A couple of weeks ago, the girls were flower girls in my cousin’s wedding. They enjoyed wearing their dresses.

Since I couldn’t think of any other reason to wear the dresses, we had a impromptu fancy dress picnic…

This is what I fixed up for us…

Mommy decided to join in all the dress up fun.

Thanks for reading!
Keepin’ it real fancy!
Arlene M. Skinner, REALTOR®

I just had a renter call me to tell me she turned in her application. She went on to tell me that, my voice was calming, that she felt at ease with me as her REALTOR®, and that I had a pizzaz about myself. She said if there is anything she could do to help me, she would.

Then she just sighed and said. “Basically, I’m proud of you, girl.”

She doesn’t even know if she’s gotten approved for the place yet.

Wow. How good do I feel right now. Wow.

Keepin’ it grateful and feelin’ lucky for the job I’ve got,

Arlene M. Skinner, REALTOR®

Here was the entry for the Marlee Matlin Team…7-Up Retro 70′s

Here is the entry for the John Rich Team’s entry 7-Up Retro 80′s

Here is what the shelf looked like.

I’m thinking, based on this project, Mr. Trump made the right Celebrity Apprentice choice.

To learn more about the charities they played for go to:

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

The Starkey Hearing Foundation

Thanks for reading!

Keepin’ it DT!

Arlene

She inspires me to be a Wonder Woman!!!

Thanks for reading!

Keepin’ it super,

Arlene M. Skinner, REALTOR®

Today marks the first day of Las Vegas Restaurant Week 2011.  Basically, this two week celebration allows us here in Las Vegas to be foodies for a cause.  Restaurants from all over the town, mainly the strip are joining together by donating a portion of each mean purchased on their exclusive Restaurant Week menus to Three Square Food Bank.

These pre-fixed menues range from breakfast to dinner and prices to fit almost anyone’s budget at $20.11, $30.11, and $50.00.  The restaurants also range from swanky burger joints, to fusion noodle houses, to fancy upscale steakhouses.

Hope you get a chance to check it out this year.  See you there!

To find out more about Las Vegas Restaurant Week 2011, click here. 

Thanks for reading!

Keepin’ it foodie and helpin’ the hungry!

Arlene Skinner, REALTOR®

I was driving to Costco today when I noticed a sign on a building that had been sitting vacant for a while now.  It said, “Egg Works hatching Fall 2011.” Needless to say, I’m super excited and looking forward to its opening!  You’ll find the sign I’m talking about south of the 215 freeway on South Rainbow Blvd. Its on the east side of the street across from the Arroyo Crossing shopping center.

I haven’t been to Egg Works lately, but from what I remember, I loved the food.  I’m not a huge potato person but I remember loving their Works potatoes.  I also remember having multiple options of eggs benedict which they call “Bennys.”  Oh my goodness.” Can’t wait and its making me love helping my clients buy, sell, or rent in Southwest Las Vegas even more!

To check out their offerings and other locations to go to in the meantime go to the website.

Thanks for reading!  Keepin’ it real b-fast!

Arlene

So you’ve checked out rental properties with your REALTOR®.  And you found one you really want.  It is big enough, it allows pets, it is located in the right part of town and it is just the right price.  Is it time to turn in the application and deposit?  That’s a big…fat, “NOOOOO!!!”

Make sure to check if this house is under default, meaning the owner could be going into foreclosure.  I don’t know how many renters I’ve spoken to who have told me that they have come home to a default letter attached to the door in blue painters tape.   Have you seen this in your neighborhood?

Here’s what you do:

• Get the tax parcel number from the listing, your REALTOR®, or the Assessors Page
• Go to the Clark County Recorders Page
• Click “I accept the conditions above”
• Look for the box on the left hand side that says “Search Records”
• Click “Parcel Number”
• Enter the tax parcel number dashes and all (11 digit number separated by dashes)
• Make sure the date range brings up anything before today’s date.
• Click “Search Records”
• Scroll down the list to see if the word “Default”, “Notice of Default”, or “Election to sell” comes up.
• If you see any of those words, check with your REALTOR® to make sure.

Even if you were half way through your lease this could happen, but wouldn’t you have some piece of mind knowing that the house was not in default the moment you applied for the house or signed the lease?  Or if you are half way through your lease and you see that a letter of default has been recorded on the home, you may want to talk to your landlord or property manager and start looking for a new place to live.

Click here to check if the Las Vegas home you’re about to rent is in default.

Hope this helps!!! Feel free to contact me with any questions!!! Thanks for reading!

Keepin’ it rentals,

Arlene

P.S. Hey renters, got any tips for future renters?  Let me know by contacting me or post a comment!

Hey everyone!

My friend and retail buyer, Courtney Cook, talks to LVRJ’s Sonia Padget about world superstar Celine Dion, her fans, and the merchandise you can find at the ‘Celine’ store at Caesars Palace.  You can find ‘Celine’ the store right outside the Colloseum!  Stop by the check it out…there is something for everyone!

Click here to read the Las Vegas Review Journal Article 

The week I got back from a rather lengthy vacation, I noticed cars in the parking lot of what would be the Windmill Library and Service Center. I had a few minutes to spare and decided to check it out. To my most pleasant surprise, the library had opened the week before!

I walked in and it was beautiful!  Open and airy, this is not the type of public library I grew up frequenting.  There are plenty of windows, a separate children’s area as well as a room specifically for kids storytime.   There are also study rooms for groups of up to 6 people and a separate adult computer lab.  There are computers in the main library area for the younger patrons to utilize and be supervised.  I believe the building is LEED certified, so its super green and energy efficient.  Lastly, I believe there is also free wifi. yay! Really, all its missing is a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, but there is a vending machine room in the foyer area in case you need a break from the silence.

Although I believe that building a public library in this economy is not the most efficient use of our government funds, I’m not gonna lie, I enjoy having it in the southwest where venues are rather limited.  I mean honestly, our closest bookstore is at Town Square.  It makes living in the Southwest like living in a real town in grocery stores, fast food establishments, and libraries.  (I remember when I had to drive all the way to Tropicana and Jones for the nearest grocery store.) I do enjoy going there and taking my kids to storytime.  I love that I can put in a request online for a book I wanna read and there it is for me to pick up in a few days.  I didn’t even have to go to an old fashioned card catalog and go searching for the books.

Have you checked out this library?  Isn’t it awesome!  What are your thoughts?

Thanks for reading!

Keepin’ it real…bookwormy,

Arlene

I got a question the other day about keepin’ it clean:

“I have a question!!! How can you keep a house clean with 3 kids, 1 husband, 1 dog, and a huge baby bump? “

Gr8 question…hmmm…i would have the girls clean up their toys and rooms, the husband handle what he can after a long day at work…i’d have the dog cleanup under the dinner table…and I’d give the baby bump a break…but give it the heads up that he/she will be part of a team headed by “Mrs. Clean!”

Do you guys have any ideas for my friend?  What works in your experience?

Thanks for Keepin’ it Real Estate!

Arlene