First Time Buyers

“Finding the right home can be a challenge for First-Time Home Buyers in Las Vegas, but with Towanda Thompson-Rosales, you have a local expert on your side.”

• Pre-Qualification: Meet with a mortgage broker and find out how much you can afford to pay for a home.
• Pre-Approval: Knowing your budget is the first step. Sellers are much more receptive to buyers who have a pre-approval letter. This document prevents disappointment, as you will avoid searching for homes outside your price range. With Pre-Approval, you apply for a mortgage and receive a written commitment from a lender. This way, the seller knows immediately that you are a serious buyer. Lenders generally charge nominal fees for pre-approval and often allow you to pay them at closing.
• List of Needs & Wants: Make 2 lists. The first should include items you must have (i.e., the number of bedrooms you need for the size of your family, a one-story house if accessibility is a factor, etc.). Your second list should include ‘wishes’ like a pool or den. These items are nice to have but not strictly necessary. You might not get everything on your wish list. However, this list keeps your home search on track.
• Representation by a Professional: Consider hiring your own real estate agent, one who is working for you, the buyer, not the seller.
• Expert Guidance for Las Vegas Home Buyers: Navigating the Nevada real estate market requires a professional who works for you, the buyer, not the seller. Towanda Thompson-Rosales provides the expert guidance that First-Time Home Buyers in Las Vegas need to stay organized and focused during their home search. Use the checklist below to prepare for your journey.
• Focus & Organization: In a convenient location, keep handy the items that will assist you in maximizing your home search efforts. Such items may include:

1. 1. Bring detailed maps that highlight your favorite neighborhoods. A list or file of the properties that your agent has shown to you.
   2. Paper and pen for taking notes as you search.
   3. A camera to snap pictures of homes you have toured to help you remember your favories and features you really liked.

• Visualize the house empty & with your decor: Are the rooms laid out to fit your needs? Is there enough light?
• Be Objective: Instead of thinking with your heart when you find a home, think with your head. Does this home really meet your needs? There are many houses on the market, so don’t make a hurried decision that you may regret later.
• Be Thorough: A few extra dollars well spent now may save you big expenses in the long run. Don’t forget such essentials as:

1. 1. Include inspection & mortgage contingencies in your written offer.
   2. Have the property inspected by a professional inspector.
   3. Request a second walk-through to take place within 24 hours of closing.
   4. You want to check to see that no changes have been made that were not agreed on (i.e., a nice chandelier that you assumed came with the sale having been replaced by a cheap ceiling light).

All the above may seem rather overwhelming. That is why having a professional represent you and keep track of all the details for you is highly recommended. Please contact us directly to discuss any of these matters in further detail.