HOME IS POSSIBLE!

I just wanted to remind you that the 4% down payment assistance from Home is Possible is no longer available on FHA! (boooo!) but we HAVE 2% and 3% on FHA which is STILL a WINNER!

REMEMBER the 5% Home is Possible on Conventional is still available! ( HOORAY!!!)
If you have any questions or need to see if someone qualifies for either let me know!

 

Kim Duclos crs

702.521.3939

 

www.callkim.net

 



Thanksgiving Travel

Thanksgiving is a very busy travel time of year and.....

the last thing you want if these holidays is to worry about someone burglarizing your home. I have a check list to add some sense of security and calm while you’re out of town. 1. Ask a trusted friend - to pick up mail, newspaper and keep yard picked up to avoid an appearance of being empty. 2. Consider discontinuing your mail (USPS Hold Mail Service) 3. Don’t post about your trip on Facebook, twitter and other social media until you return – some burglars actually look for this type of announcement to schedule their activities. 4. Do notify your neighborhood watch – especially if you’re going to be gone for more than just a few days. Let your monitoring service know when you’ll be gone and if someone will be checking on your home for you. 5. Light timers make it look like someone is home – use several sets for different times to better simulate someone being at home. 6. Do unplug certain appliances – TV, computers, toaster ovens that use electricity even when they’re off and to protect them from power surges. 7. Don’t hide a key – burglars know exactly where to look for your key and it only takes them a moment to check under the mat, above the door, in the flower pot or in a fake rock. 8. Consider shutting off the water to your home to avoid a possible unattended leak. These simple suggestions will add a level of serenity to your trip. Kim Duclos 702-521-3939   www.callkim.net

 

HAVE YOU BEEN CONFUSED WITH ALL OF THE ANRONYMS USED in TODAY'S WORLD?

...especially in our world of texting and computers

 lol, byw...it can be overwhelming. 

To help when it comes to real estate I have listed a few

of the most common when going through the loan process.

As always, please call with your real estate questions!

702.521.3939

Kim Duclos Realtor® CRS GRI ABR
Elite Realty
8625 S. Eastern Ave.
Las Vegas, NV  89123

(702) 521-3939 cell / duclos24@aol.com   Follow, Friend or Link me: Search Kim Duclos

The holidays can feel like a never ending non-stop RUSH. And while that's much of what makes the season such a joy, it's also why it's important to guard against mishaps that commonly crop up during the hustle. Here are a few key safety tips to keep in mind:


Don't fall while decorating. Do you go all out, like Clark Griswold, when stringing lights? Each season, nearly 6,000 people visit emergency rooms after falling while hanging holiday decor. (More than half of those falls occurred outdoors from roofs or ladders.) Unwieldy extension cords can also trip up individuals and lead to injuries. I have a neighbor that wears a bike helmet to avoid a head injury in case she falls while stringing lights!


Keep clear of flames. Home fires spike around the holidays, with candles, cooking and Christmas trees being common culprits. Keep decorations away from heat sources, don't leave burning candles unattended, check that electrical cords are in good condition and stay in the kitchen while cooking.  and..... be careful with space heaters and fire pits too.


Identify and remove toxins. Plants can add a festive touch to your home, but some seasonal favorites can also pose a threat to children and pets. The leaves and berries of mistletoe, for instance, are toxic if eaten, and poinsettias can irritate skin. If you choose to decorate with these plants, keep them safely out of reach and promptly clean up fallen berries and leaves.


Travel safely. Vehicles riddle the roadways at this time of year, so safety is a big concern. Take your car in for winter maintenance, check the weather forecast before road trips, stash a well-stocked emergency kit in the trunk, and keep shopping bags out of sight to avoid break-ins.  If traveling into colder weather from mild weather like our SUNNY LAS VEGAS families traveling to Denver (brrrr!), bring appropriate clothing in case your end up being stuck in snow/and in your car.  Carry glove, boots, blankets etc...


Use these and other safety tips to keep you and your loved ones happy and healthy through the holiday season.


Call me for your real estate needs and questions.
visit www.callkim.net for your online home shopping spree.

Kim Duclos

702-521-3939

Talking to the Right Lender and Pre-Approval

It's Your Advantage - Start Right, Get the Details

Technology has certainly streamlined the home buying process and introduced things that help purchasers make better decisions. Buyers have enthusiastically embraced video tours, digital signatures and the enormous amount of information available about a home, neighborhood, schools and neighbors. The ironic thing is that buyers are ignoring the one single thing that can help them secure the “right” home. Talking to a lender or using a financial calculator is not pre-approval. Pre-approval requires written verification on employment and income and ordering a credit report for the purpose of obtaining a mortgage. A mortgage credit score is different than what a person might see from credit reporting websites.  Pre-approval gives buyers the confidence to know the amount they can borrow which can result in bargaining power when dealing with a seller or competing against another offer. Transactions can close quicker once a buyer has been pre-approved. If any issues are discovered in the initial process, the purchaser and lender will have more time to correct them compared to trying to get it done during the loan approval period as stated in the sales contract.  Most lenders best interest rates are only available to the best borrowers. You might get approved on a loan but at a higher rate than you expected which could make a significant difference in the monthly payments. The “right” home without financing will never have the buyer’s address. Getting pre-approved with a trusted mortgage professional is one of the first steps in the buying process. It can definitely be an advantage that will benefit you in negotiations and ultimately, during the time you own the home. www.callkim.net Call Kim Today @ 702-521-3939

Sahara Hotel Closed - Auction Taking Place on June 16, 2011

Sahara Hotel and Casino Closes!    Huge Auction - get your special memorabilia and get a piece of history.  I bet OJ Simpson would love to be shopping at this memorabilia event!  Ha Ha, enough with the funnies.  You will be able to buy signs, poker chips, hotel room furniture, casino furniture and there will be plenty of 

           history to take home. 

While you are in Las Vegas, perhaps you would like to contemplate purchasing a second home, a vacation condo or perhaps a profitable income property.  For those needs, please give me a call.   www.CallKim.net

Kim Duclos crs abr gri

(888) 949-2890

(702) 521-3939

Open House - Saturday June 4, 2011 - 10:00 a. - 1:00 p. CallKim.net

OPEN HOUSE - Saturday  June 4, 2011  
10:00 a. - 1:00 p.

Wine Basket Drawing too!

8313 Vista Colorado St

Las Vegas, NV  89123

Near Windmill and Eastern

 

Fabulous buy, competitive pricing = A+

Please click on link below to watch the virtual tour

http://virtualtours2go.point2homes.biz/Listing/VirtualTour.ashx?HideBranding=true&ListingID=37908074

We are holding a Wine Basket Drawing to those that attend our Open House!

Kim Duclos crs abr gri

Coldwell Banker Wardley

(702) 521-3939

(888) 949-2890

www.CallKim.net

QR CODE - Scan above

 OPEN HOUSE COURTESY OF KELLER WILLIAMS MARKET PLACE

WE APPRECIATE THEIR COOPERATION!

SAVE MONEY in 2010

I am always looking for articles about saving money, and I came across an article by Eric Tyson that talks about doing a few things differently in 2010, I hope you find these helpful.

With the arrival of the New Year, are you thinking about buying your first home? Sending your last kid off to college? Or obsessing over your own personal mountain of debt, even more worrisome in this uncertain economy? It may feel like “Resolution Impossible,” but if you follow Eric Tyson’s advice, you’ll remember ‘10 as the year you finally took control of your financial future.

“While the situation is improving, Americans carry too much consumer debt,” says Tyson, author of Personal Finance for Dummies, 6th Edition.. “If you have credit card debt or auto loans, take some solace in the fact that you’re far from alone and that many others have overcome these hurdles. Consumer debt is not okay, particularly in a slow economy such as this one. It can damage your personal relationships and mental well-being, not to mention the stability of your financial future.”

Here are a few tips from Tyson that will help you improve your financial health in 2010:

Partake in a little self-reflection. A misaligned mindset toward spending and shopping—compulsive or otherwise—can severely affect your financial and personal well-being. If you think you might have a problem with shopping or spending, there are several questions you should ask yourself:
-Do I feel guilty about shopping?

-Is my shopping causing financial trouble?

-Is my shopping, spending, and accumulated debt leading to feelings of helplessness, anger, confusion, fear, or depression?

Make a plan and stick to it. The reason so many New Year’s resolutions fail is that we simply state the thing we want to improve and then never create a plan for helping us get from point A to point B.

Most people don’t like to plan unless we’re talking about something fun, like a vacation. But actually, planning for your financial future is a little like planning a vacation. You’re organizing your money and time so that you get to do all the great things you want when you get there. Look at it that way, and you might actually enjoy the process.

Get rid of your four-wheeled debt. Too many people define necessities by what those around them have. A brand new car is not a necessity, although some people try to make it one by saying, “I need a way to get to work.” Guess what? There are plenty of far less expensive used cars out there that will also make it to your office. If you take out an auto loan to buy a car that you really can’t afford and you take a similar approach with other consumer items you don’t truly need, you’re going to have great difficulty saving money and accomplishing your goals. Moreover, you’ll probably feel stressed all the time—which is a poor trade-off for the (short-lived) “new car smell.”

Start making your purchases based on need, not emotion. It can be easy to give in to all of those advertisements telling us how much we “need” that new car, expensive gym membership, or trendy outfit. Marketers play on insecurities, fears, and guilt and suggest that you can feel better about yourself by buying their products. You won’t be able to overcome spending and consumer debt until you recognize these pressures and how they corrupt your buying decisions.
Research before you enter the store.

Prior to going shopping for necessities that aren’t everyday purchases—say, a new refrigerator—do some research first. Your research will help you identify brands, models, and so on that are good values. You don’t want to make an expensive mistake.
Watch your food budget. Dine out less and keep stock of the groceries you already have. Learn to cook if you don’t know how. Try to keep a healthy inventory of groceries at home. This will minimize trips to the store and the need to impulsively dine out because your cupboard is bare. Try to do most of your shopping through discount warehouse-type stores, which offer low prices for buying in bulk, or grocery stores that offer bulk purchases. Saving on the amount you spend on food will help you put more money toward paying off your debt and eventually setting money aside for investments.

Become more energy efficient. Check out opportunities to make your home more energy efficient. Adding insulation and weather-stripping, installing water-saving devices, and reducing use of electrical appliances can pay for themselves in short order. Many utility companies will even do a free energy review or audit of your home and suggest money-saving ideas.

Watch what you are paying for insurance. Many people overspend on insurance by carrying coverage that’s unnecessary or that covers small potential losses. Coverage of small losses, such as $100 or $200, is not useful for most people since such a loss wouldn’t be a financial catastrophe.

“It won’t be easy getting out of debt, and it’s certainly not something you will be able to achieve overnight,” says Tyson. “Like losing weight, it’s something that takes constant dedication but has a great payoff in the end.

Whenever you lose focus or feel like giving in, think about the wonderful benefits of financial well-being. Once you’re out of debt, the money you are able to invest will mushroom into substantial savings that will allow you to get more for your money,” concludes Tyson.

Call me for all of your real estate questions - (888) 949-2890

(702) 521-3939

Kim Duclos

Coldwell Banker Wardley

Government Announces Short Sales Guidelines

The U.S. Treasury Department announced new guidelines this week designed to make short sales go more smoothly.

To qualify under these new guidelines:
The property must be the home owner’s principal residence.
The home owner must be delinquent on the mortgage or close to defaulting.
The loan must have been made before Jan. 1, 2009, and be for less than $729,750.
The borrowers’ total monthly mortgage payment must exceed 31 percent of their before-tax income.

Under the plan, borrowers will receive $1,500 from the government for selling homes for less than the amount of their mortgages.

Mortgage-servicing companies will get $1,000 for each completed short sale.

Second-mortgage holders can receive up to $3,000 of the sales proceeds in exchange for releasing their liens.

Investors who hold the first mortgage can collect up to $1,000 from the government for allowing the payments.

Borrowers who complete a short sale under the program must be "fully released" from future liability for the debt, according to the guidelines.

Source: Associated Press, J.W. Elphinstone (11/01/2009) and The Wall Street Journal, Ruth Simon (11/01/2009)

3364 Knollwood CT - Single Story Town Home

Great Opportunity

Owner Owned, not bank owned or short sale

Great Buy!

Two Bedroom

Two Bath

private patio

2 car garage

Community with.....pool, spa, RV & Boat parking, tennis courts,

park like settings in community,clubhouse and gated.

Call and See Today!

see@www.CallKim.net

Call toll free @ 888-949-2890

Local direct @ 702-521-3939

Thank you,

Kim Duclos CRS GRI ABR

Coldwell Banker Wardley