Search the Las Cruces Homes for Sale

Our MLIS Property Search is the most advanced property search in Las Cruces. It not only offers you the ability to search the database of homes available by map, but it allows you to save your searches, compare homes, map driving routes, and alert you of new homes in your price range or in your neighborhood. This is the most advanced way to search for listings in the Las Cruces, NM Multiple Listing and Information Service (MLS or MLIS). Every home or property for sale in Las Cruces, NM can be found in our search.

Searching the Las Cruces MLS has never been so convenient.

We have developed a program called Home Tracker to help our visitors search the Las Cruces MLS. If you are looking for homes available in the Las Cruces MLS, our search includes all available homes to the public from the Las Cruces MLS. Realize that there may be more homes in the actual Las Cruces MLS. This is because the local Las Cruces MLS only allows a certain grouping to be viewed on member's websites. All Las Cruces MLS Qualifying Brokers get the same access, but no all of them put this information to the best use. In fact, only Steinborn.com will help you map driving routes, compare homes side by side with others or even your home, allow you to sign up for Neighborhood Alerts to inform you of when homes in your neighborhood are added to the Las Cruces MLS, and much more. If you are looking to search the Las Cruces MLS, then you have found your best resource.

 A - Z Guide to Buying a Home
The Home Buying Process

Have Your Credit Pre-Approved
Getting a credit pre-approval means you receive a loan commitment from your mortgage company before you have found a home, based on a review of your credit and finances. A credit pre-approval shows sellers that you're a qualified buyer and helps you establish a clear price range.

The credit pre-approval process
The process of applying for a credit pre-approval is the same as a typical mortgage application, except that it doesn't include information on the property you will purchase. Your loan officer collects information on your credit, income, assets, and debts, and sends this information through an underwriting system. If the underwriting process determines that you qualify for a loan, you receive a loan commitment for up to a certain amount, which is contingent on the property meeting certain criteria.

Benefits of having your credit pre-approved
There are many good reasons for getting a credit pre-approval before you buy a home:

• It makes your home search more efficient by allowing you to focus only on homes you know you can afford.
• It lets sellers know that you can back up your offer, so they don't have to worry about whether you can get a loan.
• It lets you know early in the process if you will have difficulty getting pre-approved, so you have a chance to address problems before finding a home.
• It gets most of the mortgage process out of the way up front, so you can complete your transaction quickly after you find a home.

Go House Hunting
Now that you've had your credit pre-approved and know how much you can afford, it's time to go househunting.

You may look at one house or two dozen before you find the one that's right for you. Just keep an open mind, and focus on the things that are really important to you, and you're sure to find a place where you'll feel at home.

Choosing a neighborhood
House-hunters should keep in mind the familiar adage about the three most important features of a home: location, location, location. That's because finding the right home for you and your family has as much to do with the neighborhood as with the home itself. In fact, you'll probably notice during your search that a home in one area costs much more than a similar home in another. Factors like safety, school quality, and proximity to shopping and entertainment all contribute to demand for homes in a given neighborhood.

Beyond price, what you look for in a neighborhood probably has a lot to do with your personal situation. How far are you willing to commute to work? How close do you want to be to family and friends? Do you have young children who would enjoy a nearby playground? Picturing your day-to-day life in a certain neighborhood is a good way to predict whether you will feel comfortable there.

Considering different house styles
You may want to look beyond the traditional detached single-family home. Condominiums, town houses, and duplexes can be more affordable options, especially if you're looking in a densely populated area. These types of housing may not offer as much yard space or privacy as single-family homes, but those may not be as important to you as the chance to own a home in the neighborhood of your choice.

Building a new home
If you've looked and looked for your dream home without success, or if you want to be the very first owner of a brand new home, consider building. You'll have more opportunity to customize the home's features and design, more up-to-date appliances and building materials, and usually a builder's warranty to cover problems that come up in the first year.

Make an Offer
So, you've found a house you want to buy. Congratulations! Now you need to decide how much you're willing to pay to make it yours. In today's real estate market multiple offers on the same home are commonplace, so you may only get one chance to make an offer that the seller will consider. That's why it's important to think carefully about your strategy.

Your real estate agent should be able to give you a list of similar homes nearby that have sold recently, and for how much. Although you can't directly compare the home you want with the homes on the list without ever having been in them, you can use the list of comparable sales to get a general idea of the neighborhood's price range.

In addition to sale prices for other homes, there are several ways you can determine a good amount to offer:

• The condition of the house. Is the home in move-in condition, in need of paint and other cosmetic improvements, or a fixer-upper that needs some real work?
• The market. If you are in a buyer's market-where there are more homes for sale than there are people to buy them-prices are probably stable or falling. If you are in a seller's market-where there are more buyers looking for homes than there are homes for sale-prices are probably moving upward.

Your threshold. If you've gotten a credit pre-approval, you know how much you can borrow for your home purchase. Of course, you may not be comfortable paying as much as you've been approved to borrow, so think carefully about your financial situation before making an offer.

Get a Home Inspection
When you are making what is likely the largest investment of your life, you should know as much as possible about what you are buying. That's why it's a good idea to have a home inspected before you make your purchase. Most purchase contracts contain provisions for a home inspection to be performed within a certain timeframe, and sometimes they specify what action the buyer and seller may take if problems are uncovered.

Finding a home inspector
It's very important that you choose a qualified inspector who has plenty of experience with residential homes. Contact a national or state association of home inspectors to find out what certifications it requires for membership and if there are any members in your area. You may also want to ask your real estate agent for a list of reputable companies.

What the inspection should cover
At a minimum, the inspector should examine the following:

• Exterior structural components, including the foundation, roof, siding, and chimney.
• Interior structural components, including the basement or crawlspace, attic, flooring, and ceilings.
• Major systems, including heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical.

You should make every effort to be present during the inspection so that you will have an opportunity to ask questions and see first-hand what the inspector looks at. You should receive an inspection report with descriptions, and possibly photographs, of any problems with the home.

Close the Deal
You've found your home, agreed on a price with the seller, had the home inspected, and now you're ready for the closing, where you will officially take ownership of the property. Welcome to the end of the home buying process-and the beginning of your homeownership journey.

When to schedule your closing
The closing date will depend on when the seller is ready to move out, when you are ready to move in, and when all of the mortgage details have been finalized. You may want to request a closing date near the end of the month in order to minimize the amount of interest you have to prepay on your mortgage.

Who should be there
Closing practices vary based on location, but attendees may include the following:

• Buyer and seller
• Real estate agents for the buyer and seller
• Closing agent
• Title company representative
• Mortgage company representative
• Attorney

What happens at closing
Despite all the new technologies that are streamlining the mortgage process, the closing phase remains very paper-intensive. You will have to review and sign a hefty stack of documents, some of them in duplicate and triplicate. You will also have to pay for any closing costs, including:

• Lender fees, such as an appraisal fee, credit report fee, origination points, and discount points
• Third-party fees for services not provided by your lender, which may include a settlement fee, title insurance, and attorney's fees
• Prepaid items that must be paid to your lender in advance, such as prepaid interest, hazard insurance, and deposits to set up an escrow account

Move into Your New Home

So you're ready to start life in your new home - congratulations! Now all you have to do is get yourself, your family, and your belongings there intact. You can save time and energy by hiring a moving company, or save money by doing it yourself - it all depends on how much stuff you have, how far you're moving, and how much you can afford to spend.

Hiring a moving company
The key to choosing the right mover is trust. To find a company you can have confidence in, look for one that:

• Has been in the business for a number of years
• Has a clean record with the Better Business Bureau®
• Can provide several references to satisfied customers
• Meets the standards of your state's professional association for moving companies, if there is one

Moving yourself
Your move may not require professional help, but pulling it off successfully does require a professional approach. You wouldn't want your moving company taking shortcuts, so why should you?

Preparations should start well before moving day. Keep these tips in mind:

• Get the right moving supplies, and plenty of them. High-quality boxes, padding, and other packing materials are a good investment.
• Take a room-by-room inventory of everything you will take with you, and get rid of the rest either in a garage sale or by donating it to charity.
• Label each box you pack, and keep a list of its contents to make unpacking easier.
• Set aside a box of items you'll need immediately after you arrive, such as cleaning supplies, kitchen utensils, dinnerware, bath items, tools, and a telephone.
• Have kids pack a box of their favorite things to unload right away at the new house.

Settling in

Maing yourself at home in your new surroundings is about more than unpacking. Try to explore the neighborhood and get acquainted with neighbors right away. Ask about stores, playgrounds, and places of worship, so you don't have to put your life on hold while you familiarize yourself with the area.