Las Vegas Real Estate Blog

Summerlin Las Vegas.
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Popularity: 16%

Realty Profits Understated — As Usual
by Peter G. Miller

If you’ve seen the June issue of Money magazine you know that the topic of the month is real estate and specifically, “How Real Estate Really Builds Wealth.” Money does a great job with a number of insightful articles and a bevy of statistics.
And yet there is one particular item with which I disagree. Emblazoned in black and white on page 73 the magazine tells us that, “the pace of home appreciation nationwide will cool from last year’s 7% to more like 3% to 5% this year.” Why am I discomforted with such numbers and predictions? There are two reasons, actually.

First, I’m not sure how anyone can predict tomorrow’s home appreciation, either nationwide or down the street. For decades teams of soothsayers and economists have attempted this trick and no one seems to have consistently determined what the future will bring. Such forecasts would be much more interesting if there was a penalty for being wrong, say the loss of a crystal ball, advanced degree — or both.

Second, and more significantly, real estate appreciation is greatly understated at 7 percent.

To understand why, imagine that you bought a home for $1 million with 10 percent down. You have now acquired an asset for $100,000 in cash plus a $900,000 mortgage. You have to live somewhere, preferably indoors, and so the mortgage payments and repairs can be seen as “rent” because you have the use of the property. As to the $100,000, if you didn’t buy the home that cash would be available for alternative investments. In effect, your investment is not $1 million — you didn’t bring $1 million in a sack to closing — it is $100,000.

Now suppose your property really did gain 7 percent in market value. At the end of the year your manse would be worth $1,070,000. You’re ahead by $70,000. How much did you invest? $100,000. Is $70,000 equal to 7 percent of $100,000? Even with the new math the right figure is 70 percent.

So how does real estate really build wealth? Leverage.

All of which brings us to the chart on page 80 of Money’s June edition, a chart which attempts to show the comparative performance of various investment options between 1975 and 2002. Small stocks do best in this comparison, followed by large stocks, bonds, real estate, and gold.

Now let me see: How many people buy stock with 10 percent down?

The better way to create a comparison would be to chart the appreciation, if any, of actual cash investments — say $100,000 placed in stock, bonds, homes, and gold using the leverage typically available for each investment option. Leverage, after all, is a legitimate investment tool, one which justified margins on Wall Street. And if leverage is okay on Wall Street, why is it not okay with real estate?

Leverage, of course, is an equal-opportunity concept — it multiples results when values rise and it also multiples results when values fall, therefore it is a notion which cannot be endorsed without a strong dose of caution and reality.

There is, however, a practical difference between leverage in real estate and leverage on Wall Street: If home values fall no one says you have to pay off your mortgage by Friday as long as you continue to make full and timely payments. With securities, if you bought stock on margin and values fall sufficiently you will receive a margin call demanding more money or allowing your shares to be sold at current and depressed values.

Once we’re done calculating investment results with leverage, we should also calculate amortization, the process of paying down debt on a monthly basis over time. The effect of amortization in real estate is to reduce monthly mortgage “costs” and instead create a kind of forced savings. Mortgage amortization may not be the world’s best investment, but if the choice is reducing debt or losing money — the option most popular on Wall Street during the past three years — then amortization looks awfully good.

What about stock dividends? Yup, they’re absolutely a benefit for shareholders when paid — but there sure seem to be a lot of stocks which pay no dividends or where dividends — unlike amortization — are uncertain.

Lastly, there is a little matter which is hard to reflect in charts and graphs. Nobody buys real estate hoping the price will fall, something which cannot be said of short-sellers on Wall Street.
Source: Realty Times

For more information on the units, contact MillionSaverHomes.com is local Las Vegas real estate broker at 702.212.3513.

Popularity: 13%

8 Tips for Protecting Yourself When You Buy a House
by Michele Dawson

If you’re getting ready to buy a house during what is typically the busiest buying and selling time of the year, then offers may be flying, loans may seem confusing, and everything may be moving way too fast. That’s why it’s important to do everything you can to protect yourself throughout the entire homebuying process.
Low mortgage interest rates and a strong underlying demand for housing drove total state existing-home sales to a new record in the first quarter of 2003 with 34 states experiencing sales increases over the first quarter of 2002, according to the National Association of Realtors.

And the NAR says that many states that saw sales decline actually had a shortage of homes for sale - and the biggest price increases.

What this means if you’re buying during the frenzied spring and summer months is that you’ll need to do everything you can to protect yourself as you make offers, obtain your loan, buy insurance, and strike up contracts.

Freddie Mac offers a number of tips:

Get pre-approved for a loan. With competition fierce, you’ll want to be ready to make an offer. With a pre-approved loan, you’ll have more clout as the seller considers your offer.

Make sure it’s in writing. Don’t settle for verbal agreements. If the seller says he’ll replace the carpet or leave his washer and dryer, get it in writing.

Get a good-faith estimate. Your mortgage lender is required to provide you with a good-faith estimate of closing costs within three days of receiving your application. They need to provide it in writing. If you don’t have to pay loan application fees, you may want to compare lenders and compare closing costs.

Don’t settle for the first lender you come across. Contact at least three lenders and compare rates.

Lock-in your rate. One of the most stressful parts of the loan process is watching rates inch up and down each day and trying to figure out when to lock in your rate. Once you do lock in, be sure to get a written statement that outlines your interest rate and length of the lock.

Get a home inspection. A professional home inspector will examine the house’s major systems and let you know if there are any problems or defects. You can then use the information in your negotiations. Look for an inspector who is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors. Members are required to have completed at least 250 paid professional home inspections and passed two written exams that test the inspector’s knowledge. Also, ask for references.

Shop for homeowners’ insurance as soon as your offer is accepted. The National Association of Realtors recently cautioned homebuyers to not take homeowners insurance for granted. You and your spouse may have a clean claims history and a stellar credit history - something insurance companies use to determine whether they will insure you - but it’s not just you they’re looking at. If the house you’re eyeing has had claims, there’s a chance they won’t insure you, especially if it’s a water-related claim.

Work with a REALTOR®. A Realtor’s role extends far beyond just finding a buyer, or a nice house in a good neighborhood. In many cases, your Realtor is there to provide a reality check, and to handle the tough negotiations involved before closing.
Finally, give yourself enough time between your closing and your move date, just in case there are delays in the closing process.
Source: Realty Times

For more information, contact MillionSaverHomes.com who is local Las Vegas real estate broker at 702.212.3513.

Popularity: 19%

What You Should Know About Making an Offer
by Michele Dawson

Once you’re preapproved for a loan and you’ve survived the rigors of house hunting, the time will come when you find a house that you’d like to call home. But first, you’ll need to make an offer.
The offer is the first step in the negotiation process. A good basic offer includes the price you’re willing to pay for the house, your financing terms, and contingencies, such as specifying what will happen if negative findings come up during the inspection.

Purchase contracts vary from state to state. Regardless of where you live, if you’re making an offer, you want it to be carefully worded and well thought out.

In the book “Home Buying for Dummies (Hungry Minds Inc., 2001),” authors Eric Tyson and Ray Brown say there are three key elements to a good offer.

Begin, they say, with a realistic offering price. Your REALTOR® will help you with this, but basically you want to come up with a price based on similar houses sold in the neighborhood in the past six months. You’ll also want to keep the local conditions in mind. In other words, if houses are selling quickly and many houses are receiving multiple offers, you’ll need to bid competitively.

The second element to include in your offer is realistic financing terms. If you’re pre-approved for a loan, be sure to include that in the offer so the seller knows you’re serious. It will also give you an edge over any other offers that don’t have a pre-approved loan.

And finally, include a property inspection clause. What if it’s determined the roof needs to be replaced, or the heating and cooling system is faulty and it will take $3,000 to fix it?

“It’s smart to use property inspection clauses that enable you to reopen negotiations regarding any necessary corrective work after you’ve received the inspection reports,” the homebuying Dummies book says.

Meanwhile, Freddie Mac says there are additional items that should be covered in the offer:

Any concessions you’d like the seller to make, like paying part of the closing costs or providing an allowance to get worn carpet replaced.

Financing contingencies. If you’re in a hot seller’s market, your loan should already be approved. But if it’s not, you may choose to make the offer contingent on approval of a mortgage with a specific rate and terms.

Conveyances. This includes what is included in the sale. For instance, a refrigerator.

The amount of your deposit.
Also, most offers include a deadline for a response, perhaps three days.

Finally, put everything in writing. Don’t rely on verbal agreements. If the seller tells you he’ll provide a carpet allowance for the shabby avocado-colored carpet but it isn’t specified in the offer, then you may not get the money - and be stuck with green carpet.
Source: Realty Times

For more information on the units, contact MillionSaverHomes.com is local Las Vegas real estate broker at 702.212.3513.

Popularity: 18%

Tips To Improve Your Curb Appeal
by Bill Ball

Every seller knows that their home should have “curb appeal.” But what exactly does that mean? Before you go to the expense of replacing major components, try some of these tips:

Trim the vegetation around your home — particularly those bushes that may conceal windows. Then be sure that your landscaping looks great all of the time, even if you have to hire a gardener while your home is listed.

Invite visitors into your home by placing yellow flowers near or at the entry porch. Yellow draws the eye, and potential buyers will feel immediately welcome.

If there is patio furniture or BBQ and playground equipment in the backyard, be sure it is in good repair.

If you know the day that your home will be shown, buy a loaf of frozen bread and bake it before the potential buyers arrive. Leave the exhaust hood off so the odor will spread throughout the house. When I was a real estate agent, (because I couldn’t bake bread), I learned to take a cookie sheet with me to my open houses. I would put the oven on warm, and place the cookie sheet inside with a little cinnamon on it. As the cinnamon warmed up, well, you get the idea.

In the Master Suite bath a pleasant odor is a good idea too. Do not use potpourri. Many people are allergic to it. Instead, get some cheap strawberry bath bubbles at the drug store, and run a half tub full of hot water with the bubbles. After you let the water out, the room will have a pleasing atmosphere, and most people won’t know why.

I think it goes without saying, but I’ve learned to say it anyway…..the family room and a child’s room needs to be picked up, and the beds made.

Take down family photos on the hallway and living room walls. If you’re trying to sell your home, it pays to let the buyer imagine their photos on the walls. I don’t think this is necessary in the Master Suite — As a matter of fact I believe that family photos on the dresser there and around the TV entertainment area of your home imply that this house is a “good family” place.

Speaking of hearth and home impressions, nothing says that more than a fireplace. If it is cold outside, light your fireplace, (provided it doesn’t smoke). The image of a warm fire is universally appealing to buyers.

Remove excess furniture. I know, ALL of your furniture is necessary, but….. Take a tour of the model homes at your local builder, and you’ll find furniture that is two-thirds of normal size, and very little of it. Why? Because it makes the rooms look larger.

Speaking of making things look larger, my last suggestion is the hardest one for me. My garage has never been clean, but you should clean yours out before you list your home, even it this means you have rent a storage facility. Also, leave the cars out when your home is to be shown.
If these tips don’t help, then you can consider doing the expensive things. But give the tips above a try first. I can testify they can make a home appealing and that appealing homes get more offers.

Finally, if possible, you should leave the premises while your home is be shown to potential buyers. Your presence makes buyers uncomfortable, and they may not linger long enough, or be honest enough with their agent, if they think you can hear their conversation.
Source: Realty Times

For more information, contact MillionSaverHomes.com who is local Las Vegas real estate broker at 702.212.3513.

Popularity: 18%

Secrets To A Successful Move
by Diane Benson Harrington

Planning to move this summer? You’re not alone — summer is the busiest time of year for professional movers, according to the American Moving and Storage Association. It’s an arduous process, but these tips will make your transition much smoother.

If you’re planning to use a moving company, call now. As busy as they are, they usually need plenty of notice — often at least six weeks or much more if you’re moving a long distance.

Be sure to build in some overlap between the closing/possession date of your new home and the last day of the lease on your rental (or closing date of your current home). Moving always takes much longer than you think.

Pare down your belongings. There’s no sense moving things you don’t need or want. Look through your house for rarely used items. Discard anything that’s beyond repair, have a yard sale to get rid of the rest, and plan to load unsold merchandise into your car right away so you can take it to the charity of your choice.

Make notes about your new house — room measurements, door measurements, location of electric, cable, and phone outlets — so you can determine exactly where your belongings will go. Measure appliances to make sure they fit the space available.

If the previous homeowners are taking their curtains and blinds, you’ll want to measure windows in places you want privacy immediately and buy curtains or blinds before you arrive.

Start arranging now for phone and utility hookups. Phone companies, especially, now need a few days (or even a week or more) to get you connected. Arrange now for the type of internet connection you want and order extra phone jacks or cable outlets if you need them. Fill out a change of address form with the Post Office. If you have automatic debits on your bank account, alert your creditors if you’re changing banks.

You can buy boxes and packing material from a moving company or other sources, but that can be expensive. Instead, ask grocery stores, electronics stores and office supply stores for their discarded boxes. Invest in a tape gun, and start saving up newspapers so you’ll have plenty of packing material if you don’t want to buy bubble wrap.

Whether you use a mover or pack yourself, consider using a product like Pack-N-Label’s moving kit. Dozens of preprinted labels for every room of the house provide an instant checklist of items. Labels are color-coded by room so your movers will instantly know where to take each box. The comprehensive kit also includes the IRS form for moving expenses, preprinted lists for taking a household inventory, as well as a sheet of moving and packing tips.

Be sure to pack a box of essentials — a telephone, a couple of changes of clothes, a few pots, pans, dishes, utensils, toiletries, and medications — to get you through the first few days. Also, if your mover is late and there are items you couldn’t live without for a few days, consider taking that in your own car.

If using a mover, be sure to pack any small, nonbreakable, valuable items separately so you can take it with you in your own car. Large valuable items, such as artwork or electronics, should be clearly noted on the mover’s inventory form in case of damage during transit. Do buy insurance to cover any damage that may occur.

Take the time to record the makes, models and serial numbers of your electronics and other items in a notebook or on a sheet of paper. Put this information, along with owners’ manuals, extra keys, birth certificates, car titles, wills, insurance information, and other vital documents, in a special folder that you’ll keep with you. In your new home, find a place for this folder (or put it in a safety deposit box), so you’ll always know where these important papers are.

Before you unpack, get a clean start by wiping out drawers and cupboards, sweeping out closets and solid-surface floors and vacuuming the carpets. Next, make up the beds and put towels in the bathrooms. Then you can take your time with the rest of the unpacking.
Source: Realty Times

For more information, contact MillionSaverHomes.com who is local Las Vegas real estate broker at 702.212.3513.

Popularity: 16%

Know The Signs Of Foundation Problems
by Michele Dawson

Do your doors or windows jam when you try to open them? Are your walls or doors cracked? If so, it could be a sign of something more serious - foundation problems. When the soil underneath your foundation expands when it’s wet or contracts when it’s dry, the foundation can potentially shift if part of the soil expands or contracts and the rest doesn’t.
Poor drainage can be a major contributor to soil moisture gains. Roof runoff should be directed away from the house via gutters. And your gutter downspouts shouldn’t release water next to the foundation. Surface drainage next to the foundation should slope away from the house about a quarter inch per foot.

Those in the foundation repair business say another trigger to potential problems is when a section of soil isn’t compacted properly or consistently like the others, causing one section of the house to drop.

Ken Marquardt, who repairs foundations for a living in Eugene, Ore., says owners of new homes shouldn’t assume that their homes will be free from foundation problems just because the house is new. “We’ve done repairs on houses as young as two years old, and many within five years,” he told Concrete Network, a consumer web site devoted to a range of concrete services. “Nine out of 10 have bad soil, especially the newer houses.”

If your front door sticks and you can’t get in and out, then consider yourself warned: you may have a foundation problem. “People usually freak out when the door doesn’t work and are clued in,” he said. Some cases are much more severe, like the sinkholes - about two feet across and 10 inches deep - that pepper a Hudson, Fla. Neighborhood.

The St. Petersburg Times, in a June 2 article, said residents of a neighborhood began noticing unusual depressions in their yards. Engineers began investigating and ultimately discovered a giant air pocket beneath one home, a void starting at 25 feet down and ending at 48 feet down. Many homeowners in the neighborhood ultimately discovered sinkholes. But once the problem is repaired - usually with steel pins - the appraised value returns to normal and the restored houses are selling at an average pace. Once the workers reinforce the foundation with steel pins and fill the underground voids with grout, Minderman said, the homes are good as new. The repaired homes fetch close to their pre-sinkhole price, he said.

Meanwhile, when it comes to other foundation problems, the cost to homeowners runs the gamut, depending on the extent of the problem. But if basement problems aren’t fixed, you could potentially be left with a decreased property value, an unhealthy home environment that can lead to respiratory problems, an unsound foundation, and a basement that can’t be used or finished.

One of the solutions to an ailing foundation involves piling or piering - the technique of driving steel pipe pilings to remedy failing building foundations and to correct foundation settlement.

Some companies use high-carbon, steel pilings that are driven vertically by 70,000 lbs. of hydraulic power to an average of 22 feet below the home to anchor the structure and prevent future settlement. A hydraulic pump uses a synchronized lift to raise the affected areas of a house simultaneously to maximum practical recovery.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Waterproofing and Structural Repair Contractors says you could have foundation problems if you experience any of the following:

Sticky or squeaky doors.
A door sill that separates from the frame.
Windows that stick.
Cracks in interior walls near corners of doors or windows.
Nails popping out of sheetrock or gypsum board.
Curling or separating wallpaper.
Curling and tearing of existing sheetrock repairs.
Leaks and cracks in and around the fireplace.
Cracks in the exposed concrete grade beam of the house.
Caulking that pulls away from exterior surfaces.
Nails popping out of corner frames.
Obvious cracks in brick and mortar.
Cracks and uneven elevations in structures attached to patios.
Source: Realty-Times

For more information on the units, contact MillionSaverHomes.com is local Las Vegas real estate broker at 702.212.3513.

Popularity: 9%

Should You Buy Or Sell First?
by Michele Dawson

For homeowners aiming to sell their home and buy another, it’s the classic real estate, which came first, the chicken or the egg, question - buy or sell first?
If you sell first, you may find yourself under a tight deadline to find another house, or be forced in temporary quarters. If you buy first, you may be saddled with two mortgage payments for at least a couple months. You may need the money from the sale of your original home in order to pre-qualify for a loan for your new home. You may be facing a job relocation and need to sell quickly.

There are many variables involved; there is no universal correct answer. It basically comes down to your specific circumstances.

One school of thought is that there is generally less pressure and stress when you sell first, which lessens the risk of owning two houses, or none at all.

If you have the money to make two mortgage payments, the pressure is off. But if you need to sell your house in order to qualify for a loan, then you have no choice - you’ll have to sell first.

You can write a contingency contract, but if you really want the home, you’ll pay more of a premium, if the seller will even entertain a contingent offer. If you go ahead with a contingent offer, then you may end up settling for less for the house you’re selling in an effort to get it sold quickly.

Another advantage to selling first is having the time to get pre-approved for your mortgage and see all the housing options in the price range you’d like to buy.

When your selling house is in contract, pick the three best homes of those you’ve viewed and prepare to make an offer on the one that best meets your needs. The worst that can happen is the right home isn’t available, and you end up in a short-term rental with the cash in your pocket and pre-approved financing for the balance you need. So you look like a cash buyer when you make an offer on the home you finally decide on.

But brisk selling conditions in some parts of the country require more aggressive tactics.

A strong market dictates that homebuyers focus on buying first, and selling later. In a fast market, buyers may obtain a mortgage commitment that is not contingent upon selling their existing homes. But, beware that a sale could drag on longer than you might expect.

Selling first isn’t the perfect solution. Some of the issues that may come up include:

Being forced out of your house before you have a new place available. Where will you live? Where will your kids go to school?

Having to move twice. Do you want to go through the hassle? Where will you store your extra furniture while you live with family and friends or rent an apartment?

Not being able to find a house you like. How long are you willing to live in temporary quarters until you find a suitable house?
Whichever way you go, it always seems to work out in the end. You won’t be homeless.

Source: Realty-Times

For more information, contact MillionSaverHomes.com who is local Las Vegas real estate broker at 702.212.3513.

Popularity: 21%

Buyers: Searching For Your Homeowner’s Insurance
by Michele Dawson

With homeowners insurance premiums soaring and an increasing number of companies tightening guidelines on just who - or what - they’ll insure, it’s especially important to start looking for insurance and learn what factors will lead to higher premiums even before you begin house hunting.
National Association of Realtors President Cathy Whatley said earlier this year that homeowners insurance premiums and the lack of available coverage have become significant barriers to homeownership. Most affected are those who have no credit history and existing homeowners who have water-related claims.

“In light of today’s insurance crisis, homebuyers should not take their insurability for granted,” she said. The Insurance Information Institute (III) says the average cost of homeowners insurance increased by 8 percent last year and is expected to rise another 9 percent this year. But many homeowners have seen increases ranging from 30 to 70 percent.

Catastrophes like Hurricane Andrew and the Northridge Earthquake have triggered the increases, the industry says. Over the past 12 years insurers paid out more than $100 billion in catastrophe related losses - about $700 million per month - many times more than in previous decades. Another contributor is mold. Multi-million dollar jury awards, what the industry describes as sensationalized reporting in the media and profiteering by some individuals have led to an explosion in mold claims and costs, the III says.

In an effort to aid homebuyers, the III recently produced a checklist for potential homeowners to follow when looking for insurance. You should begin, the industry group says, by making sure your credit report is accurate - credit histories are sometimes used to determine whether a company will insure you, and, if so, at what rate.

You should get a copy of your loss history report, such as a CLUE report from ChoicePoint or an A-PLUS report from Insurance Services Office. This is a record of home insurance claims you have filed. If you have not filed any insurance claims in the past five years, you won’t have a loss history report. The better your report, the better chance you’ll have of obtaining reasonably-priced insurance on the house you buy.

And if you’re renting, make sure you have renter’s insurance - it’s helpful to have insurance history when you obtain insurance for your new house.

Once you start looking for houses, the III says there are a number of factors that will affect your insurance rates, including:

The construction of the house. If you live in hurricane country, brick is preferable. If you’re in an earthquake region, newer homes built to current codes will better withstand an earthquake.

The age of the house. Plaster walls, ceiling molding, wood floors, and other features on older houses cost more to replace.

Its condition. If you have a fixer-upper in mind, you may have to shell out more for insurance. The condition of the roof is especially important.

The major systems. The plumbing, heating and electrical systems can wear out, becoming more susceptible to fire or water damage.

Safety devices. Some insurance companies offer a discount for smoke, fire, and burglar alarms, as well as strong doors, dead-bolt locks and window locks.

Extra features like swimming pools and wood-burning stoves will raise your premium.

The location of the local fire department. The closer you are to a fire station with a professional - versus volunteer - crew, the better.
Once you find a house that you want to bid on, you’ll want to learn more about the house’s history. Ask the owner for a copy of the house’s insurance loss history report. This will cover any claims in the past five years.

Also, a professional inspection will uncover anything that will raise a red flag for insurance companies, such as water damage or termites and the condition of the electrical system, septic tank and water heater.

Once you start bidding you should find an insurance professional. Get references from family and friends. Shop around for the best coverage and the best rates.

After you’ve bought your house and have secured insurance, the III recommends you take the highest deductible you can afford.
Source: Realty Times

For more information on the units, contact MillionSaverHomes.com is local Las Vegas real estate broker at 702.212.3513.

Popularity: 24%

Keep Your Home And Identity Safe
by Michele Dawson

If you’re gearing up for a vacation or end-of-the-summer weekend getaway, you’ll want to keep not only your home safe, but your good name as well.
Most of us hear annual tips about taking measures to keep burglars at bay and keep valuables safe while we’re away. But some burglars are now targeting more than just jewelry and electronics. This class of thieves wants to break into your house to steal your identity - your social security number, credit card numbers, or any other information that enables them to commit fraud or theft.

The Insurance Information Institute (III) says the average loss to the homeowner when a burglary occurs is $1,381. And the industry pays out more than $1 billion in claims.

When it comes to identify fraud, the Federal Trade Commission says it was the No. 1 fraud complaint last year, accounting for 43 percent of the complaints lodged with the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel database - 220,000 in 2001 to 380,000 in 2002.

The FTC and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse say the average victim will incur $18,000 in credit card losses and will spend 175 hours straightening out the mess with all the agencies and companies involved.

The FTC says some of the most common tactics include:

Opening a new credit card account using your name, date of birth, and Social Security number. When they use the credit card and don’t pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report.

Calling your credit card issuer while pretending to be you and changing the mailing address on your credit card account. Then, your imposter runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to the new address, you may not immediately realize there’s a problem.

Establishing cellular phone service in your name.

Opening a bank account in your name and writing bad checks on that account.
Whenever you go on vacation or leave your house for an extended period of time, it’s important to protect your computer and keep important documents safe.

The III says you should turn off your computer and disconnect it from the Internet. If you have personal information on your computer make sure it is password-protected or difficult to access so hackers/burglars can’t obtain it.

Also, the III says you shouldn’t leave personal documents in the obvious spots like a desk or home office. Instead, put them in a lock box and have copies kept at a separate location.

Some insurance companies offer identity theft insurance as part of a homeowners policy; some sell it as a separate policy. Policies typically cost $25 to $50 and provide up to $25,000 worth of coverage.

But the most important thing you can do is make sure burglars don’t make it into your house in the first place. In fact, nine out of ten home break-ins could have been prevented if homeowners knew how to burglarproof their homes, the III says. Many burglars look for easy, quick targets. They don’t want to bother with a house that takes too long to break into.

The National Crime Prevention Council, a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public on crime prevention, and the III offer these specific tips to follow before you go on vacation:

Examine your house from the street and make sure no valuables, like expensive electronics or artwork, are visible from the street. If a passerby can see your belongings, so can criminals.

Lock and fasten all doors and windows. Doors should have deadbolt locks with a one-inch throw and reinforced strike plate.

Secure sliding glass doors. Place a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track to prevent an intruder from forcing the door open.

Always lock the door to your attached garage.

Make it appear that you’re home - use timers on lights, radios, and televisions.

Keep the perimeter of your home well lighted. You can do this by installing low-voltage outdoor lighting.

Never leave clues that you are away. Ask a neighbor to collect your mail and newspapers - or ask for them to be held. Don’t let mail sit in your mailbox, there could be credit card and bank statements that contain information an identity thief would love to have. You may also want to ask a neighbor to park in your driveway so it appears someone is home.

Keep some shades and blinds up and curtains open to keep a normal appearance.

Never leave a message on your answering machine saying you are on vacation.

Trim the shrubbery near your home’s entrance and walkway. This prevents a would-be burglar from hiding in tall, bushy foliage.

Organize or join a community watch program to protect your neighborhood.
Source: Realty Times

For more information, contact MillionSaverHomes.com who is local Las Vegas real estate broker at 702.212.3513.