Have any WNY's made the move? (Reno, Sparks: apartment, power lines, rental)

[MayMoveInFuture]

I've read a lot of the threads on this forum. Just wondered if anyone currently living in the Reno-Sparks area is originally from western New York. If so, how long? What are your thoughts? Housing is more (and increasing) but does the lower taxes ease that cost? I know some people complain about the weather in Reno and others do not. What is your take?

We may be able to make our first visit to the area in the fall. So far, we've only read about it.

Thanks.

[Hotfeet]

Originally Posted by MayMoveInFuture

I've read a lot of the threads on this forum. Just wondered if anyone currently living in the Reno-Sparks area is originally from western New York. If so, how long? What are your thoughts? Housing is more (and increasing) but does the lower taxes ease that cost? I know some people complain about the weather in Reno and others do not. What is your take?

We may be able to make our first visit to the area in the fall. So far, we've only read about it.

Thanks.

What part of western NY are you from? I lived in Rochester for a while and find the weather here much more mild and agreeable. Reno has lots more sun, fewer cloudy days, and a lot less snow. Some folks complain about the lower humidity but it doesn't bother me. I'm happy that we have very few insect pests.

Relative to the cost of living, Reno is cheaper compared to Rochester in almost every category. I suggest searching online for cost of living comparisons. For that matter, searching online for relative weather conditions would also give a much more complete answer than I could provide.

[nyctc7]

Originally Posted by Hotfeet

Some folks complain about the lower humidity but it doesn't bother me. I'm happy that we have very few insect pests.

Ditto. Former NY'er here, but from NYC. I mostly prefer the climate here in Reno. The only time the dryness ever affects me is in winter--occasionally the combo of dry air and artificial heat (radiator) makes my nose uncomfortable, but a squirt or two of saline nasal spray takes care of that, and I only need that very occasionally, by no means every day. And it is so worth it to not have mosquitoes and other pests. And I always detested hot, humid NYC summers. But there's not much of a spring here. It feels like early summer instead. That's not necessarily bad, but sometimes I do miss spring weather.

No State income taxes is great, but you can more than make up for that if you succumb to the casinos. It took me over a year to get that out of my system.

For the closest thing to urban living, the Riverwalk district of Downtown is best. But there's not much choice of housing: either buy or rent a condo, there's not much in the way of rental apartment buildings, like in a big city, and the few that do exist are somewhat downscale (except the condos, which are nice, the Montage is beautiful). But if you have a car, which I assume you do (NY'er that I am, I do not), then you will have options, mostly I am not familiar enough with them to say.

After living here, I don't think I could ever go back to the madness and expense that is NYC.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by Hotfeet

What part of western NY are you from? I lived in Rochester for a while and find the weather here much more mild and agreeable. Reno has lots more sun, fewer cloudy days, and a lot less snow. Some folks complain about the lower humidity but it doesn't bother me. I'm happy that we have very few insect pests.

Relative to the cost of living, Reno is cheaper compared to Rochester in almost every category. I suggest searching online for cost of living comparisons. For that matter, searching online for relative weather conditions would also give a much more complete answer than I could provide.

It is?: http://online.wsj.com/public/resourc...s/download.pdf

Here are the most and least expensive cities to live in

[Hotfeet]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

It is?: http://online.wsj.com/public/resourc...s/download.pdf

Here are the most and least expensive cities to live in

Interesting... other sources say the opposite:

Cost of Living Calculator: Compare the Cost of Living in Two Cities - CNNMoney

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

I take all of these calculators with liberal grains of salt since they typically assume everyone is 'average' and spends the same amounts for apples, socks, dog food etc. I also wonder whether any of these calculators take taxes into account. For example, NY has state income taxes ranging from 4 to 8.8% while NV has zero. Washoe County has high gasoline taxes (not sure about Monroe County) but in any case I'm not driving far so those taxes don't affect me.

[wolfdog]

I often compare cities here: Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

[MayMoveInFuture]

I'm in the Buffalo area. I do like the idea of no bugs - I tend to be hyper-sensitive to bug bites so I wouldn't miss those at all. I have looked at the cost of living calculators and it seems Reno is a wee bit higher. Not utilities but everyday stuff. It doesn't seem to be that much a difference so I won't worry about it. What is your take on that 'zephyr wind'? The wind chill here just goes right through me.

[Hotfeet]

Originally Posted by MayMoveInFuture

What is your take on that 'zephyr wind'? The wind chill here just goes right through me.

You picked a good day to ask! Winds today in Reno are 25-45 mph with gusts up to 70-85 mph. Some power lines were down and a lot of dust has been kicked up. It's no fun but definitely not an everyday occurrence.

[Vic Romano]

That's because there is a big storm coming in off the Pacific. Supposed to drench Nor. Cal., Oregon and Washington.

When I was there last (around Thanksgiving) it was very windy through Fernley and Dayton, a little less through the Washoe Valley and noticeably less through Spanish Springs and Sparks. When I asked people they said it is windier coming down through the southern and southwestern portion of Reno and through the valley then eases up slightly through Minden/Gardnerville.

[MayMoveInFuture]

I've read about the whole "wind issue" and it does seem to be specific. Odd. Here, next to Lake Erie, the whole general area gets wind. Meteorologists say the lake is natural AC in the summer and prevents us from becoming too cold in the winter - though I can't imagine that being true right now. :-)

Did you move there when you retired or earlier? We're not sure if we're going to wait until retirement or not. The only issue, if we don't, is having to find health insurance. We've always had job supplied health insurance so I'm not sure about cost if I have to foot the entire bill.

With winters seeming harder to take every year, the husband just wants to move anywhere. I commented that weather shouldn't be the only reason we move. He disagreed. But it has been a tough couple of weeks. LOL