Report: California Residents Relocating to Nevada Partly Responsible for Las Vegas Affordable Housing Shortage

LAS VEGAS, NV – The recent drought of affordable housing options in Las Vegas can be contributed to a number of different reasons, but a new report indicates one of the factors affecting the situation is the large number of California residents relocating to Nevada that have been outcompeting state residents for housing for some time now.

Bob Cleveland, President and Chief Executive Officer for the nonprofit Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada, noted that Californians have been outbidding Nevadans for homes in the Las Vegas Valley for several decades now. The situation was exasperated even further starting in 2022 when the Federal Reserve began increasing interest rates in order to curb record-high national inflation.

I hate to say it but it’s California, and that’s me growing up in the construction industry and I used to work for a builder,” he said. “During the first boom that we had, I was the area manager for the Northwest and we would release a section of homes at 3 o’clock in the morning and there would be a line of people and almost all of them would be from California. And you had to put down $20,000 cash deposit just to get on the list to buy these houses.”

Over the course of the last several decades, Californians have comprised approximately one-third of all new residents moving to Nevada, with the vast majority of those transplants coming from Los Angeles.

When it comes to Californians edging out Nevadans on the housing market, the edge that the former holds is clear; according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in Los Angeles is $83,000, in contrast to just $66,000 in the Las Vegas Valley. In addition, the average price of a home in Los Angeles is approximately $900,000, as opposed to just $400,000 in Southern Nevada.

It’s these circumstances that Cleveland says creates an enormously unfair advantage for California residents when it comes to competing for affordable housing in the Las Vegas Valley.

Our income is just not on par with California’s income,” he said. “So our housing prices have gone up because of the influx of California money, and our income hasn’t been going up so it makes it hard for the average Joe to keep up.”

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.

LAS VEGAS, NV – The Canyon at Ascaya is an upcoming exclusive residential development in Las Vegas that is currently under construction in Henderson’s affluent and guard-gated Ascaya community, slated for completion in early 2025.

Located amid the McCullough Mountains, The Canyon at Ascaya will offer 51 residences that have been designed and built by Las Vegas luxury developer Blue Heron, and will feature impressive views of the Las Vegas Valley – including the famed Las Vegas Strip – and a host of high-end amenities that place an emphasis on wellness.

The homes in The Canyon at Ascaya will be comprised of single-floor, three-to-four-bedroom residences ranging in size from 3,391 square-feet to 4,407 square-feet. The interiors will reflect a contemporary design aesthetic, with vaulted 12-foot ceilings, motorized glass pocket doors, linear gas fireplaces, and fixtures by a number of designer manufacturers including Brizo, Kohler, and MTI.

Other opulent aspects of The Canyon’s abodes will include chef’s kitchens featuring appliances from Sub-Zero and Wolf; dual primary suites with oversized closets and outdoor showers; backyards with outdoor kitchens and Linx grills; large covered terraces; and garages ranging from two to two-and-a-half cars in size.

There will be a host of communal amenities as well, including five public swimming pools; private wellness parks complete with yoga decks, meditation spaces, and cold plunges; a 23,000 square-foot clubhouse with a cutting-edge fitness center; and a sports pavilion offering tennis and pickle ball courts.

Chris Beucler, president of Blue Heron, noted that The Canyon at Ascaya community will reflect a “modern desert living” look and feel.

Our architectural philosophy is rooted in the belief that a home should be a sanctuary, and at The Canyon, we’ve created sanctuaries that celebrate the distinct canvas of the desert landscape,” he said. “In every detail of The Canyon homes, you’ll find a commitment to excellence, sustainability, and design that enhances the human experience. This is modern desert living reimagined.” 

Residences at The Canyon at Ascaya will go on sale in spring 2024, with a starting price of $2.9 million.

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.

LAS VEGAS, NV – According to a new report by Zillow, Las Vegas residents need to be earning nearly $70,000 a year to be able to afford rent in the valley, an amount that is currently higher than the median household income. The current rental asking price comes in at $1,745, a 1.9 percent year-over-year increase and a whopping 34 percent jump since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the median annual income for a household in the Las Vegas Valley was $66,356; experts note that dollar amount has not risen by any significant degree in subsequent years due to decreased national wage growth.

In early 2021, the average household needed to be bringing in $52,000 a year to afford rent, meaning that the Las Vegas Valley has experienced the 15th largest increase of all major metro areas in the country.

Rent is typically considered “affordable” if it is takes up less than 30 percent of your monthly income. Rental rates in the Las Vegas Valley actually dropped slightly at the beginning of 2024.

Senior public relations specialist with Zillow, Mark Stayton, notes that the Las Vegas Valley is currently in an unusual situation where the number of units to rent and rental rates are both increasing.

The vacancy rate, which is seasonally adjusted, in Vegas is 9 percent, and has risen by 2.5 percentage points over the course of the pandemic,” he said. “that’s the 12th largest hike among the 50 largest U.S. metros by population.”

However, Skylar Oslen, the chief economist at Zillow and author of the company’s January rental report, predicts that rental rates should start going down across the country in 2024 due to the record levels of apartment construction that is currently underway.

Softer rent growth is ultimately good news for today’s renters who have faced significant financial strain from both general and rent inflation throughout the pandemic,” she said. “With wage growth now slower, but still persistent, rent affordability, the share of a typical household’s income that would go to market rate asking rent, stabilized over the past year at 29 percent. That’s down a percentage point from the record high set in June 2022.”

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.

LAS VEGAS, NV – As per a new report released by Zillow, in the Las Vegas Valley rents showed a distinct decline to kick off 2024, with experts saying now is a good time to be looking for an affordable new apartment in the city.

As per Zillow’s January rental market report, 16 major metropolitan areas in the United States saw a decrease in the average rental asking price at the beginning of the year; among those 16 was Las Vegas, where the average January rent was $1,745, which represents a 0.3 percent decrease from December 2023.

Senior Zillow economist Orphe Divounguy noted that there are several factors in Las Vegas that are contributing to lower rents – such as a cooling job market – resulting in landlords lowering their rates and offering additional perks in order to entice new tenants to sign on the dotted line.

It’s not a bad time to find a new apartment in Las Vegas. Rents are relatively soft right now, annual growth is just $33, and a slight monthly decline is the sixth largest among major metros,” he said. “Concessions offered by landlords, such as free rent or parking, are on the upswing too, and are now offered for nearly 40 percent of Zillow’s local rental listings. But the surge in rents in 2021 and 2022 means they’re now $400 more expensive than before the pandemic.”

Despite Zillow’s report noting the rental decrease in the aforementioned 16 major metropolitan areas in the country, the overall average rent in the United States is nonetheless 29 percent higher than it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with average increases over the last four years of 7 percent annually. In contrast, prior before the pandemic took hold of the nation, the average yearly rental increase rate was 5.5 percent.

Aside from Las Vegas’ 0.3 percent decrease from December, the highest drops in rent in the country were in Austin, Texas (0.5 percent), San Diego (0.4 percent), Buffalo, New York, (0.4 percent) and Riverside, California (0.3 percent).

In addition, experts note that there is less of an incentive for renters to buy homes these days, due to the fact that house prices are increasing at a much faster rate than rent; given the current stability in the rental market, many are saying that is much more feasible to remain a tenant for the time being as opposed to a homeowner.

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.

LAS VEGAS, NV – A 2.3-acre vacant plot located in Las Vegas’s Arts District was purchased in January by Chicago-based developer CEDARst Companies and Utah-based Bridge Investment Group for $6 million, with the two groups now planning on using the property to build a $180 million apartment and retail complex.

The newly-announced project, which is officially called Flats Arts District, will be constructed at 123 West Imperial Avenue – located one block away from Main Street – and will be comprised of 311 apartment units and 5,100 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.

As an example of how property values have appreciated in Las Vegas over the years – particularly in the city’s downtown Arts District, which has become increasingly popular with developers – the last time this plot of land exchanged hands back in 2011, it was purchased at the time for the much more meager amount of $322,000, as per Clark County property records.

In a statement, CEDARst Chief Development Officer Mark Heffron noted that the company had been wanting to get in on the Las Vegas real estate scene for some time, with the Arts District property representing the perfect opportunity to finally do so given the area’s growing economy, highly diverse businesses, and close-knit residents.

There is a far greater sense of community in Las Vegas as well,” Heffron said. “This is obvious when spending time in a vibrant and walkable neighborhood like the Arts District. The addition of professional hockey, football and baseball teams are also furthering this sense of community.”

The Flats Arts District project Is slated to include 86 studio units, 185 one-bedroom units, 38 two-bedroom units, and two three-bedroom units.

The official ground-breaking ceremony is anticipated to take place in February; the first tenants are expected to be able to move into their units by the end of 2025, and the project is scheduled to be fully completed by late March 2026.

The Flats Arts District apartment complex will have numerous amenities for its tenants, including a fitness center, resort-style spa facilities with saunas, workspaces, and a sunset deck and lounge.

For more information on the Flats Arts District apartment complex call 855-443-5287 or visit: https://www.cedarst.com/portfolio/las-vegas-arts-district/

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.

LAS VEGAS, NV – With fines being levied against illegal short-term rental units in Las Vegas’ Clark County reaching astronomical sums – with one recent violator reportedly being hit with a whopping $240,500 penalty – a County Commissioner is calling for a review of the process behind issuing fines, and has proposed establishing a cap on them in the interest of fairness amid criticism of the county’s slow process of approving rental applications.

Clark County had passed an ordinance in June 2022 to begin the process of legalizing short-term rentals following the passage of an assembly bill that required the county to create guidelines to regulate the industry. However, as of February 2024, it remains illegal in Clark County to rent homes for a period of time less than 31 days.

In the meantime, the county continues to review the over 800 applications they have received, a process that the founder of the Greater Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Association, Jaqueline Flores, says is taking far too long and costing homeowners far too much.

So, it’s absolutely ridiculous that it’s taking this long. Property owners have been left out, you know, there’s enough money here to be made for everyone, not just the resort, hotel industry,” she said. “Some homeowners are still trying to comply with the law and not rent their houses but some other ones have bills to pay, and they have no other choice, but to try to continue renting their houses.”

New reports indicate that in the first week of February alone, Clark County issued 13 citations to owners of rental properties who were illegally operating them ahead of Super Bowl LVIII this past weekend. With demand for rental properties at a high point prior to the big game, the owners of some rental units – aggravated with the delay in the issuing of licenses – decided to roll the dice and put their properties on the market via services such as Airbnb and Vrbo.

In response to news that one homeowner in particular had been slapped with a $240,500 fine, County Commissioner Ross Miller noted during a Board of Commissioners meeting that it may be time to give renters a break until the county gets its act together.

Some of those fines are massive. We’ve seen six figure fines,” he said. “Maybe there is some cap to a fine… maybe there is some period of amnesty. I’ve certainly got a number of calls about extensive fines that are being attempted to impose…they may be eligible for a license.”

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.

LAS VEGAS, NV – With Super Bowl LVIII attracting thousands upon thousands of sports fans to Las Vegas – where the big game is being hosted on February 11 at Allegiant Stadium – police have announced that they will be cracking down on loud and rowdy parties at short-terms rentals this weekend, and are asking the public to contact them to report any disturbances in their neighborhoods.

Super Bowl LVIII will determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2023 season. A rematch of Super Bowl LIV, it will be played between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion San Francisco 49ers and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion and defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

In response to community concerns about disruptive parties at short term-rentals during the Super Bowl, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has been passing out flyers urging the public to contact them if they are experiencing any issues this weekend.

It’s almost Super Bowl weekend and we need your help,” the flyer reads, a copy of which was shared by authorities on X (formerly Twitter). “Please report large parties at short term rentals in your neighborhood. See flyer on how to report them. Thank you!”

The flyer states that the “LVMPD needs your help to report chronic nuisance or party homes in your neighborhood.” Residents are asked to call 911 to report “active emergencies or crimes” taking place, and 311 if they think that police “need to be aware of suspicious or nuisance behavior,” including large and disruptive parties. Service requests can also be filed at www.lvmpd.com, and anonymous online tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Nevada at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.

If you are aware of a problem or a party house in your community, we want to know about it,” the flyer says.

The crackdown on short term rentals by police comes in the wake of the city of Las Vegas starting to impose large fines on unlicensed renters; recently, the city imposed a $180,000 penalty upon the owner of an Airbnb who they say was operating without the required license.

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.

LAS VEGAS, NV – With 2023 representing the slowest year for real estate in Las Vegas in over a decade, January 2024 showed a significant rebound with both home and condominium sales improving significantly, giving experts hope that the upcoming year will show great improvement as the national economy continues to stabilize.

According to a new report by Las Vegas Realtors, the prices of homes were higher – and the inventory lower – last month when compared to January 2023. The median sales price of an existing single-family home in January was $445,000, which represents an approximate 5 percent increase year-over-year. In addition, the median sales price of condominiums and townhomes in Las Vegas in January was $275,000, nearly a 9 percent increase from the same month one year prior.

Merri Perry, President of Las Vegas Realtors, noted that the escalating economy – coupled with the affordability factor that has long been associated with Las Vegas – is contributing to the improvements in the local real estate market in the new year.

Over the past few months, we’ve seen benefits from lower interest rates and relatively stable home prices here in Southern Nevada,” she said. “Now, if we could just get more homes on the market, we’d really be in good shape.”

Sales of homes, condominiums, and townhomes in Las Vegas totaled almost 2,000 in total in January, representing an approximate 12 percent increase in home sales year-over-year, and a 20 percent increase for condos in townhomes.

At the end of last month there were over 3,555 single-family homes for sale on the open market without any offers, which is a whopping 35 percent decrease from January 2023; in addition, there were more than 1,130 condos and townhomes listed for sale without offers, which is an 8 percent decrease.

The total combined value of all Las Vegas-based real estate transactions in January was more than $842 million for homes – a year-over-year increase of 19.6 percent – and approximately $139 million for condos and townhomes, up 17 percent.

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.

LAS VEGAS, NV – Situated an approximate 20-minute drive west of the Las Vegas Strip, the master-planned community of Summerlin South has been becoming one of the most in-demand neighborhoods among the growing number of affluent sports stars and celebrities who have been calling Southern Nevada home in recent years.

Summerlin South is located within the development of Summerlin – also home to the communities of Sutherland North and West – and it is situated upon a 6,200-acre plot of land that originally began construction towards the end of the 1980s. Summerlin South is comprised of six residential districts, including the Red Rock Country Club, the Willows, the Gardens, Ridgebrook, Trilogy and Siena, all with their own unique layout, style, and amenities.

While Summerlin South features the same desert climate as the rest of Las Vegas, its residents experience a slightly cooler climate overall – anywhere from 5 to 7 degrees on average, with low humidity – due to the community’s higher elevation in general, which places it approximately 3,500 feet above sea level.

The homes in Summerlin South range in price by a wide degree depending on which neighborhood you’re looking at, going anywhere from a low of $500,000 to over $20 million, with the average luxury property fetching a minimum of $1 million and up.

A plethora of high-end amenities are the name of the game in Summerlin South, whose residents enjoy access to over 150 parks, 200 miles of scenic trails, numerous top-rated golf courses, recreational facilities, and Downtown Summerlin, which is a lavish, walkable shopping and entertainment center. In addition, Summerlin South’s constituent districts have their own dedicated amenities as well, including clubhouses, golf courses, parks, gyms, upscale restaurants and tennis clubs.

As for some of the more notable residents of Summerlin South, they include Hollywood A-lister Mark Wahlberg, acclaimed singer Celine Dion, musician Carlos Santana and numerous professional athletes such as Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams and Major League Hall of Fame baseball player Greg Maddux.

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.

LAS VEGAS, NV – A custom-built home overlooking the famed Las Vegas Strip, described by its listing agent as “breathtaking” and boasting an aviation-themed design and impressive 30-foot ceilings, has been listed on the market for $18.5 million.

Located in Henderson within the MacDonald Highlands master-planned community of Dragon’s Reserve, the home – built by noted luxury developer Blue Heron in 2021 – features over 10,067 square-feet of living space with seven bathrooms.

The listing agent, Natalia Harris of Las Vegas Sotheby’s International Realty, said that the incredible views offered by the elevated property make it a unique find in Southern Nevada.

As you step inside, you instantly feel like you are soaring over Vegas,” she said. “The combination of the 30-foot ceilings, open floor and panoramic Strip, city and mountain views truly make it one of a kind.”

The listing notes that the home is filled with clever technological gadgets that give it a vibe like something out of a James Bond movie; these features include a hand sensor that allows you to access the primary suite with a mere gesture in the air, as well as 23-foot motorized pocket sliding doors.

1526 DRAGON CREST AVENUE, HENDERSON – $18,500,000.00

There are numerous other high-end amenities included with the impressive abode, including a full gym, a well-equipped chef’s kitchen, a spa, and even a 2,000-square-foot infinity pool.

The current owners of the property are both pilots, and have noted that the home was custom-built for them around an aviation-themed design aesthetic; to that end, the residence has numerous angles reminiscent of those you would find within airplanes and hangers, as well as glass walls and tall ceilings. There is also a large garage that houses the sellers’ personal aviation museum.

Despite sales of homes being down overall currently in Vegas, the luxury home market – as well as all-cash sales – are still red hot, and account for the majority of the transactions made in the region this past year.

See full listing details for 1526 Dragon Crest Avenue, Henderson

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.

LAS VEGAS, NV – With the Super Bowl slated to take place in Las Vegas this year, experts are predicting that the elite event – which will be attracting sports fans from across the nation, and perhaps even the world – will result in the highest hotel average daily rate (ADR) for any host city in Super Bowl history.

Super Bowl LVIII, the championship game of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2023 season, is scheduled to be played on February 11, 2024 at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium. A rematch of Super Bowl LIV, it will be played between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion San Francisco 49ers and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion and defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

With that being the case, the rental market’s ADR in Las Vegas is projected to reach $573 between the days of February 9 through 11, the highest level out of any Super Bowl weekend in history. The reason for such a surge in prices is clear when you look at the statistics- it is currently anticipated that the rental market in Vegas – from Friday through Sunday night on Super Bowl weekend – will reach a whopping occupancy rate of 87.9 percent, and that level of demand naturally has a significant effect on pricing.

The ADR of $573 – combined with the projected occupancy rate of 87.9 percent – would equate to a revenue per available room (RevPAR) rate of $504. This would result in not only the highest level of demand in Super Bowl history, but also one of the highest for any sporting event in the history of Sin City itself; for example, the Formula One Vegas Grand Prix – held in November 2023 from a Thursday through Saturday period – resulted in an ADR of $502 a RevPAR of $390.

The current record holder for the highest Super Bowl ADR and RevPAR level is Miami, and one of the main reasons that Las Vegas is expected to overtake that record this February is due to the fact that the city has over twice the number of hotels (393) and rooms (172,707) available when compared to the Floridian city.

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.

LAS VEGAS, NV – While it had previously been known as a place where individuals would purchase vacation homes they would mainly visit on weekends, the Lake Las Vegas master-planned community has seen an explosion in development over the last few years – starting with the early months of the pandemic – and is currently poised to have its biggest sales year ever in 2024.

This news comes as additional nationwide attention will be focused on Lake Las Vegas in February, as both participating football teams in Super Bowl LVIII will be lodging at hotels located there, with the Kansas City Chiefs staying at Westin Lake Las Vegas, and the San Francisco 49ers at Hilton Lake Las Vegas.

In 2023, Lake Las Vegas saw its second-highest level of sales since the mid-2000s recession, with 302 new homes purchased; this represents a 42 percent jump over 2022, when 212 homes were sold. However, the highest number of homes sold at that community following the recession was 389 in 2021, which took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when many people across the country were purchasing new residences.

We’ve had our second-best year ever and the sales are piling up on themselves,” said Pat Parker, President of Lake Las Vegas developer Raintree Investment Corp. “We had one person who bought four custom lots and then bought a house at (our Shoreline project). If you get a customer who does that, you’re doing well. We’re strong from $8 million all the way to $500,000.”

Sales in Lake Las Vegas have grown to such a degree that Pulte Del Webb Lake Las Vegas – a 55-and-up retirement community – saw the second highest number of sales in the entire Las Vegas Valley in 2023 with 148 brand-new homes purchased.

Sales of existing single-family homes have also been brisk in Lake Las Vegas, with 187 sold via the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in 2023 – with an average sales price of $933,000 – exceeding the 144 sold in 2022 and 163 sold in 2021.

There were also 18 townhomes sold in Lake Las Vegas in 2023, with an average price of $516,000.

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.