I have a buying opportunity I want to present to you. We currently have two condo pocket listings that are not yet listed on the MLS and are not available to the general public at this time. Details for the properties are as follows:

Property 1:
$35,000 list price
over 1,000 sq. ft.
2 bedrooms
1 and a half bathrooms
1 car garage
located on the east side
community features clubhouse, playground, pool

Property 2
$56,000 list price
just under 1,000 sq. ft.
2 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
located on the north side
community features pool and spa

If you are interested in having us represent you as the buyer in the purchase of either of these properties please call or email us at your convenience.

Has anyone ran into this where Fannie is countering the buyer's offers on short sales waaay above what they will actually appraise at? Slightly above the appraisal value I can under stand due to the low inventory and high demand right now. But the price they want is unrealistic.

We have one right now and we are trying to get them to come down on the purchase price because what they are asking is ridiculously too high.

From what I have experienced and what I have been reading they would rather stick to the high price and foreclose on the property. The relisted it as a homepath (with Fannie financing) and NOT require an appraisal.

This is a very brief summary of what they are doing. (you can read the long versions in the links below)

-Fannie Mae approves short payoffs at ridiulously high prices like the example I gave below.

-No one buys them.

-Fannie Mae forecloses or gets the property back in deed in lieu

-FANNIE MAE GETS PAID FROM THE MORTGAGE INSURANCE AS THE FANNIE MAE GOVERNMENT
LOANS ARE INSURED.

-Fannie Mae relists the property as a Homepath REO

-Fannie Mae then offers financing on these overpriced properties

-Fannie Mae then funds the new loan on their over priced property and DOES NOT REQUIRE an appraisal.

-Now the new owner has a new Fannie Mae loan on an over priced home that they are already upside down in.

Found this article: http://activerain.com/blogsview/3589527/government-controlled-nationwide-real-estate-price-fixing-is-here

If you want to sign the petition to get the government to examine this and change it then sign the petition here: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/force-fannie-mae-behave-responsibly-or-shut-them-down/vtY71bhk?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl

For more information on all of this visit our forum: http://lvrealestatehelp.weebly.com/#/20130130/fannie-bpos-coming-in-way-high-anyone-else-ex-2346239/

If you are running into these same problems here are some links that can help you resolve the issue:

http://www.fanniemaessad.com/

http://www.homepathforshortsales.com/#agents

I hope this is helpful to all!

Struggling homeowners who are considering a short sale or modification will be eligible for tax relief in 2013.

The “fiscal cliff bill” passed by Congress on January 1 included a provision to exclude borrowers from paying taxes on debt forgiven  through a short sale, foreclosure, or loan modification.

Known as the Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007, the act was scheduled to expire December 31, 2012, but received an extension for another  year. 

Industry experts and political leaders from all sides expressed support for the act’s extension. In November, 41 state attorneys general wrote a letter urging U.S.  House and Senate leaders to extend the act, arguing the act’s expiration would take away from the effectiveness of the national mortgage servicing settlement.

Through the settlement, state and federal officials reached an  agreement with five of the largest servicers over “foreclosure abuses.” The settlement requires the servicers to provide $20 billion in consumer relief to struggling homeowners.

As of September 30, a report from settlement monitor Joseph Smith  found servicers provided 21,833 borrowers with $2.55 billion in relief  through first lien principal reduction modifications, which averages to  about $116,929 in debt forgiveness for each borrower.

If the act did not receive an extension, borrowers who received  relief in the form of forgiven debt would be liable to pay taxes on the  debt.

The Center for Responsible Lending and the Financial Services Roundtable also wrote letters asking Congress to extend the act.

SEE THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: http://www.dsnews.com/articles/mortgage-debt-relief-act-to-see-another-year-2013-01-02

Most of us know a friend or neighbor, family member or co-worker who has felt the impact of the slow housing market in the state, but according to experts, the state’s housing market is looking up.

Nevada was hit hard by the recession that started in 2007. Job growth slowed, housing sales dried up and property values decreased, often creating “underwater mortgages” where the home owner owes more than the home is worth.

This led to high foreclosure rates in Nevada, and while the foreclosure rate has dipped, VegasInc.com reports, 1“[Nevada is] in the top 10 of America’s worst-hit states. Nevada had the fifth-highest foreclosure rate in the country as recently as last September, with 1 in 496 Nevada homes in foreclosure…”

Nevada Was a Growth Leader…Until the Crash

Dr. Stephen P. A. Brown, PhD, is a professor of economics, and the Director of the Center of Business and Economic Research at the Lee School of Business at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

In a recent report, Brown wrote, “Being among the laggards is an unfamiliar position for the Nevada economy. Long-term trends have favored the Nevada economy since World War II. As part of the West, Nevada saw the strongest population growth of any state from 1950 to 2007.  Its employment saw the highest growth rate in the expansion prior to the most recent recession.”

When financial markets started to tumble in 2007, Nevada was hit hard. However, according to Brown, things may be looking up for the state’s economy, with housing starts a leading indicator of an improving economy.

During a recent interview, Brown pointed out that “Housing permits in 2012 increased 45% to 7,400 in Clark County, and 40% statewide, for a total of around 8,500 housing permits.” To put these numbers in perspective, Brown continued, “Clark County, from 2004 to 2007, issued 3,200 housing permits per month”.

Seeing an increase of 40% in building across the state is an indicator that: (1) the state’s housing market is on the rebound; and (2) the state’s general economy is improving based on the number of new homes permitted last year.

For 2013, Brown predicts an increase of 22.5% for Clark County in new housing permits (to around 9,065) and a 20.5% increase for Nevada overall in new housing permits (to around 10,243).

Has the Nevada Housing Market Hit Bottom?

Other experts indicate steady growth in the housing arena, suggesting that Nevada’s residential homes market has finally bottomed out.

Brian Bonnenfant is the Project Manager at the Center for Regional Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.  His organization recently reported that, “New single family permits last year in the Reno MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) were between 500 and 600. They will likely increase this year to between 600 and 700 new single family permits.”

Bonnenfant also points out the possibility of a housing shortage in Nevada. “There is a potential housing crisis this year in Nevada. If California Baby Boomers move to Nevada because of lower taxes, there could be a housing shortage.”

The vacancy rate for apartments is less than 5%, according to Bonnenfant, and the rental market is seeing sustained, high levels of activity.

In 2013, experts expect to see steady growth in new housing starts, and more out-of-state retirees moving to Nevada, a low-tax state. Some of these new residents will buy a home; others will rent, but in either case, with an improving economy, the housing market in Nevada seems to have turned around in 2012, with experts agreeing that steady growth is ahead for 2013.

SEE THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://blog.nsbank.com/steady-growth-for-nevadas-housing-marketing-in-2013/

Confession: I cyber stalk real estate agents. I watch your  Facebook statuses. I read your tweets, likes and shares. And, from  time-to-time I even scan your Spotify feeds to figure out what new  artists I should check out.

Why? Well, not because agents have the best taste in music (though I have seen some pretty good tracks on your playlists…)

The truth is, over time I’ve found that if you really want to know  what’s going on in the real estate market, all you have to do is watch  the conversations agents are having.

Recently, my cyber observations have made me feel like we’re in the  dead heat of a market turnaround. It seem like agents are feeling  better, doing more business, and generally positive about the market  prospects in the year
ahead.

But, I had to ask: is this anecdotal recovery I’m feeling real? And if so, where are the signs?

Here are six answers I found that support the notion that things are looking up for the real estate industry.

Take a look, share them, blog them, and shoot me a comment in the box below to let me know what signs of change (if any) you’re seeing in  your area.

1. Both asking price and rents jumped 5 percent
from last year
Trulia’s latest Price and Rent Monitors showed a big boost in asking prices across the U.S. – up 5.1 percent  year over-year. This a drastic change from the double digit declines of  previous years.

The relevant news for your buyer and seller prospects isn’t just that home prices are climbing, but that renting is getting more expensive as well. The statistics showed rents are up 5.2 percent year-over-year.

If you understand supply and demand, it’s obvious that these two  facts point toward more real estate moves happening, and that consumers  have gotten over the angst of previous years and shifted into the “recovery mindset.”

To follow along or view past data releases from Trulia, check out
the
Pro Blog’s Industry Feed where you can find graphics and
facts you can share to help boost consumer confidence in your
market.

2.  Mortgage rules got
a renovation.
Predatory lending practices linger near the top of many economists’ blame lists for the most recent market decline. And, after years of  fallout from bad mortgages, capable buyers have been, understandably,  slow to
purchase.

For those buyers who’ve been anxious about the mortgage process and skeptical of the predatory lending, this Thursday brought great news and a sure “go” sign for them to jump into the market.

Thursday the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released it’s new  mortgage guidelines which are “a set of standards that protects  consumers from bad loans” according to David Stevens, CEO of the  Mortgage Bankers Association.

The new guidelines show that banks and the government are working out their differences to create a safer, more secure environment for  homeowner hopefuls. In addition, the new guidelines give those buyers  access to mortgage best practices upfront to help them ensure they’re  ready for application and ownership from the start.

For a great summary of the new guidelines, check out CNN’s article “New Rules Aim to Make Mortgages Safer”.

3. Delinquency & foreclosures are at record
lows.
Declining delinquencies aren’t just fluffed headlines, the numbers support what it seems many agents are feeling.

Delinquencies are down. According to Trulia’s Chief Economist, Jed Kolko, “ In November, 10.63% of mortgages were delinquent or in foreclosure, down a hair from 10.64% in October.  The combined delinquency + foreclosure rate is at its lowest level in  four years and is 41% back to normal.”

These stats are good news for buyer’s agents whose clients and prospects need a boost of confidence.

4. 93% of Millenials plan to buy.
Last quarter we released Trulia’s American Dream Survey and one of the top facts from our study showed that 93 percent of current millennial renters plan to buy.

This is good news for an industry that’s suffered from years of  skittish home shoppers and a lot of talk about home buying no longer  being a part of the American Dream.

5. Investors rush in.
Another sign that we’re on the way to a high-paced recovery is that investors are making major moves to capitalize on today’s opportunity.

A recent story from Bloomberg covered how Blackstone Group, the largest U.S. private real estate owners, sped up it’s purchases of homes to try to beat out fast rising  prices.

This is a sign for on the fence buyers to start their hunt before the weather heats up and they face more competition than they can handle.

These are some of the national signs that show the recovery is well  under way. Comment below and tell us what you’re seeing, reading, and  witnessing in your local market.

SEE THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: http://pro.truliablog.com/tools-trends/5-signs-the-market-is-recovering-fast/?ecampaign=tnews&eurl=pro.truliablog.com%2Ftools-trends%2F5-signs-the-market-is-recovering-fast

Yes there are homes available although they are going fast (usually only on the market a week or so if priced correctly). 

You will need your financing lined up ahead of time so if you find a property you like you can move on it immediately. Will this be a cash deal or will you require financing? If this is a cash deal we will need the Proof of Funds in hand so we can submit it with the offer and show the listing agent and seller we are capable of buying the home. If this is a finance deal we will need to get your preapproved. I have lenders that can help you with this should you need them. Once you pick a loan officer have them supply you with a preapproval letter. We will submit this to the seller along with our offer to show them you are ready and able to get a loan for the home. We can not submit any offers without one of these 2 documents. 

Secondly, while you are getting approved or getting the POF (proof of funds) we can start sending you homes that match your search criteria. This will give you an idea of what type of homes are available at what price range and you will also be able to get a feel how long these properties are staying on the market. This way once you get your documents in order you will have a good feel for the market and be ready to make your move. The best way to get me your home search criteria is to fill out the "Buyer's Form" at this link: http://lvrealestatehelp.weebly.com/buying-real-estate.html 

If you would like to learn more about why the inventory is low, the effects of Assembly Bill 284, and how to prepare a strong offer, then click here.

If you want to hear about the possible softening of the market when the Legislature meets next month then click here.

I hope this is informative and helpful! If myself or my team can be of assistance to you please let me know.

Please check out the new widgets added to the right side of this page. There are helpful facts and tools that are constantly updating with current information regard the Las Vegas and Henderson real estate markets. Please comment on this Blog entry to give us your feedback. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our site/blog/forum and we look forward to hearing your suggestions and comments.

Thank you from The Adams Team at Rothwell Gornt Companies!

    Las Vegas is currently in a hot seller's market and with inventory remaining very low (below the 5,000 mark) deals are getting harder and harder to lock down. You can read a thread about the competitiveness of the current market here.

With that being said, if you find a property that you want to purchase, it is important that you write up a clean, strong offer. Here are some tips to getting you offer(s) Accepted:

1.) Run the CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) and find out an educated estimated value of the property.

2.) Offer a strong purchase price. With homes selling around 10% above apprasisal value you will want to make your offer slightly above the CMA value. Offering less will get your rejected (NOT COUNTERED) 9 times out of 10.

3.) Always submit your highest and best offer the first time. Do not expect to start low and counter to a higher offer. With an average of a dozen offers on a property at any given time, listing agents are now only countering the best offer in front of them and then rejecting the others.

4.) Keep your offer clean. Pay your own closing closts, inspections, appraisals, etc. This will give the seller less items they have to counter. This will also show the seller and the listing agent that you and your buying agent are in tune with the market and it should make the process a smoother deal. When agents/buyers/sellers are not on the same page and in tune with the market it can cause problems once in escrow and the chances of closing the deal decreases drastically.

5.) Write up the purchase contract to purchase the property "As-Is". This means you can still get an inspection in your "Due Diligence Period" and find out the condition of the property. Do not expect the seller to pay for any of these repairs as you are buying the property "As-Is". If the repairs are minor than we advise you proceed and make the repairs yourself once you close on the property. If there are unforeseen major repairs then you can renegotiate the purchase price at that time or cancel escrow and get your EMD (Earnest Money Deposit) fully refunded. Again writing up the offer "As-Is" will keep your offer clean and less things for the listing agent/seller to counter.

6.) Submit your POF (Proof of Funds) or Pre-Approval Letter with your purchase contract so the sellers know you are capable of buying the property.

7.) This step is not a must but it does make your offer a little more competitive. Increase your EMD (Earnest Money Deposit) to slightly above the requested amount in the listing. For example if they are asking for $1,500 EMD give them $2,000. This shows them that you are serious about buying this property and you are willing to put more money down than the other bidders.

8.) Have your agent write an email or cover letter accompanying the offer explaining that you the buyer and them the buyer's agent are aware of the market conditions and have attached a clean, strong offer that includes: and list the items above that you have agreed to only because of the condition of the market ex: higher price, paying your own fees, as-is, higher emd, POF or preapproval letter, etc.

If you practice all of these steps when submitting your offers in the current market here in Las Vegas or Henderson you will have a better success rate of getting your offers Accepted. If you would like my team and I to represent you in purchasing your next home please send us what type of home you are looking for by filling out our Buyer's Form here: http://lvrealestatehelp.weebly.com/buying-real-estate.html If you need Sell your home please fill out our Seller's Form here: http://lvrealestatehelp.weebly.com/selling-real-estate.html

We hope this is informative and we thank you for your business!

The median price of resales in November was $133,000. In 2011, the median price was $114,000. That means our resale home market has increased by 16.6%. And while the resale market is improving so is the new home sales market. The new homes sales are impressive with robust sales and increased prices. The median price of a new home is $219,285. That is the highest since March 2009. Last year the median price was $204,064 which is a 7.4% increase.

Usually this time of year we have a “holiday funk” in the new home sales market. The normal “holiday funk” is a 50% drop in the sales for new homes. There was no “holiday funk” this year. There were 596 recorded new home sales in November. The last 4 months new home sales averaged 600 per month. That is a 39% increase over last year or 1,379 more sales. If December ends up around 600 that will end the year around 5,500 new home sales. 2012 will boost a 40% increase in sales of new homes.

With land being a major ingredient of pricing, the experts see a 10% increase in prices in 2013 as builders will pay more per acre for land. The increase in housing permits is an astounding 64% over last year. Never have we seen an increase that high.

Lennar bought 167 lots for $5.2 million in Northwest Las Vegas. They are on tract to purchase an additional 160 lots early next year. In some areas, land is selling for approximately $150,000 per acre which is up 10% – 20% from last year. Despite the increase in the median price of a new home, the monthly mortgage payment for a 3 bedroom home is still less than rent with the low interest rates.

Zillow reports that Las Vegas is #4 in the sellers market stats in the country. Simply stated that means low inventory, increasing prices, and less days on the market.

Las Vegas was one of 7 cities in the country that recorded positive monthly gains. Across the US home prices are back to the 2003 level for both the 10 city and 20 city composite studies provided by Case-Shiller.

Investors as well as regular home buyers are finding that now is the time to make the move to buy a home in Las Vegas.

See the entire article here: http://www.agentformulalasvegas.com/#