We admit it: We’re real estate junkies at Las Vegas Life. Every time we’re in a doctor’s waiting room, we can’t resist the urge to flip through whatever real estate magazine is on display. It really gets our pulses racing to see what’s on the market, how much it’s selling for, if there’s a pool, three-car garage and on and on and on.So it’s with much anticipation that we compiled this year’s Real Estate issue. With an ever-growing number of homes for sale — more than 21,000 residences are on the market — we made it our goal to let you, the potential home buyer, know where some of the best deals are currently to be had.

Obviously, you’re going to find great deals all over the Valley. After all, it’s a true buyer’s market, with most sellers going so far as paying closing costs to seal the deal. But there are definitely areas that give you more house for your money than others, and those are the areas we sought out.

To help us in our quest, we surveyed more than 20 Realtors and other real estate professionals. Our question was simple: Where would you buy if you had X amount of money? Our poll covered three specific areas: Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas. For each of those areas, we grouped the selection of homes into four increasing&#160price points, beginning at $200,000 and ending at $1.5 million. Some of the communities selected are brand new, with models still available. Others are resales.

This is in no way meant to be the definitive guide on where you should be looking — or buying. Truth be told, this list barely skims the surface of what’s out there. But those we surveyed heartily endorse these communities (in some cases, they even live there!), and with the increasing number of developments competing for your hard-earned dollars, it’s certainly the best place to start.

Happy house hunting! And we’ll see you in the doctor’s office.

$700,000-$1.5 Million

NORTH LAS VEGAS

The Club at Aliante Builder: Del Webb

By the time you reach the exclusive Club at Aliante, you feel as if you have arrived, literally, at an oasis in the desert. Three holes of an 18-hole championship municipal golf course wind through this guard-gated neighborhood, offering country club quality at public course prices. Of the neighborhood’s 325 homes, which range in size from 2,168 to 3,665 square feet, 105 are laid around the golf course — but set far enough back to protect against stray hooks and slices. The 86-acre neighborhood features a plush recreation center with workout room, meeting spaces, pool, tennis courts and even lighted (and adjustable) basketball nets. Club Aliante has one- and two-story homes. The largest, the Sandalwood, features a huge master bedroom and separate retreat, with an interior second-floor window that looks out over a massive foyer. With another major master-planned community — the 2,100-acre Park Highlands — planned nearby, and with the recent ground-breaking of Aliante Station Casino, Club Aliante is well positioned as one of the showcase jewels of the burgeoning North Las Vegas residential boom.

LAS VEGAS

Red Rock Country Club Builder: Toll Brothers

Many Realtors are starting to call everything south and west of the 215 in Summerlin “the Beverly Hills of Las Vegas.” Take a drive through Red Rock Country Club, and it isn’t difficult to see why. This is one of the ultimate destinations for the homebuyer wanting the country club lifestyle. A stunning, palm tree-lined, guard-gated entrance gives way to the sprawling Red Rock Country Club golf course, and hundreds of the 1,100 homes in this community have fantastic golf course views. Toll Brothers began construction in 1999, and their custom touch is apparent on all the unique-looking homes, which cover the gamut from small to expansive. Swirling staircases and airy floor plans are the norm, not the exception, and lots are large enough that buyers will be able to play with their children on the grass in both the front and back yards. Expect to yield to plenty of golf carts here — paths wind throughout the community.Henders

HENDERSON

Anthem Country Club Builders: Pulte and Del Webb

Living doesn’t get much better than Anthem’s centerpiece, which began construction in 1999 and has been a best-seller ever since. Its guard-gated entrance — with waterfalls pouring into duck ponds — is a lovely entry point, and the vistas only get better from there, with the sprawling, 18-hole Anthem Country Club golf course visible from all directions. Homes range from 1,500 square feet to 15,000 square feet, and while there’s much available from between $700,000 to $1.5 million, you could just as easily plunk down $15 million here. The developers eschewed palm trees in favor of desert landscaping, so most of the desert beauty is intact. The demographic here is all over the map — families share the country club with the Valley’s top executives and celebrities. Amenities include two clubhouses — the country club and an athletic facility.

$500,000-$700,000

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Autumn Ridge at Aliante Builder: Pardee Homes

Autumn Ridge sits right in the heart of the Aliante master-planned community, a district with commercial buildings, shopping and, most notably, the 20-acre Nature Discovery Park. Where some neighborhood parks are little more than glorified squares of grass, Discovery Park features large soccer fields, tennis courts, a small waterfall, duck pond and a large play area for children. The gated neighborhood features 190 homesites. Prices in Autumn Ridge top out at approximately $606,950, and the homes feature options such as stone and brick veneer.

LAS VEGAS

Traccia Builder: Toll Brothers

The immediate appeal of this development, which began construction in 2005, is its location — directly across the street from Red Rock Country Club. That’s not all that sets Traccia apart from others in its price range. For starters, you get a guard-gated community, usually reserved only for country clubs or very upscale developments. And with 335 homes scheduled by buildout, Traccia has a very exclusive feel. To give homebuyers the best value for the dollar, Toll Brothers built everything with zero lot lines. Homes go almost all the way to their boundaries, meaning back yards are almost nonexistent, and homes are close together. Clusters of homes share a common egress from their garages — a brick-lined alleyway. Traccia offers the perfect alternative for homebuyers looking to simplify their lives, and all in a distinctive setting. “It has a very European feel,” one Realtor says. But the developer didn’t skimp on the amenities — Traccia will feature two pools, a fitness center, tennis courts and more, and the development’s location offers easy access to Red Rock Conservation Area and endless shopping options.

HENDERSON

Meridiana at Seven Hills Builder: Trident

Seven Hills is full of gorgeous communities, but Meridiana stood out with our survey group for several reasons: With 152 homes, there’s a true sense of community here, something reflected in the fact that only a handful of homes are currently for sale. The gated community is also one of the few that offers the chance to get a home on the 18-hole Rio Secco Golf Course — one of Las Vegas’ premier golf courses — for under $300 a square foot. “It’s probably the most affordable golf course community in Seven Hills,” one Realtor claims. The homes themselves are showcases, ranging in size from 2,000 to 3,200 square feet and featuring wide-open floor plans and an abundance of glass. Meridiana’s clientele is mostly executives and second-home buyers, many of whom enjoy sweeping views of the Las Vegas Valley. A showcase community by any standard, and a great value.

$300,000-$500,000

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Tamarind at Eldorado Highlands Builder: Pardee Homes

The streets of Tamarind end with views of the Sheep Mountains on one end and the Strip at the other. The ball fields at 23-acre James Seastrand Park are just around the corner, as is the 10-acre Eldorado Park. Kids can attend Goynes Elementary School and Cram Middle School, both in nearby Aliante. The full array of modern conveniences, ranging from Home Depot to Target to Starbucks, are close by, and you’re just around the corner from Aliante Golf Course and Craig Ranch Golf Course, soon to be converted into a large public park. But move fast — the final homes of this 180-unit community are selling out. Homes, ranging from 1,914 to 2,959 square feet, are selling from the mid-$300,000s to $432,250.

LAS VEGAS

Silverstone Ranch Builder: Pulte Homes

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a home on a golf course but just couldn’t afford it, now is your chance. Realtors agreed this is almost the “perfect storm” of value, quality, livability and investment for second-home buyers. Construction on this 1,500-home master-planned community started in 2002, and no fewer than a third of the homes are on a 27-hole golf course that stretches throughout the community. There are an inordinate number of homes for sale here, due mostly to a high number of foreclosures (investors flooded the market in 2003 and 2004, and the softening of the market left many of them unable to “flip” the homes), leading to incredible deals. How incredible? You can get a golf course home for $185 a square foot. “That’s unheard of,” says one Realtor. Desert landscaping dominates the neighborhoods, and the Sheep Mountains provide a picturesque backdrop. Because of the north’s continuing growth, there’s also plenty of shopping, courtesy of the mammoth Montecito Marketplace.

HENDERSON

Anthem Highlands Builder: Pulte Homes

Anthem Highlands, part of the Anthem master-planned community in southernmost Henderson, shares a great deal in common with Silverstone Ranch: Both are built by Pulte; the models used in both communities are identical; and great deals abound due to a large number of foreclosures. The appeal of this community is apparent when you visit. It’s nestled amid Seven Hills and Sun City Anthem, with a backdrop of the Black Mountains for scenery. Anthem Highlands is true to its namesake (it’s one of the highest spots in the Valley), and you’ll definitely feel cooler temperatures and more frequent breezes here than other areas of the Valley. There are plenty of walking trails, which residents are keen to use. The area is also a favorite spot for bicyclists looking for a good workout on its steep inclines. And two parks are scheduled to open by the end of the year. “It’s really pretty charming up there,” one Realtor comments. If you’ve always wanted to call Anthem your address, it’s a great time to do so.

$200,000-$300,000

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Giavanna Built by Centex Homes

Located just minutes west of I-15 and north of Craig Road, the homes of Giavanna are centered, in a nod to new urbanist design, on a spacious town square with a playground set. Ranging in size from 1,200 to 2,239 square feet, and in price from $265,000 to $320,500, the homes come with standards like 9-foot ceilings, washers and dryers, and maple cabinets. Buyers have run the gamut from single people to young families to people downsizing. An elementary school under construction is so close kids will be able to walk to school without crossing any big streets. The wide streets, sidewalks, and six parks create a sense of community often lacking in the Valley’s suburban march to the mountains. There’s plenty of shopping along Craig and Ann roads, and across the street loom the towering pines of the ritzy Shadow Creek Golf Course. The Cannery Row casino is a short drive.

LAS VEGAS

Independence Built by Astoria Homes

Located in the booming Southwest, Independence offers great opportunities for first-time buyers. There are concessions — homes are zero lot line, meaning very few have actual back yards, and you only have two-story models to choose from — but they are greatly outweighed by the benefits. The 600-home community is relatively new (construction started in 2002), and features three community pools and three parks. The homes themselves are a real bargain — most resales are on the market at less than $180 per square foot, with features including large walk-in closets, patios, balconies, sunken living rooms and upgraded insulation. There’s a definite feeling of community here, with families comprising the majority of the residents. And it’s less than a mile from a major shopping center, and just a bit north of the posh Rhodes Ranch development.

HENDERSON

Sonoma Built by Signature Homes Arguably one of the best hidden gems in Henderson, Sonoma — also known as Stephanie Carriage Homes — is an all-around great buy. What really sets it apart — well, aside from the fact that you can buy a house for around $250,000, of course — are the amenities for the price. In addition to being a gated community with a pool, Sonoma has a truly intimate feel. There are 174 homes here, both one- and two-story models, ranging in size from 1,160 to 1,600 square feet, and many of them share common driveways. Back yards are small, but many homeowners use them for gardens or putting greens. In addition, the developer installed a greenbelt through the small community, providing a place for owners to walk their pets. And although all homes are resales, building started in 2000, so anything you find here will be relatively new. Many we talked to agreed this is about as good as it gets for first-time homebuyers in Henderson.

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