Meritage Homes Corporation recently announced that its new “net-zero” homes, which can produce as much energy as they consume, are now available at all of its communities in Las Vegas.

Last month, Meritage Homes unveiled its “Extreme Green” homes in Las Vegas. These homes can save homeowners up to 50 percent on their utility bills when compared to a typical existing home. The builder’s new “net-zero” homes combine the energy-efficiency features that come standard in its “Extreme Green” homes with a revolutionary ECHO complete solar solution that provides renewable electricity, hot water, and solar air conditioning, resulting in “net-zero” homes that can produce as much renewable energy as they use.

Homebuyers who purchase a “net-zero” home not only can reduce their monthly electric bills, but also be eligible for a $9,000 federal tax credit, making the home even more affordable.

Our city is still one of the hardest hit for foreclosures. People wanting to keep their homes will get a chance to get some help. The Las Vegas Senior Citizen Law project is holding a Foreclosure Prevention and Mediation Process workshop on May 11th. People looking to keep their homes out of foreclosure will get a chance to talk with representatives from the City of Las Vegas, The Attorney General's office, The Foreclosure Mediation Program and Consumer Credit Counseling. There will be a question and answer period. The workshop is from 2 to 4 in the afternoon at the Centennial Hills Active Adults Center at 6601 North Buffalo. If you're interested call 229-4167 to RSVP. 

The City of Las Vegas will hold two customer training sessions focused on the city’s newly adopted Unified Development Code.

The sessions will enable customers to stay current as well as ask questions about the code before it becomes effective on May 1, 2011. The one-hour sessions will each be held at 5 p.m. at the new Development Services Center, located at 333 N. Rancho Drive, in the third-floor Charleston Conference Room on Tuesday, April 19, and Tuesday, April 26.

On March 16, the Las Vegas City Council adopted a Unified Development Code (UDC) for the city of Las Vegas. The UDC replaces the existing Subdivision Regulations (Title 18) and Zoning Code (Title 19).

The UDC incorporates more graphic-oriented elements, resulting in a document that is more user-friendly while eliminating cross-referencing issues, contradictions and duplication of information.