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

 



Short Term Rentals

Do you know of anyone planning to go to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR Weekend March 4, 2018?  Are they looking for a place to stay?  Each year, there are homeowners who rent their home for a big premium because hotels are in short supply and demand for private homes is up. Homeowners go on vacation and make tax-free income while temporary tenants rent their home. Homeowners can benefit from a little known provision in the tax code that does not require taxpayers to recognize the income derived from renting their home for less than 15 days per year. This situation can particularly benefit homeowners where there are large sporting events nearby like golf and tennis tournaments, championship games or other high attendance venues.  Now with Las Vegas having the NHL, NFL, WNBA, NRF, LVMS and more, the demand for a private residence can be more attractive than staying in a hotel which makes the price go up. Obviously, there are challenges with personal belongings and damage but getting a premium rental rate and not having to recognize the income could be worth it. You’ll certainly want to discuss this with your tax professional prior to making this decision. You’d probably also want to get some help from an experienced real estate professional.   Call Kim for your Real Estate questions and needs 702-521-3939 www.callkim.net

 

Join us this Saturday - Now is the time to make your move!

Lender on site to answer your questions pertaining to a home loan.

www.callkim.net

 

Emergency Kit for the Car

Yes, the heat is on and summer is here!  Are you planning a summer vacation?  Perhaps a drive across country to Mom and Dads or Grandpa and Grandmas?  Take Heed! Mickey Mantle said “If I knew I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.”   Similarly, if people planning their summer travel knew they were going to have an emergency, they would have the right things available. Only 5% of drivers carry all recommended emergency supplies in their cars. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends that all Americans have some basic supplies on hand in order to survive for at least three days if an emergency occurs. Some of these things would be more important if you lived or traveled in remote areas. Reflective hazard triangle or road flares Spare tire Jumper cables First-aid kit Flashlight and extra batteries Cell phone and charger Crucial medications Emergency radio with batteries Bottled water for each person and pet in your car Non-perishable, high-calorie food Distress signal flag Matches or lighter During cold weather, additional items are recommended: Windshield scraper and brush Blankets and extra warm clothing Road salt or cat litter to help with tire traction Tarp for working outside in weather It is recommended that emergency supplies should be checked at least twice a year to see that all of the items are in working order and in good condition. It is important that items are replaced if any of them are used during the year. The American Red Cross is among many sources where emergency preparedness kits and supplies can be purchased. Please visit http://www.callkim.net for your home search! Call 702.521.3939 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

Why you should always put a coin in the freezer before you leave home

I have clients that left town and have a refrigerator in the house, another in the garage and a freezer - YIKES!  The electricity went out while they were away and did it stink!  Have you ever come home from vacation, business trip or maybe a weekend away with the family - and noticed your digital clocks flashing the wrong time?

You quickly realize that you had a power outage while you were away, but it's basically impossible to tell when it occurred or how long it lasted. It's therefore also impossible to tell just how long the food in your freezer may have thawed, gotten destroyed, and then frozen again.   Or is it?

A woman that had experienced a hurricane disaster here in the United States, she shared a clever trick on Facebook with anyone who was forced to evacuate their home. 

But the trick is certainly also good to know in case of any prolonged departure from your home - and will ease your mind about whether or not the food in your freezer is good to eat - or best be thrown out right away.
The trick lies in the magical combination of three simple but effective tools everyone already has at home: a mug, a coin and some tap water.


It's called the one cup tip. You put a cup of water in your freezer. Freeze it solid and then put a quarter on top of it and leave it in your freezer. That way when you come back after you've been evacuated you can tell if your food went completely bad and just refroze or if it stayed frozen while you were gone.
If the quarter has fallen to the bottom of the cup that means all the food defrosted and you should throw it out. But if the quarter is either on the top or in the middle of the cup then your food may still be ok. It would also be a great idea to leave this in your freezer all the time and if you lose power for any reason you will have this tip to fall back on. 

If you don't feel good about your food, just throw it out. The main thing is for all to be safe.


Call Kim for all your real estate needs!

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

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!