Las Vegas Real Estate Blog

The links to stats pages contained in this blog are usually good until the 5th day of the following month.  If this blog was posted more than 30 days ago, email me and I will look up the information for you.

Average Sale Price by Month

Monthly Activity Report - By Zip Code and Property Type

Previous Month Activity Report - By Zip Code and Property Type

Monthly Comparison Report - By Zip Code and Property Type compared to 1 year ago

Foreclosure Chart - (last chart on page)

As a Realtor, I'm often asked, "Can you tell me which neighborhoods are nice/safe? And which schools are the best?"

Very good questions to ask if you're moving to Las Vegas and you're not familiar with the area.  However, Fair Housing Laws make answering these questions a little tricky for a licensed real estate agent.  I am not permitted to call a neighborhood "safe" or label certain schools "good".  What I can do is provide the tools and research for my clients to draw their own conclusions about different schools and neighborhoods.

Before you begin following the links below and researching the neighborhoods and schools, keep in mind, the best way to assess a neighborhood or school is to combine the research you can do online with the experience of personally visiting the schools and neighborhoods. 

Schools - Find the highest rated and read parent and student comments.

Neighborhood Crime Statistics

Search by type of crime, location, zip code etc...  Navigating this site can be a little challenging, so give me a call if you have any questions!

Community Reports

The links to stats pages contained in this blog are usually good until the 5th day of the following month.  If this blog was posted more than 30 days ago, email me and I will look up the information for you.

Average Sale Price by Month

Monthly Activity Report - By Zip Code and Property Type

Previous Month Activity Report - By Zip Code and Property Type

Monthly Comparison Report - By Zip Code and Property Type compared to 1 year ago

Foreclosure Chart - (last chart on page)

January 15th is the deadline to file a petition to appeal your property value and lower your property taxes.

Step 1 - Find out your home's "taxable value"

Click here to visit the assessor's website and enter your street number and street name.  (*Tip - DO NOT include "Ave" or Rd" after the street name)

Click on "submit" then click on the parcel number next to your address.

Look to see your home's "taxable value" (see the red arrow below).  This value should not exceed fair market value for your home.

Step 2 - Determine fair market value for your home to compare with the assessor's "taxable value".

This step is easy!  Just click on the "Home Value" button below, or call me at (702) 523-7713 and ask for a list of recently sold homes that are comparable to yours.  (Called "comps" in Realtor lingo)

Step 3 - From the assessor's website:

If, in your opinion, the taxable value of your property exceeds the value indicated in the real estate market, please call or come in to the Assessor's Office and discuss your appraisal with an appraiser. The Assessor welcomes the opportunity to review any evidence you can provide that will show the valuation exceeds market value. If, after discussing the matter with the Assessor's staff, a difference of opinion still exists, you may appeal your assessment to the County Board of Equalization. You may obtain the appeal forms from the Assessor's Office during the month of December until the deadline for filing, which is January 15 unless it falls on a holiday or weekend, which then would make the deadline the next business day. Completed forms must be returned to the Assessor's Office by the appeal filing deadline date. Please call 702-455-3891 to have an appeal form mailed to you. The forms are relatively easy so you may represent yourself rather than incur legal expenses.

The links to stats pages contained in this blog are usually good for 30 days.  If this blog was posted more than 30 days ago, email me and I will look up the information for you.

Average Sale Price by Month

Monthly Activity Report - By Zip Code and Property Type

Previous Month Activity Report - By Zip Code and Property Type

Monthly Comparison Report - By Zip Code and Property Type compared to 1 year ago

Foreclosure Chart - (last chart on page)

To find out if a property is in foreclosure, you'll need to know the parcel number.

If you don't know the parcel number start at the following link.
Link 1 - Get the parcel number

Copy the parcel number, then go to the following link.
Link 2 - Check for recorded notices

Enter the parcel number, remove the dashes, then click "detailed data"

Look at the document type.

"Notice of default" or "Breach" indicates the foreclosure process has begun.  Unless the default is cured, a "notice of trustee sale" will most likely be filed in about 3 months.

"Notice of Trustee Sale" will usually result in a foreclosure sale within a few weeks.  Call the recorders office at (702) 455-4336 to find out the exact date of sale.

At any point before or during the foreclosure, contact me to discuss your options including selling your home, even if you owe more than the home is currently worth.  It is possible to negotiate a "short sale" with your bank, avoid foreclosure, and sometimes even allow you to stay in your home longer by postponing the foreclosure date.

Many buyers are frustrated with the process of putting an offer on a bank owned home and not getting a response.  Buyers agents are frustrated too.  They spend hours (sometimes days days or weeks) finding a property for a buyer, explaining the process and discussing how it is likely the property will sell over the asking price.  The offer is written and sent it.  The buyers agent follows up to make sure they got it and that the pre-approval and earnest money deposit is in order.  They call and call and call and call and call...weeks go by and no answer from the seller.  No counter offer...no rejection...no nothing.  One month later the property is still "active" on the mls.  A call to the listing agent reveals..."we have over 15 offers" send us your highest and best".  Another month goes by and the property is sold for a few hundred dollars more than the other you put in.   hmm?

Did the listing agent present the the offer as soon as possible? Did the bank review the offer?

As I understand it, the banks can do as they wish (within the law), however if the LISTING AGENT uses the MLS to market the property, they are REQUIRED to follow the rules.  If the listing agent is a REALTOR (which they most likely are if they're listing property on the MLS) they must adhere to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ® which states:

Standard of Practice 1-6

      REALTORS® shall submit offers and counter-offers objectively and as quickly as possible. (Adopted 1/93, Amended 1/95)

The listing agent must present the offer asap, however there is nothing that I know of to prevent the bank from taking it's sweet time in reviewing the offer.  What you may want to do is ask for the signed document from the seller (the bank) stating they did not wish to review your offer when presented.  If the agent cannot produce the document, you may want to file a complaint against the listing agent.  You should be able to get help/guidance from the local board of Realtors.

For more information about the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ® visit:  http://www.realtor.org/MemPolWeb.nsf/pages/COde

Views of The Las Vegas Strip can be seen in the background from the top of the hill at The Paseos Park in Summerlin.  My son has hours of fun playing in the fountains at this park!

Beach Volleyball at The Paseos Park in Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV

Nice Mountain Views behind the basketball courts

Huge covered playground next to the water fountains provides year round fun for the kids!

The Paseos Park in Summerlin also has 2 grass softball fields and plenty of room for walking, jogging, and riding bikes.  My little guy learned to ride without the training wheels at this park!