Allure Las Vegas High Rise Are Taking Their Units To Auction - Beware of HOAs

The Allure high rise condo project is putting 10 of their units up for auction at 1:00pm on Saturday, hoping that a successful auction will set an industry standard for similar high rise condo dogs such as Trump, Streamline Tower, Turnberry Towers, and Palms Place.

The units being auctioned are from original buyers who chose to walk away from their deposits rather than close, hence allowing for the "bargain basement" type price environment an auction usually promises, but many times does not deliver since "bid-frenzy" usually causes an eventual over-bidding of value - whatever that "value" actually is, as no one can tell what the value of an Allure unit should be.

Alan Schactman, senior vice president for Chicago-based developer Fifield Cos. (the developers of Allure) said the 427-unit Allure is about 50 percent sold. I don't believe it. I also don't believe his statement that "This (auction) is a one-time deal. I do not anticipate another auction. The market is picking up. I think after this auction, we're probably going to raise prices."

With statements like that, you know you're being taken to the cleaners. (remember those famous lines: "I'm from the government - I'm here to help you" and "The check's in the mail"... or "Of course I'll respect you in the morning")

The sad fact is the high rise market is not picking up. And you'll probably be able to pick up an Allure unit in the future at way less than you'll get at an auction. What really scares me about so many failed high rise condo projects that are trying to close unit sales is the total ommission of those 3 hated letters: HOA.

Does anyone consider what their Home Owners Association fees will be when they purchase a high rise condo? If all the units are sold and people are living in the building and all is fine in wonderland, HOA fees are stable and affordable. But what if that's not the case? Your HOA fees can skyrocket and I'll guarantee you that you'll wish you skipped the auction and invested in recession resistant opportunities instead.