Planing on moving to Las Vegas in after graduation...?

Question

I am planning on moving to Las Vegas in a few years after I graduate college. I want to hear from people who have moved there or who have lived there. What are your likes and dislikes about living in Las Vegas. My husband and I are looking at maybe Summerlin.

*** I have been to Vegas a number of times and I do not need tourists telling me what I should see.***

My husbad's keyboard sucks that is why there are so man spelling mistakes. I am not an idiot

Answer 1

My fiance has lived in Las Vegas for her entire existence (26 years), and I moved here just over 4 years ago from Savannah, GA.

Summerlin is a great community. Home prices are currently dropping in Vegas across the board, and Summerlin offers one of the cleanest, well-organized and well-planned communities in the nation. If owning a home, be prepared to pay a Master Plan fee and possibly additional assoc fees.

To be honest, there isn't much that I care for in Vegas.

Weather (strong point):

The weather is absolutely fantastic in the fall and spring, with a mild winter in between, but the summer can be brutally hot. Temperatures often exceed 115 degrees in July, and can reach over 170 inside a vehicle. The desert wind does not help the situation; instead of a cooling affect that you'll get in humid locations, the wind here during summer feels like a hair dryer. All in all, the great off-summer temperatures really offset the 3 or 4 months of summer heat.

Terrain (strong point):

Las Vegas sits in a flat basin that is surrounded mostly by small mountains. Vegas is only 45 minutes away from a larger mountain chain (Lee Canyon & Mt. Charleston) that receives snowfall in the winter months. A small ski resort Northwest of Vegas is typically open for at least 2 months during winter.

If you aren't a party animal like me, you'll probably find a lot of entertainment in the various rock canyons around Vegas. Red Rock Canyon & Valley of Fire are two of the more popular destinations, and the Colorado River is about an hour outside of Vegas. There are plenty of activities outside of the City to keep nature-lovers occupied.

City Travel (terrible):

The road system here is similar to a grid, and is quite easy to navigate, especially in the Summerlin (west) area. Prepare yourself for an endless amount of road construction on the freeways/highways/interstates that run through Vegas, though.

Las Vegas, like most large cities, has it's fair share of ruthless drivers. There are accidents daily, and driving-related fatalities are very common. Be prepared to see an ambulance everytime you travel via freeways.

Crime (weak point):

Crime, especially motor vehicle theft and robbery, is rampant here. The crime rate for Summerlin, however, is very good in comparison. Location is key in Vegas; if you can't afford to live in the areas that are away from the strip and center of town, you have a much higher chance to become a victim. I was unsuccessfully robbed at gunpoint at a drive-through ATM in my second year here. The nice area where my fiance grew up is now a dump, with dozens of murders in the area since 2000.

Drug use is also rampant here. Meth is currently a major epidemic.

Employment (borderline marginal/weak point):

They say there's a job for everyone in Vegas, and that may be true, but the job might not necessarily be the right one for you. It's easy to find a job in Health Care and construction-related positions, but everything else is fairly competitive. Wages in Vegas are average to maybe just below-average.

Cost of Living (weak point):

Gas prices are very high here, similar to prices in California. Currently, as of 5/15/07, premium is about 3.40/gal. The housing market is saturated with listings at the moment, and home prices are dropping. However, it is no longer an easy task to afford a home in Las Vegas, as there is still a "sell-high" mentality here.

There are no state taxes here, which is great, and sales tax is an average 7.5% or so. Property taxes are very cheap here as well.

Education (terrible):

Clark County has one of the worst public school systems in the nation. Location, once again, is key here. Generally, the further away you get from the center of town, the better the living conditions, hospitals & schools.

I would not recommend raising a family here. That's not to say your children will definitely turn out to be criminals, but there's simply better places in the US for education, crime %, drug use, property values, etc.

What I Like About Vegas:

Despite my negative opinion about Vegas, there really is something here for just about anyone. Restaurant and store diversity here is absolutely killer, and seemingly always close-by. The planned communities are beautiful and relatively safe. The casinos are exciting from time to time, wildlife is abundant, Lake Mead offers some limited enjoyment, and the ocean is only 4 hours away.

---

Feel free to ask me more specific questions. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

I was born and raised in Vegas and I love it. Sure there are pro's and con's but doesn't every city have that?

You said you were thinking about summerlin and that is a great area of town. Lots of parks and private communities - it's just a nice general area. Plus you are close to the freeway so everything is within a quick distance. The strip is far enough away and yet close enough to visit if you want to catch a show or have a nice dinner.

There really is a lot to do here aside from gambling and drinking. I really think it's what you make of it. I joined a tennis group and hiking group and tends to fill up a lot of time.

Yes, it's hot here. That's a given, it's the desert. So you don't go jogging at noon - you go in the early morning or at night. I mean that's such a minor detail

It's definitely a buyer's market right now in Vegas. You can get a big house for a reasonable cost because everyone bought multiple houses during the "real estate boom" and now they need to get rid of them.

I have met a lot of nice people here and there are always things to do. Whether it's an art exhibit or sports or concerts - you can always find something to do.

Hope you enjoy it!

Answer 3

I've lived in Las Vegas all my life!! It's great honestly the only thing i don't really like is the heat in the summer but love tbe westher in the Fall and Spring time. It's not too cold in winter compared to ther places. It never snows so you don't have to worry about that, not much rain, well once in a while. But i love Las Vegas so much things to do and Summerlin is one of the best in Las Vegas hope you have a great time over here :)

Answer 4

A long car ride will not kill your dog. Your ex will have to make sure to drive careful (no sudden stops slinging her around in the car). Make sure to stop for frequent breaks so she can potty and stretch her legs. And he'll have to make sure to stay in dog friendly hotels so it's good to do research in advance. As far as changing Dr's goes...that can be done to. He can go by the vet and get a copy of her chart and refill any meds she’s on. Then he can find a good vet in the new area. And I would suspect that a city as big as Las Vegas has canine cardiologist there as well. Most likely they also have dog walkers and doggie day care for her if your ex needs help while he's working 10 hour days. The dog knows and loves your ex. She's familiar with riding in his car. She will have to adjust to a new environment. But she did that when one of you moved out and got a new place. If she has arthritis, the warmer weather in Cali may be easier on her old bones and joints than the Missouri winters. In the end, you just don't want your dog to move that far away. And that is completely understandable! So you are trying to justify it by claiming medical reasons. But with planning, the move should not kill your dog. And as you said, he's had her since birth. You've had her in your life for 10 years....but she's been his girl for 13. Does not mean you don't love her. Just means she's his dog and it's his choice. How about you make sure to let him know that you love her and she will always be welcome in your home. If, for some reason, it does not work out having her in Vegas, let him know she will always have a good home and good care with you. For what it's worth, I made a move with a 13+ year old dog in congestive heart failure. With planning, it can be done safely.

Answer 5

1) Las Vegas is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. There are a total of 4 months a year with good weather.

2) LV is over grown, crowded, and over priced. You cannot get a good deal on a house and it's next to impossible to sell one for a profit.

3) The temptation of sex, booze and gambling are huge. Don't even down play that fact.

4) LV is filled with the poor, underemployed and criminals. Those that migrate toward money in order to steal or beg for their living.

If it wasn't for air conditioning and the casinos, LV would once again be nothing but a tiny dust filled gas stop on the way to somewhere else. That being said, I love to visit.

To be honest I can't think of one good thing to say about moving there. I know a few people who have and turned right around and move back out. I also know a few people who live there, but most of those are older retirees.

Answer 6

I live in Vegas and it's great!! Summerlin is a great area..It's nice and quiet!! You will love it!!