Real Estate for sale Archives | Jeff Howard's Las Vegas Area Real Estate blog

Selling Your House? 4 Factors Other Than Money to Consider

Redpoint and Redpoint Square– the last frontier?

Summerlin , located on the west side of the Las Vegas Valley is developing the last remaining land in the master-plan. The two villages are called Redpoint Village and the second is Redpoint Square.

The two villages offer an interesting and diverse mix of residential homes, townhomes, mixed-use office and retail developments and of course lots of parks, open space and trails – something Summerlin is known for. Did you know that Summerlin ranked number 3 as the top selling master-plan in the country?

Redpoint Village will be located along the northern border of Far Hills Drive, and is a key gateway into Summerlin West, with eight new single-family neighborhoods from top Summerlin homebuilders, including Woodside, Toll Brothers, Taylor Morrison (formerly William Lyons Homes), Lennar, Pardee and Pulte.

Travel a bit north of Redpoint is Redpoint Square, featuring a mixture of single family attached and detached homes from builders including Richmond American Homes, KB Homes, Toll Brothers, Taylor Morrison, Lennar and Woodside.

Redpoint Square, is beginning to take shape with its first neighborhood. now selling, Moro Rock by Richmond American Homes. There are two duet town home models priced from the high $200,000s. Redpoint Square will be suited for first-time buyers, millennials, families, executives, and retirees. Luxury home living opportunities will be available too.

According to Danielle Bisterfeldt, vice president of marketing for Summerlin, Summerlin West is the next chapter in the community’s 30-year history as one of the country’s premier and top-selling master plans.

Bisterfeldt stated “Situated on elevated topography overlooking the valley, the Summerlin West area boasts an elevation that is more than 4,550 feet above sea level at its highest point, creating an abundance of vantage points and vistas. Summerlin’s higher elevations, which deliver temperatures up to 5 degrees cooler than the Strip, support a greater variety of naturally occurring vegetation, a characteristic indicative of the community given its location along the valley’s elevated western rim.”

“Perhaps the greatest distinction of Summerlin West, with Redpoint and Redpoint Square, will be its greater diversity of home products that will make the area truly multigenerational,” she said. “Summerlin West will boast a greater volume of smaller and attached home products that encourage a more experiential lifestyle and are well-suited for first-time homebuyers, millennials and retirees who prefer smaller-footprint living. At the same time, Summerlin West will feature many single-family neighborhoods in a variety of sizes and price points, along with estates and luxury living opportunities. The goal is to create a truly diverse region of the community that will resonate with a wide variety of homebuyers seeking a 21st-century lifestyle.”

This year Summerlin is marking its 30^th anniversary and it offers so many amenities. They include more than 250 parks of all sizes; resident-exclusive community centers, pools and events; 150-plus miles of interconnected trails; 10 golf courses; 26 public, private and charter schools; a public library and performing arts center; Summerlin Hospital Medical Center; houses of worship representing a dozen different faiths; office parks; and neighborhood shopping centers. Downtown Summerlin offers fashion, dining, entertainment, Red Rock Resort, office towers and the City National Arena, which is the Vegas Golden Knights practice facility. The Las Vegas Ballpark is a world-class Triple-A baseball stadium and home of the Las Vegas Aviators.

If anything sounds interesting to you contact me – Jeff Howard -your realtor for life. Now is an excellent time to purchase a new home as mortgage rates are historically low. I can introduce you to a trusted lender too!

Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that, safely… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com

Choose to have an amazing day…. Jeff

Summerlin housing market is open for business

Well here we are at the unofficial start of summer – Memorial Day weekend just passed, and we are trying to get back to some kind of normalcy. Many families had barbecues which have always been a huge Memorial Day Tradition; however, this year they probably included less guests than in years past – probably just immediate family. I was fortunate enough to take my boat out this weekend – just with my family.

Another Memorial Day tradition is looking for new houses and one thing that is for sure the master-planned community of Summerlin is ready. Some of the nation’s top homebuilders have contributed to making Summerlin what it is today – The top selling master-planned community west of the Mississippi.

The homebuilders have all put in place social distancing guidelines and cleaning after each viewing. As a Realtor I do the same with the homes I show for sale. We at the Jeff Howard Group show by appointment only and follow social distancing protocols. Besides that, we all wear masks, gloves and booties inside the home being shown, and sanitize our hands regularly. If you would like a virtual tour prior to looking at a home in person, I will gladly go and film a virtual tour and concentrate on specific interests you might have. I go the extra mile for my clients, the home builders also have virtual tours you can look at.

When you decide on your forever home, I can set up virtual meetings with lenders, inspectors, escrow and anyone else we need to communicate with so you are not coming into personal contact with any more people than you want to. Meetings can be done via Zoom or another video platform, signing can be electronic. My point is, we can do everything in a way that makes you feel comfortable and safe. After all I want to be your Realtor for life… a long healthy life!

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

What Features Do Buyers Look For When Searching For a New Home?

As a Realtor I like to know what features buyers across a few generations list as being very important in their home search.

Among the top 10 were indoor/outdoor living, natural sunlight, renovated bedrooms and bathrooms, and energy-efficient features. Also high on the list were open floor plans, an area for a home office and hardwood floors or in the last few years the ceramic “wood” tile floors. Another feature that has become popular is an area for a home gym.

Demand for outdoor living space has been the most popular feature in the southwest and most homebuilders in recent years have constructed homes with an indoor/ outdoor feature. They have glass panels that stack to open up the home to the outside.

In keeping with the outdoors, many homebuyers want fire features such as a fire pit so they can enjoy the outdoors all year round.

I would love to hear from you and hear what are the top features you want in your next home?

When consulting with me on your home search, we will be sure to prioritize what is important to you. This process will help us find homes that meet your needs more quickly and get you into the home you will love.

Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

Summerlin Turns 30 This Year!

As a resident of Summerlin I cannot express how much my family and I enjoy living in this ever-evolving master-planned community.

Billionaire Howard Hughes purchased the original 25,000-acre mass of land in 1952 on the west side of the Las Vegas Valley that extended into Red Rock Canyon. The original name was Husite. When Hughes died in 1976, his heirs were left with the empty land but saw the potential for a master-planned community. The name was then changed from Husite to Summerlin after Hughes’ paternal grandmother, Jean Amelia Summerlin.

The Hughes Corp. felt it would be inappropriate to build within Red Rock Canyon, so the early planners of Summerlin traded the 5,000 acres adjacent to the Canyon for 3,000 acres south, which is now known as Summerlin South. The first development of Summerlin started in 1990 and the first family moved into a home in 1991.

Since then Summerlin blossomed into what you see today and there is more to come. Downtown Summerlin is a great success and there will be expansion in that area as this year progresses. A new village called Redpoint will break ground on the west side of the 215 Beltway and Far Hills Drive. There will be a mix of single-family detached homes, townhomes, condos, and attached duplexes that will be designed to work with it surrounding natural environment – like the other villages of Summerlin.

From the beginning, the master-plan of Summerlin has had strict design guidelines that homebuilder developers have to follow. I’m sure you have notices lots of open space in Summerlin where there are many parks both large and small with fields and courts for playing sports. Also, Summerlin has one of the best trail systems in the country (it has even won awards).

Within the next week or so Metro Police will have a substation in Summerlin – the first in the master-plan. The fire department is building another station starting in 2020.

I could keep going on about all the thought that the Hughes Corp. put into Summerlin that makes it the best master-planned community in Nevada (in 2019 it was the #3 best-selling master-planned community in the nation), but for now, I will “sign off”.

Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? Do you want 3 cash offers? We can help you with all of that… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

What type of Homes are Trending with Millennials?

Did you know that Millennials actually make up a considerable part of the economy? Their economic strength as a group seems to be growing every day. As of 2019, Millennials are making up approximately 37 percent of home buyers… even more than the Baby Boomers! So what exactly are these Millennials buying, and what trends are growing along with their increasing representation in the market? Let’s find out.

First-Time Buyers – About 52 percent of Millennials who are buying homes are first-time home buyers. This makes sense for younger Millennials, but even older Millennials who were born in the 80s are also first-time buyers. Before buying, a large number of these Millennials were renting homes. By buying homes, they can enjoy the benefits of ownership and build equity for similar amounts (or in some cases, less) than they were paying each month in rent previously.

Family Homes -The majority of home-buying Millennials are buying single-family homes. This is in part because over 50 percent of them are either married or in long-term relationships. This is interesting – in 2018 there were more married couples among home-buying Millennials than there were in any other generational group that was in the market for a house. A significant number of Millennials also have children under the age of 18 living at home, which increases the need for a family-friendly home.

Motivation to Buy – The majority of Millennials who have bought homes within the last year did so simply because they wanted to own a home of their own – and stop paying rent . Some wanted to own a larger home, be closer to friends and family or were moving due to job relocation, but the general desire to own a home was listed as a reason for buying. A lot of this came down to the opportunities that were presented; over 50 percent of Millennials report that it was “just the right time” to buy a home, while the second most common reason (that they didn’t have much choice and had to buy when they did) was only reported by around 10 to 15 percent of Millennials.

Back to the Suburbs – One big trend among Millennial home buyers is that they were buying homes in the suburbs. This wasn’t restricted only to Millennials; 51 percent of all homes purchased in 2018 were located in suburban areas or subdivisions. The Millennials fell pretty close to this statistic, with small towns being the second most common location. The majority of the homes Millennials purchased were previously owned. The Millennials as a group are not moving into newly built subdivisions.

Biggest Factors – There are a number of factors that affected the purchasing decisions of Millennials. The presence of public transit or proximity to work was one major factor, with many Millennials trying to minimize commuting costs. Heating and cooling efficiency also played an important role. In general, Millennials were more willing to compromise on price than on a home’s condition, but only around 20 percent were willing to compromise on the distance of their new home from work.

Home Shopping Trends – By far, the majority of Millennials started their home search by looking online to try and find properties for sale. Around 15 percent spent even more time online than that, starting their search by researching the ins and outs of the home buying process before even starting to look at properties. Beyond online sources, Millennials trusted real estate agents the most for information about homes for sale.

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

Buy a Brand New Home in Summerlin for Less than you Think…

Maybe it’s time to trade up. I just visited a KB Homes community being built in Summerlin and was shocked (in a good way) when I saw the prices. My Summerlin home was built by KB in 2001 and single story in my neighborhood averaged $205 per sq/ft for the past 6 months… their 1,858 sq ft model starts at $387,000 ($209 per sq/ft)! That’s crazy! And their base model includes a gourmet kitchen… some of the kitchens in my neighborhood that sold for $205 average had those white tile kitchen counters!

(play the video below by clicking on it)

And if you need to sell your home in order to buy a brand new home, that is also easier than you think… call me and we can chat about it.

Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail space? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? We can help you with that… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com

Choose to have an amazing day…..Jeff

Happy New Year – 2019 should see more growth from the housing market

Here we are in the first week of the year 2019 in the Las Vegas Valley and indications for the housing market look good for this year. Reports from Real Estate Analysis companies show that Las Vegas is still one of the strongest markets and will continue through the year.

People from all over the country are moving to Las Vegas for many different reasons – the Southern Nevada area is still very affordable so you can a bigger bang for your buck. Retirees like that as well as people that no longer can take the cold weather in many parts of the country.

With the Raiders moving here, many employees, not just the team, are moving here since their headquarters will be located in Henderson. Other companies like Google are bringing non-gaming businesses jobs to the Valley.

New home builders are still actively developing new neighborhoods in all areas of the valley with Summerlin offering not just single-family homes, now including new attached townhomes and condos in both low-rise and high rise buildings. In 2018 we saw Las Vegas have a 15 percent appreciation and it predicted that 2019 will be half at seven percent. The appreciation level continuing to rise, even at a slower pace, is a positive sign (the national average is three to four percent).

If you are thinking about buying an investment property, now is the time to act.

Are you ready to buy or sell a home? Do you have a need for commercial / industrial / retail space? We can help you with that… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

Home Appraisals are (usually) Necessary When Buying a Home

Whether you are buying or selling, if the buyer is not paying cash (and on occasion, even if they are) the home appraisal is a one of the most important steps in the process and could make or break a deal on either side. So what exactly is a home appraisal?

A home appraisal is an expert opinion of a home’s value and it assures the lender that their loan will be in line with the fair market value of the property. A home appraiser is a licensed professional who has completed the required training, apprenticeships, and exams to carefully and impartially provide opinions about the value of real property, according to the the world’s leading organization of professional real estate appraisers.

This means your appraiser is not going to give a low estimate because they didn’t like your furniture. But rather, according to the Appraisal Institute, appraisers put together a series of facts, statistics, and other information regarding specific properties – then analyze this data, and develop opinions of value. The appraisal report will include recent sales information for similar properties (comps), the current condition of the property, and the location of the property as to how the neighborhood impacts the property’s value.

In most cases the buyer will need to cover the cost of the appraisal. Both the buyer and the seller should meet with their agent and find out what comparable homes in the area have recently sold for, which will give clues as to how much the property will ultimately appraise for.

If an appraisal comes in lower than you feel it should, the seller’s agent can use his/her knowledge of the area to challenge the appraisal. Home prices in the Las Vegas valley have been increasing so quickly that the comps that sold six months ago don’t yet reflect this improvement. There may not be adequate comps in your area, so the appraiser might have referenced comps from a less desirable community.

You have the right to see a copy of the appraisal report. Look it over as carefully as you look over your credit card statement each month you might just find errors or omissions and if that is the case the appraisal can sometimes be corrected.

If the appraisal is not adjusted enough to get to the original contract price, and both parties still want the sale to go through, it could make sense to split the difference, with the seller dropping the price a bit and the buyer adding cash to the down payment. For example, if the difference between the sales price and the appraised value is $10,000, the seller could lower the price by $5,000 and get the buyer to bring another $5,000 to closing. This solution depends entirely on the relative willingness and financial positions

of the two parties. Of course, neither party is obligated to compromise and if a new agreement is not reached, the buyer and seller can part ways and (most real estate contracts contain a provision that states) the buyer will have their earnest money returned to them.

When an appraisal comes in low, don’t panic. Remember to stay calm, assess the situation, and let your agent walk you through the process. Often, there is a fair and equitable resolution for all. It just may take some extra time.

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

Selling Real Estate Without an Agent Will Likely Cost You Money

First, I realize this article may seem self-serving – after all, I earn a living helping people sell real estate, but I truly hate to see people lose tens of thousands of dollars, and statistics show that is what usually happens to FSBO’s. What does FSBO mean? For Sale By Owner — it’s the process of selling real estate without the representation of a real estate broker or agent.

This way of selling your property is not the greatest idea in most cases (trust me – I was that guy many years before I got my real estate license). That is why you hire a real estate professional – their job is to know the local real estate market and put the most money in your pocket. Let’s face it, people pay more when a salesperson is involved. Think about it; when you have a garage sale, even if you are selling quality items, the buyers always expect a discount. And if the discount on the property you are selling turns out to be as much (or more) than the commission you would have paid, then you did all the work and still did not make more money. I don’t know about you, but I really don’t like doing more and getting less.

Sellers who choose to sell their home on their own just may experience “seller’s regret” when they see how much less they get for their properties (or worse, not even realize how much they lost). FSBOs sell for an average of $60,000 to $90,000 less on the sale of their home than sellers who work with a real estate agent, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Here’s the breakdown:

* All agent-assisted homes: $250,000 (median selling price)

* All FSBO homes: $190,000

* FSBO homes when buyer knew seller: $160,300

With the knowledge of the numbers shown above – why would anyone want to sell their home on their own? Some sellers want to avoid paying a commission to an agent — but even factoring in a commission; researchers from the NAR researchers have stated “The closing price for the agent-assisted seller is likely going to be way above a FSBO. [And] in reality, homes sold by the owner make less money overall.”

Sorry (not sorry) for the Las Vegas based pun… but don’t gamble when selling your house; hire a professional.

This message is getting through to homeowners: Only 8 percent of home sellers in 2017—an all-time low—chose to sell their home themselves, according to NAR’s 2017 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. This figure has been falling since 2004, when 14 percent of homeowners sold their own homes.

Choose to have an amazing day…..Jeff