The Exodus Brewing
Are your neighbors talking about moving out of state? You’re not alone.
A shocking new poll shows one in three Nevada voters are thinking about packing up and leaving because housing costs too much. The survey, done in April by Noble Predictive Insights, found that housing costs have now become a bigger worry than inflation for most Nevadans.
“Housing affordability is driving the state’s overall affordability crisis,” said Maddison Westcott-Ochal, who studies data in Las Vegas.
“Nevadans are open to doing anything — building apartments, opening federal lands, moving their families further from their communities — just to relieve these costs.”
The numbers tell a stark story. The folks feeling the squeeze the most are renters, young people, parents with kids, and those in apartments or mobile homes. Some groups are even more likely to consider leaving:
- 43% of those who’ve lived in Nevada for 11-20 years
- 39% of lifelong Nevadans
- 42% of voters under 30
- 42% of parents with children
- 40% of city dwellers
Why This Matters to Conservatives
For those of us who believe in limited government, this housing crisis raises serious questions about federal land control. Did you know the federal government owns about 80% of Nevada’s land? That’s land that could be used for homes that families can afford.
When government restricts land use, the basic rules of supply and demand kick in. Less land for building means fewer homes, which drives prices through the roof. Just look at what’s happened:
In Reno right now, the median home costs $605,000. In Las Vegas, it’s $480,000. That’s putting the American Dream out of reach for regular working folks.
Over in Reno, home values have more than doubled since 2015. In Las Vegas, prices are now four times higher than they were after the last recession. No wonder people are thinking about leaving.
What’s Being Done About It
There’s finally some movement on this issue. Governor Joe Lombardo recently signed an agreement with the Bureau of Land Management to identify federal land that could be opened up for housing. He’s also backing a $200 million plan to help make housing more affordable across Nevada.
President Trump’s administration is looking at this problem too. They’ve created a special task force to find unused federal land that could be used for building homes.
During a rally in Las Vegas last year, Trump promised:
“I will work with your governor to open up new tracts of federal land for large-scale housing construction, and you’ll get it for a much lower price.”
What Critics Say
Those on the left argue that simply releasing more land won’t solve the problem. They say we need more rent control and government-subsidized housing projects. Some environmental groups worry that opening up federal lands could harm natural habitats and worsen urban sprawl.
But the numbers don’t lie. The survey shows 65% of Nevada voters support building new apartments near their homes. Support was strongest in Washoe County at 72%. People are ready for solutions, not more government red tape.
What Comes Next
In the coming months, watch for more details on which federal lands might be opened up. The big question will be whether this happens quickly enough to help families who are struggling right now.
Our founding fathers never intended for the federal government to control vast swaths of land within states. By pushing for more local control and free market solutions, we can help make the American Dream of homeownership possible again for Nevada families.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
