold Las Vegas: What Happens When You Make A Counter Offer?: What Happens When You Make A Counter Offer? If you are selling your home you will inevitably be looking at offers in the form of a purcha...

Chris LaHaie, MBARealtorEpic Realty, Las Vegas, NV chrislahaierealestate@gmail.com

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Consider It Sold Las Vegas: The single escrow company closing system in Nevada...

Consider It Sold Las Vegas: The single escrow company closing system in Nevada...:  I have lived in a few different states and worked as real estate agent and purchased property for myself in Nevada and in Minnesota.  The...

Monday, October 12, 2015

The importance of clean house and seller cooperation when listing your home

Have your house cleaned as if it were a villa you were renting on the beach for $5000 a week in Mexico. 


We all have different standards of what we consider clean or dirty in our homes.  However, when you are selling you want to clean it as if it was going to be your personal beach front villa that you are paying $5000 a week to enjoy.  This is what people expect when they walk into your home.  Buying a home is the biggest purchase in most people’s lives and often the very most important to their family.  Imagine your disappointment if you walked into your villa with great expectations and you found cob webs on the light fixtures and finger prints on the walls?  Imagine how you would feel if the house had a funny smell or smell of smoke.  If you want to be the first on the list for buyers then you need to have your house as clean and as neat as possible.  The quickest way to get a lower price for you home it so have it dirty and messy, the next quickest way assure a lower price is to turn down showings regardless of the inconvenience they may cause.  The sooner you get in the right buyer who wants to purchase your home the sooner you will be able to stop showing it.  An uncooperative seller, when it comes to showings, can ruin any chances of getting top dollar.  Buyers have choices today.  They want the cleanest house and they want to be able to see the house when they are ready to buy.  If a buyer is working with a good real estate agent they will be ready to buy the day they see your home and if they don’t get to see it they are likely to have purchased something else by the time you decided it is convenient to  let them in for a showing.   

Chris LaHaie, MBA
Realtor
Las Vegas., Nv

Consider It Sold Las Vegas: Why Price Reductions Make More Sense than Waiting....

Consider It Sold Las Vegas: Why Price Reductions Make More Sense than Waiting....: Why Price Reductions Make More Sense than Waiting. The market likely will never catch up to the price you are hoping to get for yo...

Chris LaHaie Realtor
Chrislahaierealestate@gmail.com

Consider It Sold Las Vegas: Southern Highlands Las Vegas Listing Coming Soon!

Consider It Sold Las Vegas: Southern Highlands Las Vegas Listing Coming Soon!: Coming Soon To the Market Gorgeous Southern Highlands living!!This home is a gem, beautiful floor plan with great room and wet bar in th...

Sellers's Market in Las Vegas even thought prices have been leveling off

Las Vegas real estate is still in a sellers market and it likely will be for some time.  However, the prices of real estate have started to level off.  The 10% and 15% gains seen in the past few years are not longer the norm.  Prices now are predicted to stay fairly stable except in a few prime areas. Even in these areas the price increases are going to be much smaller.  The inventory that is on the market today is tending to stay on the market longer and it is is need of greater price reductions.  This market will eliminate just about anyone that has no motivation to sell and that was just looking for getting the highest price possible.  As the inventory has increased, buyers have many more choices, even though we are still considered a sellers market, prices are not much higher this year than they were last year.  It is still a good time to sell because the inventory levels are still low compared to average but they are not excessively low as they have been in the past.  

Consider It Sold Las Vegas: Southern Highlands Las Vegas Listing Coming Soon!

Consider It Sold Las Vegas: Southern Highlands Las Vegas Listing Coming Soon!: Coming Soon To the Market Gorgeous Southern Highlands living!!This home is a gem, beautiful floor plan with great room and wet bar in th...

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Short Sales have become Las Vegas Standard

Short sales have quickly become the method of selling a  home in Las Vegas.  This is for a number of reasons and the main reason is because of necessity.  With so many home owners in Las Vegas owning far more than their home is worth, there often seems to be no other way to keep the real estate market alive.  It can be said that this is a good deal for home owners but it really is just a way to move on with life.  As people have begun to realize Las Vegas Real Estate is not going recover quickly, if ever, they have decided it may be better to get out from under their mortgage debt now.  Of course the government has added an incentive to this by creating the mortgage debt relief act but that will soon be over and people will be left to other devices to figure out how to deal with their outstanding mortgage debt.

It is a given that the IRS wants to get their share of every one's pie and when people face crisis, such as short sale or foreclosure, the IRS still thinks that is a blessing for you because you have had debt relief.  They failed to understand that most of the time hardship is the reason for people having to leave their home or be evicted.  But the often unknown fact is that any amount of debt that is reduced, the borrower has to report that as income on their tax forms.  

During the recent real estate and housing meltdown, the government decided to give people a break on this so called "income".  They Mortgage Debt Relief Act was created and will be ending as of December 31, 2012.  Right now the debt relief home owners receive is not considered taxable because of this law.  It was only a temporary law that was to be phased out.  Most people had no idea that the real estate crisis would be so long nor did they think the economy would be so bad this far into the crisis.  However, Las Vegas is still in the very deepest part of the housing crisis and still over 70% of home owners are underwater.  This has created a void of inventory and with out the short sale option, real estate business would have been ground to an absolute halt.  This relief act was really just another form of government stimulus to give some lift to the economy. 

Las Vegas would be in even worse condition if there were no short sales.  It would mean no inventory and absolutely no business for Realtors.  Unfortunately the desperation of Realtors and Real Estate companies has often pushed people into short sales when it really many not be the best option.  This will prove to be even more the case after the first of the year as Realtors will push for business.  Already realty company executives are lobbying the government and Presidential candidates to keep the debt relief act in effect in order to keep the real estate business afloat.

I suspect there might be a conspiracy between the banks and the government that will rear it's ugly head after the election.  It will be the perfect opportunity for banks to put their REO property back on the market and command premium prices because their will be no competition.  The inventory could easily shift back to 70% bank owned homes as people figure out they can not afford the tax bill that comes with a short sale.  There will be no options for sellers unless they are insolvent.  See www.consideritsoldlasvegas.com for an article that discusses the insolvency issue and how to figure out if you may qualify. 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Short Sale Process May Difficult in Some Cases

If you are considering a short sale and have a home that is in need of repairs you still may be able to get the bank to work a deal with you.  If you start the process with your bank work and work with your Realtor to get a pre-approval for the short sale you will have a shot.  Initiate the contact with your bank and tell them you are interested in doing a short sale and that you have already chosen a Real Estate Agent.  The bank will initiate contact with the realtor and get the paper work in  order that is necessary to do the short sale.  Sign everything and return it as soon as possible. 

Your agent will then be contacted by the bank in order to set up an appraisal of the property.  The bank in essence will be telling you the listing price.  If you have approved already you have cleared a major hurdle.  It really doesn't matter what the appraisal comes in for because the bank is already agreeing to work with you to the best of their ability and to forgive a portion of your loan.  You will not know how much until the final closing but if you get through the appraisal process and get a willing buyer at market value it is likely you will be getting a significant reduction in your balance owed. 

1. The bank can forgive the entire difference and push the sale through. 

2. The bank can forgive the entire difference and offer you cash relocation assistance.

3. The bank can forgive a portion of the difference and work out a payment plan for you to a portion of the difference between the sales price and the loan amount. 

4. The bank can forgive a portion of the difference and agree to push sale through if you pay one lump sum at time of closing.  This could be $1000, $5000 or any amount.  It is called "seller participation" and it can be seen as the cost of getting your mortgage reduced by a significant amount.  It really just amounts to a fee for getting to unload your underwater home.  This is not the most common outcome. 

5. The bank can deny the short sale based on the type of loan, number of investors for the loan or lack of reasonable hardship on the part of the seller.  They probably can deny the short sale just because the negotiator has a bad day, but for the most part once you get this far into the process, everyone seems to be working toward a common goal.  The goal being to get you out from under your mortgage and get someone else into the home at a lower price with accurate paperwork and records.  This may not be the common goal to the current homeowner but if the situation has come about that the short sale is the best possible outcome, then it is to the benefit of everyone involved. 

It is unfortunate that it has come to this in our real estate market but the reality has to be addresses and it is a sad but true fact that some of these home in Las Vegas will never be equal to the value of their current mortgage.  It is a shame and it can be a recipe for hopelessness but the short sale gives one of the least harmful options.  People at times also may have to make a decision to walk away from a property if the bank will not work out a deal with them.

However, if you do decide to walk away, remember you will also be getting hit with a tax bill on the amount of debt forgiven in a foreclosure.  If you can get the property sold and closed before the end of 2012 in a short sale, you will not be taxed on the forgiven debt amount.  As of today this law will no longer be in effect as of January 1, 2013.  This is extremely important to consider if you plan on doing a strategic default and choose to walk away from your property.  Unless you can show you are completely insolvent, (your liabilities are more than your assets) at the time of the abandonment of the property, you will be held responsible for the difference between what the property sells for and what you owed.  This will come in the form of a 1099 that is reported to the IRS.  It will then have nothing to do with the bank and the tax collectors will be expecting some kind of payment when you do your tax returns. 

Call today and discuss your options for a short sale or a traditional sale.  You may even be a good candidate for a loan modification.  This is a good place to start as well because many banks will want to go through the modification application and process before you opt for a short sale. 

Chris LaHaie
Prudential Americana Real Estate
www.consideritsoldlasvegas.com
702-338-8526

Monday, October 15, 2012

4 Tips for Selling in this low inventory market

There are really several things you can do to try and get more for you home in this low inventory market that is occurring now in Las Vegas.  You could possible take what may have been a short sale and turn it into an equity sale.  Some people just needed the values to come up 10 or 15% to get over the hump and now we have seen that amount of appreciation and more in Las Vegas. We have even seen many homes selling with multiple offers at well above list price.  So what are the best ways to try and get the most for your home in this market? 

1.  Price the home within reason even though there is not much on the market.  Yes you can price the home a bit higher than in a normal market but one of the biggest mistakes is price the home too high and push buyers away.  If you price it accordingly, even at the top of the price range, you have a better shot at getting multiple offers.  Over pricing a home can cost you in the long run because if it sits on the market long enough, the percentage you get of the listing price usually goes down. 

2.  Be sure to give ample time for interested parties to view the property.  Try giving buyers a 5 day window before you will consider offers.  Let buyers know that offers will be accepted on day 5 and that you will be looking for the best offer and best terms at that time. 

3.  Consider stipulating that the price will not be subject to an appraisal. Often homes are being sold for more than listing price but the appraisal comes in too low.  You plan ahead for this and make sure only buyers who have the cash to make up the difference in case of a low appraisal be considered. 

4.  Be sure you use an agent that is a skilled negotiator.  Negotiating contracts is a very subtle art form and it often goes unnoticed.  However, if you have a skilled negotiator you can nearly always get a few thousand extra dollars in your pocket. 

If  you are considering selling your home in Las Vegas call me today.  I will evaluate your situation and make sure you get the most possible for you home in the proper amount of time.  I have nearly 20 years experience in buying, selling and negotiating real estate contracts.  I will always provide the best possible service while doing what is best for my clients. 

Chris LaHaie
Prudential Americana
702-338-8526
chrislahaie@gmail.com
chrislahaierealestate@gmail.com

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Las Vegas Real Estate in the tank or just tanked for good?

The Las Vegas Review Journal top story in Sunday's paper addresses the tragic loss of equity for Las Vegas Real Estate owners.  It highlights just how much real estate has dropped in the city since the peaks in 2006 and 2007.  It is a really a tragic turn of events regardless of whom you chose to blame.  The economy in Las Vegas has yet to recover and there is reason to question whether it will ever recover. 

The extreme dysfunction of our political system has been highlighted by the inane government policies that have prolonged the recession.  The politicians have failed to address the issue or even see what caused the issues which has led to the failure to implement a solution.  The passing of laws to hold banks accountable has done nothing but clog the system and hold no one accountable.  It has never been more clear that the bankers and lenders where breaking laws and jeopardizing the economy.  However, the unhealthy relationship between the financial industry and our money and power hungry politicians has left us on the brink of world wide disaster for the past 5 years. 


The current market in Las Vegas is running at record low inventories thanks to the laws that have slowed the bank foreclosure rampage and the massive percentage of underwater home owners.  Realtors have adapted the best they could by promoting the short sale as the only solution for underwater home owners.  It has promoted a drastic change in the banks as well as the politicians in our state.  The question is who is driving the policy changes that have made banks so short sale friendly. 

Most people do not realize how powerful a lobby the NAR has become over the years and they will push to do anything that will keep Realtors in business and keep those agents paying exorbitant dues to the National Association of Realtors. It appears that as the NAR pushes for more short sales, politicians have felt the push as well during this election year.  In turn politicians have pushed the banks to be more open to short sales and loan modifications.  The combination of NAR pressure and political influence has made the short sale the solution of choice this election year. 

It may or may not prove to be the right thing. 

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Consider It Sold Las Vegas: Selling homes sooner rather than later in Las Vegas

 If you have waited for a few years to sell your home in Las Vegas now may be the time.  A short sale or a traditional equity sale can happen very quickly in today's market.  Although we haven't see a major jump in sale prices, we have seen some progress.  It is hard to imagine but there is a shortage of homes for sale in Las Vegas.  The prices are being pushed up since the demand is out pacing supply.  The issues has been so many people waiting for the housing market to recover.  This is not a recovery but it is a good sign for now but it may only be temporary.



Consider It Sold Las Vegas: Selling homes sooner rather than later in Las Vegas