Mountain’s Edge brings in the experts for homebuyers

The Mountain's Edge master-planned community is holding a workshop to educate homebuyers about preparing financially to qualify for home loans, provide buyers with methods to improve their credit and explain the difference between purchasing new homes in comparison to short sales and foreclosures.

The workshop also will feature experts from consumer advocacy groups, as well as lenders who will prepare homebuyers for the loan process. The event will be held July 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the master plan's Home Search Café located on Buffalo Drive and Blue Diamond Road.

"There are many reasons for homebuyers to consider buying new homes that benefit them financially," said Deonna Stocker, manager of Mountain's Edge information center operations. "The workshop is designed to help buyers understand these benefits, as well as educate them on how to prepare to buy a home in this market so that they can be empowered to make decisions that work best for them and their families."

According to Stocker, questions that will be answered include the difference in timelines between buying a new home and short-sale and foreclosure homes, as well as costs.

Many homebuilders are offering cash incentives such as covering closing costs or providing upgrades to the new home at no additional cost to the buyer.

According to Stocker, new homes can be healthier than previously owned homes, because many are built with new green products and technologies that don't emit harmful chemicals, while including efficiencies that save homebuyers money on gas and electric bills.

Extra costs that may come with a previously owned home may include auctioneers fees and closing costs. Another cost is refurbishing a previously owned home, which can range from cosmetic to major structural work.

According to Ron Rulof, president of Team Power Marketing, homebuyers who purchase a short sale or foreclosure often find that the savings they gained at the purchase is mitigated by repairs that are found later and are now the responsibility of the new homeowner to repair. A benefit of buying a new home is that a long-term home warranty is offered.

Mountain's Edge is a 3,500-acre master planned community in the southwestern part of the Las Vegas Valley. A feature of Mountain's Edge is Exploration Park, an 80-acre park that includes volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, picnic areas and an amphitheatre for concerts and other live performances. The park's attractions also include trails leading up to the top of Exploration Peak, the city's first mountain park.

For more information on Focus Property Group, visit focuspropertygroup.com

To learn more Mountain's Edge or the upcoming workshop, visit the Home Search Café, located at the community's entrance on Buffalo and Blue Diamond, or visit mountainsedge.com. The Café is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and can be reached at 898-5777.