Category Archive : Real Estate

LAS VEGAS, NV – Housing statistics for the Southern Nevada region for July of 2017 have come in, and as usual, the summer heat of the Las Vegas desert is only matched or exceeded by the hot market of local real estate. Following the housing bubble burst of the mid-2000’s followed by a decade of dormancy, the housing and especially the rental market in Nevada is skyrocketing upward, leaving big money men – especially those from out-of-state – scrambling to get in on the action.

According to the most recent Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTOR (GLVAR) report, July 2017 saw the median price of existing single-family homes sold during July increase to $260,000, which represents a 10.2 percent increase compared to the same period in 2016. Meanwhile, the median price of local condos and town-homes sold in July jumped to $138,000, an increase of 20 percent from the previous July. And – as it has been for months and months now – GLVAR’s President, David J. Tina, noted that the demand for housing continues to exceed the current supply; Southern Nevada currently has less than a two-month supply of existing homes available for sale, whereas a balanced market typically has a six-month supply. In such an environment, prices for any dwelling will continue to rise until equilibrium between supply and demand is established, which in Vegas’ case could take some time.

Meanwhile, investment opportunities galore continue to make themselves available to those who are willing to sink the funds into the region, and lately the most money has actually been flowing in from banks, lenders, and investors outside the confines of Nevada. Part of the cause for this is the fact that many lenders within Nevada, hit hard by the recession, are still reeling from its effects; loathe to dole out cash after having been burned by numerous loans that went belly-up when the housing market crumbled in the mid-2000’s, many regional and national banks based outside of the Las Vegas Valley have been more aggressive than the local banks, according to reports. Stricter lending laws within Nevada have also contributed to increased reliance of contractors and construction companies on out-of-state lenders, who have fewer hurdles to clear.

That money is sorely needed if new housing is to be completed in a timely fashion to satisfy the near-insatiable demand on the part of prospective tenants and families drawn to the Southern Nevada region in hopes of taking advantage of the new job opportunities in the area and a slowly-but-surely growing local economy. But in the meantime, buyers are scrambling for any piece of real estate they can get their hands on; by the end of July, GLVAR reported a mere 4,995 single-family homes currently listed for sale on the open market without an offer, which represents a 31.9 percent decrease from July of 2016. And when it comes to condos and town-homes, there an even bigger decrease from July of 2016, with only 625 offer-free properties available on the open market for buyers to choose from. Homes sales have continued to soar, as 3,798 homes, condos and town-homes were sold in July, representing 351 additional sales over 2016. Overall, 2017 is outpacing 2016, a year that saw 41,720 properties in total sold in the Southern Nevada region.

Needless to say, the investment opportunities continue to flourish in Las Vegas and its surrounding areas, and anyone with the business savvy and access to sufficient funding is sure to make a killing if they get in on the action as soon as possible. Looking for information on investment properties in the area? Give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – When the housing bubble of the mid-2000’s burst, few areas in the United States felt its devastating affects as acutely as Las Vegas, Nevada; for years, vast amounts of empty properties sat unwanted, and surrounding retail businesses – whose very livelihood depends upon local residents to buy their goods and services – suffered, and for many, closed for good.

Fast-forward to the summer of 2017, and Vegas is now in the middle of a housing boom – the likes of which the region has not experienced in over a decade; approximately 4,300 new-home sales were closed by builders in Clark County through June of this year, and the peak median sales price from the period before the bubble burst – about $338,600 in summer 2007 – has already been surpassed twice in 2017 alone. The simple fact is that both real estate and the local economy in Las Vegas is on the mend in a big way, and with those near-daily gains comes money, businesses, and – of course, people, many of whom are clamoring to buy houses and rent apartments in record numbers. And when you have people, you need retail…hence its recent rapid growth in Las Vegas as well, despite the fact that retail is otherwise experiencing an overall downturn elsewhere in the nation; this speaks volumes about the fertile soil for business that is shaping the local economy so dramatically.

Numerous investments are being made in Las Vegas; real estate is obvious, but retail is attracting more than its fair share of capital as well, with some companies and chains banking big on the revitalization of the Southern Nevada region. For instance, Chicago-based real estate investment company JLL Income Property Trust, and affiliate of real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle Inc., recently sank $63 million into Montecito Marketplace, a 190,000-square-foot shopping center located on Durango Drive. The center boasts Kroger subsidiary Smith’s Grocery as an anchor, and also has clothing retail and popular eateries as tenants. Given the large sum JLL Income Property Trust paid for the acquisition, obviously they have faith in the economic climate of Las Vegas and the number of people it is drawing to live here.

Las Vegas’ Chinatown is also getting in on the retail growth in the region, with developers breaking ground on Shanghai Plaza, a 80,000 square-foot, 4.3 acre, shopping center that will take the form of four two-story buildings that will be located on Spring Mountain Road. Additionally, Shanghai Plaza is slated to feature traditional Asian a architectural designs once completed.

Retail on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip is also in the midst of a growth spurt, as retail and gambling resorts often work well hand-in-hand, as one can attract customers to the other and vice versa. Examples include a 75,000 square-foot high-end shopping center being constructed by Wynn Resorts, as well as Grand Canal Shoppes’ the Venetian, a retail extravaganza that recalls the majesty of the Italian waterways as shoppers are able to visit restaurants and stores via actual gondolas. And whereas such a large and tightly packed amount of retail in one area might normally be a disadvantage for all, in Vegas – which boasts 40 million visitors annually – there’s more than enough business to go around.

Real estate growth and retail growth often go together hand-in-hand, as both attract people who need both; with the recent property-buying explosion in Southern Nevada reaching heights not seen since the late-90’s/early 2000’s, it’s a safe bet that Las Vegas’ fortunes will only continue to flourish.

Need real estate information on the fast-evolving Las Vegas market? Thinking of relocating here? Maybe investing? Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – When a previously-downtrodden region is experiencing a serious upturn in terms of real estate demand and subsequent value, it’s only natural that investment dollars will begin to flow like finely-aged wine into such an opportunity; thus is the case with Southern Nevada, which is boasting a massive growth spurt over the course of the year after the mid-2000’s burst of the housing bubble laid waste to the local real estate market for nearly a decade.

With demand for housing and rental units skyrocketing and supply unable to currently keep up with demand, combined with a growing economy in the form of new businesses and jobs popping up in the region, Las Vegas is fast becoming the best bet for investment opportunities in the United States, and money-men are indeed sitting up and taking notice.

According to recent reports, The Blackstone Group – a name that should be familiar to anyone residing in the area (as the New York-based firm has been very active on the local real estate scene for some time now), recently purchased the southwest valley’s Elysian West apartment complex for the sum of $106.5 million, representing one of the highest prices ever paid for such a property in Las Vegas. The 466-unit complex cost Blackstone approximately twice the market average, according to reports, but given the fact that it occupancy level was nearly full – it was 96 percent at the time of its sale – and the cutthroat rental market in Southern Nevada forcing prospective tenants to be willing to pay more than usual for an apartment, the move was seen as a nonetheless very sound investment.

But during the same period of time – early August, 2017 – two other investment groups threw their hats into the Vegas housing ring with noteworthy purchases as well; DiNapoli Capital Partners of California acquired Palms at Peccole Ranch, a 404-unit apartment complex located on Charleston Boulevard, for $62 million. Again, as a distinct sign of the times, Palms at Peccole Ranch was 95 percent occupied at the time of its sale, and – as with Blackstone’s purchase – DiNapoli paid over the market average for their acquisition. But again, with local families, individuals, and new transplants to the area fighting over table scraps in terms of real estate, the investment by DiNapoli again can be seen as quite sound in the long run. And not to be outdone, another New York-based investment firm – Abacus Capital Group – paid out $24 million for Sterling Court, a 237-unit apartment complex in Clark County.

However, it’s not just rental space that’s in high demand in Las Vegas – the many businesses that are moving into the area due to the booming economy are obviously looking for space to operate in as well. In addition to the housing and rental markets, demand has been rising for industrial space in the region, especially smaller start-ups that are looking to set up shop and begin the process of growth by establishing roots in the community and hiring local prospects as they increase in scope. As a result, many owners of real estate in industrial areas are rapidly setting out to refurbish their properties to accommodate these companies; for example, Harsch Investment Properties is currently transforming 17,000 square foot property they own into several smaller units approximately 2,000 square feet in size, with the division intended to attract start-ups looking to begin small and work their way up.

As you can see, the rapid real estate and corresponding economic growth experienced by the Las Vegas region is creating a circle of growth; housing and rental demand and prices are growing, attracting businesses and investors that, in turn, create yet more demand, and so on. The bottom line is, of course, if you have money to invest, Las Vegas appears to be a great place to do it.

Need real estate information on the fast-evolving Las Vegas market? Free residential market appraisal? Property management assistance for investment homes in the area? Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Las Vegas Developers Ramp Up New Home Construction to Meet Growing Demand in Southern Nevada Region

LAS VEGAS, NV – With Las Vegas real estate seemingly outdoing itself at every turn brokers and developers have been struggling to keep up with mounting demand for homes and rental units as more and more families, entities, and corporations literally pour money and resources into the Southern Nevada region.

According to recent mid-year reports, new homes sales in Las Vegas are at their highest level since 2008; in Clark County in June of this year, developers closed on 832 sales of new homes, which brings the total for the up to 4,267. This represents an increase up 22.4 percent over the same period in 2016. In addition, the median price of homes closed on in June was approximately $339,603, which represents an increase of 3.7 percent from the year before.

In addition, the sheer number of new home construction permits pulled in June was an impressive jump not only from 2016, but for the last decade as well, as permits for 1,035 new homes were pulled by developers, the highest amount since July of 2008. Given this number, builders seem more than likely to achieve an impressive goal once the year is out; Clark County, but the time 2017 comes to an end, stands to have over 9,000 new homes within its limits, a situation that impatient potential homeowners are itching to be made into a reality.

Clearly, the efforts of developers and builders has been redoubled since last year as new home construction levels are up a staggering 20 percent in the first half of 2016. And while those numbers may seem truly impressive – and they are, especially considering the massive dry spell the Southern Nevada region has been through since the housing bubble burst – those numbers are still shy of the sheer magnitude of development Las Vegas saw in the years leading up to the real estate crisis in the mid-2000’s, where the first six months of 2006 saw an astonishing 18,800 homes constructed. Of course, many of those homes went on to sit and essentially do nothing as the real estate market plunged into a stupor, the result of the mass recession that held much of the country in its icy grip.

However, as things have slowly improved, homes began to sell once again; soon, even a genuine surplus became not enough as businesses, jobs, and money began flowing back into Vegas, and soon demand was pushing development back into overdrive once again.

Soon, if things continue to progress as they have recently, we may indeed see construction levels as they were back in the early-to-mid 2000’s, bolstered by a growing economy and job market – with entities such as Amazon, the soon-to-be Las Vegas Raiders NFL football team, and more moving into 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 – While much hoopla has been made over the greatly increased demand – as well as prices – of the Las Vegas housing and rental market since the region’s recovery from the mid-2000’s burst of the housing bubble, another real estate commodity that has been on the rise is that of master-planned community sales; many such developments throughout Southern Nevada have seen a vast influx of buyers in the past year, so much so that a shortage is starting to take shape to rival the demand in the private housing and rental market.

What is a master-planned community, you may ask? Simply put, it is a type of residential plan that includes an out of the ordinary number of recreational amenities such as parks, golf courses, lakes, bike paths, and jogging trails. The scope of the plan is typically large scale and the number and variety of amenities clearly separates it from a normal plan for a housing subdivision. Some of these communities cater to older homeowners, especially in the 55 year-old and higher range, yet some are inclusive of all age ranges as well.

Among the hottest selling of these communities is Summerlin, located in the Las Vegas Valley of Nevada. A development of The Howard Hughes Corp., Summerlin lies at the edge of the Spring Mountains and Red Rock Canyon, on the western periphery of Las Vegas in unincorporated Clark County. The community occupies 22,500 acres and includes a variety of land uses, including, residential, commercial, recreational, educational, medical, open space, and cultural. According to recent reports, units in Summerlin experienced strong sales throughout the first half of 2017 – 470 new home sales, representing a 28 percent increase over the same period in 2016 – making it seventh-highest best-selling among master-planned communities nationwide.

Summerlin has been experiencing a recent glut of expansions in the form of new “neighborhoods” in face of strong sales; Affinity by William Lyon Homes, Caledonia, Trilogy by Shea Homes, Reverence and more either have or will be opening in the near future. Caledonia, Summerlin’s most recently-opened addition, features homes in the mid-$300,000 range and targets families of all ages; Trilogy by Shea Homes is due to launch in several months, and targets the 55-plus community.

Another master-planned community in the Las Vegas area that is boasting impressive growth in the midst of Southern Nevada’s ongoing real estate boom is Cadence Henderson by developer The LandWell Co. , which has ranked in the top 25 nationally for new-home sales in recent surveys. Much like Summerlin, Cadence is actually made up of numerous smaller neighborhoods, each constructed by a different contracted building company and each with their own unique allure and draw for specific segments of the population, including the 55-plus community Heritage. Each neighborhood offers numerous municipal amenities that typical private homes generally do not, including a 50-acre Central Park, six-lane lap pool, and 2,000-square-foot splash pad. And again, much like Summerlin, Cadence Henderson is planning a host of additions and expansions to handle their booming sales and growing population in the region.

While private dwellings – both stand-alone homes and rental apartments – have experienced booming sales and massive growth recently, exclusive planned communities such as Summerlin and Cadence Henderson are also feeling the benefits of the boost the local economy as well; their individual planned expansions in light of such business will only offer more housing options to both existing and new Nevada residents as jobs and money continue to filter into the area, ensuring that the boom Las Vegas is experiencing is no mere passing fad.

Whether you are real estate buyer, seller or investor – if you’re interested in Master-Planned Communities here in the Las Vegas Valley, please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – The Las Vegas real estate scene is hot right now; according to reports, demand is far outstripping supply in terms of both housing and rental units, with prices soaring and continuing to increase ever since the Southern Nevada area has recovered from the housing bubble burst of the mid-2000’s. Jobs are increasing, the economy is stabilizing and beginning to flourish, and big-name businesses such as Amazon and the NFL are setting up shop in the region, galvanizing current residents and inviting a virtual flood of newcomers from out-of-state looking for a fresh start.

While these factors are no doubt a good thing for Las Vegas, the latest real estate boom has brought a negative with it that local officials are currently scrambling to combat- squatters, people who break into vacant or empty dwellings and live there illegally until they are removed by property owners or authorities. There are a number of reasons squatting is an issue in Las Vegas currently, but while homelessness is an issue that any major city has to deal with in one way or another, the main reasons have already been touched upon in this article- the general lack of housing options and the ever-rising prices of the ones that are currently available.

In Las Vegas, however, the issue of squatting is increased by the fact that the mid-2000’s housing crisis has left numerous homes simply abandoned or foreclosed upon; more so than the national norm at the moment, and thus ripe for the picking by anyone looking for a place to crash illegally. But while squatting to some may merely appear to be a harmless pursuit of somewhere to live, to others – legitimate property owners – it’s proven to be a hardship, and one that local government is looking to address in a hurry.

One area couple, according to reports, has been involved in a nearly year-long dispute with a number of squatters that have been regularly breaking into a former office that they had previously used for a family business; despite sinking money into boarding up the property and constantly calling the police, the couple nonetheless noted that in the last several years, there have been at least 30 break-ins, and that their patience is wearing thin to the point that they are considering selling rather than deal with the headache.

Recently, people squatting in a downtown Las Vegas house caused a fire in the dwelling, causing approximately $75,000 in damage before local fire department crews were able to get the blaze under control. Thankfully, the damage was contained to the individual property in question; no injuries were reported, and the fire prevented from spreading to other adjacent units. Some area realtors have actually started carrying weapons when visiting properties listed for sale, just in case they have an untimely – yet rare – encounter with a squatter; more often than not, they simply walk into the aftermath of their unwanted presence, consisting of discarded food and clothing items, and occasionally, minor damage to walls, doors, or cabinets.

Although squatting is mostly contained to small, specific areas at the moment, local officials are looking to head off the problem before it becomes more widespread and problematic; especially as it related to maintaining local property values. The Las Vegas city council is currently putting together a registry that identifies and classifies currently vacant homes that run the risk of being taken over by squatters, and then taking steps to secure those properties, which typically consist of ones that have been abandoned or foreclosed upon and are currently in-between owners and, thus, are not currently subject to regular use by legitimate parties.

In addition, the City Council has passed laws stiffening penalties for squatting and/or aiding squatters, and has organized a dedicated squatter task force that allows officials to not only keep up with the activities of potential squatters, but actually keep ahead of them. In addition, more work is being done, including setting up coordination across municipalities in order to form an organized front against such activities. In the meantime, real estate experts suggest not advertising a property as being vacant with a for sale sign on the front lawn or window, and to refrain from posting the street address of any available property on a publicly-accessible real estate website.

Need real estate information on the fast-evolving Las Vegas market? Free residential market appraisal? Property management assistance for investment homes in the area? Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – With the Las Vegas real estate market continuing its meteoric rise – both in home and rental demand and their subsequent prices (after recovering from the burst of the housing bubble of the mid-2000’s), it’s only natural that families and businesses – as well as tourists – begin to flow back into the region; developers who have been snapping up residential properties have begin to turn their attention to retail, as well.

There’s one constant in any populated area: people need to buy things. And as a result of the influx of workers and their families into the Southern Nevada region looking to take advantage of the booming economy and the fact that corporations (such as Amazon), sports teams (such as the Raiders), and other business entities are taking up shop in Las Vegas and are in dire need of employees, real estate developers and investors have begun building new retail establishments and rehabbing old ones that have fallen into disrepair after being closed up and abandoned during the recession several years ago. After all, no one wants to live in an area where they can’t run to the corner market for a container of milk if they need it, do they? So, with an increase in population and residents, also is a coming equal increase in clothing stores, restaurants, bars and other necessities of modern living.

The newest updates of retail development in Southern Nevada is the recent ground breaking on the Ellis Island Hotel, Casino & Brewery on Koval Lane east of the Las Vegas Strip, which is expanding on an existing property with the goal being to attract and accommodate increased foot traffic in the area – especially tourists – with amenities such as a restaurant, bar and beer garden. The rise in pedestrians in the area that is prompting expansion is due in-part to local residents and visitors who are looking for other areas to socialize then just the famous strip; as consumers spread outward towards the eastern resort corridor, more resources are being allocated to courting their patronage.

Other examples of the development of the eastern resort corridor to lure in tourists and residents is the recent opening of Topgolf at MGM Grand, a entertainment venue with a high-tech driving range and swanky lounge with drinks and games; MGM also announced their intention to expand the square footage of its convention center as well. In addition, the Las Vegas Convention Center is slated for expansion after the recent purchase of the Riviera, which is slated for demolition.

In other Southern Nevada retail developments, the Rainbow Dunes Centre – a popular shopping center located in at the northwest corner of Spring Mountain Road and Rainbow Boulevard, now abandoned and dilapidated, is facing the prospect of having new life breathed into it. Currently an eyesore stripped of every ounce of copper from the boarded-up stores which used to welcome numerous customers to establishments such as K-Mart, the current ownership – Golden Legacy Las Vegas in Milpitas, California (who until recently seemed quite uninterested in selling) have announced they’ve hired a listing broker with the intention of selling the property or entering into a business venture with a new partner at the helm.

The 7.6-acre property was originally constructed in 1983, and the loss of a major “anchor tenant” – K-Mart, closed its doors in 2003 – and lead to the eventual closure of the entire shopping center, as additional tenants left; up till 2009, none remained, leaving Rainbow Dunes to do nothing but gather dust. But the recent announcement that Golden Legacy Las Vegas is now interested in restoring the shopping center to life – its currently the source of complaints to the city council on a regular basis due to its state of decay and speaks volumes about the increased emphasis on retail development in Las Vegas.

Need real estate information on the fast-evolving Las Vegas market? Thinking of relocating here? Maybe investing? Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – North Las Vegas has been clearly embracing the recent re-surge Southern Nevada has been experiencing in both the economic and real estate sectors; since the burst of the housing bubble in the mid-2000’s laid waste to much of the property value in the region, Las Vegas as a whole has been on the comeback trail in the past year, with housing and rental demand – and prices – quickly on the rise, including jobs and construction which are flowing back in a steady stream. Clearly, the area is enjoying a resurgence, and many are looking to get in on the action.

In fact, North Vegas Mayor John Lee has been quite vocal in recent months on the benefits of living and working in his city, citing construction of new homes and apartment complexes as well as an influx of commercial entities that see the area as ripe for business opportunities. In order to jump-start further economic growth in his municipality, Lee recently invited a number of real estate agents and professionals to a meeting at the North Vegas City Hall, where he extolled the virtues of investing in the region, referring it to the primary place in Southern Nevada to see a significant return on their dollar.

“There will be more new money in North Las Vegas than anywhere else in this valley in the next 20 years,” he said. “I’m not going to make your sales for you, and I’m not going to give you leads, but I am going to tell you- you will make good money if you come to North Las Vegas.”

Lee’s attempt to woo businesses to North Vegas to take advantage of the growth overtaking Vegas as a whole has encompassed his governing strategy as a whole in recent months; in May, he and his board of trustees unanimously voted to approve a multi-million dollar revitalization project aimed at cleaning up the city’s seedy downtown district, including a plan to essentially demolish and rebuild a housing complex known as a centerpiece of violence and drug activity, in addition to constructing a new $22 million home for senior citizens, projects spurred on by a $485,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In addition, Fanatics Inc. and The Honest Co. are currently building dual warehouses in the region – at a combined total of 800,000 square feet – and nearby at the Apex Industrial Park, Hyperloop and Faraday Future are in the midst of constructing new facilities as well.

Lee, a former businessman and state senator, is credited as using the ample experience he has in both fields to essentially pull North Vegas back from the precipice of financial ruin since taking office in 2013; at that time, the city was in ruins, economically speaking, with a budget deficit of $152 million. Lee worked hard to attract new businesses and diversify to the city’s economy, in addition to job creation and taking advantage of state grants and resources to help fund infrastructure projects. Today, North Vegas is well on its way to recovery and prosperity, while Lee’s renewed push to concentrate on housing and business development as well as growth is being touted as the new means to that end.

Of course, Lee still has an uphill battle on his hands; numerous areas of downtown North Vegas are known for blight and homelessness, and to combat that a project is currently in the works to re-develop and revitalize a 160-acre area from urban decay into a hip, stylish community replete with hew homes, retail, and eateries, dubbed Lake Mead Village West.

After giving a series of investors, real estate agents and developers a tour of North Vegas to show them how far the region has come – and how far it’s going to continue to progress in the near future – Lee received plenty of feedback, and the majority of it was positive. Upon viewing a new housing development dubbed Beazer Homes Dorado Skies, investor Patti Domingo was open to admitting that her view of the once-blighted North Vegas had changed considerably, and that putting her money there was looking more and more like a very sound business decision.

“[Mayor Lee’s tour is] opening my eye up to the amenities and new communities in North Las Vegas,” she said. “When you think of North Las Vegas, you think of not such a nice community. But now, after taking this tour, you’re seeing everything that the mayor has spoken about.”

If you’re looking to invest here in the Las Vegas Valley, please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

LAS VEGAS, NV – Before the housing bubble burst (mid-2000’s), the idea of flipping a property, especially in markets such as Las Vegas,  was as appealing to real estate investors as the gold rush to old-time prospectors heading to America’s frontier in the 1800’s. Both groups saw their respective purpose as a way to potentially get rich quick, but much like the prospector who struck out to the west – and failed to strike gold, more often than not, the recession dashed the hopes of more than one prospective house flipper looking to turn a fast buck.

However, as the Vegas housing market experiences resurgence in the past year – homes and rental properties have been growing exponentially in both demand and price when compared to 2016, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down – it appears that flipping has come back into vogue, as housing options for families in the Southern Nevada region are sorely outstripped by the number available on the open market, experts say. Therefore, an industrious investor with little money and some elbow grease is in position to swoop in on property which might be considered “less desirable,” – fix it up, and find that it is suddenly a hot ticket.

Flipping in Las Vegas has jumped in terms of profitability in the first quarter of 2017; when judged against 2016’s first quarter, experts report a 29 percent increase, which equates to approximately $51,000 in additional profit from flipping; this is also the single biggest increase in profitability since 2005, the period just before the mid-2000’s housing bubble burst. With the jump in prices, competition for lower-priced homes – especially fixer-uppers – has risen to near ecstatic levels.

But it’s not just the resurrection of the housing market that has real estate entrepreneurs racing to renovate; entertainment media has drawn attention to the benefits of investing in Las Vegas homes as well, and when Hollywood takes notice, so does the public. For example, HGTV recently announced the renewal of its breakout hit television show “Flip or Flop Las Vegas” for a second season after its first season displayed very strong ratings. The show, which debuted in April and chronicles the exploits of real estate agents/designers Bristol and Aubrey Marunde as they buy, rehab, and sell off local area properties, has attracted a whopping 12.5 million viewers, according to HGTV.

These factors have contributed in no small part to Las Vegas being currently ranked as the number two place in America to flip properties, according to yet another real estate reality star- Scott Yancey of the reality show “Flipping Vegas,” who says that the goal of any successful flip is to buy low, renovate fast, and get the property back on the market as soon as humanly possible. He cites RealtyTrac, a real estate information company and online marketplace, as evidence of how Vegas is currently a hotbed of flipping activity in terms of gross profits, noting that average home in the region typically sells for $134,000, and upon being successfully flipped that same home brings in an average of approximately $204,000, a gain of 53 percent; that certainly represents a significant return for an investor.

Flipping has been around for decades, and after a period of dormancy in the Southern Nevada area, it’s set to rear its head once again for ambitious real estate investors willing to sink in some dough and some hard work; the payoff promises to be more than worth the effort.

LAS VEGAS, NV – After several abortive attempts at starting construction of the new Resorts World Hotel and Casino of Las Vegas – it was originally slated to open first in 2016 and then in 2019, with delays being attributed to re-designs and other factors, ground is finally stated to be broken on the $4 billion dollar project this year. The resort, flaunted as the first of its kind constructed from scratch in Southern Nevada in nearly ten years, has a grand opening target of 2020, and its construction promises to create a huge influx of both money and jobs into the area, as well as a continued and pronounced economic benefit once it finally opens its doors for business.

Being built on the former land where the fabled Stardust Hotel and Casino once stood, Resorts World – featuring lush, modern, Asian-themed architecture and elements – is being envisioned as a behemoth of a resort, encompassing a 3,000 room hotel accompanied by restaurants, shops, theaters and 100,000 square feet of space dedicated completely to gaming, including baccarat, slot machines and more. The hotel is planned to take the form of two separate towers- one with 1,400 rooms and the other with 1,800, with the ability to expand more in the future if needed. One only has to take a look at the scope of its current East Coast-based cousin – Resorts World New York – to know that Genting Group, Resorts World’s Malaysia-based developer who purchased the 90 acre lot in 2013 where the resort will be built, likes to live large when it comes to their developments.

The anticipated benefits that the construction and opening of Resorts World will bring to Las Vegas – already experiencing a new boom of real estate activity after riding out the harsh housing bubble burst of the late 2000’s – are numerous. The third-quarter 2017 building phase will initially employ at least 1,000 construction workers, with several thousand working on the project once it’s up and running at full speed leading up to its 2020 opening date. Once open, Resort World will hire 3,000 union-based employees to run and operate its facilities, in addition to numerous other incidental jobs where needed.

For a time, the likelihood of Resorts World actually getting built seemed to be growing more and more unlikely by the day; the initial groundbreaking ceremony had taken place in May of 2015, and progress on the project had limped along slowly since then due to several factors, among them a shortage of needed construction equipment such as cranes and financial issues faced by Genting Group. However, with the announcement of Resorts World’s 2020 opening date – not to mention the acquisition of the needed construction cranes, which newly-appointed Resorts World Las Vegas president Edward Farrell noted should be in-place within the next 90 days, prior to the official kick-off of construction.

With the announcement that work will finally commence on the long-stagnating Resorts World and Hotel, Las Vegas is set to receive yet another boon to its local economy that will only serve to support and bolster the rapidly-recovering real estate scene. Coupled with the 2020 arrival of the newly-rechristened Las Vegas Raiders NFL professional football team – due to be the recipients of a new, state-of-the-art, locally-based domed stadium that’s sure to be an epicenter for tourism – as well as a housing and rental market that has shown strong, steady gains and price increases in the last year, Resorts World is yet another signal that Las Vegas is truly on the comeback trail after successfully fighting an uphill battle to fiscal recovery.

LAS VEGAS, NV – Hitching themselves to a trend in Southern Nevada as a whole in recent months, North Las Vegas has begun an effort to revitalize large swaths of its real estate, especially in a northern area that had previously been plagued with drug dealing and violent crimes. The efforts will concentrate on development with a focus on senior and public housing options; in addition, major out-of-state businesses are setting up shop in the area, providing an influx of jobs and economic growth.

The North Las Vegas City Council recently approved a sweeping two-year development plan that would drastically alter the landscape of the region, with the goal being to attract retail and other businesses in order to spur the creation of jobs, kick off the local economy, and take advantage of the shortage of housing options in Las Vegas. A public 120-unit apartment building aimed at senior citizens – a project projected to cost a staggering $22 million –  is already underway on a 2.7 acre patch of land; this development will take the place of the Rose Garden, a complex slated for demolition that is situated west of North Las Vegas’ downtown area.

In addition, the Buena Vista – an apartment complex that was infamous for being the epicenter of drug dealing and violent crimes in the area – was purchased by the City of North Las Vegas approximately three years ago and subsequently razed to the ground, and plans are in the works that could see a variety of projects making use of the land, from safe, affordable housing options to retail. Assistance in North Las Vegas’ redevelopment efforts is being provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which had previously bestowed a grant upon the city to aid in their outreach to the community as to how to proceed with their efforts.

Clearly, the shifting tide in North Las Vegas has companies sitting up and taking notice; chief among them being Amazon, the online retail giant, which is slated to open a fulfillment center in the area. The center – Amazon’s second in North Vegas – is already under construction; estimated to come in at 800,000 square feet and to ultimately employ over 1,000 workers and office personnel, hiring has already commenced on the initial 500 that will staff the complex while it gets ready for operation.

Other retailers are also clamoring to get a foothold in North Las Vegas due to the earnest efforts to develop it into a destination friendly to business and housing options; famed La Bonita supermarket will be opening a 55,000 square-foot establishment in Fiesta Plaza in downtown North Las Vegas. The lease, described as “long-term,” obviously signifies the confidence of La Bonita in the local economy to support a serious commitment in the community on behalf of businesses.

Offering a helping hand in an effort to expedite further business growth in the region, the City Council of North Las Vegas is taking steps to speed up the process of applying for – and receiving – building and construction permits. The plan consists of a self-certification program that architects and engineers can participate in; once certified via eight hours of classes provided at the City Hall, certified architects and engineers who submit their plans for audit will find the process greatly speeded up, reducing construction timelines and saving developers money.

These are but a few of the many initiatives in effect that are seeking to turn around the fortunes of North Las Vegas in an effort to turn it into a destination for businesses and families to live, work, and prosper, taking advantage of the real estate and economic boom that is currently taking root in Southern Nevada as whole.

LAS VEGAS, NV – There’s no doubt about it- real estate in Las Vegas, Nevada, is on a slow but powerfully non-stop climb after sinking into the financial mire in the mid-2000’s. Records are being broken in terms of both prices and sales totals, and everywhere you drive, new developments are gracing the once-barren landscape. In addition, projects that had stalled or been outright abandoned are once again pushing forward in this new, more positive economic climate. While things aren’t quite at the booming levels they are right before markets crash, they are nonetheless very positive and getting better every day.

But for those who are looking to jump aboard this freight train to the top and are feeling some trepidation in regards to it all tumbling down again in the near future, experts are predicting – using the strongest of verbiage – that this isn’t a likely outcome.

Within the last year, the real estate market in Las Vegas has surged in leaps and bounds; 2,249 single-family homes were sold in the Las Vegas area in February, an increase of 6.5 percent from February 2016, and the average single-family home has gone up nearly nine percent, with the average price currently coming in at approximately $240,000.

And of course, these properties aren’t being simply given away, so there’s been a corresponding increase in the demand for mortgages Southern Nevada as well; continuing a three-year trend of growth, home purchase loans jumped up an additional 8.5 percent in 2016 over the previous year, equating to a total of 36,130 mortgages . And all that increasing demand has, of course, in turn driven up prices; in 2017, the average price of a single-family dwelling is coming in at $240,000, which represents an increase of $119,000 for the same home during the very same period in 2012.

In a recent interview, Home Builders Research founder Dennis Smith notes that the demand in Vegas for new homes is very strong, with one of the main reasons for that being fear of rising interested rates; as of now, many people are recognizing a housing boom and have decided to finally get off the pot, so to speak. After all, when interest rates go up, prices quickly follow. In addition, he said, is the limited supply of new homes in the area, which is also serving to inflate demand. However, unlike with a limited trend in the area a few years ago, Smith notes that this current drive is not investor-driven, but homeowner-driven, which suggests far more stability and optimism in the surrounding economy and job market.

It’s this stability, combined with moderate yet steady growth based on legitimate consumer need, that Smith says offsets any possibility of the Las  Vegas real estate market growing too much, too soon and creating another bubble that is sure to burst; instead, he notes, it’s ensuring a strong, profitable tomorrow for anyone getting into Southern Nevada real estate, as well as a good place for families to take a shot at the American Dream, with industry – and, along with it, jobs – quickly filtering into the region.

“Is Vegas going to grow? Yes. Do they want it to grow? I would certainly hope so. If not, then go live out in the desert. But is there a bubble or too much construction? I don’t understand why people would suggest there’s too much construction when the demand shows there isn’t,” he said. “How can anyone convince me that 8,000 sales a year is a bubble? We’ve had 30,000 – 40,000 permits a year; that was a bubble. But before that, in the 1990s and early 2000s, we were doing 20,000 permits and closings a year, and everyone was marveling how wonderful everything was in Las Vegas.”