Author: ErinGarner

✨ Goodbye, 2024. Hello, 2025! ✨

As the year comes to a close, I’m filled with gratitude for all the incredible moments and opportunities this year has brought. From connecting with amazing clients and friends to celebrating milestones and growth, 2024 has been unforgettable! 🏡✨

To my friends, family, and clients—thank you for your trust, support, and kindness. You’ve made this journey so rewarding, and I’m excited for what’s ahead!

Here’s to a bright and prosperous 2025! May this year bring you joy, success, and new adventures. Let’s make it the best one yet! 🎉💫

Cheers to new beginnings, fresh goals, and unforgettable memories. 🥂

One thing about me: I love helping my buyers find a deal…

And the answer is yes, there are still deals out there.

This is what I keep my eyes peeled for ↓

1) CONTRACT CANCELLATIONS 🏷️
– Not every sale crosses the finish line, and when they don’t, it’s a usually a great opportunity
– “Back on Market” listings are often priced better than the original listing and the sellers are motivated

2) HIGHER “DAYS ON MARKET” 😴
– Homes that have been on the market a while (~45+ days), sellers more willing to negotiate
– Could be sitting because of pricing, lackluster listing photos or required lots of TLC
– A trained eye can spot value (or necessary updates)

3) BUILDER CLOSEOUTS 🏗️
– Builders are in the business of selling homes, not owning them
– If a new construction home is move-in ready, chances are the builder is eager to sell… (👋 discounts & builder credits)

4) MOTIVATED SELLERS 📅
– A seller might be motivated to offer a great price or terms due to sudden life changes – job relocation, divorce, death, or the need to liquidate
– This is where an agent’s intel on the seller can work to your advantage

5) HIDDEN GEMS 💎
– Sometimes a really great property gets overlooked because it has an unusual floor plan, an outdated kitchen, or is outside of the most popular neighborhoods
– As long as a property has “fixable” issues within the buyers budget, the pros could outweigh the cons

DM me for a list of great deals in Las Vegas under $650K

The keys are almost yours

The finish line is in sight!

What’s next on the home buying docket?

Say “hi” to pre-closing tasks! These are tasks you’’ll complete with various parties in order to close – people like your lender and a title company representative.

These tasks include:

– Scheduling the inspections

– Obtaining home insurance

– Ordering the appraisal

– Finalizing the mortgage

– Title search & survey

– “Clear to close” (The magic words!)

Now you may be thinking: *That’s a lot of steps to complete*.

To help quell the overwhelm, I’ve created a few resources for this phase of the process.

In your 90 Days to Homeowner Guide, find my “Under Contract” Checklist and my guide to inspections and insurance, where I’ve included names of my trusted providers.

Your agent should be guiding you through each step of the process.

You should feel comfortable to reach out to them at any time!

I’m her to answer any questions.

“Your offer has been accepted 🎉”

The words every hopeful buyer wants to hear!

Congratulations! Whether you’ve made it to this point in real life or not quite yet, here’s what to expect from this stage of the buying process:

– **Provide an Earnest Money Deposit** – This is a good faith deposit to show your commitment to buying the property. This deposit is typically held in an escrow account until the closing.

– **Schedule Home Inspections** – ****Depending on the results, you may negotiate with the seller for repairs or credits. Schedule this immediately!

– **Order** **Appraisal** – ****Your lender will initiate this to ensure the property’s value matches the sale price. If the appraisal comes in lower than the agreed-upon price, you may need to renegotiate with the seller or come up with additional funds.

– **Finalize the Loan** – ****You’ll provide documents and go through underwriting with your lender.

There are a lot of moving parts at this phase of the transaction but a great agent is there to guide you at each turn!

DM for under contract Checklist

#realtor #lasvegasrealestate #luxuryrealtor #realestateconsultant #lasvegas #moveupbuyer #retirementliving #downsizing #relocation

“The house seems fine… do I really need an inspection?”

This is a question I hear fairly often: “The house seems fine… do I really need an inspection?”

The answer is a big bold 📢 YES!

Reason?

The home may appear to be in perfect shape, but some of the costliest💸 problems are difficult to spot: leaks, termite damage, foundation issues, poor ventilation, faulty wiring, and leaking appliances.

for reach out for a copy of my inspections & insurance cheat sheets.

Searching for the perfect home 🏡

Next stop on the house hunting journey is searching for properties that meet your wants vs. needs list.

At this point, your agent will set you up on an MLS search – this way you will receive an email notification the *second* a home that matches your criteria hits the market!

Want to do some online searching yourself?

These are my recommendations:

**Use the search filters, but don’t go crazy**. Expand your geographic search, and add $25k – $50k to your max price.

**Check Google street view** if you find something that catches your eye. And, if you’re local, drive by of the property.

**If a home you like is “pending” or “under contract”don’t panic!** Pending contracts fall through occasionally, so keep it on your list, especially if it checks all your boxes.

How do I pick a good agent when buying a home?

When thinking about working with an agent to help you find a home , there are a few questions you’ll want to gather from them.

What neighborhoods are they experts in?

What is their communication style?

What sets them apart from other agents?

Your agent should have a deep understanding of your goals, your market, and a track record for working diligently on behalf of their clients.

I provide an agent interview form with all the right questions to ask as you look to start your home-buying journey.

Reach out to get my Agent Interview Questionnaire

Questions? Let’s connect!

Mortgage rates have been dropping (Hallelujah! 🙏)

The question everyone is now wondering: “Should I refinance??”

Refinancing your mortgage and securing a lower interest rate can mean substantial long-term savings.

But deciding whether to refinance your home depends on several factors…

🔖 Here’s how to evaluate if it’s a good time to refinance:

YOUR CURRENT RATE
A general rule of thumb is to refinance your mortgage when interest rates are at least 1% lower than your current rate.

COSTS OF REFINANCING
The cost to refinance your mortgage can range from 2% to 4% of the loan amount. You want to be sure that potential savings will outweigh total closing costs.

YOUR “BREAK-EVEN” POINT
Your break-even point is when you will recoup all the closing costs that come with refinancing your loan. For example, if your closing costs are $5,000 and your monthly savings from refinancing is $200 per month, it would take you 25 months to break even.

YOUR FUTURE PLANS
If you plan to stay in your home for several more years, refinancing could be a smart move, but if there’s a good chance you’ll relocate before reaching your break-even point, it’s worth reconsidering.

DM me for a link to Freddie Mac’s mortgage refinance calculator and I’ll send it over!