Las Vegas Real Estate Podcast with John Stevenson

What Buyers Look for in the Carson Valley

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Fri, 7 Apr 2017 09:07:00 -0700

What should buyers look for in a home? Besides the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, there are some unique factors Carson Valley buyers need to pay attention to.

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Many people don’t think about the exit plan when they buy a house. However, if you plan on selling your home in five to 10 years, then there are a few important things you should consider as a buyer.

First of all, you really need to pay attention to location, especially when it comes to flooding and landslide concerns. We’ve had a lot of rain, a lot of snow, and a lot of flooding this season. There are homes in the flood zone that have been just fine, but they were built a certain way. The owners had brought in a bunch of dirt before they built those homes so they could get an elevation certificate.

Pay attention to things like flooding, mudslides, and elevation.

As a homeowner, it may be beneficial to have that certificate even though your home has not been affected by flooding, as the certificate will ease a buyer’s mind. You should also consider the higher cost of insurance premiums you will have to pay, especially for flood zone insurance.

For example, near Kingsbury, there are many beautiful homes in the foothills. Remember that when you have a lot of precipitation coming off of those mountains, you will have areas that are prone to mudslides. That is important for both buyers and sellers to consider. As a seller, you need to remedy those problems so that a buyer won’t be able to make you reduce your price.

You should also pay attention to crawlspaces. When the storms come in, water will pool underneath those crawlspaces if the elevation around the house is not sloped properly. Again, sellers should address that in order to get top dollar.

Upgrades are great and pricing your home correctly is important, but it’s also important to look at any land and obstruction issues that you might be faced with when you plan on selling your home, whether you are selling now or will be in the future.

If you have any other questions about what to look at as a buyer or how to prepare your home for resale, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

How to Raise the Value of Your Home This Spring

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 13:13:00 -0700

If you want to raise your home’s value before listing it this spring, here are a few tips for you.

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If you want to raise the value of your home this spring and sell it for top dollar in our market, here are a few tips you can use.

The first thing you can work on is curb appeal. When people drive up to your home, if the aesthetics of the lawn, trees, and the rest of the landscaping look great, they’ll want to walk into the home. Some people also love seeing an upgraded front door or garage door. Not only do these touchups sell the house, but they’re also inexpensive to do.

Inside the home, one of the things you should consider installing is hardwood floors. This is a very popular feature right now, and it’s not as expensive as you might think to add. You can get some great deals for real hardwood or even find some high-quality laminate—it’s difficult to tell the difference between the two. Laminate is less expensive, but putting real hardwood floors down will net you another $10,000 to $15,000 in your home sale.

Another thing to consider is painting your house. Whether it’s the interior or the exterior, it only costs a few thousand dollars and it makes a big difference in terms of your bottom line.

A lot of properties around Carson Valley have old roofing, and if your home does too, you should think about upgrading. What I mean by old roofing is wood shingling that’s been sitting there for 30 years. Old roofing is a concern for buyers because they don’t want to have to spend $10,000 to $20,000 replacing it after they buy their new home. There are inexpensive ways to remedy this problem, and it’s certainly better to do so before listing your home rather than negotiating over it later on in the process.

Order a home inspection before you list so you can negate any buyer leverage.

On a related note, I recommend ordering a home inspection before listing. This allows you to discover and fix anything that shows up on the report. That way, when a buyer makes you an offer and orders their own inspection, you’ve taken everything off the negotiating table for them to bring your price down further.

If you have any questions about this topic or are looking to buy or sell a home, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help!

Some Easy Credit Tips to Remember

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Tue, 7 Mar 2017 11:13:00 -0800

Your credit score is a delicate thing when it comes to qualifying for a home purchase. Any extra debt could negatively affect your ability to buy.

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Today we’re talking about credit. If you plan on buying a home in the near future, you want to keep these tips in mind.

When you're getting a loan to buy a home, don’t mess with your credit in any way. If you have cards you want to close, don’t touch them if you’ve been approved for a mortgage already. You may be hankering to buy a new couch for your new place or a new car, but you’ve got to wait.

Wait until after your transaction closes to buy these things.

If you make any big or unusual purchases with credit, it could affect your score, your interest rate, and more. If a lender has to revisit your rate because of a large credit purchase, you might not qualify for the same home anymore.

To raise your score before you go into a lender, you should have a good debt-to-income ratio. Just by doing that, I raised my score by 50 points on my own. My advice is to save any credit purchases until after closing. If you do that, you'll be fine and you’ll still be able to get new furniture or appliances.

If you have any questions for me or would like some more tips on getting ready to buy, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Why Should You Order a Pre-Inspection on Your Home?

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 07:42:00 -0800

The spring selling season is just around the corner. One of the best things you can do as a seller is order a pre-inspection before your home hits the market.

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As the spring selling season approaches, it’s time to prepare your home for the market. I recommend that you order a home inspection before you list your home.

If you're selling, you want to get the highest price possible for your home. To do that, you need to put your home on the market and show it in its best light. Pre-inspections will help you improve your home’s value.

By ordering a pre-inspection, you will know about all of the problems in your home before the buyers do. When buyers bring an inspector into the home, they use that as a negotiating tool. As the seller, you’re taking all of the negotiations off of the buyer’s side of the table.

It will be less expensive for you to handle repairs than for the buyer to negotiate them.

Get the inspection done and then have a handyman come in so they can fix everything. It will be a lot cheaper than you think, and hiring your own handyman will be a lot cheaper than what the buyer will try to negotiate for.

It is better for you to have full control over how much it costs for you to fix your home rather than the buyer.

Not only that, but buyers love to see that a pre-inspection was done and that repairs were addressed. If they look at three other homes without pre-inspections, they will be more inclined to look at yours and make an offer. Pre-inspections keep your house top of mind for buyers.

If you have any other questions about pre-inspections or about the spring selling season, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Tips for Getting Top Dollar for Your Home

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 11:30:00 -0800

Want to get top dollar when selling your home? Use these tips.

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search

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If you’re a seller, I want to go over a few ways to ensure you get top dollar for your home.

Don’t underestimate the importance of curb appeal. You want your curb appeal to be flawless so the photos online of your exterior create a great first impression on a buyer. So, if you’ve got trees, make sure you have them trimmed and looking healthy. Additionally, if you have anything laying around your home that remotely resembles clutter, like a hose or garden gnomes, find a temporary spot for them so your exterior has a clean look.

You also might want to consider waiting until the spring when things are in bloom to sell your home. There are more buyers out during the spring, and green grass and trees will do wonders for your curb appeal.

Pay attention to your exterior lighting. If you have poor lighting, it could make your home look very drabby. If you invest in upgrading your lighting, it will pay off in the end.

Another thing to think about is the front door. Investing in a new front door will go a long way in getting you the best possible price for your home. It might be one of your pricier upgrades, but buyers absolutely love it.

If you have any sort of bug or rodent problem, make sure you have a great pest control company on speed dial. You’ll want to make sure that is taken care of before any showings.

Turn on all your lights and open your windows to create the feel of bright, open spaces.

Bright, open spaces are a must for buyers, so make sure you turn on all your lights and open your windows. This will make your home feel more comfortable and allow the buyer to really see themselves living there.

One of the most important things to consider having done is professional staging. Once you’ve got your exterior looking fantastic, you don’t want the interior to seem like a let down. Professional staging, almost more than anything else, will help you get the absolute most money for your home.

If you have any other questions please give me a call or send me an email. I’m here to help!

Why Home Warranties Matter

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 10:32:00 -0800

Why are home warranties so important? It's more than the protection they offer from major costs your home could incur in the future.

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Home warranties are a very important part of almost any real estate transaction.

The importance of a home warranty depends on the age of your home. It can cost $300 to $800, and if you're buying a brand-new home, the builder will cover the first year. Sometimes they'll cover up to 10 years.

When you look at resale homes in the Carson Valley area, it's important to look into home warranties as a means of protecting your investment. You don't want something to turn into a $10,000 or $20,000 bill because something like an A/C unit or furnace that didn't come up in the home inspection report now needs replacing. Sometimes, things just go wrong. That's why you want something in place that can protect you for pennies on the dollar.

Warranty companies already have a good relationship in place with contractors.

Another good thing about home warranties is that the warranty companies already have a good relationship in place with contractors who will work on something when it breaks down. You won't have to go out searching for a reputable contractor when something breaks.

If you're an investor, when you're looking for a property, you really want to find a home warranty company that has these good relationships in place so they can take care of issues on the spot—you'll never have to worry about it.

I hope this has been helpful information for you. If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I'm here to help.

3 More Real Estate Myths You Shouldn’t Believe

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 12:44:00 -0800

There are three more real estate myths I’d like to debunk for you today so you don’t cheat yourself the next time you buy or sell a home.

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Today, I’m back to debunk three more myths buyers and sellers mistakenly believe when it comes to real estate transactions.

1. Listing your home for a lower commission will net you a higher profit. When hiring a real estate agent or broker to sell your home, you get what you pay for. Hiring one who is willing to work for a lower commission often means you’re sacrificing expertise, experience, and negotiating power. Your house won’t get the amount of exposure with someone who works for a lower rate as it would with someone who is actually getting paid enough to advertise your property the way it needs to be. In reality, then, you end up losing money on the final sales price by listing your home for a lower commission.

“

In real estate, you get what you pay for.

the least amount of commission.

”

2. Spring is the best time to sell. While it’s true that spring is a great time to sell, there are buyers out there at all times of the year. January, for instance, actually sees an uptick in sales immediately after the holidays. If you wait for spring to sell, there will be more buyers available, but you’ll also face more competition from other sellers.

3. A cash offer is always best. Cash offers are great, but they’re not always the best offer you can bring to the table. Many times, cash offers are a lot lower than what you would get from a typical financed buyer. When dealing with cash buyers, you also usually have to deal with a lot of other contingencies you wouldn’t have to deal with when working with a financed buyer. As always, it really depends on the situation.

Once again, don’t fall for these real estate myths when you decide to buy or sell a home. If you have any questions about this topic or want to buy or sell a home, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help!

Debunking 4 Common Real Estate Myths

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 12:46:00 -0800

There are four common myths about real estate agents and brokers that I would like to debunk today.

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Today, I’m going to debunk four common real estate myths about real estate agents and brokers.

1. Agents want you to pay a higher price so they get a higher commission. This myth applies specifically to buyer’s agents. However, buyer’s agents are there to negotiate for your best interests. Their reputation is on the line. We want our customers to have a great experience. We want you to be raving fans so that when your friends want to buy a home, you’ll know who to send them to.

2. Realtors and brokers get kickbacks. That’s simply not true, and it’s unethical. We could lose our license and damage our reputation by accepting kickbacks. That is not something anyone wants to do.

3. You should choose the real estate agent who will list your home for the highest price possible. When you work with an agent who says, “I’m going to list your house for $50,000 or $100,000 more than what the market could give you,” they are just giving you fluff so they can get your listing. When you price a home too high, you will scare people away and your home will go stale on the market.

Once that happens, buyers will come in and start lowballing you. You will actually lose money due to price reductions, paying for maintenance while your home sits on the market, and paying your mortgage longer than you should have to. All of these time-wasting activities and costs could have been avoided if your home had been priced appropriately. By listing at market value, you are more likely to get multiple offers and sell for a higher price.

“

You will do yourself a disservice by not hiring a real estate agent.

”

4. I don’t need a real estate agent; I can do it myself! Of course you can, but the problem is you’ve got to deal with contracts and several forms. In Nevada, you need to fill out a seller’s disclosure, and it’s very important that you fill that out correctly. You may need to deal with the Homeowners Association. Not only that, you also have to market your home. You may be able to post your home on Zillow, but you’re doing yourself a disservice by not hiring a Realtor or broker.

Why? Realtors and brokers have access to a higher number of buyers. They network locally and nationally. There are many things that we do to bring buyers to your doorstep that you cannot do alone.

So, don’t fall for these real estate myths when you decide to buy or sell a home. If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

How John Stevenson Helped Alyson by Being Attentive to His Client’s Needs

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Fri, 2 Dec 2016 14:33:00 -0800

"We sold the house. He is a personal friend of my parents and he kept in contact with them. He followed through on everything and did everything he was asked to do. He did a good job!"

How John Stevenson Helped Thomas by Meeting His Standards

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Fri, 2 Dec 2016 14:30:00 -0800

"We sold our house and sold it quick! He did everything that he was asked to do and I’ve gone through that process a few times. He definitely met the standards that we were looking for."

4 Big Drawbacks of Overpricing Your Home

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 13:59:00 -0800

As you can see, overpricing your home can have several drawbacks, such as scaring buyers away and netting you less money.

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search

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When trying to sell your home, it’s easy to get a little emotional and want to get as much money for it as we can. This, unfortunately, is how overpricing happens. There are four big drawbacks to overpricing your home:

It can scare potential buyers away. Those buyers will look at the price, get nervous, and perhaps think that you are not willing to come down to a more reasonable price level.
It can create buyer’s remorse after purchasing. Perhaps within the 10-day due diligence period, they may find things wrong in the inspection reports. When they do that, they could have a little remorse in feeling that they’re not getting as much value for what they’re paying for.
It can net you less money. Any listing can get stale after two to four weeks. If you overprice your home, it’s going to sit on the market for quite a few months. During that time, you’re going to pay for things like upkeep, mortgage payments, taxes, and a myriad of other ongoing expenses.
It can cause appraisal issues. If your home is overpriced and the appraisal comes in at a lower price, that’s going to cause problems such as price reductions and protracted negotiations.

If you have any further questions about overpricing or need an expert valuation done on your home, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to helping you in any way I can.

Introducing Our New Brokerage Location

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 11:45:00 -0800

We are planning on opening a brand-new brokerage in the Carson Valley. We want to tell you all about it.

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We wanted to reach out to you all today to give you some exciting news. We are opening a new brokerage in a new location in Carson Valley, Nevada.

Recently, we made the switch to operate our brokerage independently here in Carson Valley. My wife and I drove through this area a few years ago and thought it looked gorgeous. We never imagined we would live here.

“

We think this is the perfect place
to open our brokerage.

”

We think this is the perfect place to open our brokerage to serve the wonderful people who live here and are looking to invest in this area. There are a ton of great areas near here that we are excited to service, including Lake Tahoe and Reno.

A lot of investors like to buy in this area due to the climate, the lakes, the mountains, and all the natural beauty and space around here. We felt we would be able to bring a new level of service to the industry in this small community, and we look forward to doing just that. We want to work for the great people that call this place home and choose to spend their time here.

If you have any questions for us about real estate in this market or if you’re thinking about buying or selling, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

Finding the Best of Many Mortgage Options

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 11:25:00 -0700

I wanted to take a minute to talk about mortgages, and what they mean to you in the Carson Valley marketplace.

Firstly, I’m often asked if you need a 20% down payment to buy a house. Well, that’s one of the many options you have. The 20% down payment is a way to keep your mortgage payments down, and get rid of mortgage insurance in a conventional loan. Conventional loans also allow you to put 5% or 10% down.

“

The old standard of 20% down isn’t
the only option anymore.

”

Other options like FHA loans allow 3.5% down, and VA loans allow for 0% down. It’s important to know the options for loans because you’ll also need about 3.5% of the purchase price to cover all the closing costs.

Another question I get is why mortgage interest rates get quoted higher than the advertised rate. Well, the advertised rate is the best possible option. If you have a credit score better than 750 and you’re willing to pay points for a better rate, then those rates may apply. Unfortunately, most people take the advertisement at face value and think that’s the interest rate they’ll get.

Another common questions is about 30-year loans and if they are the best option. It really depends on each individual situation. Some financial situations only allow you to get a 30-year loan. If you do a 15-year loan, the benefit is that you pay less than half of the total interest that you would with a 30-year loan. The downside is a much higher monthly mortgage payment.

There are so many options for loans and how long it will take the pay them off, so it’s really good to have your lender sit down with you and go over all the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

If you have questions or you’d like a referral for a great lender to speak with, I’d be happy to provide you one. If you have any other questions for me about buying or selling a home, give me a ring soon!

5 Ways to Avoid Grief After Buying in Henderson

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 11:44:00 -0700

There are certain details that are important to pay attention to when buying a home in Las Vegas or Henderson.

Sometimes buyers walk through a home, get emotionally attached, and miss the problems. There are a few steps you can take to avoid the grief down the road.

“

Sometimes buyers walk through a home,
get emotionally attached, and miss
the problems.

”

Put marbles on the floor. Yes, really! Put them on the floor and see if they roll anywhere; that could mean foundation issues.
Look at the ceilings. You might not ordinarily do this, but if you do, you might spot cracks from settling, leaks, or other major issues.
Look for dirt on the outside by the foundation. If dirt is climbing up the wall to where the wall meets the concrete, there might be a termite problem.
Look under the sinks. When you turn on the faucets, don't forget to open the cupboard doors to see if there are problems with the sink or damage to the wood.
Apps. The handyman app can help you determine costs of repairs, and a sunseeker app can look at your home and figure out which rooms the sun will shine into and at what times of the day. This is especially true here in Las Vegas or Henderson where it gets very hot.

The main thing to remember is that when you find a house you love, don't overlook potential problem areas that could cause you grief down the road. If you have any questions or need any real estate help, don't hesitate to call or email me!

What Is the Due Diligence Period?

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 11:23:00 -0700

You have probably heard of the due diligence period in a real estate transaction, but you may be scratching your head as to what that is. So, when you find a home you want to buy and you’ve looked at it and made an offer, the due diligence period is the point in time where you professionally and fully inspect the property.

Things you might look for are leaks, appliances breaking, or any other major mechanical issues like a broken roof. Another thing that you’ll receive is a Title Report, and this basically gives you an accurate answer as to who owns the property. This is important because you need to purchase the property from the rightful owner, otherwise you could have someone claim ownership of your home years down the road.

You’ll also have to view the Homeowners Association rules and regulations. I have a lot of investors coming to Las Vegas and they want to purchase a home, but many HOA’s here do not allow that. It’s important to read HOA rules carefully, because once you sign, it’s difficult to get out, and every neighborhood has different rules.

“

This is essentially your safety valve
and way out of a bad transaction.

”

It’s really important to kick the tires during the due diligence period because it’s your chance to make sure that you’re buying a quality property. This is essentially your safety valve and way out of a bad transaction.

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Contingencies in Real Estate Contracts

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Tue, 2 Aug 2016 13:25:00 -0700

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When you get into contract to buy a home, there are some important contingencies to think about.

One is the inspection contingency. Most contracts have a 10-day due diligence period in Henderson, in which you do your inspections, you can do your preliminary title reports, and the seller sends over a form with any known defects on the property. This is basically your “get out of jail free card" where you can get out of the contract without penalty and get all your money back out of escrow, basically with no questions asked.

“

Inspection contingencies allow you
to exit a home contract penalty-free

”

Another one we have here in Nevada is the five-day free look period for HOA packets that buyers receive from the sellers. The HOA tied to the home sends a packet of rules and regulations and alerts you to anything you wish you would’ve known before making the offer. A lot of people looking to invest in homes and rent them out are interested in these because some communities do not allow renters.

Another contingency is for home appraisal and loan approval. Every offer we put in is contingent upon whether or not the home appraises for the offered value. Sometimes we put in an offer and we’ll negotiate that the buyer will pay above appraisal because we’re in a competitive, multiple offer environment, but most of the time, the offer is contingent upon appraisal. The lender usually takes 30 to 45 days to get the full loan approval. Once that happens, then the lender is able to fund the loan, and the deal closes.

Another thing to think about with contingencies are the regular disclosures, like the seller’s real property disclosure form (SRPD). That’s a form you get during the 10-day due diligence period, in which the seller has to disclose any defects like a roof leak, whether or not the home belongs to an HOA, or anything nearby that affects that home’s value.

There are so many things to consider here, which is why it’s crucial to have an agent on your side who understands all the contingencies and the laws that govern them. If you have questions about this topic or anything related to real estate in our area, give me a call. I’d be happy to continue this conversation with you.

How to Attract More Buyers in Henderson

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 11:42:00 -0700

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You’re looking to sell your home in the surrounding Henderson area. You want a smooth closing. You want to earn top dollar in the shortest amount of time possible. What can you do reach your expectations?

Get a pre-inspection. I can’t recommend this enough! Address and fix repairs before listing your home. I have this conversation a lot with clients. Many will list their home and hope buyers just don't ask to fix repairs. That’s not a good mindset. Unfortunately, it’s likely buyers will ask for this.

“

Address and fix repairs before
listing your home.

”

If done beforehand, repairs are cheaper. You won’t have a deadline and will have flexibility hiring affordable contractors. Additionally, if you fix repairs ahead of time, you’ll have a smooth escrow process. It will be significantly less stressful for everyone involved. You’ll also have less to negotiate in the contract, and you won’t risk losing the deal entirely. Likewise, this can net you a higher sales price and even attract more offers.

Take my advice. Before listing in our area, pursue a pre-inspection. Fix repairs and make upgrades as needed. Take full advantage of what the market offers to eager buyers. You won’t regret it!

If you’re considering buying or selling a Henderson home, reach out to me today! I’m available by phone or email. As always, I’m happy to answer any real estate questions you might have.

Hidden Costs to Look Out for When Selling Your Home

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Tue, 5 Jul 2016 10:43:00 -0700

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When you sell your home, there are some hidden costs you should be aware of that will affect the amount of money that you net on your home sale.

The first hidden cost most sellers don’t think about is repairs. Before you put your home on the market, get a home inspection. That way, you can see if there are any problems before the buyer does their inspection. Some sellers don’t want to incur the cost of an inspection, but you will actually save money. The costs of making repairs that you find before you list the home will be far less than the costs the buyer will ask for.

Another initial cost sellers should know about are professional photographs. I pay for professional photographs on all of my listings, so this is not a cost incurred by my sellers. I’ve seen million dollar listings without professional photos, and it just does not look good. When you have thousands of buyers looking at your house online, you want to have the best pictures possible.

Landscaping and curb appeal are also incredibly important. Invest a little in cleaning up the outside of your home. Remember, if your home doesn’t look nice and inviting on the outside, it doesn’t matter how beautiful the interior is - buyers will keep on driving.

Staging your property is crucial. Think of it this way - there are probably three different shoe stores in the mall, and each one is staged differently to draw people into that particular store. Your home is competing against similar properties in the area, and if those properties aren’t staged, your staged home will look more appealing. Not only that, but staged homes sell for more money than unstaged homes.

When you sell your home, hopefully, you are making some huge capital gains. The downside is you may have to pay a capital gains tax if the gains are too big. Married couples can get $500,000 in capital gains without being taxed, and single owners can get $250,000 in capital gains without being taxed.

Finally, there are closing costs. Typically in Nevada, you can expect to pay 1.5% in closing costs. That covers things like the transfer tax, title fees, and your agent’s commission.

“

Investing in staging and professional
photography will get you more
money on your home sale.

”

When you are preparing to sell your home, have your agent run a full market analysis so you know how much money you’re going to net on your home sale. Investing in staging and professional photography can increase that amount. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Important Steps for Las Vegas Buyers to Take

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 12:52:00 -0700

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If you’re a buyer looking for your dream home in Las Vegas, there are a few important things to keep in mind.

Consider how you will pay for this major purchase. Are you a cash buyer? If you are, this could potentially increase your likelihood of an accepted offer. Will you need to pursue a loan? If so, approach an offer with a pre-approval letter. Because loans require approval, this shows the seller you’re proactive and ready for the down payment.

When we work with buyers, we ask for some information about your criteria, such as preferred neighborhoods or price ranges. This helps us better understand your needs. We then create a customized search for you based on these preferences. This program will show you similar properties and keep you updated on their activity.

Once you’ve hand-picked some properties, it’s time to schedule viewings. This requires hours and days of visiting homes. However, we’ll work with you through every single one until you find the perfect home.

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We negotiate to get you the best price
and terms in the time frame you prefer.

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Hopefully, we will then go under contract and submit an aggressive offer on your behalf. Our job then is to use our negotiation skills to get you the best price and terms in the time frame you prefer.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling in the surrounding area, I’d love to hear from you. Give me a call or send me an email today. Let’s talk soon!

How John Stevenson Helped John by Being Supportive

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 12:25:00 -0700

"It was a great experience! We are so happy with everything he did. He supported us and did everything we asked him to do. We are just very happy!"

How John Stevenson Helped Steven by Being Down to Earth and Informative

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 12:24:00 -0700

"I had great results. He is a great person to work with. He will help you find what you need and answer all of your questions. I was just very comfortable with him and he’s more down to Earth. He really helped me try to find a home for me."

How John Stevenson Helped Joe by Going Above and Beyond What's Expected

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 12:23:00 -0700

"My experience was excellent! He’s the best! I’ve never, ever had a realtor go out of their way and do as much as he’s done. I’ve sent him a few letters and he’s followed up with me. I’ve referred a few people to him and if I ever went anywhere I would definitely call him up. I’m just amazed at how good he is. I give him ten stars!"

How John Stevenson Helped Doug by Being Organized and Quick

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 12:21:00 -0700

"John is very attentive and personable individual. He’s very sharp at what he’s doing. He was very organized and took care of us very well. He was also very quick at getting things done. He got a crew in immediately and got the house cleaned up, organized an open house, and sold the house very quickly!"

Two Types of Rental Properties in Henderson

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Thu, 2 Jun 2016 11:48:00 -0700

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search

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If you want to invest in real estate to generate some passive income, know that there are two types of passive income opportunities: long-term rentals and vacation rentals.

Long-term rentals run anywhere from six months to a few years. On the bright side, you are guaranteed passive income every month from a long-term rental. On the other hand, your income, or ROI, gets lower over time. You are also bound to the renter by a contract for a certain amount of time. If you have any issues with that person, you’re stuck with them anyway.

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Vacation rentals can get you more income.

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Vacation rentals, however, can get you more income. In fact, you can get $3,000 to $10,000 per month in income. Your income is dramatically increased, and, because Las Vegas gets 50 million visitors annually, demand for vacation rentals is sky-high. However, you don’t know when the next renter is coming in. The number of renters you get also will depend on the season and the location of the rental property.

If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

How John Stevenson Helped Jerry by Being Quick and Thorough

John@Johnstevensonrealestate.com (John Stevenson) — Wed, 1 Jun 2016 08:20:00 -0700

"The results were very good. I listed a home on Saturday, he did a video of the house on Thursday, and had an open house the next Saturday. After that we had three offers! He’s very conscientious of his work, and he did a really good job!"