Category Archive : Property Management

LAS VEGAS, NV – On the eve of the Sept. 1 deadline of the residential eviction moratorium originally put into place as a response to the rampant unemployment and financial crisis gripping the state of Nevada, Governor Steve Sisolak on Monday extended the moratorium for an additional 45 days, according to recent reports.

Sisolak, at a news conference held Monday, indicated that he was extending the protections for those who are having difficulty making their rent or mortgage payments due to COVID-19-related financial issues. The reasoning behind his decision, Sisolak said, was to allow additional time for local municipalities to disperse rental assistance funds, allow the state to make headway into its backlog of unemployment claims, and to give a proposed mediation program for landlords and tenants approved by the Legislature in August time to be fully developed and carried out.

“We will allow more time for these programs to be fully implemented and give assistance to those who need it most during this difficult time,” Sisolak said, while noting that “we can’t keep continuing this moratorium forever.”

Sisolak stated at the conference that an additional $10 million in CARES Act money would be put towards the state’s rental assistance program that eligible renters could apply for; the funds, if approved, will to be paid directly to landlords.

If the moratorium was allowed to lapse, approximately 249,700 Clark County residents could have faced eviction proceedings. Originally, the moratorium was put into place by Sisolak on March 29 amid the economic collapse brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic; Sisolak issued a decree in June, stating that the moratorium was to be lifted and residential evictions allowed again as of Sept 1.

Nevada’s leading real estate association, Nevada REALTORS, issued a statement stating their opposition to Sisolak’s 45-day extension, saying that they sympathized with people who had lost their income due to the pandemic but that the extension will cause tremendous hardship for property owners throughout the state.

“On behalf of Nevada REALTORS and our more than 18,000 members throughout the state, we are very disappointed in Gov. Sisolak’s decision,” they wrote in the statement. “Many of them will now have no recourse or way to cover their own expenses.”

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, a new series of affordable, fully renovated studio apartments are now available in downtown Las Vegas, an area of the city that has been sorely in need of such accommodations.

Stax Studios is located at 501 South 10th Street – near Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street – featuring over 44 completely renovated units with a number of convenient amenities. The facility is being marketed towards those who are seeking an “urban lifestyle,” according to a statement put out by property management company WestCorp Management Group, and as such will fit in with the overall renovation of downtown Las Vegas.

The apartments seek to take advantage of the recent spurt of new jobs in the area as well as allowing tenants to take advantage of easy access to local entertainment, retail and dining options just a hop, skip, and a jump away.

Stax Studios makes two studio floor plans available to prospective tenants, with the smaller apartment option coming in at 285 square feet and the larger one at 400 square feet. Leases start at $899 per month, and insurance, trash, and water are included at those prices. In addition, all apartments come complete with laminate flooring, private patios, stainless steel appliances, free wi-fi internet access, quartz countertops, and private parking.

Social spaces are also provided where tenants are able to gather with one another, such as an outdoor barbecue space with fire pit, hammocks, and covered seating areas. Stax Studios is also pet-friendly and even features an on-site gated dog park.

With the COVID-19 pandemic slowly coming to pass and the local Las Vegas economy starting to rebound, many young professionals are looking for affordable apartment options in the middle of the downtown area; Stax Studios offers such an option, with studios situated adjacent to legendary Las Vegas Boulevard, allowing easy access to jobs as well the plethora of entertainment options that “the Strip” has to offer.

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, despite an eviction moratorium and numerous sources of governmental financial assistance being made to local residents, September – when the moratorium is due to expire – could see a record-number of people in Las Vegas removed from their homes and apartments, as months of unpaid rent will finally take their toll.

Due to the current financial crisis and widespread unemployment that is still hitting Southern Nevada due to the COVID-19 pandemic – a crisis that the region is recovering from, but not fast enough – the high number of renters that call Vegas home are facing a very real possibility that they may be homeless in the near future, especially with the $600 federal unemployment benefits having expired at the end of July.

Reports indicate that roughly ten percent of the population of Clark County – approximately 249,700 people – may be out on the streets when the eviction freeze ends. This is an unfortunate situation no matter how you look at it, and one that is unprecedented in the modern era.

Of course, one has to look at this from the perspective of landlords as well, considering the fact that a tenant that is unable to pay rent – through no fault of their own – translates to monthly income that the landlord is no longer receiving. And things just got harder for them, as a recent new state law now gives courts the ability to delay an eviction for 30 days in an attempt to mediate the situation between the landlord and their tenant.

While this new law represents a stay of execution for tenants, it also represents more frustration for landlords, many of whom have felt unfairly treated throughout the pandemic by essentially being forced to house individuals that are unable to – or simply refuse to, in some instances – pay them.

Nationwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to high levels of unemployment, and evictions across the country are looming for as many as 30 to 40 million people in the next few months if things do not improve. However, experts are reporting that Las Vegas could be one of the harder-hit areas due to its reliance on tourism, which has been greatly curtailed by the pandemic.

Currently, Las Vegas’ unemployment rate is hovering at about 18 percent, down from a high of 34 percent at the height of the pandemic; in February, prior to COVID-19, it was just 3.9 percent.

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – Many landlords jump at the idea of spending around $550 for a home warranty that covers their property for repairs and replacement costs over a 12 month period. All that is required is an up front fee of usually $75 and the home warranty will send out a licensed contractor to assess the issue. If it was just that simple, I’m sure everyone would want a home warranty to ensure their home is protected against unexpected repair costs.

The reality is, Home Warranties are not all they’re cracked up to be. What they don’t tell you when they are trying to sell you their products is that many items aren’t covered so unless you ask specifically what is not covered before you sign up, they will tell you after the fact that it’s listed in the fine print when you have a repair issue that isn’t covered. What they also don’t tell you is that it can take up to 48 hours for their preferred vendors to even get assigned the work order. How would you like to have that conversation with your tenant, I’m sorry but the property has a home warranty so we have to use the vendor that is assigned but they can’t get to your home for 48 hours; that’s not going to go over well with the tenant.

Episode 140: Home Warranty Dangers by: http://www.evicttv.com (An excellent representation of issues with Home Warranty services.

Not every Home Warranty Company is awful, but I would definitely say to steer clear of Choice Home Warranty. Here is an example of a recent claim we filed with Choice Home Warranty for an A/C issue.

• We placed a claim for our Landlord’s property on Saturday 6/27/2020  for the upstairs a/c unit, my property manager was on hold for almost an hour waiting to place a claim before they finally were able to speak with a representative.

• We called the vendor they assigned on Monday since the tenants hadn’t heard from anyone yet to set up an appointment. When we spoke to the vendor, they said they never received a work order from Choice Home Warranty. So after sitting on hold for 1.5 hours we got through and Choice Home Warranty resent the work order. 

• On 6/30/2020, their vendor arrived at 3 pm, completed a hard start on the a/c unit and left. The a/c stopped working again an hour later. We tried to place a recall on 6/30/2020 with Choice Home Warranty around 4pm and after 2 hours of waiting on hold and calls being dropped we opted for the call back option. My property manager waited around with her work cell phone until 10pm but never received a call back. 

• On 7/1/2020 the property manager called the vendor to see if they could go back and they said we have to call Choice Home Warranty for a recall. My property manager called Choice Home Warranty and after waiting a total of 3 hours and 4 dropped calls later she finally got through and they placed a recall. My property manager called the vendor back to tell them a recall has been placed and now the vendor stated they don’t need to come back but they need Choice Home Warranty to approve a new compressor which will take approx. 2 weeks with shipping. My property manager calls Choice Home Warranty back and they say they are awaiting this information from the vendor. 

• On 7/2/2020 my property manager calls Choice Home Warranty for an update, they say it’s been approved and it will be in within 2-3 weeks.
• On 7/12/2020 the vendor calls my property manager and states that they received a condensing unit but it wont work with the old evaporator coils so they need an additional $4000.

• On 7/12/2020 my property manager relayed this information to the landlords who subsequently called Choice Home Warranty for further explanation.

• On 7/13/2020 a Choice Home Warranty case manager emails the landlord  a new condenser and “indoor unit” will be $2,875, no further explanation was given as to why or what was wrong. Over the next 10 days, my property manager and the landlord emailed, called and left voicemails for the case manager requesting further explanation but never received a response back from the case manager. When my property manager and landlord requested someone else to assist them, they were advised by other representatives from Choice Home Warranty that we have to speak with the assigned case manager.

• On 7/24/2020 my property manager contacted the vendor to see if they had any further update from Choice Home Warranty and they advised that they just received an approval the day before for a new evaporator coil along with the condensing unit for $2,875.

• On 7/24/2020 the landlord paid the $2,875.

• On 7/25/2020 the vendor ordered the evaporator coils.

• On 8/4/2020 the new system was installed.

Luckily, this property had (2) a/c units and only one was not working. We were able to have a portable a/c unit installed to help keep the property cooled while the tenant waited a little over 5 weeks for their a/c unit to be repaired. In addition to the $2,875 the landlord had to pay for the cost of the a/c repair, the landlord had to pay $25 a day for the portable a/c unit and give the tenant a credit towards their power bill as the portable a/c unit was a big draw on power and caused their power bill to go up significantly.

If you are a landlord and you decide a home warranty is worth the investment, be sure to research each and every Home Warranty Company as well as each and every covered item before purchasing your warranty so that you can hopefully avoid the issues that we have experienced with Choice Home Warranty.

Although Shelter Realty does not generally recommend a landlord to purchase a home warranty, we do have several landlords that have home warranties in place. If you would like any recommendations on what Home Warranties we do recommend, give us a call at 702.376.7379 and ask for Shelly, she would be glad to discuss Home Warranties with you.

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, Nevada officials have announced that a large amount of federal funding made available to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic is still available via the state’s CARES Housing Assistance Program, which launched last Monday.

Since the program began on July 20, it has received 3,085 applications from residents whose finances have been negatively impacted by the pandemic and are seeking assistance with remaining in their homes. Most of the people applying for rent assistance are asking for up to two or three months of back-rent to be paid to cover missed rent payments during the eviction moratorium.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread financial hardship in Nevada, with record unemployment numbers dominating the economy amid mandatory business closures and stay-at-home orders issued to halt the spread of the dangerous virus. And while cases of COVID had dropped to levels that saw these mandates being lifted, the long-term financial issues – coupled with a resurgence of positive cases – has left many facing the very real prospect of homelessness.

The rental assistance program is being run by the Nevada Housing Division and in coordination with Clark County Social Services, the Reno Housing Authority, and the Nevada Rural Housing Authority. In addition, a network consisting of 14 community not-for-profits is administering the program in Clark County.

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak recently announced the rental assistance program, available to Nevada residents who are experiencing financial insolvency due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in the form of $30 million in federal CARES Act funding allocated to residential rental assistance, and an additional $20 million towards commercial rental assistance.

In order to apply for the rental assistance program, Nevada residents can visit housing.nv.gov. Successful applicants should begin seeing payments sent directly to their landlords over the course of the next two weeks, reports say. Funds will be dispersed on a first-come, first-served basis.

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, Clark County officials are attempting to set up an ordinance that will offer a degree of protection to those facing losing their home or apartment in September, when a mandate by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak to prevent evictions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is set to expire Sept. 1.

However, critics are arguing that these proposed protections introduced last week may lean too far in favor of tenants, leaving landlords, who have also been suffering financially – as hundreds of thousands in the state have from the widespread economic damage caused by the pandemic – out in the cold.

The proposed ordinance, in part, would charge landlords with a misdemeanor if they discriminated against an individual by refusing to rent, negotiate, or make a property available to them on the basis of their source of income, or if they had a previous eviction on their record that was related to the pandemic.

Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones noted that the proposed ordinance was created in response to the financial hardship suffered by Las Vegas residents, many of whom have lost their jobs in light of mandatory stay-at-home orders issued by Governor Sisolak in order to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“Clark County is doing everything in its power to keep people in their homes,” he said. “We know that this is a difficult time so we want to take every action that we can.”

Part of this ordinance stems from a rental assistance program that Clark County is planning on rolling out; officials have said that some landlords may be reluctant to rent to potential tenants receiving assistance from the program, fearing the sigma that Section 8 housing programs often bring with them.

Shanta Patton, a regional vice president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, noted that she does not support any ordinance that does not allow a landlord their right to make a decision on who to rent to based on a background check that would include a tenant’s income source and eviction history.

The ordinance is expected to be publicly heard Aug. 4.

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 – For renters in the Las Vegas area that are behind on their rent thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and a looming eviction date threatening to see them put out on the street, good news is potentially coming in the form of relief funds from Nevada state.

According to reports, $50 million in federal coronavirus relief funds via the Nevada State Treasurer’s office are to be made available to renters facing eviction on September 1 when Governor Steve Sisolak’s extended moratorium on residential evictions and foreclosures is due to end.

Previously, Sisolak’s moratorium, enacted on March 29 as a response to widespread unemployment and economic hardship brought about by the pandemic, was due to come to an end on June 30. However, as that end date approached, Sisolak made an amendment- instead of ending at the end of June, the moratorium will be lifted in phases over the course of the summer, with residential evictions finally allowed to fully resume on September 1.

With numerous landlords already preparing paperwork for the mass evictions expected to begin at the start of September, the Nevada State Treasurer’s office announced this week the availability of federal relief funds to help qualified individuals to remain in their homes. The $50 million will be divided into two categories – residential tenants will have access to a $30 million pool, and commercial tenants, $20 million.

Applicants would have to meet income qualifications and would have to have lost their employment due to COVID-related issues. In addition, applicants cannot receive Federal Housing Vouchers and the liquid resources of the entire household must not exceed $3,000.

According to reports, residents of Clark County will be able to apply for the federal coronavirus relief funds within the next week; in addition, tenants who are behind on their rent are encouraged to work with their landlords on a method and timetable of repayment of back monies owed. Landlords seeking back rent, on the other hand, would do well to inform their tenants of the federal relief program if they are unaware of it.

Editors Note: The photo used in this article, the Clark County Regional Government Center building in Laughlin, Nevada., is for editorial use only. It is credited to Felipe Sanchez and licensed through Shutterstock.com.

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 – Time Magazine recently did an article on how Eviction Moratoriums – much like the one issued by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – can be especially harmful to small, “mom and pop” landlords who may own only one or two small rental properties.

With a shutdown mandated by Governor Sisolak on all businesses deemed to be “non-essential” putting many people temporarily out of work, the majority of Nevada residents were facing evictions or foreclosures amid extreme financial hardship. However, the Governor’s moratorium disallowed lockouts, notices to quit or pay, or eviction filings while the state of emergency was in effect. The moratorium also waived all late fees throughout the emergency period.

The moratorium was originally due to end June 30, and landlords were lining up to begin eviction proceedings for a slew of delinquent tenants. However, late last week Sisolak extended that moratorium for specific circumstances. But in the meantime, the landlords of those properties – many of whom have not been receiving income since March – are struggling themselves, and the smaller the landlord, the more difficult the struggle.

A good example of how especially difficult moratoriums can be for small landlords can be summed up in the story of Greta Arceneaux, as chronicled in the above-linked Time article. Arceneaux was a divorcee with two children facing grim financial prospects in 1960’s Los Angeles when she got a loan, demolished her own home, and built a five-unit rental complex upon the land. The gambit worked – she had developed a steady income that lifted her and her family out of poverty and into the middle-class for many years… until COVID-19 hit, that is.

While the Nevada moratorium has proved to be a hardship for many landlords state-wide – especially in light of its recent extension – Los Angeles’ has been even more restrictive to property owners, with tenants being allowed up to 12 months to repay their back rent – without any late fees attached – from the end of the city’s emergency declaration. For some, like Arceneaux, this is an insurmountable obstacle thrown in her path during an already difficult period. She has reportedly been saddled with $15,000 in unpaid rent, in addition to having to maintain the apartment complex with money right out of her own pocket. In addition, she is also bound by new state building codes that require earthquake prevention reinforcement in her building, a decree that stands to set her back $60,000 or more. At this point, her retirement is being threatened.

While she feels for her tenants who have lost jobs and are facing economic crises themselves, Arceneaux is also struck by the unfairness of her situation. While it is unfortunate that her tenants may be facing hardships, why is she being forced to shoulder their misfortunes in addition to her own? And on top of that, the number of people looking to move into an apartment during a pandemic is low; while a large complex can get by with a few vacancies here and there, it’s a far more difficult prospect for a small-time landlord with only four or five units.

This is an issue that is currently plaguing a great many Americans in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, as many cities and states have passed similar moratoriums. According to the 2015 American Housing Survey, roughly half of the rental market in the U.S. is run by large companies; the remainder are run by individuals and normally consist of homes and small complexes, like the type owned by Arceneaux. But while large companies often can benefit from funding provided by the CARES Act, smaller landlords typically cannot.

Many city and state governments are encouraging landlords to work out payment plans with their delinquent tenants, but for many who have invested their life savings into their properties and are losing money each and every month they are denied rent, such an arrangement can certainly seem unfair. If governments force this burden upon property owners, they should be prepared to assist them financially.

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 – Since the beginning of April, Nevada residents whose finances have been negatively impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have been offered a safety net against eviction by a moratorium issued by state Governor Steve Sisolak. However, that moratorium is due to cease July 1 for commercial properties and August 1 for ‘some’ residential properties (certain causes – see directive 025 below); experts are anticipating a slew of evictions to follow soon afterwards. Those who have not been able to pay as the coronavirus pandemic began have until Sept. 1 or risk eviction.

With a shutdown mandated by Governor Sisolak on all businesses deemed “non-essential,” many Nevada residents found themselves out of work. For those barely scraping by paycheck-to-paycheck, looming evictions and/or foreclosures have become a very real possibility. However, with the Governor’s moratorium in place, these residents have been protected by disallowed lockouts, a cease on notices to quit or pay, as well as no legal eviction filings during the state of emergency.

“We’ve now reached a point where tens of thousands of Nevadans are wondering how they’re going to make rent or pay their mortgage,” Sisolak said at the time. “These are good, hard-working people who are just looking for one of the most basic and essential necessities: a roof over their heads. This is not the time to put people out on the streets. This is also not the time to evict small business owners who have been hit hard by the economic fallout of this pandemic.”

In addition to those directives, the moratorium also waives all late fees throughout the emergency period; once the emergency is officially over, Sisolak noted that any landlords that are owed back-rent by their tenants should work with them on devising a repayment plan. And, as of the released dates, that period of emergency will end as Nevada continues the process of reopening its economy.

While Sisolak’s decree was a boon for many working-class people who were experiencing financial hardships due to the pandemic, equally put upon were landlords who were denied income for months yet still expected to provide essential services for their tenants, such as utilities and repairs…even if they were not paying rent.

Adding to frustration is the fact that some tenants were receiving stimulus checks and unemployment checks, yet were opting to take advantage of Sisolak’s moratorium by not using those funds to pay their rent, something that the Governor acknowledged in a recent interview.

“I’ve got landlords that are telling me that there are individuals who are clearly taking advantage of it in a way that was not intended and that was never what we wanted to do,” he said. “We’re taking advice on that from landlords who have spoken up and we’re listening.”

Some attorneys representing landlords are encouraging their clients to work with delinquent tenants on payment plans in lieu of immediate evictions in an effort to avoid a slew of empty properties come August / September.

“It is just as imperative today as it was when I signed the original directive to allow Nevadans to stay home and stay safe as much as possible, while also providing clarity and a timeline in which rental obligations must be met,” Sisolak said in his latest statement Thursday evening.

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 – Despite the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak winding down in some respects and states across the country starting the reopening of their local economies, the specter of the pandemic – and the possibility of an eventual resurgence – will continue to shape American’s vacation plans for some time to come.

According to a recent report, due to this “new normal” that we are all living in, many people who have been enduring home quarantines and are itching to get away from it all – yet still to maintain social distancing and safety guidelines – are turning to vacation home rentals this summer, with Las Vegas being one of the most popular destinations in question.

Reports also indicate that the vacation home rental industry is changing to meet these new times. Mainly used for short-terms stays of a few days, many are now encountering increased demand from clients who are looking to stay longer than usual – average stays have increased from a few days to as long as a month – after having been cooped up in their own homes for the last several months. In addition, new cleanliness and sanitation guidelines to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 are ensuring that landlords will make sure their properties are in full compliance to keep their renters safe.

The appeal of a vacation home rental is that it is possible to maintain a degree of social distancing that normally is not possible to do in a large and crowded hotel resort. These people are often on the lookout for large properties with plenty of amenities – such as a pool or a fire pit – that are adjacent to attractions that they can visit safely, such as the famed Las Vegas Strip, which is currently in the process of reopening for business after being shut down during the height of the pandemic.

The hotel industry has been one of the hardest-hit by the pandemic, not expected to fully recover until late 2022, but records show that the home rental industry – led by companies such as Airbnb and Vrbo – have continued to receive bookings thanks to people afraid to travel to crowded regions but desperate to get away in some form. Labor Day bookings of vacation homes, in fact, were reported to be comparable to last year’s figures, according to Airbnb and Vrbo.

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 coronavirus pandemic taking its toll upon the Las Vegas economy, there remains some light at the end of the tunnel as the Strip is set to reopen this Thursday. While that is good news for most, some renters who have been laid off or furloughed are still awaiting financial relief in the form of unemployment benefits and they are growing increasingly desperate despite the rental market itself managing to weather the storm, according to reports.

Leading up to the pandemic, which has brought the national economy to a near-standstill, the Las Vegas real estate market was skyrocketing after nearly a decade of dormancy due to the mid-2000’s recession. Construction was rampant, housing was scarce, and rents were rising. When the pandemic hit, real estate was one of the few industries allowed to continue to conduct business, albeit with numerous alterations to increase safety. And while the market certainly took a dive, it did not collapse, and experts are expecting a potentially speedy return to business as usual once restrictions are lifted.

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak had mandated that all non-essential businesses close in March to help curb the spread of the coronavirus; he also introduced a temporary freeze on eviction and foreclosure proceedings amid rising unemployment statistics, with the number of those without jobs in the state hitting 28.2 percent.

However, that isn’t making things any easier by renters struggling to meet their monthly payments; according to Nevada HAND, a Southern Nevada organization that operates approximately 4,200 apartment units, there has been a significant increase in the number of individuals requesting help in paying their rent. Overall, however, Nevada HAND noted that the number of tenants that have not made their rental payments is not unusually high, possibly due to furloughed or laid off employees receiving severance or other assistance from their employers.

Shelter Realty, which manages over 500 single family homes, townhomes and condos has had 94.2% of their Las Vegas tenants pay their rent in full for both April and March. In addition, property management company TruAmerica Multifamily, which owns and runs over 5,500 apartments in Las Vegas, also said that a great many of their tenants – 86.4 percent – are still paying the rent on-time, despite some Southern Nevada residents facing delays in obtaining their unemployment benefits. Reports indicate that low-wage workers, including those who work minimum-wage jobs or who might not have adequate savings, are suffering worse than others that were more financially sound at the time that the pandemic hit.

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, apartment rental rates in Las Vegas have shown some degree of lowering amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and once the summer hits, prospective renters could expect to see that trend continue. Typically, in the summer season, rents in Vegas tend to grow, but the circumstances surrounding the pandemic are unprecedented, experts are saying. Amid stay-at-home orders and governmental mandates that non-essential businesses must remain closed in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus, many Southern Nevada residents are finding themselves embroiled in mass unemployment and with limited financial means.

With that being the case, many local landlords and property management companies are finding themselves forced to curtail rent increases, or in some instances, even rolling them back to a degree. The Nevada State Apartment Association notes that rental increases in the region are typically 6 to 7 percent annually; however, this year, it has actually gone down by a half percent so far.

If the current pandemic continues to cause economic havoc in Las Vegas, the rate of rental vacancy is expected to increase as some residents are forced to move back home or in with friends; while stimulus checks and unemployment insurance is currently helping those out of work make rent, this is only a temporary solution, many say, and more assistance is needed.

Las Vegas has begun the early stages of re-opening its economy, with a limited number of restaurants being allowed to open their doors for business under strict social distancing and sanitary guidelines. However, it is currently not known when the Vegas business scene will be allowed to fully reopen, or how long it will take the city to recover from the economic damage the lock-down – in effect since late March – has wrought.

In addition, some desperate local businesses have announced their intention to reopen against Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak’s orders, risking fines and jail time. However, experts are saying that it will not take long, once Las Vegas is back in business, for the economy to recover and the rental market to begin to trend upward once again.

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.