Dow Jones Is Mixed The Dow Jones Industrial Average busted through to 14000 last Thursday and then fell back on Friday for a weekly decline of 0.41%. The S&P 500 fell 1.19% and the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 0.72% for the week. So far this year the DJIA is up 11.1%.  Bob Ratliff - RE/MAX Advantage - Las Vegas, NV. - 702-807-5528 http://www.las-vegas-homes.biz 07/25/2007

D.R. Horton is Expected To Report Dismal Third-Quarter Earnings   D.R. Horton is expected to report dismal third-quarter earnings today. Deeper pain means bigger buyer incentives.......I hate to say it but someone in this national building market is not going to make it.......look for one of the major builders to start making acquisitions with other cash strapped builders. Just a thought..... Bob Ratliff - RE/MAX Advantage - Las Vegas, NV, - 702-807-5528 http://www.las-vegas-homes.biz 07/25/2007

GOOGLE Earnings  Google's earnings fell short of expectations even though the had a 28% increase in earnings to $925.1 million. The explanation is the staff expenses were larger than expected. If you think about it Google makes something  out of nothing. The staff expenses were do to additional staffing........that is how they invest in there company....with people.....could be a long term solid move....I guess we will see....my recommendation is to buy more google stock!  Bob Ratliff - RE/MAX Advantage - Las Vegas, NV. 702-807-5528 http://www.las-vegas-homes.biz   07/25/2007

Home sales in Los Prados, a guard gated, golf course community in Las Vegas, NV stalled in the second quarter of 2007. Just four homes and two townhouses closed, compared to ten homes and four townhouses closed in the first quarter.Existing resale inventory of 48 homes and 2 townhouses (plus 5 homes and 3 townhouses with accepted offers) heavily favors buyers. Sellers need to price aggressively and have the home in its best showing condition if they want to attract an offer in this highly competitive market. Los Prados also offers swimming, tennis, and walking trails and is convenient to the I-215 beltway.Here are the details of the second quarter sales:AddressSq Ft Bed/BathList PriceSale PriceDOMClosing Date4808 Braeburn23494/2$414,900$404,9005706/20/075220 Sunray23494/2$399,000$399,00... 07/25/2007

This afternoon I had the pleasure (?)of visiting our local airport again (McCarran International Airport).  When you live in Las Vegas it seems like there is ALWAYS a chance to spend some time there...picking up visitors, dropping them off....today I was picking up my son.  Robert drives here from a little 'hick' town in Yuma, AZ (they don't have a big airport) and flies out of here.  It's a 300 mile drive, or he could drive to Phoenix, which is a 180 mile drive.  He kills 2 birds with one stone...makes his parents happy and then leaves on vacation.  This time he was coming back from vacation and will head back to Yuma Friday morning.Anyway, I was also able to kill 2 birds  with one stone today by driving my friend/ex-client to the airport at the almost identical time that I needed to p... 07/25/2007

What is in Las Vegas's Future?Thats the question every one has been asking for many years now. Land is running scarce in the Las Vegas valley, with only 36,000 acres left for residential building for a city that uses 5,00 + acres a year. What is a city to do when their land is running out and more and more people move here each day? Well lady's and gentlemen you must build towards the sky. Yes, thats right up, vertical, skyward whatever you want to call it.This is the most reasonable and logical idea for developers to pursue with land running scarce in all directions but up. Not many people are aware of the transformation taking place with Las Vegas that will defiantly be more noticeable than right now. For instance in 2009 several developments will be completed, adding numerous buildi... 07/25/2007

 The real estate market is rather tough out there today. Property is moving very slowly. In many areas a glut of houses await visits from buyers who are patiently going from one property to the next looking for the best deal. Can't blame them. I'd do it, too, if I were shopping. This is their market, so go ahead and take advantage of it.Knowing that, how can a seller attract a prospect to purchase his home? In other words, what type of incentives are likely to work? Price, of course, comes first to everybody's mind. That's a given. Besides price, the seller can offer to buy down the mortgage interest rate, say from 6.5% to 4.5% for the first year and maybe 5.5% the second year. It's always good to see the monthly payment a little lower, at least for a few years. Another popular method i... 07/25/2007

It is believed a new record has been set in Las Vegas real estate. A home in Summerlin at the Promontory at The Ridges subdivision recently sold for nearly $7.9 million. The price is considerable but not a jaw dropping factor. The home that closed escrow sometime last week was 7,519 square feet. My calculator popped out $1,050 or so per foot. That's amazing for just about anywhere in the country and is supposedly a new high for the Las Vegas valley.Home prices generally average around $180-220 per square foot as a whole throughout the valley. Amazing homes in amazing neighborhoods demand amazing premiums. 07/25/2007

Casino after casino gets a new facelift. In several cases the whole building is replaced with more modern and larger scale resorts. The Luxor will keep its pyramid shape but the interior will be changed entirely.The owners, MGM Mirage, are looking to update the image to draw more adults. Reportedly, the arcade and egyptian designs will be replaced with more hip and adult-focused clubs, bars, and entertainment.The hotel portion of the building will also be remodeled.Las Vegas attracts millions of visitors annually. Each casino attempts to maximize foot traffic and slot play. It often requires a remake in image to accomplish better numbers. It will be interesting to see how the Luxor is modified. 07/25/2007

I'm excited that Las Vegas is being considered for an NBA basketball team. There are many benefits to the city and its residents, not to mention we won't have to travel to CA or UT to catch a game.Recent league scandal has placed some strain on the possibilities but government officials have reassured Stern and others that the valley will be able to support a team. REI has plans to build a stadium near main and Charleston and recent NBA events in town have gone off very well.We'll keep a weather eye to the horizon awaiting as the story unfolds... 07/25/2007

Fixed Mortgage Rates in Las Vegas Stay The Same mortgage rates las vegas - mortgage rates in las vegas - las vegas home mortgage loan NEW HOME SEARCH RESALE HOME SEARCH    With the worry of inflation slowing mortgage rates Las Vegas have stalled. The Las Vegas home mortgage rate remained at 6.74 percent. The Federal Reserves rate setting committee decided to keep short term rates unchanged and explained that inflation had improved over the past few months. The next day the Fed's favorite measure for inflation came out and inflation had moved back to the centrals bank comfort zone. When it comes to prices, the fed pays closet attention to personal consumption expenditures price index excluding food and energy. Now is the time to buy Las Vegas real estate and go get a Las Vegas home mort... 07/24/2007

 Las Vegas valley still has a good amount of land available for residential development and eventually it'll be graded for more houses and condos and townhouses. But real estate is getting so expensive here that the future homes will be priced out of reach for many buyers. Another housing solution has to be found. Home builders have their finger on the pulse, of course, and are gradually shifting some operations into the outlying towns like Mesquite, Pahrump and Coyote Springs, each about an hour's drive from the Strip.Prices over in these bedroom communities can be 20% to 50% less than here, incentive enough for many to handle the extra commute time with a smile and a favorite tune. Not only that, but you can get more house and yard for the price, too. How about a single-story home on ... 07/24/2007

Palms Bay Neighborhood in Rhodes Ranch Las Vegas rhodes ranch las vegas - rhodes ranch golf las vegas - rhodes ranch golf club las vegas NEW HOME SEARCH RESALE HOME SEARCH    Rhodes Ranch Las Vegas Homes Palms Bay neighborhood in Rhodes Ranch Golf Club Las Vegas offers three two story models ranging from 1,734 sq. ft. to 2,400 sq. ft. Model 1734 features a vaulted entry way, three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, great room, loft and two car garage. Model 2033 offers three bedrooms with a master bedroom walk in closet, 21/2 baths, great room, dining area, two car garage and optional fireplace. Model 2400 has four bedrooms, 21/2 baths, formal living room and dining room, family room, two car garage and options for a master retreat plus bonus room and fireplace. The Rhodes Ranch Golf Las Vegas com... 07/23/2007

Las Vegas Real Estate Market Snapshot 7.23.2007 Created by RE/MAX Advantage Headline 33% reduction in home values? That is the suggestion by a not so local "expert" for our market to recover. If that were to happen, a $300K home would be $200K by the end of the down cycle. Also reported this week was an inventory of nearly 55,000 lots by local builders with no construction taking place. There's good news in this Snapshot; a below average increase in total inventory, an increase in pending sales, and a small increase in the Pending Index (indicator of market activity). The Pending Index still remains within the yearly low. The end of the month is within reach, it'll be interesting to see what portion of the pending sales close and whether the market will lose more ground   Entire MLS Ar... 07/23/2007

Summerlin Real Estate Montechiaro Age Qualified Community summerlin real estate - summerlin homes - summerlin vegas    Summerlin real estate Montechiaro announces new age qualified community Montechiaro by Westmark Homes of Las Vegas. Summerlin homes Montechiaro will be located on 50 plus acres. The mid-rise Summerlin Vegas Montetechiaro offers three Summerlin real estate Summerlin homes options which will range from 1,200 sq. ft. to 2,900 sq. ft. pricing will start in the mid $300,000s to $800,000. The Summerlin Vegas Montechiaro will have three and four story Mediterranean look to it's Summerlin real estate buildings with a 35,000 sq. ft. clubhouse. The Summerlin real estate clubhouse will have a business center, conference room, arts and crafts rooms, computer room, multi-purpose ba... 07/23/2007

Trump Tower being built on the Strip and scheduled to open the first of the year is putting the T - R - U - M - P  at the top of the building this week.  One letter is to go up each day...but the "T" (which is 20 feet tall) had to be postponed because of weather!  It ‘almost' rained today (7-23-07)...the weather has been HOT  but had cooled down as a monsoonal flow worked its way into the valley.  The rain was about enough to dirty the windshields of vehicles.  My thoughts are...what happens if it ‘almost rains' everyday this week?  Of course this is a Donald Trump venture and will sit just across the street from the Fashion Show Mall and the WYNN (Steve Wynn's resort).NORTH LAS VEGAS sat high on the "infamous foreclosure list" today (specifically zip code 89031 - north central part of ... 07/23/2007

Elevin11 Condos for Sale in Las Vegas  las vegas condos for sale - condominiums for sale las vegas - condos for sale in las vegas http://www.las-vegas-homes.biz     Remember a few years back when anyone could afford to purchase a Las Vegas condos for sale home in Las Vegas real estate? Well, those days are back at Eleven11 Las Vegas condos for sale. Live the lifestyle of which you have always dreamed. Close to Boca Park and Summerlin las Vegas, you have all the luxurious Las Vegas condos for sale amenities within your reach. Dine at the most popular restaurants, shop at unique boutiques and play in the nearby community parks. Easy access to Summerlin Parkway and the 95 Freeway will allow you to go anywhere in the valley, including Downtown, McCarran International Airport or “The Strip”... 07/23/2007

It pays to know what type of a mortgage you have. What comes to mind first is the kind of home loan program you opted for. Whether it's a fixed rate product or an ARM of some sort, look up the details. If you happen to have an ARM, it's good to be aware of when it resets, like does it do it annually, every three years or when. Learn the index that's being used, and the margin.Now that foreclosures are rising across the land, it's equally important to know what kind of a financial instrument secures the loan to the property. Is it a conventional mortgage or a deed of trust? They fulfill the same role in real estate purchases, but are quite different from the legal point of view. To read the entire article, please click here. 07/23/2007

 Buyer's market, like today's, is always enticing for real estate investors and those who want to become investors. There are opportunities everywhere and sometimes it's hard to focus on the fundamentals that are key to making a profitable acquisition. It's easy to get caught in the atmosphere of abundant supply and then make hasty decisions that turn out less than satisfactory. Let's look at three major areas that I value the most when selecting an investment property.The house has to be in a basically sound condition. You don't want to replace the roof, do major plumbing work or get involved in a costly window replacement project. All of that is unprofitable work and should be avoided. Cosmetic improvements are the ones that will give you the best returns, like fresh paint inside and ... 07/23/2007

As interest rates continue to rise, some sellers are considering private financing. In other words, they are setting the lending terms with buyers to help them get into the home they are buying. A move like this ties up the cash for the seller but in many cases, it helps them get moved on to another home while the new buyer pays a premium to own the home.If the new buyer ceases to make payments according to the agreement arranged a the time of purchase then the seller forecloses on the property and sells it again.Participants in a negotiation like this will want the right professional team envolved so that title is transferred correctly and the negotiations are appropriate. 07/23/2007