Buck Wargo

Story Archive

Habitat for Humanity builds first green homes
Friday, April 30, 2010
The Las Vegas chapter of Habitat for Humanity is going green in a big way.
Las Vegas posts nation's highest metropolitan foreclosure rate
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Las Vegas continued to post the nation’s highest metropolitan foreclosure rate during the first quarter. California-based RealtyTrac said one in 28 housing units received a foreclosure filing in the first quarter, nearly five times the national average.
Analysts say housing prices reflect stabilizing market conditions
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The rate at which prices of Las Vegas area homes dropped eased dramatically in the first quarter of 2010 compared to a year earlier and reflects how the market has stabilized over the last year, analysts said.
Execs: Smith, Ruvo centers to be a boon for downtown
Friday, April 23, 2010
Downtown Las Vegas and Southern Nevada as a whole will receive a boost economically from the Smith Center for the Performing Arts after it opens in 2012 and from the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, according to two executives with those organizations.
Finished residential lots to become hot property in LV
Friday, April 23, 2010
Despite the low level of homebuilding in the past two years, the Las Vegas Valley has an 18-month supply of finished residential lots, according to Colliers International executives.
Which Las Vegas real estate brokerage firm has bragging rights to No. 1?
Friday, April 23, 2010
Who’s No. 1?
Cities say more firms looking at moving here
Friday, April 23, 2010
With the local economy in a deep recession, local governments are dusting off and developing strategies to lure new businesses to Southern Nevada and are calling on the state to do more to help their efforts.
Las Vegas commercial market not out of the woods yet
Friday, April 16, 2010
Las Vegas housing analysts contend the market has hit bottom, but observers of the commercial market say there are several more innings until their game is over.
Developer Juliet remains in building mode
Friday, April 16, 2010
In an environment when most developers are on the sidelines in a market saturated with retail, Juliet Cos. is moving forward, albeit cautiously.
Q&A: Kuba Jewgieniew, CEO of Realty One Group
Friday, April 16, 2010
Kuba Jewgieniew is under the radar even within his own company, and that’s just fine with him.
End of homebuyer tax credit likely to halt rise in sales
Friday, April 16, 2010
The arrival of spring brought out more homebuyers in March with Las Vegas-area sales rising 33 percent over February, but local housing analysts and Realtors fear the expiration of a homebuyer tax credit at the end of April could slow sales in coming months.
Retailers adjusting to local consumer-buying patterns
Friday, April 16, 2010
The slowdown in consumer spending that has driven up retail vacancy rates and brought down rents may also be the remedy for that sector improving, according to a local research firm.
New-home communities take a step back
Friday, April 16, 2010
Las Vegas is losing its edge when it comes to master-planned communities.
Industrial market plagued with rising vacancies
Friday, April 16, 2010
The economic downturn that has shuttered businesses has taken a toll on the Las Vegas industrial market.
Free fall may be over for Las Vegas office sector
Friday, April 16, 2010
Southern Nevada’s office market is showing signs of recovery and has seen the end of the free-fall it experienced in 2008 and 2009, according to a first quarter report from Colliers International.
Las Vegas foreclosure rate increases in March
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The number of foreclosure filings on Nevada homes rose nearly 34 percent in March compared to February, and the delinquency rate for homeowners is also on the rise, according to statistics released by research firms.
Index shows few signs of economic recovery in short-term
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
UNLV economists aren’t optimistic about a quick recovery of the Southern Nevada economy. The Center for Business and Economic Research released its Southern Nevada Index of Leading Economic Indicators, which has remained essentially flat.
Surviving a recession can be hard, but can be done
Friday, April 9, 2010
The Great Recession has been tough on small businesses, especially retailers, but they can overcome the challenges and be successful, according to one of the nation’s leading small-business experts.
Vacant land biggest loser
Friday, April 9, 2010
Vacant land in Southern Nevada took the biggest hit in the 2010-11 tax rolls and industrial space fared the worst among the commercial designations, according to the Clark County assessor’s office.
$12.5 billion in appraised value lost
Friday, April 9, 2010

The 25 largest taxpayers in Clark County lost a combined $12.5 billion in appraised value on their properties in 2010, according to new tax rolls released by the Clark County assessor’s office.
Dallas company assumes some assets of Rhodes Homes
Monday, April 5, 2010
Dallas-based Dunhill Homes today announced that it has launched homebuilding operations in Las Vegas by assuming some of the assets of Rhodes Homes.
Trump gets financing, analysts cheer loan
Friday, April 2, 2010
While the recession continues in Southern Nevada and lenders are leery of loaning money for projects, news that Donald Trump has secured long-term financing for the Trump International has generated some optimism.
State shipping goods, minus gold, overseas in larger amounts
Friday, April 2, 2010
Nevada’s exports were down in January compared with a year ago, but economic development officials said the state has been more resilient than the rest of the country in shipping its goods abroad during the recession.
Retail vacancy rate falls for second straight quarter
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The retail vacancy rate in Las Vegas decreased for the second consecutive quarter in a sign that the retail market may be turning the corner, according to a report from CB Richard Ellis.
Investors swoop in again, but do they bring a stigma?
Instead of flipping homes and inflating values, new absentee buyers eat up excess inventory and fill properties with renters
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Investors are increasing their share of the Las Vegas Valley housing market, renewing the debate about whether that’s good or bad news. Absentee buyers — primarily investors and some second-home buyers from out of state — purchased 45 percent of homes sold in Las Vegas in February, up from 43 percent in January.
Forum Shops remains market leader by tweaking strategy
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Forum Shops maintained its spot as the nation’s top-selling mall by generating sales in 2009 of about $1,400 a square foot, Crampton says. But that number was down from $1,500 a square foot in 2008.
Smith Center aims to bring foot traffic downtown
Friday, March 26, 2010
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts is viewed as a catalyst in the transformation of downtown Las Vegas.
Q&A: Maureen Crampton, marketing director, Forum Shops
Friday, March 26, 2010
Maureen Crampton takes a lot of pride in the success of the Forum Shops at Caesars.
Decreased discretionary spending hurts restaurants
Friday, March 26, 2010
The recession has taken a toll on a lot of retailers, many having closed their doors. Restaurants in Southern Nevada haven’t been immune and are going out of business in greater numbers.
Findlay closing Saturn dealership
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Findlay Automotive Group is shuttering its Saturn dealership March 31 and relocating its Lincoln Mercury dealership to the Valley Auto Mall site in Henderson the following day.
Regulators propose cap on HOA collection fees
Thursday, March 25, 2010
A commission with the authority to regulate collection fees that homeowners associations charge is mulling a cap to prevent collection companies from gouging homebuyers.
Q&A: Dominic Gentile
Attorney, Gordon Silver
Friday, March 19, 2010
Dominic Gentile didn’t want to move to Las Vegas from Houston, but now calls the move one of the best decisions of his life.
Stimulus dollars to cushion construction spending drop
Friday, March 19, 2010
Construction spending in Nevada will drop more than 10 percent in 2010 compared with 2009, but increases in federal stimulus dollars will cushion the decline, according to a construction economist.
Development in valley is on horizon — just not yet
Friday, March 19, 2010
The office vacancy rate may be approaching 25 percent and rental rates are dropping in Las Vegas, but Rick Myers said the construction industry shouldn’t be discouraged about the prospect of building projects.
Builders anticipate economic recovery
Friday, March 19, 2010
The Las Vegas homebuilding industry hopes 2009 was the bottom and 2010 will be the beginning of the recovery.
Las Vegas apartment market still in grip of recession
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Nevada is not only at the top of the list in home foreclosures. The state also leads the nation in the percentage of delinquent loans for apartment complexes.
HOAs suffer during recession
Dispute continues with investors
Friday, March 12, 2010
Foreclosures are taking a toll on some Las Vegas homeowner associations, some of which are closing pools and deferring maintenance as they deal with a drop in revenue.
Recession an opportunity for a new Nevada?
Friday, March 12, 2010
Nevada has a chance to redefine itself during this recession and its future is bright once the national and global economies improve, according to the chief economist for Wells Fargo & Co.
Would-be businesses learn from mentors
Friday, March 12, 2010
It seems like everyone wants to start a small business or be the budding entrepreneur these days — and many point to the economy as the reason.
Apartment owners face tough circumstances
Friday, March 12, 2010
Nevada is not only at the top of the list when it comes to home foreclosures — the state leads the nation in the percentage of delinquent loans for apartment complexes.
February home foreclosures fall sharply in Nevada
Filings down 30 percent statewide compared to the same month last year
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Nationwide, the number of foreclosures filed in February rose 6 percent compared to February 2009, but Nevada bucked that trend with foreclosure filings down 30 percent, according to California-based RealtyTrac.
Las Vegas home sales dip for second month
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Southern Nevada home sales dipped for the second consecutive month as the supply continues to dwindle and foreclosures account for a lower percentage of sales, according to statistics released today by the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors.
Irrigation system new firm’s savior
Friday, March 5, 2010
David Drake knows he picked a heck of a time to launch a business.
Drake started Aqua Management in September 2008 during the Wall Street meltdown and what has become the Great Recession.
Hard-money lenders see an opportunity in Clark County
Friday, March 5, 2010
Hard-money lenders want to capitalize on distress in commercial real estate and the foreclosures that may hit that market.
January's mortgage delinquency rate surpasses 21 percent
Thursday, March 4, 2010
The 90-day mortgage delinquency rate surpassed 21 percent in Las Vegas in January, according to First American CoreLogic.
Index: Southern Nevada economy falls in February
Analysts say local economy won't improve at least through early summer
Friday, Feb. 26, 2010
The UNLV index that measures the Southern Nevada economy fell in February and analysts said that means the local economy won’t be improving at least through early this summer.
$22 million loan soothes Silver State credit union
Friday, Feb. 26, 2010
A cash infusion that channeled $22 million to Silver State Schools Credit Union, Nevada’s largest credit union, has been finalized.
Mike Mixer: Managing partner, Colliers International, Las Vegas
Friday, Feb. 26, 2010
Mike Mixer dreamed of riding the waves on his surfboard while owning his own resort.
Lenders more lax on liquidation
Friday, Feb. 26, 2010
The amount of distressed commercial real estate in Las Vegas is steady and high.
Investors irked by steep HOA fees tied to foreclosure homes
Friday, Feb. 26, 2010
With the foreclosure rate in Las Vegas leading the nation, investors have swooped in to take advantage of bargain home prices.