Category Archive : Real Estate

LAS VEGAS, NV – A lavish Las Vegas estate designed by noted Arizona-based architect Bill Tull that boasts extensive equestrian facilities is set to be listed on the market for the impressive sum of $17 million.

The huge whitewashed adobe-style residence was originally designed in the mid-1990s, and while Tull is known as the vision behind numerous ground-breaking homes in his native Arizona as well as California and Texas – where he is especially noted for having designed country music star George Strait’s estate – the residence in Las Vegas remains the only one of his design in Southern Nevada.

The property is situated a mere 15 minutes from the famed Las Vegas Strip; however, you wouldn’t know it by its calm and isolated feel, with the residence located on a large 9.8-acre plot of land adorned with numerous trees for a sense of privacy, according to current owner Bonnie Elkanich.

It’s super peaceful, you could never find anything like it in Vegas,” she said. “There’s a family of hawks and eagles that were raised on the property from the previous owner for the past 40 years. There’s also beautiful views of Sheep Mountain.”

The property has only had one previous owner, from whom Elkanich purchased it approximately five years ago for an undisclosed sum.

The house comes in at 8,611 square-feet of living space, spread out among six bedrooms; every single room in the residence has a fireplace, of which Elkanich says there are a total of 32. In addition to the main house, there are also two detached casitas, one with two bedrooms and bathrooms, and the other with one of each.

When she bought the property, Elkanich said that she completely renovated it, laying down new stone floors, replacing the plumbing and electrical systems, and knocking down five walls to open up the main living spaces. The basement also features chilled wine and whiskey rooms, making use of refrigeration systems that were originally used by the previous owner for a subterranean meat locker.

But the property’s main feature is that it was designed with horse-lovers in mind, and to that end it boasts a 16-stall stable, an Olympic-size covered arena, a round pen, a hot walker and pastures. In addition, horseback rising is allowed by both the county and state on the neighborhood’s streets, according to listing agent Ivan Sher of IS Luxury.

It’s really like an oasis in Las Vegas, and it’s also one of the very few adobe-style properties in the country with equestrian facilities,” Sher said.

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

LAS VEGAS, NV – A new Redfin report speculates that prices of homes in the Las Vegas Valley could begin to drop in the second half of 2025, based on a variety of factors.

A senior economist at Redfin, Asad Khan, has said that the valley is currently experiencing a “weak homebuying season,” as evidenced by the fact that pending sales in May decreased 17.7 percent year-over-year, placing it third in terms of pending sales drops in the entire nation, behind only Fort Lauderdale at 18.6 percent and San Jose at 18.3 percent.

At the same time, Las Vegas registered the highest active listings growth in May among the top 50 metro areas in the U.S. The reason for low sales has been particularly weak demand in the Las Vegas region,” Khan said. “High mortgage rates and high prices are keeping a lid on demand, even though the stock of homes for sale is growing. Most sellers in the Las Vegas metro area have significant equity in their homes created during the run-up in prices, so few sellers are feeling the pressure to sell quickly with prices still rising.”

As per Las Vegas Realtors’ monthly report, in June the median sale price for an existing single-family house in Southern Nevada was $485,000; this ties the record high established during the first three months of 2025, after which that price dropped to $480,000 in April and May before rising back to its previous record high once again.

Amid these record high prices, however, sales in the region have continued to drop, which Khan attributes to not only affordability concerns, but also high interest rates on home mortgages; that, he said, will likely contribute to sales continuing to slow down, which will eventually translate to buyers having more negotiating power going forward.

There are still hundreds of thousands more home sellers than buyers nationwide. But some would-be sellers are sitting on the sidelines as the market tilts more and more in buyers’ favor in much of the country,” Khan said. “Pending home sales fell 2.3 percent year over year during the four weeks ending June 22, the biggest decline in three months. There are two key reasons why home sales are slow. One, housing costs are still soaring, with home-sale prices up 1.6 percent year over year to a record high and mortgage rates sitting near 7 percent. Two, many would-be buyers are holding off due to widespread economic uncertainty and recession jitters.”

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes 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 – Following a brief two-month respite, home prices in Las Vegas are once again back up to their all-time record high level, according to a new report by Las Vegas Realtors (LVR).

As per LVR, in June the median sale price for an existing single-family house in Southern Nevada was $485,000, which represents a 2.1 jump year-over-year, as per data pulled from the Multiple Listing Service; this ties the record high established during the first three months of 2025.

Starting in January, home prices in Las Vegas reached and maintained their all-time record high of $485,000 for three months in a row; April finally saw that number dip to $480,000, and that dollar amount remained firmly in-place for May as well, at the time prompting experts to speculate that it signified the possibility that the market could be slowly shifting to favor buyers once again.

Meanwhile, June saw prices for condominiums and townhomes at $307,000, which represents a slight decrease from May, but nonetheless an increase of 3.4 percent year-over-year. The last all-time record high price for condos and townhomes in Vegas was established in October 2024, when that amount reached $315,000.

LVR notes that a combined total of 2,461 homes, condos and townhomes were sold in Vegas in June, which is a seven percent decrease from the same period of time last year for homes, and 14.9 percent drop for condos and townhomes.

LVR also reported that there were 6,992 homes in Southern Nevada listed for sale without an offer by the end of June, a 70 percent increase year-over-year, and 2,564 condos and townhomes, 87.6 percent increase. But LVR President George Kypreos noted that this trend continues to represent a degree of stability returning to the Vegas housing market.

Although home prices bounced back to their previous peak, prices have actually been pretty stable so far this year,” he said. “The biggest change in our local housing market lately has been the increasing number of homes available for sale, which is good for buyers. It should also be prompting to sellers to be realistic when pricing their properties.”

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes 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 – To address the housing crisis that is currently ongoing in Las Vegas, the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association (SNHBA) announced that petitioning the government to release more federally-controlled land for development would be the group’s main priority in 2025, a goal that’s looking now more than ever closer to becoming a reality.

SNHBA CEO Tina Frias last week said that her organization has been working with the office of Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto on bipartisan efforts to make 25,000 acres of federal land available to Clark County for the development of both affordable housing as well as growing local business interests. In addition, an additional 2 million acres will be set aside for conservation.

Along with the above-mentioned acreage being made available, Frias expressed hope that additional land will be released in the near future as well.

From the folks that have been involved in federal lands in the state for 30-plus years and are part of my membership, they said this is the most momentum they have seen on a lands package ever,” she said. “I’ll tell you in my opinion I’m both excited but also nervous because I think we will see something come to fruition.”

One of the primary reasons for the housing crisis in Southern Nevada, according to a growing number of those in the real estate industry, is due to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), with the federal agency currently managing nearly three million acres in Clark County; the U.S. government currently owns 80 percent of the land in the state of Nevada overall – the most out of any state in the country – and 88 percent of Clark County.

In 1998, the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act was passed that set aside approximately 67,000 acres out of the 2.9 million available in the Las Vegas Valley for development of residential housing units or commercial uses, with an additional 33,000 acres that have also been earmarked for potential developing that have not yet been released.

Frias also referred to a proposal by the Trump Administration to give a joint task force the ability to identify and release lands in the state for development, but said that the process involved can be very convoluted and slow; as a result, she’s hoping for an act of Congress – in addition to the continued efforts of local government – to streamline and speed-up things.

We need to recognize there’s an elephant in the room and that’s the land constraints,” Frias said. “That’s going to take coming together at the federal level and working collaboratively with our delegation. That will take continued leadership from the governor’s office and local government will play a key role in that as well.”

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes 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 – Tides on Commerce, a 336-unit apartment complex located in North Las Vegas, was purchased by a real estate investment firm late last week for the sum of $70 million, according to Clark County property records.

Beverly Hills, California-based Kennedy Wilson announced the purchase on Friday, which was part of a combined acquisition that included a separate property located outside of Nevada state – Finisterra, a 356-unit complex in Tempe, Arizona – for a total combined amount of $166 million.

Tides on Commerce, located at 4249 North Commerce Street, between Alexander and Craig Roads, was originally built in 1999 and includes a plethora of common-area amenities for its tenants, including a swimming pool, spa, hot tub, playground, clubhouse, business center, fitness center and controlled access.

The apartment complex is also ideally situated near major job hubs in North Las Vegas, such as Apex Industrial Park, VA Southern Nevada Hospital, and an increasingly large number of medical and logistics facilities.

North Las Vegas itself is on a major upswing recently, with experts anticipating its growth to double that of the larger Las Vegas region – becoming the fastest-growing city in the state of Nevada – over the course of the next five years; prior to that statistic, the city was the state’s second-fastest growing from the years of 2020 to 2023, thanks to rapid expansion of its healthcare and industrial fields.

Kennedy Wilson said that they are also serving as the asset manager of the Nevada and Arizonia properties they purchased last week, with the real estate investing firm owning approximately a 14 percent interest in the fund acquiring the two assets.

The company currently boasts a portfolio of over $29 billion in assets that they manage – comprised primarily of rental properties – spread out among the United States, the United Kingdon, and Ireland.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes 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 – Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a part of life for many people, with the technology having rapidly evolved and implemented into many jobs and industries throughout the world. Experts predict that this trend will continue, with AI soon becoming intertwined with a plethora of everyday tasks and careers…including real estate.

The real estate industry has seen the adoption of AI, which has contributed to an increase in efficiency and innovation in the field; however, like anything, there is also the potential for misuse and the harm that comes along with it, and several countries around the world – Australia, being the prime example – are now pushing for regulation of the tech’s use when it comes to real estate advertising. That being said, should the U.S. follow suit?

AI is being used generate and automate listings, anticipate buyer and seller preferences, and – with the vast amounts of data that algorithms can analyze – offer personalized property suggestions for target demographics, based on specific individual preferences. Plus, the tech enables AI-driven chatbots to offer 24/7 availability to engage with buyers at all hours of the day or night, providing help and engagement in order to help retain interest.

But while there are many positive uses of AI when it comes to real estate, there are just as many drawbacks and shortcomings as well that are raising calls for its regulation due to potential misuse that can mislead consumers.

AI algorithms that are not properly regulated can result in fabricated listings with altered images and information that can present properties in unrealistic lights. Also, there’s a lack of transparency and clear accountability in terms of AI-generated content; when AI presents misinformation or crosses ethical boundaries, what party should be held responsible?

Issues like this could eventually erode trust in online real estate platforms and even the industry as a whole if they were to run amok unchecked. Hence, certain countries are being proactive in their attempts to regulate them to prevent that from happening and to ensure consumer transparency by establishing clear guidelines, accountability protocols, and ongoing monitoring.

That being said, there are a growing number of voices that are calling for similar oversight of AI here in the U.S. as well; both the real estate industry and those who depend upon it stand to benefit.

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

LAS VEGAS, NV – A massive “megamansion” located in one of Las Vegas’ most affluent communities and bosting a plethora of lavish perks has sold this week for over $15 million.

Located in the guard-gated community of Southern Highlands on a 1.36-acre plot of land, the estate in question sold for $15.5 million – a significant discount from its original $19.75 million asking price – and comes in at a whopping 18,000 square-feet of living space.

The home – which has a Mediterranean-style design outside with a tiled roof and columned entryway, but an ultra-modern interior – has eight bedrooms, a grand entry with an imperial staircase and an oculus skylight above the foyer, and an entire floor solely for entertaining guests, including a series of inter-connected pools.

A covered patio in the backyard leads to an outdoor recreation area, with starts with a circular artificial river with an actual flowing current – commonly known as a lazy river – that allows continuous relaxing trips floating around the property. Adjacent to the lazy river is a waterfall that leads down one level to a waterslide and pool, as well as a putting green, a pickleball court, a guest casita and a six-car garage.

The interior is no less impressive, with a primary suite – which has its own massage room and two closets – and two accessory bedrooms taking up the top floor. There is also a full-scale salon, a karaoke room, a cinema room, and a game room with a full bar and lounge.

The seller, Bill Piercey of California, originally purchased the property for $7.75 million while it was still in the midst of being built in 2020; he initially listed the property for sale in 2023 for $25 million and later dropped it to $19.75 million in February 2025 before settling on $15.5 million with an undisclosed buyer.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes 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 – Ovation Development Corp., a Las Vegas-based apartment developer, has announced they will be holding the grand opening ceremony next week for their newest project, an affordable senior housing complex located in the southern Las Vegas Valley.

Heirloom at Pebble is a 195-unit 55-and-over apartment building situated at 2325 East Torino Avenue, near the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Pebble Road. The complex, which originally held a soft opening in May, offers apartment units with one and two-bedroom layouts, with monthly rent prices ranging from $573 to $1,377, which includes all utilities.

The project, which cost approximately $48 million, was funded in conjunction with several governmental and private business entities, including Clark County, the Nevada Housing Division, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. In addition, the land upon which Heirloom at Pebble sits was contributed by the federal Bureau of Land Management.

A new success story in the work to create more affordable housing in So. Nevada. The "Heirloom by Pebble" complex has opened. There are 195 units for low-income seniors..#ClarkCounty's contribution was $9.3 million. @BLMNational conveyed the land where the complex was built. pic.twitter.com/CR7EzNPXPg

— Clark County Nevada (@ClarkCountyNV) June 25, 2025

Heirloom at Pebble offers numerous amenities aimed at the health and well-being of its’ senior clientele, including a fitness center and movement room, community events, on-site hair salon and multipurpose rooms.

The apartment complex aims to help address one of the most prevailing problems affecting Las Vegas’ senior population, which is the high cost of housing, according to Ovation’s Director of Development, Armen Hadjimanoukian.

To that end, Hadjimanoukian noted that the developer is also currently hard at work on several other affordable senior housing communities in Southern Nevada, another one of which will be opening this summer.

The housing prices have really been affecting everyone in Southern Nevada — especially seniors, who are on fixed incomes,” he said. “These types of public-private partnerships are amazing because they allow us to create and provide much-needed housing. Ovation has another six communities planned or under construction – with another one opening up in August of this year.”

Heirloom-at-Pebble is now leasing: https://ovationco.com/heirloom-at-pebble/

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes 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 – Howard Hughes Holdings, the developer of Summerlin, has sold nearly 60 acres of land located within the borders of Las Vegas’ largest master-planned community to housing developers, spread out over two separate transactions worth over a combined total of $100 million.

Both of the two sales closed on Tuesday, according to public property records. The first sale was to Richmond American Homes, who purchased a 36.3-acre parcel of property from Howard Hughes Holdings for $55 million, which comes out to over $1.5 million per acre.

The developer plans to utilize the land to build new housing tracts, with plans already drawn up for an 89-lot subdivision of single-family homes.

The second sale was to Toll Brothers – a company that specializes in luxury home construction – who purchased 28.3 acres of land for $1.8 million an acre, which comes to a total of $51.4 million, as per public records. Toll currently is planning to use the land to build 148 high-end housing units.

The property sold in both of the deals this week is situated west of the 215 Beltway-Summerlin Parkway interchange in the desert.

Located along the Las Vegas Valley’s western side, Summerlin is comprised of 22,500 acres and is home to approximately 130,000 inhabitants, as well as homes and rental units there are currently fetching some of the highest prices in the region.

Howard Hughes Holdings, based in Texas, takes its name from the famed aerospace engineer, business magnate, film producer, and investor; he purchased the community’s initial 25,000 acres – which he originally named “Husite” – in 1952. The community is named after Jean Amelia Summerlin, Hughes’ mother, and years later, Summerlin would go on to become the largest master-planned community in Las Vegas.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes 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 investors, Las Vegas real estate offers some of the best rental yields in the U.S., but it also comes with its fair share of challenges – chief among them, rental vacancies. For property owners and investors, even one month of vacancy can erode profits. But how can you, as a real estate investor in Las Vegas, minimize vacancy risk and maintain consistent rental income?

Let’s dive into what causes vacancies, practical solutions, and proven local strategies from experts at Shelter Realty to help you avoid these pitfalls.

Why Vacancy Is Costly – Local Vegas Stats

Rental vacancy doesn’t just cost a single month’s rent – it snowballs. In Las Vegas, where the average rent is $1,500–$2,200 per month, even a two-week gap means hundreds in lost income and ongoing utility costs.

According to recent Las Vegas housing reports:

• The average vacancy period is 29–45 days depending on location, condition, and if priced appropriately.
• The cost of turnover (cleaning, repainting, marketing, screening) averages $1,500–$2,500 per turnover.
• Properties priced incorrectly stay vacant 22% longer on average.

Clearly, minimizing vacancy isn’t just about maximizing cash flow – it’s about protecting your bottom line.

What Causes Vacancy in Out‑of‑State Rentals

For many investors, Las Vegas is a remote market. Managing a property from California, Arizona, or beyond can lead to costly oversights. Here are the three most common reasons vacancies persist:

Pricing Poorly

Setting your rent too high deters prospective tenants. But setting it too low attracts unqualified renters or leaves money on the table. Many landlords fail to run updated comps or understand micro-market trends within Henderson, Summerlin, or North Las Vegas.

Weak Marketing

Your listing needs to stand out in a sea of online posts. Blurry photos, vague descriptions, and poor platform selection (e.g., ignoring Zillow, Apartments.com, or social groups) can keep even great units unseen.

Poor Tenant Screening

Renting to the wrong tenant often leads to early lease breaks, non-payment, or evictions – all of which increase vacancy rates. Rushed background checks or ignoring red flags leads to costly turnovers.

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Proven Leasing Strategies (Shelter Realty Advice)

Experienced property managers like Shelter Realty use precise, data-backed methods to keep units rented quickly and reliably.

Local Comps

Using up-to-date comps from nearby rentals ensures your pricing is both competitive and profitable. In high-demand areas like Green Valley or Summerlin, nuanced pricing (e.g., adjusting for square footage or upgrades) can shorten time-on-market significantly.

Online Listings

High-quality photography and optimized descriptions can boost listing visibility by 3X. Shelter Realty uses syndicated platforms to ensure listings appear where tenants are actually searching.

Incentives (Leases, Furnished?)

Offering incentives such as:

• Short-term leases for relocation clients or traveling professionals.
• Furnished options in condo-heavy zones.
• Move-in discounts during off-season.

These tactics attract specific tenant groups who otherwise might pass over your listing.

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Tenant Retention Tactics

Getting a great tenant is only half the battle – keeping them is where you win. Here’s how top landlords reduce tenant turnover in Las Vegas:

• Quick repairs: Same-day responses to maintenance requests signal respect and professionalism.
• Flexible lease renewals: Offering 6 or 18 month options accommodates tenant needs and reduces churn.
• Frequent outreach throughout the year: Annual check-ins increase renewal likelihood.

Shelter Realty maintains average tenancy lengths of over 36 months by proactively engaging tenants with concierge-level service.

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Automation & Maintenance

Technology is your best friend when managing multiple units or out-of-state properties. Automate where possible:

• Rent Collection: Use platforms like AppFolio for automatic payments.
• Maintenance Portals: Tenants can submit work orders 24/7 and track status.
• Smart Tech: Smart thermostats and locks minimize cost and improve efficiency.

Preventive maintenance schedules, managed by local teams, also reduce emergency repairs and unit downtime.

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DIY vs Professional Management

Some investors prefer to self-manage to save money. But DIY management often leads to long-term losses due to:

• Inconsistent tenant communication
• Delayed maintenance
• Legal compliance oversights

A professional Las Vegas property management company like Shelter Realty offers:

• 24/7 tenant support
• Market analysis
• Attorney-reviewed lease agreements
• Eviction processing

While there’s a management fee, most investors find the ROI outweighs the cost.

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Local Legal Requirements

Las Vegas rental laws are dynamic and vary between municipalities like Henderson, North Las Vegas and Clark County. Key regulations include:

• Proper notice for entry (typically 24 hours)
• Security deposit handling and timelines
• Fair housing compliance
• Eviction protocol in accordance with Nevada statutes (especially post-pandemic)

Ignorance of local laws can lead to litigation or regulatory fines—especially for out-of-state investors. Partnering with a licensed management firm ensures legal compliance at every step.

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Conclusion & Next Steps

Rental vacancy in Las Vegas doesn’t have to be a gamble. With data-driven strategies, local market expertise, and a professional team, you can secure long-term tenants and stabilize your investment income.

Next Steps:

• Reevaluate your current vacancy strategy.
• Schedule a rental pricing analysis with Shelter Realty.
• Consider a management consultation to improve tenant retention and reduce turnover.

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Internal Links for More Guidance:

• Las Vegas Property Management Services
• Tenant Screening in Las Vegas
• Rental Marketing Plans

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it take to rent out a property in Las Vegas?

With proper pricing and professional marketing, most rentals in Las Vegas are leased within 35–45 days. However, DIY listings or overpricing can extend vacancy periods to 60+ days.

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What’s the average rental vacancy rate in Las Vegas?

As of recent data, Las Vegas has an average vacancy rate of around 5–78%, though this varies by neighborhood and season. High-demand areas like Summerlin and Henderson see lower vacancy rates.

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What incentives help fill a rental faster?

Offering move-in incentives (e.g., half off first month) and/or flexible lease lengths can attract renters quickly, especially in competitive markets or off-peak seasons.

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Is hiring a property manager in Las Vegas worth it?

Yes – especially for out-of-state investors. Property managers reduce vacancy, handle maintenance, ensure legal compliance, and screen tenants professionally, often leading to higher ROI.

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How do I screen tenants effectively?

Effective tenant screening includes credit checks, income verification, rental history, employment verification and criminal background checks. Shelter Realty uses a proven multi-step process to place reliable tenants quickly.

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

LAS VEGAS, NV – According to a new report released by Las Vegas Realtors (LVR), prices of condominiums and townhomes in the Las Vegas Valley are on the rise due to increasing demand fueled by high house prices in the region.

Based on LVR data pulled from the Multiple Listing Service, the median price of a condo or townhome sold in Southern Nevada in May 2025 was $307,000, which represents a 1.4 percent increase from April 2025 and a 4.1 jump year-over-year. However, the number of condos and townhomes sold in the valley in May was 559, which is 2.8 percent higher than April but a 19 percent decrease from the same period of time last year.

Meanwhile, the median price of a single-family home in Las Vegas has been consistently remaining at $480,000, just shy of the all-time record high level that was reached earlier in 2025, LVR says.

Given that the current high prices in the Southern Nevada single-family home market are driving very real affordability concerns for many people in the region, Henderson Re/Max Advantage associate Robert Little notes that some buyers are feeling priced out and are seeking other housing options that are more in line with their budgets…mainly, condos and townhomes.

I believe this is largely due to affordability,” he said. “Condos, with a current median price of $307,000, are more accessible than single-family homes, which have a median price of $480,000. This makes them especially attractive to first-time buyers, second-home purchasers, or those on fixed incomes and tighter budgets.”

This rising demand for condos and townhomes is correspondingly serving to drive prices in that market up, but LVR President George Kypreos said that monthly sales numbers can fluctuate wildly in Las Vegas and it’s best to keep an eye on the big picture instead of the small details.

While local condo sales and prices did post a modest increase in May, I wouldn’t read too much into it,” he said. “I do think it suggests that more buyers are recognizing that condos and townhomes can be a more affordable way to enter the housing market, especially with home prices hovering just below record levels and mortgage interest rates still higher than we’d like.”

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

LAS VEGAS, NV – While there is a plethora of things you should be on the look-out for when looking into one of the single most expensive purchases that you will likely ever make in your life – that is, buying a home – there’s one element that many real estate experts say many first-time homebuyers consistently overlook, and it can lead to major financial headaches down the road.

The element that newbie buyers often fall prey to is their inability to tell a high-quality home renovation from cheap, quick-fix cosmetics update done by a seller simply looking for a fast and easy flip.

These deceptive updates can take the form of some fresh paint, new appliances, and some “light staging” – that is, when a vacant home is furnished with basic accessories and furnishings to make it more appealing to potential buyers – and they can certainly hoodwink the untrained eye into thinking that they home they’re in looks great.

But experts say that if a house looks too good to be true, it’s vital to give it a thorough, in-depth inspection to see what lies underneath the shiny veneer; after all, you want the seller to have invested in high-quality renovations, not surface embellishments designed to hide deep flaws in order to make a fast sale.

Kitchens and bathrooms are especially common culprits in this regard, and cheap, DYI cosmetic fixes are often the most evident in these rooms. Be on the lookout for poor paint jobs, tiles that are misaligned, cabinets that have been installed unevenly, a lack of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets, and sloppy caulking.

Also, if any rooms in the home have been renovated, ask to see the permits to ensure the work was done by a licensed, competent professional; if they are not available, the work was probably carried out by the seller instead likely not up to snuff, and unpermitted work can also cause you financial headaches down the line if you sell the house or have to file an insurance claim.

In a worst-case scenario, unpermitted home upgrades – such as electrical and plumbing work, or adding additional square footage – may not be up to local building codes, and an inspector could force you to rip the work out and redo it to bring it into compliance.

Make sure you hire an experienced and knowledgeable inspector to look over any home you may be interested in buying. Important things to note are the condition of the home’s exterior; the age of key infrastructure items such as the HVAC, electrical and plumbing; the condition of areas that are typically considered afterthoughts, such as the basement or garage; and signs of water intrusion or poor drainage.

In the end, it’s more important to make sure you get a home that has been well-maintained then one with all the bells and whistles; after all, you can add them yourself after the sale is complete.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes 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.