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I want to move to Vegas but where?

Discussion in 'Living in Sin (City that is)' started by Moving2Vegas, Aug 17, 2015.

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  1. Moving2Vegas

    Moving2Vegas Newbie

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    Hi again all.... :beer:

    Like I mention in my Introduction Post, I will be moving to Vegas by the end of the year so I joined this forum in hopes to get some questions answered and to get some insider information from people who already live in Vegas.

    Not to get too deep into personal details but I think I should explain what my plans are first.
    My lease is up in December. I want to find a place to live before then so I can pack and move straight to Vegas on my last day here. (Reminds me of the “One Day at a Time” TV show intro lol) I have been living in a 475 sq ft Studio Apartment for 5 years and it is more room then I need. Since the rent for this size Studio is very low in Vegas, I am worry about moving into a low class apartment complex which leads me to my first question :)

    Which areas should I try to stay away from?
    I have seen areas in Vegas on TV that are full of Graffiti and burning cars.... Of course it is over the top because it is TV but I am sure you get the idea. I would love to live as close to the strip as possible but it really doesn’t matter since my job is internet based so I can live anywhere. I have friends that live close to McCarran Airport so that is another reason why I would like to stay as South/East as possible.

    The only “decent looking” apartment I was able to find in that area and closest to the Strip is:
    Maryland Park Apartments
    1101 Dumont Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89169
    But the reviews are not that great about the service there.

    I was also looking at:
    Rancho Verde Apartments
    98 S Martin L King Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89106
    Good reviews but I am not sure about the area.

    The Sunset Terrace Apartments are located at:
    2855 N Walnut Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89115
    which is highly recommended but that is way up North.

    Any suggestions on Studio Apartments in a good area?

    About renting… I see many Apartments listings that say “Gas, Heat, AC, Sewer and Trash Removal included.” I was wondering what do these services normally cost a month if they aren’t included?

    My final question for this post is
    “What is the one thing you think someone moving to Vegas should know ahead of time?”

    Thanks for any help or replies :D
    -Anthony
     
  2. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

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    Do you have a car? I really like Summerlin and would like to retire there one day. Might be too expensive for your needs but it's a nice area from I saw. Henderson is nice, also. I'd live further from the strip if it meant a nicer/safer area.
     
  3. UTE

    UTE Plastics

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    This site is good, but far more locals hang out at the site below and there are several threads detailing the pros and cons of living in particular areas of Las Vegas.

    http://www.city-data.com/forum/las-vegas/

    Bill
     
  4. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    Get the cheapest apt you can find in North Las Vegas.

    Save Money and reduce life expectancy at the same time!!
     
  5. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Couple quick observations... Dumont is a short street across from the Blvd. Mall... 40 years ago, would been a nice area... now? No way! It's right next to crack-alley. The Sierra Vista neighborhood from Paradise to Maryland and Desert Inn down to Twain or so should be avoided at all costs. The MLK property looks to be right across from a Costco and might be OK though I can tell you it's a stones throw from what's called the "historic west side" which sounds cool, it's not. I don't know much about that portion of N. Las Vegas (Walnut Rd), but it looks to be reasonably close to Donna St. (home of the Donna Street Crips street gang) and that's all I need to know.

    I hate to torpedo your choices without offering some suggestions... there's a few decent looking complexes on Paradise down by the Hard Rock. A poster here on the board who's a flight attendant lives there, though his scooter was stolen shortly after he moved there. Seems to me that "gated" makes a difference though the complexes on Dumont are "gated".

    One thing someone should know ahead of time? I don't live there... never have, but I'm there monthly and have seen an awful lot of the town. The Summerlin and nice Henderson areas are like a whole 'nother world. Parts of N. Las Vegas, west Las Vegas (just north and west of downtown) and the area I described above (Sierra Vista) are just full of desperate people who prey on each other and others.
     
  6. roycpa

    roycpa High-Roller

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    Not much I can add, but you stated you'd like to live as close to the strip as possible. Make sure you really want to do this - we have family in town and know a few other people living there. They all stay away from the strip at all times. I don't think any locals go there unless they are taking family members to see the sights. Based on your requirements, there should be plenty of place in Henderson and far SW LV that would meet your budget. Summerlin might be more expensive. I have no problems driving through any of your listed areas, but there are a lot of reasons not to live in many of them.
     
  7. vegasbound

    vegasbound VIP Whale

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    No personal experiences with the complexes named, but the areas surroundings those listings can be pretty shady. I've never been in the market for studios, but there are "cheap" options west of the strip off Flamingo. Camden Cove, Rancho Mirage, and Rancho Del Sol to name a few. I recently moved from Savannah apartments (soon to be Milan) in Silverado Ranch. There are several apartment complexes in the area - which is a convenient and nice place to live. Very close to the airport and quick access to the strip. Both of which were priority for me. I like the area so much I purchased a house two miles from there.

    Summerlin and Green Valley remain the most desirable. The further out you go, the less you'll pay... like Centennial, North Las Vegas or East Henderson out by Fiesta. My opinion is that gated complexes/communities are nothing but a false sense of security.

    You can inquire about apartments in advance, but it's really best to do so when you're ready to move so you can qualify for various move-in specials. Availability is typically two weeks or less.

    If you truly need minimal space, your best bet might be renting a room.

    If you can get electric included that has a lot of value. My apartment was 1100sq ft, 2 bed, 2 ba and one car attached garage. I had gas appliances, my monthly bill was about $20. Electric varied from $40-$150. Water, trash and sewer was $35/mo.

    Do your homework. It will only help you in the long run.
     
  8. FuzzyDiceCraps

    FuzzyDiceCraps VIP Whale

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    Isn't there a comedian who says something along the lines of "the most dangerous road in every city is named after Martin Luther King Jr." I know its a joke, but your one property made me think of it.

    In all seriousness, the only thing I can add is that I had a friend move to Vegas for his graduate and medical school. He thought he'd live near strip, after a few months he terminated his lease and moved. He said it gets old fast, and its constantly slammed with tourists..and people seeking to take advantage of them (which often transfers to locals as well). He felt like he was constantly watching his back or getting hit up for money. It was his opinion that if you want good food or entertainment, you can often find better in the local neighborhoods; and if you want to gamble, there are better odds and treatment for locals in the smaller casinos and lounges geared toward locals and not tourists. He moved to Henderson and as of last time I talked to him only goes to the strip a few times a year to entertain guests, meet friends, or hit up a favorite restaurant or show.

    Not saying living by the strip is terrible, but if you don't have to work there, I'd probably consider why exactly you want to do so. Once again not criticizing, but I'd just ensure it is definitely the experience you want to have.
     
  9. DRich2

    DRich2 Tourist

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    Choosing between those three neighborhoods would be dependent on your gang affiliation.

    There are plenty of decent areas but you will be paying much more than $450.
     
  10. azbob

    azbob MIA

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    You do not want to live "close to the strip." We live in Henderson and can get there in about 20mns . You will find that you will visit the local off strip casinos a lot more than hanging around the strip.

    With that, you will have plenty of choices. Traffic is an issue in Summerlin. I travel so I also want to have easy access to the airport.

    For four months of the year electricity will be high due to the hot temps. You may not have to run the heat at all for most of the winter. Hard to say what the cost will be...we pay between $150 and $180 a month in the summer for a 2000 sq ft house.

    You will have a wide choice of locals discounts...strategically sign up for the player's cards...watch for when they have a special give-away that you are most interested in . You shouldn't ever have to go out with another person and pay full price for both meals.

    Hard to give you more advice not knowing your lifestyle. Best general advice is to seek out and make use of discounts and free stuff and, more importantly, being a pedestrian in LV is a very dangerous proposition.
     
  11. LV local

    LV local Tourist

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    The first thing you need to do is bring enough money to last at least 6 months with a reserve to get back home if you need to. Get a room and look around for yourself before you sign a lease. You can easily end up in a crack neighborhood, even close to the Strip. Look at the Stratosphere - beautiful place in the middle of "little havanna" where people get shot every other day. You can rent a room in a condo in a decent neighborhood on west flamingo for $450 but you might also have to pay some utilities.

    Jobs are not easy to come by and a LOT will hire you for minimum wage and only Part-time. Vegas is NOT a place to come un-prepared.
     
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