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advice on overall best areas to buy a new home

Discussion in 'Living in Sin (City that is)' started by Ramboman22, Mar 25, 2014.

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  1. Ramboman22

    Ramboman22 Tourist

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    Can someone please advise me on the best overall places to buy a new home in the $275,000 range? My wife and I are living in the Chicago area and are going to look at new homes in the Las Vegas area in July,2014. Im sorry if this is asked by a lot of people but would appreciate just a general answer as far as best neighborhoods. We are just retiring and are in our early 60's. We would prefer clean,low crime, ranch style homes. Thank you in advance for any suggestions!
    Ramboman22
     
  2. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    We lived near the Centennial Hills area and thought it was great. Plenty of retail, restaurants, grocery and felt very safe.

    I'm going to PM you the name of our realtor. We thought she did a great job, both finding us a house and later selling it.
     
  3. vegasbound

    vegasbound VIP Whale

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    Summerlin and Green Valley have long been the most desirable areas. Centennial allows you to stretch your dollar. I personally like Spring Valley and Silverado Ranch area. Single story homes sell quickly, there is usually high demand and short supply. You can also look in Sun City communities, they seems to have more ranch style homes than other neighborhoods. I'm not sure how much more you pay for those amenities... they're nice, though. We lived with my husband's grandma in Sun City Summerlin when we first moved from Chicago. I really enjoyed our time there. The retirement lifestyle was a nice treat while we searched for jobs and a home.
     
  4. Packrat1

    Packrat1 Low-Roller

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    I own two homes in Seven Hills near Green Valley Ranch. Henderson is a very nice area but there are some pockets that are not so nice. I would highly recommend that you bring a GPS and come out to Vegas in the next month or so and spend 3 or 4 days looking at properties and locations. I wouldn't wait until July I would come now if you can. That way you can zero in on a zipcode or area you like.

    You can get a really inexpensive room on Hoteltonight an Iphone app.

    We looked at about 40 homes before we found our first one. Although you might like a new home you can really get more for your money buying a used one right now. A Realtor can confirm this. Also check out how long it takes you to drive to areas/work on busy days.

    Additionally drive through neighborhoods you like late at night as sometimes the "landscape" changes for the worse. Lennar homes is building a development just below Seven Hills on Sunridge Heights in Green Valley.
     
  5. suecasey

    suecasey Low-Roller

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    Sun City Aliante fits your needs, so I recommend you check it out. Clean, very low crime, all single-story homes. Take a look at http://www.scalnlv.com/home.asp.

    Wherever you go, be sure to find out about the HOA ahead of time. Many HOA's in the Vegas area are corrupt and/or bankrupt. The Sun City Aliante HOA is excellent. And solvent. Assessments have not been raised since I've been here (8 years). The common grounds are well taken care of, and the community center is beautiful.

    Another benefit to living here is that we don't flood. Flooding is a problem in some areas of Henderson and Summerlin.
     
  6. Packrat1

    Packrat1 Low-Roller

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    Although Alliante is a nice area and has a fairly low crime rate, it is surrounded by zip codes with much higher crime rates.

    Additionally the City of North Las Vegas is in serious financial straights which can affect basic services like Fire and Police.

    Seriously do your homework if you are thinking of buying in this area. Also if you plan to sell the home after a few years be sure that you look at similar homes in other areas and compare home values.

    http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/north-las-vegas-city-financial-edge
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2014
  7. ajonate

    ajonate Low-Roller

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    I live in NLV also, but nothing interests me less than the city problems. NLV has been mismanaged for as long as I can remember. But at the end of the day, I don't give a care. If the city folded tomorrow it wouldn't change my life in the least.

    We'll always have fire & police protection. I remember when Fountain Valley, CA was contemplating bankruptcy, maybe 40 years ago. They told residents that they wouldn't have any fire & police protection at all if the city wasn't there. The city failed, but the county stepped in right away to provide essential services. Orange County provided fire & police protection until the city incorporated again.

    Honestly, I don't care if we become unincorporated county area, or even part of Las Vegas City. There's no way it could be managed any worse than it is today. Hey, the Las Vegas Strip is in unincorporated Clark County. That should be good enough for NLV.
     
  8. Packrat1

    Packrat1 Low-Roller

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    As far as considering places to live there are many choices. A great website to check out for prospective homeowners is city-data just go to the forums for Las Vegas. A lot of useful info on there.
     
  9. ajonate

    ajonate Low-Roller

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    My 2 cents worth on where to live; Summerlin, Centennial Hills, and Aliante are farther away from the resorts than you want to be. Green Valley isn't bad, but I'd look in the neighborhoods east of the Strip but west of I-515.
     
  10. suecasey

    suecasey Low-Roller

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    The original poster didn't say they wanted to be near the "resorts." As a local, why would anyone want to be near the Strip or downtown? The locals casinos have all the amenities anyone could want, without the craziness, traffic, and crime you find near the "resort corridor." Senior citizens are better off living in a relatively peaceful, friendly community which has everything they need nearby. The Strip will still be there, for special occasions or when you have out-of-town company, but it's better to stay away from it on a daily basis.

    Who needs the Strip when you can live minutes away from places like Green Valley Ranch, Red Rock Resort, or Aliante Casino?
     
  11. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    As a former resident, I can't argue with any of that logic.:thumbsup:
     
  12. ajonate

    ajonate Low-Roller

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    I don't go to the Strip a lot myself. Gambling conditions are poor, food is expensive, and restaurant lines are untenable. Still, I enjoyed the best quality of life ever when I was living near the Strip.

    I own a home in a residential neighborhood that I really like now. I'll be happy here for the rest of my life. But if I had to do it over again I would have bought closer the strip, within a few miles. Living where I am I avoided a homeowners association and pay insanely low property tax, but it was a trade-off for lifestyle.

    There's something about the attitude of neighbors near the Strip. There's more going on and people are more plugged-in to where the deals are. You also get to show-off the Strip as if it's your own (I still do that anyway).

    Enjoy the station casinos if that's what you like, but there's a whole other world out there.
     
  13. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Certitude in one's choice in living environment matters ONLY to that person. Sure, we all can tender advice, but unless we walk/see/think outside our preferences and biases …

    For instance, as one approaching eligibility to live in an age-restricted environment, I can say unequivocally that holds zero appeal. But that's just me.

    I think the OP is doing the right thing, asking broad-stroke questions. But the only way to truly decide where to live is to get out and burn some shoe leather and tire rubber. Oh, and have a well-conceived punch list of what is wanted and a strong definition of what each one of those means to the person looking.
     
  14. vegasbound

    vegasbound VIP Whale

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    So true, Ken.

    Just like Vegas offers visitors a bit of everything, the same goes for those that choose to call this fine city home. Sure it will take doing some homework to check all the boxes to meet needs and wants, but in the end there is something for everyone. If you find different, then life in Vegas might not be ideal for you.

    Being near the strip and airport is a priority for me. My husband works on the strip, I work near it, we prefer a short commute. We travel often and have regular visitors so being no more than 10 minutes from the airport is a great convenience. I live less than five minutes from Green Valley Ranch. I've been there twice since I moved to the area last June. I go downtown and to the strip with far more regularity (7x the past month). You learn to take advantage of specials and perks for locals. You learn the shortcuts to avoid congestion and know the easiest places to park. No, I do no represent the majority, but it's what makes Vegas home for me.
     
  15. Ramboman22

    Ramboman22 Tourist

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    thanks for the information

    I would like to thank everyone who gave their advice on where to live when me and my wife move here. I appreciate it. The one person said EAST of the strip and WEST of I-515 is a good area. Did they mean WEST of the strip? Everyone keeps telling me to go west of the strip and maybe northwest also.
     
  16. ajonate

    ajonate Low-Roller

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    I've lived both east & west of the Strip. I think quality of life is generally better east of the Strip than west. You may have to settle for an existing home in that area, since it's pretty well developed.

    The thing is that west of the strip you'll have to live west of Decatur if you're looking for a single-family dwelling. The area west of I-15 between Trop & Flamingo is pretty industrial, so there aren't a lot of homes until you get west of Decatur. Likewise, the area west of I-15 between Flamingo and Spring Mountain is dense apartment complexes out to Decatur.

    There are some areas east of the Strip that you'll want to avoid, but I don't think you need to concern yourself with that too much when looking for a ranch style home.
     
  17. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Moving is a big task. And it's cool. But you just have to do your homework. There is no other way to do it. And homework requires sweat and effort, not just taking someone else's word for it.
     
  18. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    To me, living in Vegas and shunning what is available all along the Strip is like living in Manhattan and having every meal in some national chain restaurant.

    Now, I'd not want to actually live near it but that is another matter.
     
  19. TomTWI

    TomTWI Custom Title

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    I'll guess

    I think they meant east but probably MLS areas 602 Green Valley and 606 Anthem & Seven Hills.

    Using MLS areas here is my take for what it's worth.

    103 Aliante - We were out there yesteday looking around and spent some time in the casino. The area is nice looks safe and prices good. Only draw back it it's way north.

    405 Centennial Hills - I hear it's nice don't know much about it. Way NW again.

    404 Summerlin I like what Ive seen prices higher here.

    502 The Lakes - Don't know much about it.

    503 Spring Valley - I think you want to be west of Rainbow

    504 Rhodes Ranch - This is where we live, again west of Rainbow is newer. Get something close to 215 and you can get around easy and fast. New construction starting around $250k

    505 Mountains Edge and Southern Highlands. From what I've seen these are very nice. These might be out of you range. Lots of construction going on $300's up.

    606 Seven Hills and Anthem. I love this area especially Anthem. Prices I'm not sure about.

    303 Silverado Ranch pockets of not so nice but otherwise ok.

    602 Green Valley some nice older homes

    What I didn't list I don't like or don't know anything about.

    Use the link below to check crime.

    http://www.crimemapping.com/map/nv/lasvegas

    Good luck on your search.

    TomTWI
     
  20. TomTWI

    TomTWI Custom Title

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    I was in Anthem yesterday at an estate sale. The home we were in was very nice but not over the top. Listed at $650k 2 bed 2 1/2 bath with den ranch. Beautiful golf course and city views.

    TomTWI
     
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