Roberta LaRocca - REALTOR® Las Vegas

Recently there have been some major Israeli investors in the Las Vegas market. The most often heard mentioned is EL-AD Group with their purchase of the Frontier property on the Las Vegas Strip at a record price per acre, and it now being on hold until credit markets relax. There are others as well, including EL-AD's partner in the Plaza, Nochi Dankner's multi-billion dollar IDB Developments / Property and Building that is in for 50% of the estimated $8 billion project.

Dankner's investment in Las Vegas doesn't end there. They have recently refinanced and increased their stake in Queensridge in Summerlin, as well as the soon to be $850 million Tivoli Village mixed use project next door. The 700,000 square foot development will include retail and restaurant space, a 36,000 square foot 8 screen theater with reclining 'Lear jet style' seats, and 340 loft condo units similar to the District at Green Valley Ranch.

CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE

Another major player in Las Vegas is Africa Israel. They are the majority partner in the group that acquired the former Las Rambles / W Hotel site on Harmon. They have already received approvals for a new resort project on the site and are currently working on consolidating the parcels and vacations and abandonment of streets to accommodate their planned layout of the new design.

So how are these investments, in this media portrayed 'horrible' Las Vegas market, being viewed from their homeland of Israel? Analyst Shai Lipman of Tel Aviv-based IBI Investment House was quoted as saying he is unmoved by the crisis reports of Las Vegas. With that in mind he's given Dankner's Property & Building and Africa Israel Properties a buy rating. He also said that the planning for the Plaza project will be complete in 8 - 10 months, and the financial markets will be clearer by then. Strangely enough, the Plaza and Queensridge loans have been extended until next May.

I also was enlightened to an interesting interview of Segi Eitan, the CEO of Property and Building, in Israel's Hareetz. Some of the interesting highlights was the very favorable 6.3% interest rate they received for extending the Plaza loan, and she states it's affirming Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse potential in the project. When asked if there were regrets on being in the Las Vegas market during this downturn, she replied "If you want to make money in life, you have to take risks. "There's no such thing as reward without risk. Looking backward is no great trick. I remain optimistic about the success of this project." In response to slowdowns in the luxury condo market that includes their Queensridge, she states that they aren't compromising in pricing because..."These are some of the best luxury apartments constructed in the city. When the storm passes, the apartments will go at the speed of a missile launch."

It would appear that in spite of all the gloom and doom heard from the media, there are those that still see the potential in Las Vegas' future and continue to invest in it, even from half a world away.

 

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like information on Las Vegas real estate, please email me roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com or call me at 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!

 

What Happens Here...Stays Here. Sure, but get you mind out of the gutter, I'm talking about the amazing entertainment choices found all over Las Vegas, and Carl 'Safe Sax' Ferris is one of them. You may have heard his music before, and not only here in Vegas. He's played with Electric Light Orchestra, Dave Mason, The Marshall Tucker Band, and many more. Carl's home is here in the valley, and for the last 8 years his 'other' home has been the Fremont Street Experience downtown.

Carl plays in the Mardi Gras atmosphere of Fremont Street, and other than a few vacation days you can hear him play most every night. His street musician show is free and he's not alone, as there are stages at 1st and 3rd streets for other musicians and performers. It all happens underneath the 4 block long Viva Vision's hourly shows, on the world's largest TV with over 12.5 million LED lights. Carl is featured in one of the canopy shows, and of course he also sings in some of his original music when he performs. One tune that every downtown Las Vegas visitor has surely heard is his Fremont Street Song.

This touch of 'Old Vegas' is just one of the many entertainment offerings found throughout the valley. As the Golden Nugget continues it's expansion and the Lady Luck project slated to start next year, there will be more to come. Combining this with everything on the Strip and at the local casino resorts like the soon to open Eastside Cannery, then add the tons of recreation found here, it's no wonder why Las Vegas is the 'Entertainment Capital of the World'. Living here in the Vegas valley your next vacation is just a short drive away, any night of the week.

Here's a few more pictures from my Monday night FSE visit. Click the HD in the player's bottom toolbar to view full screen, and click it again when finished to return. To view my other Las Vegas Slideshows that include some of the neighborhoods in he valley, click here.

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like information on Las Vegas real estate, please email me roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com or call me at 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!

More good news about Las Vegas, that won't get blasted by the national media. I've written about Manhattan West Condominiums before, and now they've just topped off their 9 story signature building, 'Element House'. It's part of the 20 acre $350 million mixed use development that is moving right along. It's located in the southwest side of the Las Vegas Valley, just off the 215 Beltway at Russell Rd. Local ABC affiliate KVBC - TV13 gave it a brief mention with a quick flyover video, click the image below to watch it.

This new tower will offer a variety of choices from studios up to 3 bedrooms with floor to ceiling glass along with many standard upgrades, and designer options available. This building is also the center of the community and will have a 7000 square foot fitness area that is part of the 2 floors of clubhouse. The top floor is the rooftop lounge with outdoor patio and lounge pool offering panoramic views of the entire valley. On the ground level is an outdoor lap pool, and a 'Funpool' that starts from inside the building and features a large waterfall coming from within the grotto's ceiling, and a swim up bar. There will also be a community BBQ area at the building, along with interior gardens, indoor / outdoor koi ponds, and stone features including backlit alabaster. All to represent the elements of earth, wind, fire, and water. While there are only 70 units in within Element House itself that start from the $400,000's, these amenities are open to all owners in the community that offers other levels of pricing. It's all part of the unique social aspect of this project, called Friendscape™.

As a mixed use project there will also be 200,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and office space on completion of the 12 planned buildings. Elixer Coffee House and Wine Bar has announced it will be part of the project as well as Don Antonio's Restaurant. Also slated is a boutique market offering prepared foods, sundries, and packaged liquors. A preliminary agreement has been signed with Intercontinental Hotels for a 120 room Staybridge Suites for business travelers.

Yes this is yet another positive real estate story from Las Vegas that could quietly escape you, if you believe only the bad news blasts from the media. I've mentioned several others in my blogs, including the billions in current resort projects and other industries coming to Las Vegas. Of course there is even much more around the Vegas Valley, like you'll find on the Boulder Strip, or Condo projects such as Palms Place where closings are going well, to work underway for Las Vegas' expansion well beyond the valley itself.

Gemstone Development CEO Alex Edelstein of Manhattan West is also fed up with all the negativity of the news, particularly about the headline grabbing use of Las Vegas. The media's insistence on misleading market information and negative spin has him frothing! That's why he has also started his own blog "Dedicated to the Truth About Housing and the Economy", that's found at FrothingDeveloper.com. Of course you can find out more information about his Manhattan West here at the website.

 

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like information on Las Vegas real estate, please email me roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com or call me at 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!

 

The 4th annual New Media Expo was in town for their convention this past weekend. It's for digital media creators, podcasters and content developers for improving internet presence. With this group in town, Palms owner George Maloof thought it right to offer to host Podcast A Palooza in 'The Lounge' at the main entrance of his Palms Casino Resort. It featured 3 of the better known Las Vegas online shows that have attracted a global audience. He also took some time out of his schedule to discuss Las Vegas and his recently opened Palms Place, both for residences and as a condo hotel and spa. The new tower is just to the west of the original casino and hotel and the Fantasy Tower, connecting to the podium level with a SkyTube.

Click for Larger Image

Palms place had been sold out 4 year prior and began closings just this past March. George said he's been pleased with the amount of units that have closed, even though it's happening in possibly the most difficult market situation in history. He's also no stranger to operating in hard times, having the unfortunate situation to open his casino resort in the wake of 9-11. He's very positive about Las Vegas rebounding, and cites the growth of his property as an example of the city's redundancy. Even after that rough start, he added the Fantasy Tower with Playboy Club, a recording studio and the Pearl Concert, venue and now Palms Place all in the past 7 years. He also says he isn't done developing the 36 acre property.

The podcasts began with Tim and Michele Dressen's Five Hundy by Midnight, labeled as the 'Original Las Vegas Podcast'. This husband and wife team that was married in Las Vegas began their online broadcasts in January of 2005. It seemed like a natural next step for the couple that became hooked on the 'Vegas Experience' in the 90's...and with Las Vegas' 40 million visitors they aren't alone.

Next up was The Strip Podcast, hosted by international freelance journalist Steve Friess and his partner, KVBC - TV3 Las Vegas Executive Producer Miles Smith. Known for their ability to secure celebrity interviews even spur of the moment, this was no exception. Fellow Las Vegan and famous wild prop comic, the pumped-up Scott Thompson joined them to discuss everything from his appearances on Leno and Comedy Central to his recent contract extension at Luxor. In case you don't recognise his name... you might have heard of him as that crazy man, Carrot Top.

Last up was The Vegas Gang, a team made up from the online site Rate Vegas' Hunter Hillegas, Las Vegas Sun and In Business Las Vegas Executive Editor Jeff Simpson, Director of UNLV's Center for Gaming Research Dr. David Schwartz, Managing Editor of Anthony Curtis' Las Vegas Advisor David McKee, and website VegasTripping's 'Chuckmonster'. George Maloof joined them for their podcast for a very casual and open discussion of all things Las Vegas and the Palms.

'My photographer' was invited to take some pictures of the event, and you can check out a few of them in this slideshow. Click play, or to view Full Screen press the HD button in the player's bottom toolbar, and click it again to close when done. You can also watch this and my other Las Vegas slideshows here.

 

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like information on Las Vegas real estate, please email me at roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com or call me at 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!

 

First it was 'Help a dog - eat pizza', now it's drink wine! That's right, the very active Las Vegas Weimaraner Club & Rescue is at it again. They're out to help Las Vegas dogs with yet another fundraising event. This one is the prestigious 2nd annual Las Vegas Weim & Wine.

 
 

The event will be held at the exclusive Kennedy Estate on the west side of Las Vegas. The 6500 square foot mansion offers a private retreat for weddings, special events, and corporate functions. For a tour of the unique facilities with the rooftop Jacuzzi view of the fabulous Las Vegas Strip, here's a video.

This very special and upscale event will offer wine and catering, as well as entertainment and auction items. There are a variety of sponsors including Harrah's Entertainment, Lowes Resort Lake Las Vegas, Mario Andretti Driving School, Lucky Dog Magazine, and Vegas Rock Dog just to name a few. The growing list of sponsors can be found here.

If you would like to become a part of this October 4th fundraiser through sponsorship, or wish to purchase tickets in advance or event merchandise, please visit the Weim & Wine Website for more information.

 

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like information on Las Vegas real estate, please email me at roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com or call me at 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!

 

I did a recent blog and slideshow on the amazing new color changing Eastside Cannery set to open later this month. It's on the Boulder Strip corridor, and it's not the only new construction in that area. Thanks to Eric Rosenberg with Boulder Crossroads for furnishing this information that shows even more of the investment going on in the Las Vegas Valley.

Las Vegas’ Boulder Strip Seeing Transformation
With Infill and New Investments
Retail, Gaming/Hotel and Residential Infill Happening

Las Vegas, NV (Weds. Aug. 13, 2008) - With the upcoming August 28th opening of the Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel, the Boulder Strip is undergoing a revitalization that is gaining steam. Several infill ventures along Boulder Highway have opened or changed hands in the past year, with more in the pipeline.

At 16-stories with its distinctive saw-tooth roofline, the $250 million Eastside Cannery tower is the newest and most visible addition to the eastern skyline. It brings 65,000 square feet of casino space, 20,000 square feet of meeting space, 307 new hotel rooms, and six new restaurants to the Boulder Strip, along with 1,200 employees.

Just across Boulder Highway is the new Boulder Crossroads Shopping Center, anchored by a new Wal-Mart Supercenter. Boulder Crossroads brings more than 260,000 square feet of new retail space to the area. Within the new center, a busy new Chili’s, already the third highest-grossing Chili’s in Las Vegas, presides over Nellis Blvd. at Boulder Highway. National retailers RadioShack, T-Mobile, and GameStop are next door. California-based cult-favorite Original Tommy’s Hamburgers just opened its second Las Vegas location in Boulder Crossroads. Filling a dearth of services for the trade area, Tender Dental began booking appointments four months prior to its opening in July. Nevada Federal Credit Union is busy signing up new customers.

Sam’s Town Hotel and Gaming Hall’s $20 million Sports Book expansion is adding to the Boulder Strip’s gaming appeal, especially for locals. Century Theatres premiered a 18-screen state-of-the-art theatre complex less than a year ago, projecting one million visitors by the end of 2008.
Grocery choices are multiplying, too. In addition to Wal-Mart Supercenter’s 24-hour grocery, two new Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets have opened nearby, at Nellis Blvd. and Desert Inn to the north, and at Nellis Blvd. and Tropicana to the south.

The new retail is ready for new rooftops. D.R. Horton is completing the last phase of its Nevada Ranch subdivision (First Twilight, High Noon and Twilight phases), within half a mile of the Eastside Cannery. The second phase of the 21 acre Duck Creek apartments are under construction on Boulder Highway east of Russell.

Investors are noticing, as indicated by recent sales. Boulder MarketPlace, at Boulder Highway and Russell, anchored by Denny’s and Tire Works, completed in late 2007, recently sold for $27.8 million. AIM sold the 670 unit Canyon Pointe apartments on Harmon adjacent to the Eastside Cannery for $44 million.

The mortgage mess and high gas prices have smothered projects in other parts of Las Vegas. So why does this stretch of the Boulder Strip appear to be defying the economic odds?
For one thing, the homes and people - that is, guests and customers - are already there. More than 160,000 people already live within a three-mile radius of the Eastside Cannery, without the coming rooftops.

“Eastside Cannery is a great asset, not just to our family of casinos and hotels, but for local gaming enthusiasts,” said William Wortman, co-owner and principal for Cannery Casino Resorts. “We believe the Boulder Strip is a prime spot for the next phase of our growth.”

There is also the boomerang effect of escalating gas prices. Rather than drive across town, some people are opting to stay close to home. Neighborhood retail centers can benefit unexpectedly as high gas prices make each errand an economic calculation. Infill is becoming the watchword as consumers seek to minimize drive time.

“The Boulder Strip has the added advantage of proximity. It’s not far from the Las Vegas Strip and the airport. Yet it is situated in the midst of established neighborhoods, with new multi-family and single family growth adding to local buying power,” said Eric Rosenberg, spokesperson for Boulder Crossroads LLC.

According to CB Richard Ellis, the vacancy rate for retail space in the east submarket is only 2.47 percent, compared to the citywide retail vacancy rate of 5.82 percent for the second quarter of 2008. Despite market qualms, the average retail lease rate is $2.45 per square foot per month compared to $2.21citywide

Click Map for Larger Image

Sidebar: Investment Along the Boulder Strip Development Details

Eastside Cannery Casino & Hotel 65,000 sq ft of casino space,
six restaurants, and 307 hotel rooms,
Boulder Highway at Harmon,
opens Aug 28, 2008

Boulder Crossroads Shopping Center Over 260,000 sq ft center
at Boulder Hwy & Nellis Blvd.,
anchored by Wal-Mart Supercenter,

includes:

• Chili’s

• Radio Shack

• GameStop

• T-Mobile

• Nevada Federal Credit Union

• Original Tommy’s Hamburgers

• Tender Dental
  

D.R. Horton Nevada Ranch subdivision in three phases:

First Light (triplexes $129,900 -159,900)

High Noon (triplexes $134,900-163,900)

Twilight (single family $219,000-269,000)

Sam’s Town Gaming Hall and Hotel

$20 million Sports Book expansion completed 2007

Century Theatres 18-screens

State-of-the-art 18 screen complex featuring stadium seating and THX sound,

103,000 sq ft, projecting 1,000,000 visitors/year

Wal-Mart Supercenter 200,000+ sq ft,

24-hour grocery, opened 2007

Canyon Point Apartments

Sold for $44 million

Sienna Suites Apartments Extended Stay

600 units completed in 2008

Boulder MarketPlace Shopping Center

anchored by Denny’s and Tire Works,

completed in 2007, sold for $27.8 million

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets

Two new markets in the area,

Nellis Blvd. & Desert Inn,

and Nellis Blvd and Tropicana

While you may hear of the billions in construction on the Las Vegas Strip, this is another example of the investment going on all around the Las Vegas Valley and the jobs being created. There is a lot confidence shown by those putting their capital into these projects, in preparation for Las Vegas' future growth.

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like information on Las Vegas real estate, please email me at roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com or call me at 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!

The Las Vegas population continues to grow in spite of the national economic downturn, at a current rate estimated to be over 5000 a month. This is down from it's peak of 7,000 - 8,000 a month during it's record setting years, but still quite healthy. With the new jobs coming online from the many projects that are already underway, several analysts have predicted a future housing shortage, especially at workforce levels. While not happening at this very moment, it is something that is being addressed by those looking ahead into the next few years. They are investing heavily into what they believe is the coming home explosion of Las Vegas that will spread well beyond it's borders.

Yes it's true, the valley has a limited supply of developable land. In a recent blog I talked about what you may not know about Las Vegas. One point was that the Las Vegas Valley is hemmed in, surrounded not only by mountains, but by government owned land. This map will give you a visual with the gray area publicly owned, the red and white border showing the limits of future available land, with some of that to be used as park / open space.

The Las Vegas housing issue was brought to light during the housing boom. As land became increasingly limited, property costs increased and home prices followed that lead. Las Vegas began to dabble into going vertical even in the suburbs, and new affordable homes began doing the same with higher density developments. It's one of the reasons that the values found in today's market are astounding with some properties selling at or below what it would cost to build them, even at today's pricing. It's no wonder that Las Vegas home sales have been steadily on the rise since the beginning of the year.

So where will all the future Las Vegas workers live as the population continues to swell and land runs out? One answer is found here in a recent New York Times Story. Major developers Rhodes Homes and Mardian Group are already preparing to expand into what they believe will become Las Vegas' new bedroom community in nearby Arizona. They are estimating that by 2040 they could build as many as 80,000 homes for a potential population of 150,000 people commuting to work in Las Vegas. Travel to and from will be aided with the completion of the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge with an expected opening date of June 2010. While there is some resident opposition to the development of this very rural area and other obstacles to overcome, it seems to have it's share of supporters on the state and local levels.

This forward looking housing project also isn't the only one on the table. Approximately 55 miles to the northeast of Las Vegas, construction on the Master Planned Community of Coyote Springs is underway. The proposed 43,000 acre development will straddle Clark and Lincoln counties. The area is nearly twice the size of Summerlin and will feature 2 Jack Nicklaus designed courses and a PGA Village with 12,000 square foot clubhouse. The first course, The Chase, opened in April of this year and the second slated to begin construction in 2010. A total of 16 golf courses have been approved for the entire project. Pardee Homes is Master Residential Builder and with infrastructure now being constructed it is expected that new homes will be available by 2009. (NOTE: To be represented by their own real estate agent, buyers must not register online or sign in at any new home sites without their agent.)

As you can see there is quite an investment in the future growth of Las Vegas. Hundreds of millions for these two areas are already being spent in expectation of it's continued expansion. While it's impossible to predict the future, it appears these developers and builders, like the many others that have 10's of billions more in current Las Vegas construction, are banking on it's continued growth and success.

I also need to take a moment to laud the writer of this New York Times article. It's an excellent example of something that is becoming rare...objective journalism. There was a balance of all sides of the story with the positives of development, the opposition to it, and the hurdles it may yet have to face. The real estate / housing industry was the savior during the last economic downturn and 2001 recession that began during the previous lame duck administration, along with the added blow of the 9-11 disaster. Today the industry has become the whipping boy of the media, often with misleading or poorly researched information, and at times obviously slanted half truths. I think most anyone in the industry, along with the general public, can appreciate articles like this one that is presenting the full story and allowing the reader to make their own choices.

The writer is Steve Friess, an international freelance journalist based in Las Vegas. You may have read his other articles that have appeared in USA Today, Newsweek, and many other major publications. Steve is well known for voicing his criticisms when he feels they are due or corrections should they be necessary, and that only adds to the integrity of his writing. Locally he shares his views in his 'Strip Sense' column for the Las Vegas Weekly and his Vegas Happens Here blog. Steve also co-hosts the celebrity interview and Las Vegas news and travel tips show offered on 'The Strip Podcast' with his partner Miles, and for pet lovers the Petcast with the Emily Richmond of the Las Vegas Sun.

 

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like information on Las Vegas real estate, please email me at roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com or call me at 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!

 

It's another Las Vegas secret...there's more than one lakefront home community in the Vegas Valley. Desert Shores is tucked away in the northwest side and is wrapped around four man made lakes. This Master Planned Community has 3351 home units built on 682 acres that was begun in 1988. The homes run the gambit from condos and median priced homes to luxurious customs, that are located in 22 individual communities.

Of course there is boating and fishing available for residents and includes those that aren't living on the lakefront. There are community docks with paddleboats, and a 2100 square foot community center that terraces out to the main lake. It's all part of this recreation oriented development, with a unique twist. In addition to the picnic park with volleyball, basketball, bocce ball court and playground, there's a 200,000 gallon lagoon style pool with sand beach on the lakefront at the clubhouse. Besides this, there are miles of walking and biking trails through the community.

Next door to the clubhouse is the cozy Lakeside Center with a variety of sevices, restaurant, and office space. For just an idea of what you can find, the Village Pub offers food, libations and gaming. For some pampering there's The Spa at Lakeside and The Salon at Lakeside. For those wanting to tie the knot, Lakeside Weddings is there with a hall, garden and patio overlooking the lake that can be a lovely place for ceremony and reception.

So when you're thinking of lake view homes in Las Vegas, there's more than just incredible sites found at Lake Mead in Boulder City. Of course there's another neighbohood I've blogged about, The Lakes on the west side, and now you have Desert Shores. There are a lot of interesting communities throughout the area, and you might just be surprised by what you don't know about the Las Vegas Valley.

Now to the tour, from some of the pictures taken while I was previewing some homes for my clients. Click the HD button in the player to view them full screen, and use it again to close when done. For more of my Las Vegas area slideshows, Click Here.

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like information on Las Vegas real estate, please email me at roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com or call me at 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!

Eastside Cannery is coming soon and is responsible for 800 jobs here in the valley. It's set to open Aug. 28, 2008, but it's already adding some excitement to the Las Vegas skyline. During the day the $250 million complex's 16 story sawtooth topped tower is clad in bronze and white with glass and steel. At night the building colors up the Boulder Strip as it morphs from every shade of the rainbow.

This new hotel - casino and entertainment venue from Cannery Casino Resorts is built on the site of the former Nevada Palace on Boulder Highway at E. Harmon. It will have more than 300 oversized rooms, a variety of meeting space, restaurants, and entertainment that will include live music 6 days in the center Pin-Ups Lounge, Marilyn's Lounge featuring a multi-use showroom, and an 18,000 square foot 1400 seat headliner theater. All guest rooms have floor to ceiling glass and wide screen plasma TV, and there are corner suites with spa tubs to enjoy the view, along with 5 - 900 square foot executive suites on the top floor. Restaurants will offer price ranges to fit every budget. Coming this fall will be the lounge and kitchen One-Six on the 16th floor.

CCR owns the other industrial themed Cannery in north Las Vegas, the Rampart Casino in the JW Marriott of Summerlin, and the Meadows Racino Harness track and slot parlor in western PA south of Pittsburgh. They currently have a purchase agreement with Melco Crown of Australia, the gaming and media giant owned by the Packer family. They are awaiting approvals from the Nevada Gaming Commission to complete the transaction. This will be the first US gaming investment by Melco, but not the last, as they also are a minority partner in the Fontainebleau Resort under construction on the Las Vegas Strip and scheduled to open fall of 2009.

For a little idea of the range of colors of the building, check out this photo slideshow. You can watch it full screen by clicking the HD button in the player, and use it again to close it when done viewing. You can also watch my other Las Vegas slideshows that include some of Las Vegas' communities by clicking here.

 

 

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like information on Las Vegas real estate, please email me at roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com or call me at 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!

 

Yes it's the toastiest part of the year here in the desert. The humidity can be 'higher', around 30% or so, but not anything close to what I just went through back east. This summer weather is one reason why I moved here, with this great pool weather and long season.

Of course that crazy Jack Russell, Sparky, came out here and also fell in love with the pool, even swimming underwater. If you're not familiar with Jacks, they're said to have ADHD. The HD hyperactive part I can agree, but they are EXTREMELY focused on whatever they are doing and very renlentless. They aren't quitters, that's for sure, and will try to think of knew ways to meet a challenge. Sparky is no exception and her determination is how she taught herself how to swim after she made the move to Las Vegas.

Jacks are a little hard to describe, they're not you're typical dog. They were bred to hunt, for flushing out whatever their master was after, and will 'go to ground' in pursuit and can climb trees. They are the most flexible, agile creatures that appear to be made out of rubber, and part rabbit, cat, and dog. They are amazingly powerful for their small size, all muscle and can coil up like a spring and shoot themselves through the air, twisting and reshaping themselves to adjust their flight path for their target.

Sparky turned nine last month. She's been through three surgeries in the past 2 years. (Thanks Dr. George for the great work!) I think if you watch her latest photoshow you'll see there isn't much that can slow her down. Watch as she stretches it out or twists & turns in mid-air and spreads her toes or flexes to put on the brakes. Whatever it takes to hit her target. All the while she's loving these dog days of Las Vegas! You can use the HD button in the player to view the show full screen.

That's her from above the water. Her underwater video is here. At the moment they're having some problems with their streaming servers and a little choppy. You can pause and wait for it to load, or try her YouTube page and also view it full screen there when it's up & running.

 

If you are interested in relocating to Las Vegas or would like information on Las Vegas real estate, please email me at roberta@search4lasvegashomes.com or call me at 702-354-8988. I look forward to hearing from you!