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Seriously considering a move to Las Vegas next year

Discussion in 'Living in Sin (City that is)' started by comfortablynumb, Mar 11, 2020.

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  1. comfortablynumb

    comfortablynumb Dogs have owners, cats have staff

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    So I'm 40 years old, I live in Kansas City and I have a daughter who will be turning 18 next year. I'm originally from Ohio and there isn't anything tying me down here. I've worked as a business manager for a church for nearly 20 years now. I think I can find a job in Vegas pretty easily, and it looks like apartment rents are pretty cheap. My daughter might come with me.

    I understand that living in Vegas isn't the same as vacationing there. But I enjoy the interactions I have with people when I'm there, and the weather is nice, and it's not too far from SoCal.

    Is there anything I should plan ahead for? This is the biggest move I've made in 20 years and I'm sort of apprehensive about it but also excited. I feel like it's something I need to do for myself.
     
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  2. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    We move around. Not two-thirds the way across the country and not to Vegas, but we've made a few moves that required home sales and purchases, movers, all that. (I've been up and down the West Coast and why wife moved internationally, all before we met.) Since we've been together all moves have been for/with a new career opportunity in hand.

    There are myriad threads about this very question here, so dive into the archives. All the usual caveats about moving apply, and some that are unique to moving to Vegas. Some will hold that there are no caveats when it comes to Vegas because it's Vegas.

    Since you asked:

    1. I'd not make the move w/o employment in hand. That's the most important nut to crack. Now if you're flexible and you don't mind doing whatever until you can do what you do, that is an option. Our moves have always been for career, not a job, so those were in place in advance.

    2. Spend some time in Vegas not being a tourist. If you can, rent a place for a few weeks, even do it across the two main seasons -- hot, windy -- better yet. What's it like eating, sleeping, grocery shopping, commuting, going to the park or church, whatever, in Vegas? Living in Vegas, not vacationing in casinos and going on fun mode 24/7.

    3. Socializing is important; not to some, but to many of us, and it appears you included. Socializing as a resident is not socializing as a happy go lucky vacationer meeting folks playing VP at the bar or out eating, etc.

    4. There is good weather all over the West, and Vegas' isn't the most compelling, not to us, for the record.

    5. Vegas is still in net-gain mode, but it has the highest outmigration for new residents of any metro in the country. There's a reason for both ends of that equation.

    LOTS of folks have moved and are happy as clams!! Happy hunting and good luck.
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2020
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  3. comfortablynumb

    comfortablynumb Dogs have owners, cats have staff

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    Is the cost of living in Las Vegas less than Southern California?
     
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  4. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Yes. (Of course, "Southern California" is not monolithic and goes go from more-expensive-than-most-anywhere-else to wowza-expensive-even-for-California.)

    CoL is expressed as a number, factoring in all manner of parameters, from the price of milk to relative pay. QoL -- quality of life -- is a different animal. I'm not saying there is no quality of life in Vegas, far from it. But the picture is far broader and deeper than, "Oh, wait a minute, have you seen state taxes there?!?"
     
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  5. VegasBJ

    VegasBJ VIP Whale

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    In Southern California, gas will be $1 / gal higher than LV. Rent will be 3-4x higher, or more, depending on location. For example, I live in a Northern suburb of L.A., 50 miles from downtown. Rent for a 1 bd apartment is $2350 / mo, 2 bd is $2850 / mo, or more depending on the amenities of the complex. These are just the average entry level prices. eating out is more expensive. The list can go on and on as to everything that is more expensvie here than in L.V.
     
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  6. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Beej is spot on. We moved from an off-the-grid town along the southern Central Coast and with the proceeds from that sale cashed out our new place here in the Central Valley. Now I'm not saying you need to move to the valley ... lol Ventura is of course going to cost more than Moreno Valley.
     
  7. comfortablynumb

    comfortablynumb Dogs have owners, cats have staff

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    I was looking at apartments on Redondo Beach and it appears a 1 BR could be had for a little over $1000/mo. Seems to good to be true.
     
  8. VegasBJ

    VegasBJ VIP Whale

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    that seems super cheap for Redondo Beach. Is it bigger than a closet? Redondo should be more expensive than where I am at. We have friends that live in Redondo, and I think they are paying close to $4000 for a 2 bd
     
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  9. comfortablynumb

    comfortablynumb Dogs have owners, cats have staff

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    Not sure, was just looking at listings on Craigslist-
     
  10. VegasBJ

    VegasBJ VIP Whale

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    in Redondo Beach city, or on Redondo Beach Blvd? Big difference.

    Also, for the 1 bd, is that sharing an apartment or house with others?
     
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  11. comfortablynumb

    comfortablynumb Dogs have owners, cats have staff

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    Well, it was last August when I was looking at those listings, so memory is fuzzy, but I believe these units were right near the beachfront. I was looking only at separate apartments, not rooming with others.
     
  12. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    No way. Couldn't find that price in Carson.
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2020
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  13. buckeyebadger

    buckeyebadger Low-Roller

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    Moved to Wisconsin about five years ago but prior to that spent the last 18 years living in San Diego. Use extreme caution if you deal with Craigslist for housing-seems weekly there was a story on the news of someone getting swindled for an apt, condo, house, etc. Also, @ken2v is right about the little things costing more. When we got back here, we were floored how cheap eggs, milk, etc was in comparison. We knew about gas and stuff but everything is so much pricier out in California.
     
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  14. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    I'm a former Ohio boy too, but been here in Nevada since 1982. In addition to all that mentioned above, one thing to watch is how this whole pandemic "thing" shakes out or not. Nevada and especially the Las Vegas area are EXTREMELY sensitive to anything that adversely affects tourism. 9/11 was a good example with the immediate months following the attack in NY, Las Vegas was a virtual ghost town and several months later she was still struggling to get back on her feet. The recession in 2008 or so is another example, when people perceive less spendable income, they tighten their belts quick and hard. Las Vegas is very susceptible to such a downturn.

    Now you may say, "well, I don't intend to work in gaming or the hospitality industry, so I should be immune." When the gaming industry in Las Vegas hurts, trust me, the entire state feels the pain. Nevada has been the fastest growing state in the nation for most of the past 30 years and when it's not at the top, it's generally not far off. Lotta people come here. My recommendation is not to do it on a shoestring budget. Keep your eyes open. Do your homework. It's a beautiful place to live...no state income tax...just come funded and ready to weather a storm (economic) if one occurs.
     
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  15. VegasBJ

    VegasBJ VIP Whale

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    Yeah, no way is it $1000 for a 1 bd near the beach. Probably a come on ad to rip you off when you showed up. They would be getting hundreds of calls a day for that ad......................
     
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  16. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Beautiful where YOU live, smartone!!!! ;)
     
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  17. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    We've actually moved back down to Carson City. The 2017 and '18 winters were brutal at the Lake. Now, of course, we move and this past winter is "spring-like"! Still I love it up here and wouldn't trade it for just about anywhere. We're very happy!
     
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  18. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Pretty there, too. And WAY more affordable.
     
  19. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    We're actually still a bit bummed that our Reno relocation two years ago didn't pan out.
     
  20. fudgewapner

    fudgewapner High-Roller

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    Ken has great advice as usual. Go to Vegas an explore the non-strip areas. Do a lot of research and get a sense of where you could live per your budget. I've been around Vegas a decent bit, and there's certainly some parts that don't look fun. Also think if you've been there a lot during July and August. If you're there at a resort pool it's one thing, but living in that heat can be a brutal adjustment. Of course I'm biased, but the San Diego area weather is truly ideal in my book, not nearly as brutal hot as Vegas, and during the winter it's warmer here than in Vegas. Less seasons, but it's just so consistently nice. Eastern SD is cheaper but warmer, for example Alpine, Ramona, El Cajon..

    And as Ken said for "Southern California", it's so expansive that it's hard to judge cost of living and quality of living. Moving to Barstow is considerably different from central San Diego where I live for example. Which is then markedly different from La Jolla or Newport Beach.

    In regards to Redondo Beach - the east side near Lawndale isn't terribly scenic from what I remember. As others said, finding a beach area rental for $1k is highly unlikely, but prices likely fall quick as you head east. I moved to LA from Indiana when I was 22, and while LA is great and has its charms, it's often just one giant strip mall. Lots of nice neighborhoods, but it's so crowded. I'd recommend determining if for sure your daughter is coming with you or not. To me, that would vastly adjust where I would move. It wouldn't be Vegas, with all the lure of easy drinking, etc., likely not LA either.
     
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