Very Vintage Vegas

Some Screw-ups Can Easily Be Fixed And It’s Even Easier To Avoid Them In Your Classic Las Vegas Home

May 31st, 2008 Categories: Home Repair and Remodel, Mid Century Modern

One of the primary goals of VeryVintageVegas is to educate. Not a lot of what they sell at Lowes/Depot is appropriate for the style, design and architecture of the 40’s 50’s and 60’s homes that we promote.

A molding that might look good out in Slumberlin won’t work so well with a sleek streamlined mid mod home. This is as good of an example as any.

Beige on Beige isn’t exactly what Frank Lloyd Wright had in mind, either.

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Mid Century Modern Sunscreens Found in Las Vegas – Pattern #40

May 31st, 2008 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News

I like this one a lot. It doesn’t have any hidden designs.

It’s fairly common and can be found downtown, in Paradise Palms, Francisco Park and Glen Heather. I’m sure it in other neighborhoods as well.

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Worst MLS Photo Of The Day – More Of “Just Missed It By That Much”

May 31st, 2008 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News

I think we’re supposed to look at the fireplace, and the coffered ceilings.

Unfortunately, I just can’t take my eyes off the purse or car battery or lunch box or whatever that is that’s sitting on the floor.

No, it’s not as bad as a sink full of dirty dishes, but…that’s why it’s funny instead of shocking.

The only thing worse than a bad picture is NO PICTURES AT ALL!

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The Underwriter “Forgot” To Ask For The….

May 30th, 2008 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News, Market Conditions, Mortgage

The underwriter leaned back in her chair. Her thoughts weren’t on the stack of files in front of her. She was worried about losing her home. She bought it two years ago, you see. In July, as a matter of fact.

Back then, everyone you talked to was an expert on Real Estate.  Many of them even had a real estate license. Some actually were experts.  Some were just real experienced, and some had gotten their license a few months before to make some easy bucks helping their parents buy two or 3 “investment flips” with their home equity loan against the house in California. There was NO DISCUSSION going on anywhere about what happens if the “bubble bursts”.

It wasn’t hard to find someone whose cousin’s friend’s brother made a killing with a house flip. He bought it in the beginning of 2005 and sold it 6 or 8 months later, with a pretty hundred grand profit. It was a funny story because it was true. It was humorous to think about a house getting multiple offers on the first day of the listing. We heard a story such as that just about every single day.  

Our underwriter…remember her? Her rate adjusts next month. Business hasn’t been so good lately, and they’ve cut her hours. When she bought said house, she was lucky enough to be the high bidder. There were either 5 or 6 people competing with her. It only cost her $14,000 over the list price. That was a bargain. She’d heard of people paying 20 or 30,000 dollars more than the seller wanted. And to think, she didn’t have to put up any money upfront!

She’s in the mortgage business. She’s the one who gets the final say so over whether someone gets a loan or not. She’s not dumb. Things haven’t quite worked out the way she planned it two years ago.

Her sister, the waitress with a real estate license, hasn’t sold a house since she sold the house in question to our underwriter. The waitress/realtor told her that her house wasn’t worth enough to be able to refinance, now-a-days. Bummer. She’s been trying to get some underwriter at some mortgage company somewhere to make her a new loan. It’s not happening, and she’s scared. She knows why. She’s an underwriter, after all.

SHE’S ALSO VERY ANGRY, and feels so helpless. She wants a way to get even. She wants to get back at the world for being so cruel to her and her family.

The slap on the head idea came in an instant. A little inner voice caused the following plan to get launched:

I’ve got a dozen files on my desk that I have to look at today. Screw them all!

“I’ll nip pick every single letter of every single word of every piece of paper in those files.

“I’ll question everything! I’ll make the buyer and loan officers write up explanation letters about that 128 dollar deposit in their checking account 4 months ago.”

“I’ll find dozens of things in this dozen files that I can play mean about.” 

“I’ll make the realtors draw up addendums and make them run around getting them signed by all parties stating that:

“the pillow shams and bed spread that match the bedroom carpet and drapes are OF NO VALUE TO THE SELLER, and the fact that they are left at the property does not constitute a contribution by the seller towards the buyer’s closing costs. Furthermore, All prior references to said bedspread and pillow shams in the original offer as well as all subsequent counter offers and addendums are hereby nullified”.

“I’ll tell my assistant to tell the loan processor to tell the loan officer to tell the realtors who will then tell the buyers and sellers and moving companies and escrow officers and utility companies that the file is “NEXT IN LINE TO BE THE TOP FOLDER ON MY DESK”. In reality, I’m going to have my assistant start that rumor about each of those stupid dozen files that are on my desk

I’m going to lie to them and keep them dangling. I’m going to make them all pay for the misery I’m going thru. I’m going to PROMISE that I will respond to something before I go to lunch. I’ll remember it on my way home from work.

“That oughta teach’m!” our darling underwriter said to herself as she sat up straight and got back to work. She grabbed the next folder in the stack…. 

The Realtor who’s folder she grabbed was up late one evening. He was just typing his little heart out while pondering why this file hasn’t come out of underwriting yet. They’ve met every stupid little condition after ridiculous stipulation. All the BIG IMPORTANT THINGS were taken care of weeks ago. Big important things such as great income, excellent credit, 20%down payment, job security, excellent savings beyond what was needed to buy a home. The Appraisal. Those kinds of things.  We keep giving and giving. And waiting and waiting. And our f#*%%@ underwriter keeps stalling and stalling. If we don’t get an answer in the morning, no one has quite figured out what to do with the furniture. It’s on a truck on its way to Las Vegas.

He thinks to himself, How could this be happening? Why? Why? Why?

Maybe our Realtor let his imagination get away from him a little. But he’s willing to make a bet he’s not far off.  He can’t think of any better way to exlain it.

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YES, The Listing Says: Gorgeous Granite Counters In Master Bathroom

May 30th, 2008 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News

Actually the listing just says: 

Bank owned. As Is.   Buyer to pay all Sellers normal closing costs. Your agents commission might be reduced if you make an offer that’s too low. Everyone has to share the pain. Buyer Beware. Buyer to waive all  rights regarding statutorily mandated disclosures. .

I almost forgot to tell you about the granite counters in the master bathroom.

If you keep reading today’s other post you’ll know why I’m so testy today.

Who ever did this home over used left over materials from several other homes or offices.

Don’t do this when its your turn to do over a home or a bathroom. Duh!

These pictures were taken on the fly. The buyers I was with were dragging me out.

I’m still looking for a name for this series. Any suggestions?

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Worst MLS Photo Of The Day – It’s That One Little Detail That Will Bite You

May 30th, 2008 Categories: Worst MLS Photo

Another almost got it right Kodak moment.

The only thing worse than a bad picture is NO PICTURES AT ALL!

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Mid Century Modern Will Never Die – It Just Reinvents Itself In Las Vegas

May 29th, 2008 Categories: Mid Century Modern, The Las Vegas Strip

Thanks to Brian Paco Alvarez for reminding me that I need to check in at Vegas Today and Tommorow more often.

The Fountainbleau hotel which is under construction just north of the Riviera seems to be a magnificent homage to the mid centruy modernism that we write about so often. Check out all the various renderings on their Fountainbleau post.

There’s plenty more to see.

My first trip to Miami when I was 10 years old was for my cousins wedding. The reception was at the Fountainbleu on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. Modernism was in it’s heyday, and I fell in love with so much of the architecture of the 50’s and 60’s on that trip, (as well as the Art Deco of the 20’s and 30’s in what later came to be known as South Beach.

quoting from VTT:

Fontainebleau sales center is getting a MiMo treatment. Random round holes in the triangular Porte Cochére supports are reminiscent of 50′s-era Miami style. This is a big clue as to what we can expect in the resort. Photo 3/1/08 by Aaron Auxier

Personally, I’m not a big fan of “MiMO” as a moniker for Mid Century Modern. I prefer “Mid Mod”. But I am a big fan of VegasTodayAndTomorrow.

UPDATE 5/30/08 Brian Paco Alvarez tells me that the meaning of “MiMO” as used in the post was a short cut for “miami modern”, instead of “mid mod”. It’s obviously gets more usage in Miami than in Vegas. The famous original Fountainbleau being in Miami would account for it.

I’m ALWAYS learning, and always happy to pass on what I learn. Thanks Paco.

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Screw Ups That Hurt The Value Of A Home

May 29th, 2008 Categories: Home Repair and Remodel

I’ve got more than plenty of pictures of things that people do to their homes that really turn off potential buyers, or that just look wrong, or that are totally out of character for the architecture or the theme of a home.

Yes, I’m poking fun, but there’s also a good lesson to be learned from these.

Our First example is really one of my pet peeves. In general, I hate it when flooring changes from one solid material to another without some sort of transition. It’s certainly ok when the tile or stone stops and the carpet begins, but 2 different solid surfaces abutting each other doesn’t work.

In this case, the travertine is beautiful in general, but it was laid at two different times over the years.

There’s a great deal of difference between the two different batches of travertine. It’s normal for there to be slight variation when using natural stone when it’s all from the same batch, but in this case, the difference between the two batches  is much too obvious.

But the worst thing is that entry way is laid out differently than the room it leads to. Instead of causing the eye to consider it a much bigger area, the eye is forced to stop and it chops the space in two.

I’ve shown this bank owned repo to 2 different people, and both of them thought were turned off before we got 10 feet into the home. The yard full of  dead lawn and weeds and the green swimming pool didn’t help either.

I’ll save the granite bathroom counter top for another day during this new series.

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Mid Century Modern Homes And The Concrete Block Sun Screens Of Las Vegas – An Exclusive Series At VeryVintageVegas.com

May 29th, 2008 Categories: Decorative Concrete Block Designs, Mid Century Modern

Pattern 39 is also a one of a kind, unless someone else can find it on another property. This one is at the corner of Maryland Parkway and Vegas Valley.

I’m going to miss doing these when wer’re done about 10 days from now.

But wait! There’s going to be a bonus treat when I’ve shown you all the patterns.

I’ve got a folder full of walls and fences with mismatched patterns that just screw up the whole concept.

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Worst MLS Photo Of The Day – Another Just Missed It Moment

May 29th, 2008 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News

10 Seconds after they moved the shoes and the power cord, they’d have had a great picture.

The only thing worse than a bad picture is NO PICTURES AT ALL!

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Farmer’s Market This Saturday At Winchester Cultural Center

May 28th, 2008 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News

I don’t ever remember a farmer’s market in Vintage Vegas. I know there’s one out in Slumberlin, but this will be a first that I know of.

The Winchester culteral Center is a Clark County Park just north of Desert Inn Road on McLeod Ave. There’s also an urban forest, a skateboard park, art gallery, meeting rooms and lots of other great facilities.

Saturday, MAY 31 from 10am till 2pm.

The flyer is clickable if you want to read it full sized.

Besides the fresh fruits and vegetables, there will be music by The Guitar Society of Las Vegas, Chef Timothy Felc of Masterpiece Cuisine will be preparing fried green tomatos, Master Gardern Don Fabbi from the UNR Coopertive Extension will be there to answer questions, Delores Nast will be showing her paintings in the gallery, and of course you can bring your skateboard and crutches.

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Even Churches Have Concrete Block Stone Screens In Las Vegas

May 28th, 2008 Categories: Decorative Concrete Block Designs, Mid Century Modern

Pattern Number 38 in our series is extremely rare. I only know of it in one place!

Of course, putting a chainlink fence up immediately behind it was such a smart thing to do.

It’s located along Eastern Avenue just south of Flamingo. It’s at the Catholic Church School, and it gets 50,000 drive by sightings a day. 49,999 of them probably never noticed.

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Worst MLS Photo Of The Day – How Much Is That Doggie In the Picture?

May 28th, 2008 Categories: Worst MLS Photo

Another “missed it by that much” moment.

1 step closer, and they’d have had a great shot. Cropping it could have done it also.

The only thing worse than a bad picture is NO PICTURES AT ALL!

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 2 Comments »

VeryVintageVegas Makes It Into The Top 50 At BlogTopSites

May 27th, 2008 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News

All that SEO crap I’ve had to do and have complained about has been doing it’s job.

This weekend we managed to move to #49 in the rankings of Real Estate Blogs NATIONWIDE!

I want to thank each and everyone of you for your part.

The rankings are based on Unique Visits. You can go to VeryVintageVegas.com a hundred times a day if you want, but it only counts as 1 unique visitor. Yes, they know who you are (at least by IP address).

Of course,  if each of you would check in every day instead of every other day, or twice a week instead of once a week, or twice a month instead of once a month —VeryVintageVegas could easily become the number one Las Vegas Real Estate Blog in no time. (You’re welcome, Bill, for the Link Love)

According to the Real Estate Tomato, who taught me how to do all that stupid SEO (search engine Optimization) stuff, BlogTopSites is the only tracking service that counts amoung the serious bloggers of the nation. The top 50 are on their page one, and this is the first time we’ve been there. There’s a lot of great blog reading there, and you can get to the list by clicking on the little BlogTopSites widget thingies at the bottom of the left column.

Thanks again for your help, your loyalty, and for being enthusiastic about the same things that get me all excited. Audience Participation is always welcome, and you can comment on any of these posts by using the “comments” link at the bottom of each.

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More About The Liberace Townhouse That’s For Sale In Forest Hills

May 26th, 2008 Categories: Forest Hills, Las Vegas History, OUR LISTINGS

All the pictures are now posted in the Featured Properties Section in the left Column. What I didn’t tell you on Friday was that it’s priced at only $280,000. I have a feeling from some of the comments, that you expected a much bigger price tag than that. Sorry if I misled you.

Forest Hills is one of the hidden treasures of Vintage Vegas. That’s were Susan from Spokane will be moving into next week once we get her deal closed. She bought a stunning 1 story townhome, partly because of the community landscape with it’s giant trees, and hanging shrubbery.  

There’s 2300 sf of gorgeous living space. All the furnishings can be bought separately. The Tiki themed patio is one of the largest in the complex, and it’s right beside the community pool and spa.

I don’t want you to get the impression that it’s ALL about the Stained Glass Mural. It’s also about the piano shaped platform for the baby grand piano, and the sunken tub under the mirrored ceiling and chandelier in the master bathroom. It’s about the formal dining room that could seat 12, and the stone fireplace which is bordered by more stained glass windows.

It’s about affordable elegance that I can’t duplicate for you anywhere else in Vintage Vegas. 

 I’ll let the rest of the pictures do the rest of the talking. Take a look.

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