Las Vegas Real Estate Blog

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Amazing Christmas Gifts Idea...

For many, many years, Christmas has become so materialized. The expectations around the holidays literally bring some people to the brink of depression and suicide... These days more than ever when people are facing with hard reality of troubled economy and housing crisis.

Personalized Christmas presents are much in demand nowadays. They are the hallmark of the person receiving them. More than adults, it is the children who like personalized Christmas presents. Homemade Christmas presents are also liked by a majority of people because of the hard work and love that goes into making them.

It is not about "the gift" but The Gift of Giving. It is the "thought" that counts. It is the "love" that was put into the gift giving. Christmas is in everyone's heart. Christmas is the time of year to share good times with family and friends, it is a time to come together and give to others that are less fortunate and to give to those who we love and cherish in our hearts and in our lives. There are so many ways to give to others without having to feel that you have to shop at Macy*s or some expensive store.

If you have a talent share it with others. Do you play the piano? Offer free piano lessons. Are you good with kids? Offer free babysitting for a day. Are you well organized? Offer to clean someone's house. Do you work on cars? Offer a free oil change. These gifts cost no money to give but could be some of the most well received gifts!

 

  

 
Christmas Decoration
1.Unique Christmas decors and ornaments.

2. A set of cheap teacups and saucers with box of special or herbal tea.

3. Cheap gourmet coffees in a personal coffee cup.

4. Scrapbook or collage of photos.

5. Home-made treats such as cookies and candies arranged in a Christmas-inspired jar.

6. A fruit basket filled with a cheap but wide selection of fruits.

7. A Christmas food basket filled with different cheese and cheap wine.

8. A disposable camera that comes with rolls of film.

9. A basket of fancy chocolate bars beautifully tied with colorful ribbons.

10. Special set of holiday serving bowls, platters, and glasses.

Here are only few ideas I came up with...just a basic of what you can do, but you can have your own.  Take a piece of paper and write down what comes to you your mind. You know better yourself and the recipients of your gifts.
1 comment • Arina S. Hanciulescu • December 16 2007 07:43PM

Real Estate Opportunities investing to WIN!...

With the Canadian dollar closing (Today Exchange rate: 0.9865) just close the US dollars the interest in south of the border real estate have sky rocketed. Take in consideration the staggering increase in foreclosures and decrease in Real Estate prices, and you can see why more than ever the Canadians' are serious about investing in US Real Estate.
Consider that the American housing market is in turmoil and people are being forced to foreclose on their houses because they can no longer afford them.  This housing crunch has put downward pressure on housing prices, making it a great buying opportunity.

Savvy real estate investors know that buying when the housing market is at an all time low makes long term profits even more of a certainty. Combine this with a strong Canadian dollar, the best exchange rate in 36 years, and you have a pretty impressive chance of doing well. All of this combined adds up to a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Primary markets targeted by Canadians' are Florida, Arizona, Nevada where the climate and saturated market are very attractive. The subprime mortgage crisis in the U.S. isn't like to happen up here in the cooler, more fiscally conservative north. The Canadian housing market is not a bubble waiting to burst and owning a home is still a good investment and wealth management strategy, financial experts believe.
Canadians can invest in real estate in several ways - by owning real estate that is their primary residence, owning rental property, land, or investing in real estate company stocks or Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

Las Vegas has been very popular for many years due to the fact that it has been in the top 10 fastest growing city's in America for over 10 years. This means that a huge amount of people are moving here each and every month. Las Vegas is on of Americas best places to invest in Real Estate at the moment even though there is a housing slum. The super saturated housing market in conjunction with the US dollar weakness offers incredible opportunities for international savvy investors.  

1 comment • Arina S. Hanciulescu • December 16 2007 04:16PM

Good news Bad news...housing may be more in demand in 2009

Good news Bad news...housing may be more in demand in 2009



I have a good news and a bad news, which one you want to hear first? Ok, here they are!
It seems there's bad news for the housing market every day: More mortgage resets are coming in the next year, lenders are tightening standards and homes continue to pour onto the market. All point to sinking home values in the near future.

Las Vegas Real Estate market forecast:

Nobody's ready to declare that the Las Vegas housing market has reached bottom, but some real estate experts are convinced the floor is at least being established.

According to the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association report, residential housing market for -2008 - will likely remain soft. But housing market will turn around early 2009 as the major Strip construction projects (set to open in 2009 and 2010) will create a need for thousands of new jobs, which will strongly impact housing availability.

“We commissioned this study because we know Southern Nevada is unique and is subject to different market forces than other cities around the nation," said Irene Porter, executive director of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association. "It is clear there is currently a weakness in our housing market, but the results of the report indicate that we should all start planning ahead to avoid a housing availability crisis."
 

The report is pointing out that compared with the last five years, the next five years will show a decrease in demand for single-family homes, but increased demand for condominiums, townhomes and apartments.

To access a copy of the Applied Analysis report, visit snhba.com and click on Housing Report.
1 comment • Arina S. Hanciulescu • December 16 2007 04:11PM

The truth about Santa Claus... and the spirit of Christmas

The truth about Santa Claus... and the spirit of Christmas

We all know about the the schizophrenic, secular movement that around this time of the year start acting wired initiating all kind of tactics to intimidate, confuse and diminish the spirit of Christmas.

Columnist Frederica Mathewes-Green in Beliefnet.com has offered blunt reasons for why Christian parents should — gently — reject the Santa Claus scenario.

"First, it's a big fat lie," she said. "What kind of an example are you setting here? How stupid are your kids going to feel when they realize they fell for this? What else of what you taught them are they going to doubt?" ... "The Santa myth teaches kids ingratitude. ... They learn that goodies magically appear and don't cost anybody anything. Their role in life is just to open packages and enjoy. It also teaches greed..."

Image courtesy of
St. Nicholas Center

 Can anyone tell me if they've been affected negatively in their life for celebrating the Christmas and believing in Santa Claus?

Scrambling for an alternative, the secular promoters, came up with: Call it the St. Nicholas option.   It is especially easy for believers in Catholic, Orthodox or Anglican churches that emphasize the lives of the saints. The goal is to teach children about the 4th century bishop known as St. Nicholas of Myra, while noting that elements of his story later helped inspire the story of Santa Claus.

The feast of St. Nicholas falls on Dec. 6 and, in parts of the world, remains a day for gift giving and alms for the poor. It is also a good time to discuss the pre-Christmas season of Advent or, in Eastern tradition, Nativity Lent.

Yes, there is a real St. Nicholas. But he is not what Christmas is all about. Playing the St. Nicholas card is simply wrong!

I grow up in Europe where we used to celebrate both : the St. Nicholas on the Dec. 6th and Christmas on Dec.25th. They did not interfere with each other and St. Nicholas never replaced Santa Claus of Christmas. They both were magic and memories of that happy times stays with me forever.

I think that it is time to teach our children the real meaning of Christmas and let them enjoy Santa Claus while they are young... The truth about Santa Claus? What truth? It is the spirit of giving and celebration of new born Christ!
19 comments • Arina S. Hanciulescu • December 13 2007 02:06PM

Life was like a box of chocolates... Who would of expect to get THAT?

 

Celebrating 100,000 points!...with a box of chocolates

If I can do it... Anybody can do it!

 
Here I am... 100,000 points!... Who me?... No WAY!

I have come a long way from the beginning when I wrote my first post on ActiveRain. It all started when I received an invitation from Steve Harless (REALTY WORLD LUXURY HOMES) to join ActiveRain blog. I had no idea what was in store for me. I said to myself: Just an other blog like so many others this days. I logged in, complete the profile, looked around the blogs, went out and forgot about it for a while. 

Few month later, as I was looking to create a "bombshell" blog for my business... needed very badly. While cruising on Google to find that "magic bullet" I came across: webnewsforus.com/blog/activeraincom when hit me. I went back to ActiveRain site and was amazed by the changes I saw on the site since last time.

Felt an instant impulse to start working on that blog and from that day... never looked back! Looking back now I realize what a great experience that was for me. First to be able to meet such a delightful, friendly, professional group of people... I felt in the right place and safe.

And it was not easy, as I am not a good communicator or writer, but I had to go with the flow and get over my shortcomings. Almost no experience in blogging and quite insecure about my ability to communicate.  But all along the way I was encouraged by nice people who made me keep going.
My first comment and association was from: Nima Countrywide Home Loans CT Mortgage CT Mortgage CT First Time Home Buyer FHA (Countrywide Home Loans: CT Mortgage, CT FHA, CT Home Loans)Than others came along:

And so many others (68) great professional people, I can't name all of them here, but to whom I am forever grateful for acknowledging me and considering me important enough to add me to their list of associates.

I have to mention here a wonderful lady: Mary Warren, Las Vegas Real Estate who took me for a speedy ride and made me believe that I can do better. Because of that I changed my "relaxed" attitude, dedicate more time and thoughts to blogging and conquer my insecurity... So here I am today!

If you read this blog is because you are here in this great place and "if you are like me" a little insecure and intimidated by all the "veterans" in our network just: "Don't Be". It is a great place to be, learn and grow.

If I can do it... anybody can do it!

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13 comments • Arina S. Hanciulescu • December 10 2007 09:37PM