[chgodon]

Looking to purchase a house around $150,000. I come to Las Vegas every other month, but not impressed with the neighborhoods adjacent to the strip. What areas have a suburbia feel with 'possible' tree lined streets?

I once drove from the North strip to the Suncoast Casino. I think we drove Sahara to Hualapai Way to Alta. While driving East on Alta Dr. there were a lot of trees. Felt like I was back in the Midwest. Is this an upscale area?

I've noticed Henderson is mentioned in threads. Is this the name of the County or City? Should I be lookin West or East of the strip? May be up for new construction too. Appreciate major cross streets since I'm not familair with community names. Thanks!

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by chgodon

Looking to purchase a house around $150,000. I come to Las Vegas every other month, but not impressed with the neighborhoods adjacent to the strip. What areas have a suburbia feel with 'possible' tree lined streets?

I once drove from the North strip to the Suncoast Casino. I think we drove Sahara to Hualapai Way to Alta. While driving East on Alta Dr. there were a lot of trees. Felt like I was back in the Midwest. Is this an upscale area?

I've noticed Henderson is mentioned in threads. Is this the name of the County or City? Should I be lookin West or East of the strip? May be up for new construction too. Appreciate major cross streets since I'm not familair with community names. Thanks!

There's really no substitute for driving around and having a look.

You don't need anyone to tell you if an area is upscale or not. Graffiti and cars up on blocks in the front yard? Not upscale.

East or West? To a man, everyone here is going to tell you stay on the West side. I've never seen any suggestions to the contrary. I happen to like it here on the East side. But apparently I'm weird that way.

Henderson, paradoxically, contains some of the valley's most egregious industrial squallor, and some of the valley's absolute best neighborhoods. It's much like living on the East side -- you often have to pass through some sketchy areas on the way home.

Whereas Summerlin on the West side reminds me of Sun City, South Africa, circa 1980.

[Buzz123]

And there's no substitute for getting a realtor and having them do searches of what you are looking for. They can show you tree lined streets or horse zoned properties, or urban lofts. Whatever you want. But doing it on your own and just guessing is crazy. Actually the best thing to do is rent a place and get to know the town before committing to buy.

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by chgodon

I come to Las Vegas every other month, but not impressed with the neighborhoods adjacent to the strip.

You mean the ones off E Tropicana...with metal bars on every window?

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

And there's no substitute for getting a realtor and having them do searches of what you are looking for. They can show you tree lined streets or horse zoned properties, or urban lofts. Whatever you want. But doing it on your own and just guessing is crazy. Actually the best thing to do is rent a place and get to know the town before committing to buy.

I never use a buyer's agent -- anything he or she can do, I can do just as well. And then the seller isn't obligated to give the buyer's agent that 3% commission. We can just knock it off the price, instead.

For a first time buyer, on an inexpensive house, the $3,000 doesn't really amount to much. But for someone who has a few closings under his or her belt, why pay $10-30K for what essentially is a guided cab ride around town?

Finally, the whole of the Las Vegas valley is not a very large area. It is not hard to do a full-on scouting mission of dozens of neighborhoods in a matter of a few days -- even if they're gated. I use satellite images to get an idea of population density, Google Street view, realtor.com for MLS info, and THEN I get in the car and go for a drive -- with a list of prospective addresses plugged into the GPS as waypoints.

Not hard.

[Buzz123]

The Las Vegas Metropolitan area is made up of the three largest cities in Nevada, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson, as well as some unincorporated townships. The Strip is in the unincorporated area known as Paradise Township. But the entire metro area is all known locally as Las Vegas, and it all runs together. Until you get to know the place you wouldn't be able to tell which city you are in, or even if you are outside city limits. We refer to the areas not within a city limits border as simply "the county". We don't refer to Paradise, Winchester, Spring Valley, Summerlin, Green Valley, etc., as if they were towns.

The name of the county is Clark. It is just over 8000 sq miles, almost the size of Vermont or New Hampshire. So Las Vegas, big as it is, is only a small part of the county.

There aren't a lot of bad areas, since most of Las Vegas is pretty new. When you drive around you can tell the parts that are run down, so you might not want to live in an old area. A few older areas are actually nice enough, but the newer areas are generally a safer investment. Remember the three rules of real estate.

As Scoop said, most people on this forum don't care for the parts of town east of the U.S. 95 freeway. I don't, although I've lived in as many places on the east side as the west. IMO, Summerlin, or the NW part of town is best. It could be my imagination, but I think Henderson is is more congested than Summerlin and surrounding area. I know it is hotter, but when it's 110º, you might not notice 5º more. Henderson has a lot of good amenities, and nice homes though.

I have lived here since North Las Vegas was known as a trailer park town, so it will always have that stigma to me and I wouldn't buy there. It is more ethnically diverse than other areas too, as is the east side, which is so highly Hispanic most business signs are in Spanish.

Hualapai and Alta is a very upscale area.

[olecapt]

I have maybe 25,000 hours invested in looking at property and neighborhoods. I am reasonably skeptical that Scoop knows the tracts and their parameters as well as I do. And I don't think I know them well enough...but we keep learning.

Showed perhaps the nicest house in Las Vegas below a million dollars today. And learned a couple of new models in a tract I know pretty well.

To the OP...suitable neighborhoods where you find the eastern feel include 89134 in Summerlin and 89012 which contains Green Valley Ranch and similar.

You can also try Pecole Ranch and the Lakes in 89117. And just to the south of that the SW Spring Valley area. Desert Shores in 89128 also meets the bill.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by olecapt

I have maybe 25,000 hours invested in looking at property and neighborhoods. I am reasonably skeptical that Scoop knows the tracts and their parameters as well as I do. And I don't think I know them well enough...but we keep learning.

I am CERTAIN that I don't know the tracts and neighborhoods as well as you. But I am also CERTAIN that I can do a reasonably good job without a buyer's agent and save an additional $15,000 on a typical house purchase. (Well, typical for me, at least.)

[chgodon]

Thanks to all the posters. Olecapt...really appreciate your post. The zip codes with areas are a big help. Reading these posts, I notice Summerlin and Green Valley mentioned often for my suburbia feel. How would you rate the housing costs and lifestyle in Summerlin, Green Valley and Henderson? I assume the area along Alta Dr. is the Beverly Hills of Vegas. Cant't touch a house under $500,000. Ha Ha. I noticed during my last visit the new homes (low $100,000) off the 15 freeway near Blue Diamond. Probably not the best area? What area is this considered?

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

I am CERTAIN that I don't know the tracts and neighborhoods as well as you. But I am also CERTAIN that I can do a reasonably good job without a buyer's agent and save an additional $15,000 on a typical house purchase. (Well, typical for me, at least.)

I absolutely believe that you believe you can save $15,000.