For 10 years, from 1975 to 1985, The Jeffersons made history as one of the longest-running sitcoms and was a breakthrough portrayal of financially successful minorities. It taught us that anyone can strive for whatever goals and successes and luxuries they’d like to achieve and experience. Regardless of where you come from or what you’ve had to endure, you have equal rights to pursue happiness.
“We’re movin’ on up,” the theme song went, “to a deluxe apartment in the sky.” From meagre beginnings in The Queens, this was a big step for the Jefferson family. But the dream of living in a high-rise condo in a world-class city continues for many today. There’s nothing like the feeling of looking out your window and feeling on top of the world.
A Deluxe Apartment on The Strip
How would like to have your own dream home high in the sky, right in the center of the action on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip? While many think of The Strip as being a place to vacation and stay in casino hotels rather than owning a piece of real estate, it’s a well-kept secret that you can actually live there too.
While international tourists pay high dollar for a view of The Strip, arguably one of the most iconic cityscapes in the world, residents of the city’s luxury high-rise condos get to enjoy the same breathtaking view of neon celebration every night.
Las Vegas High-Rise Condo History
The concept of building high-rise condos on The Strip has come and gone over the years. Currently, the unfinished St. Regis condominium tower still stands partially wrapped in a cloaked costume, dressed to look like a sister tower between the Venetian and the Palazzo.
Abandoned in 2008, the project is like unfinished leftovers from a time when the gaming industry thought high-rise residential towers would be a perfect mix for the tourist-oriented hotel towers that currently dominate The Strip. For several years starting in 2004, over a dozen such Strip condo projects were planned. But declining casino revenue mixed with rising construction costs put an end to most of them.
Winners and Losers in Las Vegas
But as funding for the St. Regis was pulled, 150 more condominium projects were being planned throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Most of them were still in early development, and intended to be built on or south of The Strip, just off The Strip, or in Downtown Las Vegas.
The successful projects that made it were mostly not connected to a hotel-casino. Close to two dozen of these condominium towers were finished, following in the footsteps of Turnberry Place on Paradise Road, built in 2001.
Even some of the big casino players had some wins, including the Signature Towers at MGM Grand in 2006, The Palms Place tower in 2008, and the Veer Towers at CityCenter in 2009. All three of these projects are completely sold out.
Why the Condo Market is Heating Up Again
Fast-forward 10 years, and we have some new additions to the Las Vegas Strip, including professional sports venues T-Mobile Arena (home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights) and Allegiant Stadium (home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders). These venues also host UNLV football and countless high-ticket concerts and shows throughout the year.
And just last year, a new casino property opened for the first time in a long time. Resorts World Las Vegas showed that new construction is viable again.
Combined with the amenities we expect from The Strip, including spectacular shows and top-rated dining experiences, these new attractions are making the heart of Las Vegas even more desirable again.
This high demand is combined with limited supply, since only a few of these high-rise projects made it off the ground, and the ones that did are sold out. This means a hot market for resale units, and high-rise owners using their units as vacation properties while offering long-term rentals in between trips.
Short-term rentals like Airbnb have been previously banned due to restrictions in Clark County that require rentals to be at least 31 days. The regulations are meant to prevent these rentals from happening too close to gaming properties without annual registration and the same level of taxing that hotel guests have to pay.
But these restrictions are under review with new opportunities and guidelines expected to open up. Obviously there are two sides of the coin here, so Clark County has released a survey to get residential opinions on it.
Top 7 Las Vegas High-Rise Condo Communities
So what are the best high-rise condominiums to live in Las Vegas? Here’s a breakdown of the top properties to choose from.
- Turnberry Place
Built in 1999, the guard-gated Turnberry Place offers residents the best of both worlds. It combines exclusivity with convenience, community with excitement, and privacy with amazing views. Located between Sahara Las Vegas and the Wynn Encore resorts, a block east of The Strip, Turnberry Place features 720 units in four 38-story towers, luxurious amenities, and a prime location.
The 80,000-square-foot Stirling Club is a featured amenity for member residents, offering a curated selection of onsite venues including fine dining, bar, fitness, tennis, pool and spa. If that’s not enough, within a mile of the property you’ll find close to two dozen highly-rated resort restaurants and world-class entertainment.
- Turnberry Towers
Completed in 2007, the elegant and modern Turnberry Towers is a 45-story twin tower condominium complex with 636 units, each designed with an open-concept floor plan. Like Turnberry Place, this community was developed by Turnberry Associates, but offers a different vibe and living experience.
Located between the Las Vegas Strip and Paradise Road, across from the Westgate, Turnberry Towers has a selection of scenery options. Choose from panoramic views of Red Rock and Mount Charleston, majestic views of the Wynn golf course, and breathtaking cityscapes including the Strip. This is where you’ll find the ultimate combination of privacy and luxury. Community amenities include valet parking, a 24-hour doorman, state-of-the-art fitness center, tennis courts, putting green and resort-sized pool.
- Sky Las Vegas
Announced in 2004 and opened in 2007, Sky Las Vegas is a 45-story modern luxury condo tower on the Strip with 409 units. It offers exceptional amenities that have been recently renovated, including state-of-the-art fitness center, racquetball court, billiards room, lounge, private theater, his and hers spas and resort-style pool with private cabanas.
Located across the street from Sahara Las Vegas, between Circus Circus and Hilton Grand Vacations Club, Sky lets you enjoy stunning views of the Strip from your home. It’s just minutes from Fremont Street, the Arts District, the Fashion Show Mall, and top-rated resorts like the Wynn, Venetian and Bellagio.
- Veer Towers
Built in 2010, Veer Towers are twin 37-story luxury condo towers in CityCenter at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, with 335 units each for a total of 670. The only all-residential buildings at CityCenter, these condominiums range in size up to an incredible 3,412 square feet. Looking up from the Strip, you might think these buildings are going to fall over. But they’re architectural marvels, designed to lean at an angle in opposite directions.
Every residence has a stunning view of the Las Vegas skyline, and the rooftop Sky Decks feature sun decks, hot tubs, infinity edge swimming pools, and summer kitchens. Amenities include 24-hour security, restricted elevators, fitness center, billiards rooms, lounges, private residential driveway and valet service.
- Panorama Towers
Built in 2006, the 33-story Panorama Towers complex is a two-tower luxury high-rise development with 650 units. Located behind the Strip, across the I-15 freeway on Dean Martin Drive at Harmon, the Panorama Tower has easy access to anywhere in the Las Vegas Valley. This high-rise condo tower, which has attracted A-list celebrities throughout its history, is across from CityCenter and only a mile from Allegiant Stadium, home to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Amenities include fitness center, yoga room, hot tub, heated pool, racquetball and squash courts, massage room, party room, theater and dog run, as well as private elevator and parking.
- Martin Tower
Originally opened in 2008 as part of the Panorama Towers complex, the former Panorama Tower North was reopened and rebranded The Martin in 2011. This 45-story luxury condominium building with 372 units provides an incomparable living experience that’s intimate and exclusive, and as a result has become one of the city’s most popular high-rise towers.
The Martin boasts an impressive list of amenities in a premiere location, including fully equipped gym, indoor and outdoor spas, swimming pool with cabanas, and outdoor seating area with fire pit. Sitting in your living room with floor-to-ceiling windows, you’ll enjoy dramatic panoramic views of the Strip, and surrounding mountains. Just steps from CityCenter and close to Allegiant Stadium, this tower is a shining jewel in the heart of the city.
- Regency Towers
Opened in 1974, Regency Towers is a vintage Las Vegas condominium complex, and embodies old-school Vegas luxury standards. This is the type of building The Jeffersons might have dreamed of if they were based in Nevada instead of New York.
Located inside the exclusive Las Vegas Country Club, just off the Las Vegas Strip, Regency Towers stands 27 stories tall and has 218 units. Amenities include gated access, concierge service, outdoor BBQ grills, gym, tennis courts, spa, sauna and swimming pool. Here you’ll find breathtaking views of the Strip, mountains, and community golf course.
The High-Rise Bottom Line
Of course, short-term rentals aren’t the only option when it comes to enjoying condo ownership, whether to live in or to rent out.
As for supply and demand, what if supply were to open up again to meet the growing demand? Real estate experts say it’s definitely possible.
Skyrocketing condo resale values and increased real estate prices in general throughout the Las Vegas area over the past 24 months have pointed to a pretty clear trend. People want to live here, and the new normal of working from home has made it even more desirable. As a result, don’t be surprised to see some of those new developments back on the plans soon.
Then you can be movin’ on up to your own deluxe apartment in the sky. In the heart of Las Vegas, where you can experience pretty much everything you could ever hope for, right in your own back yard (or at most, a few hours away).
Dulcie Crawford is the local native Las Vegas High-Rise expert. For more information about the current High-Rise market conditions, properties featured on this blog, our Hot Market Listings or to schedule a tour, please contact Dulcie Crawford directly at (702) 505-2775.
