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Buying a Home - HUD HUD News Newsroom Priorities About HUD Homes Buying Owning Selling Renting Homeless Home improvements HUD homes Fair housing FHA refunds Foreclosure Consumer info Communities About communities Volunteering Organizing Economic development Working with HUD Grants Programs Contracts Work online HUD jobs Complaints Resources Library Handbooks/ forms Common questions Tools Webcasts Mailing lists Contact us Help Buying a Home Information by State Esta página en español Print version Email this to a friend Counseling and Education Housing counseling agencies can give you advice about buying a home. Find a housing counselor near you. Common questions Homeownership videos More from HUD Mortgage glossary FHA mortgage limits HUD approved lenders HUD approved condos Healthy homes Environmental maps Energy info About appraisals Links Rural housing loan programs Loan programs for veterans Freddie Mac Fannie Mae US Postal Service Mover's Guide The homebuying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home! Nine steps to buying a home Figure out how much you can afford Know your rights Shop for a loan Learn about homebuying programs Shop for a home Make an offer Get a home inspection Shop for homeowners insurance Sign papers Step 1: Figure out how much you can afford What you can afford depends on your income, credit rating, current monthly expenses, downpayment and the interest rate. The calculators below can help, but it is best to visit a lender to find out for sure. How much home can you afford? Buying vs. Renting Need help with your downpayment and/or closing costs? Homebuying programs in your state A housing counselor can help you figure out how to manage and pay off your debt, and start saving for that downpayment! Find a housing counselor near you Step 2: Know your rights Fair Housing: Equal Opportunity for All - brochure Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Borrower's rights Predatory lending Back to Top Step 3: Shop for a loan Save money by doing your homework. Talk to several lenders, compare costs and interest rates, negotiate to get a better deal. Consider getting pre-approved for a loan. Looking for the best mortgage: shop, compare, negotiate - brochure Let FHA help you Step 4: Learn about homebuying programs Homebuying programs in your state FHA loan programs offer lower downpayments and are a good option for first-time homebuyers. Let FHA help you HUD's special homebuying programs Good Neighbor Next Door Program - for police officers, teachers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians Homeownership for public housing residents Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program (Section 184) Step 5: Shop for a home Choose a real estate agent Wish list - what features do you want? Home-shopping checklist take this list with you when comparing homes Homes for sale (including HUD homes) " Fixer-uppers " - home purchase and repair programs Manufactured (mobile) homes Build a home If you choose a home in a neighborhood with a Home Owners Association (HOA), be sure to request a copy of the HOA packet, so you can review before closing. Back to Top Step 6: Make an offer Discuss the process with your real estate agent. If the seller counters your offer, you may need to negotiate until you both agree to the terms of the sale. Making an offer Step 7: Get a home inspection Make your offer contingent on a home inspection. An inspection will tell you about the condition of the home, and can help you avoid buying a home that needs major repairs. For Your Protection Get a Home Inspection Step 8: Shop for homeowners insurance Lenders require that you have homeowners insurance. Be sure to shop around. Homeowners insurance 12 ways to lower your homeowners insurance costs Step 9: Sign papers You're finally ready to go to "settlement" or "closing." Be sure to read everything before you sign! Settlement Costs and Helpful Information Content updated December 1, 2005 Back to Top FOIA Privacy Web Policies and Important Links Home U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410 Telephone: (202) 708-1112 TTY: (202) 708-1455 Find the address of a HUD office near you
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Loan Application Loan application Common Mistakes to Avoid Home buying mistakes can be avoided, you need to know what some of them are. Getting a Loan Follow these steps prior to applying for your home loan. The Mortgage Loan Application A few minutes of preparation can save you hours of hassle, here's the list of what you will need. Interest Rates Lock in your rate with confidence, after you have read these facts. Loan Approval What constitutes as loan approval in Denver? Earnest Money Why is it necessary to pay earnest money before I buy the house? Closing Costs Home buying costs vary by region, here are sample costs for Denver. Down payment for a mortgage Learn about the various allowable sources to obtain your down payment. What is PMI? PMI, do you really need it? FICO Scores FICO scoring is a standard, you need to understand the basics to protect your credit! The steps to getting a VA Loan The steps to getting a VA loan, do you need one? What does it take to get one? Reverse Mortgages Reverse Mortgages have many benefits for older home owners. Financial Glossary It's important to understand the language of finance. search Denver Real Estate Site Loan Application No one likes surprises (except on birthdays and Christmas!) By looking the at the attached loan application you can determine what information the lender is going to require of you. Loan Application HINT: if you plan on printing it out, legal size paper is what you need. Of course it is a "government document" what else would you expect??? :) Using my handy Loan Application Checklist will help to organize the documents you need. A Word or two of caution: When transmitting personal information over the Internet, be sure you know who you are sending it too. Shady folks are always thinking up ways to be evil...mailing the application, faxing or better yet hand delivering to a trusted, local lender is best. Continue to Steps to a VA loan . [ Click Here for More ] Home Buying Directory Buyer Broker Down Payment How to Qualify for a Mortgage Loan Application Locking in Interest Rate Earnest Money Loan Application Checklist Fico Scores Moving List Moving Pets What is PMI? Finance Glossary Financing Your Home Reverse Mortage Home Buying Process Closing Costs Kristal Kraft , ABR, CIPS, CRS Licensed real estate broker selling Colorado Since 1984 The Berkshire Group Realtors, Inc. 3801 E. Florida Ave, Suite 502, Denver, Colorado U.S.A. 80210 800-319-7738 toll free | 303-589-2022 direct | 720-554-7961 fax E-mail: Kristal Kraft, Realtor 1998-2005, © Reflective Motion Inc. | Privacy Policy | Site Credits | Disclaimer | Site Map ~2 ~3 ~4 Denver Relocation | Buy a Home In Denver | Sell a Home in Denver | Denver Map | Denver Neighborhood Profiles | Denver Sales Statistics | International Real Estate | A Bio | My Favorite Places | Real Estate Resources Denver Loft Homes | The Berkshire Group | Buy and Sell Denver | We Sell Denver | Denver Colorado Real Estate | Denver Blog
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Amazon.com: Feels Like Home [ENHANCED]: Music Your Store Music See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | advanced search | browse styles | classical | top sellers | new & future releases | music you should hear | blowout music | used music | free downloads Search Amazon.com Popular Music - Artist Name - Album Title - Song Title Used Music Classical Music Music Downloads Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . MUSIC INFORMATION Explore this album buying info listen to samples editorial reviews customer reviews RATE THIS ALBUM I dislike it I love it! 1 2 3 4 5 Edit your ratings Visit the DVD Store The Incredibles (Widescreen 2-Disc Collector's Edition) DVD ~ Holly Hunter Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . 136 used & new from $6.39 Club price : $8.49 Available for in-store pickup now from: $18.99 Price may vary based on availability Enter your ZIP Code Have one to sell? Feels Like Home [ENHANCED] Norah Jones List Price: $18.98 Price: $10.96 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details . You Save: $8.02 (42%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours 136 used & new from $6.39 Club price : $8.49 See more product details Better Together Buy this album with Come Away with Me ~ Norah Jonestoday! Total List Price : $37.96 Buy Together Today: $21.92 Customers who bought this title also bought: Genius Loves Company [Enhanced] ~ Ray Charles The Girl In The Other Room [Enhanced] ~ Diana Krall Afterglow ~ Sarah McLachlan Careless Love ~ Madeleine Peyroux New York City ~ Peter Malick, Norah Jones Songs About Jane ~ Maroon 5 Heavier Things [Enhanced] ~ John Mayer The Diary of Alicia Keys ~ Alicia Keys Explore Similar Items : 20 in Music , 20 in DVD , and 20 in Books What similar items do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item? 12% buy this item(Feels Like Home~ Norah Jones 1% buy Don't Know Why ~ Norah Jones Explore Similar Items : 9 in Music , 4 in DVD , and 2 in Books Product Details Audio CD (February 10, 2004) Original Release Date : 2000 Number of Discs: 1 Label: Blue Note Records Format: Enhanced ASIN: B00018D44U Average Customer Review: Based on 578 reviews. Write a review . Amazon.com Sales Rank: Today: #188 in Music Yesterday: #163 in Music Popular in: Anacortes, WA(#2) , Northridge, CA(#13) . See more Listen to Samples To hear a song sample, click on the "Listen ." Visit our audio help page for more information. 1. Sunrise Listen Listen 2. What Am I To You? Listen Listen 3. Those Sweet Words Listen Listen 4. Carnival Town Listen Listen 5. In The Morning Listen Listen 6. Be Here To Love Me Listen Listen 7. Creepin' In Listen Listen 8. Toes Listen Listen 9. Humble Me Listen Listen 10. Above Ground Listen Listen 11. The Long Way Home Listen Listen 12. The Prettiest Thing Listen Listen 13. Don't Miss You At All Listen Listen Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Norah Jones blew everybody away with her jazzy, country-tinged, Grammy-winning debut CD, Come Away with Me . On this recording, Jones doesn't mess with her trademark formula. Under Arif Mardin's cozy coproduction, Jones is supported by her writing partners, her Handsome Band, and some special guests (country legend Dolly Parton , Levon Helm and Garth Hudson of the Band , and jazz drummer Brian Blade , to name a few). Jones's Texas-twanged vocals and her sparse acoustic and electric Wurlitzer piano lines enliven the CD's 13 tracks, from the light and lively single "Sunrise" to Tom Waits 's "The Long Way Home" and the bouncy duet with Parton, "Creepin' In." Jones's soul-baring piano/vocal rendition of Duke Ellington 's "Melancholia," retitled "Don't Miss You at All," proves she's a true Blue Note artist with unlimited potential. --Eugene Holley Jr. Album Description 'Feels Like Home' features 13 tracks & a host of special guests including Dolly Parton, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson of the Band, Jesse Harris, Robert Burger and Tony Scherr. Blue Note. 2004. Spotlight Reviews (What's this?) Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 151 of 167 people found the following review helpful: A different side of Norah Jones , February 22, 2004 Reviewer: Abby (Pittsburg, Kansas United States)- See all my reviews The latest album from Norah Jones, "Feels Like Home" shows us a different side of a singer who clearly has some diverse tastes. Where her debut "Come Away With Me" was reminiscent of Jazz singers like Billie Holiday and Rosemary Clooney, "Feels Like Home" has more of a Gillian Welch sound to it, a feeling that's only enhanced by Jones' duet with Dolly Parton on the bouncy track "Creepin' In". But that doesn't make it any less spectacular. Jones' voice is still beautiful, her piano playing is lovely, and her backup musicians, The Handsome Band, are amazing. Fans of "Come Away" won't be disappointed, despite the change of style. Something else that you see on "Home" that you didn't get before was more of Jones writing her own songs. Most of the tracks here are co-written, but Jones did write one track, "What Am I to you", herself. I will say that Jones is no lyrical genius, but the lyrics take a backseat to the still hauntingly beautiful instrumental work, especially on "Carnival Town", which has a nice string arrangement by the album's co-producer Arif Mardin. So, to sum up: "Feels Like Home" is quite different from "Come Away with Me", but it's no less great. Jones maintains the casual, relaxed quality of her music, and leaves fans more than satisfied. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next. Judging from this album, she can continue experimenting with whatever style she wants, and she'll still produce a wonderful work of art. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 95 of 102 people found the following review helpful: Delicious, seductive musical rapture... , February 10, 2004 Reviewer: Christian Hunter (Santa Barbara, Ca United States)- See all my reviews I was in the bathroom of this quaint little fish market with a converted restaurant when I first heard Norah's voice. I remember standing around in that humid little red bathroom through almost 3 tracks (not exactly good protocol on a date) totally enraptured by the the "not quite raspy, not quite silk" quality of her voice, the seductive cadence in her rythm, and delicious instramental accompaniments. I was an immediate fan and bought her CD the next day. Norah singlehandedly branded my entire summer of 2002 as "romantic" with her first major work. So with nervous anticipation I had my first listen of this CD tonight, and without further ado, I'm so happy to report that "Feels Like Home" (in my opinion) is as good or better than "Come Away With Me". Thank you Norah! From what I know of Norah Jones, she got her musical career really moving when she moved from Texas to New York City. I'm guessing here, but if I had to ascribe a dominant geographic influence to each album, I'd say Come Away "leans New York" while Feels Like Home seems rooted more in Texas. Perhaps that's why this new album is named what it is...? The only song on this CD I didn't immediately love is "Creepin In". It moves fast, is definitively country (I'm fairly certain Dolly Parton is singing along, but I don't have the album cover), yet it's very catchy and fun (as testimony, I found myself humming it tonight in the shower). Below is a list of songs that (if you love her past work) you'll immediately adore: Sunrise: I got an advance listen to this track a couple of months ago and fell in love with it at first listen. I think it's one of the loveliest songs on the album. What Am I To You: Beautiful BB King style R&B track. Will certainly be a huge hit. When I first listened to this CD I couldn't get past this particular song. I listened to it a half-dozen times straight. Carnival Town: Mostly guitar and piano (which is when I think she's at her best), the intricacy in her luscious voice is amplified and really stands out for appreciation. In The Morning: If I decided to do what I threatened so often as a kid to do, and "ranaway", this would be the perfect song to play as I screamed out of town in some hastily acquired convertible...Rambling Anyone? Sorry...This track is intense (not loud), with a wonderful buildup and easy flowing rhythm punctuated by passionate lyrics that then break into cool but subdued R&B. Toes: Norah at her best! Dreamy and romantic, the rhythm moves unpredictably but "just right" between light and heavy. Yikes, if that's not ambigious (might make more sense to you when you hear it). Humble Me: Hauntingly lonely guitar entres this song about struggle, desperation, and forgiveness. Ooh this one is good! The Prettiest Thing: This is a slam dunk hit. A jazzy, slow rhythm that picks up in tempo and seduces you into focusing on what is probably her most romantic moment in the CD (occurs around 2 minutes 45 seconds into this track). Forgive me if this is overly dramatic (it's 2am at the writing of this review), but this song literally gave me the chills. And on that note, I'll sign off. Enjoy this elegant work of art, you won't be dissapointed. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) All Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 1 of 3 people found the following review helpful: A Wonderful Album , November 18, 2005 Reviewer: Jared O. "horror fanatic" (Florida USA)- See all my reviews Soul/bluegrazz/jazz is how you descirbe Norah Jones. With great songs thoughout the album, its no wonder why she went platinum with this one. She shows of her vocal applitly hitting very high notes and low ones. The band is great on this album. They have such a variety in there instrumentation and note progression. Beautiful. I loved this album and so will you. Jared (buy) Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 1 of 2 people found the following review helpful: She is one the best blues singers out there , October 26, 2005 Reviewer: Quiet Tiger "Time is short. Live well." (Iraq via Denver)- See all my reviews In the modern world of hustle and bustle people don't take time for music like this and for me it's been a revelation. I'm just getting into Blues. I have listened to Jazz for many many.... many years but haven't really taken time with the Blues. She has taken some Mississippi mud and formed something I didn't expect to find. This music is timeless because she brings you back to the where Blues came from but in a clean modern setting. She is essential music in my opinion and highly undervalued as a musician. I own both of her musical ventures to date and both of these are very powerful in their simplicity, straight forwardness and honesty. The sheer majesty that people miss in her music is that she isn't pretentious about who she is but she knows her value. This is good stuff. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 14 of 23 people found the following review helpful: sick and tired of protected CDs , October 16, 2005 Reviewer: S. Hogan (bratislava, slovakia)- See all my reviews I don't understand why this CD is rated 'Enhanced' rather than 'Content Protected'. I cannot play it in my computer, and I cannot transfer songs from it to my phone. I'm sorry I paid good money for this disc, and I'm doing my best not to buy 'protected' CDs from ANY artist. Can't Amazon clearly label such CDs, so I can buy others instead? Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 11 of 14 people found the following review helpful: Another beauty from Norah Jones , August 22, 2005 Reviewer: Dr. Emil Shuffhausen (Central Gulf Coast)- See all my reviews There are no signs of "sophomore slump" on this, Norah Jones' second CD. As on her debut, her smoky blend of jazz, country, and classic piano pop continues to intoxicate and delight. While she doesn't stray far away from her foundations, she does show signs of growth and moderate experimentation. This CD reminds me somewhat of Willie Nelson's best work (the way he can blend Texas sawdusty outlaw country with sophisticated jazzy Reinhardtisms). Norah has an earthy groundedness that nicely counterpoints her light, breathy voice. The album opener, "Sunrise," is perfect...not only as a lovely individual track, but as the album opener. It sets a mood that is both reflective and sprightly...a little playful, but also pensive. "What Am I to You?" is a deeply felt, bluesy song, as is "In the Morning." These two cuts sandwich the picturesque "Carnival Town." Norah hits the listener right in the gut with the velvet brick, "Humble Me," but she will definitely make you smile with her Dolly Parton duet, "Creepin' In." On "Don't Miss You at All," her heart, soul, and voice let you know that her words are not really true. There's something special about Texas singers: Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin, Roy Orbison...and Norah Jones. They have a way of taking the music from deep in their hearts, and putting it deep into yours. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 578 customer reviews... Customers who bought titles by Norah Jones also bought titles by these artists: Diana Krall Peter Malick Adam Levy Touch Acoustra Ray Charles Explore similar artists So You'd Like To... 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Las Vegas real estate
Real estate investors cast watchful eye on Las Vegas' high stakes housing game SFGate Home Business Sports Entertainment Travel Jobs Real Estate Autos SFGate News Web by Real estate investors cast watchful eye on Las Vegas' high stakes housing game Kelly Zito, Chronicle Staff Writer Monday, March 7, 2005 now part of stylesheet -- More... Printable Version Email This Article Las Vegas' lucky number last year was 52 -- as in 52 percent. That's how much real estate prices jumped in the nation's fastest-growing city in one year, as a housing shortage set off a wave of speculation by investors from California and other states. But as any gambler knows, Lady Luck eventually turns a cold shoulder. Las Vegans wanted to cash in, too, and so many put their houses up for sale that they flooded the market. By the end of the year, some homebuilders were slashing prices. For investors from states like California where prices seem to move in only one direction -- up -- it was a stark example of a deflating bubble. "When you lose money in real estate, you really feel it,'' said Igor Doncov, a software engineer in Half Moon Bay who bought two new houses in Las Vegas early in 2004 but sold them at a loss after his builder, Pulte Homes, cut prices on its new models by $180,000. "I thought I couldn't lose," he said in a telephone interview. "But it turned into a total disaster." Housing analysts don't think Las Vegas' slowdown is a sign that prices will soften soon in other fast-appreciating regions. But they say it is a warning of what could happen in the Bay Area as interest rates go up -- particularly for people trying to "flip" houses for a quick profit. "Everyone is watching Las Vegas with its price appreciation and flipping," said John Karevoll, an analyst at DataQuick, the La Jolla real estate research firm. "If something weird happens, it'll happen there first." For years, Las Vegas real estate was cheap. Myrna Kingham, president of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, remembers not-so-distant days of driving around in a pickup wearing high heels and showing clients dusty 5-acre parcels listed for $20,000. But as the population of Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County grew 81 percent in the 1990s, adding 621,160 people, housing prices caught up, matching the national median of $145,000 in 2001. Then last year, the market caught fire, boosted by healthy job gains, a growing stream of retirees, Californians drawn to lower home prices and an influx of investor money. Builders, faced with a shortage of workers, had trouble keeping up. Add rock-bottom interest rates, and the scene resembled the go-go days of the Bay Area's tech boom. Hundreds of would-be buyers descended on open houses, and home prices seemed to increase as quickly as the progressive jackpots in the slot machines on the Strip. Record appreciation In the spring of 2004, the median price for a single-family house was $269,000, 52 percent higher than the year before -- a national record for appreciation, according to the National Association of Realtors. "The market was hotter than blazes," Kingham said. "People were looking for affordability -- they wanted a nice home in an area with nice weather that they could buy for $200,000." Californians, who pay some of the highest home prices in the nation, took notice. Golden State residents have snapped up nearly 27,000 Las Vegas properties since 2000, according to DataQuick. In 2004 alone, California residents bought 11,600 homes -- 12 percent of the transactions in Clark County for the year. Bay Area residents bought nearly 7,800 Las Vegas properties over the past five years. In the second quarter of 2004 alone, the number who bought Las Vegas property doubled from the same quarter the year before, to more than 800,surpassing investment in Sacramento, the Tahoe region and Palm Springs for the seventh straight quarter. But in less time than it takes to build a single house, the market changed. Egged on by the stratospheric prices their neighbors were asking -- and getting -- homeowners in Las Vegas flooded the market with "for sale" signs. The number of existing houses posted for sale on the Multiple Listing Service ballooned from about 1,400 in February to more than 16,000 by October. Among them were never-lived-in homes offered by investors who had bought them only months before from national homebuilders -- who were selling their own brand-new houses literally across the street. In early fall one of those builders, Pulte Homes, took the extraordinary step of slashing prices by $25,000 to $180,000 on more than 20 of its Las Vegas-area developments. The move sent shock waves through the Las Vegas building industry and angered investors like Igor Doncov. Doncov, a 57-year-old engineer who was a victim of the technology flame-out, was one of thousands of investors who hoped to turn a quick profit by buying and selling Las Vegas property within a few months. Early last year he bought two new houses from Pulte Homes for $515,000 each. By the end of the summer, he said, the houses were worth well over $600,000, based on Pulte's prices for the same models. Then Pulte cut the price by about $180,000. Doncov sold the two properties in December and January for $480,000 and $490,000; after closing costs and sales fees, he estimates he lost $100,000. He is working with a lawyer to try to recoup the losses from Pulte, on the grounds Pulte misled investors by systematically raising new home prices, then abruptly lowering them. Many people in Las Vegas shrug at tales like Doncov's, saying any plan to get rich quick is fraught with risk. "There are people who come here and lose all kinds of money on the card table," said Keith Schwer, an economist at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. By December, it was clear the peak of the frenzy had passed. Residential building permits that month were 34 percent below the previous December's, as measured by the Center for Business and Economic Research, which Schwer directs. And 15 percent fewer people were moving to Las Vegas -- some undoubtedly spooked by the region's steep jump in home prices. Pulte officials would not comment on the price reductions. In the wake of Pulte's move, other builders also cut prices but made no formal announcements. KB Home, the region's largest home builder, didn't cut prices but did tighten its policies on sales to investors. Contracts now stipulate, that, barring the loss of a job or other major problem, those who resell their properties within a year have to give KB Home the profit. Despite the builders' moves, Schwer and other experts say the Las Vegas market remains healthy. In recent months, they say, the number of homes for sale has declined and homes are selling faster. In January, however, there were still 13,800 homes for sale. Though the median price for a new home climbed 6 percent to $307,500, the median for an existing home -- $251,000 - was up only one half of one percent from a year before, according to Schwer. Over the long term, the area's job growth -- including a new 8,000-employee casino opening in April -- warm climate, entertainment options and well-equipped airport will continue to draw buyers, Schwer said. On a Friday morning in February, Bill Jeffers, who owns Valley Furniture in Livermore, toured a $731,000 home in a subdivision called Inverness. By buying a home in Las Vegas, Jeffers, who has lived on Maui for several years, will shorten his twice-monthly commute to the store and put his grandchildren into strong school systems. "I tried to get in last year, but there were just too many other buyers," said Jeffers, a Livermore native. Some making profits And some investors who bought wisely are making profits. Stephanie Wedge, a San Jose real estate agent who also brokers property in Las Vegas, bought a house for $625,000 last May. She put the 5-year-old home on the market on Feb. 23 for $775,000, and she expected to get an offer the following week. "That's a really good turnaround," said Wedge, who also has reserved a condo in a yet-to-be built high-rise. "I think it depends on where the property is -- and this is in a gated, country club community." The continued pace of construction serves as an outward sign of the region's confidence. On a stretch of freeway south of the Strip, a sign reads "KB Home, Next 5 Exits." Adding more houses to a market already flush with them would seem to only exacerbate any stagnation in the market. But Dennis Smith, president of Las Vegas' Homebuilders Research Inc. pointed out the vast majority of new homes are presold. The market "is still in correction mode because of the high inventory in the resale segment,'' he said. "It will probably take at least six months for that to end." So, will what happened in Vegas, stay in Vegas? Schwer doubts Las Vegas' deceleration will bleed into the Golden State -- or any other state -- in part because Las Vegas growth rates were so far above the norm. Others say the arc of Las Vegas' recent experience may contain a hint of the Bay Area's future. While the nine-county region saw much lower price appreciation last year than Las Vegas -- an increase of about 17 percent -- Ed Leamer, a UCLA economist, contends that both regions are enveloped in a speculative frenzy. In Las Vegas, an oversupply of homes relative to demand may spell price declines. Back in the Bay Area, Leamer thinks rising interest rates will take some of the air out of the market as fewer people qualify to buy expensive properties -- though any correction would be far less dramatic than Las Vegas'. "Because the market has cracked in Las Vegas doesn't mean it's imminent in other areas," Leamer said. "But it gives you a sense of what may happen in these areas in the face of rising interest rates." E-mail Kelly Zito at kzito@sfchronicle.com . Page A - 1 Get up to 50% off home delivery of the Chronicle for 12 weeks! MARKETING Compelling writer? Action 36 Cable 6 (KICU-TV) MECHANIC SF tugboat co POKER Expert poker player needed REAL ESTATE Sales *FREE TRAINING! Prudential CA Realty SALES Can you sell the President? IPA SALES Benefit package AGI Publishing SALES $125K PLUS In-Home Kitchen Kitchenworks, Inc. 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