Category Archive : Economy

LAS VEGAS, NV – Taking advantage of the popularity of “house flipping” shows – that is, programs that chronicle the happenings when people purchase a home to fix up and quickly sell for a profit – HGTV decided to make a spin-off of its hit series Flip or Flop by tying it into a region experiencing a rapid period of growth in terms of real estate; thus, Flip or Flop Vegas was born, debuting on HGTV on April 6, 2017 and instantly finding a loyal audience, earning 12.5 million viewers since its premiere.

Filmed in and about Las Vegas, Nevada, Flip or Flop Vegas features the husband and wife duo of Bristol and Aubrey Marunde as they go using their years of real estate experience flipping various properties in each weekly episode, all under the watchful eye of a professional camera crew. Aubrey is a real estate expert and designer, while Bristol – a former Mixed Martial Arts fighter – is the contractor and handles design as well. With the first season proving to be a ratings winner with audiences, HGTV announced after the finish of season one that Flip or Flop Vegas would be renewed for a second 16-episode season – upgraded from 13 episodes in season one – set to debut this March.

High demand for Las Vegas real estate, combined with ever-escalating prices, have contributed to an intense buying and selling environment unlike near anywhere else in the United States; Aubrey Marunde noted in an interview that such a competitive area was ripe for a television show chronicling the cutthroat attitude and drive a flipper must have when it comes to snatching up distressed properties, renovating them, and getting them back on the market to sell at profit as quickly as possible.

“Vegas is a very, very fast-paced market. There are so many opportunities and they present themselves daily. You have to be ready to jump on them, because if you don’t, somebody else is going to,” she said. “So our fast-paced market here is much different than other places around the country and I think that people watching are going to see that. Our properties sell in hours, rather than days or months here. That’s very unique to the show.”

After the couple’s exploits in season one, the Marundes now find themselves in a Las Vegas that is even more intense in 2018; in fact, Aubrey stated in a recent interview that Vegas is now the country’s “harshest“ real estate market in terms of the speedy time frame needed to execute a successful flip…if you slow down to catch your breath, she noted, you stand to lose countless dollars from your investment.

“Things move so fast in Vegas. You can have an area that’s booming, and something opens next door to it and you start seeing declining value,” she said. “You have to be really careful about which property you select and what you put into it — and how fast you get it on and off your books.”

The couple’s average time to flip a property these days tends to be about three weeks; once on the market, their average sell time is five to seven days.

Going along with the flashy image that Vegas portrays in the media, the design aesthetic the Marundes’ bring to their typical flip can be summed up in one word: “glam,” with lots of chandeliers and lighting and hardware in order to deliver an over-the-top result that has garnered the two quite the reputation…not to mention demand for their work.

A good example of the magic the two can work on a property is a recent job they did in Boulder City in Clark County; as will be shown in an upcoming season two episode, Aubrey and Bristol discovered a 690 square-foot house originally built in 1940, which they purchased with the intent to maintain the old-school charm the property possessed during its renovation. The plan is to double the house’s size with the additions of two new bedrooms and a new bathroom, in addition to replacing the windows, adding a porch, as well as other upgrades and embellishments.

The Boulder City home was purchased for less than its list price of $95,000; when the renovation is complete, Aubrey and Bristol said that they hope to flip it for $300,000. And considering the explosive state of the Las Vegas real estate market, it’s likely that they will get it. Flip or Flop Vegas season two will air on Thursdays this March on HGTV.

With Las Vegas taking the top spots nationally, we are here to help you find out all you need about getting into this hot market, handle your rentals, or buy and sell property locally. Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – 2017 was a red-letter year for Las Vegas in terms of many growth factors- the economy, the real estate market, the job market, and investors have been clamoring to continue that trend leading into the New Year. With the economy in the region on the rebound after laying in stagnation for the better part of a decade, Vegas has become a destination for those looking to not only make a quick buck on a sure thing, but also those who are looking to begin a new chapter in their lives by relocating to a job market where there is ample chance to succeed due to the many opportunities afforded by the many new companies and businesses that have recently taken up residence in Southern Nevada.

And when you have a rising population in any given region, you can’t expect residents to sit in their houses doing nothing when not at work; they need places to go and shop for groceries, enjoy a relaxing drink with their friends, see a movie, or go shopping for the latest fashion trends. That’s where Las Vegas’ downtown area comes into play, and experts are predicting the growth it experienced in 2017 to continue into 2018 to accommodate the rise in the local population.

Currently – despite the development progress over the course of the last year – the downtown area is still in a state of recovery from the economic downturn that Vegas. While improved in many respects, some sections still feature large swaths of boarded-up storefronts – eyesores in an otherwise steadily-growing urban destination for local residents.  For example, the Fremont Street area has experienced a great deal of improvement, but the eastern section is still comprised mostly of empty lots of land and abandoned stores; however, developers have tentative plans in the works to bring a five-story apartment complex to Fremont Street, in addition to a potential multifamily project in the area as well, according to reports.

In addition, Las Vegas city officials have designated the Fremont Street area as a “technology proving ground” in an attempt to develop the area and keep economic growth on an upward angle. They are doing so by addressing quality of life issues that always come along with growth and change in any given region, such as resident safety, traffic flow and congestion, mass transit – including an autonomous shuttle, which is already in-place and running as a precursor to driver-less cars – and pollution. The goal, officials say, is to attract cutting-edge businesses as well as people with families that would want to call Fremont Street, and the rest of the downtown area of Las Vegas, home.

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman has dubbed the effort to revitalize the downtown area in general – and Fremont Street in particular – as “Downtown Lights Up,” which will consist of ample new eye-catching signage welcoming visitors and residents alike, as well as the new, aforementioned tech-focused approach to development, including a complete re-vamping of the video canopy at Fremont Street Experience.

Overall, the comeback of Las Vegas from the brink of ruin it was teetering on for many years is nothing short of astounding, and – one piece at a time – the area is putting itself back together better than it ever has before. No longer content to remain simply a collection of casinos, Vegas is re-inventing itself as a destination for business, sports, arts, real estate, and leisure for many years to come, and the efforts currently directed at revitalizing its downtown area are testament to that.

With Las Vegas taking the top spots nationally, we are here to help you find out all you need about getting into this hot market, handle your rentals, or buy and sell property locally. Please 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 increased real estate construction in Las Vegas to keep up with ever-growing housing demand going into 2018 comes an issue that only goes hand-in-hand with such activity – increased emphasis on infrastructure development to ensure the populace can effectively get to the new towns, stores, and city centers that are being built.

2017 saw multiple road and freeway construction projects get underway in order to allow the free flow of traffic into new areas of Southern Nevada that are currently in the works by numerous developers since the recent housing boom, as well as to accommodate a growing population that is relocating to the region to take advantage of a blossoming job market. One of the most significant and newest of these projects looks to potentially open up North Las Vegas as a major destination for new business and investment activity once complete.

Starting this month will be the beginning of a massive $57.8 million freeway endeavor that will improve the commute from to the Apex Industrial Park in North Las Vegas; this is part of a North Las Vegas city initiative to attract companies to the region, which are currently somewhat vacant. The U.S. Highway 93 interchange with Interstate 15 – which has remained relatively untouched by construction ever since it first opened in 1963 – will be rebuilt, with  additional plans calling for a widening of the 5-mile section of U.S. Highway 93 leading to Apex Power Parkway, from its current incarnation of two lanes to four.

The work will ensure that the resultant new roadway will contain the flexibility to support future plans to increase Interstate 15 to six lanes when the need arises; the stated goal is to increase both safety and for motorists – sections of the current parkway are considered substandard and are open to possible flooding during heavy rainfall – as well as enhancing their mobility by opening up Apex as a potential major industrial park for businesses to set up shop.

The project, funded in large part via a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant from the Federal Highway Administration – acquired by the efforts of the Nevada Department of Transportation, and with development work to be carried out by Ames Construction – will also involve creating advanced traffic intersections for Apex Great Basin Way, Apex Power Parkway and Grand Valley Parkway and new access points for Apex Industrial Park along a re-built and improved frontage road; in addition, another frontage road will run alongside U.S. Highway 93, with construction allowing the ability to add traffic signals to the road at a future date where it intersects with Apex Great Basin Way.

The work is expected to be completed by the close of 2018, and officials from the City of North Las Vegas are hoping that it opens up their neck of the woods to both in and out-of-state investors, as well as big companies looking for a business-friendly climate to set up shop.

Are you considering Southern Nevada as a potential for investment? Would you like to hear more about why Las Vegas real estate is one of the busiest topic for real estate investors as of late? Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – Spurred on by a rapidly escalating real estate market, renewed interest shown by big brand-name companies, and backing by global investors, Las Vegas, Nevada’s economy is projected to skyrocket in 2018 by major economists. According to Bloomberg, in the mid-2000’s Las Vegas was among the hardest-hit cities by the United States’ nationwide economic crisis, with house prices falling a whopping 62 percent from their 2006 high-point –single-family home building permits dropped by over 90 percent – and unemployment hitting its most widespread peak at 14 percent in 2010. Housed purchased by investors sat vacant and unused.

However, after over ten years of slow and painful recovery, experts have stated that Las Vegas is on the top of their lists for U.S. cities that are making a serious economic comeback in 2018. For instance, according to the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, November 2017 saw the amount of houses on the market in the Southern Nevada region to be 30 percent less than during the same period the year prior – representing a mere remaining supply of two months for buyers – which resulted in a significant jump in property values, with Vegas being only one of two metropolitan areas in the country – the other being Seattle, Washington – that has shown an increase into double-digits over the last twelve months.

According to Nevada Business, the main driving factors behind Las Vegas’ economic growth in 2018 will be numerous and varies, split-up among construction; currently the city is an estimated 10,000 workers short for the number of projects slated for the region in coming years, consisting of sporting venues, hotels, casinos, and family housing – in addition to tourism, and a number of large investments to be made as they relate to that tourism. In addition, an expanding number of retirees in the area, along with logistics and warehouse/distribution – with Amazon.com building major fulfillment centers in Vegas – also playing into the growth factor expected in 2018. New jobs are coming in at 4 percent in terms of growth, which amounts to approximately 7,000 to 10,000 on an annual basis.

In addition, the recently-passed GOP tax overhaul bill, with its emphasis on cutting the tax rate for businesses, is projected to enable companies to raise the pay rates of their employees and invest in growing their individual scopes, creating new jobs in the process; this will potentially have the effect of lowering the cost of goods and services for the middle class, and it stands to reason that the GOP tax plan; provided it works as it’s touted to – could prove to be a major boon to Las Vegas in particular, pouring gasoline on the fire of the city’s economic recovery.

Another factor that should contribute to increase in wages is the aforementioned shortage of construction workers; in an effort to entice more qualified employees to bolster their ranks, developers on average have raised the hourly rates of workers over 8 percent in the last year alone; with more workers needed and a smaller tax rate, this amount is sure to increase even more in 2018. Jobs, real estate, tax cuts, wage growth, investments, and mass construction, Las Vegas features everything a city could possibly need to stoke the fires of economic growth for 2018, and for the people who waited out the last decade when things were at their worst, they should now be ready to experience Las Vegas at its very best.

With Las Vegas taking the top spots nationally, we are here to help you find out all you need about getting into this hot market, handle your rentals, or buy and sell property locally. Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – With 2018 finally here, the future of Las Vegas is starting to take real shape; and nowhere is that more apparent than the much-anticipated arrival of the Las Vegas Raiders National Football team, whose new home base – Las Vegas Raiders Stadium, a $2 billion, 65,000-seat complex being built on a 63-acre plot of land located just west of Interstate 15 – officially broke ground in November of 2017 and recently overcame several new hurdles in its development while making headway towards its 2020 goal of completion.

An anticipated delay involving an underground flood channel was recently overcome via a Section 408 permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which granted developers the ability to move the flood-control culvert so that it circumvents the stadium grounds so as to not delay construction; previously, the stadium’s 2020 grand opening date appeared to be in peril due to this issue, with completion possibly being pushed back to 2021 as a result.

The flood channel provides a conduit for storm water from the Decatur Boulevard and Russell Road-based Tropicana Detention Basin to the Flamingo Wash, located in the vicinity of Flamingo Road and Swenson Street. The culvert currently runs through the Las Vegas Stadium grounds in by ways of a 6-foot tall, 15-foot wide “S”-shaped channel, after which it runs underneath several other notable Vegas properties – such as the Hard Rock Hotel and MGM Grand – before reaching its drainage point. Thanks to the Section 408 permit, the culvert will be transplanted to the west approximately 150 feet, steering it clear of the ground of the stadium project.

With the Las Vegas Raiders stadium progress back on track, the developers and team owners are now looking at addressing other issues that will eventually arise once the project is completed— namely, a need for regulating the more-than-likely increase in pedestrian traffic, as well as the availability of new emergency services that will be required by public safety laws to be local to the stadium.

Reports indicate that the Las Vegas Raiders had struck a bargain with Clark County officials to foot the $1.4 million bill for a specific set of emergency services within the vicinity of the stadium, in addition to new infrastructure situated around the stadium’s parameter in order to manage the anticipated large increase in foot traffic, including pedestrian bridges or underpass alterations to existing sidewalks and roadways, installation of traffic control devices, construction of local Las Vegas Metro Police headquarter/detention facilities, and equipment and services to deal with any unforeseen emergencies. The exact configuration of this complex web of new infrastructure has not yet reached a detailed planning stage yet; that will come once the developers submit their parking plans for the stadium to Clark County by their September 2018 deadline, which needs to account for the at least 14,000 off-site parking spaces as required by county code. Once parking has been approved, work can commence on how to manage the flow of foot traffic and other services required of a major event venue, while avoiding impacts upon local vehicle traffic.

These large-scale changes will prove to be a tricky task in a large, busy city such as Las Vegas, but in the end they will provide for a better and safer experience for both tourists and local residents alike as congestion in the vicinity of Las Vegas Stadium is sure to increase exponentially once the Raiders make their 2020 debut in Southern Nevada.

Thinking of relocating to Las Vegas? Let us help you plan your relocation. Our experienced agents are here to help you with your Southern Nevada relocation efforts including neighborhood statistics, schools, educational information, etc. Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – In a year of never-ending real estate news, 2017 comes to a close with Las Vegas as the region of the United States with the fastest-climbing real estate market; today, let’s take a look back and evaluate some of the highlights – and, considering what a red-letter year it’s been for Nevada, that’s no small task – in anticipation of what is yet to come in 2018.

Raiders Stadium: The former Oakland Raiders will be transplanting themselves to Las Vegas in 2020, and to make them feel at home, in May they purchased a 63-acre plot of land located at Dean Martin Drive and Russell Road in order to construct a massive $2 billion stadium and practice facility – with $750 million of that amount coming from public funding sources – which officially broke ground in November. The project has been credited with increasing tourism interest in Las Vegas, as well as serving as a beacon to companies interested in setting-up shop in Southern Nevada due to the local economic benefits the famous NFL team is providing, even well before their arrival in two years.

World Market Center: Wall Street-based investment firm The Blackstone group made a particularly noteworthy acquisition in Las Vegas in 2017- the World Market Center, a nearly 5.5 million square-foot furniture showroom facility located on Grand Central Parkway at Bonneville Avenue. The purchase, the cost of which was not made public, was announced in September, which was the same time-frame as Blackstone’s procurement of International Market Centers, which owns furniture showrooms located in both Vegas and North Carolina. Blackstone has made several high-profile purchases of Las Vegas real estate in the last few years, including the Las Vegas Strip-based The Cosmopolitan, a 3,000-room hotel.

Fontainebleau: The infamous 60-story hotel, which has been standing overlooking the Strip in its partially-constructed state for years due to the iron grip of the mid-2000’s housing bubble burst upon Southern Nevada, has changed hands several times; in August, real estate investment firms Witkoff and New Valley made public a deal where they acquired the property from the previous owner, Billionaire Carl Icahn, for the sum of $600 million (Icahn had purchased during the depths of the recession for $150 million), with the hopes of finishing the facility for an as-of-yet unannounced purpose (although presumably it will take the form of a hotel of some sort), with the project currently carrying the temporary moniker “Project Blue” as new development efforts are set to commence in 2018.

Alon: The Alon site, a 38 acre expanse of land located on the Strip adjacent to the Fashion Show Shopping Mall, was purchased in December for $336 million by billionaire developer Steve Wynn, who has purchased several properties in the area in recent years – including the $1.5 billion Paradise Park hotel and resort – although it is currently unknown what his plans are for his newest acquisition, the sale of which will be finalized in the first quarter of 2018. At the moment, representatives for Wynn have merely stated that they are purchasing the Alon site and some of its adjacent property – which has changed ownership hands several times over the years, including in 2007 and 2014 – for “future development.”

Town Square: A large open-air retail and office complex located at Las Vegas Boulevard and Sunset Road, Town Square Las Vegas was sold in January to investment firms TIAA and Fairbourne Partners; price was not publicly disclosed, but according to reports the companies took out a $215.6 million mortgage in connection to the acquisition of the 100-acre property, which was seized via foreclosure by creditors in 2011. Retailers already in-place at Town Square include Apple, The Container Store, and Whole Foods Market, in addition to office tenants such as SolarCity.

 Looking for information on investment properties in the area? Give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

NEVADA – Las Vegas has, for decades, has been considered the epicenter of lavish hotel accommodations and casinos emphasizing games of chance and potentially big payouts for lucky competitors. However, in the new era of Vegas, defined now by a steadily rising and recovering real estate market and skyrocketing economy propped up by renewed business interest in the region, some casinos are attempting to cash-in not as much on gamblers, but more on tourists in a more family-friendly version of Las Vegas which has risen from the mid-2000’s housing bubble.

For instance, the former Monte Carlo casino resort – now known as the Park MGM casino resort, located on the famed Vegas strip – is undergoing a large-scale renovation, with the stated goal being to transform the property from what many considered an out-of-date, middle of the road property, to a classy, sophisticated hotel with the trappings of higher-class casino games in a bid to attract a younger demographic. Glitz and glamour will be downplayed in favor of what the developers are referring to as a more “romantic” feel, with décor featuring the roots of trees growing out of ceilings, opulent crystal chandeliers, and priceless works of art by masters such as the famous Pablo Picasso.

Park MGM will still boast a whopping 2,700 rooms, but approximately 290 of those rooms – located on the topmost floors of the hotel – will be turned into NoMad Las Vegas, an upscale series of suites. Gone from the Park MGM are garishly patterned carpets, drapes and bright, pastel colors; in their place are subdued hues, such as reds and greens – and furnishings featuring more artsy character.

The reasoning behind the $450 million re-design, according to the developers, is that modern affluent youth are typically turned off aesthetics they may associate with kitsch or tackiness, and as a result a more cutting-edge, modern design aesthetic is being embraced by the Park to evolve with the times. In addition, younger people have demonstrated less interest in gambling activities and as a result, the Park will be including upgrades featuring more varied entertainment options to appeal to this group.

While gambling will be scaled back in some respects, it will remain as a central attraction to retain the resort’s current, core audience, mostly made up of an older demographic; however, one notable omission from the premises once the facility re-opens after completion of the renovation are slot machines, AKA one-armed bandits.

Park MGM follows in the footsteps of several other high-profile casinos on the strip who have experienced faltering business but have seen a resurgence after successfully renovating and re-branding themselves to accommodate changing times and tastes. The Park MGM will, upon re-opening – have 90 percent of the renovated rooms expected to be open for rental starting in January of 2018. Park will offer rooms starting at $88 a night to lure in younger customers, and the company is counting on the property’s central location on the Las Vegas strip making it a powerful draw for tourists of all ages going forward.

Need real estate assistance in the fast-evolving Vegas market? Thinking of relocating here? Maybe just visiting and poking around? Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – California is known for a great many things- it’s the epicenter of the nation’s entertainment industry, home to countless movie stars, a leader in environmental causes, technology, and much more. However, unfortunately, once you peer beneath the star-studded veneer and look upon the working class in the so-called “Golden State,” you’ll see a population who is struggling to make ends meet and who are looking for a better way of life.

Many Californians are turning to Las Vegas for the opportunities they feel are being denied to them at home in a bid to finally achieve success.

The high cost of living in California has resulted in a great deal of hardship for the middle-class – with many people finding it necessary to move back in with their parents just to make ends meet – and like in many other areas of the country, people are finding it harder and harder despite working 40+ hours a week with many of them fleeing what they see as a sinking ship. An example- Michael J. Van Essen, a retiree from Silver Lake, California finally got tired of paying $1,160 for a single-bedroom apartment and decided to pick up and move out of state, where he found he could get much more for less.

One region in particular where they’re fleeing to is – you guessed it – Las Vegas, Nevada, where the recent economic and housing boom, revitalizing the area after over a decade of dormancy, has painted it as a very attractive destination for those looking to begin their lives anew for a number of quite valid reasons. For one, it’s situated close to California, so the cost and hassle of moving a lifetime of belongings is minimal when compared to heading elsewhere in the county. Also, due to the spike in the economy in Vegas in the last few years, it’s become a bona-fide hotbed of job and career activity, with numerous businesses, companies, and high-profile major league sports teams are transplanting themselves here; the job market in Southern Nevada is also growing by leaps and bounds with no signs of slowing down, so for now, it seems, obvious it is becoming a magnet for hopefuls looking for a new start.

Additionally, the cost of living is far more manageable in Las Vegas then California; for example, the median home value is currently $512,800, with values having gone up 7.1% over the past year. In contrast, there are many single-family homes on the market in Vegas in the range of $200,000 to $300,000, which is obviously far more manageable amount for working class people on a budget. Incidentals, such as taxes and such, are more reasonable as well when compared to life on the far-west coast of the U.S.

Therefore, if you’re a California resident – or are living in a similarly difficult economic climate elsewhere in the nation – Las Vegas is certainly worth your consideration when it comes to achieving a healthier work-life balance including the goal of home ownership (without working yourself to death while doing so).

Thinking of relocating to Las Vegas from a higher cost of living region? Let us help you plan your relocation. Our experienced agents are here to help you with your Southern Nevada relocation efforts including neighborhood statistics, schools, educational information, etc. Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – There’s one thing for sure in the real estate market- rising demand equals rising sales, and rising sales equals rising prices.

Such a thing especially holds true in Las Vegas, where the market has been soaring after its recovery from the mid-2000’s housing bubble burst; according to a recent Zillow report, Southern Nevada has gone from one of the most stagnant markets around to the region with the fastest-rising home values in the entire country. The estimated Las Vegas median home value is expected to reach $247,331 in September 2018, an increase of 5.9 percent from the same time period one year ago; this represents the fastest anticipated increase in home values throughout the over 30 metropolitan areas listed in the report. To illustrate how significant a jump this is for the Las Vegas area, home prices nationwide overall are only expected to jump approximately 3.1 percent in 2018.

Of course, increases of this sort are nothing new since the housing market’s recovery began in Southern Nevada. The price of single-family homes – which make up the vast majority of the market – in the region have jumped a whopping 13.4 percent since September 2016 until the present day; homes sold in the month of October 2017 came in at an average price of $263,000, and this is with the available inventory becoming more and more scarce. The number of homes currently listed for sale in Vegas are down 17 percent from 2016, with 11,200 single-family homes listed for sale in Southern Nevada at the end of March; meanwhile, developers struggle daily with construction projects aimed at satisfying the ever-growing demand. In fact, the number of houses on the market during the current time period is, shockingly enough, at the lowest number in recently-recorded history since the year 2001.

Other metrics also support the claim of Las Vegas’ standing as the area of the United States with the fastest-climbing housing values; according to Standard & Poor’s CoreLogic Case-Shiller national home price index for Southern Nevada rose 6.2 percent in September from one year prior, which is the highest gain for the area that it’s registered since 2014.When you combine that with a low unemployment rate and historically low mortgage rates – current rates are hovering around 4 percent – it’s easy to see why houses in Vegas are getting snapped up as a rapid pace.

While early on in its recovery period, many experts dismissed the rising interest in Las Vegas housing as a fluke, but given the amount of time it’s been continuing – and the indisputable numbers that experts have been touting since the beginning – the situation is clear; the Southern Nevada real estate market, after sitting in limbo among a landscape of empty homes for over a decade, has now become the epicenter of a new housing boom, reviving a stagnant economy and job market and paving the way for a brighter tomorrow for investors and residents alike.

With Las Vegas taking the top spots nationally, we are here to help you find out all you need about getting into this hot market, handle your rentals, or buy and sell property locally. Please 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 local economy on the rise and new businesses are arriving in the area, Las Vegas is on the verge of its greatest all-time comebacks. But the famous city and its surrounding areas are still struggling in one area- attracting the next generation of young business leaders and workers, and to that end, local officials are eyeing several different projects they hope will appeal to Millennials, a relatively unique section of society with different motivations for success than most.

Millennials are the demographic cohort following Generation X; those born in the early 1980s throughout the mid-1990s to early 2000s, and they are typically known for their savvy with technology and social media and a high degree of ambivalence about material success, preferring a more stable work-life balance and a fulfilling social life as opposed to grinding away for hours behind a desk. As such, Las Vegas is seen by many as the city of excesses; it would only be natural that this would not be the average Millennials’ first choice to live. However – owing in part to their love of posting exciting activities on social media platforms such as Instagram – Southern Nevada developers are starting to invest in amenities they hope will draw in this coveted generation, including a zip line across the Las Vegas strip from Caesars Palace and an e-sports arena at the Luxor, both currently under development and slated for use in 2018.

In addition, a construction project at a Lake Mead National Recreation Area campground is set soon, which will result in approximately $3 million in improvements to the popular Boulder Beach Campground, including restorations and repairs to at least 73 campsites, roads, and sanitation and potable water refill stations. In addition, structures to provide shade during hot summer months will be added as well, providing an environment sure to attract Millennials, many of whom are big fans of outdoor activities when on free time.

Additionally, sporting events are always a great way to attract the younger generation, and in addition to the much-publicized start of construction on the incoming Las Vegas Raiders NFL team’s eponymous stadium, due to open in 2020, local officials recently gave the green light to another sporting complex- the Las Vegas Ballpark, set to be built in Downtown Summerlin. The proposed 10,000-seat baseball stadium will be the new home of Las Vegas 51s Triple-A minor league baseball team, with the initial groundbreaking set to be held in early 2018. The developers have laid out what they refer to as an “aggressive” development schedule, and anticipate the stadium being open in time for the 2019 season. Again, offering more in the way of exciting entertainment options for residents is seen by officials as a way to attract younger people to Nevada, something access to quality sporting entertainment often results in.

A region with a rapidly growing economy and a very competitive real estate and job market needs young people to fill their ranks more than anything, and recent developments in Las Vegas have made it clear that businesses and officials are doing what they can to entice Millennials to take a chance on all that Las Vegas has to offer.

Thinking of relocating to Las Vegas? Maybe investing? If you need real estate information on the fast-evolving Las Vegas market, please 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 bubble in Las Vegas during the mid-2000’s there hasn’t been much of a need for construction workers, as numerous houses and properties – purchased by unlucky investors looking to turn a fast buck – found them sitting unused for the better part of a decade or more as the demand for homes seemingly dried up overnight. Fast-forward to 2017, and the rapidly growing and recovering economy of the Southern Nevada region is not only gobbling up those formally vacant dwellings and vacant lots, but demand is now such that the most sought-after employees in the state are not accountants or engineers, but – you guessed it – construction workers.

The numerous construction projects on the drawing board in Las Vegas have resulted in delays as companies far and wide have found themselves short on workers they need. Currently, demand for affordable housing and apartments in Vegas has resulted in a shortage of selection and skyrocketing prices, and companies have been working overtime to erect new dwellings in an attempt to keep up with demand and to help slowly draw those prices down to a more manageable level.

With work currently progressing on the $1.9 billion Las Vegas Raiders stadium, and an estimated $15 billion of construction projects already slated for the next decade, experts say that up to 10,000 workers are currently needed in order to get these projects up and running. In addition to housing, entertainment, retail, and other building projects have sprung up in recent months, including work on a 14-screen movie theater in North Las Vegas that represents a revitalization attempt of the beleaguered area’s economically-downtrodden downtown district.

In addition, construction in Southern Nevada may get an additional shot in the arm thanks to the innovation of two local businessmen; currently, a high amount of materials for house and building construction needs to be delivered into the region from other states or even other countries, but Father and son Barry and Jordan Yost are investing in a new company – Precision Tube Laser LLC – that may change all of that.

Currently, parts for heavy industrial power generating items such as solar towers and pressure vessels are typically constructed and imported from the Southern United States or Asia; however, with the help of state tax abatement in the amount of $89,000, Precision Tube Laser LLC is the new, proud owner of a $1.2 million laser tube cutting machine – the TruLaser Tube 5000 – that is capable of cutting tubing and other materials into shapes with a precision that standard hand-held, propane-based cutting torches are unable to approach. Without the wait and cost of having to order materials from factories hundreds or even thousands of miles away, construction projects in the Las Vegas area can get a head-start on projects that otherwise might be stuck in the mire until expensive imported parts finally arrive.

The arrival of companies such as Precision Tube Laser LLC into the local construction scene are likely to herald more such innovation in the region once their need is proven; it’s likely that other needs relevant to the Vegas construction community that are served via out-of-state sources will eventually be served in-house as well, leading to an even larger boost to local real estate, and in turn, the need for yet more construction workers. Industry analysts are encouraging those looking for work in Nevada to get the training needed to get involved, as the majority of positions needed in construction tend to pay well, and are expected to provide regular work well into the future as Las Vegas continues on its journey back to prosperity.

Need real estate information on the fast-evolving Las Vegas market? Thinking of relocating here? Maybe investing? Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – The soon-to-be-transplanted Las Vegas Raiders NFL team has gotten people talking, and their imminent arrival in Southern Nevada – in 2020, if all goes well with the construction of their new state-of-the-art stadium situated at Interstate 15 and Russell Road – has already resulted in economic growth and the interest of new businesses opening up shop in the region. However, a proposed tax reform currently in the works by the Republican members of the House of Representatives may throw some roadblocks into the equation, as certain provisions investors were relying upon to fund the Raiders project may now be in jeopardy.

Currently, the cost of the $1.9 billion, 65,000-seat Las Vegas Raiders football stadium is being financed, in part, via the use of tax-exempt bonds; this is a common practice used by investors when it comes to the construction of stadiums for sports teams. However, a provision of the proposed House tax reform bill – one currently being championed by United States President Donald J. Trump, who has vowed to sign it into law before Thanksgiving of this year, placing the Raiders project within its legal boundaries – will outlaw the use of Tax-exempt bonds in this manner, which would mean that $750 million in public monies will be excluded from the stadium’s financing package if 429-page legislative bill passes in its current form.

What does this mean for the future of the Raiders stadium, which recently held a groundbreaking ceremony on November 13?

At the moment, the ultimate effect is not known, although experts have noted that the current design of the stadium would fall into the parameters of a project covered by the Republican tax reform bill; the passage of the bill would very likely give developers major cause to revise the financial details of the construction, although to what degree is currently up in the air. Most reports, however, say that the passage of the tax bill will potentially increase make the project more expensive by increasing interest rates, decreasing the yield, or both. However, all aspects of the proposed House legislation must be made public and examined before the true extent of its effect upon the finances of the Raiders stadium project will be laid bare. But this is provided that the bill passes and doesn’t suffer the same fate as the GOP’s recent health care reform efforts, which were held off by House Democrats and several defecting Republicans members; likewise, the tax reform has generated a similar degree of discontent between the two major political parties, so currently its fate is uncertain.

If the bill passes and the Raiders project is no longer able to utilize tax-exempt bonds in its financing, it is likely that the project will continue as planned, albeit with higher costs; additional investment streams may be required as well to deal with rising development costs. It is vital for the stadium’s development to continue unabated, as its initial announcement has had a spillover effect on industrial properties that had previously stood vacant and unused, even amid Las Vegas’ current housing boom, proving that not only will the arrival of the Raiders have a positive effect on the NFL team’s own bottom line, but the bottom line of the region as well.

Need real estate assistance in the fast-evolving Las Vegas market? Thinking of relocating here? Maybe investing? Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.