LAS VEGAS, NV – Realtors in Las Vegas have noted that sales of high-rise condominiums have gone through numerous ups and downs since the mid-2000’s recession. However, the latest surge in the market has been driven by something taking many by surprise: the phenomenon known as sports tourism, with the latest example being driven by an intense and unprecedented level of demand for high-rise apartments along the Las Vegas Strip due to the ongoing Vegas Grand Prix Formula 1 race. 

Heidi Williams, a Las Vegas realtor specializing in selling high-rise condos out of The Signature at MGM Grand, said that prices for luxury units at the complex “have increased anywhere from 30 percent to 50 percent depending on the type of unit” due to the Las Vegas F1, which runs along the Strip this week. 

I don’t think a lot of people understood how much money there was in F1 and how much money there is in the sport, in the backing (of fans),” Williams said. “I think that people are very excited about F1, and I think a lot of these people just want to be a part of it.” 

The 30-floor Signature at MGM Grand boasts 1,750 suites and offers condos ranging from 520-square-foot properties listed for $320,000 to 1,394-square-foot properties priced as high as $800,000. 

Williams noted that she began seeing purchases at the property related to the F1 race starting approximately nine months ago, with approximately 25 to 30 percent of her clients indicating to her that their condo purchases were specifically due to wanting to be in proximity to the race. 

The F1, running from November 16-19, has been anticipated to draw as many as 170,000 people to Las Vegas. The racecourse runs at the Formula One Pit Building across the street from the Signature off Harmon. From there, it heads down Koval Lane, circles around the MSG Sphere and then goes on Sands Avenue before turning onto Las Vegas Boulevard for a mile; from there, the course turns onto Harmon Avenue and then finally back toward the Pit Building. 

That being said, it’s no wonder units are being snapped up at The Signature at MGM Grand, as the building offers unique views of the racecourse that aren’t available to most spectators. Williams noted that many of the condos being sold at the facility are being purchased by people who solely wish to use them each year just to view the F1 race; The Signature at MGM Grand has a policy that allows units to be rented out when they are not “owner occupied,” thus allowing tourists to purchase them to generate income during the remainder of the year they are not residing there. 

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 – The Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix held its opening ceremonies on Wednesday, and short term rental owners in Southern Nevada where STR licenses are currently available – including Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas – are already reaping large financial benefits.  

Unfortunately, however, some frustrated Clark County landlords have been left out in the cold due to the long and drawn-out process of issuing licenses on the part of the municipality, leaving them unable to offer listings to take advantage of the many out-of-town tourists attending the F1 event, with the race taking place November 16-18. 

The state figured out that the ban wasn’t working and decided to mandate the county to get rid of its ban and start creating a licensing process for people to operate (short-term rentals),” said Jackie Flores, founder of The Greater Las Vegas Short Term Rentals Association. “Of course they have not issued any licenses even though they were supposed to start doing it by July of last year.”  

However, the loss on the part of Clark County renters is the gain of others located in neighboring cities, with many STR owners asking – and receiving – significantly higher rates than usual to house visitors attending the F1. 

An average Airbnb or Vrbo rental costs approximately $150 a night; currently, there are over 1,000 listings available in Las Vegas, with prices ranging from exuberant to budget-friendly and everything in between. 

The priciest rental for the F1 weekend is a 11-bedroom home located in Paradise just east of the Harry Reid International Airport that’s going for a whopping $4,121 a night. The residence is spread up into three separate buildings for a total size of 8,700 square feet, and includes numerous high-end amenities including an outdoor playground, basketball court, a pool, video game room, and much more. 

In contrast, the cheapest rental listed is a private study room for $39 a night in West Las Vegas, giving you the opportunity to “stay with Victor” as his guest during the F1 weekend. That fee will get you a twin bed, a desk, futon, wi-fi, and a door that locks via keypad; a municipal bathroom is located directly across the hall. 

And finally, if you’re looking for a listing based solely on its “cool” factor, another rental located in Paradise offers eight bedrooms and a slew of fun extras, including a putting green, pool, hot tub, outdoor poker table, half-basketball court, pool table, bocci ball, table tennis, an outdoor BBQ grill, and more, all for $1,850 a night. 

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 – The impending Formula 1 race in Las Vegas will represent an enormous opportunity to draw in record-breaking crowds of tourists to attend the iconic event, and obviously those tourists will need places to stay while in town. However, local homeowners are fuming over what they perceive as a missed financial opportunity due to the fact that short-term rentals currently remain illegal in Clark County, depriving them of the chance to rent out their properties for a tidy profit. 

Local homeowner Tina Turnbull was hoping to rent her home to out-of-town visitors during the Formula 1 event, but currently finds herself forced to turn people away due to the current situation regarding short-term rental laws in Clark County. 

Everyone else is excited and I’m just kind of like, feel like huge opportunities are being missed for me,” she said. “I’ve already turned down multiple booking requests. I just have to explain to them that because of the local laws, I can’t rent the house for less than 30 days.” 

After approving a short-term rental ordinance in June 2022, Clark County had started an application process for short term rentals in September 2022. The 1,300 applications they subsequently received were placed in a random number generator, which assigned a number to applicants to determine the order in which they would be considered for a license. However, after homeowners submitted paperwork this past August during the next phase of the process, they have been left waiting for answers that so far have not come. 

Turnbull Is among those homeowners who say they have been left dangling. 

Louis Koorndyk, co-founder of the Greater Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Association (GLVSTRA), said that his members have grown upset over their inability to tap in to the expected $1 billion local economic boost that the Formula 1 race is expected to generate when it takes place on Sunday, November 19. 

All the hosts or potential hosts out there are finding this extremely frustrating. The buzz in the community is really, why is it taking so long? When are these licensing dices going to start to be issued?” he said. “They want to be a part of this because the host community contributes to everything. They contribute economically. They help. They don’t take away from the hotels and casinos, they add.” 

In response to reporting on this situation, Clark County issued the following statement: 

At this time, we are in the process of reviewing the applications for completeness and eligibility. This process is necessarily time-consuming to ensure that the large volume of applications are evaluated in a consistent and fair manner. Applications that are incomplete or ineligible will be issued denials,” the statement read. “After this portion of the application review process is completed, Clark County Business License will identify applicants that may move on to safety inspections based on the order of priority established by the Random Number Generator selection process.” 

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 – Construction on new upcoming Formula 1 headquarters, located near the Las Vegas Strip, officially commenced this week in preparation for the organization’s upcoming Grand Prix race this November, with the esteemed sporting event taking place in a new racetrack – which is currently in development as well – next door.

Currently, building materials are being dropped off at the site of the headquarters and construction equipment such as bulldozers and tractors are excavating land and preparing for the laying of the infrastructure needed to make the project a reality, less than ten months from now.

Upon completion, the Formula 1 headquarters will stand four stories tall and will offer 300,000 square-feet of office space and other facilities; in addition, it will also serve as both start and finish line for the Grand Prix race itself and will offer VIP seating sections where special guests can enjoy the racing action up-close and personal.

Meanwhile, with the impending arrival of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, local Las Vegas hotels and entertainment venues are gearing up for the influx of tourists and out-of-towners who will be making use of their establishments. Indeed, the Grand Prix is anticipated by many to create a large economic boom in Sin City this November.

A major note on the Formula 1 headquarters is that it will be open year-round – and not just during races – and will offer Formula 1-related activities every single day, ensuring that racing fans will be flocking to Las Vegas throughout the year and not just on Grand Prix weekends.

Formula One originally announced in March 2022 that it would hold a 50-lap Grand Prix in Las Vegas in November 2023; the track that is currently in the works will, upon completion, run for 3.8 miles, with racers expected to hit top speeds of 212 miles per hour.

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 – Formula 1, the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), has revealed the extent of their considerable investment in their upcoming Las Vegas-based Grand Prix location, which is slated to take place in the center of the city – with the track situated partly on the Las Vegas Strip – starting in November 2023.

Formula 1 will be putting $240 million into the street-based night race as part of a multi-year deal with the city, making the event their third annual Grand Prix in the United States, following the United States Grand Prix at Austin, Texas and the Miami, Florida Grand Prix.

The $240 million that Formula 1 will be investing will be going to the acquisition of a 39-acre site in Las Vegas – located north east of East Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane – in order to build a permanent pits and paddock facility, according to Greg Maffei, CEO and President of Liberty Media, Formula 1’s commercial rights holder.

“Liberty Media did enter an agreement to acquire 39 acres east of the strip to lock in circuit design and capacity for the pits and paddock, among other hospitality and race support venues,” Maffei said at a press event last Friday.

Maffei noted that Colorado-based Liberty Media’s decision to promote the Grand Prix in Las Vegas in conjunction with local partners was driven by several factors.

“One is proximity: It’s fairly easy relatively to being in Denver to get to Vegas for us to do the work and we have knowledge of local US market relative to many other markets,” he said. “But more importantly we see the opportunity of being a promoter is a way to expand our understanding of the business, understand how to be the best F1 product on the track for other promoters as well, and to look at the opportunity to grow our knowledge and understanding and potentially promote other races down the road.”

“Vegas is going to be large and a perhaps unique opportunity so from a financial perspective we think this one sets up pretty well to be worth the time/extra focus to become the promoter,” Maffei added.

Formula 1 cars are the fastest regulated road-course racing cars in the world, and the Grand Prix races take place worldwide on both purpose-built circuits and closed public roads.

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 – Construction crews recently reached a major milestone on the development of the F1 Paddock Facility site located off of the Las Vegas Strip in anticipation of the organization’s first race in the city in decades, slated to take place in just seven months.

The 400 workers at the site held a topping out ceremony to celebrate the final barrier being installed on the structure’s roof, a major achievement that signifies the Paddock Facility is now 60 percent complete.

Governor Joe Lombardo and F1 President Stefano Domenicali were at the ceremony, and symbolically signed the final barrier before workers lifted and installed it on the facility’s roof.

“We want to create a legacy for Las Vegas and Formula 1 for the future,” said Domenicali.

A paddock is where the race teams park their transporters; these transporters become temporary garages where the race mechanics prepare the race cars.

Previously, Formula 1 announced they will be putting $240 million into the street-based night race as part of a multi-year deal with the city of Las Vegas, making the event their third annual Grand Prix in the United States following the Grand Prix at Austin, Texas and the Miami, Florida Grand Prix.

The $240 million that Formula 1 is investing went into the acquisition of a 39-acre site in Las Vegas – located northeast of East Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane – in order to build a permanent pits and the aforementioned paddock facility.

Formula 1 cars are the fastest regulated road-course racing cars in the world, and the Grand Prix races take place worldwide on both purpose-built circuits and closed public roads.

The upcoming Las Vegas-based Grand Prix is slated to take place in the center of the city – with the track situated partly on the Las Vegas Strip – starting in November 2023.

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 – The Harmon at 370, an apartment complex located near the famed Las Vegas Strip and adjacent to a large tract of vacant land that Formula One is currently developing into a new racetrack, has been listed for sale, with the property’s new landlord asking for the hefty sum of nearly $189 million.

Previously, the complex had been known as Harbor Island Apartments, and residents had grown quite used to the large plot of land next door – especially since its perpetual state of disuse had resulted in a sustained state of peace and quiet.

However, the 21.4-acre site at 370 East Harmon Avenue – situated approximately one mile east of the Strip – sold to Laguna Point Properties in the spring for $126 million, at which time it was rechristened The Harmon at 370; at the same time as that purchase, Formula One was in the process of buying the empty plot next door.

Greg Campbell, a founding principal with Laguna Point Properties, said that he started getting inquiries about selling the apartment complex before his company had even finished closing on the deal, as the news of a Formula One racetrack being built next door had generated a great deal of hype.

“They get a whole following of people who want to be around them,” Campbell said of Formula One; with that being the case, it didn’t take long for Laguna Point Properties to put the property they had just purchased back on the market, and at a much higher price point than they themselves had paid.

The Harmon at 370 is being marketed as being “suitable for hotel, resort, retail and mixed-use development,” and is expected to be demolished if sold, with the property expected to be developed into something that caters more towards Formula One fans and general tourists, as opposed to long-term housing.

Formula One announced in March that it would hold a 50-lap Grand Prix in Las Vegas in November 2023; the track that is currently in the works will, upon completion, run for 3.8 miles, with racers expected to hit top speeds of 212 miles per hour.

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.

Important Announcement – If you are considering securing FHA 3.5% down financing for a home in Clark County (Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City), you have until October 1, 2011 fund on your loan before the loan limits drop from $400,000 to $271,050.

What this basically means is that the alternative to FHA Mortgage Loans is finding a Conventional Mortgage, which may require a much larger down payment (up to 20%), as well as higher credit scores and income requirements.

Quick Background:

When Congress passed the Economic Stimulus Act in 2008, FHA loan limits were temporarily raised to help borrowers in higher cost areas obtain financing through FHA to help offset the reduction in private financing due to the credit crunch. These Loan Limit increases were substantial in many areas of the country and were set to expire in the future. ( I wonder if Congress knew we’d have a housing bubble )

Congress passed additional legislation to extend these loan limits for the past couple of years. However, barring any Congressional action, the FHA Loan Limits are set to revert to the 2008 formula as of October 1, 2011.

Clark County FHA Loan Limits / Proposed Changes:

* Sources: Search FHA Loan Limits | May 26, 2011 – FHA Loan Limit Brief

How Will This Impact Buyers?

A few of the major benefits of an FHA Mortgage Programs:

• Liberal Credit Requirements (580-640 Fico Scores May Work)
• Lower Rates (Not hit with rate increases due to lower FICO scores – LLPA)
• 3.5% Downpayment

While there is mortgage money available… for now, Section 941 of the Dodd-Frank Act pertaining to risk retention and the Act’s definition of qualified residential mortgages (QRMs) could make it very challenging for many First-Time Home Buyers to get a loan. (Video: “Skin In The Game)

However, the difference in downpayment and higher rates may actually force the sellers who have their properties listed in the low $300,000 range to drop their prices just to compete for the FHA borrowers.

Not sure, but this theory makes sense to me, especially if we’re talking about Las Vegas Short Sales and REO’s where the banks will need to price their listings according to accurate market comps.

Buy now, or wait for the FHA loan limits to decrease, along with property values?

Tough question to answer if you’re only concerned with value, equity and other “investment” related topics that probably shouldn’t be mixed with the decision to purchase a primary residence.

And if you’re a cash investor, then this FHA loan limit decision probably won’t impact the homes in your price range of Las Vegas real estate investment deals under $145,000.

Keep in mind that 51% of residential properties purchased in Clark County last month were paid for in cash, and not secured by a mortgage loan.

Either way, the following map and list of homes for sale in Las Vegas and Henderson may give you an idea of what you could miss out on once the FHA Loan Limits in Clark County decrease.

The two main questions to ask yourself area whether you would rather pay 3.5% or 20% down, and if you’re willing to risk getting a higher rate by waiting until after October 1 to see what the market does.

* This list updates every day from the “ACTIVE” listings in the MLS. Once a property goes into contract or “Pending” status, it is automatically removed from this list.

LAS VEGAS, NV – The 299-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott Las Vegas Convention Center has been sold for approximately $75 million to real estate investment trust (REIT) Apple Hospitality, as per a joint announcement issued by the two parties.

Located next to the Las Vegas Convention Center at 2989 Paradise Road, Springhill Suites Las Vegas originally opened in October 2009 and boasts over 10,000 square-feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space, in addition to a pool located on the rooftop, a full fitness center, an onsite market and restaurant that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and a massive carpark that comes in at a full seven stories.

The $75 million paid by Apple Hospitality translates to approximately $251,000 per each of the hotel’s 299 rooms.

Apple Hospitality’s President of Real Estate and Investments, Nelson Knight, said that the acquisition of Springhill Suites was part of his firm’s ongoing plan to further entrench themselves in the ever-evolving and growing tourism trade in Las Vegas, citing recent hot new editions to the city’s entertainment and sporting scenes.

Las Vegas, well known as a premier gaming and entertainment destination, has dynamically expanded in recent years with the arrival of major league sports teams, the Sphere and Formula 1 racing, to capture an even larger segment of leisure travel demand,” he said. “In addition to robust leisure demand, the hotel benefits from its proximity to the newly expanded Las Vegas Convention Center, one of the largest and busiest convention centers in the world, and its own indoor/outdoor function space.”

Knight also noted that the $75 million that Apple Hospitality paid to acquire SpringHill Suites was a bargain considering the significant return on their investment that is expected.

The attractive purchase price is just under a 10.7x multiple on trailing twelve-month hotel EBITDA,” he said. “With a strong recovery in overall demand, positive supply dynamics, the recent development and expansion of large-scale entertainment and convention venues, and the upcoming Super Bowl LVIII, we expect performance for Las Vegas and for this hotel to continue to strengthen.”

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 – While commonplace in many other cities, visitors to the famed Las Vegas Strip will take note of the general lack of individual, freestanding retail storefronts lining the four-mile stretch of roadway; instead, the majority of stores are located either within casino hotels or enclosed malls.  

However, one New York-based developer is looking to change that via two street-facing retail projects, with one recently opened and another currently under construction. 

Developer Eli Gindi – whose family founded and owns the Century 21 retail chain – is behind the under-construction “door on the street” retail property dubbed BLVD located at 3743 South Las Vegas Boulevard. Upon completion, this property will utilize 300,000-square-feet of space to deliver two stories of street-facing retail space, with a 100,000-square-foot rooftop overlooking the Strip offering dining and “hang out” area options for patrons. 

Meanwhile, Project 63 at Harmon Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard is already open for business, offering up 186,000-square-feet of street-facing retail space right next to the upscale The Shops at Crystals, an enclosed mall owned by the Simon Property Group. 

The move to developing street-facing retail on the Strip shows how the area has evolved over the years, with a major sporting component being added to its impressive gambling and entertainment options. With new venues opening nearby – such as the Golden Knights hockey team’s T-Mobile Arena and the NFL Raiders‘ Allegiant Stadium – more and more sports fans are being lured to Las Vegas and, subsequently, the stores nearby their favorite team’s events that they came there to see. 

Additional sporting attractions – including an upcoming stadium for the Oakland Athletics baseball team, as well as the city hosting a Formula 1 race in November – should prove to continue to draw fans to the Las Vegas, resulting in even further retail expansion in and around the Strip. 

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 – Amid Clark County’s numerous delays issuing licenses for short term rentals within its borders, more and more homeowners are illegally listing their properties for rent on services like Airbnb and VRBO, risking serious fines if they are caught. 

Homeowners who are prospective short-term rental operators have been vocal in their complaints about the county’s slow licensing process as the typically busy summer season is passing them by; many are also worried about missing out on tourists visiting the region for upcoming Formula 1 races.  

Currently, Clark County officials have not provided a timeframe for when the first licenses will be issued, only initially stating that applications must be submitted by late June; this date was later pushed back to late August after some homeowners complained that they did not receive pertinent information in the mail following a March 29 pre-application lottery. 

According to Greater Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Association (GLVSTRA) President Jackie Flores, due to the delays some homeowners have resorted to clandestinely listing their rental properties online in order to help cover the costs incurred by their currently empty units. 

They’re stuck in a situation where they have bills to pay,” Flores said. “We have told [county officials] many, many, many times.” 

Homeowners who were previously operating short-term rentals were required to stop doing so in order to apply for a license. Leslie Doyle, 83, said that she has lost 50 percent of her income by doing so, and the delays are crippling her financially. 

Some of us will die waiting,” she said. “We [seniors] are the ones who need it most.” 

If caught, the penalties for running unlicensed short-term rentals in Clark County are stiff, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 a day and even a potential visit from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. 

Currently, GLVSTRA is in the process of suing Clark County over the proposed regulations governing short term rentals, claiming that some of them are unconstitutional. Barring any delays, the Nevada State Supreme Court may hear the case in December. 

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 – After an extended period of time that has left many Las Vegas landlords grumbling and downright angry over the prospects of missed income, unincorporated Clark County has finally begun to issue short-term rental licenses…well, three of them anyway, amid a massive backlog of applicants hundreds deep who have been waiting for over a year-and-a-half to begin legally renting their properties.

The road to this point in time began in 2021, when Nevada passed legislation mandating that cities and counties within the state create regulations and a process for granting licenses for short-term rentals; Clark County would create their own ordinance in Summer 2022, but from there, further progress has been slow.

Cities such as Las Vegas and Henderson have already been issuing licenses and regulating short-term rentals within their confines for some time now, but Clark County only truly got the ball rolling in March of 2023, at which time they held a lottery where the names of over 1,300 prospective applicants were drawn to be reviewed and, if they met the criteria, eventually granted licenses.

However, the process of reviewing and issuing said licenses has turned out to be a long and drawn-out affair, with Clark County officials extending deadlines several times while reviewing qualified applications and allowing them to move forward in the process.

Currently, the applications of over 700 homeowners are still mired somewhere in the licensing process, county officials say.

In the meantime, homeowners have expressed extreme frustration with what they view as the county dragging their feet in granting their licenses, and lament the missed profits they could have amassed if they were able to take advantage of recent large-scale sporting events, such as the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix that took place late last year, which attracted a great many tourists to the city.

One of the homeowners whose license was granted this week was originally drawn as “number 10” in the 2023 lottery, leaving those who drew hundreds higher wondering how much longer they may be forced to wait before they can begin legally renting out their properties.

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.