Buck Wargo

Story Archive

Analyst: Builders might leave Las Vegas market without sales gains
Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011
A housing analyst said today he expects sales of homes in 2011 to match their 2010 levels, but some builders may leave the market if new home sales don’t improve.
Nevada tops nation in foreclosures for 49th straight month
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
Nevada bank repossessions increased 16 percent between December and January, helping the state maintain the nation’s highest foreclosure rate for the 49th consecutive month, according to a California research firm.
Investors playing bigger role in Las Vegas housing market
51 percent of homes were purchased with cash in January
Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011
Home sales and prices dipped in January but investors filled the void by becoming an even more dominant player in the Southern Nevada housing market.
Strategic defaults contagious in Las Vegas neighborhoods
Monday, Feb. 7, 2011
The Nevada Association of Realtors reported last week results of a survey that said nearly one quarter of people losing their homes to foreclosure walked away even though they could afford their mortgages.
Q&A: Nasser Daneshvary, director of Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies at UNLV
Monday, Feb. 7, 2011
Nasser Daneshvary thought teaching economics in college would be his way to make a difference in the lives of young people.
Report: Apartment rents in Las Vegas expected to decline
Friday, Feb. 4, 2011
Apartment rents in Las Vegas have stabilized along with the occupancy rate, but prices will continue to decline as long as the economy remains sluggish, according to a report released today by a research firm.
Las Vegas business leaders say confidence levels at 3-year high
Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
Despite the continuation of the recession in Las Vegas, the confidence level by the valley’s business leaders has reached is highest point in three years, according to UNLV economists.
Firm predicts decline in Las Vegas home prices through next year
Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011
Las Vegas home prices will fall nearly 13 percent by September and another 6.5 percent a year later in 2012, a research firm estimated today. Fiserv said a large supply of foreclosed properties will continue to contribute to price declines.
Analyst recaps bungled housing predictions of yesteryear
Monday, Jan. 31, 2011
Larry Murphy and other housing analysts have gotten plenty of criticism for their forecasts. Their predictions were wrong about the Las Vegas housing market and how far sales and prices would fall, and they admit that.
Las Vegas records nation's highest rate of foreclosures in 2010
Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011
Just like the state of Nevada, Las Vegas led the way among cities for its rate of foreclosures in 2010, a California research firm reported.
In Nevada, 23 percent who lost homes to foreclosure could afford payments
Officials say trend shows no signs of slowing
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011
Nearly one in four people in Nevada who lost their homes to foreclosure have admitting to walking away even though they could afford their monthly payments, according to a study released today by the Nevada Association of Realtors.
Las Vegas industrial real estate expected to see recovery, firm says
Monday, Jan. 24, 2011
A Philadelphia-based economic research firm is optimistic about the Las Vegas economy’s recovery.
Construction industry: Raise taxes for job growth
Building Jobs Coalition says plan would restore work lost during recession
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011
The Nevada construction industry is urging state lawmakers to increase tax revenue and stop raiding existing funds to better finance infrastructure projects and create 100,000 jobs.
Analyst: Price of existing Las Vegas homes won't increase for 5 years
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011
A Las Vegas housing analyst said today the new home industry should expect a tepid recovery over the next five years and predicted existing home prices won’t improve for about five to six years.
Home sales in Las Vegas slide in 2010
Monday, Jan. 17, 2011
The sale of new single-family homes in Las Vegas in 2010 fell by 4.2 percent from a year earlier to its lowest point since the mid-1980s and existing home sales fell for the first time in three years, according to Home Builders Research.
Outsiders continue to predict woes for Las Vegas housing
Monday, Jan. 17, 2011
Predictions about the ongoing decline of the local housing market keep coming from outside the state.
10.8 percent of Clark County homes in foreclosure last year
Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011
More than 9 percent of Nevada’s households had a foreclosure filing in 2010 as the state held its nation-leading ranking for the fourth consecutive year, despite a drop from 2009, according to statistics released Thursday.
Economists predict static housing market this year
Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011
What the Las Vegas housing market has going is it’s not Cleveland, Kansas City or even Rochester, New York.
December homes sales increase in Las Vegas as prices drop
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011
Sales of Southern Nevada homes picked up in December but prices fell slightly, according to statistics released today by the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors.
Housing experts seek solutions to Nevada's foreclosure woes
Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011
A group of housing experts on Tuesday urged the Nevada Legislature to enact legislation that encourages more short sales and provides more financial protection for homeowners who can’t afford to keep their homes.
Q&A: Paul Bell
Monday, Jan. 10, 2011
Paul Bell wears more than one hat in the real estate industry.
Mild recovery under way for commercial real estate
Monday, Jan. 10, 2011
Follow the jobs.
Low education levels holding Nevada's economy back, official says
Friday, Jan. 7, 2011
Nevada’s higher education levels are holding the region back from diversifying its economy and the city has become a modern-day version of Pittsburgh or Detroit, the director of a UNLV-based think tank said today.
Research firm predicts 6.4 percent drop in home prices this year
Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011
A California-based research firm projects Las Vegas home values will slide more than 6 percent in 2011. The report from Clear Capital ranks Las Vegas No. 38 in the nation in home price appreciation, with a projected decline of 6.4 percent.
Commercial real estate vacancy rate holding steady
Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011
The commercial real estate vacancy rate in Las Vegas held steady during the fourth quarter — a sign analysts said signals the worst of the downturn may be over for the retail, office and industrial market.
Developer buys Great Mall of Las Vegas parcel
Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011
The EHB Companies, the developer of One Queensridge Place and Tivoli Village, has bought the 60-acre parcel formerly known as the Great Mall of Las Vegas.
Economic diversification to be looked at from all sides
Monday, Jan. 3, 2011
With Las Vegas’ economy among the worst in the world and studies urging more be done to help future growth, the state’s political leaders are holding a conference before the Nevada Legislature convenes to discuss diversifying the economy.
Experts say housing recovery appears years away
Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011
Las Vegas has been stricken by an unfathomable number of home foreclosures. Most of the surviving homeowners owe more on their homes than they’re worth in today’s marketplace.
A slow-paced rebound for commercial real estate on horizon
Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010
Follow the jobs. That’s the best way to predict the commercial real estate market in Las Vegas, which analysts say will show gradual signs of recovery in 2011.
Marnell Properties’ changes revealed
Friday, Dec. 24, 2010
Brad Schnepf is stepping down as president of Marnell Properties, but he won’t be leaving the building.
Housing market continues slide in Las Vegas
November's sales lowest for month since 2008
Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010
Las Vegas’ housing market deteriorated more in November with no signs of improving in the near future, analysts said. November existing- and new-home sales fell 23 percent from November 2009 and dipped more than expected (7 percent) from October’s sales, according to a report.
Q&A: Rudiger Merz
Friday, Dec. 17, 2010
Rudiger Merz faces a big challenge in this economy.
Southern Nevada’s golf courses are hitting the green
Friday, Dec. 17, 2010
The recession and real estate downturn have taken a toll on golf courses, but the Las Vegas Valley had its first sale since 2007 and more is on the way, according to a local broker.
Marnell Properties president steps down to form company
Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010
Brad Schnepf announced today he’s stepping down as president of Marnell Properties to form his own real estate consulting company.
November foreclosures show big drop from previous month
Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010
Foreclosure filings in Las Vegas and the rest of Nevada dropped significantly in November but continue to outpace the same month last year by more than 20 percent.
Tivoli Village at Queensridge beats the odds, hopes to fill retail niche in western valley
Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
The bad news is that the opening of a 23-acre mixed-use development near Summerlin is about 1 1/2 years behind schedule. But here’s a recession story with good news: The development is moving toward an opening next year in a part of town that some analysts say suffers for too few shops and restaurants.
Foreclosed homes a bane to neighbors in Las Vegas Valley communities
Friday, Dec. 10, 2010
Just how toxic are foreclosures to those homeowners who pay their mortgages?
Tivoli Village bucks trend with cash
Friday, Dec. 10, 2010
Tivoli Village at Queensbridge, the 23-acre mixed-use complex, is expected to be a focal point of the Summerlin area, where analysts say there aren’t enough shops and restaurants to serve the upscale development.
To diversify, Nevada must better educate, community leaders conclude
Friday, Dec. 10, 2010
The people who champion low state taxes as a way to recruit businesses to Nevada are undermining the state’s future by not advocating what businesses really need for success: better schools.
Las Vegas home sales, prices see November gains after recent slide
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010
The slide in home prices and sales in Southern Nevada that raised concerns a month ago about the future of the housing market has halted for now. The Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors reported this morning that November sales of single-family homes rose 6.8 percent over October and that home prices rose 1.4 percent.
Northwest Las Vegas golf club sold for $3.1 million
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010
The Silverstone Golf Club in northwest Las Vegas has been sold by the lender for $3.1 million.
State panel sets limit on HOA fee collections from foreclosures
Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010
A state commission decided Tuesday that homeowners associations will be limited in what their collection companies can charge for late assessments and other fees.
Judge halts state order on HOA collections from foreclosures
Friday, Dec. 3, 2010
A District Court judge today issued a temporary restraining order to prevent a state agency from enforcing an order limiting how much homeowners associations can collect on delinquent foreclosures.
Fox Business Network anchor stirs up controversy
Friday, Dec. 3, 2010
It doesn’t take much these days to stir up political passions on the right and left by mentioning two symbols: President Barack Obama and Fox News Channel.
Christmas tree lots bouncing back?
Friday, Dec. 3, 2010
Even Christmas trees aren’t immune to the Great Recession.
HOA collectors want end to cap on delinquent fees on foreclosures
Friday, Dec. 3, 2010
Three homeowners association collection companies are seeking a temporary restraining order to stop a state agency from, in essence, limiting how much they can collect in delinquent fees on foreclosures.
Nevada leads nation in sale of foreclosure homes
Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010
The percentage of Nevada foreclosure homes sold in the third quarter dipped, but the state still leads the nation in those transactions, according to a report released by California-based RealtyTrac.
UNLV economic growth index falls after two months of gains
Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010
An index that projects Southern Nevada’s economic performance and job growth over the next four months has declined after two months of increases.
Las Vegas economy among worst in the world, report says
City at No. 146 among 150 metro areas in study
Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010
During the years when the global economy and real estate markets were overheating, Las Vegas surged as one of the hottest economies among the world’s largest metropolitan cities, on the strength of the construction and gaming industries.
Businesses may be dealing with more taxes on local level
Friday, Nov. 26, 2010
Nevada businesses face the prospect of new taxes and fees at the local government level as the state tries to deal with its budget shortfall.