Where are Buffalonians fleeing to? (Syracuse, Amherst: apartment, foreclosure, crime rate)

[BuffaloLight]

Las Vegas versus Buffalo. I first thought to myself how they were polar opposites. I did a google search and found a pretty interesting blog post about it.

What We Get For Our 70% | WNYmedia.net

[hockeygirl4]

Exactly my point, 85+ maybe 3 times this summer. I was playing softball in January when it was in the 60's during some games.

Every city nationwide is being hit hard by the recession, Las Vegas just looks that much worse because the metropolitan area is much larger than say Buffalo. PLus, when you look at foreclosures in Buffalo, are you only looking at the city of "Buffalo", or are you also including the suburbs of Amherst, Williamsville, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, Clarence, etc? Probably not. Las Vegas has suburbs, but the suburbs still go under Las Vegas for address purposes. The only other two are North Las Vegas, and Henderson. This is the main reason it looks so horrendous out here, and when I checked with my realtor this past week, she said that 90% of the foreclosures have been bought out already and the housing market is on the verge of change. Housing prices are going to go back up within the next two years, which is why I'm looking to buy right now.

Ok, for the housing price...I live in South Summerlin, area code 89148, so please go to www.realtor.com, enter in a minimum price of $70,000, and that area code and see how many houses pop up under $100,000. The house I saw lower than that was in a different zip code and was about 4 months ago, but prices are still available to purchase a home for under $100,000. More bang for you buck in my opinion.

[Canerican]

If you are looking for a house as a long term investment then Buffalo is a much better market than most.

I'm not sure why I saw your post, as I have you muted... but what?!?

A place where housing prices are stagnant is a good investment? You'd be better off holding cash in that case.

If you work in business, you know that an investment with 0 return is worth FAR less than an investment with a high chance of a 5% gain year over year, with a chance of a 25% loss every time a recession the size of which we haven't seen in 50 years comes along... I'll take Vegas in a second.

The idea of investing in Buffalo real estate is just plain stupid, unless you are sure that the rental will cover upkeep, depreciation, and taxes, and your investment simply doesn't mature.

Life is Las Vegas is much worse for the poor, where Medicaid is nearly broke, low-income children leave the state for care, and clinics regularly turn away patients.

As if I need another reason to love Vegas, it shuns the idea of the welfare state.

[Canerican]

Originally Posted by hockeygirl4

Ok, for the housing price...I live in South Summerlin, area code 89148, so please go to www.realtor.com, enter in a minimum price of $70,000, and that area code and see how many houses pop up under $100,000. The house I saw lower than that was in a different zip code and was about 4 months ago, but prices are still available to purchase a home for under $100,000. More bang for you buck in my opinion.

Wow! They are just beautiful! Alot more than what you can get in Buffalo. I just showed my Dad who is visiting and he told me to go look out by that way. Absolutely amazing housing. I would far prefer a $100,000 house there than spend $60,000 here, and not get shot in my front yard.

I've compared the crime rate in Vegas and Buffalo, and the crime rate in Vegas is about 25% lower than here.

89148 real estate & 89148 homes for sale | Single family homes,Condos,Townhomes,Co-ops - REALTOR.com®

[BuffaloLight]

There is no need to go on a bashing spree of cities. Buffalo and Las Vegas are both great places to live and like every where else has it's problems. They are almost exact opposites on almost every front.

[VegasRocks]

Las Vegas rocks, nice to BBQ year round. nice to be able go to swimming 10 months of the year. play golf & tennis year around.
and sunshine everyday. everything is way cheaper then WNY
Also metro Las Vegas population is about 2 million, build out is about
5 to 6 million by 2050. Soon Las Vegas will have major league teams
Las Vegas is at the northern end of the Sun corridor with Phoenix in
the middle & Tucson at the South end.

[jblake78728]

Originally Posted by hockeygirl4

Exactly my point, 85+ maybe 3 times this summer. I was playing softball in January when it was in the 60's during some games.

I prefer to ski & play ice hockey in January so the fact that you can play softball in January really doesn't sell me on Vegas. I lived in Austin, Texas for over 10 years & while it was a wonderful city with plenty of things to do it was never home because it lacked snow & 4 seasons.


Are you Vegas people trying to convince us that Vegas is great or are you trying to convince yourselves that you made the right decision in moving there? Everything isn't for everybody. If you like the 100 degree dry heat, poisonous snakes/insects & brown landscape of the desert then I'm sure you love Vegas. Personally, I prefer our summer & I love our winter. I'd rather not deal with poisonous snakes/insects & happen to love our green scenery. I also love the fact that we have plenty of natural waterways & we don't have to worry about where our drinking water will be coming 10 or 20 years from now ....... this doesnt even get into the fact that Nevada's unemployment rate is 3rd highest in the nation & the state expects to run out of funds to pay the unemployed by next month ......... or that NY's school system is ranked 3rd best in the nation while Nevada's is ranked 2nd worst (ahead of only D.C.). As a parent of 2 young children I'm very happy to live in NY (and pay my higher taxes). If I lived in Nevada I'd be looking for somewhere to move to before my kids where too far along in what is the worst state school system in the US.

http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/20818116/detail.html

http://www.walletpop.com/specials/be...in-us?photo=22

[Jenmar1024]

Originally Posted by jblake78728

I prefer to ski & play ice hockey in January so the fact that you can play softball in January really doesn't sell me on Vegas. I lived in Austin, Texas for over 10 years & while it was a wonderful city with plenty of things to do it was never home because it lacked snow & 4 seasons.


Are you Vegas people trying to convince us that Vegas is great or are you trying to convince yourselves that you made the right decision in moving there? Everything isn't for everybody. If you like the 100 degree dry heat, poisonous snakes/insects & brown landscape of the desert then I'm sure you love Vegas. Personally, I prefer our summer & I love our winter. I'd rather not deal with poisonous snakes/insects & happen to love our green scenery. I also love the fact that we have plenty of natural waterways & we don't have to worry about where our drinking water will be coming 10 or 20 years from now ....... this doesnt even get into the fact that Nevada's unemployment rate is 3rd highest in the nation & the state expects to run out of funds to pay the unemployed by next month ......... or that NY's school system is ranked 3rd best in the nation while Nevada's is ranked 2nd worst (ahead of only D.C.). As a parent of 2 young children I'm very happy to live in NY (and pay my higher taxes). If I lived in Nevada I'd be looking for somewhere to move to before my kids where too far along in what is the worst state school system in the US.

Nevada Unemployment Fund Running Dry - Las Vegas News Story - KVVU Las Vegas

The Best & Worst Public School Systems in the U.S. - WalletPop

I personally wasn't trying to convince anyone that Vegas in better than Buffalo, I was just trying to point out that there is definitly more to do there than gamble.

I lived in Vegas for only 3 years before moving away, like every city it has it's goods and bads. If I could live anywhere without having to worry about the finacial aspects I would choose Buffalo in a heartbeat...why? frankly because it's my home, I'll always miss it.

On another note, I use to work in Vegas for the company that developed and planned out Summerlin. It's a high end area (or at least it was intented to be) gas stations and convienant stores had to be "disguised" surrounded by trees and shrubs to hide there unpleasantries. So to compare medium home values of Summerlin to Buffalo is like comparing Buffalo to Orchard Park or Amherst.

[jblake78728]

Originally Posted by Jenmar1024

On another note, I use to work in Vegas for the company that developed and planned out Summerlin. It's a high end area (or at least it was intented to be) gas stations and convienant stores had to be "disguised" surrounded by trees and shrubs to hide there unpleasantries. So to compare medium home values of Summerlin to Buffalo is like comparing Buffalo to Orchard Park or Amherst.

I understand that which is exactly why I also included Amherst's figures in my original post on the subject (which is only half as high as Summerlin). OP's median home value is around $185K. I do agree with your earlier point that deals can be found everywhere & just because Summerlin's median home value is $300K doesn't mean that you can't find a house for $75-$100K.

Originally Posted by Canerican

A place where housing prices are stagnant is a good investment? You'd be better off holding cash in that case.

I purposely ignore pretty much everything you say anymore but I just can't let this one go. My point was that some of us are looking for a house to actually live in long term or at least until our children are in college. I'm not looking to move my kids from school district to school district so I can try to make a buck on my house every 5 years. Maybe in 15-20 years I will want to sell my house, maybe I wont? I have a good job, my wife has a good job & I live in a school district where I know my kids will get a quality education that will prepare them for college & beyond. I live near the lake which suits my lifestyle as I love fishing, boating & water sports in general. My neighborhood is peaceful & clean, my neighbors are friendly. I've lived in Baltimore, Colorado Springs, Austin, NNY & Philly, I know that other places offer more than Buffalo but I also know that some do not. Trying to make a profit on my house in the next few years really isn't a priority at this point & time in my life ......... if it was I would throw my mother in law out of my house in Austin & sell it

Originally Posted by Canerican

I've compared the crime rate in Vegas and Buffalo, and the crime rate in Vegas is about 25% lower than here.

America's Most Dangerous Cities (4/23/2009)
1.Detroit
2.Memphis
3.Miami
4.Las Vegas
5.Stockton
6.Orlando
7.Little Rock
8.Charleston
9.Nashville
10.Baltimore
11.New Orleans
12.Baton Rouge
13.West Palm Beach
14.Charlotte
15.Philadelphia

Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

[Canerican]

Whatever luddite decided that Las Vegas was more dangerous than Buffalo needs to be fired.

The only crime category that is higher in Vegas than Buffalo is Auto Thefts.

My point was that some of us are looking for a house to actually live in long term or at least until our children are in college. I'm not looking to move my kids from school district to school district so I can try to make a buck on my house every 5 years. Maybe in 15-20 years I will want to sell my house, maybe I wont?

And that's fine, you are aware that you can live in a house for 15-20 in Las Vegas then sell it too, right? Buffalo, contrary to your assertion is not the only city that you can live in one house for your whole life. The difference is, when you sell your house in Vegas in 20 years, it will likely be worth 2-3 more than your initial investment, in Buffalo it might be worth the same in terms of real dollars, maybe less.

Is Buffalo worth not being able to gain on your largest investment? That is a decision that each person needs to make for themselves. You obviously have been well blessed and can afford to not see your house as an investment. For the middle and lower classes, a house might be their only major asset, and it's probably worth less than your stock portfolio, right?

I have a good job, my wife has a good job & I live in a school district where I know my kids will get a quality education that will prepare them for college & beyond.

Congratulations, you are one of few in the area that has found these things. You are probably living better than most of your neighbors.

The story for most in WNY is: "I have an OK job, my wife has a job that is below her qualifications. My kids school has been overrun by failures, and the teachers just don't care. Only 50% of their class will graduate. I would move, but I know it would be too hard on my children."

Then the children graduate and they move to far superior towns such as Toledo, Las Vegas, Boston, Austin, or Columbus.