James Watts, a third generation Las Vegan, and his partner, Lauren Tuvell, just fulfilled a dream that currently might feel out of reach for many long-time Nevada residents. They bought a house. But their purchase was hard-fought. Watts said they would tour a house, only to learn that somebody had already put an offer on it without ever having even seen it.

Half of the Las Vegas Valley has been priced out of the real estate market, as the region has a serious shortage of affordable housing, according to a top Clark County housing official.

When I talk to constituents around Nevada’s 1st Congressional District, the issue I hear most about is housing. The lack of affordable and safe housing is a critical issue facing all of Southern Nevada, where housing prices and rents have skyrocketed in recent years. We must do more to reduce housing costs.

There were 21 states where a majority of tenant households spent 30% or more of their incomes on rent and utilities last year, compared with just seven states in 2019.

There were 21 states where a majority of tenant households spent 30% or more of their incomes on rent and utilities last year, compared with just seven states in 2019. Nationwide, about 22 million renters are shouldering that percentage. Anyone paying more than 30% is considered “cost burdened,” according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and may struggle to pay for other necessities, such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care.

Investors are soaking up available homes across Las Vegas, which now ties with San Jose for the top magnet for investor buyers. Investor purchases in greater Las Vegas jumped 27 percent year-over-year in the last quarter ending in June, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, citing a study by Redfin. Investor purchases in greater Las Vegas jumped 27 percent year-over-year in the last quarter ending in June, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, citing a study by Redfin.

Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ proposal to bridge America’s housing gap is being hailed as the most aggressive since the post-World War II era by some, and by others as a campaign ploy based on bad math.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign unveiled an ad Tuesday magnifying her push to address the housing shortage and lower home costs in America, saying “We should be doing everything we can to make it more affordable to buy a home, not less.”

A UNLV Lied Center for Real Estate study last year found that corporate investors own about 14 percent of all single-family residential homes in the valley, and 25 percent in North Las Vegas specifically.

The Las Vegas Valley saw the biggest year-over-year jump in investor purchases of homes in the entire country, according to a new Redfin report. Investor purchases were up 27 percent year-over-year in the second quarter, the highest in the U.S. (tied with San Jose, California), Redfin said. Redfin defines an investor purchase as one made by a company. A Lied Center for Real Estate at UNLV study from last year found corporate investors own approximately 14 percent of all residential single-family housing stock in the valley, and 25 percent of North Las Vegas specifically.

Homeownership is a major investment which requires significant assets to maintain each month. According to UNLV’s Lied Center for Real Estate, the average household income for homeowners is $90,979 per year. But between inflation, cost of living data, and home sales data, that money may not have the same spending power compared to years ago.

For Las Vegas homeowner Yolanda Perkins, the threat of foreclosure constantly looms over her head. “The cost of living is so high, I live from paycheck to paycheck and I can barely make it,” she told Las Vegas ABC affiliate KNTV. “I make over $5,000 a month and I can not make it.”