"Chase just doesn't care"

WOW- Just got off the phone with Chase Bank regarding a short sale on behalf of my client.

In an effort to keep from losing a buyer I phone for an update.

The representative flat out told me......"Chase is losing so much money that there is nothing we can do to speed things up....Chase just doesn't care." Wow did I catch someone on a bad day or what? Well it set the tone for me. Just imagine how much money they will lose when this $900K proerty goes to foreclosure!

This is the continued struggle with short sales. Frustrating at best!

Market Report

Market Report for the week of November 19th, 2008, data obtained from GLVAR MLS
· Family Residence (SFR)

o Available – 17,113 (+162 , Last Week 16,951)Under Contract – 5,430 (-17 , Last Week 5,447)Days of Supply – 95 (+2 , Last Week 93)Short Sales – 7,536 (+39 , Last Week 7,497)

· Condominiums and Town Homes (CONDO/TH)

o Available – 4,625 (+38 , Last Week 4,587)Under Contract – 958 (+4 , Last Week 954)Days of Supply – 145 (+1 , Last Week 144)Short Sales – 1,428 (+16 , Last Week 1,412)

· Combined SFR + CONDO/TH

o Available – 21,738 (+200 , Last Week 21,538)Under Contract – 6,388 (-13 , Last Week 6,401)Days of Supply – 102 (+1 , Last Week 101)Short Sales – 8,964 (+55 , Last Week 8,909)

City Center Stats

I just received my new "Business Press" magazine and I thought I would share with you some interesting statistics about the MGM's City- Center Project.

• $9.1 BILLION dollars in construction costs (thats a whole lotta dough)
• 2650 Luxury condos & condo hotel units (thats a whole lotta condos!)
• 7 Buildings in total
• 12,000 permanent jobs when the project opens (thats a whole lotta jobs!)
• 100 new hires a month
• There are 14 tower cranes on site
• 24 MILLION man hours worked thru October
• 6 worker deaths (6 too many)
• 800 golf carts and buggies on site

NOW CATCH THIS INFORMATION

• Veer is two 37 story condos with a total of 670 residences (sheesh!)
• Vdara 57 story 1,543 room condo-hotel
• Aria Tower - 4000 hotel rooms (thats right 4000!)
• 655,000 sq foot concention center (watch out Sands!)
• Harmon Hotel & Spa has 400 hotel rooms and 240 condos.
• 645,000 sq feet of dining, shopping and entertainment
• Cirque theatre has 1800 seats

I have been around City Center since its inception, but the magnitutde of the place was not as clear as it was when I read it in a snap shot version such as I provided for you. Only in Vegas!

Las Vegas Green Expo

Well this past weekend I attended what I believe to be Las Vegas's First Green Expo at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. It was an a great step in the right direction, and I am very hopeful that it will continue to grow and expand in the future.

Albeit it small and not too diverse, it was a great mix of vendors that came out to show their support and exhibit their items. Lisa Santacaterina, a fellow Eco-Broker even hosted a booth there for EcoBroker to gain awareness to being green in Real Estate! Thanks Lisa!

We did get an opportunity to take a picture with the "Green Santa" (Yes thats the big man up there....the one with the beard...LOL)

If you have not been to the Springs Preserve yet...I encourage all of you to go...Its a great thing to do some weekend, and you can spend the entire day! http://www.springspreserve.org

Check it out!

Going for a "Greener Move"

Moving is an environmental nightmare! Wasted packing materials, paper, cardboard boxes and frequent trips back and forth the new place and the old, OR a guzzling rent a truck. And if the move is cross country or state to state....well, enough said. Did you know the average person used 100-120 POUNDS of cardboard for each move!





Couple tips for moving green...(er)

1. Have a well planned garage sale. Collect all the stuff that you have been holding onto and recycle it. The old saying goes, someone Else's trash is someones treasure.


2. Donate any left over items from the garage sale to local charities. Goodwill, Salvation Army, Restore by Habitat For Humanity are a few.


3. Collect any old magazines, books, videos and CD's and donate them to a local Library.


4. Fill up bags and suitcases with clothes or accessories.


5. Wrap fragile items with linens and towels to cut down on paper or packing materials.


6. DON'T BUY PAPER for the move! Stockpile newspapers a couple month before the move and then recycle it when you're done.

Good luck on the move! And be sure to recycle! Unfortunately we are not there yet, but there are some companies out there that offer Biodiesal moving trucks and recycled and reusable plastic moving boxes....until then....do what you can to minimize your impact on your next move.

3 New Panorama Listings...AVAILABLE NOW!!

Just listed 3 new units at Panorama Towers....Both in Towers 1 & 2

T1 Unit 3006 - "F" model Just under 3000 sq ft. Dual Masters....Mountain Views...$729,000!!!

T1 Unit 703 - 2 bedroom Just under 1100 sq ft. STRIP FACING!!! NO other unit can compare to this price .....$355,000

T2 Unit 1501, "G" unit. Unique unit in the "Breezeway" cutout of the tower. Only one like it. @ patios, dual masters and AMAZING STRIP & MOUNTAIN VIEWS. Almost 2400 sq ft!...$1,299,000

Modern Hareware And Ligting Site

Stumbled on a great website for Mid-Century and Modern fixtures and hardware for bathrooms and kitchens. http://www.satellitemodern.com/

Wish I could cut and paste some examples, but I couldnt. Check it out for yourself!

Downtown Las Vegas Late 40's Post War Bungalow- FOR SALE

Located in Downtown Las Vegas, this home is incredibly charming! Built in 1946 this post war bungalow has many original features that have been well preserved.

* Just over 1500 sq feet this 3 bedroom , 2 bath home features original hardwood floors T/O. The baths have been modernized! Original built in closets in the bedrooms offer tons of storage space.

* HUGE LOT, this home sits on a 7500 sq ft lot with tons of potential. Priced reduced - $264,900.

Las Vegas National Golf COurse & Paradise Palms Neighborhood

New developments for the Las Vegas National Golf course and the development of the course which can impact the surrounding Mid Century Neighborhood surrounding the course.
The neighbors of this community have formed an unofficial association or "network" to rally together to protect the integrity of the golf course and the neighborhood. A great website, although geared mainly for residents, is really a COMMUNITY CALL TO ACTION. I encourage everyone to spend some time on the website, and in particular under the "videos" section to see some of the news coverage to catch you up to speed as to whats been going on.
Additionally, there are letters from the current owner of the golf course, and what the intentions are in regards to the zoning. Even if you are not directly affected, it casts a larger nest for the Las Vegas community.

Please hit the site , http://www.savethecourse.com/ to catch yourself up and support the community as much as you can.

You can also type in LVGOLFCOURSE on http://www.youtube.com/ for direct links about the current happenings.

My hats off to this community for rallying together and making such a HUGE impact and helping preserve a part of Las Vegas History.

Eco-Friendly Counter Tops

Well it is time...I need to get rid of the laminate counter tops I currently have in my kitchen. They have neared the end of their life expectancy and need an overhaul.
I started my search for Eco-Friendly counter top options and have determined 3 great choices that are readily available, and easy to get here in Las Vegas. Granite is out of the question, Radon issues as well as the fact that granite needs to be mined....enough said. Lots of choices out there, and this is in no way a comprehensive list. Prices Vary so shop around.
Options to consider:

Recyclyed glass:

Simply it keeps glass out of our waste stream and the concrete, cement or resin used to hold the glass together usually is mixed with fly ash, a by product of coal burning. These counters come in a variety of colors natuarally or can be stained to match any decor. Prices vary but cost is similar to granite, about $50-$60 a sq ft.

Recycled Paper:

This stuff looks great, and is more than likely going to be my choice. Uses post consumer recycled paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and non-petroleum, formaldehyde-free resins, some made from cashew nut shell liquid. These are available in 1/4 inch to 2" thick, and come in a ton of colors. Heat & stain resistant. I have found it locally for between $36 and $59 a sq ft.

End Grain Bamboo:

Bamboo is a great substitute for wood because its fast growth makes it more renewable. Low-off-gassing glues don't harm indoor air quality. Available in a natural hue or a brown color these rectangular pieces of bamboo are glued together in 1 1/2 inch thickness pieces. The cheapest of the bunch, around $25 a sq ft.

Panorama Towers - REDUCTIONS

We have just taken two AMAZING reductions on two of our units that we are offering at Panorama Towers.

Tower I - Unit 503. PRICE SLASHED! Priced at $398,888!!! Owners purchased the unit for significantly higher. Their loss your clients gain. Not a short sale. Tenant in place, but VERY accommodating. She can stay or go. THE PLACE SHOWS LIKE A MODEL UNIT! Two bedrooms with the open floor plan. Just over 1100 SQ FT. East Facing.

Tower II - Unit 810. BELOW $300K!! Mountain Views...733 SQ FT One bedroom , Priced at $290,000 from $319,000. PRICED TO MOVE!! Vacant and ready for immediate move-in. Great use of windows....and a rare walk in closet! Currently the only unit available for below $300K

We are anticipating a great response to the new reductions. If you or someone you know is looking for an opportunity to live the Panorama lifestyle...here is your chance.
Get in touch!

New Blog!

Well, finally, a new blog site! This one promises to be much more fun and creative....The other "professional" site I was on was great...but I felt a need to keep it VERY real estate focused rather than inclusive of some design elements and suggestions from folks. I'll re-post some of the most recent postings on the other site here...and then we are off and running!

I would love the feedback and comments as we go!