Fun Features Found In Foreclosures

Fun Features Found In Foreclosures

June 28th, 2009 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

One of my favorite neighborhoods is Rancho Park. It’s in the NE corner of Rancho and Alta. There’s only one way in off of Rancho at the stop light opposite Rancho Circle.

All the homes in the neighborhood are on 1/3 acre lots(+-). Primarily, they’re “ranch modern”.

This one is a bank owned home. It’s got it’s problems, due to some unprofessional amateur remodelling, but you wouldn’t know it was the same home I photographed if you were to only look at the MLS Pictures.

 

 

The entire back of the house is the infamous Mid Mod wall of glass. The brick island fireplace breaks up the space without ruining it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s definately a party house when someone gets in there to finish it up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s the rest of the master bath room that isn’t in the MLS pictures.

Priced at 200k, for 2500 sf on a 1/3 acre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently No Comments »

Fun Features Found In (pre) Foreclosures

May 14th, 2009 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures

We haven’t had a lot of exciting houses come to market recently, but I am out looking for them everyday.

Today, however, one of my FAVORITE houses in all of Paradise Palms came to market as a short sale.

 

 

 

 

It’s a custom Mid Century Modern two-story that’s been completely done over right.  It has polished black concrete floors, Ikea kitchen, and wrap around indoor outdoor living that’s been meticulously landscaped and well maintained. Here’s the MLS listing with some more pictures, courtesy of Roxanne Miller of Universal Realty.

It’s priced at 247,000, but it’s a short sale, so even if the seller makes a deal, the buyer will have to wait around for a couple of months to find out if the seller’s mortgage company will approve the sale and take less than what they’re owed.

 

 

Last year, we were avoiding short sales like the plague, but this year, things have changed and the banks are actually going along with them. They’re still tedious, nerve-wracking and slow, but we’re seeing lots of them actually get closed this year which is very different than in the past.

I was in love with this house last year when it was priced in the high 400’s.

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 2 Comments »

Fun Features Found In Foreclosures - Mid Century Modern Paradise Palms

April 13th, 2009 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures, Mid Century Modern

You’ll remember this house, because I used the original MLS Picutes for a WMLSPOTD post last week. I also mentioned it in the big rant I did last week, since it went into the MLS as ALREADY UNDER CONTRACT, which really ticked me off. However, it’s back on the market, but offered for cash only, (sorry FHA buyer’s). It’s pretty rough, but not nearly as rough as the Johnny Carson house which is the same design.

 Bill Krisel has personally verified that this is NOT one of the many homes he designed in Paradise Palms, and I’m still trying to find out who the architect was from Irwin Molasky.

It’s ridiculously low priced, even for it’s condition at 119,900.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Johnny Carson House is still available as well, and so is the butterfly roof, Palmer and Krisel on Commanche Circle. All 3 required cash or large down payment buyers, and lots of money to restore them to their former glory.

I know there’s someone out there who’s up to the task. I’d really like these three homes to be restored.

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 2 Comments »

Fun Features Found In Foreclosures

March 19th, 2009 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures, Las Vegas Real Estate News

It’s not a foreclosure or short sale, but it certainly fits into the theme of Fun Features Found In Foreclosures.

I wish this one was in decent enough condition for one of the many FHA buyers who are going to be upset when they can’t have it.

But I’m betting there’s a 20% down conventional or cash buyer who’s waiting in the wings. Come out, come out, where ever you are.

It’s such a redeemable home. But it’s going to take some money (a bunch of money) once you own it. How sweet it will be when it’s done, though!

The suspended hearth, and blue tiled fireplace is really something. It’s surrounded by smoked mirror, which could go immediately.

The other outstanding feature is the curved wall of glass and beamed ceiling family room which over looks the kidney shaped pool.

The pools empty, green, gross and desparately in need of replastering.

The master bedrooms been expanded with a raised platform Jaccuzzi Tub with it’s own wall of windows looking out to the dead landscaping.

There’s also a rock wall 2 sided fireplace to cap off the Master Bedroom.

Those were the good points. Here’s some of why it’s not FHA eligible.

The property is 2419 official square feet, but maybe more. It’s listed at 175k with a note that says “bring all offers -motivated seller”.

If I don’t answer, I’m real good at returning calls promptly.

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 3 Comments »

Fun Features Found In Foreclosures - The Mid Century Modern Neighborhood Of Paradise Palms

February 26th, 2009 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures

We’re back in the Mid Century Modern Paradise Palms Neighborhood again, this week.

Our fun features home is one of my favorite floor plans. This one has had a terrific walk-around brick fireplace added to the huge vaulted ceiling livingroom. There’s also about 40 feet of suspended soffiting for indirect lighting. The entire back of the house is all glass looking out to the National Golf Course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s a room addition at the back of the house, but you’ll have to look at the MLS pictures to see what’s in it. It’s pretty cool.

 

 

 

 

 

The Kitchen has been “Summerlinized”, even thought the tile counters are pretty damn authentic looking. Remember, Mid Century Modern stlye is un-ornamented simple lines, geometric patterns etc.

Raised panel cabinets, arches and tuscan hardware have been popular since the late 80’s, but there are those who argue that it’s awful in a Mid Mod.

The kitchen is in great shape, even if it’s not authentic to the era.  

 

 

 

 

The other great original feature is the step down, sunken tub/shower with the floor to ceiling window to a private little garden area on the side of the house.

The stripper pole makes it easy to step in and out. I’m sure there are other uses for it, as well, but the pole is not original.

 

 

 

 

There’s certainly some flooring work to do, and unfortunately, the cement slab had heaved and ruined the herringbone parquet flooring. The bank pulled out all the carpet in order to show off the terrible repair that was made and subsequently covered over by the carpet.

 

 

The front entry features offset concrete pads to form the walk way, as well as vertical slats to hide the slider from the dining room to the front planter.

 

 

 

 

 

See if you can tell that this is the same home based on the MLS pictures and description. $194,900.

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 2 Comments »

Fun Features Found In Foreclosures - Showcasing The Best Of Mid Century Modern Las Vegas Homes

February 18th, 2009 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures

A reader commented the other day, complaining that I don’t give the addresses of the properties that I find and feature in the Fun Features Found In Foreclosures.

He said:

Why don’t you ever include the addresses or other directly identifying information when you mention these houses?  All it does is make us have to spend 10-20 minutes digging through zillow, realtor.com and sometimes google maps in order to find the houses you mention.

A cynic would say that you are practicing information hoarding, hoping to force people to contact you and thus generate sales leads.  But of course any salesman worth his salt knows that making customers jump through hoops does not endear you to them; that the only way to win long term business is to demonstrate that you best understand their needs and thus can provide better value than the competition.

Except for the MLS SEARCH feature (which has an IDX sharing arrangement when it’s used in an approved search program like the one I use)…..I have to get explicit written permission of the listing agent in order to be allowed to give the address or make it look like my own listing.

 

 

 

 

That’s why all I’m doing is showing interesting features, instead of presenting the whole property as if I had the right to promote it. I’d never thought to give a link to the listing, so I’m thanking our reader for the the suggestion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve never thought of it as “information hoarding” since all anyone ever had to do was ask for an address. I am trying to generate sales leads, and it’s worked pretty successfully as I’ve sold many of the homes that I’ve featured in the FFFF posts. Predominantly, what we have for inventory these days is foreclosures. Most of them are in need of lots of love and care. Many of them are just plain old “old” houses. Those that have great fireplaces, patios, kitchens, colorful bathrooms, etc are worthy of my attention as well as a homebuyer who has the time energy and money to fix them up.

Most of the buyers who choose to work with me, do so because they know I’m just about the only agent in Las Vegas who’s out looking at the inventory everyday, and has a handle on what they’re looking for. I’ve heard the story a thousand times, if once, that “the other agent I talked to looked at me like I was an idiot”.

On the other hand, I have a large readership that could care less about the address, as they just like to see the fun Mid Century Modern features.

So….If you want to know where any given house is, you can spend 20 minutes searching the web to see if you can figure it out. It might not give good results, since most of the listings don’t even show the features that I think ought to be highlighted. Or you could call or email me and I’ll tell you the address. And from now on, I’ll give you a link to the listing. You get info…I stay out of trouble.

The pictures from this post, for example, are from a “CASH ONLY” listing in Rancho Vista. It’s a pretty beat up house, but certainly well worth someones time and energy. . Here’s a link to it on Realtor.com I don’t think that having now seen the pictures that I’ve published here that you’d recognize it at all from the actual listing. (BTW, the front posts should have been featured in the “Pillars and Posts and Columns” series that we did last year) 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 6 Comments »

Fun Features Found In Foreclosures - The Mid Century Modern Neighborhood Of Paradise Palms

February 9th, 2009 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures, Mid Century Modern, Paradise Palms

A new bank owned listing in the Mid Century Modern Paradise Palms neighborhood still sports the original floating hearth fireplace, clerestory windows and shadow block accent wall. There’s been a lot of additions added to the house, but the original floorplan is still intact.

It’s 2700 sf on the National Golf Course for a mere $244,000.

 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 4 Comments »

Paradise Palms - An Historic Mid Century Modern Neighborhood In Las Vegas

January 21st, 2009 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures, Paradise Palms

Here’s the other best deal in Paradise Palms (Besides the “Johnny Carson” house that is). 4000 sf on the National Golf Course.

It’s 5 bedrooms and 4 baths with a 3 car garage.

 

 

 

 

 

The Bank is GIVING AWAY this Mid Century Modern Home in the historic Las Vegas neighborhood of Paradise Palms. 

They put a list price of $238,900 on it. They’ll either get lots of offers, and the price will get bid up, or someone’s going to get a winning lottery ticket on it.

 

 

  

I currently don’t have ANYONE looking for a house that big, but if you are, then you ought to call me right away. I’m guessing the window of opportunity on this one will close quickly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 1 Comment »

Fun Features Found In Foreclosures…And Rentals…And Estate Sales

January 20th, 2009 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures

Frank ended up buying this great swag lamp (and the McNeil house where we found it). It wasn’t even on the market yet.

I’d attended an estate sale there, and just knew it was the perfect home for him.

If you know of a great home in any of the Vintage Vegas neighborhoods that isn’t on the market yet….Please have the owner call me. I probably already know the right buyer for it.

 

 

 

We found this terrific railing in a McNeil Trilevel that same day. It was the only thing worth taking a picture of, as it’s a huge home that’s half remodeled in a bad Home Depot sort of way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of great railings…. This is from the Robert Maheu home in Paradise Palms (next to the Casino House). For Lease at $2495 a month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So is this one piece Terrazzo Tub. I’ve never seen one like it. Obviously, it was hand poured in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this sunken bathtub with it’s garden window is in the “Johnny Carson Home” that I told you about the other day.

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t know why I forgot to include this shot. The whole house is in equivalent state of neglect and disrepair, but it’s one of the most architecturally important homes of Paradise Palms.

I’m anxiously looking for someone with LOTS of money that wants to take on a SERIOUS project home. I need someone who can make it back into the Mid Mod showplace that it was when I first saw it 20 years ago. Know someone? Give me a call.

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 1 Comment »

Fun Features Found In Foreclosures - A Retro Mid Mod Pink Bathroom (Part 2)

January 14th, 2009 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures

Well it’s definitely NOT a mid mod. It’s actually one of the very few “Cap Cod” styled homes in all of Las Vegas. This one is totally out of character for the Mid Mod RANCH neighborhood of McNeil.

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, I showed you the pink bathroom sink and floating vanity in the downstairs bathroom. Today we can see the rest of this unusual home.

However, I did write an offer for the clients that I was showing it to, so until that deal is finished negotiating, it’s off the table as far as I’m concerned. But that doesn’t mean you won’t get a kick out of the pictures.

 

Are there any windmill artisans in Las Vegas? We’ll be needing one for the top of the cupola. Click on the pictures to see them full sized. The scalloped siding is in character with the cape cod design.

 

 

The chambers hood vent is brushed aluminum, with push button controls. The backsplash is in white one inch ceramics that are showing up once again in retro bathrooms and kitchens all over VeryVintageVegas.

 

 

The kitchen cabinets are “kitchen maid” with metal drawers. 2 of them still have their original labels.

“your Kitchen Maid cabinets are fine furniture and should be treated as such”

 

The garage used to be a totally detached structure. The neighbor that I spoke to remembers that the shorter part of the house (between the house and the garage) was added in the 70’s. This is the back of that add-on from inside and from the far end of the yard.

 

 

The fireplace, chair rail and parquet flooring are all retro back to the 1800’s. Retro Mid Mod Homes date back only to the 1950’s and 60’s and would have had a full wall fireplace of natural stone or masonry. Chair rails and  crown moldings were NOT used in Mid Mod because Mid Mod was all about clean lines.  

 

Currently, the property is pretty run down, and will require a LOT of cosmetic restoration. As much as I’m a fan of xeroscape, it’s totally wrong on a cape cod home. Hopefully we’ll see this restored to it’s former glory.

The video below is my VERY FIRST EVER attempt at walking and filming and talking at the same time. If any of you have a suggestion as to where I can take some beginner videography lessons, suggest away.  

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 5 Comments »

Fun Features Found In Foreclosures - A Retro Mid Mod Pink Bathroom In Las Vegas

January 13th, 2009 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures, Mid Century Modern

I’m going back to see the house (which is absolutely not Mid Mod) this afternoon. I got there after dark, and showed it with a flashlight, and just about spit out my teeth when I found this retro pink bathroom vanity. It’s as out of character for the house as the house is out of character for the neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve never seen this pink mid mod sink before – anywhere. The stilleto heel legs and gold inlaid lines on the suspended vanity are killer enough, but the double wide sink itself is amazing. 

I clicked over to Retro Renovation because I was sure Pam was going to want to add this one to the Save The Pink Bathrooms Collection. But, alas, someone else beat me to it.

The house itself is so out of character for Las Vegas that it deserves it’s own post, so I’ll be photographing it for you today. Here’s a hint: The wallpaper is right for the house. Watch for it.

 

 

UPDATE: Pam commented (see the comments – and leave one yourself) giving us a link to an American Standard Advertisement from 1959 for this same sink and vanity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 3 Comments »

Fun Features Found in Foreclosures - The Best Deals Are Retro, Vintage and Classic Homes In The Historic Neighborhoods Of Las Vegas

January 4th, 2009 Categories: Alta Rancho Historic District, Fun Features Found In Foreclosures

There’s a doozy of  bank owned REO (real estate owned) foreclosure property in the Alta Rancho Historic Neighborhood. It came on the market the other day for $232,750.12. Actually, I’m just kidding about the twelve cents.

The MLS Pictures aren’t bad, but they left this shot out. I think it’s worthy of being shown, as it’s the centerpiece for this classic home in an historic neighborhood of Las Vegas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/2 Acre Lots In Historic Neighborhoods are hard to come by at this price. I’ve said it before….The banks are just giving away the foreclosure homes for the sake of getting rid of them.

 

 

 

A 1000sf+- garage/storage/workshop/studio?

I know there’s one of the artists out there that could REALLY produce with a shop like this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink Bathrooms?

 

There’s plenty here that needs polishing, but it’s not trashed, bombed out or ever been re-muddled.

 

 

What more could you want?

 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 1 Comment »

Fun Features Found in Foreclosures - A Retro Mid Mod In Paradise Palms

December 30th, 2008 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures, Mid Century Modern

Paradise Palms is a great place to see many of the decorative concrete block patterns that we showcased all last summer.

Most of the Mid Century Modern (or mid mod for short) bones are still here, even if the brand new kitchen’s all granite and suburban update.

Bank owned, pretty clean as they go and only 123,900

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 2 Comments »

Fun Features Found In Foreclosures

December 28th, 2008 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures, Las Vegas Real Estate News

There’s a lot of really fun home homes out there in our inventory. This one is from Rancho Park, at Alta and Rancho Drive.

It’s not in bad shape at all, and it’s not really a foreclosure, it’s just priced as if it was.

The original “pink bathrooms” which happen to be salmon colored in one and yellow in the other are in great shape, and so is the kitchen.

I love the jigsaw slate entry, front door and stone fireplace with matching planters.

3000 sf, 15000 sf lot with pool for 300,000.

A hundred dollars a square foot (give or take a small few) seems to be the new magic number.

Liveable, decent homes are down to 100 a foot. The worse the condition, the further down that number goes, as I was saying the other day.

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 3 Comments »

Fun Features Found In Foreclosures - The Mid Century Modern Neighborhood Of Paradise Palms

December 11th, 2008 Categories: Fun Features Found In Foreclosures, Paradise Palms

We haven’t visited Paradise Palms in a while. I found a very interesting property that’s needlessly being ignored. It’s bank owned at 227,900.  

There’s fun stuff going on all over this home, but it’s currently the beigest home I’ve ever seen.

 

 

 

 

The slumpstone walls accent the the inside as well as the outside. This is the front courtyard entry.

The front door would be killer in bright red, but alas, it’s beige. I can help you remove the shutters before you start crying. I’m surprised they’re not beige. It must be just the primer coat. 

 

 

 

 

There’s slumpstone walls in almost every room. Of course, need I say it….they’re beige.

This one is a free standing divider wall at the foot of the stairs.

There’s a terrific full wall fireplace in the family room that’s faced with the same slumpstone.

Did I mention that it’s beige?

 

 

 

Hooray! I found something that wasn’t beige!

Fortunately, green pools can be changed as easily as all the rest of it can be painted.

But the free form pool with the curved walls…..need I say more?

You’ll never any of this by looking at pictures on the MLS. There’s only 2 pictures and based on them, you wouldn’t even guess it’s the same home.

 

No one else seems to know that this home is even on the market. That’s one of the many reasons you’ll need a full time Realtor who’s as passionate about Vintage Las Vegas as you are. (That’s me, BTW).

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 7 Comments »

« Previous Entries