Category Archive : Rentals

LAS VEGAS, NV – A new report indicates the ever-climbing rents in Las Vegas have reached a point where tenants have to devote a significant portion of their respective incomes to housing costs, increasing affordability concerns for a region that has otherwise always been known for its low cost of living when compared to other parts of the country.

The Realtor.com report states that the median rent in Las Vegas has reached $1,600 per month; this represents approximately 39 percent of the average monthly income in Southern Nevada, a number which is raising eyebrows, especially when compared to the median rent elsewhere in the nation comprising 30 percent of the average income.

These new numbers have catapulted Las Vegas into being the seventh least-affordable large city in the United States on a rent-to-income basis, according to the report.

The ever-increasing rents in Vegas, fueled by intense demand for housing options that have only been exasperated by the tail-end of the COVID-19 pandemic, is forcing some financially-challenged residents to resort to renting rooms in houses – some paying as much as $500 per month – or adding roommates in order to make ends meet.

The report indicates that, year-over-year from 2021, rents in Las Vegas have increased approximately 25 percent, which is a jump that is causing many people still recovering from jobs losses sustained during the pandemic to be frugal with their renting habits.

However, even resorting to renting a room to get by isn’t easy, the report says, as there can be safety and comfort concerns associated with such a move, in addition to a lack of space and/or the ability to keep pets, depending on the rules established by the person renting the space.

Luckily, experts say that the ever-increasing rents and home prices in Las Vegas are not sustainable, and expectations are that the market will eventually stabilize to more manageable levels.

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 – As short-term rentals – such as Airbnb and Vrbo – finally approach a state of legality in Clark County as of July 1, lawmakers are signifying that they are in favor of establishing a lottery system for when it comes to issuing the over 2,800 licenses to individuals and companies that are looking to get involved in the local house-sharing industry.

The Clark County County Commission is not only looking to find an ideal method to address the huge number of house-sharing rental applications they will receive, but also how to crack down on the even larger number of illegal short-term rentals that are clandestinely operating within the county’s jurisdiction; current estimates put the number between 6,000 to 12,000 properties.

In 2021, Assembly Bill 363 – sponsored by Assemblywoman Rochelle Nguyen – was voted into law, and decreed that as of July 1, 2022, short-term rentals would begin to be legal in Clark County; furthermore, the county would also be tasked with regulating the new industry within its borders, and lawmakers have been working ever since to craft ordinances for that purpose.

Recently, Commissioners agreed on several possible regulations for short-term rentals, including capping licenses to one percent of all homes; adopting a 1,000-foot distance requirement between rentals; limiting licenses to one per homeowner or company; and enacting an application cost of at least $1,000.

As for tackling violations, lawmakers seemed to favor fines up to $1,000 per violation for legal short-term rentals, and fines of up to $10,000 per violation for ones that are operating illegally.

However, details are still in flux and have yet to be cemented amid various concerns that officials do not possess the significant backing in terms of finances or manpower that will allow them to enforce the new ordnances, both among legal and illegal short-term rentals alike. Renters finding ways to skirt around the laws – such as creating multiple LLCs – are a potential issue as well.

A recent survey indicated that the majority of Clark County’s residents are not in favor of short-term rentals becoming legal; those who want to provide input to the county’s plans can email them to [email protected].

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 – Just over three years after originally purchasing it, the owners of a prominent luxury Las Vegas apartment complex have turned around and sold the property off for a very impressive return on their initial investment.

It was announced this week by broker Cushman & Wakefield that the 220-unit South Beach was bought from Griffin Capital Company by San Diego real estate firm Logan Capital Advisors for $97.5 million. Griffin had originally purchased the complex in 2018 for $62 million, with this week’s sale representing a tidy profit of $30.5 million.

The $97.5 million sale price comes to approximately $443,182 per unit, which is twice what the average was on the market during 2021; when Griffin purchased the property in 2018, the per-unit price also was double that of the market average at the time at $281,818.

Upon the announcement of the purchase, seller Logan Capital issued a statement, touting South Beach’s “unmatched amenity package” and “excellent location” while cementing the high-end apartment complex as a leader in Las Vegas amongst “discerning lifestyle renters.”

Griffin also put out a statement, noting that originally they had intended to hold onto South Beach for the foreseeable future, but the firm was presented with an “opportunity to realize outsized returns” and due to that, they decided to sell “earlier than anticipated, and with a great result.”

Located at 8920 West Russell Road, South Beach offers numerous upper-crust amenities for tenants, including poolside cabanas, a huge outdoor TV, an outdoor gym, a sand volleyball court, a sports field, a Zen garden, fitness studios, a massage and treatment room, steam and sauna rooms, and a poker room.

Apartment sales in Las Vegas have been heating up recently amid the waning days of the COVID-19, whereas they had displayed a distinct drop in changing hands while the pandemic was at its peak; in 2021, 193 complexes were sold in the region, compared with just 91 in 2020.

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 – Recently, a Canadian real estate developer preformed a ceremonial groundbreaking on an upcoming Las Vegas-based warehouse project that, upon completion, will come in at over 250,000 square feet in size.

Ryan Beedie, who regularly travels to and spends time in Vegas – estimates that he’s been to the city as many as 200 times and counting – which influenced his decision to develop his very first-ever U.S. based project there, he said.

Last Monday, Beedie broke ground on the upcoming Pioneer Business Center, a two-building warehouse complex in the southwest valley that, upon completion which is expected by the end of 2022, will offer 261,751 square-feet of space.

Despite this being his very first construction project in Vegas, Beedie is no stranger to the local real estate marketplace, already boasting the ownership of industrial buildings and condominium towers in the northern region of the city.

Once Pioneer Business Center is completed and ready to open for business, Beedie notes he plans on selling the warehouse’s 26 units to individual buyers, as opposed to the more common practice of leasing them to tenants or selling the complex to a new landlord.

Beedie referred to this plan as his “niche in the market,” stating that it should appeal to companies put off by steadily rising rental rates in Southern Nevada; the developer has already lined up buyers for six units and counting, he said.

What should prove to be especially appealing about Beedie’s plan to sell space instead of renting it out is that for-sale warehouse space normally targets companies seeking in excess of 50,000 square feet. In contrast, Beedie will be offering smaller spaces for sale, which should interest smaller companies that don’t require the extra space; units in Pioneer Business Center, just north of Sunset Road between Tenaya Way and Buffalo Drive, will range in size from 7,791 to 13,186 square feet.

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 affluent out-of-state residents fleeing highly-taxed regions of the country for Las Vegas due to its more affordable cost of living experience, demand for luxury rental units have reached a fever pitch, driving the market to surpass the $50,000 per month mark and beyond, and without any signs of slowing down due to increasingly low inventory.

Newer listings on the market in Southern Nevada have several luxury rental homes and condos going for prices ranging from $35,000 per month all the way up to a full-furnished unit – a 10,600 square foot residence in The Ridges with six bedrooms and six baths – for a whopping $65,000 per month.

Currently, the most expensive rented luxury property – acquired last fall on a one-year lease – is a $50,000 per month for a Summerlin one-story mansion that comes with landscaping, pool maintenance and weekly cleaning. The home is situated on 0.82 acres and is estimated to be worth over $9 million, and includes a private office, game room, movie theater, sunken wet bar, resort pool with spa, a gym and a basketball court.

The second-most expensive, currently rented rental property in Las Vegas is a $30,000 per month Ascaya property.

In addition to fleeing highly-taxed states such as California, another driving factor of the luxury market in Las Vegas was the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent rise of remote working, enabling people to ply their trades from any region of the country during business lockdowns. Prior to COVID, experts say, the high end of the Vegas luxury rental market was averaging about $25,000 to $35,000 a month, as opposed to $50,000 or higher now.

Experts say that many of these wealthy, out-of-state renters have actually purchased their own properties and are currently in the midst of having their own high-end homes built upon them; in the meantime, they are renting local luxury units to reside in until construction is completed, at which time the property is passed on to the next affluent transplant to the region.

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 – Due to ever-increasing demand and a lack of inventory, the cost of apartments in the Las Vegas valley continues to climb, with the median monthly price of a one-bedroom unit hitting its highest level ever, a development that is continuing to stoke concerns over affordability among residents in the region.

Reports indicate that roughly half of the valley’s residents are renters, and the rapidly-increasing costs of doing so are starting to weigh heavily upon them; the monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment currently ranges between $1,200 to $1,700, with the median price being $1,500. In stark contrast, that price just one year prior was approximately $1,100.

Experts say that month-to-month rent increases are going up at levels not seen before; part of that reason can be attributed to rising interest rates pricing some home buyers out of the market, resulting in them turning to rental units instead. This is resulting in more renters being on the market than is typical, and that demand is causing landlords to raise their asking prices to account for it.

In order to get a foot in the door amid the intense competition for apartments and rental properties, experts suggest that renters should make sure they have good credit scores – typically 650 or better is a good start – in addition to having a problem-free rental history. Salary is important as well, as landlords often look favorably upon those who are making at least three times the amount of their monthly rent in take-home pay.

In addition, conducting an apartment search throughout multiple zip codes – instead of simply sticking to one – and paying attention to large rental complexes that may offer move-in deals can often pay off. Mom-and-pop landlords can be a great way to find a rental as well, as they are often independent owners who are renting apartments in homes – or the entire home itself – and may prefer a tenant that is willing to assist in maintaining the property.

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 – There has been a recent and significant rise in the number of fake rental listings in Las Vegas as criminals hoping to take advantage of the intense demand for housing options are attempting to scam unwary individuals and families by way of social media.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Southern Nevada is saying that prospective renters should be very cautious when responding to advertisements for apartment or rental properties on Facebook and other similar sites.

According to reports, once such victim of the uptick in rental scams is a woman named Christine – who declined to use her last name – yet was subjected to a “scary” experience when answering one particularly sketchy listing for a home in Henderson on Facebook Marketplace.

“I was desperate for a place, when you’re in that mindset and have kids,” she said. “He said he was the owner of the house. He said he wouldn’t be able to meet me. He would be able to give me a key code. I instantly thought that was a little weird.”

After she toured the property by herself by entering it via the back door – as per the instructions she received – the “owner” proceeded to email her a generic rental application. Suspicious, she had a friend look into the property.

“The house was on Zillow, more than what the guy was asking,” Christine said. “I got scared and I blocked him.” 

The BBB said that it’s common practice for scammers to masquerade as landlords or property managers of rental units they don’t even own – especially ones that have been vacant for extended periods of time – in order to separate the unaware from their hard-earned money.

In order to remain safe when looking for a rental, the BBB suggests adhering to the following guidelines:

• Go to reputable realtors, leasing agencies or property managers.
• If you’re dealing directly with a landlord, confirm they own the property.
• Pay for any fees or applications with checks or credit card fees; you can easily dispute charges.
• Never use Venmo, Zelle or any form of electronic payments for a stranger.
• Report scams to BBB Scam Tracker.
• Facebook advises users to report fraudulent listings or postings.

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 – Currently, short-terms rentals such as Airbnb and VRBO are not legal in unincorporated Clark County, but all of that is set to change thanks to the passage of Assembly Bill 363 (AB363) by the Nevada Legislature, and county officials are seeking input from local residents on the regulation once the marketplace is allowed to open for business.

Clark County has launched a public survey regarding short-term rentals to assist officials in crafting ordinances that will serve to regulate the market, which AB363 requires be set in-place by no later than July 1, 2022.

Some of the limits to AB363 that local residents will be able to give their opinions on include minimum distance separation between short-term rentals proximity to resort hotels, limits on the number of occupants and number of permits a person may hold.

Erik Pappa, a Clark County spokesman, said that the survey should help to find compromises that will hopefully alleviate any misgivings that residents may have over short-terms rentals potentially appearing near their homes.

“We have to strike an appropriate balance and we really need the public’s input on what that balance should be,” Pappa said.

Currently, Assembly Bill 363 requires a minimum distance of 500 feet between any two short-term rentals – Las Vegas’ current ordinance requires 660 feet – and could also override a mandate that requires a rental property to be occupied by the homeowner.

“Are those standards appropriate or should we require further distance requirements? Should we limit the number of people that can stay at an Airbnb?” asked Pappa.

Clark County officials are urging residents to take part in the survey, which they say is vital in creating ordnances that can impact the quality of live in the neighborhoods that the majority of these rentals will be situated.

The survey, which takes between 10 and 15 minutes to complete, can be accessed at https://www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/survey.

The survey will ask several different questions of residents, including their opinions of having short-term rentals in their neighborhood, any experiences they have had with such services in the past, and other matters that will be taken into consideration when county officials draw up their mandated ordnances.

The survey will be made available to Clark County residents until the end of January, 2022.

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 – Questions of affordability have once again reared their ugly head in terms of Las Vegas’ rental marketplace, as year-end reports indicate that pent prices have jumped considerably over the course of 2021 when compared to the year beforehand.

Reports say that Nevada overall has now been thrust into the nation’s top five states in terms of rent increases over the past year, and when the two-year average is figured in, Nevada is actually propelled into the top four.

According to analysts, in Nevada the average price of rent has jumped 25 percent since the beginning of 2021, and 34 percent since 2019.

The report also indicates that the city of Las Vegas itself has seen a large jump in rental prices in 2021, with costs increasing by 27 percent since the beginning of the year; the average rent in Vegas currently, the report says, is $1,243.

Developers in Southern Nevada have been ramping up construction of new apartment complexes and rental homes over the past year in order to address the rising rent prices the region has been experiencing since the recovery of the local economy and the arrival of more jobs and out-of-state residents.

The development of more living options are, according to many real estate professionals, the key to solving the skyrocketing prices that are currently weighing on Las Vegas’ rental marketplace, which are leading many to question the region’s long-standing reputation for affordability when compared to neighboring states such as California.

Of all U.S. states, Arizona experienced the greatest increases in rental prices since 2019, with a 38 percent jump. In direct contrast, North Dakota was at the very bottom of rental prices over the past two years, with the state actually reporting an 8 percent decrease since 2019.

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 – Ground was recently broken on The Highline, a new luxury apartment complex that is being constructed within “next generation” master planned community The Gramercy Las Vegas, slated for completion by winter 2023.

Lyon Living and LandSpire Group are co-developing The Highline, with the project being the first one that they are collaborating upon in the Las Vegas Valley. When completed, the project will boast 294 apartment homes, consisting of studios and one-and-two bedroom units featuring numerous amenities and high-end appliances.

Tenants of The Highline will also have access to an impressive rooftop lounge area, including a resort-style pool and spa, a clubhouse, beer garden, co-working space, an elite fitness facility according to managing partner of Lyon Living Pete Zak.

“As the economy and population of the Las Vegas area continues to grow, we wanted to bring an innovative and exciting new property to the area, that will offer residents more than just a place to live, but a place to dine, shop, explore and network,” he said. “Conveniently located in the heart of Spring Valley, The Highline will deliver a sophisticated level of dining, retail and office space, while embodying a socially-driven living community that encourages residents to gather and entertain in shared spaces. We are excited for this first-ever partnership with LandSpire Group, who shares a similar vision of creating unique, community-based developments.”

The Highline will continue to evolve and grow past its 2023 opening date, and will eventually make 71 townhomes available for purchase, in addition to adding 25,000 square feet of retail space that will supplement the restaurants, shopping, and offices already offered in The Gramercy Las Vegas.

The Highline is advertised as being family-and-pet friendly, and is located just a few miles away from the hustle and bustle of the famed Las Vegas Strip, but will nonetheless be close to some of the most sought-after dining and shopping options available in Southern Nevada.

Rockwood Construction will be handling the construction duties on The Highline, and anticipates a 26-month timetable to completion.

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 – In an effort to crack down on unauthorized New Year’s Eve parties in their rental partner’s properties, Aidbnb recently announced that they would be blocking users with poor credentials from reserving one-night rentals in the Las Vegas region. The move, Airbnb says, is to assist with noise complaints from neighbors and damage complaints from their rental partners.

The announcement comes as a great many neighborhoods across the country have issued previous complaints regarding Airbnb customers disturbing their neighbors with noise and wild partying, which has been a long-standing complaint – especially in suburban Las Vegas communities – in regards to the service.

The vacation home rental company noted that guests who have a series of negative reviews from people they have rented from in the past will be automatically blocked from reserving one-night stays in the Southern Nevada region – always known as a popular destination for partiers on New Year’s Eve.

Airbnb has implemented similar one-night rental bans on other major holidays in Las Vegas, including Halloween, New Year’s Eve 2021, the Fourth of July, and local users under the age of 25 with a history of poor reviews. Overall, the company noted that over 1,550 reservations in the region were blocked due to these policies.

Based on their success in lowering the number of holiday-related complaints in Las Vegas with these new policies, Airbnb has announced that they intend to implement these bans on individuals with consistently poor reviews in other cities throughout the United States.

In addition, Airbnb has other polices that discourage users from renting properties to use as party hangouts, including putting a cap on the occupancy of any rental home at 16 people due to the ingoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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 – Lake Mead West Apartments, a new affordable housing complex that will be located near Texas Station in North Las Vegas, recently broke ground and, once development is started, is slated to be completed in 2023.

According to Hassan Chaudhry, principal of developer Foresight Companies and developer of Lake Mead West Apartments, the project will offer 156 units when completed and will have one, two, and three-bedroom units with below-market rents. At the moment, fair market rent in the area starts in the mid-$900 range.

“High-quality affordable housing is a critical need in Southern Nevada, and Lake Mead West Apartments will be a much-needed community in North Las Vegas,” he said. “Creating a project that is a true public-private partnership to benefit our working families requires intensive collaboration among numerous agencies and entities, but is worth the hard work for the community benefit.”

Chaudhry noted that the phrase “affordable” shouldn’t scare off prospective tenants who are worried that may translate into a lack of quality.

“Affordable just means that there is an opportunity for someone to pay less in rent. it doesn’t mean the quality of construction is low somehow,” Chaudhry said.

Lake Mead West Apartments, the development cost of which comes in at approximately $31.5 million, will be comprised of a gated complex and will feature numerous amenities for tenants, including a dog park and a barbecue area. In addition, the project will also boast of so-called “Wrap Around Services” aimed at serving the needs of tenants, offering services such as affordable health care, a food pantry, after-school programs for students, social services, computer/internet workstations, and a children’s play area.

The housing complex was brought into existence via a public-private partnership with the City of North Las Vegas, Nevada Housing Division, Foresight Companies, LLC and a private investor called Red Stone.

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.