Moving to Bullhead City vs Laughlin?? (renter, new home, purchase)

[Candice - Next Wave]

Originally Posted by ginspeachy

What that is crazy talk right there! So many things to do there. Wrong! . . . I can see if you are a snow bird and don't like to do much then it'd be cool.

WOW! I'm wayyy too young to be a snowbird and don't care much for hunting. I do like to go to the river. And I lived most of my life in SoCal where there's plenty to do.

I watched BHC 'grow up' over the past 15 years. Although I know the schools and medical facilities have needed help, I also know that administrators are wooing great talent from all over the country to join their staffs and their efforts are bearing fruit. I know this because I have helped to relocate some amazing teachers, doctors and nurses!

Back to 'nothing to do'. We like to go out and see live music at local clubs, sing karaoke, dine out (yay, no cooking). We have lovely parks and even art exhibitions here in town now. It is NOT the Bullhead of the mid 90s.

If there is something I want or need that is not here, Vegas is nearby. Just bought a vehicle in Havasu and got as good a deal as I would have in Phx, Vegas or LA. We go up to LV for concerts a lot too. JUST LIKE when we lived in Corona or Palm Springs and would travel to LA for fun. I don't want to live in the midst of the traffic and smog, though - so this works.

There is plenty to offer in this town. I agree it's not for everyone, however, and blogged about it quite some time back when everyone wanted to buy property here:

Real Estate On The Beautiful Colorado River -- Mohave County, Arizona "Ramping up to your NW AZ purchase"

I think the biggest challenge for new arrivals is to acclimate to the summer heat and avoid going broke at casinos or becoming unhealthy from too much buffet dining!

I still can't think of anywhere I'd rather live right now that I wouldn't need to hit the lottery to make happen . . . Y M M V

[ArizonaBear]

To play Devil's Advocate: I once knew a person in 2005 while I was in Bullhead City, she lived there back ca. 1984 and, if anything, liked it better back then......to her, the general area had more of a 'homey' (NOT gangbanger kind, the original definition of the word) feel.

[Candice - Next Wave]

I agree with that too, AZ Bear. My family has been coming out here since I was in high school (70s) and owned property on both sides of river since early 80s.
And Riviera was THE Riviera . . . tropical little trailer huts with colored lights and palm trees.
And you could go to Lake Mohave and NO ONE would be there.

[zonababe]

Originally Posted by Candice - Next Wave

I agree with that too, AZ Bear. My family has been coming out here since I was in high school (70s) and owned property on both sides of river since early 80s.
And Riviera was THE Riviera . . . tropical little trailer huts with colored lights and palm trees.
And you could go to Lake Mohave and NO ONE would be there.

I'll bet those were fun times Candice. I've often wondered how the Riveria looked during it's hay day. I too remember quiet get a ways where people didn't feel the need to be entertained every waking moment.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Candice - Next Wave

I agree with that too, AZ Bear. My family has been coming out here since I was in high school (70s) and owned property on both sides of river since early 80s.
And Riviera was THE Riviera . . . tropical little trailer huts with colored lights and palm trees.
And you could go to Lake Mohave and NO ONE would be there.

Basically a variety of Old School River Rat in other words.

I heard essentially that same thing about Lake Havasu 30 years as well-----the director of the local hospital sittin' side-by-side with the janitor drinkin' a cold one in front of a bonfire on the river's edge.

[ginspeachy]

Oh ok the clubs thats right the only 2 clubs tarzans and losers. Great Karaoke at the riverside. That gets old after a while. I'm just saying that town is limited and the culture there is not up to speed. I know this because I still visit from time to time. Its just not for me because I like having options on things to do. Being able to see plays, museums, the hottest concerts and not the has beens that come to laughlin.The dinning out is ok a 1 or 2 chain resturaunt are in place now. The rest are at the casino's. You know what really cracks me up is the fact that the city built this huge very nice police station way nicer than the college which has trailers for some classrooms. Ask with all places there are pro's and con's. It can be a beautiful place when the river isn't crowed with all the california's that visit.

[Candice - Next Wave]

We have live theatre now at Encore with fine dining everyone seems to be enjoying.

The old 'Inferno' on Hancock Rd. got picked up by a lady who art deco'ed it out to look like the glam LA of the 50s-60s.

It looks cool and the prices are very reasonable.

[JennieJenofAz]

I hear this all the time! Really? I'm in Golden Valley and go to Kingman's pretty parks, the library has plenty of activities going on throughout the year, parks and recreation has alot of fun things going on too! I can find plenty to keep me and the kids busy! Got to keep your eyes open and you'd find them. In Bullhead City, same thing! My kids and I did alot with the library, the river, parks and recreation. In Laughlin they have a nice park, library activities and there's that family center that opened up a few years back. Oh, and there's the Boys and Girls Club that has activities going on throughout the year also. And I don't know about the schools being bad, but I have heard good things about some of the schools! My sister's kids have been in the Bullhead schools and the Fort Mohave schools and I never heard her mention anything really bad. And there is a good charter school out in Fort Mohave. My younger sister graduated from the highschool out in Mohave Valley with honors. It's pretty much what you make of it. I went to some good schools in Torrance, Garden Grove and Huntington Beach, and I also went to some bad ones in Carson and San Diego. But, I did the best I could wherever I was. It's all about your outlook.

[vpiccott]

How much are property taxes in Bullhead City? We are thinking of buying a place either there or Laughlin.(winter vacation home)

[Candice - Next Wave]

Originally Posted by vpiccott

How much are property taxes in Bullhead City? We are thinking of buying a place either there or Laughlin.(winter vacation home)

1% of the assessed value.

Mohave County - Mohave County Assessor's Office
Mohave County Economic Development

Here's where you can learn about Mohave County property taxes.

Tax Rates

Here's some Clark County tax info.

http://realestatebhc.com/buy_advis.pdf

This is a 'Real Estate 101' of sorts for AZ buyers.