January 2023 Market Report Update for Dayton NV, Carson City, South Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas such as Dayton Valley Golf Course and Carson Plains

Choosing the right home is about more than just the number of bedrooms, the square footage, or the style of architecture. Buyers also need to keep in mind the community the home is in, and the lifestyle it supports. Living in a golf course community comes with many benefits, and those are not reserved for people living in a major city.

Even in Dayton, you can enjoy the perks of living on a golf course, while still taking advantage of the peaceful lifestyle and small town charm residents of Dayton value. Dayton Valley Golf Course is one of the best in Nevada, surrounded by a beautiful residential community that provides all the best parts of living in a golf course community with the peaceful, quiet lifestyle of Dayton.

Want to learn more about homes for sale in Dayton Valley Golf Course? Contact us any time!

Not sure if living in a golf course community is the right fit for you? Consider these benefits of living in a golf course community and whether they fit your wish list.

1. Immediate access to the course

Perhaps the most obvious perk of living in a golf course community is the quick access to the course itself. golfers can squeeze in a little time at the driving range or a full game any time, with a commute of close to zero.

2. Beautiful views that won't be developed

When you live on or near a golf course, you can count on beautiful views. At Dayton Valley Golf Course, this means a beautiful combination of mountains and fairways. You won't have to worry that the beautiful view outside your window will one day be developed. Instead of a wide open field waiting for someone to transform it into something else, the golf course will be a beautifully maintained green space with professionally trimmed trees, and rolling hills.

3. Access to special events

Exclusive community events, tournaments, and seasonal gatherings are available to residents of a golf course community. If you are looking to connect with your neighbors and fill your social calendar in a new community, living in a golf course community is one of the easiest ways to do just that.

Dayton Valley Golf Course hosts special events and tournaments throughout the year, and at the clubhouse you can enjoy dueling pianos, live entertainment, or other social gatherings. You can also plan a private event in the space, offering a convenient alternative to hosting in your own home.

4. Convenient healthy lifestyle

Whether you enjoy golfing or not, living in a golf course community means being able to access the healthy lifestyle activities you do prefer. Take a walk or jog along the beautiful course to take full advantage of living in the neighborhood. Meet up with neighbors for daily exercise or play a quick round of 9 holes to stay active and healthy any day of the week. Living in Dayton Valley Golf Course offers the lifestyle you are looking for among likeminded neighbors.

To learn more about living near Dayton Valley Golf Course, contact us any time.

Dayton is a historic, unincorporated community in Lyons County, Nevada. With plenty of wide open spaces, good schools, and a variety of housing choices, it is becoming a popular choice for many people who are in search of a new hometown.

If you are considering a move to Dayton, you may be wondering which neighborhoods to look in for your ideal property. We would love to help you find your next home in Dayton, so contact us any time!

In the meantime, consider one of these top Dayton neighborhoods.

Carson Plains

Located just outside the city limits of Dayton, Carson Plains provides an easy commute into town for all your errands while offering a peaceful and rural atmosphere. Carson Plains is the perfect choice for someone who doesn't mind being tucked away from the center of town in order to enjoy unhindered views and large lots.

If you are looking for a home with enough space for a pool, garden, fenced pet area, or even a horse stable, you will love the Carson Plains neighborhood. This neighborhood strikes a balance between masterplanned suburban community and a peaceful, rural setting.

Dayton Valley Golf Course

Centered around one of Nevada's premier golf courses, Dayton Valley Golf Course Community also features beautiful homes in a variety of sizes and styles. This is one of the best places to live in Dayton, with access to the Arnold Palmer-designed course and the amenities on site. Residents enjoy the beautifully landscaped area and can count on having plenty of wide open space no matter how the surrounding areas are developed.

Enjoy the perks of living on a golf course, like having access to the clubhouse any time and walking along the course to enjoy beautifully landscaped areas. There are still some opportunities to design a custom home to be built in Dayton Valley Golf Course, as well as some existing homes on the market. Seize the opportunity to live in one of the best neighborhoods in Dayton before all the lots have been spoken for!

Rose Peak

Another popular Dayton neighborhood is Rose Peak. This is primarily a neighborhood of homeowners, with an established community that is friendly and welcoming. It is a great choice for those looking for a single family home with quick access to shopping and dining in Dayton, located just off the main drag in town.

This large Dayton neighborhood features access to many hiking trails throughout the area, named for the nearby Rose Peak. There are both detached single family homes and manufactured homes in the community, located in different parts of the neighborhood. Most homes in Rose Peak are relatively new and well maintained, in a wide range of sizes to accommodate a diverse array of households. Rose Peak is divided into multiple subdivisions, some of which are managed by HOAs and feature exclusive amenities.

Ready to begin the search for your next home in Dayton? We are here to help you find your ideal property. Contact us any time to learn more.

Is buying your first home one of your goals in 2023? This exciting milestone requires the right preparation. Even with shifting market conditions that are out of your control, there are some things you can do this year to set yourself up for success as a homebuyer this year.

Do you have questions about finding homes for sale in the Carson City or Lake Tahoe areas? We can help. Contact us any time to learn more.

Keep reading for 3 things to do in the new year to prepare for your first home purchase.

1. Boost your credit score

When you apply for a mortgage, the higher your credit score the better your rate and terms will be. Any credit score above 620 is usually going to be high enough for help you qualify for a mortgage, but the higher you can get your score, the better.

Your credit score is determined by a variety of factors, all designed to show lenders how well you handle debt. Credit bureaus look at how long you've had debt, your payment history, your utilization rate (the percentage of your credit limit that you carry as a balance on your account), the types of credit you're using, and how much debt you have.

Get familiar with the factors that make up your credit score and take action to raise your score as high as possible before applying for your mortgage. Any changes you make will take time to be reflected on your score, so the earlier you get to work, the better.

Of course paying down your debts is a great way to boost your score, but there are also some things you can do without paying a penny more. These include:

• Setting up automatic payments to eliminate the possibility of forgetting a payment. Late debt payments not only cost you money in late fees and additional interest, but they affect your credit score. Set up automatic payments, even for the minimum payment, to protect yourself from this possibility.
• Ask for an increase in your credit limit. This is one of the easiest ways to change your utilization rate in your favor. For example, let's say you are carrying a $1,000 balance on a credit card with a $2,000 limit. In this case, you would have a 50% utilization rate. If your credit card company will raise your credit limit to $5,000, your utilization rate just went down to 20% without you paying a dime more than you planned.
• Dispute any errors you see on your credit report. This will take time, and may require you to spend hours on the phone, but could be one of the best things you ever do for your credit score.

2. Automate your savings goals

One of the best ways to prepare for buying your first home is to boost your cash reserves. Not only will this help you pay for your home and qualify for a mortgage, but it can also allow you to present yourself as a buyer with a strong financial footing that leads a seller to choose you over a competing offer.

Avoid the temptation to divert money you planned to save for the house to other things by automating your goals. Have your bank automatically move the money you plan to save into a different account when your paycheck hits your account, allowing you to reach your savings goals more efficiently and avoid the temptation to spend what you planned to save.

3. Surround yourself with the right team of professionals

Buying your first home is a multifaceted process that can be stressful. It is absolutely crucial to have the right team of professionals on your side, providing insight, advice, and help all along the way. The best team will include both your real estate and mortgage lender teams. To learn more about how we can help you reach your real estate goals this year, contact us any time!

Are you considering relocating to Carson City or Lake Tahoe? Planning for a move is a dynamic process, with lots of moving pieces to consider.

We would love to help you find your new home, so contact us any time to learn more about homes for sale in Carson City.

To help you experience an organize and efficient relocation process, check out these tips.

Write Out the Timeline

The first step in planning your move to Carson City is writing out a timeline. Make a list of everything that needs to be done, and order it chronologically. Items on the list might include:

• Getting quotes from moving companies
• Booking a moving truck, storage unit, movers, or other services
• Transferring utilities
• Choosing a new school and registering your kids
• Purging your home of things you don't need to pack
• Garage sale or donating belonging you don't want to bring with you
• Packing
• Booking a hotel for moving day

Your individual timeline may include additional items as well. After you create the timeline, you may need to make adjustments or additions, but this document will help you feel organized and less chaotic during this busy time.

Decide: Hire Movers or Do It Yourself?

Depending on your budget, abilities, and needs, you may want to hire professionals to help with you the move or opt to do it yourself. There are moving companies that provide a full-service experience, including, packing, driving the truck to the new house, and unpacking. Other services load and unload your items, driving the truck but not doing any of the packing.

Reach out to multiple companies to get a quote for renting a moving truck or hiring additional services. Make sure to get your quote in writing, understanding whether it is an estimate or an exact quote that will be honored.

Purge Before Packing

Before you pack up to move, make sure you are only bringing with you the things that you really want in the new home. There's no sense in going through the hassle and expense of moving something you're going to get rid of once you arrive in your new home.

To help guide your decluttering and purging process, ask yourself these questions about everything in the home before you pack it up:

• Will this furniture fit in the new home?
• Is this something I still use and like?
• How long has it been since I used this item?
• Do these clothes make sense in the new climate I'll be living in?
• How will I feel about unpacking this item? Am I going to be happy to see it, or annoyed?

Label Everything

Once you have decided which items are going to be packed up and moved to your new home in Carson City, label everything carefully. When you label your boxes and bins, label them not just with a list of contents, but with the room you'd like them to be unpacked.

For example, don't just write "girls' toys," but instead write "Jane's bedroom." When you get to the new home, label each door with the same title you gave the boxes that belong in that room. This way, whether you have hired a team of movers, are relying on friends and family, or are doing it yourself, you can be sure each box is immediately placed in the right part of the house.

To avoid that stressful scramble for necessities on the day you move in, label a box of essentials you know you will want to have from day one. This might include:

• Kitchen basics like a coffee pot and disposable dishes
• Shower curtain and bathmat
• Pillows and bedding

It's also a good idea to pack a small suitcase or backpack for each member of the family with all the clothing, toiletries, medicine, and other necessities that you would need for a week. This way, in case of any moving truck delays or other hiccups, you won't have to be without your basic essentials.

Set Up New Services in Carson City

Before you move into your new home, set up all the utilities and services you will need so they are ready for you on move-in day. These services might require a varying lead times to be set up on time, so give each one a call to make sure you know when you transfer service. As you find out when they need your new info, add them to your master timeline.

Services you won't want to forget include:

• Water
• Power
• Gas
• Internet
• TV
• Trash

To learn more about living in Carson City, contact us any time. We would love to help you find your home in this amazing city.

Are you preparing to sell your home? One of the most important factors in your home's marketability today is its screen appeal. You're probably heard of curb appeal, but if the idea of screen appeal is new to you, keep reading to find out what it is and why it matters.

To find out more about your home's market value or how to successfully sell your home, contact us any time!

What is screen appeal?

Much like curb appeal is the way your home looks to potential buyers from the street, screen appeal is defined as the impression your home will give potential buyers on screen. The way it looks in an online listing is often just as significant as, or even more significant than, the curb appeal of your home.

Why does screen appeal matter?

Screen appeal has become of the most important factors in selling a home as the home shopping process has shifted almost entirely online. Nearly every potential buyer will see your home in its online listing before deciding to visit in person. This shift in how homes are marketed means even if your home would sparkle in person if its online presence leaves something to be desired it may not attract your ideal buyer.

How can you increase the screen appeal of your home?

The key to attracting your ideal buyer in today's market is amping up the screen appeal of your home. Not sure how to do that? Start with these tips.

Decluttering

Equally important for every part of preparing your home to sell is decluttering. Clutter and an abundance of personal belongings will distract your potential buyers from the home itself, making it look smaller and giving the impression of a home that is poorly maintained. Before listing your home, carefully declutter the space and get a head start on packing.

Keep in mind that surfaces in the home should be cleared, and storage should not look limited. A close that is filled to the brim will look insufficient, while a decluttered and organized closet gives the impression that the home is both beautiful and functional.

Repainting

Depending on the current aesthetic of your home, you may want to consider repainting. Not all homes will need this, but if you have bold color choices that will distract the buyer from the room itself or the paint is chipping or damaged, consider repainting in a fresh and neutral tone that will photograph well.

Staging

Spaces that are staged to display a clear purpose present well on screen. After decluttering, make sure each space in the home has a defined purpose and is decorated in a way that appeals to the general public. Remove personal belongings like toiletries and towels from a bathroom or jackets and purses from the entryway to get your home ready for its photoshoot.

Photography

The importance of the photography on your listing can not be overstated. Investing in a high quality real estate photography will allow your home to shine online. We can recommend our trusted partners who will help your home put its best foot forward in photos.

Virtual Tours

Adding a virtual tour to your online listing may be easier than you think, and will help your listing stand out from the competition. When potential buyers have the chance to virtually tour your property before visiting, it helps narrow down showings to serious buyers only.

To learn more about selling your home, contact us any time.

When you buy a new-to-you home, in many cases there are some home improvement projects you will be planning. Some of these renovations can be done after you move in, whether right away or a few years down the road. Others will be most easily done if you complete them before move in.

Still on the hunt for that ideal property? We can help! Contact us any time to learn more about homes for sale in Carson City or Lake Tahoe.

To help you strategize your home improvement plans, here are some projects you should complete before settling into your new home.

Change the Locks

The first step in any new home renovation process should always be changing the locks. This is the best way to provide security and peace of mind that you and your family are safe.

Consider adding smart locks while you're at it, which come in handy in a number of situations. In addition to adding value to the home, having a smart lock will make it easy to give other people, like pet sitters or house cleaners, access to the home without giving them a key. It also makes getting locked out a thing of the past, and makes a perfect solution for teenage kids or anyone else who needs to get into the house when no one else is home to let them in.

Popcorn Ceilings

If the home you are moving into has popcorn ceilings you plan to remove, it will be easiest to do this before moving your belongings into the space. The popcorn ceiling removal process is quite messy, and the most efficient cleanup from the project is one that does not involve any of your furniture or other items. Rather than covering everything and cleaning around it, just get this done before you move in.

Flooring

The easiest time to replace flooring is when the house is empty. If you plan to paint, get the painting done first to avoid the risk of dripping on your brand new floors. Otherwise, flooring can be one of the first projects you tackle in your new home, before bringing anything into the space.

Painting

You've likely heard before that the most time consuming part of painting a house is all the prep work. This includes the moving of furniture and personal belongings out of the room or into the center of the room. Painting an empty house is actually quite easy in comparison. All you will need to do is cover the floor (if you don't plan to replace it) and tape to prep, and painting can be completed in a fraction of the time.

Closet Organization

If any of the closets in the home are lacking in storage solutions, plan to upgrade them before moving in. Adding shelves, drawers, hooks, or whatever else you plan to do before you begin moving your belongings in will make the initial moving in process much more streamlined.

Looking for more information about buying a home in Carson City or Lake Tahoe? We can help. Contact us any time to learn more.

Carson City is located right off Highway 395, a city with a long and fascinating history that is a great place to live with good schools, beautiful land, and small town Americana charm. If you're looking for something fun to do in Carson City, check out these 5 ideas.

To learn more about homes for sale in Carson City, contact us any time.

1. Check out a waterfall

Carson City is an amazing place to live if you love outdoor recreation. One of the best things to do in Carson City is check out one of the beautiful waterfalls nearby, like King Canyon Waterfall. The hike up to the waterfall is less than half a mile and easy enough for the whole family, and leads to a 25 foot cascade. It's a beautiful sight any time of year, but will be the most full in the springtime. Pack a picnic to enjoy at the base of the waterfall, or even bring a swimsuit if you're brave enough to take a dip in the cold water.

2. Try some BBQ

With a cowboy heritage like Carson City's, it should come as no surprise that this town is home to some delicious barbecue. Red's Old 365 Grill is one local favorite, featuring Carson City's only wood fired oven. The menu features classic BBQ staples like slow-smoked meats, cornbread, and baked beans, as well as a full menu of creative dishes like their wood-fired pizzas, fry bread, buffalo wings, and gourmet burgers.

3. Soak in a hot spring

You can't be in Carson City for long without hearing about the local hot springs. At Carson City Hot Springs, the geothermally heated water is piped into multiple pools throughout the resort. The large pool and smaller private pools are all carefully cleaned every night and are open to the public for relaxing every day from 7:00 to 9:00.

This amazing natural hot springs emit 60 gallons of heated water per minute and is known for being some of the purest groundwater in the world.

4. Explore the Nevada State Railroad Museum

To learn about some of the fascinating history of Carson City, visit the Nevada State Railroad Museum. Explore the fascinating exhibits that include historic locomotives, and you can even take a ride on one of these historic trains between May and September, with a few dates in the fall and winter, too. If you have kids who love trains, this is the perfect place to escape some weather and learn all about railroad history in the area. As a bonus, all kids under the age of 18 get into the museum for free!

5. Try a railbike

For a thrill ride in the mountains, try a railbike. The Carson Canyon Railbike Tour gives people of all ages the opportunity to climb on board these innovative, easy-to-pedal bikes that follow the rails of historic train tracks. Travel along the railway to see Carson City from a new vantage point without breaking a sweat.

To learn more about living in Carson City, contact us any time. We would love to help you find your home in this amazing city.

With rising interest rates, some buyers are looking for creative solutions to lower the cost of buying a home and offset a higher mortgage rate. Though there is little you can do to control the market, there are plenty of ways to make buying a home a realistic goal for you.

Looking for help buying a home in today's market? We can help! Contact us any time to learn more.

Seller Concessions

Current American homeowners have record breaking equity in their homes, with an average of $300,000 in equity. Because of this, many sellers are in a position to offer concessions that make the sale work for both parties. In recent years, requests for seller concessions were rarely met, but we are seeing that change as the market shifts.

Seller concessions are closing costs the seller has agreed to pay, a negotiable amount that cannot cover the entire cost but can help bridge the gap for buyers who are feeling stretched in the transaction. If the appraised value of the home is higher than the purchase price the seller needs to get, the seller is allowed to offer some of that additional equity toward closing costs, including discount points. For example, if a seller wants to get $500,000 for the house, but it appraises at $510,000, the seller has up to $10,000 available to be offered as a concession.

Discount Points

Discount points are one way to pay a bit more upfront to lower the overall cost of your purchase. Your lender may offer you the opportunity to purchase a discount point, where you pay a fee to purchase a lower interest rate. The cost is calculated as 1% of the overall loan value per point. For example, if you are buying a $500,000 home with a 20% down payment, you are borrowing $400,000. In this case, a discount point will cost $4,000.

Purchasing discount points can be a way to make a home affordable in spite of rising interest rates, and in some cases can be covered by seller concessions.

Gift of Equity

While not many people have the opportunity to do so, if you are fortunate enough to be buying a home from a family member you may be able to benefit from a gift of equity. This allows sellers to offer some of the equity in the home to the buyers as a down payment.

Let's say your parents own a home that has an appraised value of $500,000, but they only need to sell it for $450,000. This means there is up to $50,000 in equity in the home that they could choose to offer you in the form of a down payment gift of equity. It can also be used to help cover closing costs. Depending on the appraised value and the price for which the seller is willing to offer the home to you, you may be able to buy the home for as little as $0 at closing, including down payment and closing costs.

Down Payment Assistance Programs

Down payment assistance programs are another way to lower the cost of buying a home, especially helpful to either allow you to buy a home faster than you expected (because you don't have to save as large a down payment as expected) or keep more cash in your own pocket (handy for renovations, emergency funds, moving and furnishing expenses, or closing costs). The best way to find out if you might qualify for a down payment assistance program is to talk to a lender. We would be happy to refer you to some of our trusted lenders for more information!

To learn more about homes for sale in Carson City or Lake Tahoe, contact us any time!

You may have heard that there are better times to sell your home and some times when you should avoid listing it. We think it's not actually that simple. There are pros and cons to selling or buying a home any time of year, and with the right perspective, you can leverage these pros for your benefit.

With winter right around the corner, consider these reasons to sell your home before the holidays.

Buyers are Serious and Motivated

While there may be fewer buyers looking to purchase a home in November and December, those who are looking are likely motivated and serious. They will be driven to make offers quickly, negotiate efficiently, and likely have their financial factors in order to avoid closing delays. If you are selling your home, this is an ideal situation.

When you list your home in the Spring or Summer, chances are high that your open house will welcome in curious shoppers who may not be ready to buy right away. Other more serious buyers are still not going to have the same sense of urgency, possibly more willing to wait another month to see what other options come on the market. On the other hand, if a buyer is looking at homes during the last week of November, chances are high that they are looking to put an offer in quickly.

Why are buyers more motivated during this time of year? It could be that they want to close before Christmas so they can move in, or perhaps they are urgently looking to take advantage of tax benefits from homeownership during this calendar year. They may also be in the market because of a life change like a new job that requires a relocation on a specific timeline.

Inventory is Lowest during the Holidays

Current inventory is slightly higher than it was during its record lows last year, but we are still seeing lower supply than demand for housing. This ratio will shift even more in your favor as you draw nearer to the holidays, with fewer sellers willing to have their home on the market during this season. Sellers who are listing the home while living in it are particularly resistant to keep their homes on the market during the end of the year, and many wait until Spring to list the home.

This means those serious, motivated, and prepared buyers we talked about are on the hunt and have even fewer options to choose from. Less competition for you is always a good thing.

Winter Showcases a Unique Side of Your Home

If your home always looks its best with some tasteful seasonal decor, fall colors on the trees, or snow in the yard, showing it during the holidays will allow it to put its best foot forward. Make sure to stage the home in a way that showcases all its best seasonal perks, like a cozy fireplace, a picturesque winter landscape, or a welcoming seasonal scent in the kitchen.

Many neighborhoods also look their best during this festive time of year. Buyers are looking not just at your home, but the community surrounding it. When all the neighbors have front porches decked out for the holidays, the atmosphere will be a selling point for your potential buyers.

The Bottom Line

What it all comes down to is this: if the timing is best for you right now, there is no reason to wait for Spring. There are motivated buyers ready to make an offer on your property before the end of the year, and we can help you find them. Contact us to learn more!

Let's chat about how we can price your home and prepare for a successful home sale. To learn more about selling your home this fall, contact us any time! For more information about preparing your home for sale, contact us any time!  Contact our office for information on Carson City home styles or Dayton NV real estate.

More Advice for Sellers:

5 Tips to Sell Your Home this Fall

Checklist for Decluttering Your Home Before Selling

Best Trees to Plant in the Fall