Not that I agree with their list, but you might want to check out Lifehacker’s Top 10 Real Estate Links. By way of disclaimer, I do not recommend using Zillow as a serious price comparison tool. First and foremost, it treats foreclosure auctions as equal to sales.  If you see a house that “sold” for 30% less than everything else in the neighborhood 3 months ago, that’s not a sale.  That’s what was owed when the bank took it back!

Tips on real estate listings and fliers are really aimed more at Realtors, but I think Joe and Jane Average can learn from these tips too.

Echelon is paused but not cancelled. Not a problem.  It just pushes some of our growth a little into the future.  Truth be told, that’s probably a good thing in the long run.

As far as economic trends in Vegas, I am reduced to “What He Said!“  We still have jobs being created in Vegas, home sales are up in Vegas, and thousands of new residents still arrive each month.

The Fed Funds Rate is down and mortgage rates are up.  If you are confused about how that works, let me give you the ultra short version:  the Fed does not and cannot control the prime rate or mortgage rates.  Period. What the Fed does control is the interest rate banks charge one another, and the rates banks get when they borrow money directly from the Federal Reserve. To learn more about the Fed, please check out their educational site.

Half of all homeowners are still in denial and think the market value of their home has not gone down. I’m sorry to tell them this, but no matter how nice any particular house is, no matter how fabulous the upgrades, no matter how lovely the renovations, no matter how well the maintenance, housing values are down.

Tomorrow is Nevada Day.  Schools, state offices, and many other things will be closed.  It is, however, your last chance for early voting.  Have a great Nevada Day and a safe Halloween!