LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

 

Hello Readers,

It is a pleasure to be with you again after returning from my family holiday in the South of France visiting my in-laws and exploring one of the most beautiful parts of the world to me. Airline travel is certainly not fun anymore with the waiting, and the lack of amenities and customer service. Quite frankly, it was grueling and unpleasant at best.

Upon returning from an almost 24-hour journey port-to-port I was happy to be home, even without the two pieces of our luggage that Delta lost. (In all fairness, one has returned so far, but unfortunately it was not mine—it was my husband’s who packed like he was going away for the weekend instead of several weeks.) Once home, I began to settle in and review my mail. Among the junk mail and bills to pay there were also letters of increased rates from service providers and letters of company closings due to the economic downturn—including my gym, with whom I have many prepaid training sessions remaining.

My holiday feeling started to slip away ever so quickly until I saw this sign at a local pet store that I was passing: “Staying in Business Sale.” I laughed aloud. I love this sign! If we don’t keep our sense of humor among all the bad news, we will turn into a darker version of ourselves. If we all do that, can you picture what it would be like? So, I would like to offer a challenge to fight the bad mood, release the sarcasm, let go of the discouraged attitude and the anger and LAUGH. Yes, LAUGH. At yourself and others that don’t know the challenge. It is freeing. People might think you are crazy but that’s ok—it will make you feel better.

One of my favorite sayings is, “The mind is best used like a parachute—OPEN.” I tried to remember this with the slow creeping in of my dark outlook and thought it could be used with attitude as well. Keep it light and open when confronted with the daily mishaps, the ever-rising temperature that could bake a cake on your driveway, lack of consideration of others and even the discomforts and tribulations of traveling. Address it with a smile and an open heart, and if you can, laugh.

Now this challenge is for my benefit as well while I await Delta’s call that they found my luggage with all my best clothes, jewelry and more in it. Ha!—I taunt that frustrated angry feeling of no control over getting my things back, a feeling that has made me review my attachment to material things. Ha! I tease that vision that I have of some New York drug pusher wearing my jewelry. Ha! Ha! Ha! I giggle at the burns I have received from the metal bits in my car after leaving my automobile for 10 minutes in the heat of the day. Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha! I feel better.

I want to personally and openly thank the fabulous team at E RealEstateExec for taking the reins while I was on my vacation. They are an amazing group of professionals. A special thanks to my partner Rebecca Ragland and editor in chief, Tiffany Pace for their hard work and supportive, positive attitude. Also, a special thank you goes to Christine Norrbom for running the best concierge service around and for taking care of so many things while I was away. She is featured in our July Lifestyle article and is so good that I did not worry at all about anything that she handled for me.

On a more serious note, I would like to express my sympathy for the loss of Brenda Calvin’s (our Vertical Update writer and friend) mother. I am not a big fan of the word sympathy, and knowing Brenda that is not what she would want. However, it is a word most prominently used in these situations. Having someone you love pass is difficult because of the loss you feel, even though you may know they are passing on to a better place or realm (if that is your belief system). So, I would like to express my love and affection for Brenda and support of her friendship.

Now, here is what my amazing team has prepared for you this month. Enjoy!

In our August National article, Michelle Savage writes about the resources that are available to homeowners facing foreclosure and eviction. While most of us are aware of some of the options that are out there, it’s important to know exactly where to refer your clients who find themselves in this difficult situation. As an agent, anything you can do to relieve some of the complication and confusion will go a long way to help. Get the information your clients need in “Foreclosure Resources Guide,” online now.

As the voting season ramps up and the primary elections draw near, we sit down with Kipp Cooper of the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS®. Kipp is also responsible for the Board of REALTORS® Political Action Committee (BORPAC), an organization that interviews political candidates and determines which ones will provide the best support of the Real Estate industry. Read more about Kipp and BORPAC in Doug Shields’ article, “How the Real Estate Industry Flexes Its Political Muscle.”

Our August Profile 1, Brandi Cancellieri of Realty One Group, has been a REALTOR® in Las Vegas for 30 years, and she has seen great changes in our valley in that time. Her extensive experience in this market and her teamwork approach to the business give her an edge that serves her clients well. Balancing family and hobbies with her career, Brandi enjoys a full and busy life; read all about her in Cathie C. Hulen’s article, “Teaming with Clients.”

Also a longtime resident of Las Vegas, Kathleen “Kat” Ray of Subdivision Sales, Inc. is the subject of our Profile 2. Kat has lived in the Valley for 20 years and started her own business, Subdivision Sales, Inc., a Real Estate brokerage that provides marketing services, feasibility services, sales and sales management to builders, developers and investors around the globe. In Cathie C. Hulen’s article “A Vision for the Business,” you can read more about Kat and her many business endeavors.

The mayors of Los Angeles and San Francisco have launched a battle to become the greenest city in the country. Not to be outdone, Las Vegas is doing its part to keep up in this race. And while the three cities differ greatly in landscape as well as population, all three have unique opportunities in the drive toward sustainability. Read more in Doug Shields’ Beyond Green article, “Las Vegas Takes on California Rivals for the Green Trophy.”

In our August Urban Update article, “Cultivating Culture: Las Vegas Goes World-Class,” Cathie C. Hulen writes about the Smith Center for the Performing Arts and how it will affect the landscape of downtown Las Vegas. The article discusses the funding and construction of the Center, as well as the many purposes it will serve, from housing the Nevada Ballet Theatre and Las Vegas Philharmonic, to providing cultural opportunities for local schoolchildren.

Our August Lifestyle article profiles a place you can go to relax and unwind with a great book—and treat yourself to something sweet as well. Cheesecake and Crime, Inc. is a local bookstore specializing in crime and mystery novels, and of course, cheesecake. Founded by Pamela Mains and her husband Lendell, it is truly a gem to be discovered. Read all about how the business got its start in Rita Templeton’s article “Cheesecake to Die for.”

The foreclosure market has proven to be a unique challenge for many REALTORS®, but if you know how to take advantage of opportunities, it can be a lucrative market as well. In his Legal Notes article, “New Opportunities in the Foreclosure Market,” John Benedict discusses techniques agents can use to funnel business their way in a time-effective manner, as well as how to address the concerns of clients who are buying foreclosed properties.

This August brings with it the excitement of the Olympics in Beijing. It’s impossible not to get caught up in the support of Team USA and the spirit of the games. Brenda Calvin writes about this spirit in her Vertical Update article, “Beijing—Olympic Gold,” and she also discusses the construction of the athlete’s village—consisting of 42 mid- and high-rise buildings—and the city’s plans for these dwellings once the games are over.

In his August Design Connection column, Stephen Leon writes about Lunagy Design Center. The principals of Lunagy, Sayaka and her partner Ian McPherson, explain how they came up with the name of the center, and how their designs relate to nature and the earth. With one of their specialties being unique and spectacular doors, the center has worked with many major Las Vegas clients to create pieces that are literally works of art. Read more about Lunagy in Design Connection, online now.

Technology News gives you some good advice about how to get started with a web-site if you are on a small budget or if you just want to test the waters for yourself without a major outlay of cash. Take a minute to get up-to-date on some technology news.

As always, we appreciate the time you take to read our publication and we hope we have provided you with valuable information. Please take a moment to leave a comment at the bottom of any of the articles that you found interesting. Feel free to send us an e-mail and let us know if there is a topic you’d like to see covered or a local professional you’d like to see profiled.

Lee Papa, Publisher