By Patricia Smith  |  NV Ball Real Estate Group

Here's something that doesn't get talked about enough in real estate circles: local government decisions shape property values just as much as interest rates do.

And right now, Reno is in the middle of one of the most consequential political moments it's seen in over a decade. For the first time in more than ten years, the mayoral race is completely open. The current mayor is term-limited out. A brand-new leader is coming — and the candidates have very different ideas about housing policy, development, zoning, and the future of this city.

The issues on the table? Whether to restrict short-term rentals on accessory dwelling units. How aggressively to push new housing development to ease the affordability crisis. How the city handles corporate investors buying residential properties. How zoning changes near areas like the Lakeridge Golf Course corridor will reshape entire neighborhoods for decades.

These aren't abstract conversations. They are decisions that will affect what your home is worth, what your neighborhood looks like, and what it costs to live in Reno five years from now.

I pay attention to this so my clients don't have to navigate it alone. Knowing which neighborhoods are positioned to benefit from incoming policy shifts — and which areas might see changes that affect values — is the kind of insight I bring to every conversation.

Real estate isn't just about the home you buy today. It's about the city that home exists inside of. And right now, that city is being shaped by decisions happening this year.