LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A report released Monday by Las Vegas REALTORS (LVR) shows local home prices holding their ground amid the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn, though fewer homes are selling.
LVR (formerly known as the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS) reported that the median price of existing single-family homes sold in Southern Nevada through its Multiple Listing Service (MLS) during May was $315,000. That was down from an all-time record price of $319,000 in March, but still up 5.0% from a median price of $300,000 in May of 2019.
The association reported that the median price of local condos and townhomes sold in May was $185,000. That’s up 3.1% from May of 2019.
LVR reported that a total of 2,075 existing local homes, condos and townhomes were sold during May – the second full month since Nevadans were ordered on March 17 to “stay home for Nevada.” Compared to the same time last year, May sales were down 48.1% for homes and down 51.3% for condos and townhomes. Sales were also down from the previous month.
According to LVR, the median price of existing single-family homes sold in Southern Nevada hit a post-recession bottom of $118,000 in January of 2012 before rebounding since then.
Even with fewer homes selling last month, the number of homes available for sale continues to shrink and remains below the six-month supply considered to be a balanced market. The sales pace in May equates to less than a four-month supply of homes available for sale.
By the end of May, LVR reported 5,799 single-family homes listed for sale without any sort of offer. That’s down 26.2% from one year ago. For condos and townhomes, the 1,768 properties listed without offers in May represented a 5.8% drop from one year ago.
LVR reported that 14.5% of all local properties sold in May were purchased with cash. That compares to 20.4% one year ago. That’s well below the February 2013 peak of 59.5%, indicating that cash buyers and investors have been less active in the local housing market.
Despite the coronavirus crisis, the number of so-called distressed sales in May remained near historically low levels. The association reported that short sales and foreclosures combined accounted for 1.5% of all existing local property sales in May. That compares to 2.0% of all sales one year ago, 2.6% two years ago, and 6.8% three years ago.
With a 90-day moratorium on evictions and foreclosures ordered March 29 by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, Blanchard expects distressed sales to remain low in the coming months.
These LVR statistics include activity through the end of May 2020. LVR distributes statistics each month based on data collected through its MLS, which does not necessarily account for newly constructed homes sold by local builders or homes for sale by owners. Other highlights include:
- The total value of local real estate transactions tracked through the MLS during May was nearly $637 million for homes and more than $73 million for condos, high-rise condos and townhomes. Compared to one year ago, total sales values in May were down 45.8% for homes and down 49.1% for condos and townhomes.
- In May, 84.7% of all existing local homes and 79.6% of all existing local condos and townhomes sold within 60 days. That compares to one year ago, when 75.0% of all existing local homes and 76.9% of all condos and townhomes sold within 60 days.
