A great debate has entered the Las Vegas Real Estate landscape over views.
Nevada's laws in regards to views is basically "Caveat Emptor". Which translates to "buyer beware". This means you must do your due diligence in regards to what zoning is going on in and around the property you are purchasing and the landscape in Las Vegas changes daily right in front of our eyes.
High rise purchasers in the resort corridor of Las Vegas are crying foul over Fontainebleau's move to throw up a parking garage within 100 feet of Turnberry's Tower 4. The thoughts on this are that Fontainebleau is not into "smart or sustainable development" but maybe it was Turnberry's quest to throw so many buildings on a small chunk of property right next to property zoned for gaming. Fontainebleau's garage will be located in the same area as many of the other strip casinos garages are: in the back of the property. My thoughts are, I don't think we should bite off the hand that feeds us (sorry, that would be gaming over real estate) just because residential and multi use developments are popping up all over the resort corridor. Read more here
In other news on views: There is buzz that the famous Las Vegas National Golf Course may be sold so the land can be developed for residential use, as it is zoned for. Esko's July 2007 post has a link to the article. If it were for sale and the owners were so upset, why don't they just pool together and buy the land themselves? This is a famous golf course, set close to the strip. It has been the backdrop in many movies, for many celebrity golf tournaments and popular with the tourists. To me that would have been the easy solution.
BUT - and yes there is a big BUT even with my very humble opinion thrown in hither and thither with those two examples.
We cannot promise a view, we may even have view disclosures (like most builders do): We are allowed to promote views, golf course frontage, and other things that may change over time in the MLS. A premium may even be tagged on to the price and the appraiser can even acknowledge and adjust for it. How is that possible with caveat emptor and here today, gone tomorrow views in this town?
Take a look at my picture taken of downtown from Soho lofts in March of 2007. Let's say the unit was appraised with a view of downtown. While the buyer may understand that the view will not be sustained forever, how is the lender funding the loan supposed to know that, unless it is disclosed.
All the Best,
Renee,
I took a course called Certified Neighborhood Specialist (CNS) a designation that focuses on these types of issues. Knowing your neighborhood, understanding potential tax issues, future building projects etc.
I think you would appreciate the course www.CNSDesignation.com