Thinking of moving to Las Vegas in a couple of years, good idea or bad?

Question

I absolutely love Las Vegas, I have been there 5 times in the past 4 years and I am going back in Sept. I live in New York where it is very expensive. I love to gamble and I really like the whole Vegas scene. The type of job that I have I know I can pretty much go anywhere and make the same type of money that I make In NY. For the people that live in Vegas do you like it, hate it. I would probably move out to either Henderson or Summerlin or maybe even Lake Las Vegas. How far are these places from the strip, also are there any places really close to the strip that you can live. Thanks.

Answer 1

My husband and I have lived here since 1983. We both play poker (lower limits than you see on TV.) We love it!! We came from Seattle where it rains all the time and I was cold all the time. We both love the heat (no humidity really does make a deifference! I love 90 degrees.) We decided we didn't want to spend our whole lives in the rain, and we were coming down here 3-4 times a year anyway. Traffic is getting bad here, and those places you mentioned are all at least 45 minutes away from the strip. We just bought a home in North Las Vegas, which is the fastest growing city in the country. It's funny, because when we moved here everyone told us to stay away from N. Las Vegas! It was the worst part of Vegas back then! We live in an area called "Aliante." If you're alone, you could find a nice apartment near the strip. Or even if you're married, there are a lot of apts. around the strip. And compared to the prices in N.Y., you won't believe how inexpensive it'll be to live here!! Come on down!! :) -L

Answer 2

You love to Gamble??? Then don't move here! A lot of people come here and then end up homeless from gambling away everything. I work with a guy who lives out of his car because he gambles all his money every week. Do you want to end up in Debt? It may seem exciting while you are on vacation but most people who live here don't hardly go down to the strip. Lake Las Vegas, Henderson, and Summerlin are all at least 15-30 min. from the strip. If you wanna live next to the strip there are two options: The Ghetto right behind the strip or The million dollar condos right on the strip. Oh yeah and its been 120 degrees lately.ENJOY!

Answer 3

Vegas is definitely cheaper then NY, with less taxes and all. Not to mention the jobs out here are easier to get then anywhere else (the unemployment rate is lower then national average.) If you are into gambling, I recommend getting into the torments, and avoid the slot machines. Why? In the long run you can earn more as a professional toourney player and it is lot less expensive.

Henderson and these other places are a county over from vegas and the strip. When you live here, the strip will get old quick, and if gambling your thing well it is every where, why bother? Not to mention property on the strip is expensive and the odds are better at gambling off the strip then on it.

Good luck.

Answer 4

FYI: Las Vegas is north of the strip. The strip is in Paradise Nevada. the valley that most people call "Vegas" is actually about 6 or 7 towns combined into a region.

Jobs here are not like where you live. The money may be different because of all the people moving here, the talent pool tends to be deep. Just people here come to work for other reasons, so they take different jobs than what they used to do.

You like to gamble? Can you say No and easily Walk Away?? if so, come here. If not, stay away. Vegas will find your vice and exploit it.

Answer 5

I can only tell you from my point of view. Las Vegas has a shelf-life. I have lived here for four years and have been wanting to get out for the last two. I originally came from LA and maybe that's why.

I know alot of people who love this town and alot who are indifferent. Fifteen years ago this town was a deal to live in. Now, electric and water prices are going up, educational priorities are no longer, the housing market is mud, and it is hard to make TRUE friends out here.

I don't want to discourage you at all. You may move here and love it. I would suggest comparing what you love in NY to what you think you love in Vegas.

Answer 6

I have been to Las Vegas 3 times and love it for a vacation, BUT I would not choose to live there. Too hot in the summer, plus on vacation you want to see everything. I don.t know if people that live there ever go to the strip unless they have to

Answer 7

Doesn't matter where in Las Vegas you live, you'll never go to the strip as much as you think. Expensive and crowded.

You see it from a vacation viewpoint, nice hotel room, great fun in casino, no traffic to put up with, taxis taking you around if you even ever leave hotel, and always perfect temperature inside casino.

When you live there you have to put heat, wind, and cold. Wind blows in excess of 20 mph over 250 days a year. Ugly hot in summer and blowing cold in winter.

Traffic is pathetic in Las Vegas, growth has out paced road construction. My five mile commute on average took one hour one way. And for the better part of 9 years some part of commute was under construction at all times.

There are more hotel rooms to be built in next three to four years than some states have now, in excess of 75,000 more rooms to be added.

Water problems abound. Costs already skyrocketing to pay for projects to import water.

Crime rate one of the highest in the country including murder and rape. Not to mention high drop out rate of students, and suicide rate and drug use.

I saved over half on auto insurance just moving to another part of state.

Vegas is a great town, but not to live there.

PS Don't listen to people like gottagetaway. After reading his post he's obviously never been to Las Vegas. One county over? It's all the same county nimwad. Property leveled for a bit but it's still expensive. Rents are way above national average and in short supply which continues to drive up rents.

Answer 8

I love Vegas too and I come from New York. However, dont know if I want to live there. I love gambling and I could become addicted to it. I know people who live there and they love it

Answer 9

Negatives--Housing market tanked in Vegas recently, very hot temps in the summer (today supposed to be 116 degrees!), strip gets tired after you've been there for awhile. A friend of mine grew up there and she said that it gets tiresome when every event you go to happens in a casino. The traffic is atrocious, parking expensive. You have to have a car to get anywhere--public transport is limited and overused.

Positives--smaller-town atmosphere with world class resorts/restaurants. Lots of entertainment options. With the housing market sinking, may be able to get a bargain on a house.

May want to research want ads and housing ads on your next trip out and really investigate the areas your considering to make sure a move is what you want. I've been out 4 times in 4 years and thought about moving there for grad school (UNLV) and decided against it after really checking into the area. It's a great place to visit and I wanted to keep it that way!

Answer 10

For some of the most diverse, most informed opinions on living in and visiting Las Vegas I reccomend joining Las Vegas Advisor and discussing it on the forums there. Plus I guarantee you will save money when you visit. The coupon book is worth at least $300 to us on our visits.