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Development , Investing , Real Estate

Focus on Downtown Las Vegas Construction Bringing Influx of Jobs to Area, Many With Higher-Than-Average Wages

By Christopher Boyle May 16, 2019

LAS VEGAS – The Vegas economy continues to have its fires stoked with a renewed focus on development in recent months, centered on construction projects in the famed downtown district. With a renewed emphasis on renovating existing facilities and building new ones, hundreds of employment opportunities have been made available, and due to tight deadlines these projects impose, many jobs need to be filled quickly and often for higher-than-average wages. 

Experts are predicting that within the next ten years, real estate in the Las Vegas valley will become some of the most valuable in all of Southern Nevada. File photo: Pixabay.

Essentially, if you’re looking to find a job and aren’t afraid of getting your hands dirty, it’s a win-win situation for all involved. Penta Building Group is currently heavily involved in the construction of the Expo at World Market Center in Vegas’ downtown region; reports estimate that at least 500 jobs are being made available in order to bring the $100 million project to life, both on-time and on-budget. Reportedly the jobs offered run the gamut from skilled tradesman such as electricians and plumbers to rank-and-file laborers, the very backbone of any construction project.

Another project in the works is a hotel dubbed Circa, owned by developer Derek Stevens and slated for construction in the valley. Currently, the project is in need of 1500 workers, and is being heralded as one of the first casinos built in the downtown Las Vegas region in decades. In addition, reports also indicate that two large apartment complexes are going to be soon erected in Las Vegas’ Symphony Park, with the twin facilities known as Aspen Heights and Southernland.

Still more jobs are up for grabs from hotels and casinos that are in the midst of giving themselves a face-lift; renovations and upgrades are happening all over the downtown area and along the Las Vegas strip in order to offer more entertainment options and amenities for the growing tourist population that visit the city on an annual basis.

With all of this construction and the many jobs it will create, comes at a period of time where prices for real estate in downtown Las Vegas are currently on the rise. In fact, within the next 10 years, experts are predicting that real estate in the Las Vegas valley area will become some of the most valuable in all of Southern Nevada; with that being the case, many companies are now pouring development efforts – and dollars – into developing in the area while it is still relatively affordable.

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.

Development , Investing , Market Updates , Real Estate

Florida-Based Real Estate Firm Acquires Two Vegas Strip Malls

By Christopher Boyle May 14, 2019

LAS VEGAS – Pebb Enterprises, a Florida-based real estate firm, has been on a bit of a buying tear in Las Vegas as of late, seemingly investing a serious amount of capital in the city’s retail infrastructure; a bold move, according to experts, considering the at-times shaky nature of the real estate scene in Southern Nevada – and the country as a whole.

Ian Weiner, PEBB President & CEO, said in a statement that the acquisition of Rainbow Promenade and Cheyenne Commons firmly cements PEBB’s presence in the Las Vegas market.

Last month Pebb purchased Rainbow Promenade, a retail plaza located at the corner of Rainbow Boulevard and Smoke Ranch Road. The plaza, coming in at 220,279 square-feet, sits on a 22-acre plot of land and recently underwent $5,000,000 in renovation work. The shopping center is almost completely occupied, and features high-profile tenants such as Barnes and Noble and Hobby Lobby. Only 2 percent of retail space remains for rent, according to reports, and business overall is said to be brisk in the shopping center.

This represents a significant turnaround for Rainbow Promenade fortunes; in 2013, the plaza was in foreclosure, but according to recent reports, it has regained its financial composure and currently boasts strong and consistent sales.

This acquisition follows Pebb’s purchase of Cheyenne Commons in March, a retail center situated on a 35 acre plot of land located one mile up the road. While reportedly a solid purchase, Cheyenne Commons does not currently feature nearly-full occupation like Rainbow Promenade does.

Some experts question Pabb’s increased investment in retail during a period where brick-and-mortar stores are being forced to endure increased competition from online retailers such as Amazon and eBay, entities that typically are able to sell goods at far cheaper prices while enjoying reduced overhead costs. With the recent announcement of Amazon offering free one-day shipping in the near-future to Prime members, retail in general appears to be facing an uphill battle in our country going forward.

As a result of the increased competition from online retailers, physical stores have increasingly faced financial hardship, with many closing their doors almost as quickly as they first opened. For example, a recent report revealed that it is estimated that approximately one-half of all shopping malls currently open today may be closed within the next 10 years, which is a sobering reality of today’s retail climate.

Pebb representatives noted in a statement that the retail establishments in Rainbow Promenade frequently feature strong sales numbers, and that the majority of the tenants in the plaza have recently-renewed lease agreements. The strip mall itself is in a highly visible location, close to populated residential areas and busy roadways. These factors, along with others, may prove to be saving graces for the retail scene in Vegas, and prove that Pebb’s investment, at least for now, is a solid one.

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.

Investing , Market Updates , Real Estate

Hit HGTV Series “Flip or Flop Vegas” Returns for Third Season

By Christopher Boyle March 26, 2019

LAS VEGAS – The HGTV hit television series Flip or Flop Vegas has returned for a third season this year, highlighting the unique ups and downs of the Southern Nevada real estate scene with the first of its latest batch of new episodes recently premiered on March 21.

Featuring the exploits of Aubrey Marunde, a Vegas-based real estate expert and designer, and her husband Bristol, a designer, contractor, and former Mixed Martial Artist who has competed in the UFC and Strikeforce, the program sees the couple buy distressed properties and renovate them while a camera crew captures the process from beginning to end. A spin-off of the series Flip or Flop, the program originally debuted on April 6, 2017 and proved to be an instant hit, finding a loyal audience and earning 12.5 million viewers since its premiere.

Season three features an additional 10 episodes in which the Marundes – owners of real estate company Alter Luxury – take downtrodden residences in the region and renovate them in the flashy, well-known style that many have come to expect of Las Vegas. The design aesthetic the Marundes’ bring to their typical flip typically entails lots of chandeliers and lighting and hardware in order to deliver an over-the-top result that has garnered a big demand for the couple’s work. The couple’s time to flip a property averages about three weeks; once on the market, their average sell time is five to seven days.

Due to the strong demand for homes in Vegas, Bristol noted that the experience of flipping homes there – the act of repairing and renovating a house with the intention of quickly selling it for a profit – is a far more intense experience than in many other parts of the country. With the speed in which land is being picked up by developers, she said that a flipper needs to be able to be fast on the draw when it comes to identifying and buying prospective properties; in addition, the properties she and her husband renovate are snapped up at far faster speeds than elsewhere in the country as well, leading to a never-ending supply of fodder for future episodes of their TV show.

Bristol Marunde originally came to be noticed by HGTV via her Instagram page, where she showcased her numerous home renovations; this opened the door for the Marundes to get a shot at their own TV series, High Stakes Flippers, in 2016. Eventually, the concept morphed into Flip or Flop Vegas as the duo attempted to ply their trade – quite successfully – in Sin City itself.

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.

Investing , Rentals

Elderly Join Trend of Increased Home Renting Over Buying

By Christopher Boyle March 13, 2019

LAS VEGAS – In years past retirees often remained in their homes as long as possible – even after their children have grown and moved on, or their spouse has passed away – but more recently, many seniors are opting to sell their homes and downsize into a rental for a variety of reasons. This is beginning to have more of an overall impact on the rental market – especially in Las Vegas – and has started to change into statistics.

For instance, due to improvements in healthcare and the resulting increased average life expectancy, the number of elderly in the United States has reached numbers not seen before with 22 percent of the population aged 60 years or older discovering the benefits of renting, especially on a local level; among large U.S. cities, such as Las Vegas sitting with the fourth-highest amount of senior renters, comprising approximately 21 percent of the market. And there are a number of legitimate reasons why; as American society changes and evolves, this is the case, and we can expect this number to increase as times goes by. In fact, the number of renters in their early 60s increased by 84 percent between 2006 and 2016, according to reports.

Renting as a senior holds many attractive qualities, including convenience and flexibility that owning a home might not afford. Rentals mean less home maintenance, which can otherwise be a lot of work for individuals that may be experiencing age-induced physical ailments; however, when something needs fixing and you’re a renter, a call to the landlord or property manager is all that is needed. Also, many rental units offer accessibility options – such as elevators – that a home will not, allowing elders to get around easily and remain independent longer. Additionally, rentals are often situated closer to services and stores than suburban homes are, allowing a senior easier access to the supermarket, pharmacy, or a movie theater.

Plus, selling your home and moving into a rental while in your Golden Years allows you to move to a less costly part of the country, so you can stretch and increase your retirement savings that much farther. Many seniors – after the sad passing of a spouse – often find themselves living alone, and the last thing a person in that situation would want to do is to maintain a multi-bedroom house for just one person. Rental units offer a single senior neighbors and building workers who provide a sense of community and a source of help if it is needed.

The rental market is being impacted more and more by the senior community – especially in Las Vegas – and as time goes by and the percentage of elderly in our country increases even more, that impact will continue to be felt. Indeed, because of this, investing in properties that feature amenities aimed at seniors is an excellent idea for anyone looking to get into real estate, in Las Vegas or anywhere else in the country.

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.

Economy , Investing , Market Updates

Las Vegas Outpaces U.S. 2018 Average Employment in Terms of Construction

By Christopher Boyle February 5, 2019

LAS VEGAS, NV – Looking back at 2018, Las Vegas can boast of a great many things – a booming economy, a healthy job market, booming real estate, an influx of new residents and businesses – but one item that stands out just as impressively is the fact that employment in the local construction industry blew up at roughly twice the rate when compared to the rest of the United States.

With a plethora of ongoing high-profile building projects – including the Las Vegas Raiders NFL stadium, a new baseball stadium, numerous single-family homes, apartment buildings, and condos, retail buildings, warehouses and more –  nearly 68,000 people were employed by the Las Vegas construction industry last year, representing a jump of nearly 9 percent from the same period in 2017, as per reports. In contrast, construction jobs only grew on an average of 4 percent elsewhere in the country.

With demand for quality – and affordable – housing spiking in Las Vegas within the last few years, the only thing standing between prospective homeowners and their desire to move into new dwellings has been a shortage of workers, and in an attempt to offset the difficulty in attracting laborers, construction companies have been offering extra incentives in order to draw them in, including higher salaries and benefits. 

Slowly, but surely, the approach has been working, and output from the region’s contractors has been steadily increasing to meet demand; however, according to reports, the workforce is still under-populated and companies are still looking for qualified workers.

The housing job market in Las Vegas currently, while very impressive by national standards, still pales in comparison to how it was in the “good old days.” Previously, before the housing market crash of the mid-2000’s, construction companies in Las Vegas employed approximately 112,000 workers; following the burst of the housing bubble, however, the market could only sustain fewer than 35,000 workers. Needless to say, the modern market is clearly in the rise once again.

Real Estate professionals in Las Vegas in 2018 reported record numbers of sales, with the marker hitting highs not seen in the Southern Nevada Region in over a decade. Scarcity has resulted in elevated pricing, but as more workers are brought in by home-builders in the area, a greater output of dwellings will result in prices stabilizing and, eventually, dropping to more affordable levels, although it is worth noting that Vegas’ cost of living, even now, is lower than much of the country, especially when compared to neighboring states such as California.

Looking for relocation information on the fast-growing Las Vegas market? New home recommendations? Las Vegas apartments, condos or rental info? Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Area Living , Economy , Investing

Resorts World Las Vegas Construction Progress Beginning to Take Shape

By Christopher Boyle October 30, 2018

LAS VEGAS, NV – Resorts World Las Vegas is a project that has been in gestation for so long that many experts were starting to doubt that it would ever actually see the light of day. After the official groundbreaking in May of 2015 – with a projected opening date of mid-2018 – little progress had been made in erecting the Chinese-themed casino and resort. However, in recent months, the oft-delayed project has seen considerable results, and the revised opening – now scheduled for 2020 – seems like a realistic goal if the current pace is maintained.

Build on the former site of the Stardust situated on the Las Vegas Strip, the property had been sold to the Genting Group for $350 million in 2013, with Resorts World opting to build off of a pre-existing structure left behind by an attempt to develop the property in the mid-2000’s. Resorts World Las Vegas, upon completion, is expected to come in at 21,847,314 square feet in size, which will include four towers containing a total of 6,538 rooms; the estimated cost of the project could cost up to $7 billion.

However, experts began to question the validity of the project when, as of early 2016, little in the way of progress had been made in terms of construction on the site. Genting Group responded to naysayers, attributing delays to the complexity of the project and the company’s overall purchasing power being adversely affected by falling global currency values. A revised timetable was presented to the public in May of 2017, noting that the opening was now slated for 2020; after numerous delays and logistical issues sorted out, work on the mega-resort began in earnest by March of 2018, and concrete results finally followed soon afterwards.

As of late October of 2018, the hotel building – which will be 60 stories when finished – is currently built up to floor 35, and the construction site is replete with numerous cranes operating continuously with over 1,000 workers scurrying about – and several thousand more expected to join them next year – as they carry out their tasks. This is a far cry from what the site looked like just one year ago, when there was little progress to speak of.

When finished, Resorts World Las Vegas is, according to Genting Group, to feature numerous amenities for guests, including a 175,000 square-foot casino; a 4,000-seat theatre; retail, dining and convention space; a rooftop sky park and observation deck; an aquarium, movie theatre, bowling alley, ice skating rink, and an indoor water park; a panda exhibit, and more.

If you are considering relocating to the Las Vegas area which is experiencing huge growth and a booming job market,  give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any real estate and tenant related questions you may have.

Economy , Investing , Real Estate

Las Vegas House Flipping Market Considered Hottest in Country

By Christopher Boyle September 10, 2018

LAS VEGAS, NV – House flipping – the act of purchasing a home, fixing it up, and putting it back on the market in order to turn a profit – has been a popular way to make money in the real estate field for many years, but recently the market has seen its profit margins slipping nationally… almost everywhere except in Las Vegas, that is, where the practice remains both lucrative and very popular.

According to reports, approximately 7.7 percent of the homes sold in the Las Vegas region in the second quarter of 2018 consisted of flips; compare this to the overall national average of homes sales, of which flips accounted for 5.2 percent and falling, real estate experts say. Only a mere handful of other cities in the United States come in at higher levels, among them Memphis, Tennessee with 9.7 percent; Clarksville, Tennessee at 8.2 percent; and Atlantic City, New Jersey, at 7.9 percent.

However, none of those regions have experienced the rapid and consistent growth that Las Vegas has in recent years, which can be attributed to the ongoing economic uptick in the area, with money, businesses, and jobs flowing into the area, spurred on by a rapidly-recovering real estate market after a near decade of dormancy following the mid-2000’s recession.

However, even before and during the burst of the housing bubble, house flipping had been big money in Las Vegas; before the recent recovery of the economy, flipping was nonetheless big thanks to the ease of acquiring bank loans, which many flippers took advantage of. But with the resurgence of the market in the last few years, flipping has taken on a new significance in Southern Nevada, and with time the practice could overtake other areas and make Las Vegas number one.

On average, house flippers in Las Vegas during the second quarter of 2018 saw a healthy return on their efforts to the tune of approximately $54,000 or more in terms of profit for houses sold, or a nearly 28 percent return on their investment. This amount accounts for the money spent acquiring the property, but not for any subsequent expenditures encountered while renovating and/or improving the house itself before it had been sold. But with careful work done with economy – and quality – in mind, flippers can minimise their costs while maximising their profits.

House flipping in Las Vegas is maintaining its reputation as a profitable and sure-fire way to turn a quick buck in one of the hottest real estate territories around, so if you have the money, time, and wherewithal, it’s something that anyone interested in hard work and high rewards should seriously consider undertaking. With homes in the Las Vegas market still in high and ever-increasing demand, it only makes sense to get in on the action while it’s still hot in one of the fastest-climbing housing markets in the country.

If you are considering investing in or around the Las Vegas area, which clearly is experiencing huge growth and a booming job market,  give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any real estate and tenant related questions you may have.

Economy , Investing , Market Updates

Federal Steel Tariffs Driving Up Las Vegas Construction Costs

By Christopher Boyle August 21, 2018

LAS VEGAS, NV – Steel tariffs instituted by the United States government have begin to make their presence felt upon several high-profile, ongoing construction projects in the Las Vegas area, driving up costs of many beyond the scope of their original estimates, according to reports.

Northwest Vegas’ Centennial Bowl construction has seen some issues related to the tariffs; an estimated $12 million has been added to the project’s original projected costs of the newest phase of work, a huge amount that the Nevada Department of Transportation has attributed to the newly-imposed taxes placed upon imported steel from several foreign sources. It is unknown if attempts were made to procure steel from domestic sources in order to avoid additional cost overruns.

The Centennial Bowl initially began construction in August of 2015, with the stated purpose of the project being a widening and upgrade to a six-mile segment of U.S. Highway 95 in northwest Las Vegas in order to reduce traffic congestion and provide a more efficient and safe corridor of travel for local residents. The project will expand the highway from its current four lanes of travel to an eventual six lanes, running from Durango Drive to Kyle Canyon Road. That work, coupled with a new series of entrance and exit ramps, is expected to create some much-valued breathing room for area motorists.

Currently, over than 52,000 vehicles traverse this section of highway with that amount of motorists anticipated to increase by at least 50 percent in the next 20 years. Needless to say, an upgrade was sorely needed. The first phase of work was finished in 2016; the next phase is due to begin at the end of 2018.

The Department of Transportation selected Las Vegas Paving as the main contractor for the new phase of the Centennial Bowl project, which involves building an additional three parkway ramps that will serve to join the 215 Beltway and U.S. Highway 95, in addition to two flyover bridges.

All of this construction involves a great deal of steel-reinforced concrete, and the initial estimate of $49-$59 million was bumped up to approximately $61.5 million, with the increased costs being attributed to the new steel tariffs. When the project cost was first estimated, structural steel was approximately costing $3.25 per pound and reinforcing steel $.80 per pound; officials now note that structural steel comes in at $9 per pound and reinforcing steel $.94 per pound.

The current deadline for completion of the new phase of the project is 2020.

Considering relocating to Vegas? Give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any real estate and home relocation questions you may have.

Area Living , Economy , Investing , Market Updates

UNLV Starts Construction on Research and Technology Park; Facility Expected to Generate 25K New Jobs When Complete

By Christopher Boyle August 16, 2018

LAS VEGAS, NV – Ground has officially broken and construction is underway on the first of at least 12 buildings that will encompass the Harry Reid Research and Technology Park at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), a $30 million project that the university says should generate as many as 25,000 jobs once it has been completed.

The first building, is expected to be completed next spring and is slated to come in at four stories and take up approximately 115,000-square feet. Developers working on the project are still in the process of finalizing when the entire twelve-building park will be completed, which is slated to consist of as many as 12-15 buildings with up to 1.5 million square feet of office space. The university anticipates that the facility will attract numerous technology businesses to the Las Vegas region.

Located adjacent to Durango Drive and the 215 Beltway, UNLV acquired the 122-acre property for the park in 2005 but was forced to delay construction efforts until now due to financial hardships brought on by the recession. Once completed, the park will offer UNLV students ample facilities to conduct research and engage in business and economic development projects; in addition, the park will also have space available for numerous businesses and partners, although who these specific enterprises are have yet to be divulged.

One complete and fully operational and with full occupancy, the par is expected to provide a vast array of employment opportunities for local residents and boast of an anticipated economic impact upon Las Vegas in the neighborhood of $2.6 billion. UNLV, considered a research university, has stated their goal as becoming a notable research institute and indents to pour approximately $120 a year into their efforts by 2025, focusing on research into technology and increasing the number of patent applications they submit on an annual basis.

The initial building currently under construction is known as an “innovation building,” and will feature offices, research space and lab space, in addition to amenities such as a basketball court and electric vehicle charging stations. UNLV and a corporate sponsor – to be announced in the near future – will be situated on the top two floors of the four-story building, with the bottom two floors being made available to businesses to lease.

Tenants are currently being sought and will be announced once signed, UNLV officials said.

If you are considering relocating in or around the Las Vegas area, which clearly is experiencing huge growth and a booming job market,  give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any real estate and home relocation questions you may have.

Appraisals , Economy , Investing , Real Estate

Las Vegas Home Construction Ramps Up With Lower-Cost Offerings; Previously Avoided Land Snapped Up by Builders

By Christopher Boyle July 17, 2018

LAS VEGAS, NV – Since the end of the recession and the recovery of the Las Vegas housing market after the the mid-2000’s housing bubble, real estate – and prices – have been steadily climbing, fuelled by intense demand as money and businesses continue to flow into the Southern Nevada region to take advantage of the opportunity that lies within.

With demand currently far outstripping demand, Las Vegas is threatened with eventually losing its attractive status as a city with a very affordable standard of living when compared to much of the United States these days. At the moment – and for the foreseeable future – property prices in Las Vegas are among the fastest-rising in the country, and developers have seen rapid and massive profits as available homes have been snapped up in record time.

In order to combat these concerns, local builders have been attempting to ramp up construction in an attempt to increase the available number of homes and apartments on the market; it is hoped that such efforts will stabilise the rapidly climbing costs of real estate in Vegas as of late. And in order address those concerns specifically, builders have begun to place a greater emphasis on lower-cost housing options when it comes to their construction plans, according to reports.

Of the communities that have been completed and opened in 2018, approximately 25 percent of them have advertised base asking prices below $300,000, which represents an increase of 12 percent in projects with such price points over the same period one year ago; the median sale price of a home as of the end of this past May was $369,990 – an 8 percent jump from 2017 – so it’s easy to see that any home that starts under $300,000 can be seen as a boon to new families attempting to get a fresh start in the Las Vegas region.

Part of the business plans that have resulted in these cheaper home prices center around less expensive land prices as areas that had been previously overlooked by developers toughing it out during the recession are being snapped up for bargains today. In addition, greater numbers of apartments and condominiums in circulation – increasing completion for the dollars of those looking for a new place to live – are also helping to stabilise new home prices.

Las Vegas’ skyrocketing economy and real estate market are a large part of what’s putting it back on the map after over a decade of dormancy during the recession; experts are starting to worry that its sudden and rapid growth and expansion may be a case of too much, too soon, so the fact that local developers and builders are taking note of this fact and – adjusting their output accordingly in order to curb this trend and help retain the affordability that Las Vegas has come to be known for – ensures that the region’s upward financial climb will only continue unabated.

If you are considering relocating in or around the Las Vegas area, which clearly is experiencing huge growth and a booming job market,  give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any real estate and home relocation questions you may have.

Appraisals , Area Living , Investing , Market Updates

Report: These Four Las Vegas Communities Are Among The Nation’s Top 20 for Builder’s Sales in 2018

By Christopher Boyle July 10, 2018

LAS VEGAS, NV – In an effort to address the ongoing housing crisis in Las Vegas, builders have been attempting to ramp up their efforts in erecting new homes and apartment complexes to meet the ever-growing demands in Southern Nevada as the local economy improves. The situation is ushering in new investors, companies, tourism, and – most importantly – newly-transplanted residents keen to take advantage of Vegas’ thriving job market, and as a result living options are scarce and prices are skyrocketing.

Builders are seeing progress in their efforts to balance local real estate scales, as four towns in Las Vegas are ranked in the two 20 in the United States in terms of builder sales for 2018, according to reports.

The numbers for local builders are also impressive, and clearly speak for themselves; as of the end of June, sales in Summerlin were ranked as the third highest in the nation among master-planned communities at 772 homes sold, representing a jump of 64 percent over a one year prior. Inspirada – a master-planned community located within Henderson – comes in eighth in the U.S. with a 21 percent increase from 2017, boasting 475 homes purchased. Another Henderson-based community, Cadence, ranks 12th with 334 homes sold, an increase of 45 percent. Finally, coming in at 17th in the nation is Skye Canyon with 284 homes purchased; currently, it is not known home much of an increase this is over the previous year’s sales for this community, which is located in the northwest Las Vegas valley.

Due to a the current lack of housing options on the market, most available homes and apartments are being snapped up, and landlords and sellers in the region are taking advantage of demand by charging – and receiving – premium prices. Initially, builders appeared ill-equipped to handle the production of additional housing units to appease demand, in-part contributing to the cutthroat sales environment holding Vegas in its grasp. However, these new sales figures suggest that builders are finally hitting their stride and will hopefully continue to deliver adequate amounts of new residences to the point that prices begin to stabilize and eventually subside to a degree.

But in the meantime, housing in Las Vegas will still be on a first-come, first-served basis for the foreseeable future, and buyers will find themselves paying through the nose more often than not…bearing in mind that housing prices in Las Vegas – as well as the overall cost of living – still remain below the national average, especially when compared to neighbouring markets such as California, where the cost of living is driving more and more residents out-of-state and into more affordable regions, such as Nevada.

If you are considering relocating in or around the Las Vegas area, which clearly is experiencing huge growth and a booming job market,  give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any real estate and home relocation questions you may have.

Area Living , Economy , Investing , Market Updates

$3 Billion in Local Investments Expected to Come Out of New Las Vegas Railway Project

By Christopher Boyle July 3, 2018

LAS VEGAS, NV –  According to reports, a light-rail system set along the Maryland Parkway corridor is currently being mulled over by Clark County city officials; if brought to fruition, the project would connect the downtown area with the University of Nevada, Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, and McCarran International Airport. This development is seen to represent a major boon to the region, as once up and running, the nearly 9 mile, $750 million project could possibly result in upwards of $3 billion in local investments in offices, retail, entertainment, and housing development along its planned route. These estimates are based upon the positive financial impacts that similar railway projects have had in other American cities, including Denver, Colorado and Phoenix, Arizona.

The Regional Transportation Commission is currently set to announce their decision on the railway in September; if approved, the project is slated to be up and running by 2025. There are no indications yet if the RTC is leaning one way or the other on the potential light-rail system, but it’s known that they are also considering other, more cost-efficient choices to improve transportation along the Maryland Parkway corridor – an area that many experts feel is ripe for development – including a roadway improvement initiative with an estimated cost of approximately $29 million; however, the addition of some much-needed rapid transit lanes for buses could possibly run an additional $335 million. Expensive, yes, but still cheaper than the proposed train line.

However, the railway system has a great many supporters, and development is already underway; G2 Capital Development has invested heavily in this regard, as they are currently building University Gateway, a $60 million, eight-story mixed-use project along the Maryland Parkway corridor, in addition to a parking garage nearby. G2 has also purchased commercial development situated along the parkway – Campus Village – that may see a face-lift in the future if business warrants it. If the railway project comes to light, developer Mike Saltman has also announced his intention to construct a shopping center at one of the railway stations.

While $750 million isn’t chump change, the taxpayers of Clark County likely won’t have to foot the entire bill if the RTC approves the project; currently, county officials are looking into the possibility of acquiring a federal New Starts grant that could cover up to half of the costs associated with the project. In addition, local residents may get the chance to cast their votes for or against a possible hike of sales taxes that, if passed, would also contribute to the costs of the light-rail system. But before any federal grants would be applied for, the plans for the project would have to pass scrutiny in terms of any possible environmental impact they may have upon the proposed route, as well as review any public concerns along with any potential alternate projects.

If you are considering relocating in or around the Las Vegas area, which clearly is experiencing huge growth and a booming job market,  give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any real estate and home relocation questions you may have.