Rent vs. Own in Las Vegas: Why the Monthly Payment Is Only Part of the Story   For many Las Vegas renters considering homeownership, the first comparison is simple: “What am I paying in rent versus what would my mortgage payment be?”   That is an important question, but it is not the whole financial picture.   At Dovetail at Decatur, a four-bedroom townhome provides a useful real-world example of why buyers should look beyond the headline monthly payment and consider what they may ... read more

It is well known that economic conditions have greatly changed the rate of household formation. Young adults are cohabitating with parents, friends or relatives at an uncommon level. For this reason, John Burns, a recognized researcher who studies housing, believes that the rental market is about to "explode." In the shadows of the housing crisis there are many individuals who are seeking a home of their own. This is likely to drive rental demand when job growth is sufficient to add fuel to this. ... read more

  One of the reasons that we believe Las Vegas is a good place to acquire properties for a long-term hold is based on fundamental measures such as price-rent ratios and the level of pricing below the longer-term, pre-bubble trend. Currently the price-rent ratio is about 6. In addition, it is often less expensive to buy than it is to rent. Similarly, cap rates are elevated implying an undervalued situation or investor sentiment. I tend to think it is still undervalued even though it is oversupplied. We are sta... read more

Of all the fancy indicators demonstrating a bubble in home prices, nothing was as telling as shows like "Flip This House" or "Flip That House.” During the time this programming was first presented, I was a consultant thinking that this programming was the equivalent of an "end is near" sign for residential prices. When you have a cab driver or your hairstylist (I’ve never actually had a hairstylist but you may) or the kid across the street that mows your lawn tells you to buy an... read more

As the exhibit below illustrates, Nevada is one of five states furthest from peak pricing. There are several reasons why this alleviates many of our concerns about current value. One, current prices can be explained fairly well when we look at the level of supply in the market and demand drivers such as improving employment and population growth. What is hard to explain is why a closet sized condominium in San Francisco can be so expensive. Foreign hot money and a vibrant technology and finance sector may explain s... read more