ROBERT SWETZ/ LAS VEGAS - NEVADA

" One of the most beautiful coastlines in the world "  California, (BIG SUR). California to me has to be one of the most beautiful places on Earth, next to Alaska and Oregon.

 I have traveled to California ever since 1974. I moved to Portland Oregon when I was 16 years old with one of my best friends. I worked 6 months out of the year and traveled 6 months out of the year. And where do you think I traveled to? (California) of course! I use to hitch-hike, that's right hitch when I was 16 years old by myself all through California.

 All the way down the whole coast through the Redwoods in Humboldt County, Mount Shasta in Redding, San Fransisco, Monterrey, Carmel where Clint Eastwood has a restaurant and lives, Fresno, Big Sur, San Louis Opispo, Goletta, Ventura, Santa Monica, Malibu, Burbank, Los Angeles (City of Angels), SanDiego, just to name a few!

 I have traveled so many times through California, I know the State like the back of my hand. And let me tell you straight out, you will never find a place like it in the World. There is so much to see and so many places to go that a person could never see it in their life time. At my age I still drive through there with my sweetheart and go to places I have never seen before, camping in the Redwoods, along the coastline and much more.

 People always complain, " Oh, there are to many people in California " (Really)?  I can show you hundreds of thousands of towns, areas, etc. where there are no people and if there is, it is just a hand full.

 And the (Earth Quakes)! Sure California has them, but there are (Earth Quakes) all over the world! Don't build your house on the edge of a cliff on the sandy ocean hillside or in the middle of a Vault line. And why do they always talk about the (Earth Quakes)? Because there is a population problem in Los Angeles, San Fransisco and some of the other big cities in California.

 And why is there a population problem? I have already told you! Because (California is one of the most beautiful places on Earth)!

 Reason for high cost of living? To many people, the State tries to tax them out and or our find a way to discourage people to move there, or live there.

 If you would like to see any more breath-taking pics of California, please send me a email and or check out one of my web sites at:  www.BestPicz.ning.com

 Look real close at this photo, " Who's house is that built on the cliff? "

Photo taken in 2007 by: Robert Swetz

Redwoods, Northern California:    " One of the largest living things on Earth! "

Photo taken by:  Robert Swetz in (2007)

Mammoth Lakes, California (2007)  Photo taken by:  Robert Swetz

" LET'S GO FISHING "

Here are some photographs that I shot when I was in Myanmar (Burma) 4-17-2008

Photographs taken by,  ROBERT SWETZ

 Commercial Land in Las Vegas continues to hold it's value, prices have dropped some but nothing like the Residential sales and value. The (Dirt) in Las Vegas zoned Commercial is very expensive, but I have seen the value double, triple, etc. since I have lived here seven years now.

I am in the process of purchasing some Commercial land in Las Vegas and sitting on it for 5 years and making some good investment money to retire with.

I have some Land Property Owners in Las Vegas around the Airport, Henderson and Downtown, that are willing to sell. These are unlisted properties (Pocket) listings, so you won't see these properties on Property Line and or Loopnet, or any where else on the Internet.

If you have any clients that may be interested in investing in Las Vegas, please feel free to contact me at your convenience. Since I have lived in Las Vegas I have seen Commercial Land prices make Millionaire's out of Investor's.

www.vegasbuildingsforsale.com

ROBERT SWETZ

  I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Holiday, and yes it wasn't long enough.

 As everyone knows our economy is not doing very well at this time and two reasons would be because of Oil, and Corporate America. As we continue to fight over in the Middle East our country has a Super Power in the shadows, (CHINA). If you look at all the products being purchased in this country from house- hold goods, clothes, shoes, tools, toys and so much more, 90% comes from CHINA. CORPORATE AMERICA continues to move factories and businesses over seas because the labor is cheaper. Less companies and factories in America means less jobs, less jobs means more unemployment, more unemployment means a down economy. Not only that, the factories and businesses in CHINA, MEXICO, INDIA, ETC, employ children and workers that work 10-12 hours per day just to eat for the day. It's all about the almighty dollar.

 Don't get me wrong,I own several businesses and buy wholesale merchandise from china, the reason? No one else makes the products we sell. Nothing is made in America anymore and if the package has printed on it made in America, once you open it underneath some where else it says made in CHINA.

 What can we do to fix this problem? Why can't America products compete with foreign prices? Should America start building Companies and Factories and cut back on importing products from other Counties? What is our solution? Should America start drilling for oil in our own country and employ workers? Should America stop buying all this oil from the Middle East? The people of America need to get together and find a solution to our problem and address congress.

(Please send me a comment back with your opinions)

ROBERT SWETZ

Being a member of AR for only three months, I am very impressed. My web designer from Utah turned me onto AR and I am so glad she did.

I have had some very good response and have started to gather some contacts and Associates that I would have never met if it hadn't been for AR. Most of my posts have not been about Real Estate because the market is a little depressing, for example:

Las Vegas is from 1st to 2nd for the most Forclosers, the values of homes continues to drop month by month until ? Banks and Mortgage Companies are making it so diffecult to get financed for a home unless you have a great credit score, two years of work history, etc. Most of the Agents are doing Foreclosers and Short sales to servive in this market. Who came up with the name (SHORT SALE) anyway? There is nothing short about it, it's this drawn out process that the Banks and Mortgage companies came out with to try to get a piece of the Agent's commisions because the Banks are losing their rear ends. And did you see the News?  "Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah."

So for now,  that's is why I post about different things besides Real Estate " Please forgive me "

If there are any Realtors out there from Minnesota, " please give me a shout back" I have been living in Las Vegas now for 7 years and I sure miss the water. I just came back from 5 weeks in South East Asia and while on my trip I thought about my family and friends back in the Minnesota. I have properties in Northern Cal, Myanmar (BURMA), Nevada, and Minnesota and I would have to say, I miss my Lake Lot in Northern Minnesota more than any of them. It has been 5 years since I have been up to the Lake Lot.

Sometimes I wonder, how did I go from a State that has over 10,000 Lakes to a State in the middle of the Desert?

If there are any mispellings it's because the spell check wouldn't work!  And I am not the best speller.

" Thanks for reading "

Robert Swetz

Before you spend money on advertisement, make sure that the company you work for is on solid ground.

Web sites, business cards, magazines, newspapers, postcards, flyer's, etc. are very expensive. I have four different web sites, advertise in two newspapers, two magazines and have boxes of post cards and business cards with my company name on them. There is one problem!

I am going to be switching Real Estate companies because of the rumors and or problems that the company I work for is having. I am not very happy about having to do this. I have to change the name of the company on my web sites and the business cards, post cards, etc. will all have to be changed. You know what I think about that, all this advertisement is just one big (MONEY PIT).

Once again, make sure the company you work for is on solid ground, not going under or that has any law suits against them. If you hear of other agents having problems getting commision checks, etc. it might be a good time to start looking at other companies.

" Good Luck with your advertising and thanks for reading "

Robert Swetz

" SPIRITUAL AWAKENING "

      BAGAN/MYANMAR    4-17-2008

YANGON/ MYANMAR    4-14-2008

I would like to share some experiences when I was on a resent vacation in South East Asia. From April 11th to May 14th I was on vacation in Myanmar (Burma) where I traveled all through the Country.

When I was in Bagan and Mandalay I visited many, many Temples that date back 1,000 years. While visiting I noticed hundreds of people meditating and praying, something I don't really see in America.

 Being a spiritual person I started to feel the energy and the calmness of the people around the Temples. In America we have churches and services twice a week, but not the feeling that you get when in Myanmar and other parts of Asia. Every where, everywhere you go in Myanmar on every block there is a Temple.

 Coming back to America I really miss being able to walk anywhere and slip into a temple and close my eyes and get in touch with my spirituality. I am able to get this feeling when out in nature, but it seems like something is missing.

 When I was sitting on top of some large hill or building and looking as many as 7,000 different Temples in Bagan that date back 1,100 years I couldn't stop thinking about all the people that had been there before me. All the praying and meditating that did.

 When I sat with my eyes closed I felt a warmness, a feeling of happiness and calmness, a " Spiritual Awakening " I have only been back for three days and I already miss it!

Photos and story by: Robert Swetz

    MANDALAY/ MYANMAR    4-17-2008

      BAGAN/MYANMAR    4-17-2008

YANGON/ MYANMAR    4-14-2008

I would like to share some experiences when I was on a resent vacation in South East Asia. From April 11th to May 14th I was on vacation in Myanmar (Burma) where I traveled all through the Country.

When I was in Bagan and Mandalay I visited many, many Temples that date back 1,000 years. While visiting I noticed hundreds of people meditating and praying, something I don't really see in America.

 Being a spiritual person I started to feel the energy and the calmness of the people around the Temples. In America we have churches and services twice a week, but not the feeling that you get when in Myanmar and other parts of Asia. Every where, everywhere you go in Myanmar on every block there is a Temple.

 Coming back to America I really miss being able to walk anywhere and slip into a temple and close my eyes and get in touch with my spirituality. I am able to get this feeling when out in nature, but it seems like something is missing.

 When I was sitting on top of some large hill or building and looking as many as 7,000 different Temples in Bagan that date back 1,100 years I couldn't stop thinking about all the people that had been there before me. All the praying and meditating that did.

 When I sat with my eyes closed I felt a warmness, a feeling of happiness and calmness, a " Spiritual Awakening " I have only been back for three days and I already miss it!

Photos and story by: Robert Swetz

    MANDALAY/ MYANMAR    4-17-2008