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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Purchase Property

Stering to Euro exchange | purchase property in Spain Xchange Business Treasury Services Foreign exchange terms Bureau de change The Xchange Business Sterling to Euro exchange Get a quote and see how much you can save! FREEPHONE 0800 953 1384 OR Click here to request a Sterling to Euro quote Buying a house in Spain. Buying property in Spain is now more popular than ever, with increasing numbers of people following their dream of purchasing a holiday home, buying property to rent out or moving lock, stock to the sun. The British love the pleasant, healthy climate and in recent years the Spanish local authorities have made great efforts to increase the number of foreign tourists and residents. Buying a property abroad is an exciting experience. However buying a property abroad is very different to buying a property in the UK. There are many considerations and we have listed some of the main ones below. Settle on a region - Spain is a big country with many different regions, with many beautiful areas not necessarily on the coast. Your individual choices and taste will determine the type of area that you choose. Climate, future growth and the type of life you want should all be considered when you are buying a property in Spain. You also have to decide on a type of property to buy in Spain ,such as an apartment, a villa or even an old farmhouse. View lots of areas to get a feel for the pricing the lifestyle and the general ambience. Talk to estate agents - When purchasing a property in Spain be aware that estate agents must be officially registered and hold a licence . As the process of buying property in Spain is very different you need a good agent to guide you through the pitfalls. Appoint a lawyer - Naturally the purchase of a property in Spain has different legal issues and costs involved. A Solicitor in Spain is called an Abogado and will advise and assist you, but it is worth researching the system and the likely costs Making an offer - Once you have decided on your dream property purchase in Spain you need to make your offer, in writing if possible (of course, subject to contract). When you make your offer include not only the price, but also the amount of deposit, when you are prepared to pay it, when you are prepared to complete, what you consider to be included in the price and, an often neglected point, that all machinery equipment and installations should be in normal working order. If an offer is accepted - The lawyer the legal responsibility for checking the land registry and will then prepare a private contract which will bind both parties to the deal . The solicitor will next prepare the public deeds (Escritura de Compraventa) for signature in front of a Spanish Notary. When the balance of the purchase price is paid and vacant possession of the unencumbered property is granted, the sale is completed. The notary will fax details of the title deed to the local land register to inform them of the identity of the new owner. Once you have bought a house in Spain and wish to spend more than six months in Spain you need to apply for a Residencia - to become a Resident. The main benefit of becoming a resident is that your taxes will be lower. Financing your property purchase in Spain Before you purchase your house in Spain you will need to have the relevant finance in place. There are many costs assoctiated with buying property in Spain . There are two main methods of financing a property purchase in Spain. You can apply for a mortgage in Spain where the interest rates are lower or you can use a UK based mortgage. Some people are lucky enough to have equity in their UK house which can be released to buy the property in Spain, in which case a sterling to Euro exchange and transfer service is required. It is more than likely that with either process at some stage you will require the services of a currency transfer company. Whether to transfer the whole amount, monthly mortgage payments or to transfer living expenses you will want to transfer your funds at the best available rate. We can exchange your Sterling currency to Euros and transfer to Spain for you. Get a quote and see how much you can save! Quick guides - purchasing property abroad Currency for purchasing property abroad Purchasing a house in Europe Purchasing a property in Australia Purchasing a house in Canada Purchasing a house in America Buying a house in Cyprus Our foreign currency rate could have a dramatic effect on thecost of buying property in Europe Contact Email: jp@xchangebusiness.co.uk Contact Telephone: FREEPHONE 0800 953 1384 Contact us | Why us? | FAQ? | Disclaimer | Testimonials Sterling to Euro exchange and transfer at exchange-currency.co.uk Exchange Currency © 2003

Texas Land Trusts About

Texas Land Trust Council: News Maincontent Local Navigation Supplemental Information print friendly search Regulations Publications Outdoor Learning Kids Game Warden Grants Get Involved Shop FAQ Calendar Español Experience Texas Fishing & Boating State Parks & Destinations Hunting & Wildlife Land & Water Doing Business Home Land & Water Land Private Tltc News Texas Land Trusts About Texas Land Trusts Starting a Land Trust Texas Land Trust Directory Foreword Listing Regional Index About the Texas Land Trust Council ( TLTC ) TLTC Board of Directors and Honorary Council News 2004 TLTC Conference Speech Bulletin Board TLTC Publications Land Trust Resources Texas Land Trusts Top 1-Million Mark in Acres Conserved What's this seal? 2004 Statewide Land Trust Conference What's a Lone Star Land Steward? Preserving Texas's Cultural Heritage Turning Brownfields Green Private Landowners Wildlife/Agricultural Tax Exemption The 2004 Statewide Land Trust Conference was held on Feb. 28-29 in Austin, Texas. This years' event was hosted by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, National Parks Service and the Texas Land Trust Council. A total of 176 attendees were made up of representatives from 24 land trusts, numerous state agencies, federal agencies, city and county agencies, as well as river authorities. Participants included appraisers, range managers, attorneys, landowners, realtors, and corporate representatives. Several new organizations were at the conference this year including the National Wild Turkey Federation. While Texans made up the majority of the crowd; TLTC was pleased to welcome folks from Washington D.C., South Carolina, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Massachusetts. Saturday's morning plenary session sparked lots of interest. The panel of speakers discussed Ethics & Integrity in Land Conservation. Read the text of the speech from Ann Hamilton of the Houston Endowment from the Statewide Land Trust Conference. Event sponsors included Baker-Botts L.L.P., Locke Liddell & Sapp L.L.P. , Natural Texas, Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust, Lower Colorado River Authority, Texas Department of Agriculture, Jim Jeffries MAI, Magnolia Charitable Trust, Shield-Ayres Foundation, Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation, C.F. Zavala Group and Integra Realty Resources. Contact Us | Help | Accessibility | Media | Site Policies | Complaints | Intranet | State of Texas | TRAILS Search | TexasOnline | Compact with Texans Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744 Toll Free: (800) 792-1112, Austin: (512) 389-4800 Content of this site © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted. Last modified: July 29, 2005, 4:38 pm

Colorado Real Estate

Breckenridge Lodging-colorado Real Estate Skiing Snowboarding information Summit County colorado. Today Snow High: 28 to 32 Tonight Snow Low: 10 to 15 -- If you would like to be kept informed on things going on in Breckenridge such as weather , lodging specials , cool stuff and more, then sign up for our email club now. BreckNet is the Breckenridge Colorado local information source for Breckenridge, Colorado and all of Summit County, Colorado. Step inside to learn more about this gorgeous alpine town and its surrounding areas, located high in the Central Rockies of Summit County, Colorado. BreckNet lists lodging companies and lodging specials as well as Real Estate companies in case you're looking to buy. Locals say the best things about Breckenridge Colorado are the endless opportunities for R&R. Talk about recreation ! Come in the summer to hear a concert, play golf, hike, camp, bike, fish, kayak, ride horses, or just go shopping ! There's something to do every minute of the day. Ski Breckenridge Lodging Call Toll Free: 1-800-754-9378 In the winter , enjoy some of the best skiing in the world. Our snow is light, soft, and plentiful! Check the list of Breckenridge Colorado ski and snowboard shops to save time with rentals. Winter in Breckenridge Colorado offers excitement and romance with skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, helicopter skiing, apres-ski entertainment , and candlelight dining . Looking for a deal? SkiCoupons.Com is the answer. Find tons of printable coupons for steals & deals on a wide range of products and services in the area like; lodging, dining, tours, shopping, skiing, rafting, golf, fishing, sportsgear, and much, much more! Check out their website today! Click here for air fare. Click here for Car Rentals. P.O. Box 1318 - 101 North Main Street, Suite 6 Breckenridge, Colorado 80424 For advertising information, Call 970-547-9690 - email chip@colorado.net - or visit www.inw.biz Email, dial-up or DSL Questions? Contact our sister company, VailNet/ColoradoNet 949-3318 * http://isp.vail.net

Real Estate Loans Apply

Real Estate Loan main page Home | Search | Sitemap | Contact Us | Your Privacy | Reorder Checks Credit Cards | Account Aggregation | Mortgages | Buy Stocks | Online Banking About Us Join Us Save with Us Borrow from Us Invest/Insure with Us Your Rates Your Tools Your Business Borrow from Us Auto Loans Consumer Loans Credit Cards Real Estate Loans Apply now Rates 80/10/10 Mortgages Adjustable Rate Mortgages Construction Mortgages Fixed Rate Mortgages Flexible Mortgages Home Equity Line Of Credit Land Loans Lending Area Refinancing Zero Down Mortgages Payment Protection Whether you are buying a new home or you've decided to remodel, as a member of Redstone Federal Credit Union, you have access to many different low annual percentage rate loans and refinancing options. At RFCU, we provide you with the financial resources you'll need and the personal service you've come to expect. Take a look and please feel free to contact our Real Estate Department for more information. We'll be happy to help you decide what type of loan will work best for your particular needs. Real Estate Lending Area Click here to locate the geographic area that our real estate lending area covers. 80/10/10 Mortgages A great way to finance your new real estate purchase and have cash on hand to make improvements, renovations, or add that personal touch. Learn more.. Adjustable Rate Mortgages With our Adjustable Rate Mortgages, you can reap the benefits of our low interest rates. Learn more... Apply Now Construction Mortgages Ready to build on your dream property? Here's the best way to make it happen. Learn more... Fixed Rate Mortgages Sometimes change is good. When interest rates go up, well, let's just say you'll wish you had a Fixed Rate Mortgage with RFCU. Learn more... Apply Now Flexible Mortgages When a low down payment is what you need, we offer two types of Flexible Mortgages. Learn more... Home Equity Line Of Credit (HELOC) Hey, it's your money, put it to good use with a HELOC. Learn more... Land Loans It's a buyers market and we provide you with options of how to acquire the perfect land to call your very own. Learn more... Refinancing Are rates lower today than when you first purchased? If so, you may consider refinancing. Learn more... Apply Now Zero Down Payment Mortgages Need your cash for something other than a down payment? With our Zero Down Payment Mortgage, it's possible! Learn more..