Thinking for retiring in Vegas - what are best options

I have a number of friends make the move, most successfully. The most successful was a couple that did no research other than internet (plus many trips) and they love it. A couple others fell into the catagory of "why the hell did I do this?" I came close, but family changed that.

My advice would be to do some legwork. If you know someone who's made the move, get together about the realities of living there. If not, there are members that live there, so reach out. Get together your next trip and expand your knowledge.

Moving to your favorite vacation destination may not equate staycation nervana.

 

I wish I golfed, lol. There are so many great communities with golf courses. I keep asking my partner if he is sure he does not want to learn. Neither one of us have any interest. From my experience, a lot of people start by snowbirding, and end up finally living there permanently. For that reason, I plan to buy a place bigger than my home here in Seattle. Fortunately prices are still reasonable there, although they are climbing quickly. Thanks, I will contact you if me RE does not find me something. I am in no great hurry at the moment. Even thought (for a short second) about renting in a 55+ mobile home park on the Dillon Rd while until I find something permanent. Then I remembered we sold (gave away) an inherited mobile home out there for a reason....

 

Mobile on Dillon? Umm, OK.

Problem with golf-bound housing, unless you're just rich rich, is that you start getting double-downed on fees, the standard HOA -- often two-tiered in the valley -- and then the club when you join. Plenty of great municipal and daily fee golf down there (though I get you don't play).

 

Thanks @tatterdema
I was beginning to think I was the only one that thought Platinum was a really bad choice. A few years ago we were really tempted by the sale prices, but the HOA rules were unbelievable. We did stay there in 2019 on our last trip. Rented via owner and it was really good. I feel bad for the people stuck in a bad HOA agreement.

 

I absolutely LOVE the location. 2 of my favorite casino's, Tuscany and Ellis Island right out your front door. I keep wanting to stay there, the nightly rates seem pretty reasonable. The units look very nice. I cannot imagine being stuck in a place with a legal agreement like they have. They must have a hard time selling, as there always seem to be a ton of units for sale.

 

Lol, my partners father lived in a tiny mobile home park, in a single wide on the Dillon Rd, very close to Sky Valley, for over 20 years. He loved it, although toward the end he would not go into DHS even to grocery shop because it had gotten so bad. My only reason for thinking I would rent out there for a season is it is so cheap, and I am very frugal. Never in a million years would I buy there, and in reality, probably not even rent. Yeah, I have looked at many of the golf course housing, and you definitely have to be in the upper echelon, not even upper middle class cuts it. I had a co-worker that had a condo on a golf course here in Seattle and could not figure out why her HOD's were so high. She was very young and had no idea she was paying for golf. Despite my explaining it to her, she swore off ever buying a condo again, thinking they were all like that.

 

Desperate Hot Springs. Once a mess, still a mess, always a mess.

 

Totally agree. If the HOA policy was decent we would have bought a unit years ago. We love the location too. Have spent many weeks in Tuscany and a few in Ellis Island too. My OH loved the EI beds. Sadly we didn’t get any decent offers from them. Platinum was actually cheaper than their offer in fall 2019. The last time we were allowed to visit Vegas.

 

Glad to hear about the beds at EI. Have never stayed there, will have to put it on my list. For some reason the Tuscany's prices have gone through the roof lately. I think the secret finally got out about what a bargain it is/was.

Lol, was curious about how many units at Platinum were for sale. Surprisingly only 8. One of them is 1 bed, 1 bath, 939 sq feet. Asking $144k. HOA dues only $241 a month. WOW, what a deal! Ummm, no. That screams something is wrong right there. Cannot for the life of me remember where I found out about the weird rules.

 

I could have posted them. We were seriously considering a purchase, but the HOA rules made it a definite NO!

 

It's a shame, because it's a lovely property. If their HOA was better we would definitely have bought a unit.

 

When I lived in Vegas I lived in the southwest, 215 and Rainbow, and it was perfect for me. New area, new homes, safe and middle class and about 7 minutes from the Strip.

 

I have no idea about the particulars pebbles and tatter are discussing, but it's a perfect example of THINKING before purchasing. Anywhere.

 

And doing research. My dad taught me to talk to neighbors, visit at all times of day and night, etc. Before I bought my condo I sat outside the front door and talked to residents as they came and went. I also hung around for an hour or so in the middle of the night. There was a hospital next door, I went over and made sure they did not have helicopter landings, lol.

 

When I was planning to move here 12 years ago, a friend suggested picking the locals casino I wanted to hang out at most, and live nearby. It was sort of a joke, but it actually worked. South Point was my choice, and I liked the surrounding neighborhood. When I stayed at South Point, I found it convenient to the Strip, which was more important when I was a tourist, and somewhat less so today. But I still enjoy the convenience of living in the Silverado Ranch neighborhood. I'm very happy with the outcome.

 

I didn't know that about weird Hoa with Platinum.
When we bought a future retirement place over decade ago, we got a nice home in Golf course area.
Almost same monthly HOA cost as a condo like platinum, but we also got Security gates & really nice amenities. Space!
We eventually sold it as we decided Not to retire there......cuz of kids & grands.

My point is, really investigate the area, and HOA's.
It might actually be a better deal to buy a house, vs. a condo.

 

Verify, check, re-verify. Because a lot of buyers are blind idiots.

It's like the folks who bought in a newer development right by PSP, and now they complain about the airport. "We had NO idea!! We were duped!!!"

 

Exactly

 

Back when I worked for an elected I loved the angry letters and calls from homeowners ... who obviously failed to read their disclosure docs and in some instances just open their eyes.

 

Always read the small print. ALWAYS!
I can’t believe how many people don’t. Plus, research as much as you can, it’s not that difficult.