[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by Reno Joe

I would not buy here if you don't live here. In fact you should really live here for a year as a renter before you buy. Lots of people who move here to retire find out that they really don't like it and move out. The heat is hard on older people and it is hard to find good medical care here are the most common things I hear.

I disagree.

If someone is seriously considering moving here, buying a house and living here for one year is likely to cost nothing at all -- considering the rising real estate market.

A decent house will cost at least $12,000 per year in rent. Paying cash for a house and then selling it for the same price (or likely higher) doesn't cost anything at all -- assuming the homeowner decides he or she doesn't like the valley. Houses are STILL selling for less than their replacement cost, after all.

[WestieJeff]

Selling it for the same price or higher doesn't cost anything? Not likely. Someone has to pay the real property transfer tax at a minimum. More than likely someone will be paying for title insurance, escrow fees, realtor commissions, etc.

Plus this guy is talking about moving in 5-10 years. I guarantee things will be WAY different in 5-10 years. Look 5-10 years back and compare it to today.

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

A decent house will cost at least $12,000 per year in rent. Paying cash for a house and then selling it for the same price (or likely higher) doesn't cost anything at all -- assuming the homeowner decides he or she doesn't like the valley. Houses are STILL selling for less than their replacement cost, after all.

[ScoopLV]

I don't claim to have a crystal ball.

But why wait five-to-ten years to purchase investment property with retirement potential when the prices are still attractive right now? I don't recommend being a long-distance landlord, though. That's just asking for trouble.

[NLVgal]

Originally Posted by dvd7000

No wonder there are so many gated communities, and HOA's in the Vegas area.

We have the copper thieves here in CT too. After one of my aunts passed away, the house sat empty for a while while it was on the market. Sure enough, it was ransacked for copper. The basement was flooded because of the missing pipes. And this is in one of our better, rural communities.

Don't know about squatters. But I'm sure that the problem isn't unique to Las Vegas.

I had pictured myself living in a nice home with a pool in a secluded section of Henderson horse country. Now I'm having visions of marauding gangs reeking havoc like in a Mad Max film. But I'm sure that it can't be that bad.... Can it?

Not even close. I live in the dreaded North Las Vegas, and have rarely locked my doors in twelve years there. You'll be fine. The copper thieves target buildings that are under construction or abandoned.

Does Henderson have horse country? I thought that was mostly in the northwest section of the valley.

[dvd7000]

Originally Posted by NLVgal

Does Henderson have horse country? I thought that was mostly in the northwest section of the valley.

I've "driven" around the foothills area using Google Earth and have seen quite a few homes that have horses on the property. Although owning livestock is not the reason that attracts me to this area of Henderson. It's more for the beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, less than 30 minutes drive to an international airport, many national parks fairly close by, and, of course, Las Vegas.

As far as not liking the hot weather, I've lived in CT all my life. Been through all kinds of extreme weather. Blizzards and below zero temperatures, hurricanes, triple digit heat waves with 90+ % humidity (like we're having now.) So over 300 days a year of sunshine, with only about 4 months of intense heat sounds a lot better deal than what I've experienced these past 57 years.

Not to mention that my property taxes for a similar property to what I have now would probably decrease by about 2/3 of what I'm paying in CT!