The journal
Buying articles
The buying process in Nevada, step by step: offers, inspections, appraisals, closing costs, financing and how to avoid the expensive mistakes.
The Best Time to Buy a House in Las Vegas: Seasons, Rates and Readiness
Spring brings choice, summer brings heat and the holidays bring quiet. Here's how the seasons, rates and builder calendars play into timing, and why your readiness matters more.
Las Vegas Homes With RV Parking: Gates, Pads, Garages and the Rules
"RV parking" can mean a paved pad behind a gate, a tall garage bay, or a side yard that might work. Here's how to tell the difference, and the rules that apply.
How Long Does It Take to Buy a House in Las Vegas? A Realistic Timeline
A financed escrow commonly runs about 30 to 45 days, but the search, the HOA package, title and new-build schedules can stretch it. Here's a realistic timeline.
Condo vs Townhome in Las Vegas: Ownership, HOAs, Insurance and Financing
A condo and a townhome can look identical from the street and still differ in what you own, what you insure and which loans work. Here's how to tell them apart.
Single-Story Homes in Las Vegas: Why They're in Demand and Where to Find Them
One-level homes draw strong interest in the valley, and newer master plans build fewer of them. Here's where to look, what you trade for them, and how to search smarter.
How Much Does a Buyer's Agent Cost in Las Vegas? How Compensation Works Now
There's no standard fee. Buyer-agent compensation is negotiable, set in a written agreement, and may be paid by you, the seller or a builder. Here's how it works now.
Las Vegas Homes With Casitas: Multigenerational Homes, Next-Gen Suites and ADUs
A casita, a next-gen suite and an ADU aren't the same thing, and the difference matters for renting, financing and insurance. Here's how I help buyers sort it out.
Horse Property in Las Vegas: Where to Find It and What to Check Before You Buy
Horse-friendly lots still exist in the valley, mostly in the northwest and a few rural pockets elsewhere. Here's where to look, how zoning works and what to inspect.
The Home Buying Process in Las Vegas, Step by Step: From Pre-Approval to Keys
From your buyer agreement to the deed recording, here's every step of buying a home in Las Vegas, who customarily pays what in Clark County, and a realistic timeline.
Assumable Mortgages in Las Vegas: How to Take Over a Seller's FHA or VA Loan
Taking over a seller's FHA or VA loan can mean a lower payment, but only if you can cover the equity gap and wait out the servicer. Here's how assumptions work and when they make sense.
How Much House Can I Afford in Las Vegas? Budgeting for the Full Monthly Cost
A lender's approval is a ceiling, not a budget. Here's how debt-to-income works, every monthly cost of owning in Las Vegas, and a worksheet that starts from the payment you're comfortable with.
FHA and VA Approved Condos in Las Vegas: How Condo Financing Really Works
With a condo, the lender approves the building as well as you. Here's how FHA and VA project approval works, how to check a building's status, and what to read before you offer.
Guard-Gated vs Gated Communities in Las Vegas: Costs, Access and What to Expect
A staffed gatehouse and a call-box gate look alike in a listing but work very differently day to day. Here's how they compare on cost, access and expectations.
Home Inspection in Las Vegas: What to Check in a Desert Home
Desert homes have their own inspection checklist: roof underlayment, A/C age, Kitec and polybutylene plumbing, pools, termites and more. Here's what I tell buyers to watch.
Buying a Second Home in Las Vegas: Lock-and-Leave Options, Loans and Taxes
A Las Vegas second home can be easy to own from a distance if the property type, HOA rules and loan all match how you'll use it. Here's what to sort out first.
Dana Benrud · REALTOR®
Have a question I haven’t answered?
Ask me directly. If it’s a good one, it may become the next article.