This survey provides a snapshot of consumer preferences and their perception about homeownership and affordability! 

Do they feel it is a part of the American dream?

Home owners have the positive view.

Home Ownership is possible and here in the

Las Vegas Valley we have loan programs available to assist

in the process if needed.  Call Today!

www.CallKim.net                 702-521-3939

Summer Maintenance Checklist

        June  2018

Summer is a time for relaxation and fun with family and friends. Taking care of some simple household maintenance chores early in the season can help get your home and lawn ready for summer activities and give you more time to spend enjoying them. Here’s a helpful summer maintenance checklist to use for your own home and to share with clients:

• Sidewalks, driveways, patios, siding and brick can all look worse for the wear after winter’s harshness. Take advantage of the warmer temperatures to power wash these areas and exterior surfaces. If you don’t want to purchase power washing equipment, check with your local hardware or home supply store about renting it. 

• Warmer weather is also a good time to paint or touch up the exterior of your home. A fresh coat of paint can add curb appeal as well as a layer of protection for wood surfaces.

• Give your air conditioner some TLC. Change the filters and clean the area around the units. Trim nearby trees and shrubbery to prevent limbs and leaves from falling into the equipment. Have a qualified air conditioning professional service your system to make sure it’s ready to go when temperatures rise.

• Increase your air conditioning system’s efficiency by checking windows and doors for air leaks. Repair seals or re-caulk any openings that you find.  

• Check your deck for wood that has split, cracked or is graying. If you see any of these signs, it may be time to reseal the deck.

• If your home has an automatic irrigation system, turn it on and check each zone to see if all the sprinkler heads are working and positioned correctly. To help conserve water and protect your lawn and landscaping, reposition any heads that spray water onto driveways, sidewalks, roads or patios.

• Inspect concrete areas, such as sidewalks, driveways, patios or pool decks, for cracks. Refill or repair any cracks as needed to help prevent further damage and to maintain smooth, safe surfaces for walking.

• If you have a swimming pool, check the chemical balance and system equipment to make sure everything is ready for summer use. It’s also a good time to do a safety check and inspect flotation devices, fences and other protective accessories to make sure they are functional.  

• Perform an electrical inspection of the inside of your home by going room to room and looking for any potential electrical hazards, such as overloaded outlets or electrical cords running under rugs and carpets. Trip your circuit breaker every six months to make sure it’s working properly, too.

• Replace the bulbs in exterior lights and clean the fixtures so that outdoor summer fun can continue after the sun goes down.

• It’s a good idea to clean your dryer’s vent and exhaust duct regularly. Clogged lint and dust in either of these areas could be a fire hazard.

• Have your lawn mower serviced and the blades sharpened. Check other lawn equipment, such as leaf blowers, water hoses and edging tools to make sure they are in good working order.

 

www.Callkim.net

702-521-3939

I want to thank all who have served in the armed forces, THANK YOU for my freedom.  My freedom to worship, to work, to go to school and to move about life with out fear.

Thank you!

 

Kim Duclos

Elite Realty

 



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

Contemplating a refinance?

You have your reasons for contemplating a refinance on your home mortgage, the basic question to ask is: “Do you plan to live in the home long enough to recapture the cost of refinancing?” There are always expenses involved in refinancing which can be paid in cash or rolled into the new mortgage. From a strictly financial standpoint, the break-even point is achieved when the cost of refinancing has been recaptured by the monthly savings. It would take approximately 23 months to recapture $4,000 of refinance costs with a lower payment of $175 a month. Lower the rate Shorten the term so that the loan will build equity faster and be paid off sooner. Lower your payment to reduce your monthly cost of housing. Convert an ARM to a FRM to stabilize your payment due to concern of rising interest rates. Cash out equity to be able to use the money for another purpose. Combine a first and second mortgage. Consolidate personal debt so the interest is tax deductible. Payoff higher cost debt such as credit cards, student debt, etc. Remove a person from a loan as in the case of a divorce. Points paid to purchase a principal residence are tax deductible completely in the year paid. However, the points must be spread over the life of the mortgage on a refinance. For that reason, consider getting a “par” value loan with no points. It may have a slightly higher rate but the interest will be fully deductible and it will lower the cost of refinancing. Determine the break-even point It is best to speak with a reputable lender.  Please call for a recommendation of a trusted mortgage professional. I work with some stellar lenders and I would be happy to get the ball rolling to see what makes sense for you.  Who knows, perhaps a move is in your future when the time is right and please note, I am ready to work. Kim Duclos crs abr gri 702.521-3939 please visit www.callkim.net today!

 

       Las Vegas Real Estate -

It is a hot market and rates are still low!

ACT NOW!

Find a house with your mouse at www.CallKim.net

 

 

 

 

Kim Duclos

702.521.3939

What does an Interest Rate Increase Mean for You?

Although the interest rate you will

"most likely" obtain on a 

home purchase in today's market, will be 
lower than what is noted here below,

you can easily see by the scenarios offered 

what a 1% difference means to you with

your home purchase and payment.

DO NOT WAIT ANY LONGER

Call today to begin the process of home

ownership and loan qualification.  Please note

there are funds still available for the 

*FREE 4% for down payment and 

closing cost assistance program =

"Home is Possible" Grant Program.

*certain restrictions apply please call for information. 

Thank you,

Kim Duclos

Elite Realty

702.521.3939

www.callkim.net

Fall Maintenance Checklist

I was speaking with Les Smith of Clark County Property Inspection and he had some useful ideas to share with me.  I was happy to pass them on to you as well.

This is just a Seasonal Maintenance Checklist and is in addition to your regular maintenance program.

Have a professional check your heating system, replace or clean your air-filter.

If you have a gas powered lawn mower or other gas powered lawn equipment, run them until the fuel is gone.  Often times in Vegas, we do cut our lawns all year around, so make the call depending on the type of grass you have and your mowing patterns.

Test your emergency generator if you have one.

Remove birds' nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures.  Our chimneys are usually used as a gas appliance here in Nevada, but if you have either a wood burning or a gas fireplace make sure the chimney is clear.

Check the caulking around the doors and windows and make sure it is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss.

Clean the gutters and downspouts.  If they are not clean, water will back up in the gutters and down spouts which could send water into the home.  Water damage/leakage!

Make sure the caulking around your bathroom fixtures is adequate as well to prevent water leaking to the sub-flooring or walls.

 You can visit Les's web site @  http://clarkcountypi.com

Cell number for Les is (702) 443- 3987

Remember for your Real Estate needs 
Call Kim

www/Callkim.net   
24/7 find a house with your mouse!