Southern Nevada Rents Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels, Down 3.7% from 2022 Peak
LAS VEGAS, NV – Following housing costs in Southern Nevada reaching extremely high peaks after the lifting of lockdown measures following COVID-19’s wake in 2022, tenants are now finding rents in the region reverting back to pre-pandemic levels.
In fact, according to a report released by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ (UNLV) Lied Center for Real Estate rents in Nevada are now essentially at the same level today that they would have been at if the COVID pandemic had not taken place at all.
The data suggest that asking rents, today, are on par with what they would have been projected to be based on how the market was trending pre-COVID-19,” the UNLV report said.
However, that same report also highlights a troubling trend in Nevada; that before the pandemic, rents in the state had already been increasing on an annual basis by 5 percent or more, leading to affordability concerns for many of the state’s residents.
The UNLV report examined how much “workforce housing” was available throughout the state; that is, housing options that can be afforded by individuals making 60 percent to 120 percent of Nevada’s area median income (AMI) of $87,800.
In Clark County alone, the report notes, for members of the workforce within that income range – comprised of “teachers, firefighters, law enforcement, hospitality staff and health care workers” – only one third of the units on the market were considered affordable to those in that demographic making 60 percent of AMI, or about 52,000 annually.
The cost of housing and utilities to be considered “affordable” is 30 percent of a household’s monthly income; if a greater percentage of income needs to be allocated to housing, it is no longer considered affordable. Currently, as of November 2024, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Clark County is $1,486.
While rent in Clark County jumped anywhere between 20 and 30 percent since 2020, the UNLV report notes that – when compared to the second quarter of 2022 – rents are currently now down 3.7 percent and running, showing that the market is achieving some degree of stability once again.
Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.