Lender says Las Vegas is enjoying healthier economy

NHL Hockey in Las Vegas. Wow. That’s a dream that’s been a long time coming to this town, this casino suburb that until now, no one ever believed could provide the long-term support of that investment.

And how about those Raiders? The truth is, whether or not the NFL decides to bring that franchise to town, the continuous talks are yet another indication that Las Vegas is burgeoning with life, ideas and new opportunities.

Times have changed; you see it happening throughout the valley. The recently opened T-Mobile Arena on the Strip is now the destination for top-tier entertainers and events. Henderson Hospital is scheduled to open in this fall and once again raises the standard of quality health care, cementing the reputation Las Vegas has earned as a sought-after medical tourism destination.

“That type of growth and confidence continues in virtually every market sector — from resort and gaming to construction and manufacturing, and everything between.

Along with it all comes increased job opportunities across multiple industries, and that is expected to continue through 2017 and beyond,” said Rick Piette, owner of Premier Mortgage Lending in Las Vegas.

“With that opportunity comes people, and they need a place to call home,” he said. “The reasons to love living in Las Vegas have never changed, and now many are returning to re-stake their claim to the unique lifestyle found only here.

The economy continues to improve, jobs are available and mortgage interest rates remain historically low.”

He said the Las Vegas real estate market has re-stabilized and corrected itself and homebuilders are working to keep pace.

While home prices are still affordable and interest rates are low, your purchasing power is exponentially multiplied by two factors. And by adding his No Fee mortgage loan into that equation, your opportunities get even better.

“You’ll be able to qualify for more home — larger, more luxurious, or in a better location — than you may have ever thought possible,” Piette said.

“But that will only be true for a short window of time before either home prices or interest rates begin to rise and that precarious balance shifts from an opportune moment to a tougher decision to make.”

“Premier chose to be a mortgage broker — where under the new CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) regulations, transparency is legally built into our lending process. Why did we make that choice when we could have earned a lot more as a mortgage banker by charging hidden and invisible fees to our customers?

Because this is our town, too. We work and live here, and it was important to me not only to provide the best service in town — I wanted to offer the most affordable mortgage, too. That decision helped people get back into homes, it helped our local economy, and it’s actually changed lives. And that’s something that truly matters to us,” Piette said. “The bottom line is that we were in a position to make a positive difference on behalf of Las Vegas homebuyers, so we did.”

He said that decision saves his customers $4,000 to $8,000 on the cost of getting a mortgage.

Piette said before buyers begin home-shopping, they contact at least two mortgage lenders to compare their costs, and then choose one to get their loan pre-qualified.

“There are two reasons all buyers should take those steps,” Piette said.

■ 1. Getting pre-qualified means you know exactly how much home you can afford. That not only keeps you within your price range, it lets sellers know you’re serious. They’re more likely to accept an offer from a buyer who has pre-loan approval in hand.

■ 2. Buyers need to be able to review loan estimates to see where they can save money. All it takes is comparing the interest rates and loan fees. For a true No Fee loan, there should be $0 costs for loan origination fees, processing fee, underwriting fee and lender doc prep fee.

For more information about how to shop wisely for your next mortgage loan, visit Premier’s Know Before You Owe Nevada website, KnowBeforeYouOweNevada.com, to view the quick educational videos.

Premier Mortgage Lending, NMLS No. 393282, is at 701 N. Green Valley Parkway, Suite 125 in Henderson.

The full-service lender is a member of the Las Vegas, Henderson, and Boulder City chambers of commerce, Better Business Bureau and Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, as well as an affiliate member of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors.