Las Vegas Real Estate Blog

Las Vegas condo living

2008-07-17T19:48:21Z

When it comes to condominium living, Las Vegas offers a bewildering array of choices. From entry level communities like Rancho Lake to ultra hip condos at X-it, condo hunters have a lot of communities to choose from. Why choose a condominium over a traditional home?

Condominium living offers a less complicated lifestyle. Outdoor maintenance is handled by the community association. Condo communities typically offer several amenities, like a clubhouse, fitness facilities, swimming pool, etc. Condo residents enjoy a more lock and leave lifestyle. Many people often choose a condo as a second or vacation home due to these conveniences. Some communities offer additional security, guard gates or video surveillance (or any combination therein) an additional amenity. Some communities offer some unique amenities for their residents like private pet parks, putting greens, tanning booths, free wireless internet and shuttle services to name a few.

There are thousands of Las Vegas condos on the market currently in every price range. If you are thinking about a condominium in Las Vegas, give me a call at 702-493-8033. -cr

Which CMS do you prefer?

2008-06-15T22:40:33Z

With so many real estate agents jumping on the blog bandwagon, the number of platforms to pick from keeps growing. But which platform is right for you? Really most of them come down to personal preference and your own level of technical knowledge. Let's take a look at some of the more popular content management systems out there.

Blogger. Everyone has heard of it and there are a ton of real estate blogs using this platform, like this self-hosted Arizona Real Estate News blog and there are some being hosted for free by blogger, as this Las Vegas Homes Blog is. On the plus side, you have complete control over the html, whether you are hosting the blog or not. There are tons of templates available or you can simply create your own if you have the html skills. However, the platform is only moderately search engine friendly and there aren't a lot of free plug-ins readily available for it compared to other platforms.

Wordpress. Probably the most popular blog platform ever created. Because it is a free, open source program, there are lots of hybrid creations out there being used. Like blogger, you can have a free hosted wordpress blog or you can host your own creation like this modified Wordpress blog about Paradise Valley real estate or this one about Scottsdale Real Estate. Both are using Wordpress as their backbone, but the coding has been modified by the provider. There are hundreds of free plug-ins available as well as thousands of templates. Community support for Wordpress is unsurpassed and new releases are put out on a regular basis. You can also generate static pages as well as regular blog pages. Currently it seems that Wordpress is the platform of choice by most real estate bloggers. It is extremely search engine friendly.

Drupal. This popular CMS powers quite a few corporate and public sites due to its extreme flexibility. Like Wordpress, there is a lot of community support and hundreds of free plug-ins available. However, you can't get a free hosted drupal site at this time, you have to have your own hosting. Set up is more complicated than a WP or blogger site, so there is a learning curve involved. Our Las Vegas real estate site runs on it which was done by the same person that created this Phoenix real estate site. You can set up Drupal to be a regular website, blog or any combination you can think of in between. Like WordPress, Drupal sites are extremely search engine friendly and you can control every aspect of the site.

Typepad. This blogging platform powers thousands of real estate blogs. You can sign up for a free trial, but after that you will need pay for the service. The interface is hosted by typepad and you are given a subdomain for your blog. You can forward your own domain to it, but the site will still be visible at the original subdomain name you picked (according to their FAQ). Its a great choice for someone with no technical expertise and very little time (and inclination) to learn how to set up a site. The platform is moderately search engine friendly and has a full corporate support.

Rsspieces. This custom blogging platform is relatively new to the scene and is designed specifically towards real estate bloggers. In addition to being very search engine friendly, owner Mary McKnight and her company provide additional blogging training and seo advice. There are several member of Active Rain who have Rsspieces blogs and are doing quite well in the search engine results. AR member Ines' site Miamism is a great example.

Joomla! Another open source CMS, it powers everything from websites to blogs. There is large community support for the platform and hundreds of plug-ins or extensions available for download. Like Drupal, there is a bit of learning curve.

There are of course, many, many more out there. I haven't include many other popular real estate blog providers, not because they aren't good products, I just wanted to hit the mainstream only. I know there are several members here who have a tomato blog (which seems to be a great product) or a dakno blog. If those of you with those sites would like share your experience in the comments, that'd be great. -Charles

Fuel prices and the real estate industry

2008-06-13T12:24:42Z

Just a short time ago, we thought that paying over $3.00 a gallon for gas was too much. Now the average price across the US is over $4 per gallon and prices are still climbing. Rising fuel prices have become a topic of debate in the real estate industry and what impact they will have on the housing market. Aside from increased construction costs, other things that may be affected include resales of older homes, commute time, the type of communities being built and the level of service given to buyers (the days of driving around endlessly looking at homes may be over).

Here are some more articles on the subject from the blogosphere:

Feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments.

It's not the IRS

2008-05-20T20:00:00Z

It seems that everyone is trying to get their hands on your stimulus check. Granted, it's YOUR MONEY. The government is simply giving you back part of your taxes. So it's not surprising that the scammers are trying to get in on the action. Today I received an officially looking email:

Over 130 million Americans will receive refunds as
part of President Bush program to jumpstart the economy.

Our records indicate that you are qualified to receive the
2008 Economic Stimulus Refund.

The fastest and easiest way to receive your refund is by
direct deposit to your checking/savings account.

Please click on the link and fill out the form and submit
before May 19th, 2008 to ensure that your refund will be
processed as soon as possible.

Submitting your form on May 19th, 2008 or later means that
your refund will be delayed due to the volume of requests we
anticipate for the Economic Stimulus Refund.

To access Economic Stimulus Refund, please click here.

The web address actually takes you here: http://smfarms. com/catalog/images/hewlett_packard/.refund.php

I'm sure it's another Nigerian site run out of the Netherlands. If you get a similar email, don't respond or visit the site. -Charles

Spam

2008-05-10T19:29:03Z

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

2008-05-02T17:32:30Z

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

2008-04-23T17:43:02Z

Despite the cooling down of the real estate market, the 61 acre Union Park development is going forward. Construction has commenced on the Lou Ruvo Brain Center, one of the hallmark buildings in the development. Not everything is coming up roses. The World Jewelry center opening has been pushed back a year, but they are still planning on luxury condos at this time. Other projects in Union Park include a Charlie Palmer hotel and the Smith center for the Performing Arts.

2008 Green Log Awards

2008-04-10T17:23:29Z

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

2008-04-05T22:26:22Z

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

2008-03-30T19:26:21Z

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

Summer Trail

Chaco Canyon

More products for green remodeling

2008-03-27T18:03:53Z

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

2008-03-21T18:47:21Z

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

2008-03-20T15:38:59Z

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

Promenada

Stephanie Village

Manhattan

Another reason behind the housing crunch

2008-03-18T21:29:10Z

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

The Mothership has landed

2008-03-14T21:31:02Z

I'm always on the look out for unusual homes. This "spaceship" house just went up for auction. You can watch the local news video about the house. The home is located in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. I found a few more spaceship homes around the country as well, including a few Futuro homes designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen. Looks like the architect for the Tennessee house took some design ideas from him. -Charles

The real value of social networking

2008-03-12T20:15:28Z

This will be a loaded question, since a vast majority of you reading this are members of this site and thus, are participating in social networking. Search engines giants have been snapping up social networking sites because they are becoming a source of competition for them....and another place for them to place their advertising clients. I'm curious how many of you use some of the more popular social networking sites out there to broaden your reader base. Here is a short list of just a few:

Digg
Real Estate Voices
Mixx
Puurple
Propellor

Unfortunately, you can't add a digg button here because of the scripting. A nice upgrade would be the automatic addition of social networking buttons to your posts (hint, hint). -Charles

You think your lender is bad?

2008-03-10T22:20:48Z

I'm sure every home owner at one time or another has had a lender that they really disliked. That definitely is the case for us. But nothing will prepare you for what this lender has done to its clients. Just what the mortgage industry needed, another black eye. Take a look at this video.

I'd love to hear what the loan officers here have to say about it. -Charles

Vegas taking a beating in the press

2008-03-09T00:56:50Z

For those of us that live in the Las Vegas valley, we've had some better weeks by a long shot. Between the toxic poison found and the possibility of a disease outbreak due to sheer greed, Las Vegas has seen better days. I put a post up on what's been going on my Las Vegas blog. You may have seen some of this on the national news as well.

Contests: love'm or hate'm?

2008-02-29T15:15:05Z

There seems to be some controversy over the "greatest real estate agent in the world contest" and I'm not sure why. People love contests. We love to WIN. Its that simple. Publisher's clearing house built their whole business model around it, long ago and its still going strong today.

So I did a quick little search here on AR, and was surprised at the results. We've had more contests here than you can imagine. Here are just a few of the ones I found:

Laurie Manny's Contest this was a great idea, to generate interest in great posts than may have fallen through the cracks. The winner was awarded extra points here on AR.

Discover the keys to your success this one is still going on, you have until March 9th to enter. The prize is three months of free coaching! A great prize for new and experienced agents alike (a fresh perspective never hurts!) So make sure you enter before the deadline. Details are in the post.

The BFF contest yet another enter to win contest, this time for your and your BEST FRIEND FOREVER. Still, the prize is pretty good, a five day vacation to your choice of destinations including LAS VEGAS (whichi is also a great place to buy real estate). You still have time to enter, but you'd better hurry.

Some contests are just for fun with no "prize or winner" I had put up one about Halloween costume contest, and it quickly fell into hillarity and chaos. Whether you like them or not, contests are great for generating interest. Do believe me? Just do a search on AR for contests, you'll be surprised at the number of results. -Charles

Funny emails, but not really

2008-02-28T13:44:05Z

More bogus emails are floating around again. IF you have been selected to win a prize, foreign lottery, rebates, etc, unless you specifically signed up online for that very thing, its a scam. This one is a new twist:

Dear Customer,

You've been selected to take part in our quick and easy survey In return, Microsoft Corporation we will credit $80 to your account - Just for your time!

Please spare two minutes of your time and take part in our online survey so we can improve our products. Don't miss this chance to change something.

To continue click on the link below:

http://www.microsoft .com/en/us/survey/default.aspx which redirects you to http://www.hcsroofing.com/ redirect.html

The email address has been spoofed to read as coming from Microsoft. I don't think this roofing company has thought out the kind of reputation they are going to get by tricking people to visit their site. In their defense, I'm sure they were sold this "service", since I doubt the employees had the skill to spoof the address.

Update:

Dear CitiBusiness customer,

CitiBusiness new Scheduled Maintenance Program protects your data from unauthorized access. CitiBusiness Online Form is important addition to our scheduled maintenance program.
Please use the link below to access CitiBusiness Online Form:

http://citibusiness.citibank.com.dastin1.nom. es/businessdir/cbof/start.asp?ref=3029112734418557199493530462421347048795086885560758203&session=1982721651285

Please do not reply to this auto-generated email. Follow instructions above.

This one just came in. Another scammer tactic, the url looks legit, but they use third level domains to make it seem like its from Citibank. Of course, I don't bank there, but they are the third largest bank in the US so the scammers are playing the odds. I've forwarded a copy to their anti-phising dept. NEVER CLICK THE LINKS and ALWAYS DELETE these!-Charles

Nevada's first GREEN community

2008-02-27T22:14:54Z

The city of Henderson is getting the first Green community in the state, Sommerset. This intimate community of only 48 homes will be the first community built powered by solar energy. Homes will generate their own power through rooftop solar collectors and will feature excluse GE ecomagination products, including a whole house energy monitor that will tell the homeowners how much power and water they are using per month. The unit also tracks the amount of solar power being generated and keeps archives of production and use. Homes sizes range from just over 1,600 sf to over 2,700. All homes also come with state of the art GE energy saving appliances as well.

Home buyers looking for green property were resigned to condo living until the arrival of Sommerset. Priced in the 300's, these homes will not last. Call 702-493-8033 for more information or to schedule a tour. I may also be reached at info@lvrealty.net -cr

Will going Green effect older homes

Kudos to fellow rainer Matt Pellerin

2008-02-27T18:19:11Z

Matt's website was featured in this month's REALTOR magazine as one of seven websites that "work". The integrated mls search, combined with advanced filtering capabilities won him a top seven spot out the thousands of websites across the country. Congrats to Matt & company for their impressive site.

Check out the winning site at www.phoenixhomes.com -Charles

Will Green effect older homes?

2008-02-23T16:44:59Z

Las Vegas residents, like some many others in other parts of the country, have been seeing their utility rates continue to go up every year. The push to go "green" is also getting stronger as well, which leads me to my question: Will the energy efficiency of a property becoming more a major selling point (or detriment) in the next two years?

I put a post up asking that on our main blog here. Along with a poll. I'm curious to see the results. - Charles

Las Vegas Central is no more....or is it?

2008-01-24T17:21:05Z

One thing is certain in the high rise market, never count a project completely down and out. The Las Vegas Central project has been around for years. Originally the project was going to be two 47 story towers located close to the convention center. The FAA nixed the original design, citing safety concerns due to the tower's height and forcing a redesign. That combined with a slowing in the market, the developer went into bankruptcy last year.

Play the long odds

Despite that, the project is not dead. The convention center is spending over a billion dollars in a redesign that will move the main entrance to within 300 feet of the central site. The developer has been approached by several large hotel operators to build a hotel on the site instead. The new plans now call for the top couple of floors to hold penthouse condos of about 3,500 sf. This is exactly why Vegas is a gambling town. No word yet on what brand the hotel will be or pricing on the penthouses.- Charles

Metreon lofts in Las Vegas

2008-01-22T20:39:46Z

The success of the District in Green Valley has not gone unnoticed by other developers. In the wake of the mortgage crisis, commercial real estate seems to be largely unaffected. So its no surprise that developers are building more mixed use projects.

Metreon Lofts is the latest entry in the mixed use market. The community is being developed by Kennedy Commercial and will be located just six miles from the Las Vegas strip on West Flamingo. Metreon will have two distinct five story residential buildings offering live/work, terraced lofts and fabulous penthouse units. Commercial tenants include Sammy's Wood Fired Pizza, Fedex Kinko's and Einstein's.

The community is already under construction and the grand opening is January 31st. If you are looking for a unique loft community in Las Vegas, call 702-493-8033 or email me at info@lvrealty.net for available floor plans and Metreon pricing. -cr