Last week our water heater wasn't putting out as much hot water as it used to. Have you ever had that problem?  We contacted our plumber to come out and look at it, and he suggested we drain and flush the tank. Sure enough, this regular maintenance trick solved the problem and we learned our lesson.  Here's what he shared with us. Drain and Flush Water Heater Tank It's recom­mended you drain and flush your tank at least once a year. This helps remove debris and sedi­ment from the tank. Most water heaters have a plastic drain valve located at the bottom of the tank. Connect a garden hose to the drain valve. Be Careful, as these valves typi­cally are not of the best quality and can easily break. Once you have the hose attached to the drain valve Turn off the elec­tricity to the water hea... 08/05/2014

Wordless Wednesday - Under Contract 07/29/2014

1158 Steins Drive is Under Contract in 8 Days!  Another Las Cruces, N.M. home is Under Contract in less than two weeks! This super cute 1248 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath on a fully landscaped corner lot with refrigerated central air conditioning and easy access to HWY 70 is under agreement in only 8 days! Just another reason why choosing the right Realtor® to sell your home is so important. I don't just LIST homes, I SELL them! 07/19/2014

What is Rent to Own/Lease Purchase? Rent to own or lease purchase option is for someone who can't obtain a traditional loan, usually because of credit issues. Lease purchase properties these days are fewer and far between compared to just a few years back when the housing market was in the toilet. However, there are still sellers out there that are willing to go this route. These agreements vary and can be complicated so you should always work with a trusted real estate professional before entering into such an agreement. A lease purchase or lease option is an agreement between a lessee/buyer and a seller/lessor to agree to lease a property for a certain amount of time, usually approximately three years or less, for pre-determined monthly amount. Sounds a lot like renting right? Well, t... 07/14/2014

Townhouses for sale in Las Cruces, NM Why a Townhouse? There are many different types of homes available currently in the Las Cruces market. A townhouse can be a great alternative to a stand-alone single family dwelling. Aren't townhouses basically condominiums? No, owning a townhouse is not like owning a condo. When you purchase a townhouse, you purchase a piece of land with the townhouse. That is an important distinction. When you purchase a condo, you are purchasing a dwelling with no land. Some of the advantages of owning a townhouse vs. single family home: 1. Lower yearly maintenance costs 2. Lower property taxes 3. Lower utility bills 4. Less to take care of Tips when looking for a townhouse: When searching for a townhouse, here's something you should consider. Townhouses usually ... 07/13/2014

Las Cruces Real Estate Market Report June 2014 Real estate market data for Las Cruces, N.M. provided by Jeffrey Stevens of Keller Williams Realty.   Las Cruces, New Mexico Home Prices   We saw a slight increase in median home prices in Las Cruces, N.M.  If you are considering buying a home, you can find deals on a house in Las Cruces but having a good real estate agent who understands the market is a must. Click here to contact me now.  Don’t wait on the sidelines for too long, with interest rates still at record lows but rising, now is the time to purchase the home of your dreams. To make sure you don't overpay for your home, you'll want to have an agent that does a thorough market analysis of the Las Cruces home on which you are making an offer. If you are interested in current invent... 07/12/2014

Refinancing Your Home Mortgage and Why You Should Do it Now! Anyone who is looking at refinancing their home mortgage will inevitably come across the “Big Four” reasons to refinance. However, there are many more reasons that depend on your specific lifestyle and your future financial planning. First, let’s quickly go over the “Big Four” for those who haven’t. You will almost certainly get a lower interest rate. Current interest rates are still hovering at near-historic lows and most likely are lower than the interest rate you currently have. You will save money. Having a lower interest rate means you will have a lower mortgage payment each month. Not only that, if your financial status and credit score have improved you will now be eligible for an even lower rate. You will build more E... 07/02/2014

Wordless Wednesday - Quail Visit A family of quail visit our backyard in the early evening.     06/24/2014

How To Set Your Business Apart - Craft a Fun Promotional Video I was never really happy with my first real estate introduction video. You know the one, you embed them on every one of your business web sites, Youtube, Facebook, Google Plus, etc., etc...hundreds of people see them. I looked at my old video last week and pondered, can I do better? The answer: YES I CAN. So, I decided that the only way to express my true personality was to come up with a somewhat nutty and totally awesome new intro video that captures my energy and enthusiasm for what I do...cause I LOVE selling Real Estate and I LOVE Las Cruces.  Does it set me apart from the run-of-the-mill intro video's out there? Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against those run-of-the-mill intro video's, it's just not me. This is an... 06/23/2014

They Are The Bonnie and Clyde of Tenants  A few days ago I was talking to a colleague about a rental property that I am looking after while she is away. We discussed possible tenants and she asked all the normal questions that landlords ask. What’s their rental history like? What’s their job situation? What kind of gut feeling do you get from them? That gut feeling question reminded me of an experience I had with my rental property a few years back and I began to tell her the story about how one time, my gut feeling was WAY off. One day I was doing some maintenance around a house I was about to list for rent. As I was pulling weeds and raking leaves, a couple walked up the driveway and asked if I was the owner of the house. Yes, I replied. The gentleman introduced himself and then polit... 06/14/2014

Top 5 Tips for First Time Home Buyers Dreaming of owning your first home? You've probably been online already looking for homes in your area. That's great! Here are 5 tips to get you started on the track to home-ownership. 1) Check your credit. Your credit is EVERYTHING when purchasing a home. If your credit is not up to snuff, you're not ready to purchase a home. Lenders use your FICO score to determine percentage rate and type of loan you qualify for. There are many ways to fix your credit and it takes less time then you might think. 2) Find a lender. You need to find out what you're qualified to purchase. Talk to a couple of lenders or mortgage brokers to find the best interest rates and loan structure for your situation. Having a pre-qualification or pre-approval letter stating the ... 06/13/2014

Homes for Sale with a Pool in Las Cruces, N.M.Why Would I want a Pool in New Mexico?Southern New Mexico is home to approximately 350 days of sunshine per year. Summers can be pretty warm, think 105° - 110° in June, July and August. A pool in your new home will definatly be welcome during the hottest times of the year. Las Cruces' winters are relatively mild and some folks in these parts use their pools year round with the help of a pool heater. Looking for a home with a Pool in Las Cruces?Interested in finding out more? Call me today for your FREE buyer or seller consultation. 575-496-8070What does it Cost to Own a Pool?Pools are great fun for the whole family and can add years of enjoyment to your home. But, the cost of owning and operating your own pool should first be considered. The... 06/02/2014

Wordless Wednesday - Give Where You Live Food Bank donations were collected last Saturday for Casa de Peregrinos in Las Cruces, NM. Part of Keller Williams Las Cruces RED DAY. Give where you live! 05/07/2014

Showcase of Homes Twilight Tour Every year the Las Cruces Home Builders Association hosts the Showcase of Homes that features the best of the best in home building in the Mesilla Valley. Continuing an annual tradition, Keller Williams Realty Las Cruces rented two party buses to take friends, family and clients on a three hour journey around our fine city on what is know as the twilight tour. The twilight tour was added so everyone could see the unique lighting features of these custom homes on the tour. We toured some gorgeous custom properties around the Las Cruces area, drank wine, laughed (a lot) and made a bunch of new friends. The evening was a rousing success and I've already had people leave messages stating they are on board the party bus for next year. I am thinking we may need... 05/04/2014

Las Cruces Real Estate Hidden Gems Are you thinking about selling your Las Cruces, New Mexico home? If so, there are a few things you should know. First and most importantly, hire someone who is familiar with the current market conditions in your area, is tech savvy and dependable. Your Realtor® will pull comparable properties from your area to determine your homes current value. To better understand what your home is worth in today's market, consider the following Las Cruces real estate hidden gems that today's home buying public considers when purchasing a home: 1. Amazing Views - Mountain views, valley views, city views...you get the picture. 2. Neighborhood Quality - Are your neighbors taking care of their homes? 3. Great Schools - How does the school district where you live stack u... 03/29/2014

Las Cruces Real Estate Market Report for February 2014 Real estate market data for Las Cruces, N.M. provided by Jeffrey Stevens of Keller Williams Realty.   Las Cruces, New Mexico Home Prices   We continue to see an increase in median home prices in Las Cruces, N.M.  If you are considering buying a home you can find deals on a house in Las Cruces but having a good real estate agent who understands the market is a must. Click here to contact me now.  Don’t wait on the sidelines for too long, with interest rates still at record lows but rising, now is the time to purchase the home of your dreams. To make sure you don't overpay for your home, you'll want to have an agent that does a thorough market analysis of the Las Cruces home on which you are making an offer.If you are interested in cu... 03/07/2014

Las Cruces Restaurants: Cafe A Go Go In my never-ending quest for the perfect salad, I have found that the Cobb salad at the locally owned Cafe A Go Go in Las Cruces, NM ranks very high on my "salad-Richter scale". But, if you're thinking about a traditional Cobb salad, you better think again. The Chef at Cafe A Go Go has created a grilled chicken, lettuce, avocado, blue cheese, black olive, tomato, boiled egg and bacon masterpiece. (in my opinion) I make up my own dressing - just lemon and olive oil. File this one under YUM. Besides this great salad, there are lots of delectable delights to choose from. Try a  stuffed burger or an awesome Asian-inspired dish and wash it down with a flavored tea. For more information on this great local Las Cruces restaurant check out Cafe A Go Go's Fac... 03/07/2014

I get calls from buyers every day. Some of them have been pre-approved through a lender while others have not. Those that haven’t often want to start seeing houses right away, before they have started the loan process. These potential buyers get to start seeing houses right away, so why are they at a disadvantage? What better way to explain than with a realistic scenario. Let’s say that you’ve decided to start seeing houses without preapproval. You end up finding one you like in a great location that fits all of your needs and more. Fantastic, right? Not exactly. It is almost a certainty that the listing agent (or seller) will not even look at your offer without a pre-approval letter with the offer. Okay, no big deal. You head over to your lender of choice and start the pre-approval pr... 03/06/2014

Condominiums for sale in Las Cruces, N.M. The sun shines approximately 350 days a year in Las Cruces, NM so why spend your afternoons doing yard maintenance when you could be spending time down at the pool reading a book or at the golf course working on your game? Interested in finding a condo in Las Cruces, NM? Click on the link to find all the currently available condominiums in this area of Las Cruces. The condos for sale in Las Cruces are generally going to range between 900 to 1250 square feet and range in price from $80,000 to $150,000. Most of these condos are gated resort style condominiums located very close to golf, shopping and restaurants. The Casitas at Morning Star condominiums for instance (pictured on the right) have one indoor pool and spa and one outdoor pool with spa,... 02/23/2014

No matter your where you are in your life cycle, staying in sound financial shape for yourself, your family, or your golden years requires monitoring your personal finances. This information is designed to reduce your work to 5 benchmarks that will give you a picture of your financial wellbeing. No. 1: Your credit Score and Credit Report Your Credit Score may be the most important number attached to your name. Your credit score decides your approval for a mortgage, auto loan, and what credit card offers and interest rates you qualify for. Moreover, many employers evaluate an applicant's score during the hiring process. To build a high score, you have to be a responsible borrower. You need to keep up with ALL of your financial obligations not just charge accounts, but all your other bil... 02/19/2014