[Wing Feathers]

Well, I just got back from a week on the strip. Hopefully my lost wages helped someone keep their job.

Despite all "the talk", I would not have noticed a difference... if I hadn't read my "complimentary" $300 newspaper. Housing is a lot lower than it was when I last considered moving there in 2006! Yes, I'm aware it's down overall, but this is the first time I've seen a condo advertised for $20k anywhere other than Deathtroit.

So I got the bug to buy-buy-buy something there now... Any suggestions?

A friend moved there years ago, somewhere near Durango & Cheyenne. I thought that area was decent, but just didn't feel like home.

Is it realistic to live on the new Northern end of town (ie- Aiante) in a house, and commute into the UNLV area? I found a great house there, except it uses natural gas for heat (why?). Or what about condo life closer to the airport? $20k sounds great but I'm sure there is a catch... otherwise they would be snapped up already.

Thanks in advance for a thoughtful discussion.

[Daddys///M3]

Definitely a catch on the $20K condo. Comps in the area are probably $80K and up. Maybe a short sale listed low to generate interest (and some buyer leads for the listing agent perhaps)? The new North Las Vegas is a very nice area. If schools are a concern look to Centennial Hills, which location wise is very near Aliante but closer to the freeway. Comparable schools to Summerlin and Green Valley. The commute from Aliante to UNLV is a bit of a trek, but maybe to those of us just spoiled by the small stature of the Las Vegas Valley. The wife and I were talking last night and we remembered that some folks commute 2+ hours a day for affordable housing. 45 minutes as opposed to 30 is not a huge deal.

[jjameson922]

Do I understand this correctly; you are hoping to find a condo for $20K in Aliante?
Or if not Aliante, in another nice area but you are opposed to natural gas heat? If this is correct, get on Realtor.com, type in Las Vegas and enter your price of $20,000 and shop away.

[lvkewlkid]

Aliante would be very difficult to commute to UNLV, why not look near Warm Springs and LVBS and southern on LVBS or even in Silverado Ranch, although i do not know the prices...

most places use gas for heat here, at least the newer places...

[airics]

$20k is listed as the starting bid for the auctions..

[jpk]

What else would you expect to use for heat besides nat gas? Electric or heating oil are both more expensive. Maybe you're used to woodburning stoves?

[VegasChick]

Natural gas is a great cheap heat source.. why would that be a problem? I wouldn't buy a home that didn't have nat gas!

[airics]

cheap? i never really looked at my vegas bills, but in cleveland, my last bill was $540 (1300sf home)

[lexusman199]

Yeah we have natural gas. It's seriously the best.

A LOT better than electric. With gas your cooking on an actual fire like you were camping.

[jjameson922]

Airics, look at your gas bill when you get home. Something must be seriously wrong. I can't believe your rate in Cleveland can be much different from my rate in Toledo and I'm paying $83 a month for 2600 sq. ft., 12 foot ceilings, floor to ceiling glass walls of windows that overlook a lake with cold winds blowing. I'll check and see what my monthly usage is. Something must be wrong with that meter.