Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas Real Estate: November 2006

At 2 PM Central, listen to investor Kevin Mackessy from Highlands Ranch, CO. Since buying his first rental property in 1999, Kevin has built his portfolio to 12 properties and nearly $1 million in equity. He is just over half way to his goal of 20 properties. Price, location and age are important components in Kevin's selection criteria. He also sells real estate, and builds his business by using the MREI Client Workshop Kit.

At 3 PM Central, Darryl Baskin, from Tulsa, OK talks about how he builds and markets his business with technology. He is also the host of a 30-minute radio show, as well as a local cable television show. The Baskin Team consists of nine people, (4 listing specialists, 2 buyer specialists, a commercial rep, a listing manager, and a marketing coordinator), and sold 169 units in 2005. Their volume goal for 2006 is $35 million.

To listen in, dial (512) 225-9443 and input 914315#. The teleconferences are FREE and open to anyone. MP3 downloads of each session are also available free for one week after the call. For more info, visit Millionaire Mondays.

Downtown Las Vegas is going through an exciting period of revitalization. One contributor to that is Juhl, a mixed-use development on 2.4 acres at the corner of Bonneville Avenue and Fourth Street. Juhl consists of six buildings, from six to fifteen stories, connected by walkways. They will surround a five-story parking garage with a pool and recreation area on top. There will be a total of 341 units from 600 to 2200 square feet (including flats, lofts, townhouses, and penthouses), 15 shopkeeper units (a 700 - 1000 square foot store with a residential unit above it), and a total of 24,000 square feet of retail space.  

Built by CityMark Development, Juhl will be situated between the downtown's Arts District and the Entertainment District. Its goal is to bring an upscale urban living option to the area based on a 'live-work-play' philosophy. CityMark was an instrumental builder in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter and downtown area. Some of their recent San Diego properties include M2i, The Egyptian, Fahrenheit, and Aperture.

With the use of optional interior walls to customize spaces, there are over 100 possible floor plans at Juhl. Loft homes feature 10-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass (with low-E windows), exposed concrete surfaces and mechanicals, stainless steel appliances, European maple cabinetry and granite countertops. Prices start in the mid-300's for studios and go to the 600's for townhouses. Penthouses start at $1 million. Expected completion is June, 2008.

For more information about Juhl, or any other mid- or high-rise condominium projects in the Las Vegas valley, call me at (702) 339-9700 or email me at JohnNovak@kw.com. I'm looking forward to earning your business!

Thanksgiving weekend is always a great time to slow down, spend some quality time with family and friends, and watch lots of football (thanks to the NFL for three games today!). It's also a chance to reflect on the past year and look to the year ahead. Some of the reasons I'm thankful today are:

• I've found more balance in the spiritual part of my life at Central Christian and that has given me a clearer and wider perspective in all other areas.
• My family and friends are all healthy and living enjoyable, productive lives. There are plenty of milestones and accomplishments to give us reasons to get together and celebrate.
• Even though our market has been challenging, I'm fortunate to live in an area where the median price is right around $300,000 and work with a team where our production insulates us from downturns. 

Or course, the only reason anyone is reading this is because a small group of dedicated guys in Seattle had the vision, the motivation, and the execution to build this platform called ActiveRain. In just a few short months, over 9,000 individuals have come together online where the perception is colleagues, not competitors. By including industries that are complementary to real estate in the mix, it has helped us all broaden our knowledge and understanding and truly demonstrated that when we share information and ideas openly it helps everyone grow.

ActiveRain has reinforced some beliefs, challenged others, and introduced me to a whole lot of new information that I otherwise would have never found on my own. It has made me think about my approach to real estate and added an element of accountability. That will have a significant impact on my business in 2007 -- but racking up the most sales or dollars isn't the end goal. What we do with the income and opportunities that real estate gives us is far more important. How we help others and how we contribute to our communities is what really matters.

So to all in the ActiveRain community, a happy and blessed Thanksgiving, and the hope that the spirit of goodwill, abundance and sharing will carry through the holidays and all of 2007. Happy Thanksgiving!!

On a terraced hillside near Black Mountain in Henderson, Nevada the mid-rise Vantage Lofts offer an upscale alternative to the traditional single-family home. The project will comprise 110 luxury condominium units on a 10-acre site, with first occupancy planned for May/June 2007. The location has spectacular mountain and Strip views, as well as easy access to the I-215/US 95 interchange. McCarran International Airport is only 10 minutes away, and you can be at The Strip in just 12 minutes.

Buyers have a choice of either flats or lofts. Flats have four different floor plans, from a 1 Bedroom/1 Bath with 1,006 square feet to a 2 Bedroom/2 Bath that is 1,546 square feet. All flats also have balconies ranging from 100 - 200 square feet. The two-story lofts have seven floor plans, from one to three bedrooms and 1,732 - 2,826 square feet. Loft balconies are 42 - 616 square feet. Each building also has two floors of parking.

Black granite countertops, Viking appliances, European-style cabinets and wood laminate flooring are standard in all kitchens. Bedrooms and kitchens have 9-foot ceilings with expansive windows to showcase the view; lofts have 20-foot floor-to-ceiling windows. Other standard features include: dual pane low-E windows, high-level sound insulation, CAT-5e and RG-6 wiring, stairs with 'floating' treads and cable rails (in lofts only), large walk-in closets with built-in organizers, and balconies with glass railings to maximize the view.

The clubhouse will have an "endless" pool, fitness center, sauna, conference room, banquet room and theatre room. Two outdoor pools, two hot tubs and a barbecue area provide recreational options and there is an enclosed park area for pets. 

Pricing for Vantage Lofts starts at $379,000 for flats and $658,000 for lofts. The three-story custom-designed penthouse is just over $1.1 million. Monthly assessments for the home owners association are $298 - 556. There are no Local or Special Improvement District assessments.

For more information about Vantage Lofts or any other mid- or high-rise condominium project in Henderson or the Las Vegas valley, call me at (702) 339-9700 or email me at JohnNovak@kw.com. I'm looking forward to earning your business!

At 2 PM Central, listen to investor Rick Villani from Austin, TX. He is currently working on residential rehab projects in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Orlando and would like to turn his investment business model into a franchise opportunity. Rick will talk about his six ways to improve a house, his formula for making offers, and how he focuses on profitability.

At 3 PM Central, Mike Watkins, from Greenwood, IN talks about how he runs his team, including their cross-training program, paying the staff a salary, and why he hired a mentor. Mike has spoken at several national real estate conferences and seminars. The Mike Watkins Real Estate Group consists of 14 people, and closed over $60 million in 2004.

To listen in, dial (512) 225-9443 and input 914315#. The teleconferences are FREE and open to anyone. MP3 downloads of each session are also available free for one week after the call. For more info, visit Millionaire Mondays.