US Home is definitely convinced that bigger is better. This particular builder of Las Vegas real estate is offering Las Vegas luxury homes that approach or exceed 5,000 square feet at three of its newest neighborhoods. The Earlstone neighborhood can be found at Anthem, while Arroyo Canyon and White Horse Estates are located in northwest Las Vegas. If you’re interested in Henderson real estate, the Earlstone community of Anthem homes features the Pebble Beach model at 5,085 square feet. Contact MS Las Vegas Real Estate for more information on Las Vegas luxury real estate at 888-349-2595.www.mslasvegasrealestate.com

Sandhurst Las Vegas will be breaking ground by the fall and is expected to be completed in 2007. Sandhurst will consist of 398 high-rise Las Vegas luxury homes. The units range from 817 to more than 4,700 square feet, and are priced from the $600,000s. Planned amenities include a fitness center with a European spa and guard-gated entry with private parking. The tower’s great room will feature a library, theater, billiards, game room, kitchen and a 3,000-square-foot terrace. Potential buyers of Sandhurst Las Vegas real estate can view a model kitchen and bathroom and take a virtual tour of the developments common areas. Contact us for more info at 888-349-2595.www.mslasvegasrealestate.com

Nevada’s financial credit rating was upgraded last week for the first time since 1977. Moody’s national credit rating organization approved an upgrade that gives Nevada a credit score of Aa1. This of course means that in future years Nevada can secure lower interest rates on debt obligations and save Nevada taxpayers money. Moody’s complimented the state on its budget management, saying that Nevada “has proven its ability to respond quickly to downturns and to react prudently during flush times. The recent successful effort to diversify the state tax base better positions it to maneuver through future inevitable strains on its economy.” That’s quite a compliment from an organization that doesn’t normally throw them around. Readers of the MS Las Vegas Real Estate blog are well informed about the various efforts to strengthen and diversify the Nevada economy. Here’s proof positive that those efforts are paying off with tangible, money saving benefits for Nevada residents. The market for Las Vegas homes is a direct reflection of these successes.

Rhodes Ranch real estate represents one of your best opportunities in the Las Vegas golf real estate market to choose a Las Vegas home that’s right for you. Shoppers for Las Vegas golf homes at Rhodes Ranch now have even more options available due to the introduction of the Palms Bay neighborhood. Three two-story models are open, ranging from 1,734 to 2,400 square feet; each has 2 1/2 baths. Prices for these beautiful new Rhodes Ranch homes start at $373,990. The Rhodes Ranch golf course is but one of an entire series of amenities available at this guard-gated community in the southwestern Las Vegas valley. Contact MS Las Vegas Real Estate for more information at 888-349-2595.www.mslasvegasrealestate.com

I’m sure that you’ve heard by now about Ivana Las Vegas, the 923 foot $500 million tower being developed at Las Vegas Blvd. and Sahara Avenue. It seems that Ivana is confident enough about success that she’s willing to step up to the plate and make a purchase. 487 units were secured on Sunday at the sales debut of these new Las Vegas luxury homes, including two purchased by Ivana herself. Construction on Ivana Las Vegas is scheduled to begin next summer and conclude in December 2008. These Las Vegas luxury real estate units will range from 500 square feet to 1,900 square feet, and a penthouse will include 20,000 square feet of space. Prices will range from $550,000 for a one-bedroom home to $35 million for a penthouse with nine bedrooms and a recording studio. Amenities at Ivana Las Vegas homes will include a pool and spa, a gym, a Zen garden, a business center, an ultralounge and a coffee shop. Contact MS Las Vegas Real Estate for more information at 888-349-2595.www.mslasvegasrealestate.com

Las Vegas home builder Pulte has slashed the price of select North Las Vegas homes by $40,000. This opportunity is available at the Aliante community of North Las Vegas real estate. Subject to availability, the select residences (now priced at $334,022) can be ready for 30 day move-in. Aliante real estate amenities include parks, trails, soccer fields, tennis courts and a volleyball stadium. Aliante homes also benefit from a 1.5-acre man-made lake, group picnic area, amphitheater and the public Aliante Golf and Country Club. Contact MS Las Vegas Real Estate at 888-349-2595 for more information.www.mslasvegasrealestate.com

Montage at West Park by Ryland Homes will showcase five two and three story floor plans designed around courtyards. These beautiful Las Vegas homes will be a new addition to Summerlin real estate. The designs will range from 1,659 to 2,103 square feet and feature Mission and Spanish style architecture. Montage Summerlin homes will offer two or three bedrooms and 2 1/2 or three baths. Residents of the neighborhood will share a park and have access to a swimming pool, children’s wading pool, covered picnic areas and lawns. Contact MS Las Vegas Real Estate for more information at 888-349-2595.www.mslasvegasrealestate.com

Last year, Las Vegas hosted more than 1.56 million overseas travelers, a 20.6 percent increase over 2003, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. What do these numbers actually mean? It means that we are incredibly popular compared to other US cities as a foreign tourist destination. In fact, Las Vegas ranked #7 in the entire country! Yup, NYC took top honors and Los Angeles was number two for reasons I’ll never understand. But hey, we’ll take the #7 spot and the cities still ahead of us better watch out! Luring more overseas travelers here is key to the LVCVA’s stated goal of drawing 43 million visitors to Las Vegas by 2009. That year, it hopes nearly 6.5 million international travelers will visit the city annually, up from last year’s estimated 4.5 million. Also on the rise is overseas interest in Las Vegas homes as an investment and/or vacation property. MS Las Vegas Real Estate is your local partner and experienced guide in every aspect of the Las Vegas real estate market.www.mslasvegasrealestate.com

Continued strong performance in tourism and construction boosted the Southern Nevada Index of Leading Economic Indicators higher in July. This is a continuation of an upward trend that portends further growth in the coming months. The economic index is compiled by the Center for Business and Economic Research at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Yes, we have an excellent university right here in the middle of the desert! The index climbed to 131.85 in July, up from 130.68 in June and 129.33 in July 2004. Total employment in Clark County grew 7.7 percent in June to 873,400 and the unemployment rate was 4.1 percent, compared with 4.7 percent a year ago. MS Las Vegas Real Estate is beating the same drum again and again….solid economic fundamentals make for a solid market in Las Vegas real estate. Ask anyone that invested in Las Vegas homes over the past five years about their decision and you’ll get some pretty enthusiastic answers. Las Vegas, Nevada….the next major American metropolis without a doubt.

The Las Vegas Monorail had a record breaking month in July! The monorail carried 1,020,796 people last month, for an average of 32,928 riders per day. July was also the monorail’s second-best revenue month ever. Farebox receipts last month totaled $2,945,701, for a daily average of $95,022. Don’t get too excited though…this thing cost $650 million and is still nowhere near covering it’s overhead. Maybe an extension to the airport would help, who knows? One thing is for sure, reliability is a key component to this puzzle. If the monorail starts working consistently and reliably, it can only help things. MS Las Vegas Real Estate would like to see the project succeed financially as well as mechanically, but we’re just not sure on either score.

Approximately one third of the Summerlin homes at the Siena age-restricted Las Vegas golf community sit on the golf course itself. But I can tell you from experience, this is no ordinary golf course. It’s just plain gorgeous to look at and live with as part of your every day experience at Siena as a resident. I have clients who live at Siena and don’t even play golf at all, yet comment to me on how much they enjoy the natural beauty of the course. Just have lunch on the outdoor patio at the clubhouse and you’ll be a believer. Siena real estate is priced from the $400,000s to $1 million. A selection of Siena homes are available within 30 days, while model homes are ready for immediate move-in. Contact MS Las Vegas Real Estate for more information on Summerlin real estate and Las Vegas golf real estate at 888-349-2595.

Centex Homes is developing a beautiful new community of North Las Vegas real estate named Waterfall. Comprised of four neighborhoods, Waterfall consists of Isabel, Latourell, Aberdeen and Angeline. Aberdeen features four two-story floor plans. The residences range from 2,454 to 3,807 square feet with as many as seven bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths. All of the North Las Vegas homes offer various room configurations, plus pool-sized lots and three-space garages. The builder’s Las Vegas homes are constructed to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star standards, certifying they are at least 30% more energy efficient than required federal standards. MS Las Vegas Real Estate is excited about this new North Las Vegas community and we will keep you posted on it’s progress.

My favorite piece of Las Vegas real estate on the Strip is about to get a major overhaul. The Mirage Hotel first opened it’s doors and fired up the volcano in 1989. It was a ground-breaking resort at the time and it’s done a great job of holding it’s own ever since. Now The Mirage is being given a new look and feel that revolves around restaurants and nightlife. The most dramatic of these is the new Cirque show being developed in secret and slated for debut next May. A little inside info for you…the show is to be based on the music of the Beatles and represents a new artistic exploration for Cirque. “Jet” nightclub is presently under construction and anyone who’s been to north valet has already seen the work in progress. Mirage will also create an upscale ultra lounge (a must for a top strip resort) to replace the lounge in the rainforest. Three new restaurants are also on the way to replace Moongate, Mikado and Renoir. Pretty exciting stuff! MS Las Vegas Real Estate can’t wait to check out Jet and Cirque! We’ll let you know.

A 61 acre parcel of Las Vegas real estate that is located in the downtown area and owned by the city is slated to be developed into a new teaching medical center if negotiations can be completed. The negotiations are being conducted between the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the City of Las Vegas and State of Nevada higher education officials. This exciting new proposal is moving forward and all sides have agreed to start designing a master-plan for the proposed site. The vision being pursued is a jointly operated medical center that is based on the University of Pittsburgh’s medical expertise. The new academic center would provide a top-notch training facility for Nevada medical students combined with a research facility. Southern Nevada residents would benefit from an inclusive medical campus that would provide care for a multitude of medical needs. MS Las Vegas Real Estate welcomes the University of Pittsburgh to Las Vegas and wishes great success to this endeavor.

The IRS is after Wayne Newton again! Don’t they know he’s Mr. Las Vegas? They say he owes $1.8 million in taxes and penalties and it’s got something to do with a horse and some old cars. His Arabian horse ranch is some of the most splendid Las Vegas real estate in the entire valley. Let’s hope they don’t ask him to give that up any time soon!

KB Homes Las Vegas has a number of neighborhoods around the valley with standing inventory that make a 30-60 day move-in a realistic possibility. Buyers of Las Vegas real estate can view ready-to-go homes in the Iron Mountain Ranch community in the northwest Las Vegas valley. Also on offer are beautiful Las Vegas homes in the Tierra Linda neighborhoods in the southern part of town. Summerlin real estate by KB Homes is also available at Mariposa, a Summerlin homes community that features four different floor plans. Contact MS Las Vegas Real Estate for more info at 888-349-2595.www.mslasvegasrealestate.com

Taxable sales by Nevada businesses jumped by double digits again in May by 13.2 percent. May actually makes 4 months in a row of double-digit increases as sales hit $3.8 billion for the month. With 11 months of the fiscal year under our belt, sales are up 14.1 percent overall. One of the most exciting aspects of the data concerns the issue of economic diversification. Increases were registered in virtually every category of sales activity tracked by the state, with automotive and retail as stand-outs. MS Las Vegas Real Estate continues to be encouraged by the strength and breadth of the Southern Nevada economy. You couldn’t ask for a stronger foundation for the market in Las Vegas homes.

Watch for the announcement this week! The NBA All-Star Weekend extravaganza in 2007 is slated to come to the Thomas & Mack Arena in fabulous Las Vegas! I hope the players show up for the game in decent playing condition, or at least show up at all! There are so many ways to get lost or lose track of time in this town, and more than a few celebrity athletes have had weekends here that they really can’t remember. MS Las Vegas Real Estate will definitely be at the game to see who shows up!

Can you believe it? The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas has been open for ten years! I can remember opening weekend with MTV broadcasting from the parking lot and the now famous swimming pool. How are things rolling these days at the Rock? Record revenue and an occupancy rate of 95% plus! Body English replaced Baby’s and has quickly become the hottest nightclub in Vegas. Celebrities are snapping up Las Vegas luxury real estate courtesy of the Hard Rock and it’s new condominium development. MS Las Vegas Real Estate salutes the Hard Rock Hotel on it’s 10th anniversary and we look forward to the next 10 years of hot and heavy action, Hard Rock style!