For homebuyers interested in learning more about how the federal government’s Housing Recovery Act can help them, Prudential Americana Group and Housing For Nevada are providing a solution. The Nancy Storey Team of Prudential Americana has partnered with the statewide homeownership program to teach HUD-approved education courses. The courses, led by Housing for Nevada president John Smith, are a prerequisite for homebuyers to apply for HUD’s down-payment assistance programs. “In May, the federal government will release nearly $19 million in Southern Nevadato launch the Neighborhood Stabilization Program,” said Mark Stark, CEO of Prudential Americana Group. “The grants will be given... Read more →

Did you catch the video of contestant Susan Boyle from Britain's Got Talent yet? Here is the link on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY If you haven't, do yourself a favor and take the 7:07 minutes to watch it all - amazing, brilliant, uplifting, emotional, a true wake-up call and lesson for us all to take that chance and to not let anything or anyone hold you back. Notice the immediate and overwhelming positive reaction by the audience and judges when she begins to sing. You can't help being moved watching it on the video - it's that impactful. Listen to the comments... Read more →

The first key step to becoming an effective short sale listing agent is to know how to properly pre-qualify the seller and determine the likelihood of a successful short sale. Steve Kitnick and I have compiled the following strategies and questions to assist you in that process. Are you ready to become a Certified Short-Sale Professional? Recession-proof your career and capitalize on the amazing opportunity in our current real estate market now. (8 hrs of General CE) - SOLD OUT May 1, 2009, 9am to 5:30pm. - Class Added Fri. June 5th ~ 9am-5:30pm Lunch Included! First United Mortgage Bldg.... Read more →

Debbie Huber of Huber Appraisaland Home Pride Insectionsin Las Vegas is today's featured guest blogger. Debbie has been appraising residential homes in Las Vegas for over 20 years and holds the SRA designation (Senior Residential Appraiser). She is also a Past President of the Appraisal Commission for the State of Nevada. Virtually any subdivision or extended market area can be studied using MLS to determine what changes (if any) have occurred in overall prices. To do this type of analysis in an abbreviated format, you can take the following steps: Search the subdivision or area you wish to study, and... Read more →

Thanks to the Arizona REALTOR Magazine and their online version (www.AARNews.com) for publishing my blog post from August 2008 in their April 2009 Edition. One update to the article... February 2009 Las Vegas Closings: REO sales accounted for eighty percent (80%) of the February closings with another eight percent (8%) attributed to short sales. Original Post on Active Rain REO Reality Check - 10 Tips to Get Your REO Offers Accepted and Closed Real Estate Coach version: Buying REOs/Foreclosures – 10 Tips to Help Get Your Offer Accepted and Closed! Visit www.WBNLCoaching.com to learn more about our coaching program and... Read more →

Beware of Foreclosure Rescue Scams - Help Is Free! (Source: MakingHomeAffordable.gov) There is never a fee to get assistance or information about Making Home Affordable from your lender or a HUD-approved housing counselor. Beware of any person or organization that asks you to pay a fee in exchange for housing counseling services or modification of a delinquent loan. Do not pay – walk away! Beware of anyone who says they can “save” your home if you sign or transfer over the deed to your house. Do not sign over the deed to your property to any organization or individual unless... Read more →

A new weekly feature on the blog is "Weekly Real Estate News Links". Thanks to my fellow manager, George Head, who aggregates the best links on a weekly basis as a service to our agents to help keep everyone informed, educated and aware of "the news they can use!" Market the $8000 Tax Credit http://www.realtor.org/rmonews_and_commentary/articles/2009/0904_taxcredit Lots of Information at Census Site: http://www.factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en Changes to Code of Ethics that Affect Your Business Although the changes to the Code of Ethics for 2009 look small, they have a big impact on REALTORS'® business practices. Standard of Practice 1-15, which interprets Article 1,... Read more →

At the Prudential Real Estate Affiliates (PREA) National Sales Convention held March 29-31, one of the keynote speakers, Geoffrey Colvin (Senior Editor-at-large for Fortune Magazine) presented a compelling talk on our economic recovery, how we got here and how we are going to get out of it. As he was speaking, the thought that came to me was...What if everyone could stop focusing on the next "great depression" but rather see "The Great Opportunity". What have you been focusing on in the past months? Are you open to the opportunities in the market? Are you making the appropriate adjustments in... Read more →