Clark County Commissioners have granted approval to Olympia Gaming for a master-plan to develop a 100-acre site that will include retail, gaming, hotel and entertainment on south Las Vegas Boulevard by St. Rose Parkway. The project is slated to begin operation in 2008. This stunning addition to Southern Highlands real estate will include a $750 million hotel-casino with 610 rooms. Residents of Las Vegas homes in several nearby communities will be able to enjoy this new resort. The surrounding areas encompass Southern Highlands homes of course, as well as the Silverado Ranch community, Anthem, Seven Hills homes, and Green Valley residents. The south end of Las Vegas Boulevard is turning into one of the most dynamic areas in the valley for Las Vegas real estate development, both residential and commercial.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

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.

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.

Out here in the desert, the market for Las Vegas real estate is being sustained by solid economic and demographic fundamentals. It should also be noted that low interest rates aren’t hurting a bit. Many people thought that the value of Las Vegas homes had inflated into a bubble in 2004. We are yet to see any evidence to support this proposition. How are things in your city? Do you see signs of an inflating bubble or a bursting bubble? Is the comparison between the dot-com boom and the housing boom a fair one in your opinion? Let’s talk about it. Please post your comments and I will promptly respond.

The World Series of Poker kicked off its nine-day championship series last week at the Rio Hotel in fabulous Las Vegas! With each player (or sponsor) paying a $10,000 buy-in, the World Championship no-limit Texas hold’em event is expected to have the richest pile of loot in the tournament’s 36-year history. The Rio Hotel built a 60,000-square-foot poker room inside the Rio’s convention center that housed this year’s World Series. The final two days scheduled for next Thursday and Friday will be held at Binion’s on Fremont Street downtown. The 36th World Series of Poker has been the most popular ever, with nearly 20,000 participants taking part in 41 events before the world championship match. Last year, a record 14,054 players, including a record 2,567 in the world championship event, took part in the World Series. No lack of excitement for owners of Las Vegas homes! We can watch it live, which is even better than ESPN! Check out Las Vegas real estate if you would like to practice your poker skills year-round.

The efforts of Nevada Energy Star Partners have boosted Las Vegas homes to a leading position nationally in energy-efficiency programs. Nevada Energy Star Partners helps valley residents to save more than just energy. The cooperative group offers cash savings on Energy Star-qualified appliances and electronics available through its Energy Star coupon booklet. The booklets, which are free to the public, offer savings on select products at RC Willey Home Furnishings, as well as rebates from Nevada Power, both of which are members of the partnership. The coupon booklets are a great way for the builders of Las Vegas homes and retail industries to join forces in promoting energy conservation. The partnership has effectively made Las Vegas the national Energy Star leader! The Energy Star coupon booklet is ideal for helping owners of Las Vegas real estate who are interested in saving money on environmentally friendly products.

UNLV is planning a major expansion of it’s educational facilities at a new site about 20 miles from the existing campus. The new research-focused campus would be built on 640 acres of Bureau of Land Management property between Pecos Road and Lamb Boulevard. Enrollments at the state’s colleges and universities will increase about 60 percent by 2014 to 162,000 students, according to the state’s system of higher education. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the University of Nevada, Reno and the Community College of Southern Nevada are each expected to grow about 50 percent by then and are seeking to expand their campuses to make room for the new students. North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon said the campus will be part of a 16,000-acre master planned community of new North Las Vegas real estate. The Aliante homes community also has permission to build 6,500 Las Vegas homes, bringing in 250,000 new residents to the area.

Beginning at 10 a.m. this Saturday, the western-themed Helldorado parade will march along Fourth Street in downtown Las Vegas. The parade, which will feature musicians, cowboys, horses and over 170 floats, is just part of the overall Helldorado Days celebration, being revived this year as part of the city’s 100th birthday celebration. The once annual event began back in 1934 as the Boulder Dam, later renamed Hoover Dam, neared completion. The festival was a tool to bring tourists to town. For more information, visit www.lasvegas2005.org. MS Las Vegas Real Estate salutes Las Vegas on it’s centennial birthday and wishes our great city another awesome 100 years in the future!

More than 20 Las Vegas Boy Scouts from four Summerlin community troops recently fulfilled requirements for their cooking merit badges at a special clinic conducted by chefs at the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas. The clinic was headed by Chef Ryan Carson with assistance from Chef Chris Smith. The clinic was underwritten by The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of the Summerlin master-planned community. MS Las Vegas Real Estate continues to make the case in this blog that Las Vegas is a real city and a well-rounded lifestyle awaits anyone with an open mind and a tolerance for 325 sunny days every year! You’ll find an easy-to-use page on our website that features the Summerlin community and beautiful Summerlin homes.

New residents of KB Home’s San Destin neighborhood of North Las Vegas real estate will be among the first Southern Nevada residents to save as much as 75,000 gallons of water per year through a program launched by the Southern Nevada Water Authority. The Water Smart Home made its debut Monday at the company’s San Destin-Palazzo subdivision within the Aliante homes master-planned community. The program, launched by the water authority, requires the incorporation of particular water conservation principles by the home builder. Specifications cover outdoor landscaping design, appliances and plumbing fixtures. Las Vegas homes that meet minimum standards may carry the Water Smart Home designation. This year alone, KB expects to build 2,500 homes under the program in the Las Vegas Valley. Contact MS Las Vegas Real Estate for more information at 888-349-2595.

Wow…..the median price of a home in California is $495,400. In order to qualify for a loan for a “median” California home, you need to be making roughly $116,000….or you can forget it. For God sakes, come to Las Vegas….where the median price of a resale home is about $270,000. The economy couldn’t be stronger and Las Vegas real estate is just a little more reasonable. Hey, don’t forget all those California taxes you leave behind as well.

A major overhaul of the nation’s bankruptcy laws will wipe out a long-standing Florida exemption that protects homes from being sold to pay off debts faster than a surfer can fall off his board on Coco beach. The legislation, which was passed by Congress last Thursday, is considered the biggest rewrite of the bankruptcy code in a quarter-century. President Bush can’t wait to sign the bill into law. The new law will obviously make Florida less appealing to wealthy debtors seeking to dodge creditors by buying big mansions. Florida is one of five states with an unlimited “homestead exemption” that had allowed residents who declare bankruptcy to keep their homes, no matter how much they owe. The new cap on homestead protection in Florida will be $125,000. The new limitation on the homestead exemption means creditors could seize every dollar above the $125,000 threshold should a debtor be forced to sell. Las Vegas luxury real estate looks better and better all the time. MS Las Vegas Real Estate is a serious player in the market for Las Vegas luxury homes. Give us a call at 888-349-2595.

The Community Housing Resource Board’s “Fair Housing Day” event will be held on Tuesday, April 26 and will include two classes. Both sessions will be held at the Stardust Hotel. “Practical Fair Housing” will be presented by Bill Thorne from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Topics will include requirements of housing for older persons and group homes; predatory lending; occupancy standards in rental properties; and rights of those with disabilities to modify their housing. “ABCs of Fair Housing” will be presented by the Silver State Fair Housing Council from 1:30 to 5 p.m. The basics of fair housing and how it applies to advertising will be addressed. The cost for each class is $25, which includes light refreshments. Registration begins one-half hour before each course. MS Las Vegas Real Estate urges you to consider attending this important housing event.

The Las Vegas Valley’s largest Earth Day celebration this year will take place in the Summerlin community on Saturday, April 23. The event is free and open to the public. The festivities will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Summerlin Centre Community Park. The outdoor festival will include musical entertainment, environmental exhibits, environmental art and learning activities for children and master gardeners sharing tips for planting in the desert. Earthfaire is co-sponsored by Summerlin and its Las Vegas home builders and other supporters. Summerlin is home to parks, trails, houses of worship, shopping and business centers, medical facilities, cultural facilities, and nearly 100 model Summerlin homes. MS Las Vegas Real Estate is based in Summerlin and we have been doing business in the community for over a decade. Put our experience to work for you.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority Landscape Awards Program wants to honor Las Vegas homes with beautiful, water-conserving landscapes. The annual Landscape Awards contest is one way to recognize owners of Las Vegas real estate who have the vision to promote water-efficient landscaping and still create a beautiful desert environment for their homes. The deadline for entering the contest is April 13. This is usually when most of the Greater Las Vegas landscapes are at their peak of color. The contest is open to all southern Nevada home owners who design and install water-efficient landscapes.

Every Las Vegas real estate agent that is interested in the Internet should read this story. A very interesting survey was just conducted in California and the results point the way towards a national trend. The 2005 “Internet Versus Traditional Buyers Survey” found that 62 percent of buyers made the World Wide Web an integral part of the shopping process, up from 56 percent a year ago, said the California Association of Realtors. The survey found that 86 percent of California buyers went online to find an agent while 75 percent looked for a home, then an agent. Sixty three percent of first-time buyers said the Internet played a crucial role in the transaction versus 46 percent for repeat buyers. The survey began tracking shopping habits in 1999 and Internet use among buyers crossed the 50 percent mark for the first time last year. MS Las Vegas Real Estate is fully aware of the crucial role played by the web in todays real estate market. Our comprehensive website is testament to that fact.

Energy-efficient landscapes for Las Vegas homes will be the focus of a class at The Gardens at the Springs Preserve. During the workshop, participants will learn techniques to improve their landscapes while saving on power bills. The free course is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 21. Lance Kirk from Lucchesi Galati Architects and a horticulturist at the gardens will share tips and techniques on home and landscape design that can save energy and money. He will focus on how to select and position plants to cut energy costs by as much as 25 percent. In addition, a variety of other classes are scheduled, including those to help Las Vegas real estate owners to plant water-efficient landscapes.

As an advocate for fair housing issues, the National Association of Realtors salutes April’s Fair Housing Month observance and the beginning of a year-long 37th anniversary commemoration of the Fair Housing Act. As champions of fair housing laws, the NAR fights discrimination and promotes equality through a program called “At Home with Diversity.” Since 1999, more than 15,000 Realtors and association executives have completed the program which aims to train real estate professionals to work effectively with diversity in today’s market. MS Las Vegas Real Estate salutes the Fair Housing Act, which has made Las Vegas and cities across the nation better places to live.

We told you that it’s the smart move to own Las Vegas real estate! The percentage of Nevadans with a bachelor’s degree or higher increased by almost 6 percent since 2002 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Hal Rothman, a history professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the state’s improvement is not surprising. “It’s entirely consistent with the normalization of Las Vegas in the past 20 years.” MS Las Vegas Real Estate continues the process of educating people about Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. More and more professional people are moving to Las Vegas and the market for Las Vegas homes and Las Vegas luxury real estate is a direct reflection of that trend.

Polly Gonzalez, an anchor for KLAS-TV, Channel 8, died Monday while traveling in California with her two young daughters. Both daughters received minor injuries. Gonzalez, 43, was heading back to Las Vegas from a three-day weekend visiting relatives in San Jose, Calif., when her SUV swerved and subsequently rolled over numerous times. Gonzalez helped community organizations reach out to young people, particularly in the Hispanic community, and she served as a guest speaker for a variety of programs. Polly Gonzalez was highly respected by everyone at MS Las Vegas Real Estate and we join the community in mourning her loss.

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to build a new recreation area in the middle of Kyle Canyon in order to provide more recreation facilities and also to take some pressure off the upper canyons. It seems that Mt. Charleston has become increasingly popular as a recreation destination for the residents of the Las Vegas valley. It’s getting to the point where demand is outrunning available recreation space and causing overcrowding and mis-use of private property. The U.S. Department of the Interior already has approved $27 million for the project, from revenues generated by the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. Tourist traffic is expected to increase beyond the present 2 million a year when new Las Vegas homes are built at the entrance to the canyon deep in the northwest section of the valley. Focus Property Group paid $510 million for 1710 acres of Las Vegas real estate at the foot of the mountain and thousands of Las Vegas homes will be built there soon.

Happy 25th Birthday to KNPR! Las Vegas valley residents are so fortunate to have KCNV for classical music and KNPR for local and national news, both part of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Traffic is getting pretty heavy as Las Vegas grows into a full scale metropolis. NPR is a great ride-along buddy and the news and entertainment is truly life enriching.

More than 300,000 rainbow trout will be stocked in reservoirs and streams in the Southern Nevada Region this spring and summer. The fish will come from NDOW hatcheries in other regions of the state and from private out-of-state hatcheries. LAKE MEAD — Fishing should continue to be very good for striped bass and channel catfish through summer despite the lake’s record-low water level. Although fishing should be fair for largemouth bass, they have been adversely affected by the water level. LAKE MOHAVE — The outlook for Lake Mohave is excellent. The water level has been relatively stable and anglers should find good fishing for striped bass, including fairly large numbers of fish around 1 pound. Boaters should have good success by drifting baits such as anchovies and squid. EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR — Located east of Pioche in Spring Valley State Park, this is a popular family getaway from spring through summer. The trout fishing is consistently good, the camping facilities are first-class and the daytime temperatures are pleasant. Heavy rains in early 2005 should mean a full reservoir through at least mid-summer. ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR — The reservoir is located in Echo Canyon State Park, east of Pioche. There is an nice campground in the park. For the first time in many years, the reservoir was almost full heading into spring. Depending on weather conditions, this might continue until mid-summer. Because of the high lake levels, angler access should be much better than average this spring. Rainbow trout fishing is expected to be good through the spring and early summer months thanks to plants. Plans call for 10,000 rainbows to be planted this spring. URBAN PARK PONDS — Ponds at Floyd Lamb State Park, Lorenzi Park and Sunset Park in Las Vegas, Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder City and Hafen Park Pond in Mesquite will be stocked monthly from mid-April through summer with channel catfish and rainbow trout in the winter.MS Las Vegas Real Estate reminds you once again that Las Vegas is a real city with outdoor recreation that takes you as far away from casinos as you want to be.

Summerlin residents were recently treated to the 8th annual Summerlin Circus! The show was performed four times last weekend to give everyone in the Summerlin community a chance to attend. One of the amenities of Summerlin real estate is The Summerlin Council, which is the non-profit arm of the Summerlin Community Association. The Summerlin Council was responsible for staging the circus and works hard year around to put together great social, sports and recreational activities throughout Summerlin Nevada.