Diann Tonnesen

Bank of America announced earlier this year that it plans to lay off more than 40,000 employees, many of them loan officers and processors. They also intend to close to close 10% of their branches nationwide and gradually get out of the mortgage industry. The layoffs have already begun in Las Vegas, and you know it’s affecting customer service when, literally, Bank of America fires Bank of America!

A number of months ago, one of our agents listed a Las Vegas short sale and was fortunate enough to also find the buyer. The short sale bank was Bank of America and the buyer was obtaining a mortgage loan from B of A to fund the purchase.

The property was placed into escrow and the fun began. The seller’s documents for the short sale were submitted to B of A for approval of the sales price. Within 40 days, the full approval was received, not bad at all on a short sale! Everyone assumed there would be smooth sailing ahead for the rest of the transaction - usually the approval is the hard part of any Las Vegas real estate transaction.

But things quickly deteriorated from that point on. The buyer’s employment verification was lost twice. By the time the verification was obtained, the credit report had expired and had to be redone. Incorrect figures were submitted for the sales price and loan amount. And oopsy! Someone forgot to order the appraisal.

After four extensions to the escrow due to lender errors and oversights, Bank of America’s short sale department finally issued an ultimatum - they would only issue a fifth extension if the buyer used another Las Vegas mortgage lender besides B of A! (The good news is, the buyer actually scored a better interest rate and lower fees with their new lender.)

Conclusion: Bank of America really IS trying to get out of the mortgage industry, and they are doing one heck of a job!

Through October 9th Toll Brothers is giving away up to $14,200 in incentives to buyers that purchase new homes in Las Vegas during their national sales event. Toll Brothers is one of America’s highest quality home builders, with outstanding upgrades included as standard options.

Buy a new home from Toll Brothers during their national sales event (sign a contract through October 9th) and receive your choice of $4700 worth of options from their sales brochure, PLUS a $3,000 carpet allowance AND another $6,500 that can be used for more design center upgrades or closing costs. This is more than double their every day incentive package. With interest rates still historically low, this is the perfect time to buy Las Vegas real estate, and Toll Brothers is a Realtor preferred home builder.

Toll Brothers currently has three gorgeous communities in the Las Vegas Valley to select from. Two of the communities, Barcelona and Traccia, are located in the prestigious Summerlin master planned community which has over 50 miles of community trails, nine world-class golf courses, convenience stores, parks, trails and Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area

Barcelona is an intimate gated enclave of homes with spacious two-story home designs featuring up to 3,600 square feet of living space. Homes come with large pool-sized home sites, slab granite countertops, expansive second floor decks, 3 car garages and are Energy Star efficient.

Traccia is a collection of low-maintenance Mediterranean-inspired home designs, featuring up to 1,685 square feet of living space in a gated community with private clubhouse, two sparkling pools, lighted tennis courts, and fitness center. Choose from two spacious 3 bedroom floor plans with slab granite countertops, 2 car garages and Energy Star ratings.

The third community, Toll Brothers at Inspirada, is located high in the southern foothills of the Las Vegas Valley. These residences include access to miles of community trails, Sloan Canyon Conservation Area, two pools, recreation center, outdoor amphitheater, bocce ball courts, play ground, picnic and BBQ areas.

Toll Brothers at Inspirada offers a variety of upscale residences without the upscale price tag! This community includes both townhomes (1700 sf to 1900 sf) and single family homes (2100 sf to 2464 sf). All residences come with 2 car garages and are Energy Star rated.

To view the pricing and floor plans on these fine residences, please go to: Toll Brothers in Las Vegas

Then give us a call at 702-985-7654 to set up your private tour!

As Realtors we are programmed to go the extra mile for our customers. It’s all about providing superior service, right? And Las Vegas real estate is super competitive, so you really have to step up your game. Over the years I have scrubbed toilets, cleaned ovens, babysat for pets, helped clients find jobs, and in a couple of instances even let them move into my own home for up to a month when an escrow was delayed.

But sometimes you just have to say “no” to a client, as one Realtor found out the hard way. Below is a true story of the Las Vegas real estate agent who went too far trying to please a client.

“Poindexter” had cash buyers in town that were on a mission to purchase several Las Vegas investment properties. They had already predefined a certain neighborhood they wanted to purchase in – one where the crime index was a bit high - but the prices were cheap and the return on investment was exceptionally good.

“Poindexter” had done his research on the MLS, and had a list of eleven homes for sale in Las Vegas with good cash flow potential ready to show. He and his clients headed out late in the afternoon just as the sun was beginning to set.

About halfway through the list, “Poindexter” and his clients came to a property with no lock box, though the MLS listing indicated that one should be there. This was a brand new listing and the sign wasn’t even in the front yard yet. But the house was supposed to be vacant and the clients were REALLY insistent about seeing it RIGHT NOW, so “Poindexter” circled the home looking for a door that had been left unlocked. (This happens more times than we like to think!) “Poindexter” didn’t find an open door, but he did find a window that was unlocked, so he proceeded to climb through the window and let his clients in through the front door.

Unfortunately for “Poindexter,” one of the neighbors saw his unorthodox method of entry and called the police, who responded quickly. Faster than you can say “commission check,” “Poindexter” and his client were sitting on the curb in front of the home, hands shackled behind their backs while the police tried to contact the listing agent, who, of course, was nowhere to be found.

Overzealous “Poindexter” and his clients were then treated to a tour of local police headquarters. In the meantime, his lovely almost new Lexus was left in front of the home. A few hours later the misunderstanding was cleared up (though “Poindexter” was ultimately charged with illegal entry). Upon returning to the neighborhood via cab, “Poindexter” discovered much to his dismay that not only had the car been broken into and all his “stuff” stolen, but it had also been professionally been redecorated by a graffiti artist. (The all-too-observant neighbor lived behind the subject property where the entry window was located, but couldn’t see the front of the house.)

Needless to say, even though “Poindexter” was trying to please his clients by acceding to their request to view the house NOW, the clients weren’t too pleased with the unplanned field trip to police headquarters. So the ungrateful clients took off in a cloud of dust, never to be heard from again, and “Poindexter” was left with no sale, no car and a police record. There does come a time in every agent’s life when going the extra mile is just going too far, and poor “Poindexter” crossed that line.