The “Baby Boomers” are starting to retire and Las Vegas is one of their picks. Las Vegas also has the highest foreclosure rates in the nation and it’s a Buyer’s Market to say the least. If you are new to the area, you really need to do your homework. The Las Vegas Valley is very spread out and location is key. It can be close to a thirty mile drive from one end of the town to another. It can take you a good hour each way so choose wisely if you don’t like a long commute. Home prices are starting to rise here and have been for the last few months. This is a good sign for the market and we still have plenty of inventory. Your best bet is to find an experienced buyer’s agent that knows the town well and will look out for your best interests. Here is a list of things that should help you find that special home at a fantastic price.

• The first step is to get pre-approved with a local lender. Find the price range that you feel comfortable with and stick to it.
• Bank owned foreclosures are dominating the market. Take advantage of these once in a lifetime values.
• Interest rates are at the lowest levels in 50 years. If you don’t buy now, you probably never will.
• Air-conditioning is getting more and more expensive. Look for a home that has energy efficient building materials.
• Look for A/C units that are rated high in efficiency. The newer, the better.
• If the home has low E windows, it’s a big plus.
• The direction the home faces is important. Windows facing direct sunlight will increase the temperature dramatically.
• Many of the newer homes are on smaller lots. If you need RV parking, you may need to look in more established areas.
• Many of the bank owned foreclosures are in need of repair. If you are handy, your time has come.
• Do not ask the banks to make repairs. These homes are being sold “As is”.
• Remember, the goal is to make an offer that gets accepted. If the home has multiple offers, you may need to offer more than the asking price.

A Short Sale means that the home has not gone into foreclosure but the bank that holds the note on the property is willing to take less than what is owed. The owner of the property has a limited amount of time to sell the home or Short Sale it before the bank would actually foreclose and take the property back. The main advantage to the seller or owner is that a foreclosure would not be on their credit report. The seller is not allowed to make any money on the short sale transaction. In order to compete against the bank owned homes, short sales are selling for similar low prices and can be great bargains. Have your Realtor do a comparative market analyses to give you a good feel for what the property is worth. If the bank will agree to the short sale offer and your offer is below the comps, you just got a bargain. Short sales usually take much longer to get approved so if you need a home in the next 30 to 45 days, bank owned foreclosures may be your best bet. A bank owned foreclosure means that the home is now owned by a bank and you will be making your offer directly to them. The banks normally will respond to your offer in 3 to 5 days and of course, the best offer wins. My best advice to buyers is to not get greedy. Your offer needs to be appealing to the bank or they will reject it and wait for a better one. Here are some other tips that may help.

• Look at the total picture and not just the asking price. If the asking price seems very low, it may sell for more.
• Do not ask the banks to make any repairs. “As is” is the way they sell these.
• Use the banks title co. to do the transaction. Cooperation is key.
• If the bank is not willing to include a home warranty, buy one yourself.
• Do a home inspection to verify the condition of the property.
• Make sure you have a due- diligence period in the contract.
• Don’t fall in love with a property. Be prepared to walk away if the price is too high.
• You will not believe the bargains that are available in this market.
• You may need to make several offers to get one accepted. Be patient.
• Enjoy the experience. You are looking at the best deals in the last 50 years.