Real Estate Broker License

Real Estate Licensing Real Estate Licensing Home / Licensing /Real Estate Licensing HOW TO OBTAIN A UTAH REAL ESTATE LICENSE A real estate license is required of any person who, for another and forvaluable consideration, negotiates or consummates the sale, lease, exchangeor purchase of real estate. The Utah Real Estate Commission determines the qualifications and therequirements of all applicants for a Utah real estate license. Each applicantis required to provide evidence of honesty, integrity, truthfulness, reputationand competency. Each applicant must pass an examination covering the fundamentalsof the English language, arithmetic, bookkeeping, real estate principalsand practices, the Rules established by the Real Estate Commission and anyother aspect of Utah Real Estate License Law considered appropriate. Please take time to go over the screening questionnaire. Your responses tothese questions could have an impact upon whether or not you are able toobtain a Utah Real Estate license. Additional information and requirements are outlined throughout the followingpages. Screening Questionnaire Sales Agent License Associate Broker License Principal Broker License Opening Own Business Property Management License Branch Offices Non-Resident License ApplicantsLicensed in Other States Reciprocity (between Utah and: Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Alberta, Canada) Examination Procedure ChangeCard SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE 1. Do you now hold or have you ever held a real estate license in a state otherthan the state of Utah or in another country? 2. Have you ever had a license to practice in the real estate profession,or any other profession or occupation, denied, restricted, suspended, orrevoked? 3. Have you ever been permitted to resign or surrender your real estate licenseor any other professional license,or have you ever allowed a license to expire while you wereunder investigation, or while action was pending against you by any realestate licensing or other agency? 4. Is any disciplinary action now pending against you by any real estatelicensing or other agency? 5. Are you CURRENTLY under investigation for, or charged with, or have you everbeen convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, a felonyor misdemeanor? (If you have had only one misdemeanor conviction or plea and thecase was closed over five years ago, you do not have to answer yes. Caution: DUI's and other alcohol-related traffic offenses may bemisdemeanors. Non-alcohol-related traffic offenses do not need to bedisclosed.) 6. Have you been placed on probation or ordered to pay a fine in connection withany criminal offenseor a licensing action? If you answer YES to this question you will beasked at the time of application for licensure to provide proof of completion ofyour probation and payment of all fines. 7. Have you been ordered to pay restitution in connection with any criminaloffense or licensing action? If you answer YES to this question you willbe asked at the time of application for licensure to provide proof that you havefully complied with the restitution order. 8. Have you had a civil judgment entered against you based on fraud,misrepresentation, or deceit? If you answer YES to this question you will be asked at the time of application for licensure to provide proof that the judgment has been fully satisfied. 9. Are you under 18 years of age? WARNING: IF YOU PASS THE EXAMINATION, YOUR FINGERPRINTS WILL BE TAKEN ANDSUBMITTED FOR A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK. FAILURE TO ACCURATELY DISCLOSEYOUR CRIMINAL HISTORY WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE AND AUTOMATIC REVOCATION OF YOURLICENSE. SALES AGENT LICENSE License Requirements - The applicant for a sales agent license must be at least 18 years ofage. Education Requirements - An applicant for a sales agent license must complete an approved educationalprogram of 90 classroom hours. The subject matter of the course will consistof Real Estate Principals and Practices and Utah Real Estate License Law. All courses must be completed at a Division approved real estateschool . Membership in the Utah State Bar will satisfy this education requirement. Experience will not satisfy the education requirement. Licensing Procedure - Within 90 days after the successful completion of the examination, theapplicant must return the following to the Division: Score Report/License Application - The applicant will provide a score report/license application receivedfrom Promissor ( the professional testing service) which indicates that both the nationaland state portions of the examination have been passed. The passing score report/license application must besigned by the principal broker with whom the applicant will be affiliating.No such signature is required of the applicant who desires inactive status. Education Documentation - The applicant will provide documentation of the successfulcompletion of 90 hours of classroom education taken within the previous year.Documentation will consist of the signed and stamped education certificatelocated in the examination Candidate Handbook, and/or an education waiverissued by the Division. Fees - The fee will include the license fee, the fee for the Recovery Fund, and the fingerprint processing fee. Currently, this totals $151.00. ASSOCIATE BROKER and/or PRINCIPAL BROKER LICENSE License Requirements - The applicant for an associate broker/principal broker license must beat least 18 years of age. The applicant must have a minimum of three years real estate experience and a total of at least 60 points accumulated within the five years prior to licensing. A minimum of two years (24 months) and at least 45 points will be accumulated from Tables I and/or II. The remaining 15 points may be accumulated from tables I, II, or III. The Principal Broker may accumulate additional experience points by having participated in real estate related activities as outlined in Experience Points Table III. Education Requirements - An applicant for an associate broker or principal broker license mustcomplete an approved educational program of 120 hours. The subject matterof the course will consist of 12 classroom hours in Brokerage Management, 24 classroom hours in Advanced Appraisal,24 classroom hours in AdvancedFinance, 24 classroom hours in Property Management, 24 classroom hours in Advanced Real Estate Law, and 12 hours in Utah License Law. All courses mustbe completed at a Division approved real estateschool . The Division may waive all or part of the education requirement by virtueof equivalent education. Education waivers may be granted only by the Division.To obtain an education waiver, the applicant must provide to the Divisionvalid documentation of his/her equivalent education. Experience will not satisfy the education requirement. Licensing Procedure - Please refer to the following information and forms (Broker Application Packet) Application for a Broker License Procedures Checklist Requirements for Obtaining a Real Estate Broker License Experience Points Tables (Rule 162-2.2.5) Documentation of Full Time Experience Real Estate Sales/Leasing Transaction Log Real Estate Property Management Transaction Log Brokerage Verification Form OPENING OWN BUSINESS If the applicant wishes to open his/her own business, the following isalso required: Business Name Approval - The principal broker applicant must submit evidence that the name underwhich he/she will be doing business has been registered and is approved bythe Division of Corporations, Utah Department of Commerce. The Division ofReal Estate will not accept a proposed company name that may mislead thepublic into thinking they are not dealing with a real estate brokerage orproperty management company. Company Registration - The principal broker applicant must submit a Company Application on theform required by the Division. Evidence of Trust Account - The principal broker applicant shall submit documentation from a financialinstitution that is less than 30 days old verifying the applicant's trustaccount. Change Cards - A Change Card must be submitted for each agent who will be affiliatingwith the principal broker. Fees - Appropriate fees for company registration mustbe submitted. Currently this fee is $25.00. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LICENSE License Requirement - All persons who, for another and for valuable consideration, engage inproperty management must hold a current Utah real estate license to functionas a property manager. Property management is defined as providing the followingservices which may include, but are not limited to: Advertising real estate for lease or rent. Procuring prospective tenants or lessees. Negotiating lease or rental terms. Executing lease or rental agreements. This requirement does not apply to: An owner who manages his/her own property. A regular salaried employee of the owner of real estate who manages property owned by the employer. Apartment managers who manage the apartments at which they reside in exchange for free or reduced rent on their apartments. A full time salaried employee of a homeowners association who manages units subject to the declaration of condominium, which established the homeowners association. Individuals who, as employees of a licensed property management company, provide prospective tenants with access to vacant apartments, provide secretarial, bookkeeping, maintenance or rent-collecting services, quote predetermined rent and lease terms, and fill out preprinted lease or rental agreements, the terms of which are not negotiable by the person completing the form. Broker Supervision - All property management conducted by a sales agent or associate brokermust be supervised by the principal broker with whom the licensee isaffiliated. S EPARATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY A principal broker may be granted a license to operate a property managementcompany separate from an existing real estate brokerage upon compliance withthe following conditions: Application - The principal broker, as a single proprietor or a company, must obtainan additional broker's license by submitting an application on the form requiredby the Division together with the license fee plus the fee for the RecoveryFund. Business Name Approval - The applicant must submit evidence that the name of the new company hasbeen registered and is approved by the Division of Corporations, Utah Departmentof Commerce. The Division of Real Estate will not accept a proposed companyname that may mislead the public into thinking they are not dealing witha real estate brokerage or property management company. Company Registration - The principal broker applicant must submit a Company Application on theform required by the Division. Evidence of Trust Account - The principal broker applicant shall submit documentation from a financialinstitution that is less than 30 days old verifying the applicant's trustaccount. Affiliated Licensees - The principal broker must designate with which company each of the licenseesaffiliated with him/her will be located - either the real estate brokerageor the property management company. Property Management Company Only - No Brokerage - If a principal broker (an individual or company) wants to operate a propertymanagement company only AND does not operate a real estate brokerage, theprincipal broker may do so by the same procedure as for opening a real estatebrokerage. Fees - Appropriate fees for company registration mustbe submitted. Currently this fee is $25.00. BRANCH OFFICES A branch office is a real estate office affiliated with and operating underthe same name as a principal brokerage but located at a different address.A branch office must be registered with the Division of Real Estate priorto operation. Application - To register a branch office, the principal broker must submit to the Division,on the forms required by the Division, the location of the branch, the nameof the branch manager and the names of all associate brokers and sales agentsassigned to the branch. He/she must also submit trust account documentationthat is less than thirty days old of a valid trust account. This accountcan be the same trust account used by the main office. Branch Manager - Each branch office must have an associate broker as a branch manager whowill actively manage the office. Fees - Appropriate fees for company registration mustbe submitted. Currently this fee is $25.00. NON-RESIDENT LICENSE A person who is actively licensed and in good standing in anotherstate as a real estate principal broker, associate broker or sales agentmay be issued an equivalent license in Utah by successfully completing specificeducation hours required by the Division with the concurrence of the Commission,and by passing the state and, in some cases, the general portion of the Utahreal estate licensing examination. The general portion of the exam may notbe waived for licensees from California due to the way California administerstheir exam. If the license in another state is expired, the applicant will be required to comply with all of Utah'sprelicensing requirements. Education and examination waivers will not beprovided if the license has expired. The applicant must also comply with each of the following requirements: Application - The applicant must submit an application for examination and license inaccordance with the requirements of the state of Utah. License History - Proof of licensure and disciplinary action, if any, (a "history letter")from each state in which the applicant has been licensed. Education Documentation - A waiver toward the Utah education requirement may be granted for educationtaken in another state. The applicant must provide to the Division validdocumentation of any certified real estate education taken in another statethat correlates with the education requirement of the state of Utah. Validdocumentation shall show proof of completion of the subject matter, the dateof completion and the number of classroom hours of each course taken. The application will be required to take a minimum of 12 classroom hoursin Utah License Law and may be required to take additional real estate educationhours. The applicant will be notified by the Division of his/her specificeducation requirements in the form of a "waiver letter." WAIVER LETTER - Upon receipt of the "license history" and the documentation of previouslycompleted real estate education, the Division will determine how many hours,if any, of Utah's education requirement may be waived and how many hoursthe applicant will still be required to complete before he/she will be allowedto sit for the examination. The licensee will be notified of his/her educationrequirements in the form of a "waiver letter." If applicable, the "waiverletter" will also indicate whether the general (national) portion of thelicensing examination will be waived. The "waiver letter" must be presented: to the school to show the number of education hours required of the candidate, at the time of the examination, and at the time of application for licensure. EXAMINATION - If the applicant has been actively licensed in another state for the precedingtwo years, he/she will be required to take only the Utah state portion ofthe examination. If the applicant has been on an inactive status in anotherstate for any portion of the past two years, he/she will be required to takeboth the national and Utah state portions of the examination. The general portion of the exam may not be waived for licensees from California due to the way California administers their exam. TRUST ACCOUNT - If the applicant is a principal broker, he/she must establish a real estatetrust account in this state. CONSENT TO SERVICE - Upon applying for licensure, the applicant must submit to the Divisionan irrevocable written consent allowing service of process on the Commissionor the Division. PRINCIPAL BROKER AFFILIATION - If the applicant is an associate broker or sales agent, the principalbroker with whom he/she is affiliated must hold an active Utah license. APPLICANTS LICENSED IN OTHER STATES A person who is licensed in another state as a real estate principalbroker, associate broker or sales agent may become licensed in Utah by successfully completing specific education hours requiredby the Division with the concurrence of the Commission, and by passing thestate and, in some cases, the general portion of the Utah real estate licensingexamination. The general portion of the exam may not be waived forlicensees from California due to the way California administers their exam. If the license in another state is expired, the applicant will be required to comply with all of Utah'sprelicensing requirements. Education and examination waivers will not beprovided. The applicant must also comply with each of the following requirements: Application - The applicant must submit an application for examination and license inaccordance with the requirements of the state of Utah. License History - The applicant must be or have been licensed as a principal broker, associatebroker or sales agent in another state. Proof of licensure (a "history letter")from the regulatory agency of each state of previous licensure must be providedto the Division of Real Estate. Education Documentation - A waiver toward the Utah education requirement may be granted for educationtaken in another state. The applicant must provide to the Division validdocumentation of any certified real estate education taken in another statethat correlates with the education requirement of the state of Utah. Validdocumentation shall show proof of completion of the subject matter, the dateof completion and the number of classroom hours of each course taken. The applicant will be required to take a minimum of 12 classroom hours inUtah License Law, and may be required to take additional real estate educationhours. The applicant will be notified by the Division of his/her specificeducation requirements in the form of a "waiver letter." WAIVER LETTER - Upon receipt of the "license history" and the documentation of previouslycompleted real estate education, the Division will determine how many hours,if any, of Utah's education requirement may be waived and how many hoursthe applicant will still be required to complete before he/she will be allowedto sit for the examination. The licensee will be notified of his/her educationrequirements in the form of a "waiver letter." If applicable, the "waiverletter" will also indicate whether the general (national) portion of thelicensing examination will be waived. The general portion of the exam may not be waived forlicensees from California due to the way California administers their exam. The "waiver letter" must be presented: to the school to show the number of education hours required of the candidate, at the time of the examination, and at the time of application for licensure. EXAMINATION - If the applicant has been actively licensed in another state for the precedingtwo years, he/she will be required to take only the Utah state portion ofthe examination. If the applicant has been on an inactive status in anotherstate for any portion of the past two years, he/she will be required to takeboth the national and Utah state portions of the examination. The general portion of the exam may not be waived for licensees from California due to the way California administers their exam. RECIPROCITY The State of Utah currently has signed reciprocity agreements with Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Alberta, Canada. To apply for reciprocity, send us a written request for licensing through reciprocity, including what states you currently have and previously have had a license in, as well as your contact information. Have the state(s) send a certified license history to us (see contact information ). The reciprocal state MUST show that your license is on an active status. Once we receive your written request and the certified license history/histories, we will generate an application form for you. We will also send you: a questionnaire, the Consent To Service form and acknowledgement, which must be signed and notarized; 2 fingerprint cards; and the fingerprint waiver form (fingerprints required for sales agent applicants only - not for broker applicants). Fingerprints must be obtained by the applicant. The application and other relevant forms must be completed and submitted with the $100 licensing fee and $12 recovery fund fee for sales agents or $18 recovery fund fee for brokers (plus $39 fingerprint processing fee for sales agent applicants). If a broker applicant wishes to open his or her own company, additional paperwork and fees are required. See " Opening Own Business " information above. EXAMINATION PROCEDURE Education - Before an applicant will be allowed to sit for the examination, he/shemust have completely satisfied the appropriate educational requirement. Application - The candidate should obtain the Candidate Handbook from the pre-licensingschool. This handbook will outline the procedure for registering for andtaking the examination. Date/Location - The examination will be given twice daily (Tuesday thru Saturday) in theSalt Lake City area. The examination is also available at the testing centersin Provo, Ogden, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Grand Junction, Colorado. Waiver Letter - Any candidate who is granted a waiver of the general portion of theexamination must submit proof of such waiver from the Division at the timeof application. Questions - The test consists of 80 questions on the general portion of the examination,40 questions for sales agents and 50 questions for brokers on the state portionof the examination. Both the general and state portions of the examinationmust be passed within a six-month period of time. More Information - Please refer to the Candidate Handbook for complete details on takingthe examination. Special Services - The testing center complies with the provisions of the Americans withDisabilities Act (42 USCS Section 12101 et seq.). If the candidate has adisabling condition, he/she may request special testing services. The disabilitymust be verified by a professional who is qualified to diagnose and documentthe disability. Utah Department of Commerce Home | Utah Division of Real Estate Home | Contact the Division of Real Estate | Site Map | Links

Real Estate Loan

Mortgage Web site design & Real Estate agent website design, hosting and marketing. Mortgage Originators Over 1 Million online apps generated Over 5,000 mortgage originators choose Myers Leading clients generate over 50% of their business online Real Estate Agents & Offices Customizable, easy to use web sites Award winning lead generation tools Showcase your listings Products: :: Mortgage Originators :: Real Estate Agents & Offices :: Company: :: About Us :: Contact Us :: Employment :: Partners :: Why Choose Myers? Myers Internet has been a leader in mortgage website design since 1995. Myers pioneered mortgage web site design and is known for its mortgage banker websites, mortgage broker web sites and mortgage loan officer websites. A mortgage banker, mortgage broker or mortgage loan officer can get a Myers mortgage web site "off the shelf" or a mortgage website made to order. Mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers and mortgage loan officers can make their own changes to a Myers mortgage website, or hire a mortgage website design specialist to give their mortgage website design a unique look. A mortgage banker, mortgage broker or mortgage loan officer can choose from many mortgage web site design styles and mortgage websites products. Whether you're a mortgage banker, mortgage broker or mortgage loan officer, there is a mortgage web site design to suit your budget. What are some of the benefits you can expect with a Myers mortgage website? What are some of the benefits you can expect with a Myers mortgage website? A Myers mortgage website can take online mortgage applications 24/7. A Myers mortgage web site has mortgage calculators which other mortgage websites don't. Consumers visit Myers mortgage web sites to learn about the loan process. Potential borrowers use the mortgage web site to notify a mortgage broker about their desired mortgage interest rate. People go to a Myers website to see if they could benefit with a refinance mortgage A Myers mortgage website can help sell the mortgage broker or loan officer A Myers mortgage web site has important loan program information. A Myers mortgage website can help a consumer determine the mortgage loan they can afford. A mortgage broker or loan officer can display their interest rates on their Myers mortgage web sites A consumer can get confidential mortgage loan details at a Myers mortgage website. Consumers can enter the mortgage payment sweepstakes at a Myers mortgage web site. A mortgage broker or loan officer can create referral business at their mortgage website. Borrowers can get answers to frequently asked questions at a Myers mortgage web site. Consumers can find out about a bi-weekly mortgage at a Myers mortgage website. Myers is also a leader in real estate website design. Myers offers real estate agent web sites, real estate broker websites, REALTOR® websites and real estate office web sites. Real estate agents, real estate brokers and REALTORS® understand the importance of a real estate website which includes cutting edge real estate web site design. A real estate web site is a real estate agent's online real estate office. The benefits of a Myers real estate web site are numerous: A Myers real estate agent website, real estate broker web site, REALTOR® website, or real estate office website can all be personalized to suit the needs of the client. Our real estate web sites can include customized content. Custom web site content helps the real estate website be optimally indexed by search engines. A Myers real estate website can help convert visitors into prospects. The real estate agent website, real estate broker web site, REALTOR® website, and real estate office website all offer numerous lead-capturing tools. You can get a real estate agent website, real estate broker web site, REALTOR® website, or real estate office website which can display your and others' listings. You can get an advanced real estate website design which allows clients to save their property searches. A real estate agent website, real estate broker web site, REALTOR® website, or real estate office website can each have a Flash introduction. A good real estate web site design includes rich content. We have real estate website designs which come with over seventy-five pages of content featuring tips and information for home buyers and sellers. Myers real estate websites include practically everything a real estate agent or broker will ever need.

Florida Real Estate

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Las Vegas real estate

Real estate investors cast watchful eye on Las Vegas' high stakes housing game SFGate Home Business Sports Entertainment Travel Jobs Real Estate Autos SFGate News Web by Real estate investors cast watchful eye on Las Vegas' high stakes housing game Kelly Zito, Chronicle Staff Writer Monday, March 7, 2005 now part of stylesheet -- More... Printable Version Email This Article Las Vegas' lucky number last year was 52 -- as in 52 percent. That's how much real estate prices jumped in the nation's fastest-growing city in one year, as a housing shortage set off a wave of speculation by investors from California and other states. But as any gambler knows, Lady Luck eventually turns a cold shoulder. Las Vegans wanted to cash in, too, and so many put their houses up for sale that they flooded the market. By the end of the year, some homebuilders were slashing prices. For investors from states like California where prices seem to move in only one direction -- up -- it was a stark example of a deflating bubble. "When you lose money in real estate, you really feel it,'' said Igor Doncov, a software engineer in Half Moon Bay who bought two new houses in Las Vegas early in 2004 but sold them at a loss after his builder, Pulte Homes, cut prices on its new models by $180,000. "I thought I couldn't lose," he said in a telephone interview. "But it turned into a total disaster." Housing analysts don't think Las Vegas' slowdown is a sign that prices will soften soon in other fast-appreciating regions. But they say it is a warning of what could happen in the Bay Area as interest rates go up -- particularly for people trying to "flip" houses for a quick profit. "Everyone is watching Las Vegas with its price appreciation and flipping," said John Karevoll, an analyst at DataQuick, the La Jolla real estate research firm. "If something weird happens, it'll happen there first." For years, Las Vegas real estate was cheap. Myrna Kingham, president of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, remembers not-so-distant days of driving around in a pickup wearing high heels and showing clients dusty 5-acre parcels listed for $20,000. But as the population of Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County grew 81 percent in the 1990s, adding 621,160 people, housing prices caught up, matching the national median of $145,000 in 2001. Then last year, the market caught fire, boosted by healthy job gains, a growing stream of retirees, Californians drawn to lower home prices and an influx of investor money. Builders, faced with a shortage of workers, had trouble keeping up. Add rock-bottom interest rates, and the scene resembled the go-go days of the Bay Area's tech boom. Hundreds of would-be buyers descended on open houses, and home prices seemed to increase as quickly as the progressive jackpots in the slot machines on the Strip. Record appreciation In the spring of 2004, the median price for a single-family house was $269,000, 52 percent higher than the year before -- a national record for appreciation, according to the National Association of Realtors. "The market was hotter than blazes," Kingham said. "People were looking for affordability -- they wanted a nice home in an area with nice weather that they could buy for $200,000." Californians, who pay some of the highest home prices in the nation, took notice. Golden State residents have snapped up nearly 27,000 Las Vegas properties since 2000, according to DataQuick. In 2004 alone, California residents bought 11,600 homes -- 12 percent of the transactions in Clark County for the year. Bay Area residents bought nearly 7,800 Las Vegas properties over the past five years. In the second quarter of 2004 alone, the number who bought Las Vegas property doubled from the same quarter the year before, to more than 800,surpassing investment in Sacramento, the Tahoe region and Palm Springs for the seventh straight quarter. But in less time than it takes to build a single house, the market changed. Egged on by the stratospheric prices their neighbors were asking -- and getting -- homeowners in Las Vegas flooded the market with "for sale" signs. The number of existing houses posted for sale on the Multiple Listing Service ballooned from about 1,400 in February to more than 16,000 by October. Among them were never-lived-in homes offered by investors who had bought them only months before from national homebuilders -- who were selling their own brand-new houses literally across the street. In early fall one of those builders, Pulte Homes, took the extraordinary step of slashing prices by $25,000 to $180,000 on more than 20 of its Las Vegas-area developments. The move sent shock waves through the Las Vegas building industry and angered investors like Igor Doncov. Doncov, a 57-year-old engineer who was a victim of the technology flame-out, was one of thousands of investors who hoped to turn a quick profit by buying and selling Las Vegas property within a few months. Early last year he bought two new houses from Pulte Homes for $515,000 each. By the end of the summer, he said, the houses were worth well over $600,000, based on Pulte's prices for the same models. Then Pulte cut the price by about $180,000. Doncov sold the two properties in December and January for $480,000 and $490,000; after closing costs and sales fees, he estimates he lost $100,000. He is working with a lawyer to try to recoup the losses from Pulte, on the grounds Pulte misled investors by systematically raising new home prices, then abruptly lowering them. Many people in Las Vegas shrug at tales like Doncov's, saying any plan to get rich quick is fraught with risk. "There are people who come here and lose all kinds of money on the card table," said Keith Schwer, an economist at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. By December, it was clear the peak of the frenzy had passed. Residential building permits that month were 34 percent below the previous December's, as measured by the Center for Business and Economic Research, which Schwer directs. And 15 percent fewer people were moving to Las Vegas -- some undoubtedly spooked by the region's steep jump in home prices. Pulte officials would not comment on the price reductions. In the wake of Pulte's move, other builders also cut prices but made no formal announcements. KB Home, the region's largest home builder, didn't cut prices but did tighten its policies on sales to investors. Contracts now stipulate, that, barring the loss of a job or other major problem, those who resell their properties within a year have to give KB Home the profit. Despite the builders' moves, Schwer and other experts say the Las Vegas market remains healthy. In recent months, they say, the number of homes for sale has declined and homes are selling faster. In January, however, there were still 13,800 homes for sale. Though the median price for a new home climbed 6 percent to $307,500, the median for an existing home -- $251,000 - was up only one half of one percent from a year before, according to Schwer. Over the long term, the area's job growth -- including a new 8,000-employee casino opening in April -- warm climate, entertainment options and well-equipped airport will continue to draw buyers, Schwer said. On a Friday morning in February, Bill Jeffers, who owns Valley Furniture in Livermore, toured a $731,000 home in a subdivision called Inverness. By buying a home in Las Vegas, Jeffers, who has lived on Maui for several years, will shorten his twice-monthly commute to the store and put his grandchildren into strong school systems. "I tried to get in last year, but there were just too many other buyers," said Jeffers, a Livermore native. Some making profits And some investors who bought wisely are making profits. Stephanie Wedge, a San Jose real estate agent who also brokers property in Las Vegas, bought a house for $625,000 last May. She put the 5-year-old home on the market on Feb. 23 for $775,000, and she expected to get an offer the following week. "That's a really good turnaround," said Wedge, who also has reserved a condo in a yet-to-be built high-rise. "I think it depends on where the property is -- and this is in a gated, country club community." The continued pace of construction serves as an outward sign of the region's confidence. On a stretch of freeway south of the Strip, a sign reads "KB Home, Next 5 Exits." Adding more houses to a market already flush with them would seem to only exacerbate any stagnation in the market. But Dennis Smith, president of Las Vegas' Homebuilders Research Inc. pointed out the vast majority of new homes are presold. The market "is still in correction mode because of the high inventory in the resale segment,'' he said. "It will probably take at least six months for that to end." So, will what happened in Vegas, stay in Vegas? Schwer doubts Las Vegas' deceleration will bleed into the Golden State -- or any other state -- in part because Las Vegas growth rates were so far above the norm. Others say the arc of Las Vegas' recent experience may contain a hint of the Bay Area's future. While the nine-county region saw much lower price appreciation last year than Las Vegas -- an increase of about 17 percent -- Ed Leamer, a UCLA economist, contends that both regions are enveloped in a speculative frenzy. In Las Vegas, an oversupply of homes relative to demand may spell price declines. Back in the Bay Area, Leamer thinks rising interest rates will take some of the air out of the market as fewer people qualify to buy expensive properties -- though any correction would be far less dramatic than Las Vegas'. "Because the market has cracked in Las Vegas doesn't mean it's imminent in other areas," Leamer said. "But it gives you a sense of what may happen in these areas in the face of rising interest rates." E-mail Kelly Zito at kzito@sfchronicle.com . Page A - 1 Get up to 50% off home delivery of the Chronicle for 12 weeks! MARKETING Compelling writer? Action 36 Cable 6 (KICU-TV) MECHANIC SF tugboat co POKER Expert poker player needed REAL ESTATE Sales *FREE TRAINING! Prudential CA Realty SALES Can you sell the President? IPA SALES Benefit package AGI Publishing SALES $125K PLUS In-Home Kitchen Kitchenworks, Inc. 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Countrywide - Home Equity Loans home equity home owners guide home loan glossary equity credit line process home ownership tips your credit report home equity options line of credit options quick approval options rates & costs home equity calculator loan advisor apply now call us: 1-800-825-4549 1-800-825-4549 contact us | site map | log in CFC home | about us | investor relations | business partners -- Learn: How much you can borrow. The difference between a Home Equity Loan and a Home Equity Line of Credit. The benefits of applying for a Home Equity Loan. Shop: Our rates for a Countrywide Home Equity Loan. Apply: Online now Homeowner Guide Learn about the process for getting a home equity line of credit. Plus, pick up valuable home ownership tips you can use right now. Home Equity Options Get help selecting the right line of credit for you, and discover ways we can speed up the approval process. Rates & Costs Find Today's Rate for our home equity program and learn your options on closing costs. Home Equity Calculator See how large a line of credit you can afford and your home equity will support. Loan Advisor Use this simple tool to find the best home equity loan or credit line for you. See The Benefits of Applying Online See a preview of our online application process where qualified borrowers can get an UpFront approval in minutes. Apply Now Jump start the loan process by taking a few minutes to submit your application online. Easy, Really. Home Equity Line of Credit ("HELOC") or Home Equity Loan A home equity line of credit is a lot like a credit card. You can continuously use it up to your credit limit. One of the best parts of a home equity line of credit is that the interest rate is typically lower than a credit card and the interest paid can be tax deductible (consult your tax advisor about your personal situation). Most home equity loans are simply second mortgages. They have fixed rates with longer terms over a fixed period of time. These loans are amortized - your monthly payment is applied to principal and interest. You receive the amount of money you borrow in one lump sum. For this reason, home equity loans can be ideal for longer-term financial goals. back to top Benefits of Applying for a Home Equity Line of Credit or a Home Equity Loan Home equity lines of credit or home equity loans, you've probably heard about using these types of home equity financing products to meet your financial goals. You can tap into your home's equity and use the money to consolidate your debts*, finance your remodeling projects, pay your children's tuition, buy a new car or a boat, or even take your dream vacation. Tapping into the equity built in your home is a wise choice that allows you to take advantage of lower interest rates. Furthermore, some of Countrywide's line of credit options do not even require an appraisal of your house. Interest on both a home equity loan and line of credit may be deductible (consult your tax advisor about your personal situation). back to top service guarantees | why choose Countrywide? | loan status | find a branch | current customers | home loans | log in loans en espaol | Countrywide's Full Spectrum Lending Division | we house america | banking | insurance | investments your accounts | contact us | site map | careers | about us | investor relations | privacy & security | licenses & registrations Equal Housing Lender. © 2005 Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. Trade/service marks are the property of Countrywide Financial Corp., and/or its subsidiaries. *UpFront Approval is subject to satisfactory appraisal and title review and no change in financial condition. If the rate is not locked or rate protection expires, any rate increase may lower the loan amount for which the borrower has pre-qualified. Some products may not be available in all states. Refinancing or taking out a home equity loan or line of credit may increase the total number of monthly payments and the total amount paid when comparing to your current situation. State Licensing . Privacy & Security.