Las Vegas Airbnb Hosts

[Haris Becaj]

Hello everyone, 

My name is Haris and I am new to this forum and community. A wealth of knowledge on here from what I've recently gathered and glad to be a part of it to collaborate or assist. I am a local mortgage broker and investor here in Las Vegas, NV. 

Some local friends have brought up the stigma of Airbnb in Las Vegas and many of them think it is illegal. I've been running a legitimate Airbnb in Henderson for the last 6 months and it has been an educational experience, but fully legal and beneficial compared to traditional rentals. Henderson has some of the most strict short-term rental laws in the country, but once the arduous process is accomplished, the numbers are favorable. Las Vegas has also allowed Airbnb with certain laws and restrictions.

I am reaching out to any other locals to see how they have faired with the process and what their numbers are looking like. I am happy to share my experiences and numbers as well. 

Thanks! 

[Haris Becaj]

Hi Frank,

I initially purchased the property in Henderson in 2019 as a primary residence with no intention to Airbnb. I like Henderson as it's continuously considered one of the safest cities in the US and the school systems are said to be better than LV (school systems in Las Vegas are known be some of the worst in the US, but I don't have kids nor have delved into the research to back this argument). Henderson also has more of a local vibe that I was looking for as opposed to the transient lifestyle of Las Vegas. The proximity to Lake Mead, Boulder City, and the airport is appealing and there is plenty of room to grow as a city i.e.. commercial and residential.

I decided to try Airbnb when I was on a constant deployment and temporary duty cycle for work. Being gone for 6 months out of the year and leaving the home vacant was not ideal. I started the STR in DEC2021 and it has been great ever since. As I said before, there are hoops to jump through but in the end it's worth it.

Since inception, my monthly net has been hovering around $1000/month. That's after mortgage/tax/insurance, utilities, cleaning service, Wi-Fi, and replenishment costs. Not terrible, but if I were to do it again, I would buy a 3- or 4-bedroom home. I have a 2/2, so I'm limited on guest space and sleeping arrangements. I charge $162/night which seems to be just right, but the 3/2 homes and bigger bring in at least $100+ more per night.

Hope some of that helps you.

Thanks,

Haris