If math is considered to be the “universal language” that holds absolute truth, then the federal government would be considered illiterate. When it comes to government statistics, the only thing “absolute” about them is that they are absolutely confusing. 

Nevadans trying to understand the affordable housing landscape may find that the “math isn’t mathing” when trying to determine if they can afford to own or rent a home, even though cities like Las Vegas lead the country in new-home listings. 

Nevada has an affordable housing crisis due to a shortage of homes. When you include taxes that are eating into take-home income and the rising cost of goods, families – especially single parent families – continue to tighten their belts to take care of themselves. 

History of Federal Government Involvement 

At the end of the Mexican-American War in 1846, the land that would become Nevada was transferred to the US federal government under the Guadalupe Hildago Treaty. The General Land Office originally managed it but now it’s done by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM has a solid hold on Nevadan land and is unwilling to let go. With the BLM extremely slow to release new land to build homes and infrastructure on, hard-working people looking to buy or rent are the ones suffering the consequences. 

Decreasing Land Availability  

Because Nevada is a public land state, and the BLM manages the vast majority of the land, anyone wanting to develop land has to jump through many hoops. Hoops that may take years and/or acts of Congress to speed up. Hoops that mean numerous agencies need to approve multiple environmental aspects of a project even before a shovel hits the sand. 

This means Nevada can’t handle the growth occurring in its cities, especially Las Vegas and Reno. Less land available means less homes available, which leads to higher home prices. This also includes increased rents. And as those rents continue to rise, families are hit with a money crunch which could lead to evictions and even more struggles. 

Artificial Rise in Home Prices 

Home prices continue to be overinflated. On one hand, you have the Federal government owning 89.5% of the land in Nevada creating a housing shortage. On the other hand, you have cash-rich Californians able to pay over the asking price of Nevada properties at an increasing pace. This inevitably drives housing prices even higher and out of reach for most single-parent families. The cost of homes has increased, while wages have remained the same. This gap continues to grow and will not change direction until the BLM makes more land available to develop. Which will also include the development of affordable housing. 

Impact on Nevadans 

The increased cost of consumer goods and inflation are eating away at the buying power of the US dollar, and Nevadans continue to feel the pressure. Increased rents and lack of affordable housing means that single-parent families must make hard choices about where they will live, what schools their kids go to, and where to shop. If the BLM keeps a tight hold on available land, there is nothing affordable about Nevada’s so-called affordable housing and families will be financially squeezed. 

You Have a Say 

You have a right to voice your opinion. You can visit Nevada Policy’s Action Center and join other Nevadans voicing their concerns to elected officials. Each new voice can make a difference in determining what Nevada’s housing market could – and should – look like. 

Your voice provides hope for change. Affordable housing can happen. Help us make the math work to unlock federal land and make it easier for every Nevadan to have a place to call home.