For people interested in buying foreclosed homes, Las Vegas is still the place for you. They continue to post the nation’s highest metropolitan foreclosure rate, as one in 28 housing units received a foreclosure filing in the first quarter, said California-based RealtyTrac. This is five times the national average.

The total of Las Vegas foreclosure filings during the first quarter reflected an increase of 13% from the fourth quarter of 2009. Certainly, for individuals or groups looking for investments, like Sightline Acquisition with Kirk Sanford, this news could be very helpful.

In a recent article on RealtyTimes.com, Bob Hunt analyses the current real estate market. Having just attended the National Association of Realtors Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, he explains that the basic tone in the real estate market today is that it’s not yesterday’s market.

Most speakers there concluded that they don’t yet know if the housing market has recovered. The recovery that we’ve seen so far, according to them, has been mostly due to various government efforts to prop up the market. These include home buyer tax credits and the government’s purchase of mortgage-backed securities.

This news is encouraging for real estate investors like Kirk Sanford and Sightline Acquisition, Corp., since it shows that the government has actively tried to help with the real estate recovery; however, the news doesn’t conclude about when the real estate difficulties will end.

While many of us consider the housing crisis to be over, this blogger explores the option that we still have a few more rough years ahead of us. Take a look at the statistics and then draw your own conclusions for your own real estate needs. Certainly, these statistics don’t examine specific areas of the country, and some areas are actually showing some great recovery.

Anyone who is interested in the real estate market in the Las Vegas area will want to know about the various communities. Such potential investors, including Sightline Acquisition with Kirk Sanford, certainly want to have their pulse on the real estate news.

North Las Vegas is one area that is growing at the moment and that offers many benefits to potential buyers. With 300 days of sunshine a year and low property taxes, this is certainly an area of interest. People can enjoy skiing, fishing, hiking, swimming, biking and camping virtually all year round in North Las Vegas and can enjoy the two recreational centers and 28 parks.

One unique offering in North Las Vegas is their safekey program. This is a recreational enrichment program offered to children of working parents where kids can play games, receive homework help, enjoy nourishing snacks and more after school and during vacations.

The good news is that Las Vegas area sales rose 33% during February. The Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors reported that there were 3,175 sales of single-family homes in Southern Nevada in March; they continued to explain that this figure was 6.5% higher than the figures for March 2009.
The bad news is the end of the homebuyers tax credit at the end of April. Realtors and others are nervous that the tax credit has been boosting sales, and that those sales numbers will slow considerably come May 1.

The homebuyers tax credit requires that buyers have contracts signed by the end of April for homes that must close by the end of June. They will receive a tax credit, worth $8000 for first time buyers and $6500 for repeat buyers under these rules.

GLVAR President Rick Shelton is, however, optimistic about future sales. He thinks that “consumer confidence is coming back as more buyers believe the local housing market is either at or past its lowest point.”

Certainly, investment funds like Sightline Acquisition, LLC, started by Kirk Sanford, and real estate agents will have their eyes set on the coming months to see how the real estate market does.

If you’re looking to invest in a piece of real estate, either for your own enjoyment or as an investment like Sightline Acquisition and Kirk Sanford do, it’s important to pay attention to certain features. There are a number of key home features today that make the difference in the home value and in its comfort.

Today, kitchens have become the new gathering spot. Finding a kitchen that is conducive to entertaining and inviting makes a big difference. Look for a center island, great lighting, granite countertops, a large eat-in area, and access to an outdoor space.

Most new homes today have a great room that opens up to the kitchen. This is a family room that allows for overflow from the kitchen gathering, and that also helps with the flow of the home. You can finish the food preparations while still being part of the party or family gathering.

Finally, look for a walk-in pantry and extra storage in the kitchen. A butler’s pantry, a walk-in pantry, and other key storage locations help with organization and kitchen management. Larger refrigerator spaces, wine chillers, pizza ovens and more also add to the value of the kitchen and the home overall.

At least according to CNNMoney.com, now is the time to start buying property in Las Vegas. Why? In a recent article, they calculated that Las Vegas, Nevada is 41.40% undervalued and that it is, at the moment, the most undervalued city in the United States. These figures were based on looking at median home prices, local interest rates, population densities and income, and historical premiums or discounts over time.

This is certainly good news for those who are interested in investing in Las Vegas, like Sightline Acquisition with Kirk Sanford. The statistics are made even that more interesting since a similar study in 2006 by CNNMoney.com said that Las Vegas was 38% overvalued.

The Las Vegas Review Journal reports that 2009 saw a record number of home foreclosures in the Las Vegas area and in the country at large. There were a record 2.8 million homes that were threatened with foreclosure in 2009, and that number is expected to go up this coming year. There were 21% more homes that received a foreclosure related notice in 2009 than in 2008.

The three states that showed the highest foreclosure rates for 2009 were Nevada, Arizona and Florida. According to RealtyTrac, more than 10% of housing units in Nevada received at least one foreclosure filing in 2009.

Certainly, these numbers are no surprise to many in the real estate field and on the ground in locations like Las Vegas. Some companies, such as Sightline Acquisition with Kirk Sanford, are attempting to help these hurting markets by investing in distressed commercial and residential properties.

The good news is that the housing market in Las Vegas is set to recover. The bad news? The predictions are that it won’t do so until the first quarter of 2012, according to a housing analyst with The Concord Group. Recover, according to this Newport Beach, California real estate firm, means three to four new home sales each month per subdivision.

While Marta Borsanyi, principal of this real estate firm, had originally predicted a full recovery in the fourth quarter of 2011, she is now pushing back her predictions since the 2009 housing purchases were lower than expected.

As an example, new home sales dropped from their 45000 peak in 2005 to only 4500 over the last 12 months. Certainly, everyone has their eye on helping in the recovery effort. The Obama administration has created loan modifications and first time buying incentives; companies like Kirk Sanford’s Sightline Acquisition are trying to bring money to the Las Vegas real estate market; and others are trying to add jobs and opportunities through the Nevada area.

A new study from ceosforcities.org has shown that the more walkable a neighborhood is, the more expensive the real estate prices will be. They have a Walk Score which shows how accessible the neighborhood is without needing a car to get to groceries, parks and more.

Their most recent statistics show that every walk point that’s added to a neighborhood’s score increases the value of the homes from between $500 and $3000. Interestingly, this holds true in almost every city, but not in Las Vegas, where Sightline Acquisition with Kirk Sanford invest, and not Bakersfield. Why? They weren’t sure.