A new study from UNLV’s Lied Center for Real Estate forecasts a significant rise in the number of older buildings in Clark County over the next decade, with an estimated 80,608 additional buildings set to reach the 50-year mark by 2036.
This increase represents a staggering 109.4 percent growth in the valley’s stock of buildings that are more than half a century old.
According to Shawn McCoy, director of the Lied Center for Real Estate and author of the study, this situation poses both challenges and opportunities for the local housing market.
“Las Vegas is a town that grew up rather quickly,” McCoy noted. “Accordingly, it is a town that will age rather quickly.”
Buildings aged 50 years or older typically necessitate extensive renovations and face a greater risk of demolition due to deteriorating materials, McCoy indicated.
The data suggests that there are currently about 73,649 buildings in the valley that were constructed in 1975 or earlier, accounting for approximately 10.7 percent of all properties in the area.
McCoy pointed out the dual nature of this trend, saying, “On one hand, our overall stock of 50-plus year old buildings is relatively low compared to areas like Pittsburgh. On the other hand, the rate at which our stock of 50-plus year buildings is expected to grow over the next decade is high, potentially changing the market for adaptive reuse projects.”
This wave of aging buildings reflects a historical context; as the valley experienced rapid growth, the building stock is expected to show similar dynamics concerning age-related issues in the future.
With approximately 685,000 buildings in the county, the study anticipates an even larger influx of structures hitting the 50-plus year mark by 2055, primarily due to the unprecedented construction boom in the mid-2000s before the Great Recession.
The unique timeline of Las Vegas’ development sets it apart from more established cities, where periods of renewal for their building stocks are already commonplace.
Bob Cleveland, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada, a nonprofit organization assisting with home renovations, points to the challenges that come with older homes and their inhabitants.
“The older the house generally the older the person that lives in that house,” Cleveland explained. “Younger people typically do not buy older houses. They prefer to upgrade if they have good jobs, while many of these older homeowners may have lived in their homes for three decades but cannot afford to move.”
Cleveland adds that some clients have been residing in their homes for 30 to 50 years, and the current housing market poses significant financial barriers preventing them from relocating.
As renovations arise—such as the need for a new roof or air conditioning—many older homeowners face tough decisions due to financial constraints.
The construction landscape has also seen substantial changes recently, with both residential and commercial projects experiencing sharp declines following a boom during the pandemic, which was fueled by ultra-low interest rates.
New home constructions in Clark County have notably decreased in 2025, as the industry grapples with a variety of challenges, including a shortage of available construction jobs and rising labor costs.
David Behar, executive officer for the Nevada State Contractors Board, highlighted the necessity of preparing for future demands in the housing market.
Behar stated that the Contractors Board is actively working to expand licensing for construction workers engaged in residential projects, as well as collaborating with the government to attract more qualified labor into the construction field.
“The current and future demands for residential construction and home improvement projects have been on our radar for several years, as we work with the industry to address workforce shortages,” Behar said.
He added that the Board is focused on identifying collaborative solutions alongside local, state, and industry representatives to ensure that public safety remains a priority for consumers working with contractors in the evolving housing market.
Ultimately, the findings of this study prompt a call to action for all stakeholders in the Clark County housing market to prepare and adapt to the anticipated increase in older buildings, which could bring about both challenges and unique opportunities for redevelopment and adaptive reuse in the community.
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