The home of Michael Galardi, made infamous by the night club owner\'s recent travails, had sat dormant after two years on the market, when the owners of Red Rock Realty acquired the listing.

"We needed to bring some life to the home," Bob Barnhart said.

At the time, many in the Las Vegas Valley were looking for ways to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The Barnharts saw an opportunity to help Gulf Coast relief efforts while bringing some positive energy to their new listing. Hosting a benefit at the home, located within the Queensridge community, they arranged for some Las Vegas-style glamour, invited the city\'s A-list, and raised funds for Red Cross relief efforts.

"We introduced some good karma into the house and changed its fortunes," Bob Barnhart said. Within three months, the five-bedroom, seven-bath, 22,000-square-foot home had received five purchase offers, and sold in February 2006.Whether good karma or great networking, the $14 million deal would lead off a year filled with both for the company, which specializes in luxury estate homes. Even as sales have slowed down in many segments of the Las Vegas market, Red Rock Realty has just wrapped up its best year yet, topping $100 million in sales, both closed and pending.

"We\'ve had a phenomenal year. Real estate in Las Vegas is to no end a fabulous market," Barnhart said.

As a mark of its success, Red Rock Realty recently branched out to a new office in Beverly Hills, Calif., located at 9595 Wilshire Boulevard near Rodeo Drive. Meanwhile, its Las Vegas office, which includes six agents, an escrow and marketing department, will move early next year into a building of its own at 10789 W. Twain Ave., near Town Center and the Las Vegas Beltway in Summerlin.

As an indicator of the vibrant real estate market, Barnhart points to the company's current listings, which recently added several homes priced between $9 million and $12 million. He believes the growth of the mega-mansion market, fueled largely by strong price appreciation in the luxury segment, bodes well for the city.

"To see real estate listed between $5 million and $10 million in Las Vegas is becoming very acceptable. Only a couple of years ago, that wasn\'t the situation," he said.

Similarly to their approach with the Galardi home, the Barnharts believe it\'s essential to create a positive energy for all of their listings. For each, they find a timely cause to support, invite a philanthropic guest list to the home, then give them an evening to remember.

"If you\'re going to market a high-end mega-mansion, you need a charitable fund-raiser with the A-list of Las Vegas bringing their support," he said. "You really have to be connected to the elite of the city. Your parties have to have some players. The reason our events are successful is because we add the Las Vegas spice to the recipe."

While a Who\'s Who of Las Vegas has become a staple of their soirées, the Barnharts were pleased their most recent one, held at the firm\'s 1309 Dilevante Drive listing, included a contingent of U.S. Marines as the guests of honor.

Several leathernecks with ties to Southern Nevada joined Santa Claus and several "sexy Santa\'s helpers" at the home in Seven Hills\' Portofino community to support the Marine Corps\' Toys for Tots drive. The venerable program gathers presents for children who might not otherwise have a Christmas.

The Marines who attended are scheduled to deploy to Iraq in the coming weeks.

"These are real guys with real families willing to fight on behalf of our country," Barnhart said. "And they came to support the children of Las Vegas. We were honored to recognize their service and selflessness."The home, situated on a one-third acre lot adjacent to the Rio Secco Golf Club, measures 6,498 square feet and offers views of the Las Vegas Valley.

In addition to networking through charitable efforts, Red Rock Realty also uses a Newport Beach, Calif., video production company to create high-quality DVD presentations for its multi-million dollar listings. The productions carry a Robin Leach "Lifestyles" motif, featuring high-tone voiceovers by Christopher Flockton of VH1 set to elegant music. "Our presentations aren\'t virtual tours," Barnhart said. "They are video productions shot in high definition. They exceed the budgets of many commercials."

One produced for the Galardi house depicts the estate within Queensridge North through morning, noon and night as Flockton lavishes such phrases as, "Once you\'ve set foot into the stately grand marble foyer you\'ve embarked on an adventure you could never have dreamed about."The tone reflects the optimism the Barnharts have for the city, which they believe will continue as a success story with no end in sight. They\'ve tied their own fortunes to the future of Las Vegas.

"It\'s our goal to support Las Vegas as we grow, and the market grows," Barnhart said.

Founded six year ago by the Barnharts, Red Rock Realty specializes in luxury estate homes along golf courses in the Las Vegas Valley.

For further information on available homes and home sites, visit www.goredrock.com, or call 702.804.7100.

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