"Five or six years ago, any house costing more than $500,000 could be called a luxury home, two years ago it would be anything more than $1 million, but today, when a tract home on a golf course costs more than $1 million, the luxury custom home market starts at $1.5 million to $2 million," said Ken Lowman, broker/owner of Luxury Homes of Las Vegas. Apparently, the upper end of … [Read more...] about Constructing Nevada’s Mansions: What’s Hot in the Custom Home Market?

In 2003, Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Shea Commercial introduced the Las Vegas commercial real estate market to a new concept that would transform the way the industry was doing business. Instead of leasing office or industrial space, the company would sell it. "Almost everything we develop is offered as a for-sale product," said Jim Riggs, president and chief executive officer … [Read more...] about Shea Commercial: Unique Approach to Development Pays Off

In previous issues, I promised to keep our readers updated on how Harry Reid is performing. After serving more than a year as Senate Minority Leader, it’s time for a report card to see how well Reid has been representing the interests of the Nevada voters who elected him. After looking at his record, I have to say that Reid needs some remedial education. Some folks may ask … [Read more...] about Reid Rises to the Top: Nevada Sinks to the Bottom

Teach For America is a national corps of recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit to two years of teaching in urban and rural public schools. The organization’s mission is to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting some of the nation's most promising future leaders in the effort. Approximately 3,500 corps members are teaching in over 1,000 schools in 22 … [Read more...] about Teach For America: Aiming to Eliminate Educational Inequity

It is a frustrating problem that all companies face, but it impacts some more than others. It affects their bottom line and often causes them to lose business. It is magnified in Nevada and is predicted to worsen. It is employee turnover. In today’s business world and Nevada’s economy, companies must make concerted efforts to retain their employees. "It’s a matter of … [Read more...] about Employee Retention: Turning the Tables on Turnover

To the general public, the world of fine art is a mysterious and confusing place, best not entered into without a vast library of knowledge and treasure trove of funds. In reality, nothing could be farther from the truth. I advise potential collectors to follow this simple rule when deciding to purchase art: buy with your heart, then with your mind.People should always buy … [Read more...] about Fine Art 101: A Basic Primer on Collecting

The largest construction defect lawsuit in Nevada history has once again raised questions about environmental contaminants and the liabilities of homebuilders and commercial developers. It’s nothing new, nor is it exclusive to Nevada. Last year, consumers bought more than 1 million new homes in the United States and, according to Consumer Reports, homebuyers are increasingly … [Read more...] about Environmental Containment: Combating Mold

As part of its monthly Industry Outlook Series, Nevada Business Journal recently brought college-level educators together to discuss the status of education in Nevada and the challenges it is facing. They confronted concerns such as managing growth in higher education, attracting new faculty members to the state, bridging the gap between primary and secondary schools and the … [Read more...] about Industry Focus: Higher Education – Reading, Writing, Recruiting and Remediation

It’s still a few months away, but soon your mailboxes, radios and televisions will be over-saturated with political messages. Some will be positive, sugary-sweet stories of a candidate’s good deeds and amazing accomplishments. If done well, these messages will make you wonder how you ever got along without that particular politician in office. They will also try to hit your … [Read more...] about Put on Your Protective Gear: Mudslinging Season is Coming

Imagine wanting to start up your own business in a new place. Working through regulatory and government licensing procedures is hard enough, but imagine that in addition to new procedures, you have to learn a whole new language. Imagine discussing business with a potential new client by phone, only to have him react with shock when you meet in person and he sees the color of … [Read more...] about Breaking Barriers in the Silver State: Minority-Owned Businesses in Nevada

Higher education is one of the largest financial expenses facing families today. Parents and family members who are saving for a child’s education should learn all they can about Section 529 College Savings Plans and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (formerly Education IRAs). While both offer significant tax benefits, they differ in other respects. Here, the Nevada Society … [Read more...] about College Savings Plans: A Side-By-Side Comparison