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Friday, August 14, 2020

How to Have a Successful Garage Sale in Las Vegas

 


When was the last time you went to a garage sale in Las Vegas? Probably before the pandemic? You can shop online pretty much everything these days on websites like Craigslist or Offerup. Especially in Las Vegas in the summer, buying/selling outside can be very challenging.

If you are thinking about having a traditional garage sale, here are some tips;

What to sell…

Shoppers like to see a little bit of everything. When prospective customers drive by, they’ll more likely stop for full tables.
Never underestimate the value of absolute junk. If you haven’t used something in the past year, sell it.
Dealers and antique collectors frequent garage sales, so clearly display one-of-a-kind items.
Dressers, bookcases, baskets, tables, toys, and tools attract traffic.
Make sure appliances work. Have an outlet handy so items can be tested.

How to price…

Tag all items. Customers may assume that unmarked items are out of their price range.
Be prepared to haggle. Most garage sale experts say 10 to 30 percent of retail is a fair price.

How to display…

Clean everything. Dirty dishes fetch a far lower price than their clean counterparts.
Large items bring the most foot traffic. If you sell a couch or table early in the day, ask to keep the item with a “sold” sign on it until the end of the day.
Clothing on racks sells higher than similar items thrown on a blanket, so hang a line in your garage or buy a portable rack.
Clearly mark your sales area. If you have a sale in your garage, cover anything you want to keep.

How to advertise…

Social Media
Make bold, bright, neatly lettered signs. Place them in order to direct traffic to your house. (Don’t forget to take them down when the sale is over!)

When to sell…

Check the weather when planning your sale. Even if your sale is indoors, bad weather keeps customers at home.
Saturday is often the best day for a sale, but in some places, people favor Thursday and Friday sales. If you are new to an area, ask around.

What to do with leftovers…

Store them for another day. What didn’t sell now may be in high demand next year.
Give them away.
Have them picked up by a charitable organization. Keep a list of donated items for your accountant at tax time.

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Thursday, August 13, 2020

Should You Rent Your Home in Las Vegas?



A scenario: You find a great job in another state. Do you sell or rent your home that you have in Las Vegas? Think about reasons for maintaining ownership. Do you want to keep the home in case you ever move back here? Are you looking for a tax break through property depreciation? Do you want the home as a retirement investment? On the other hand, are you prepared to be a long-distance landlord? There are other costs involved as well, often running 30-40% of income before the monthly mortgage cost.

If you decide to rent the home, where do you start? Get the house in shape, including;

·         Interior and exterior painting and patching

·         Carpet cleaning

·         Appliance tune-up

·         Ensuring adequate insulation

·         Fixing what needs fixing

A property management company can research prices in your area, or you can look online and search on the websites/apps like Thumbtack or HomeAdvisor.

Hiring a property manager can make your life easier, especially if you move out of the area. I can recommend you a great property manager. 

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Monday, August 10, 2020

Shop Smart at Farmers' Markets - Las Vegas



There is great Farmers Market in Las Vegas throughout the area. - Las Vegas Farmers Market 

Here are some tips to shop smart at Farmers' market:

- Buy only the amount you can use in a short period of time.

- Look for produce that’s free from unusual odors or colors and signs of spoilage.

- Handle produce gently to reduce bruising. Bacteria can thrive in the bruised areas.

- When buying cut produce, keep it cold during transport.

- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water before handling produce.

- Wash all fruits and vegetables with cool running tap water right before eating. Don't use dish soap or detergent because the FDA hasn’t approved or labeled these products for use on foods.

- Scrub melons with a brush and running water, because bacteria can be transferred from the outside of the melon to the inside by a knife.

- Cut away bruised parts before eating. Remove the outer leaves from lettuce and cabbage.

- Keep fresh cut produce cold by placing serving containers on ice. Perishable food should spend no more than two hours in the "danger zone" (40 to 140oF).

- Store produce in containers that are free from excess liquid.

- Refrigerate cut produce and use within a few days.

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Las Vegas Real Estate - Interest Rate Buydowns

 


Interest Rate Buydowns - Las Vegas Real Estate

An interest-rate buydown is a tool to help you qualify for a larger loan and purchase a higher-priced house than you could under normal circumstances. A buydown allows you to pay extra (tax-deductible) points up front in return for a lower interest rate for the first few years. Often, people relocating for employment obtain buydowns because employers sometimes pay the extra points as part of a relocation package.

While the most common way of obtaining a buydown is by paying extra points up front, many mortgage companies now increase the note rate to cover the cost in later years.

The most common is the 2-1 buydown, which can cost 3 additional points above current market points. During the first year of the mortgage, the interest rate is reduced by 2 percent and 1 percent the second year. So if you get a 7 percent interest rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage, you’d pay 5 percent the first year, 6 percent the second year, and 7 percent for the remaining life of the loan.

Another option is the 3-2-1 buydown. This reduces the mortgage rate 3 percent the first year, 2 percent the second and 1 percent the third. Thereafter you pay the full rate.

Some programs are “flex-fixed” buydowns that increase interest at six-month intervals instead of annually.

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Saturday, August 8, 2020

July 2020 Las Vegas Housing Market Update

 

Las Vegas-Southern Nevada home prices remain in record territory despite pandemic

Despite the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn, Las Vegas REALTORS® (LVR) housing statistics for July 2020 shows local home prices set another all-time record.

(July 2020)

Median price of existing single-family homes sold: $330,000 (1.5% up from June, 2020, 8.9% up from July, 2019)

Median price of Condos/Townhomes sold: $196,000 (+4.7% from June, 2020, +12.0% from July, 2019)

Single Family Home Number of Closings: 3,325 units (+34.9% from June, 2020,  +5.3% from July, 2019)

Condos/Townhomes Number of Closings: 700 units (+48.9% from June, 2020, -3.3% from July 2019)

What is driving Las Vegas Housing Market? With historically low interest rates (the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 2.99% on 7/31/2020 according to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey.), strong demand with increase in population, and a tight housing supply; Single Family Home Number of new listings was 3,703 units which was 10.2% down from July 2019. Effective Months of Availability was 1.4 months and Time on Market: 30 Days or Less was 59.7%. So more than half of homes for sale was sold within a month! 

Distressed sales are expected to remain low as long as state and federal moratoriums remain in place to prevent most evictions and foreclosures.

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Friday, August 7, 2020

Outline Your Fitness Plan

 


When Las Vegas shutdown due to pandemic in March, 2020, did you already have your fitness plan? Were you going to the gym to work out? I grew up playing sports (basketball, volleyball, golf, soccer etc.) and dislike running on the treadmill, but I just signed up at LVAC and was looking forward to getting back in shape and BOOM! The gym closed! After a week of binge watching Netflix on the couch eating all the food that was supposed to last for awhile, I decided to work out with some work-out videos in my living room. Shortly after, my best friends and I started and still excise via Zoom every morning.

Your exercise program should include something from each of four basic areas, and each day should begin with a warmup and end with a cooldown. Space your workouts throughout the week and try not to put in consecutive days of hard exercise.

l Warmup: Five to ten minutes of low-intensity exercise such as walking or general movement to get the muscles warmed up and elastic.

l Muscular strength: Two 20-minute sessions per week of weight training is the minimum for increasing strength.

l Muscular endurance: Three 30-minute sessions per week with such exercises as calisthenics, pushups, situps, pull-ups and weight training for all the major muscle groups.

l Cardiorespiratory endurance: At least three 20-minute sessions of continuous aerobic, rhythmic exercise each week, such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, jumping rope, rowing, cross-country skiing, etc.

l Flexibility: Ten to fifteen minutes of slow, non-bouncing daily stretching exercises can be included in your warmup and/or cooldown.

l Cooldown: Five to ten minutes of low-intensity exercise to cool your muscles down slowly to avoid injury.

Las Vegas has opened and so is my gym, but we are still in pandemic. Please stay safe and healthy!

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Thursday, August 6, 2020

10 Summer Safety Tips for Pets in Las Vegas

How hot does it get in Las Vegas in the summer? VERY HOT! Average temperature in June is 102° / 61° F (High/Low), July: 107° / 67°, and August: 104° / 66°. But your fur babies need to go outside to take care of his/her business, go for a walk, and play with other dogs etc., they probably have to go outside even it's so HOT! 

Here a 10 safety tips to follow this summer to help protect your pets according to The Animal Foundation in Las Vegas;

1. Bring your pets indoors
When Las Vegas gets into triple-digit temperatures, shady areas are likely too warm to cool a hot pet. Dog houses don’t help because of poor air circulation. Let your dogs and cats join you inside the house to protect them from the high temperatures, the sun, and the risk of skin cancer.

2. Walk your dog during cooler hours
If the pavement is too hot for bare feet, it’s too hot for dog (and cat) paws. And no matter how cute they look, most dogs hate wearing shoes. Save your pooch’s paws by walking them on dirt or grass (instead of hot sidewalks and pavement), and walk during the early morning or evening, when the sun is least harsh. Remember, temperatures on concrete and asphalt can be 20 to 30 degrees hotter than the air temperature.

3. Provide plenty of fresh water
Dogs and cats can get dehydrated quickly. Fresh, cool water helps keep pets hydrated during the summer, and adding ice cubes to their bowls can be a special treat!

4. Think twice about that summer haircut
Dogs’ and cats’ coats are insulating not just against the cold, but also against the heat. Dogs with thick coats naturally shed, so they have lighter coats in the summer. Brush your dog’s fur regularly to allow for better air circulation. If you still want to give your longhaired dog a summer cut, use a professional groomer and never shave down to the skin.

5. Never leave a pet alone in a parked vehicle
Even with the windows down and AC on, pets can overheat in cars. How hot is too hot? On an 85-degree day, the inside of a parked car can reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes. Never leave a pet alone in a parked vehicle. It can lead to fatal heat stroke. It’s also illegal in Nevada to “allow a cat or dog to remain unattended in a parked or standing motor vehicle during a period of extreme heat or cold or in any other manner that endangers the health or safety of the cat or dog.” It’s best to leave them at home indoors — just think how excited they’ll be to greet your return!

6. Recognize the risks
Just like people, the old, the young, the overweight. and the sick are more at risk from heat-related illnesses than other dogs. Additionally, breeds with snub noses, such as pugs, shih tzus, Boston terriers and boxers, have more difficulty in extreme heat than other breeds since they can’t pant as effectively. Persian cats are also more susceptible to overheating

7. Watch for signs of heat stroke
Heat stroke is dangerous for animals, and can quickly turn deadly. Watch for signs like:
• Heavy panting
• Glazed eyes
• Rapid heartbeat
• Difficulty breathing
• Excessive thirst
• Excessive drooling
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Seizures or unconsciousness

If your pets experience any of these symptoms, take them to the vet immediately. Provide water, get them into a cool spot, apply ices packs/cold towels to the pet’s head, neck, and chest or run cool – not cold – water over them. Organ failure can begin soon after the symptoms start, so the sooner emergency aid is administered, the better.

8. Apply pet-safe sunscreen to your dog 
Sunburn can affect pets the same way it affects humans – pain, peeling, and skin cancer. Use a pet-safe sunscreen on unprotected areas, like the tips of the ears, the skin around the lips, and the tip of the nose. 

9. Exercise only with caution
Many dogs are high-energy and love a good game of ball or frisbee. Keep any exercise sessions extremely short and have water available. If you aren’t comfortable exercising in the heat, then your pets aren’t going to be either. Definitely take it easy until the temperatures cool off.

10. For fun, get a dog pool
For dogs, you may want to consider investing in a child’s wading pool so they can get inside and splash around if they want. Never leave pets unsupervised around a swimming pool. Not all dogs are great swimmers and unless you have taught them, may not know how to get out of the pool.

If you are thinking about getting pets, please consider adopting. You can search pets at https://animalfoundation.com/adopt-a-pet . 

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