1. During the weekend, Melissa, Neil, Sarah and I checked out a some model homes in several neighborhoods throughout the Las Vegas Valley.  In two neighborhoods, they indicated that they were almost sold out. . .only six or so homes left.  Good news, right?

   Well, not exactly.

   After asking a bit more, the builder simply decided to stop building (for now).  Depending on the neighborhood, there were 20-40 empty lots that were going to stay empty until the economy recovers.  I would guess those folks living in those neighborhoods aren’t terribly happy.

2. Saw online a house in our area that was being foreclosed.  The price was AMAZING.  In reviewing the photos of the interior of the house, I saw that all the cabinetry in the kitchen were missing.  I emailed the Realtor:
   
   ME: What happened to all the kitchen cabinets in this house?
   
   REALTOR: The kitchen cabinets were all missing when we first gained access to the property upon our assignment from the bank.  So as far as we know they were stolen previous to that.  We don’t know by who.
   

Huh?!?  Who steals the cabinets out of a house?!?  For the love of god, if you can’t afford the house, you don’t get to keep the cabinets as a parting gift.

59: Tips on Finding a Job in Las Vegas: From a Senior Recruiter’s Perspective

Since moving to Las Vegas in August of 2005, we’ve seen unemployment as low as 3.8%.  But more recently, we’re looking at an unemployment rate of 6.7% here in the Las Vegas Valley.  From where we sit, that’s too damn high (and above the national average).  So, for today’s Living in Las Vegas Podcast, we offer some very specific tips on finding a job in Las Vegas (and beyond).  Show notes:

• Weather/Pool Report: Hot and Dry, like my love and humor
• JetBlue?  More like JetBlows.
• Discovering Las Vegas with my Magellan 1412
• Listener Meet Up on August 15 at 5PM at Trader Vic’s.  More Info.  Drink Recommendation.
• Check out the 2008 New Media Expo in Las Vegas (August 14-16)!
• Construction on 215
• Listener Audio: Show thoughts, baking cakes, and jewelry shows
• Listener Email: Moving to Vegas, taking back her title, killing deer, garage doors, show suggestions
• More LiLV Friends added!
• Tip’s on Finding a Job in Las Vegas
• Resumes
• Networking
• Job Boards (National and Local)
• Interview (telephone, preparation for onsite, interview tips, follow up)

Just saw on a local TV station (Channel 3, NBC) that Trump Towers is planning to lay off 73 people which equates to about 20% of their workforce.  According to the report, this is due largely because the close rate for their condos dropped significantly as a result of the ongoing mortgage crisis.   According to the report, “only a small fraction of the condos have been sold.”

Interestingly, Neil from the UK and I stopped by Trump Towers about a month ago to take a quick peek.  It was weird–I expected it to be super fancy-shmancy, and I guess it was–lot’s of gold stuff everywhere–but it didn’t look very significant.  Gold? Check.  Classy?  Uh…not so much.  Neil and I both thought that if you were to compare the look of Trump Towers to that of Wynn Las Vegas, there was no comparison.  Wynn looks much more substantial, more thick.  (To be honest, I thought Red Rock Casino looked nicer.)  Granted, we just checked out the lobby and the pool (from a distance. . .peering through the workout area), but we kept scratching our heads, wondering what the money was buying folks who chose to invest in a Trump Tower condo.

Hopefully, those 73 folks will be able to find work elsewhere, perhaps at Encore or Aliante Casino.

58: It’s Here–The NEW Living In Las Vegas Website!

And on the thirteenth day of July, with thunder resonating from above, the Living in Las Vegas Podcast website goes from version 1.0 to version 2.0!  A great deal of work was put into our new site, we hope you like it (and tell us what you think!).  Show notes:

• Sponsor Podcasts Intersections by Interwoven, Interwoven’s GearUp Podcast, Acutrack Podcast, Polycom On Demand
• Weather/Pool Report: Lightning, Thunder and Swimming (not at the same time)
• Anybody going to the New Media Expo?
• Cheryl buys a house! (And saves a TON of money)
• Listener Voicemail: More about buying a house in Las Vegas
• Listener Emails: Moving from Scotland, buying a vacation home, best places to live, realtor recommendation, what to do with minor children during a visit, dealing with a hangover
• Let’s talk about our New Website!
• Local’s Choice Radio
• Living in Las Vegas Blog
• Five RSS Feeds
• New Photo Format
• Mailing List: Sign up using the form to the right!

57: All About Water (Hot and Frozen): Water Heaters & Wranglers

Is there a shortage of water in Las Vegas? Not from where we sit! In today’s Living In Las Vegas Podcast we dive into Las Vegas water quality and water heaters then root for our favorite frozen water Vegans, the Las Vegas Wranglers. Show notes:

• Sponsor Podcasts Intersections by Interwoven, Interwoven’s GearUp Podcast, Acutrack Podcast, Polycom On Demand
• Weather/Pool Report: Yes!! Yes!! Yes!!
• New Website update
• New Friend: David and Alicia
• Listener Voicemail: Partying, Las Vegas Real Estate
• Listener Emails: Furniture, Free/discount tickets, Gas, Casino Employment
• Water Heater Drama
• Las Vegas Wranglers Hockey

44: Jury Duty and the Las Vegas Real Estate Market

For an inside peak into the Las Vegas judicial system, today’s EXTENDED version of the Living In Las Vegas Podcast recounts Melissa’s time on a jury. We begin by spending some time talking about the existing real estate market in the area and delve into some analysis of one of Melissa’s dreams. Show notes:

• Sponsor Podcasts Interwoven’s GearUp Podcast, Acutrack Podcast, Polycom On Demand
• Weather/Pool Report YAHOO!!!
• Melissa’s dream
• Listener Questions: Gloriane in Illinois
• Aliante Station update
• World Market Center
• Real Estate in Las Vegas
• Flipping, foreclosures and home values
• Jury Duty
• Hot and Horrible