If you’re ready to start looking for Las Vegas homes for sale but are not sure where to begin, look no further. The Real Estate Guy team is here to assist you.
We have years of experience helping people buy and sell homes in and around Las Vegas and are dedicated to meeting your exact needs.
Whether you need a single or multi-family home, a townhouse, or something else, we’ve got you covered.
Call us at 702-310-6683 today to get started with one of our friendly and experienced real estate agents.
To learn more about what you should remember when looking for Las Vegas homes for sale, keep reading. We’ve put a list together for your reference.
1. Narrow Down What You Can Afford
We all know the feeling of wanting to go big when buying a new home, but more often than not, when you’re looking for Las Vegas homes for sale, the best approach is to be conservative.
You’ll want to narrow down what you can and can’t afford by getting pre-approved for a mortgage loan. Then, once you know what amount of mortgage you qualify for, you’ll be able to create a concrete list of viable Las Vegas homes for sale that you can either curate yourself or talk to your real estate agent about.
Avoiding Homebuyers’ Temptation
Getting pre-approved for a mortgage loan not only helps you know what you can afford but also helps you avoid the inevitable temptations that you’ll experience when looking for a home.
Essentially, if you know what you can afford before you begin your search, you’re less likely to extend yourself beyond your means than if you start your search without having a limit in place.
In this respect, getting pre-approved is very much a helpful psychological trick. But, of course, this doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll remain within your budget.
Your pre-approval simply limits how much you can borrow. If you want to cover the difference between your loan and the price of your house by paying out of pocket or by taking an additional loan from a third party, you can certainly do so.
Many families take this approach. In fact, a survey by HomeAdvisor found that 25% of buyers are willing to exceed their budget by as much as $100,000 to secure their preferred home.
Finding The Right Home For Your Budget
To help you find a home that makes the most of your budget, our real estate agents take a detailed profile of everything you want your home to have.
Once we have a good idea of the style and feel of your dream home and the various amenities you are looking for, we’ll task our team members with creating a curated list of candidates for your consideration.
Our list of Las Vegas homes for sale is extensive, and our candidates are always carefully selected to provide you with the most bang for your buck.
To get started or to learn more, call us today at 702-310-6683. Once we have your candidates in place, we’ll schedule you a showing. We offer both in-person and virtual showings.
2. Pinpoint What Size House You Need
After you’ve narrowed down what you can afford, the next step is to figure out what size you want your house to be. Whatever your preference is, the best thing you can do is have a clear idea of this before beginning your search.
3. Determine What Features You Want Your Dream Home To Have
Beyond the price and size of your home, you’ll also want to create a detailed list of your home’s preferred features.
While our curated list covers essentials, the big question to ask here is, “What do you consider to be optional?”
The following may or may not be optional to you:
- Having a certain layout
- Having quick access to amenities
- Having a home with a high level of privacy
- Having a large backyard
A Quick Note About Your Home’s Layout
A lot of people don’t consider the layout of their home to be an optional feature. If you agree, and your home’s layout is very important to you, then you’ll want to get it right from the start.
Perhaps you’ve met that person who bought a house they weren’t truly in love with and ended up with buyer’s remorse, or even worse, spending thousands of dollars to remodel their home.
Our team helps you avoid mistakes like this by working closely with you during your search for Las Vegas homes for sale.
Our listings cover hundreds of floor plans and many home styles, from cottage to contemporary and much more, which means the sky’s the limit with what we can present to you.
4. Carefully Check The Condition Of Las Vegas Homes For Sale
Renovations are not always easy and can actually be quite difficult to complete.
This is why, before making any purchase, you’ll want to ask yourself whether or not you’re ready to make the necessary repairs.
We would recommend being very careful about what renovations you are willing to take on when looking for (16) Las Vegas homes for sale.
What Works Best For New Homebuyers
New homebuyers are almost always better off buying move-in-ready homes or homes that only require minor repairs.
The exceptions here are (1) if you have experience with making home repairs or (2) if you have a strong interest in learning how to renovate a home in a serious way. If either of these applies to you, then you could certainly benefit from purchasing a fixer-upper.
What Works Best For Experienced Homebuyers
Other than some exceptions, experienced homebuyers are more likely to benefit from purchasing a DIY home than newer buyers for two main reasons.
One, they already understand the homebuying process and how to work with the builder, bank, insurance company, inspector, and so on.
Two, they generally have greater financial resources than newer buyers.
Pay Attention To What Could Cost You The Most
Whether you are buying a ready-to-go home or a home with major repair issues, you’ll want to take a careful inventory of what needs fixing.
Potential areas of concern when it comes to Las Vegas homes for sale include but are not limited to your roof, foundation, heating and cooling systems, plumbing, flooring, and insulation.
An Inspection Is The Best Way To Find Issues With Your Prospective Home
At the end of the day, you’ll want to hire a competent, trusted professional to inspect your property. This is the best way to spot issues that could cost you a lot of money.
If you have any questions about what you can expect from your home inspection, we encourage you to call us.
Inspections are your first line of defense against problematic issues with your home, so it’s a very good idea to ask lots of questions before and during the process.
5. Think Through Your Location
Where you live plays a huge role in your quality of life.
Would you rather, for instance, live in a quiet gated community or right next to a huge waste disposal facility?
Although most people won’t have to deal with such an extreme choice, making rash decisions about your location can lead to long-term consequences that ultimately make your home less enjoyable to live in.
Fortunately, this is another problem we help you avoid. We’re here to make sure you find the safest and best Las Vegas homes for sale.
Side Note About Location To First-Time Homebuyers
One thing we want to mention here is that it’s quite possible when working with other real estate companies to end up with a real estate agent who is more interested in making a commission off of you than providing you with a high-quality home.
This is a quick gain approach that doesn’t serve you as the client.
Our approach at The Real Estate Guy is the exact opposite of this. We’re a people-first company, which means you only receive 5-star support from us at every turn during your search for Las Vegas homes for sale.
6. Have A Plan For Your Yard
Most people know that Las Vegas owes its existence to the Colorado River, which supplies the city with around 90 percent of its water.
The abundant and readily available supply of clean, cheap water has long made maintaining a vibrant backyard here fairly easy to do. But recently, big changes have been put in motion.
A New Las Vegas Mandate
Last year, the use of ornamental grasses was outlawed in Las Vegas, and plans were put in place to phase them out completely by 2027.
This move signals the beginning of a post-lawn era within the city and the need for desert-friendly landscaping that will replace the classic manicured lawns we’ve all come to know.
If you’re disappointed by this news, you’ll be happy to know that Las Vegas families still have plenty of options available, such as the desert marigold, Nevada agave, and the desert willow. These are just a few of the many options that work well with a rock and gravel base.
For many people, the transition, as opposed to being a burden, is a welcome relief since it means a reduced water bill and fewer demands on their time and attention.
But if you’re concerned that the new mandates will leave you with an ugly lawn, don’t worry. We can put you in contact with talented landscapers who will make your yard beautiful while still keeping it eco-friendly.
Lawns Are Just One Piece Of The Puzzle
Your lawn, as important as it is, is just one part of what makes a great yard. Your yard, particularly your backyard, can be used for so much more.
You may want your property to come with the following elements:
- Privacy fence
- Deck
- Pool
- Swing set
- Animal house
- Patio
- Hot tub
- Garden
- Utility shed
- Workshop
This is not a complete list, although it’s a good representation of what you’ll find available in our listings.
7. Pick A Home With Reasonable Utilities
Inflation and the rising cost of living have made high-quality, efficient heating and cooling systems more valuable than ever and certainly something you should pay attention to when searching for Las Vegas homes for sale.
If you’re a new homebuyer, you’d be amazed by the difference a good heating and cooling system makes.
Forbes states that, “Heating costs are responsible for around 30% of the typical home utility bill—more than any other ‘system’ in the home.”
Spending more than this amount on your heating and cooling bill because of an inefficient system is the last thing you want to do.
The same holds true of poor insulation. If your home is not properly insulated, you can expect a higher monthly heating bill during Las Vegas’ cool winter months.
Side Note: When Buying A Home, Ask If It Comes With Appliances
As an aside, it’s smart to ask if your new home will come with appliances.
While items such as a washer and dryer, refrigerator, and countertop microwave aren’t necessarily going to come with your new home, they can certainly save you time and expense if they do.
The truth is, a fair number of homeowners don’t want to go through the trouble of transporting their old appliances and are willing to part with them, either freely, or more likely, at a discounted price.
In order to secure a seller’s appliances, you’ll need to make a note in the contract.
In Addition To Appliances, There Are Safety Items To Consider
Other items to ask about when looking for Las Vegas homes for sale are smoke detectors, security cameras, and outlet covers.
8. Keep In Mind Your Cost Of Living
Before purchasing a home, you’ll want to consider the cost of living in your local area.
Factors that impact the cost of living include:
- Inflation
- Local food and gas prices
- Utility bills
- Property taxes
- Transportation
- Health care
- Childcare
- Homeowners insurance
- HOA fees (optional)
Let’s briefly take a look at a few of these items, specifically childcare, homeowners insurance, and HOA fees.
Cost of Childcare In Nevada and Las Vegas Further Explored
Did you know that childcare can cost families as much as 34 percent of their total annual income?
Child Care Aware Of America states that, “The national average price of child care for one child is between $9,200 and $9,600 a year. That represents more than 10% of household income for a married couple and 34% of household income for a single parent.”
You probably don’t need this statistic, though, to know how pricey childcare can be. If you’re one of the millions of people in the United States dealing with ultra-high childcare costs, then you’ve experienced the difficulty of paying for it firsthand.
Despite how tough conditions are for many families, the good news is that the ultra-high cost of childcare is not ubiquitous across the country.
Childcare in some states is far cheaper than in others. For example, in Mississippi, the average cost of childcare is around $4,800 per year or $400 per month, while childcare in Massachusetts costs around $20,000 per year or $1,600 per month.
The average cost of childcare in Nevada, meanwhile, is around $12,000 per year or $1,000 per month.
While $1,000 per month is still pricey, having that extra $600 a month compared to what you would pay in an expensive state like Massachusetts makes a world of difference if you are struggling to make ends meet.
Homeowners Insurance Further Explored
As for homeowners insurance, it is comparatively low in Nevada compared to other states.
Homeowners insurance in Nevada only costs around $822 per year for $250,000 in dwelling coverage, as opposed to the United States average of $1,300.
Homeowners Association Fees In Las Vegas Further Explored
Regarding HOA fees, how much they cost varies widely in Las Vegas, running anywhere from $15 to $600 per month, although the average hovers around $100 per month.
During your search for Las Vegas homes for sale, you’ll want to ask yourself if paying $100 every month is worth the perks you receive, such as having a guarded entrance to your community, general neighborhood security, and quick access to amenities.
Paying HOA fees is not a requirement for living in Las Vegas, as there are a number of neighborhoods within the city that don’t have them.
If you’ve got questions about what being part of a homeowners association entails, we can answer those questions for you based on our extensive knowledge of the communities in and around Las Vegas.
We’ll give you insight into how much you can expect to pay, how your HOA is run, what the bylaws are, and also whether or not your prospective HOA has been involved in lawsuits.
This last point is particularly critical since you might not want to get involved with an HOA that has a long history of lawsuits.
9. Make Sure To Time Your Offer Right
When buying a home, acting fast may be necessary, especially if the market is hot and homes are moving quickly.
On the other hand, you don’t want to rush into making a decision, which is why we work with you every step of the way to help you strike the perfect balance.
10. Remember To Use A Real Estate Agent
In our opinion, the best thing you can do when looking for Las Vegas homes for sale is to work with an experienced and trustworthy Las Vegas real estate company that can guide you through the entire process.
Finding your dream home doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, with the right team behind you, it’s a rather enjoyable process.
Many of our clients will tell you that they’ve greatly enjoyed the buying and selling process with us, thanks to our honest, open-hearted approach.
When you work with our team, you’re more than just a client or a number—you’re our top priority.
Relationships are the cornerstone of our culture at The Real Estate Guy. If this resonates with you, then call us today at 702-310-6683, and one of our experienced real estate agents will be happy to assist you.
Why Work With Us?
Aaron Taylor, The Real Estate Guy, is a licensed real estate professional who runs one of the top real estate brands in Las Vegas.
As the host of the Real Estate Live radio show, Aaron is a well-respected real estate expert with a diverse audience. He is also a seasoned public speaker who has helped hundreds of real estate agents across the country deepen their knowledge of the industry and improve their customer service skills.
Aaron Taylor’s team at The Real Estate Guy is composed of over 20 talented professionals, all of whom are dedicated to providing you with top-notch customer service during your search for Las Vegas homes for sale.
The Real Estate Guy team is well-versed in traditional sales, short sales, cash advances for sellers, REOs, flips, probate, buying distressed houses for cash, property management, and commercial sales.
Want To Know More?
If you’d like to know more, we’d love to have a conversation with you. You can call us directly or contact us via our Contact Form.
If you choose to fill out our Contact Form, one of our agents will reach out to you to learn more about your needs and how we can assist you.
