Housing News

City puts lien on Summerlin house for cost of hoarding cleanup: Wednesday, February 20, 2013; By Conor Shine; A Las Vegas man who filled his home with tons of garbage, dozens of animals and other hoarded objects won’t be able to sell his house without first paying off a six-figure cleanup bill to the city.

County to study easing rules to allow vacation home rentals: Wednesday, February 20, 2013; Majority of commissioners still wary, want to avoid proliferation of party houses; By Conor Shine; Short-term vacation rentals are currently outlawed in residential areas in unincorporated Clark County, but that could be changing.

UNLV students prepare to build competition-ready 'net-zero' house: Thursday, February 14, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; After more than a year of design drafts, a group of bright UNLV students is ready to break ground on a fully functioning house powered exclusively by the sun. In January 2012, UNLV was selected to participate in the Solar Decathlon, a biennial competition that challenges 20 collegiate teams from around the world to design and construct a solar-powered house. It's a pertinent challenge for a desert city like Las Vegas, where sunshine is abundant, natural energy resources are scarce and smog checks and air-quality warnings are ubiquitous.

Nevada foreclosure rate remains second worst in nation: Wednesday, February 13, 2013; By Eli Segall; Nevada’s foreclosure rate remained the second worst in the country last month, despite a continued drop in volume. One in every 344 housing units in Nevada had a foreclosure-related filing in January.

Nevada still has among worst mortgage delinquency rates: Tuesday, February 12, 2013; By Eli Segall; Nevada’s mortgage delinquency rate improved last year but remains one of the worst in the country, a new report shows. Nevada had the second-highest delinquency rate — 10.45 percent — in the country in the three months ending Dec. 31, according to TransUnion.

Median home prices experience largest year-over-year increase in nine years: Friday, February 8, 2013; Real estate:; By Eli Segall; Southern Nevada’s housing market began 2013 with mixed results last month, with rising prices, shrinking inventory and an uptick in nondistressed sales.

Three Las Vegas-area communities in top 15 for home sales: Monday, February 4, 2013; By Eli Segall; Three Las Vegas Valley master-planned communities were in the top 15 nationwide for sales last year, research reports say.

Las Vegas one of the worst areas to buy bank-owned home, report says: Wednesday, January 30, 2013; real estate:; By Eli Segall; If you’re hunting for a deal on a bank-owned house, don’t bother looking in Las Vegas. The valley is expected to be one of the worst regions in America to buy a foreclosed home this year, according to a new report from RealtyTrac. The research firm ranked Las Vegas fourth from the bottom. The valley has only seven months worth of foreclosure inventory and a 17 percent price discount, says RealtyTrac.

Nevada Realtors seek change in 'robosigning' law to free up home inventory: Thursday, January 24, 2013; Real estate:; By Eli Segall; A real estate lobbying group wants Nevada lawmakers to tweak the state's "robosigning" law and get more abandoned properties back up for sale.

Report: Las Vegas housing market improved, but long way to go: Monday, January 21, 2013; By Eli Segall; The Las Vegas housing market improved last year, but the road to full recovery remains a long one, a new report says.

Buying a home? Beware of the not-so-short sale: Friday, January 18, 2013; A short sale may save the buyer money, but be prepared for hair-pulling frustrations; By John Taylor; No one could have prepared us for the hair-pulling frustrations of trying to buy a house in the Las Vegas marketplace. This is our cautionary tale for those of you who are thinking of pursuing a short sale. For starters, forget the word “short.” There was nothing short about it.

Las Vegas lawyer pleads to mortgage fraud scheme in valley: Monday, January 14, 2013; By Jackie Valley; A Las Vegas lawyer pleaded guilty to his involvement in a mortgage fraud scheme that cost banks and other federally insured institutions $30 million, Nevada’s U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden announced today.

Report: Only 18 percent of Las Vegans own their homes outright: Wednesday, January 9, 2013; By Eli Segall; A city where many homeowners are deep underwater, Las Vegas also has one of the lowest rates in the country of residents who own their homes free and clear.

Las Vegas home prices end 2012 up 24 percent: Tuesday, January 8, 2013; By Eli Segall; Las Vegas home prices had a strong finish to 2012 as the valley posted one of the best sales years ever. The median price of Las Vegas Valley single-family homes sold in December was $149,000.

Posh pads: The priciest Las Vegas home sales of 2012: Tuesday, January 1, 2013; REAL ESTATE:; By Eli Segall; The Las Vegas housing market had a strong year in 2012 with increased sales and rising prices. Here are some of the most expensive homes sold.