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justice dept

DOJ Begins Suing Landlords That Use Criminal Background Checks to Screen Prospective Tenants

LAS VEGAS, NV – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has stepped-up enforcement of a federal civil rights law known as the Fair Housing Act that prohibits housing discrimination based on race or color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or disability.

In particular, the DOJ is focusing on an aspect of the Fair Housing Act that was added in 2016 by the Obama Admin’s U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that forbade landlords and property owners from utilizing background checks to screen prospective tenants to ensure they do not have criminal records before allowing them to rent their properties.

At the time that the ban on criminal background checks was instituted, the HUD General Counsel at the time, Helen R. Kanovsky, wrote that the new rule was needed – even if no discrimination whatsoever was intended on the part of a property owner – “because of widespread racial and ethnic disparities in the U.S. criminal justice system, criminal history-based restrictions on access to housing are likely disproportionately to burden African Americans and Hispanics.”

Recently, the feds have ramped-up their efforts to aggressively pursue landlords in the instances that this practice has been alleged to have occurred, filing lawsuits against them. One recent example involves legal action taken against Suburban Heights, an apartment complex in Kinloch, Missouri, with the DOJ claiming that management has been actively violating the Fair Housing Act since 2015 by actively and disproportionately discriminating against potential Black renters with criminal histories – including felony convictions – more than their White counterparts.

The DOJ further noted statistical Black-White racial disparities in conviction and incarceration rates in the United States, saying landlord background screenings unfairly hurt Black renters once they have served their time and are looking to re-enter society.

Incarceration data indicates that Black individuals are significantly more likely than White individuals to have the types of convictions covered by Suburban Heights’ Criminal History Ban,” the DOJ said in court documents. “This is true nationwide and, to an even greater extent, in St. Louis City and St. Louis County. Black individuals are at least four times, and often more than five times, more likely than White individuals to be incarcerated in prisons, both at any given point in time and over the course of their lifetimes.”

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas 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.

Clark County

Clark County Purchases 20 Acres of Federal Land for 210-Unit Affordable Housing Community

LAS VEGAS, NV – Clark County announced this week that they had purchased 20 acres of U.S. government-controlled land from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to construct Nevada’s first-of-its-kind affordable residential housing community.

Officials confirmed that Clark County bought the land – located along Cactus Avenue in the southwest Las Vegas Valley – from BLM for the price of $100 an acre, with the intention of constructing 210 single-family homes aimed at first-time homebuyers who earn approximately $70,000 a year or less.

The community will be dubbed “Cactus Trails” once it is complete, and will offer three- and four-bedroom homes with numerous amenities for its residents, such as a playground, walking and hiking trails, and much more.

The plan, originally announced on July 16, will see Clark County retaining ownership of the land, which will ensure that prices remain at affordable levels, according to a post made by officials on X (formerly Twitter).

Plans for the project are expected to be submitted this fall,” the post said. “After the homes are built, qualified homebuyers will purchase the home while the County maintains ownership of the land to keep the cost of homebuying attainable for working families.”

https://twitter.com/ClarkCountyNV/status/1844801608653418639

Documents were signed last Friday officially transferring the 20 acres of land at a ceremony attended by officials from Clark County, the Biden Administration, BLM, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

At the event, District F Commissioner Justin Jones noted that Clark County’s commitment to providing affordable housing for its residents is a top priority.

Clark County has invested millions of dollars to foster development of affordable housing for working families and seniors on fixed income within our community,” he said. “Cactus Trails will be a first-of-its kind development in our community, aiming to offer affordable homeownership opportunities to working families.”

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas 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.

Henderson

Developer Purchases 20 Acres of Land Adjacent to Henderson, Plans on Building 229 Homes

LAS VEGAS, NV – KB Home, a major homebuilder in the Las Vegas Valley, has announced that they have purchased a large plot of “prime” land adjacent to Henderson upon which they intend to construct multiple housing units next year.

The 20 acres of land located in the Southeast valley along Boulder Highway and northeast of Harry Reid International Airport will be the site of KB Home’s latest construction endeavor, with the developer stating they will erect 229 homes at the site.

KB Home purchased the commercially-zoned land from The Siegel Group – a Las Vegas-based real estate investment and management firm – for $19 million, and is currently in the process of entitling the land for residential development.

The Siegel Group President, Stephen Siegel, noted that his firm had received numerous offers for the land in recent years, and said that he is happy that it will be used to address the housing crisis that is currently plaguing Southern Nevada.

We’re thrilled to complete this sale with KB Home, a top-tier builder known for creating exceptional residential communities,” Siegel said. “Their development will bring much-needed housing to Boulder Highway and positively impact the community.”

KB Home’s Division President, Jim McDade, revealed that the 229-unit single-family housing community will be dubbed “Manzano,” and that both construction work and home sales will commence on an unspecified date in 2025.

The new homes at Manzano will be designed for the way people live today, with popular interior features like modern kitchens overlooking large great rooms, expansive bedroom suites with walk-in closets, and ample storage space,” McDade said. “The community’s floor plans will feature up to five bedrooms and four baths.”

The original plot of land involved in the deal totaled 27 acres, with The Siegel Group holding onto the remaining seven acres for future development; there is also currently a 186-unit extended-stay hotel located on the property as well.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas 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.

Airbnb

Two Nevada STRs Among Costliest in Nation, Including One Renting for Nearly $40,000/Night

LAS VEGAS, NV – Short Term Rentals are very much in demand in areas that feature popular tourist destinations, and with one of the most visited cities on Earth – that being Las Vegas, of course – Nevada is no exception. Coupled with the age-old adage that demand sets price – Nevada is home to some very costly STR listings, with two properties in particular ranked among the most expensive in the United States.

BestBrokers has published the results of a study that examined seven-night Airbnb stays throughout the country during July 2024 – which is considered to be the peak rental month – in order to determine the priciest ones in the nation. Variables in the study included the type of property, cost per night, maximum guest capacity, the number of bedrooms and baths, and what amenities were on offer.

Nevada had an Airbnb that came in third most expensive on the list: Zephyr Cove’s Sierra Sunset Estate, which is located on 24 acres of lakefront property with a private dock and a 150 square-foot beach. The residence itself comes in at 16,703 square-feet and has eight bedrooms, eight-and-a-half bathrooms, and a maximum guest capacity of 16 people. It also boasts numerous high-end amenities, such as a private theater, exercise room, wine cellar, game room with a bar, and a gourmet kitchen with a butler’s pantry.

The cost for all this? An eye-popping $39,563 per night; if filled to the maximum number of guests who all agree to split the cost evenly, they each would be shelling out $17,309 for each night for their stay.

The second Nevada-based STR on BestBrokers’ list was ranked 16th costliest in the country, and that entry is a waterfront estate in Glenbrook on Lake Tahoe called Villa Harrah. The property is a 20,000 square-foot residence with seven bedrooms and seven-and-a-half bathrooms, and can accommodate up to 10 guests at a time.

Amenities are plentiful, including a full cinema, wet bar, and pool table to a deluxe spa with a sauna, hot tub, salt room, and even a nail and hair salon. A large terrace leads to a pool, a beach and private pier.

The cost per night for this property is an incredible $23,171; contrast that with the average national cost of a nightly rental – $216 – and you clearly see these two Nevada listings are indeed for those with fat wallets only.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas 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.

GLVAR Image

Condo, Townhome Prices in Vegas Hit All-Time High in September; Home Prices Drop Slightly

LAS VEGAS, NV – As per a new report by Las Vegas Realtors (LVR), the median price of condominiums and townhomes in Vegas during the month of September hit their all-time high, while single-family home prices dropped ever-so-slightly still remaining perilously close to record levels.

In September, the median price of condos and townhomes in the Valley reached their highest level in history at $299,500, surging a whopping $7,500 over August’s $292,000 median price; this bests the previous record set in July when that amount was $296,000, and represents a 10.9 percent increase year-over-year.

As for pre-existing, single-family homes in Vegas, September’s median price was $299,500, a 6.6 percent year-over-year increase and an ever-so-slight decrease of just $100 from August’s $480,000 median price. September’s price, while infinitesimally lower from the month before, nonetheless remains just $2,100 shy of the region’s all-time record of $482,000, originally set in May 2022.

While real estate prices in Southern Nevada dropped slightly prior to the Federal Reserve’s half-percentage point interest rate cut in August, September overall saw prices rise yet again; single-family homes have increased in value in eight out of the nine months of this year so far.

LVR President Merri Perry nonetheless remained optimistic that the Fed’s rate cut – and the additional ones it plans to institute in the near future – will make homes in the Valley more affordable sooner rather than later.

The interest rate cut announced in September by the Fed can only help the housing market,” she said. “While I don’t think this will have a dramatic impact, it certainly helps people, especially prospective homebuyers.”

2.277 homes, condos and townhomes changed hands in Las Vegas in September, representing an overall decrease year-over-year among all three; home sales were 1.6 percent lower when compared to September 2023, and condo and townhome sales were down 12.1 percent.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas 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

Las Vegas Ranks Highest in Nation in Terms of Growth of New Home Listings

LAS VEGAS, NV – While Las Vegas has always been a hotbed of real estate activity, a new report indicates the city currently boasts the highest levels of growth in terms of new home listings out of the entire nation.

According to residential real estate brokerage and mortgage origination services company Redfin, in August of 2024, the number of new home listings in Sin City jumped an impressive 12.8 percent year-over-year, which represents the biggest increase out of any metro area in the United States.

However, Redfin did not note the overall number of listings that this encompassed, just the percentage of the increase from one year to the next.

The growth of new listings in Vegas beat out competing cities such as San Diego, California, which saw an 11.7 percent increase, and Sacramento, California, with an 9.5 increase.

In contrast, Atlanta, Georgia, saw its number of new home listings decrease the most nationally, with a whopping drop of 19.4 percent year-over-year.

As for what is driving the large increase of new home listings in Las Vegas, experts point to numerous factors influencing the real estate market, such as a growing number of residential transplants from neighboring California – most likely escaping high living costs and heavy tax burdens – as well as lowering interest rates on home mortgages following the Federal Reserve’s recent rate cuts.

The continued upward trajectory of Vegas’ real estate industry is also being driven by the arrival of new professional sports teams – such as the Raiders NFL team – as well as significant investments on the part of Hollywood bigwigs such as Sony, which is establishing a new studio in Summerlin.

“Everyone is coming here,” Perry said. “I’ve had a lot of cash buyers come in, and a lot of Californians are coming because prices are so high they can sell their property and pay cash here and have a big nest egg because everything in Las Vegas is cheaper.”

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas 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.

Lake Las Vegas

New Luxury Waterfront Resort-Style Community Coming to SouthShore Lake Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NV – The affluent SouthShore Lake Las Vegas master-planned community will be welcoming a prestigious new neighborhood early in 2025: La Cova, which according to developer Tri Pointe Homes is a luxury waterfront resort-style community whose homes will boast a luxurious European design aesthetic, right in the heart of Nevada.

Mike Woodley, President of Woodley Architectural Group – the firm that helped to design the community’s unique look and feel – noted that the guard-gated La Cova will be comprised of 42 residences spread out amongst three enclaves on adjacent peninsulas.

We were careful to contextualize the homes to the existing SouthShore neighborhood,” Woodley said. “These homes belong on this side of the lake in the exclusive SouthShore community. Our designs have the spirit of Old-World architecture but with cleaner lines and a bit more modern aesthetic.”

A total of 38 homes will be located along the shore of Lake Las Vegas, with the remaining four near the community’s edge, adjacent to the SouthShore Country Club golf course.

La Cova’s planning stage lasted two years while honing every possible detail of the community, said Tri Pointe Homes Division President Klif Andrews, right down to ensuring optimal, breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding mountain vistas.

It’s the first time we’ve done a professionally preplanned community, and I think that is exciting,” Andrews said. “Designing floor plans to fit certain homesites maximizes the views and creates an opportunity for a more custom experience. Each home will be one-of-a-kind.”

The homes on-offer in La Cova range in size from 3,200 square-feet to over 4,400 square-feet, with prices starting at $2 million and up. Designs blend modern-style Tuscan and Mediterranean influences and feature large windows for maximum visibility and backyards with lush, resort-style courtyards.

In addition, there will be numerous high-end amenities available for these homes, such as detached casitas, workout rooms, executive offices, club rooms and upper-level balconies. Also, boating, paddle boarding, and many other sport and recreation options are available via the development’s waterfront location.

La Cova is going to be unlike any other place,” Andrews said. “The way we connect homes to the water, it’s like having your own private luxury resort. It gives buyers a rare opportunity to purchase something incredibly unique for our market.”

Tri Pointe Homes is currently offering tours of model houses in the La Cova community, which is still under development.

Many of these people have already been negatively impacted by illegal short-term rentals in their communities, many of which are leased to groups who hold loud, disruptive parties; as a result, many who have given their opinions on possible regulations are split regarding their desire to even have rentals in their neighborhoods.

New Report Indicates Majority of 10,000 Short-Term Rentals in Las Vegas are Unlicensed

LAS VEGAS, NV – Las Vegas is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and when those visitors come to Sin City, they obviously need places to stay. And while the city’s hotels are bustling, investors have been hedging their bets on the popular short-term rental industry in recent years, buying up properties to rent out via platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo.

At current count, there are approximately 10,000 short-term rentals operating in Las Vegas; however, according to a new report, the majority of them are doing so without a license, and are thus considered illegal by Clark County officials.

Landlords operating unlicensed short-term rentals can face serious penalties, with recent examples including hosts incurring fines as high as $180,000 to $240,000. But the majority of these property owners would prefer to be running their rentals legally and on the up-and-up, and blame the extraordinarily sluggish licensing approval process on the part of Clark County for essentially forcing them to skirt the law.

Clark County’s pre-application process opened in 2022, with the deadline for submission having been August 2023. Since then, however, a meager 64 applications have been approved out of the 831 submitted, leaving a looming backlog of over 600 individuals waiting to be able to legally rent out their properties.

According to a statement that Clark County officials issued to the media, the approval process has become ensnared in unforeseen red tape caused by the type of lottery process they employed, and they are attempting to rectify those issues as quickly as possible.

The issuance or denial of a license or a withdrawal of an application will impact other applicants with a higher RNG number on the priority list,” officials said. “Also, the appeal of a denial also requires a hearing process, which requires additional time and delays the process. Additionally, there are factors that impact the timeliness of this process, such as applicants submitting fees timely and getting their inspections scheduled.”

But regardless of the reasons for the delays, Greater Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Association founder Jackie Flores said that every day the property owners she advocates for are forced to wait, is yet another day they are unable to support their families.

A lot of people think people do short-term renting just to get rich, and that is not usually the case,” she said. “The average individuals are senior citizens with a fixed income that are doing it to supplement their income, there are families that have bills to pay and need to make that extra money.”

Symphony Park

Developer Tops Off Las Vegas’ First “All-for-Rent” Apartment Complex

LAS VEGAS, NV – T.B. Penick & Sons, the general contractor of Las Vegas’ first “all-for-rent” apartment complex celebrated a significant construction milestone this month, officially topping off the building – which is when the last beam is placed atop a structure – in anticipation of its planned opening in summer of 2025.

Dubbed “Capella” and located in the Las Vegas neighborhood of Symphony Park, the facility will be the first in the city where tenants will have all-inclusive rent agreements, also known as “all-for-rent” or “rent with utilities included.”

According to developer Southern Land Co., Capella will feature 272 apartments – comprised of one and two-bedroom units and penthouses – spread out over 22 stories, with impressive views of the famed Las Vegas Strip, the downtown area, and the mountain ranges surrounding the city.

The apartments will boast numerous amenities, such as kitchen islands that are movable, high-end finishings, and the latest in smart home technology. The bottom floor of the building will also offer 16,250 square feet of commercial space, including retail and restaurant options.

Southern Land Co. is developing Bria, which is Capella’s 275-unit near-duplicate counterpart, with both projects slated to open next summer. Once opened, they will join Auric, another apartment complex that Southern Land Co. opened in Symphony Park in 2021.

Both Capella and Bria will have fancy perks for residents, such as a lounge, state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga studio, dog run, co-working space, concierge services, resort-style swimming pool and hot tub, as well as a pool lounge with outdoor bar, grills, televisions, and jumbotron.

Southern Land Co. founder and CEO Tim Downey said that the dual projects will prove to be a boon to the residents of the artsy Las Vegas neighborhood.

“The introduction of Bria and Capella furthers our vision of making Symphony Park a premier urban neighborhood that blends luxury living with arts and culture – and the topping off of Capella signifies that we are one step closer to realizing our vision,” he said.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas 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.

Short-Term Rental

Las Vegas Ranked in Top 15 U.S. Cities with the Highest Returns on Short-Term Rental Investments

LAS VEGAS, NV – A new report released this week by Hotel News Resource (HNR) has placed Las Vegas, Nevada among the very top cities in the United States when it comes to the highest return on short-erm rental investments.

The U.S. has become one of the most sought-after vacation destinations in the world in recent years, and the growth of the short-term rental market can attest to that fact, having increased a whopping 53 percent between June 2022 and June 2024, HNR says.

HNR examined each of the 25 cities in their report based on numerous metrics, including both the possible income derived from rentals and how much it typically costs to purchase properties to, in turn, rent out. They selected only cities with a significant number of properties – in this case, 10,000 or above – potentially available for investment.

But while any investment comes with the risk of loss, HNR’s study narrowed down the top 25 cities where investors saw the highest Revenue Per Available Rental (RevPAR) levels, with Las Vegas coming in with an impressive showing at number 15 overall.

RevPAR is the revenue generated by a property, given its average degree of availability in a given period of time; for example, if you are renting a house out on a short-term basis and a tenant occupies it for half of a month for a price of $200, the RevPAR would be $100.

Ultimately, RevPAR is the most important metric when it comes to determining the return on investment (ROI) potential of any property or market, experts say, and Las Vegas has performed strongly in that regard for many years now; its RevPAR ranking in the HNR report – again, where it placed 15 out of 25 overall – was $149.81.

Seaside cities performed the strongest in HNR’s report, with Lahaina, Hawaii coming in first with a RevPAR of $419.15, whereas Sarasota, Florida ranked last at 25th with $129.69.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas 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.

Young asian blind man

Ground Broken on Unique Apartment Complex for Visually Impaired Las Vegas Residents

LAS VEGAS, NV – Ground was broken last Friday on a unique and pioneering affordable living apartment complex in downtown Las Vegas that caters exclusively to the needs of blind and visually impaired residents.

Dubbed “Visions Park,” the $30 million project will be located next door to the Blind Center of Nevada campus at 950 Visions Park Lane, and will feature numerous amenities to help sight-challenged tenants retain some degree of independence, including flooring that makes different kinds of noises when you walk on it in order to help blind individuals navigate, as well as special types of lighting to assist those who are visually impaired.

In order to bring this project to life, the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Clark County, and even the state of Nevada have pooled their collective resources in order to create an apartment complex that is accessible to those who rely on the resources of the Blind Center of Nevada.

In addition, the project will aid in reducing travel time and costs getting to and from the Blind Center, as currently some – such as Havander Davis, a visually impaired man who has attended the campus since he was a child – report a commute of anywhere from one to two hours every day.

This is something that blind people or even people with disabilities need, moving into a place that is already going to be accessible is going to be amazing,” Davis said.

Henderson City Councilwoman Carrie Cox, who helped make the project a reality, said that the challenges of visual impairment have affected members of her own family, making this cause a deeply personal one.

It takes a toll. I’ve had a personal experience with my own mother and seeing her sight fail her towards the end of her life,” Cox said, noting that her mother’s situation improved when she began attending the Blind Center. “And to know the difference that that made for her, there was really not a lot of options. So, this is amazing to me that the Blind Center has taken this leap to bring us all together and to make something happen for those that are visually impaired.”

Visions Park is slated to open in the beginning of 2026; there are already 300 people on the waiting list.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas 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.

Millennials

Las Vegas Has One of the Lowest Number of Home Purchases by Millennials, Report Says

LAS VEGAS, NV – As per a newly-released report by a construction industry analytics firm, Millennials are slowly being priced out of the Las Vegas housing market, with the group being ranked as one of the lowest in terms of home buying not only in Southern Nevada, but nationwide as well.

Construction Coverage notes that out of the 55 largest metropolitan area they examined, Millennials – defined as the generation born between 1981 and 1996 – were responsible for buying just 48.4 percent of the single-family homes in Las Vegas in 2023. Tucson, Arizona was the only city ranking lower than Vegas in this regard at 45.2 percent, while San Jose, California was the city with the highest percentage of Millennials home-buyers at 73.2 percent.

According to the author of Construction Coverage’s report, Jonathan Jones – a senior researcher for the firm – Millennials residing in the Las Vegas Valley were taking out mortgages in 2023 with the highest loan-to-value ratios of any age group. In addition, given the fact that an individual’s average peak earning and home-buying years are their mid-30s – the current age of the average Millennial – they are not purchasing residences at nearly the same level when compared to other demographics.

Recently, the cost of homeownership has skyrocketed in large part due to an adverse combination of high interest rates and scarce inventory, leaving millennials with a daunting homeownership outlook,” Jones said.

The median loan amount for Millennials purchasing a home in the Las Vegas Valley in 2023 was $385,000; those loans had an 86.2 percent median loan-to-value ratio, which is higher than for younger demographics. When looking at the overall rankings state-by-state, Nevada had the fifth-lowest Millennial home buying rate at 48.1 percent – Delaware was the lowest at 40.6 percent – whereas Massachusetts had the most at 64.2 percent.

Despite this, and an overall decline in home buying across the country, millennials still accounted for the majority of the nation’s home purchase loans in 2023 (56.9 percent),” Jones said. “However, rates vary by location. Researchers ranked metros by the millennial share of conventional home purchase loans originated in 2023.”

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas 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.