Spam

Spam. It's everywhere and in every form. From the same leaflets plastered all over town to the same generic email notifying you that you won the European lottery, it's the same old song and dance....until yesterday.

It seems the lure of spamming has climbed up the ranks. I received this spam email (at least two to three dozen times) from a former apprentice from season four. Will the madness end? -Charles

Real Estate website raffle

The greatest real estate agent in the world contest is officially over and the winner, Team Eric has donated the prize to the Eco society. They are raffling off the complete REW website with lifetime free hosting and CORE IDX. Tickets are $35 each or you can buy 4 for $100. For more information about the raffle and to buy tickets, visit http://www.ericonsearch.com/real-estate-webmasters-website-raffle-by-team-eric/

All proceeds benefit the Eco Preservation Society.

Union Park going forward

2008 Green Log Awards

For those of you that keep up on green trends and building, there is a user voted contest for the best green blog going on right now. The Green Log Awards lists the best green remodeling websites found on the web. If you are looking for green remodel information or just green news in general, that list is the place to look (especially for you eco-all stars). I've voted for my favorite Green Talk, one of the best green blogs I've read. If you head over to check it out, feel free to vote for my favorite blog. If you have a green blog, I think nominations are closed for this year but I have a feeling this will become an annual thing. -Charles

Fishing at the lake

When people think of Las Vegas, they naturally think of the desert. It's only natural and with the lack of rain, water conservation is always paramount especially in the summer months. So what can you do to escape the heat? Head out to Lake Mead of course! Lake Mead has dropped several feet in the last couple of years, so if you are looking for some good fishing spots, you'll need a boat. One of my favorite places to go is South Cove, a great place to catch Bluegill, Crappie and Large mount Bass. If you drive across the dam to the Arizona side, you can fish for Rainbow Trout below Hoover Dam (its restocked annually).

I was talking to a friend of mine that lives in Yantis, Texas. We were talking about various fishing techniques for Bass. He fishes in Lake Fork for Big Mouth Bass, Crappie and Bluegill. We ended up comparing various lures and talking about the biggest fish we've pulled from our respective lakes (of course there was no exaggeration!).

So the next time you are looking for something to do this summer, take a short drive down to Lake Mead. -Charles

Luxury townhomes in Mountains Edge

The gorgeous masterplanned community of Mountain's Edge is comprised of several different home builders. Most of the neighborhoods are single family homes, with the exception of Beacon Hill. Beacon Hill offers luxury three story townhomes in a secure, gated community. Built by Engle Homes, the comunity has five different three story floor plans to choose from.

Residents will enjoy community amenities , including a two story clubhouse, pool and exercise facilities in addition to the great parks, trails and other amenities of Mountain's Edge. If you are looking for a more maintenance free lifestyle in Mountain's Edge, Beacon Hill is what you have been looking for. Call me at 702-493-8033 or send me an email for the latest available properties and pricing. -cr

Related:

Summer Trail

Chaco Canyon

More products for green remodeling

One of the biggest problems that people have when trying to remodel their home "green" is finding quality green products. Most big local home remodeling chains don't carry a large selection of green products, although we'll see that change in the next couple of years I'm sure. While surfing around, I found this post about green designed doors on green-talk.

The company offers a huge selection of styles and are priced comparably to normal higher end doors you'd find at a local store. I know there are a few rainers that are doing their own green remodels out there. You might want to check these out.

I'm curious to see how many cities have active green projects. Right now, there are about a half dozen green projects in Las Vegas, with more planned. I have a feeling that green is going to the be choice for more builders in the next couple of years. -Charles

Canine and Couture fashion event

The Animal Foundation is hosting an event with Chloe Boutique inside the Venetian's Palazzo Tower from 10am - 2pm this Saturday, March 22nd.  Adorable shelter dogs will be available for adoption and 15% of all the proceeds of the day's sales will go toward the animals.

So for a day of high end couture fashion and fantastic canines in need of a home, come down to the Chloe Boutique in the Palazzo Tower. Hope to see you there. -Charles

Looking for a unique, cool residence? Check out Manhattan West

A first blush Manhattan West looks like a dozen other mixed use condominium developments around the valley. On-site retail, a fitness center, pool, etc....the usual fare. However, the project takes the next step and offers a combination of unique amenities and floor plans offered no where else.

Residents will enjoy free shuttle service to the strip and the airport, plus access to an on-site doctor. That's right, there will be a medical office in the community. The concierge service can arrange every from walking your dog to having your groceries delivered.

Manhattan West also offers some of the most innovative upgrades available in Las Vegas. There are two specialty designs, one made specifically for men and the other for women. The "M" series offers dual, half sized dishwashers (so you never, ever have to put dishes away), fog free shaving mirror, surround sound, HDTV projector and more. The "Diva" series offers the extra touches like an extended make up mirror, powered vanity drawer so you can leave the hairdryer plugged in when you put it away, jetted tub with iPod dock and a huge closer with shoe storage and customizable storage. All residences come with stainless steel Whirlpool appliances, granite slab kitchen counter-tops, Internet and cable wiring and underground parking, plus a host of other amenities.

Construction is under way. Manhattan West is being developed by Gemstone, the same developer that built the Manhattan condos on the south Las Vegas strip. Call 702-493-8033 for the latest available units and pricing. -cr

Related:

Promenada

Stephanie Village

Manhattan

Another reason behind the housing crunch

You may have seen this in the news (especially you live in Las Vegas). The state has formed a Mortgage Fraud Task Force to deal with the high number of foreclosures in Nevada (2nd in the nation :( ). There have been several scam artists arrested already this year, some for preying on homeowners facing foreclosure, another for embezzlement, but nothing compares to the latest. You can read the post here.

I did a google search and these types of cases are popping up all over the country. Upsetting to say the least. -Charles