[JMark72]

Hi,

Currently living in the tropics in beautiful Naples. Which is a very nice safe place for our family. Don't know if you've ever been, but its a very green & luscious place, with beautiful beaches, and while others may scoff at the prices, if you're originally from a major city, as i was, then its very affordable.

However living in Naples has made me somewhat fussy. I am now use to living in this kinda bubble, where everything is perfectly clean, maintained & a low crime area.

Thing is, I'm a very outdoors person. As in loves riding motorbikes, off road and onroad and cycling, off road and onroad.

I recently went to Vegas for the CES show, and while I was there, I checked a few of the local non strip places out and was gobsmacked on how nice it was. Mt Charleston for example, and Red Rock Canyon. Loved that one minute you're in the desert, next minute you're on a snow capped mountain. It would be right up my street. Everything being so close was the major attraction for me.

Whereas Naples, you're already in the best part of Florida (for the most part) and you'll have to travel for hrs upon hrs, before you'll experience a change of scenery.. Plus everything is flat and boring, when it comes to riding.

I know you can't have everything in life, but you only do get one life.. I've lived in the city for 30 odd yrs, by the ocean for the last 12, now maybe its time to live at the base of a mountain so i can ride / hike everyday, before i get too old to enjoy it. Besides i'm getting a bit bored of Naples truth be told !

Currently 43yrs old, with two kids 9 & 10.. Wife of 38. But we're both young at heart. Neither of us gamble, in any form, so wouldn't be going for the casino's, but more for the outdoor life and what seems on the face of it, great weather.

I had a chance to check out Summerlin, while i was out there and liked it, (but i only drove thru it on my way to red rock canyon), Needless to say, I called the wife and said, i wouldn't mind moving out here, and she said, lets do it !!!! Her and I are going back to Vegas in two weeks so that the wife can check the place out and get a real proper feel for it, as she wasn't with me, last week.

I'm worried that she may find the lack of greenery a little off putting. But other than that, if i like something, then so does she. (been together for over 20yrs, so know each other inside out)

My 3car 2700sq ft house in Naples is currently worth $550k and we pretty much own it outright. So could stretch out a little more, but rather not have debt.. three car garage is a MUST, as i have lots of bikes. Guard Gated community preferable, but if its a safe neighborhood with low crime, then i'd be ok, that there was no 24/7 security... I do currently pay 4k a yr HOA and really its not needed in Naples, but still nice to have.

I work in IT, she works as a part time preschool teacher. How is the IT market out in Vegas, as i'm the main provider, so getting a job quickly is a must ? is there a strong demand for that sector ? or would i be searching for a job for ages? Cos plently of other IT peeps have had the same idea as me? I'd be quitting a decent job out here, which would be difficult to get if we were to come back with our tail between our legs. IT Corporate jobs are rare occurrence out here in Naples. Plus i get family health coverage and good vacation here.

I know the grass isn't always greener, but it was much greener for us, when we moved from the city to Naples. Just ready to try something else.

Other than Summerlin and Henderson, what other areas should i check out? I know to avoid North Vegas.

Are property taxes high? Currently we pay about 3.5k on our Naples home. I'd need to get a job that paid around 70k. I've been in IT for 20yrs, but TBH getting a bit sick of it, and wouldn't mind switching to sales. Something that I'd naturally be good at.

Also, what natural disasters can hit vegas? From what i've read, no earthquakes in Vegas itself, but more like 200miles away.. Not a geologist, so not 100% sure on this, but wouldn't feel comfortable knowing that a major earthquake could happen at any moment. I know floods can also be an issue, but heck i'm in SW Florida at the moment, and a major hurricane, is only a matter of time... so risk factors are probably less when taking everything into account.

Anyway, babbled on for long enough.. Would like opinions please, especially from anyone who's lived in FL and familiar with the Naples lifestyle.

[WestieJeff]

IT market seems decent right now, depending on your specialty (coding, sysadmin, network, dba, etc.) and experience level 70k should be no problem and you can probably do better. Nobody comes to Vegas to grow their IT career, but there are jobs, especially when the market is hot.

You can get a comparable home in a nice area with good schools (anthem or 7 hills in Henderson in the low 400k range - although not guard gated).

Property taxes average about 1% of purchase price (usually a hair less). That isn't an actual government figure, but I've found that fairly accurate here. Home owners insurance I assume would be quite a bit cheaper here. Probably around $1,000/year on that type of home.

How did you afford a 550k home with two kids and a 70k job?

[Cold Warrior]

How did you afford a 550k home with two kids and a 70k job?

He did not say he paid $550k.

[shellymdnv]

I think that you shouldn't even consider moving to Las Vegas until you have been there during the summer months, I know that South FL can get hot but it is a different kind of heat.

[PinkString]

JMark72, if I were you, I would stay put. The grass is only greener where you are now. Visit but do not move here. Or at least get a vacation house here to try it out. This way, you still have your home in Naples to fall back on.

Yes, please do not move to "North Vegas". We like our town with less traffic clogging our roads and instead try Henderson or Summerlin, traffic central. Especially Henderson. So much traffic, takes forever to get anywhere.
The part of North Vegas to avoid is "Northeast" and the downtown area of "North Las Vegas." Which is a world away from where we live in North Las Vegas.
If I had a dollar for every time someone was afraid to move to "North Vegas" I wouldn't need to stand in line to try to win the Powerball jackpot.

Natural disasters: Sizzling heat in the summer, and giant field roaches that invade your house, take over your TV remote, your refrigerator, and the recliner. Not many real natural disasters here.

[JMark72]

Originally Posted by WestieJeff

How did you afford a 550k home with two kids and a 70k job?

Flipped a couple of homes during the property boom, reducing my mortgage everytime. Paid $380 for my current home in 2011, and its now valued at $550.

Another reason for my interest in Vegas, is that it is suggested that property prices will continue to increase, as there are many Californians that have very expensive property look to move east a little.

Mind you, the same is said about Naples FL, where all the wealthy from the NE, retire too, keeping the values high. Many people complain that a home is too expensive down here in Naples.. I suggest they look at prices in NY, or Silicon Valley or Orange County CA, actually anywhere on the pacific coast, for a reality check !!!

[JMark72]

Originally Posted by shellymdnv

I think that you shouldn't even consider moving to Las Vegas until you have been there during the summer months, I know that South FL can get hot but it is a different kind of heat.

The heat and humidity during the summer months of SW Florida, is far from pleasant either. Its fine in the morning. Starting off at 75ish, but even though it goes only to the 90's its the humidity that makes it really hot and sticky. Many people dislike it a lot. Personally i don't mind it... Apart from the mosquito's. I do all my outdoors in the morning during the summer months and cool off in the pool in the afternoon. Live in shorts and t-shirt for 90% of the yr.

The weather is typically glorious during Nov all the way to the end of April, but this yr has been too muggy all thru Nov and Dec.. Actually only now, have we had a proper cold front come in.... It's been summer for a little too long this season.

[airics]

don't care what anybody else says.. but i certainly wouldn't move here with a 9 and 10 year old.. private school or not, i just wouldn't do it. and i agree with Pinky... stay out of North Las Vegas.. i too like the less traffic and area..... Aliante is North Las Vegas... but in Summerlin, the people will absolutely love you with the dirt bikes in the hoa's.

[JMark72]

Originally Posted by airics

don't care what anybody else says.. but i certainly wouldn't move here with a 9 and 10 year old.. private school or not, i just wouldn't do it. and i agree with Pinky... stay out of North Las Vegas.. i too like the less traffic and area..... Aliante is North Las Vegas... but in Summerlin, the people will absolutely love you with the dirt bikes in the hoa's.

Please give me some good reasons? honest opinions is what i'm after. People say things about Naples like don't move here its expensive and full of snobbery. HOA nazi's running amok. While some of that is true, it still is a nice place to live. Just ready to try something else.

[ScoopLV]

I happen to be from the best part of Florida. Florida's schools aren't exactly the greatest, either. But I'd take any random school in the state over any random school in Las Vegas. If I had children, I'd leave Las Vegas. Schools here simply aren't as good as they are elsewhere. There is no way to spin that. Furthermore, your childrens' peer group will be deficient compared to Naples. Clark County schools aren't getting any better. The problem is Clark County itself. And there are no "outskirts" that you can escape to.

Some people don't have a choice in the matter -- their job ties them to this city. And Las Vegas has one of the best average income to average cost of living ratios in the country. Nobody is denying that. But if you have a choice in the matter, don't come here. At least until the last child is safely in college somewhere and schools no longer matter to your metric.

PS -- Say hi to Tim Aten for me.