Rents Surge in Reno

Rents in the Reno-Sparks area have once again in the fifth quarter in a row increased. The average rent for an apartment reached $1,6o7 during the second quarter of this year, a record-breaking trend that has continued since the second quarter of 2020. Due to the strong demands of renters who are already struggling to find affordable homes in this market, this is bad news. The single family home in the Reno-Sparks area remain at a record high of $530,000 in September, according to the Reno/Sparks Association of realtors.  I personally have seen some leveling out in the past couple of months but it still remains a sellers market if the home is not overpriced.

Most of the new renters, about 40% are coming from the California area. Mainly to get away from California  and Reno being  more affordable.  Vacancies are below 1% in 3 areas in Reno. The Northeast, Southwest and West Reno.

“Just over 4,000 apartment unites are currently under construction in the Reno – sparks market, with over 5,900 unites in the planning stages,” the Johnson Perkins Griffin report said.  “Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is likely that development of planned unites will be delayed in the short term, until the ultimate impact of the pandemic is know.”

The big question is to buy or not to buy? Where in the past if something came on the market it would virtually disappear right away and there would be multiple offers on the table. People where not doing inspections and willing to pay above appraisal value.  However today inventory is slightly higher but not as intense as it used to be and not as many multiple offers on the table. It might be a good time now for buyers to once again start looking.  Interest rates a still low, however there is talk that in the near future they will be going up.  Inflation could become a concern as the costs of goods and gas continue to increase, the Feds might raise interest rates to counter act this.

I have seen homes in the luxury market sitting longer than usual on the market. I do believe this is due to the fact that many are over priced and due to the holidays sales will decline a little,however  in the New Year will once again surge… what with Nevada being a tax friendly state and our incredible outdoor life we have here.

Reno Commercial Real Estate Comeback

During our recent downturn , the recession also affected the commercial real estate in Reno.  Industrial, office, and retail were not immune to what is called today the worst recession in Nevada’s history. The good news is that with Northern Nevada seeing increased economic activity, including the arrival of some high-profile companies, commercial real estate in the region is seeing a rising tide effect, according to industry watchers.

Some of the companies that once existed are no longer around anymore, like Circuit City and Good Guys. Vacancy for retail in Reno-Sparks peaked at 17.3 percent in the first quarter of 2013, according to commercial real estate service firm CBRE Inc. Since then, the vacancy rate has gone down to 12 percent in the first quarter of this year. A vacancy rate of 7 percent to 8 percent is typically considered healthy for retail. Reno’s Central/Airport market, which includes the surrounding areas of Reno-Tahoe International Airport, continues to post the highest vacancy rates in the area at 24.2 percent.

Since last year we have already exceeded the retail market with a strong first quarter in 2016 with a net absorption or available space that has been filled, totaling 192,188 square feet, according to CBRE’s latest quarterly retail report. Retail also posted one of the biggest job gains for the state in March, helping lower the state’s jobless rate to 5.8 percent for the month, according to the Department of Training, Employment and Rehabilitation.  Due to an overabundance of supply the construction of new commercial property is still stagnant, however there is a demand for improvement to existing centers such  as the  19,500 square-foot expansion at the Outlets at Sparks, also known as the Legends at Sparks Marina.

It is the Industrial segment that has really boomed in Northern Nevada.  What with Telsa Giga-factory and Switch’s Super NAP-the world’s largest data center once finished, as well as the news that Rackspace is looking at our area, has given our area a much needed boost on the technology side as well as some corporate cred. Dermody Properties, for example, has broken new ground on its LogistiCenter I-80 West speculative project at the Boomtown area just behind Cabela’s. The 800,000-square-foot project will feature four buildings and focus on tenants ranging from 30,000 to 200,000 square feet, said Eric Bennett, first vice president at CBRE. “This will be the first speculative project built in west Reno to take advantage of the mature labor market in northwest Reno and the close proximity to California,” Bennett said. Distribution accounted for 70 percent of all transactions in the fourth quarter of 2015, according to Colliers International. “At the end of the day, it’s packers and pickers,” said Greg Shutt, a vice president with Colliers International. “It’s logistics.” Bennett also pointed to sizable expansions such as ITS Logistics’ 625,500-square-foot facility and pet item supplier Chewy.com’s 566,600-square-foot facility, with several more announcements expected during the second quarter.

Office space has been relatively flat in 2016. Rents have been rising for the last two years consistently and it will probably take another two and a half years  for a healthy market to emerge. The three dominant markets for office in the area are downtown, Meadowood and South Meadows, each with their own niche tenants from related industries, said Tim Ruffin. ( Executive vice president at Colliers International)

Looking ahead, the trends look positive for the area, commercial real estate watchers agreed. Reno-Tahoe International Airport added several new flights and routes while also posting its first passenger growth in a decade in addition to record cargo hauls. Nevada also was the No. 2 most popular destination for movers in the West according to United Van Lines’ 2015 National Movers Study.

For Northern Nevada, a big part of it involves the national attention gained from big economic development wins such as the Gigafactory, Ruffin said.

“The whole perception of investing in Reno has changed,” Ruffin said. “The expectations from Tesla haven’t materialized yet but investors are coming in because of the perception.”

Reno housing market has fewer homes underwater.

For the first time the Reno’s housing market has joined the growing list across the country of metropolitan areas recovering from one of the worst housing crises in decades.  It continued to show improvement in January.  Reno has seen a 4.7 percent growth in building permits since its low in June 2009, a 12.3 percent increase in home prices since February 2012 and a 3.3 percent improvement in employment since February 2012.  All good sign’s that we are once again moving towards a healthier market.

A limited sales inventory of existing homes – has increased the median sale price, according to  the Reno/Sparks Association of Realtors February report. In January 2012 the median home price was $135,000, today it has jumped to $182.500.  It has also been noted that over 4,000 new Reno/Sparks homeowners no longer had “underwater” attached to their homes during the fourth quarter of 2012, according to a report released Tuesday by analytic firm Corelogic.  Negative equity, also known as being “underwater” or “upside down, means that the homeowner owes more than their home than it is worth.

Nevada’s state attorney general and the head of a Las Vegas nonprofit consumer counseling agency unveiled a program and an advertising campaign on Monday aimed at giving distressed  homeowners facing foreclosure a free one-stop place to seek counseling, referrals and legal support.   This program is to help those residents facing foreclosure or have lost their homes, as well as those seeking loan modifications or who are current but underwater on their home loans.  It will also help people who are working toward home ownership.  Money for the Home Again program comes from $57 million Nevada received from five of the nation’s largest banks as part of a national foreclosure settlement last February.

Arrowcreek, Galena, Montreux, Saddlehorn and Scotch Pines Real estate

I had the pleasure last weekend to take out 2 clients to show them property in the Arrowcreek, Galena Forest, Scotch Pine, Saddlehorn and Montreux areas.  We saw at least 30 homes and about 6 lots.

ArrowCreek has some incredible buys with a few foreclosures and a number of Short Sales. Lots have great views of down town Reno.  29 Rabbit Brush Ct. is a FORECLOSURE, 5,288 sqft, $683,000 and lovely views of the mountains, a great deal…I loved 1055 Indian Summer Court, modern, simple and great views of down town as well as a great price, this home is a short sale.   There are many more, so feel free to contact me and I will send you a list.

Saddlehorn is one of my most favorite places in Reno, family friendly with lots of hiking trails and one that connects to the Whites Creek trail as well.  We saw at least 4  homes there ranging in price from $500 to $900 thousand. 4195 Wild Quail Court, $4,542 sq ft $850,000 was one of my favorites.

Moving up to the Montreux Golf and Country Club area, we saw numerous lots,  good prices and a number of nice homes in Montreux.  One cottage 6365 Wetzel Court, 2,259 sq ft is going up for auction at Montreux on January 25 at 10.30 am.  Opening bid is $50,000

The one home in Galena Forest Estates on 145 Twinberry Circle is fantastic, must be a 2nd home as it looks brand new and is furnished so tastefully, I would include the furniture in what ever I offered for the home… 3,800 sq feet, asking price $799,000.  Another beautiful home in Galena is 1670 Green Ash Rd, 7,166 sqft, $1,700,000 1.67 acres and a 4 car garage, single story and HOA fees are only$17 per month.

Scotch Pines has great lots forsale and the one home on 102 W Jeffrey Pine Road, which  is a FORECLOSURE, is lovely however needs some work, quite modern inside, simple and views of down town.  Then there is 208 N Big Sage Lane 4,505 on 1 acres for $1,250,000.  This home feels like you are one with nature as the outside flows  into the home with its large windows and forested setting.   All in all it was a great weekend and I had a happy more educated client at the end of the 3 days.

If you or anyone you may know have real estate questions or inquiries in the Montreux, Galena Forest, ArrowCreek, Saddlehorn, St. James or Scotch Pines areas, please contact Louise Simpson by email at louise@montreuxgolf.com or by cell at (775) -750-1901.