As Vegas Median Rents Close-In on 40% of Average Income, Now Seventh Least-Affordable Large City in United States
LAS VEGAS, NV – A new report indicates the ever-climbing rents in Las Vegas have reached a point where tenants have to devote a significant portion of their respective incomes to housing costs, increasing affordability concerns for a region that has otherwise always been known for its low cost of living when compared to other parts of the country.
The Realtor.com report states that the median rent in Las Vegas has reached $1,600 per month; this represents approximately 39 percent of the average monthly income in Southern Nevada, a number which is raising eyebrows, especially when compared to the median rent elsewhere in the nation comprising 30 percent of the average income.
These new numbers have catapulted Las Vegas into being the seventh least-affordable large city in the United States on a rent-to-income basis, according to the report.
The ever-increasing rents in Vegas, fueled by intense demand for housing options that have only been exasperated by the tail-end of the COVID-19 pandemic, is forcing some financially-challenged residents to resort to renting rooms in houses – some paying as much as $500 per month – or adding roommates in order to make ends meet.
The report indicates that, year-over-year from 2021, rents in Las Vegas have increased approximately 25 percent, which is a jump that is causing many people still recovering from jobs losses sustained during the pandemic to be frugal with their renting habits.
However, even resorting to renting a room to get by isn’t easy, the report says, as there can be safety and comfort concerns associated with such a move, in addition to a lack of space and/or the ability to keep pets, depending on the rules established by the person renting the space.
Luckily, experts say that the ever-increasing rents and home prices in Las Vegas are not sustainable, and expectations are that the market will eventually stabilize to more manageable levels.
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.