Category Archive : Economy

LAS VEGAS, NV – According to reports, Las Vegas continues to attract numerous companies that see the city as an ideal location for West Coast expansion of their businesses, even in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the businesses looking to set up shop in Vegas is Whitebox, a major Depository Trust Company based out of Baltimore, MD. They recently signed a lease for a 350,000-square-foot, free-standing building at Golden Triangle Logistics Center in North Las Vegas, citing a business-friendly environment, affordable real estate costs, the abundance of prospective local employees looking for work, and the closeness of major U.S. shipping ports in nearby California.

Another factor that is attracting companies to Las Vegas is the fact that it’s most notable neighbor in the region, California, has become decisively business un-friendly in recent years, with the high cost of operating in the state and excessive taxes often driving out established firms and discouraging newcomers from setting up shop. Vegas, in comparison, features a growing economy, state incentives, and far cheaper taxes, expenses, and costs-of-living.

These factors have resulted in what many are referring to as an exodus of companies from California and into Vegas. In addition, many companies from the eastern United States that are considering or pursuing West Coast expansion are forgoing California – a mainstay for decades – and are settling down in Las Vegas instead, reaping the benefits of an environment that wants to attract new blood to the local economy.

In addition to saving money and access to labor, one other factor that is luring in new businesses to Vegas is close access to California-based ports and a multitude of shipping highways, including Interstate 15, I-40, and I-11, all of which provide access to large population centers in the western United States.

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 reports, construction on Brightline West, an $8 billion railway system that would have linked Las Vegas and California – one which has been in the works for years now, has been indefinitely delayed due to last-minute financial hurdles the project has been unable to clear.

Brightline, developers of the project, announced that a $2.4 billion bond they were planning on selling to fund the first phase of construction – with a sale deadline of December 1 – has now been delayed due to several reasons, ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects upon financial markets to the upcoming election and the economic uncertainty that it is creating.

It is currently not known when Brightline plans to offer the bond for sale, but representatives from the company maintain that they will keep tabs on the market, that investors are still interested in the project, and that it will eventually resume its forward momentum.

“Brightline West received a significant amount of investor interest, despite the challenging market. We ultimately had a deal, but it would have been restrictive,” they said. “We have always said we will fund this project with a combination of equity and debt — exactly as we have [with the passenger rail system the company operates] in Florida. That continues to be our plan.”

Originally, work on Brightline West was expected to start this year, with a completion date set for early 2024, according to reports. The finished rail line would have resulted in a 34-mile stretch of track in Nevada running along Interstate 15 that would have ended at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. This line would be fed by several other lines from various locations in California resulting in a total of approximately 185 miles of track overall, and providing a link between Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

The delay is sure to cause some degree of economic impact, as according to Brightline West’s official website, it would have created more than 40,000 construction jobs and more than 1,000 permanent jobs, with an economic income of $9 billion. In addition, it would have generated $1 billion in tax revenue.

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 upcoming high-speed railway system between Las Vegas and Southern California that has been long-gestating has finally seen some forward momentum, as developer Brightline has released some new details on the project, including branding, an estimate on the construction, and how long it may take to complete.

Work on the project, now dubbed “Brightline West,” is expected to start this year, with a completion date set for early 2024, according to reports. Brightline has stated, however, that the schedule is subject to change.

The finished rail line would result in a 34-mile stretch of track in Nevada, running along Interstate 15, ending at a station located on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. This line would be fed by several lines from various locations in California, resulting in a total of approximately 185 miles of track overall. Travelers from Las Vegas would be able to continue from the system to Los Angeles via the Metrolink, which would effectively link Las Vegas with L.A.

Construction will be broken into six segments, three in California and three in Nevada. The project, according to Brightline West’s official website, will create more than 40,000 construction jobs and more than 1,000 permanent jobs, with an economic income of $9 billion. In addition, it will generate $1 billion in tax revenue.

Part of the delays associated with the project is the upcoming sale of $3.2 billion in bonds on the part of Brightline to cover the first phase of the $8 billion cost. The bonds are required to have been sold by December 1; if this date is not met, funds allotted by California for the project will be taken back and instead placed back into the state’s affordable housing fund. Potential delays to the project if Brightline does not meet the December 1 date are currently not known.

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 recent reports, the median price of single family homes in Las Vegas has managed to set yet another record in September 2020, despite the continued presence of COVID-19.

Despite the extraordinarily hard hits that the Southern Nevada tourism-driven economy has taken due to roadblocks presented by COVID, home prices in the region continued their upward climb in defiance of the circumstances, reports say.

The median sales price of previously owned single-family homes, which constitutes the bulk of the Vegas market, reached $337,250 in September, representing an increase of 0.7 percent from August, a month in which a previous record was established. In addition, the amount represented a jump of 8.8 percent from September 2019.

The volume of sales was impressive as well, with 3,270 being sold in September, an increase of 12.4 percent from the previous month and 18.9 percent from September 2019. Indeed, despite the potential hazards presented by COVID, people are not being deterred from seeking out and purchasing homes in Las Vegas.

These sales figures were likely helped by the fact that the current inventory of available homes in Las Vegas has increased, giving buyers a wider selection to choose from. The number of homes up for grabs in Vegas in September was increased by 3.4 percent over August for a total of 4,798.

The Las Vegas housing market has been on fire in recent months, with buyers in need of places to live braving potential illness in order to secure lodging during a period of time where record-low interest rates on loans provide an irresistible lure. In addition, local real estate agents have evolved with the times, providing safe alternatives to doing business that include setting up online tours of properties and using video conferencing.

These factors, when combined with Las Vegas’ low cost of living, have enabled the local real estate market to bounce back from the pandemic much faster than experts had predicted.

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 – Representatives of the Las Vegas hotel industry sent an appeal to Congress this week, asking for financial assistance and commercial debt relief in order to help ward off an “unprecedented wave” of foreclosures due to financial issues born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to reports.  

In July, reports indicate that approximately one-fourth of Las Vegas hotels were a month late – or more – on their mortgage loan payments, which represents the highest level of financial distress to ever befall the city’s hospitality industry. Compare that figure to the fourth quarter of 2019, when just over one percent of hotels were in that same predicament, said analysis firm Trepp.

On Tuesday, over 4,000 hotel owners – including 20 from Nevada – signed a letter that was sent to Congress, calling for passage of the Helping Open Properties Endeavor (HOPE) Act, which was drafted in-part to help protect owners of commercial real estate from foreclosures as a result of fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill specifically targets businesses that hold commercial mortgage-backed securities loans.

Hotels across the country have suffered during the pandemic, as travel has slowed to a standstill in order to help curb the spread of the disease; however, Las Vegas in particular has suffered more than most due to its reliance on tourism, and even with Nevada in the process of opening its economy once again, the economic damage has been done. And with tourism levels not yet returning to normal, it’s clear that outside help is sorely needed if many of these hotels are to survive.

Casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip generate the majority of their revenue from gambling activities; however, smaller hotels that do not have gambling on premises would benefit the most from the passage of the HOPE Act. We will be sure to report here if Congress responds to the hotel industry letter.

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 COVID-19 pandemic remaking the concept of work as we know it, scores of people are finding themselves transplanted from their familiar office settings and telecommuting from their own homes thanks to social distancing guidelines designed to curb the spread of the disease. And while there are advantages to working from home, there are also stresses that naturally come with the idea of taking your own personal abode and making it your place of business. If home is work and work is home, what’s a person to do to?

Well, go to Las Vegas, it seems.

MGM Resorts has launched a new “Work from  Las Vegas” travel package, aimed at professionals in the business world who are tired of working while stuck in their homes. The package includes discounts on airfare, lodging, and even includes a dedicated concierge – dubbed an “executive assistant” by MGM – to help them with their workload, including handling reservations and scheduling.

The program – dubbed “Viva Las Office” and heralded by MGM Resorts as “the ultimate home-away-from-the-home office experience” – is yet another innovation that Las Vegas is breaking out in an attempt to make up for the losses in revenue due to the drop in tourism brought about by the pandemic. The program offers stays ranging from 3-to-5 nights at costs ranging from $100 to $350 per night, not including any additional resort fees that may be incurred.

MGM Resorts also offers semiprivate jet service with discounts of $75, $100 or $125 off round-trip tickets. Packages include varying tiers of prices and service – including “The Associate,” “The Manager,” and “The Executive” –  with the overall goal being a productive and focused work experience, as well as the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of Vegas during the off-hours.

The “Viva Las Office” program is currently limited to Bellagio and ARIA.

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 recent reports, Las Vegas’ ongoing real estate rebound from COVID-19 has hit yet another milestone, with the industry setting an all-new record in the month of July 2020 and cementing it as one of the more notable aspects of the region’s recovering economy, damaged as it has been by the pandemic.

Realtors have revealed that July saw the largest amount of homes sold in Las Vegas since 2017, with over 4,000 pre-existing residences changing hands. That is indeed impressive, especially given how far the market had come since the mid-2000s recession, and how far it had dropped again thanks to COVID.

Local realtors have been quoted as saying that the local housing market is currently “on fire,” citing the non-stop demand coupled with historically low interest rates – some as low as 3 or even 2.5 percent – and a limited supply as the contributing factors to local real estate managing to weather the storm and come back faster than estimated after COVID played havoc with Nevada’s economy. Interest rates are expected to remain low for the remainder of 2020, reports say.

Therefore, individuals and families that have managed to remain employed throughout the pandemic – or who had adequate financial resources already in place – have been taking advantage of the opportunities presented to purchase homes in large numbers.

Also, the median single-family Las Vegas home price in July was $330,000, an increase of approximately 9 percent from the same period last year. Again, this is despite the current pandemic, which is still making its presence felt in Nevada and across the country.

In addition, ongoing forbearance and moratorium decrees that have been enabling people to remain in their homes despite the financial difficulties they have been experiencing have resulted in Las Vegas’ lowest amount of foreclosures and short sales ever, preventing another mid-2000’s-style catastrophe to strike the Southern Nevada housing marketplace. Federal homeowner and renter assistance has also played a part, reports say.

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 – After the housing market in Las Vegas came to a virtual standstill amid the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, initial reports indicated that the market was bouncing back at a higher than anticipated pace; more recent reports indicate this is still the case, with sales reaching their highest point yet since the advent of the pandemic.

When COVID-19 first hit the region, Southern Nevada’s housing market practically collapsed due to the economic devastation, with sellers drying up and cancellations of pending sales running rampant. However, the lows, while bad, never quite hit the points that experts first predicted, and efforts on the part of sellers – including virtual walk-throughs and online forms, among other methods of maintaining social distancing – have enabled business to improve over the past month.

June saw a major improvement in the number of sales contracts signed, with 1,230 people signing on the dotted line, which is the highest number reported since February when the pandemic had just started making its presence felt in the United States. In addition, June also saw just 208 sales cancellations, which represents a drop of 43 percent of the cancellations that occurred in May; obviously this is also a good indication of recovery for home builders.

Also, despite the rocky road for builders during the past few months, a saving grace came in the form of home price stability; prices on new homes did not lower significantly, and sellers did not provide many significant incentives in an attempt to attract sellers, citing that demand was still present and that sales would bounce back eventually.

The resale market also has continued to improve recently, with 2,460 homes selling in June for a median price of $325,000, representing a 45 percent jump from the previous month. Clearly, the basic need for home ownership will eventually outweigh concerns over a pandemic as long as proper precautions are taken.

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 recent report, retail in Las Vegas has been especially burdened with hardship amid the ongoing – and currently resurging – coronavirus pandemic. In addition to heavy job losses, approximately 75,000 square feet of retail space has been put back on the open market due to business closures, with an additional 500,000 square feet potentially on the chopping block after several major chains announced closures.

Many of the impending vacancies revolve around the upcoming end of the moratorium issued by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, forbidding commercial and residential evictions due to coronavirus-related issues. While the moratorium on residential evictions has been extended until September, its commercial equivalent ended on July 1, allowing landlords to begin charging late fees, initiate lockouts, or start eviction actions for non-payment of rent.

In contrast to the woes suffered by retail, the rental and sales of industrial space – in particular, warehouse and distribution space – actually increased throughout the pandemic, with the second quarter of 2020 seeing over two-million square feet of industrial space change hands. Other types of industrial space that rely more on small businesses, however, suffered losses and are waiting for the economy to recover to see if leases increase once again.

Office space continued to be acquired throughout the pandemic, reports say, although not to an impressive degree, with just 10,000 square feet being leased; however, considering the degree of job losses in the second quarter, any leasing activity is seen as a positive, experts say.

The hospitality industry also suffered losses during state-mandated shutdown orders intended to slow the spread of the pandemic; given that Las Vegas’ economy relies heavily on tourism, it remains to be seen what impact this will have on Vegas’ recovery going forward, assuming the current resurgence of the coronavirus – which occurred when the state began a phased reopening – can be brought back under control.

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 economic damage inflicted upon the economy by means of the COVID-19 pandemic has left many experiencing financial difficulties, even in the wake of attempts by many states to re-open their economies to prevent the spread of the disease. Unemployment has been rampant, and as a result, bills are becoming harder to pay for many Americans.

Reports indicate that more and more people are, in particular, falling behind on ‘mortgage payments;’ 6.1 percent of April 2020 mortgage payments nationally were 30 days late, up from 3.6 percent the month before. Las Vegas is not immune, and is in fact one of the more worse off regions of the country in this regard.

Part of the reason for Las Vegas’ mortgage issues is its current high level of unemployment; in April 2020 it was a whopping 34 percent, up from just 3.9 percent in February. The cause of skyrocketing unemployment was due to Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak issuing a mandate that all non-essential state businesses close in light of the pandemic. Recently, attempts have been made to re-open businesses, but a resurgence of COVID-19 cases have made this problematic, slowing the state’s economic recovery and preventing job re-growth.

A foreclosure moratorium, issued by Governor Sisolak in March, is due to finally end in September, adding more pressure to families that are experiencing money problems. However, there are hopes that millions of dollars in federal coronavirus relief funds can help keep unemployed Nevadans in their homes while reducing the financial burden on lenders who have not been receiving mortgage payments throughout the pandemic.

Despite the current financial strain on homeowners, the amount of delinquent payments have yet to reach the low levels they did during the mid-2000’s recession. In addition, the housing market has not suffered the same level of damage, and is bouncing back faster than analysts have predicted.

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 Forbes, the national housing market is managing to bounce back faster than anticipated from the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and they said that among the cities that are showing the most signs of a positive recovery is Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mortgage applications have been increasing over the course of the last two months, Forbes noted, and both demand and prices for homes are at the same level – or even higher – than they were in January 2020, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, indicating a “recovery trajectory,” they said. Loan applications for early June 2020 were 13 percent higher than they were during the same period one year ago, and represented a straight eight weeks in a row of growth.

Forbes attributes this rapid recovery to the fact that, unlike some industries during an economic downturn, housing is an “essential good” and thus is to some degree recession-proof. Other factors that have helped the housing industry counter the damage done to the economy by the pandemic are current low mortgage rates and the ways that realtors have adapted to the pandemic with virtual walk-throughs and online paperwork.

Home prices displayed slower growth in recent months, but never actually started to decrease; however, growth has begun to increase more quickly recently – driven both by demand and an overall lack of supply, with new listings down nationwide 21 percent year-over-year – indicating a recovering marketplace.  

According to Forbes’ article, Las Vegas and Denver are leading the pack in terms of housing market recovery, with Boston, San Francisco and San Diego following closely behind. Many of these marketplaces are already seeing strong sales and prices that are on par with – or even higher – than they were before COVID-19 hit. In contrast, Buffalo, Columbus, Providence, Chicago are currently showing the least evidence of housing market recovery.

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 recent reports, the effect of the coronavirus pandemic has been cumulative in regards to its impact upon the Las Vegas real estate scene. While home sales were immediately affected when the pandemic approached its zenith in March, they nonetheless persisted by way of demand and the continued efforts of real estate agents who embraced industry safety-related changes including virtual walkthroughs and online paperwork.

However, after the pandemic has all but ground the American economy to a halt, its long-term effects upon the real estate market have begun to set in. In a report released for May 2020 by Las Vegas Realtors, sales are currently at half of the levels that were achieved during the same time period last year. In May 2019, Las Vegas saw 4,045 homes sold; in May 2020, that number has dwindled down to 2,075, including condominiums and townhomes.

In addition, month-to-month sales have decreased as well, with May 2020 seeing 300 fewer homes sold than in April and down nearly 1,400 since March, reports say.

The problem is that, due to the prolonged shutdown of non-essential businesses in Southern Nevada – leaving many laid off or furloughed from their jobs – families and individuals who were contemplating purchasing homes have been holding off due to the economic uncertainty in their lives.

However, with Las Vegas beginning the early stages of reopening its economy, there is a potentially bright future in store in regards to real estate that experts are predicting a timely rebound for housing market. The amount of money being put into escrow in order to begin the home-buying process has increased by 64 percent in May when compared to April, indicating that buyers are setting themselves up for home purchases now that shelter-in-place restrictions are in the process of being lifted.

Once the local economy is fully operational again, those experts are predicting it won’t take long for the Las Vegas real estate scene to start firing on all cylinders again.One indication that sellers are confident that things will eventually get back to normal are home prices, which have remained relatively unchanged during the pandemic, maintaining their recent record highs amid a four-month supply. The median home price in May is $315,000, which is only down slightly from the all-time high of $319,000 set in March.

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.