The Pros and Cons of Living in Vegas (Las Vegas, Henderson: real estate, apartments)
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A personal guide on living in Las Vegas, or why NOT to live in it, from someone that's been living in it for a year. Please enjoy, and feel free to add your own pros and cons.
Pros: Low cost of living, the Summerlin and Henderson areas, plenty of juice bars, Town Square shopping center, great libraries, Container Park
Cons: 350 days of sunshine, hordes of people with insanely ugly personalities (drunk and sober, men and women), daily chemtrail sprays (ignore if you're blindly loyal to your government and think the planes are just sprinkling pixie dust), car accidents being a daily occurrence (yes common in many places but people in Vegas seriously can't drive), limited activities if you're not a fan of The Strip, supremely ugly, filthy people (and I'm NOT talking about APPEARANCE).
Opinions on the weather vary, I know, as so many people enjoy living where there's nothing but sunshine year-round. I'm a seasons girl so seeing month after month of sunshine gets pretty boring, putting it very lightly.
Opinions on the chemtrails I know vary, as those trusting their lives to the government are all too quick to use the phrase 'conspiracy theorist'. Planes are in the sky on a daily basis spraying mist, and then a day later its conveniently 'cloudy'. Wow. But a lot of people think it's just water mist or magic dust. That doesn't cancel out the other points.
About the rude people-many people out here are rude enough to make New Yorkers look like Disney Princesses. I kid you not. Grown people out here, in various ages, races and gender, are so crude it's sick. The whole 'oh well it's Vegas, people are weird' doesn't work.
I didn't include the casinos because people either live for gambling or they don't. They already know about the many casinos and bars. People come here to do nothing but gamble. Old people with oxygen tanks do nothing but gamble. If you like gambling, you already know about Vegas.
Is Vegas family-friendly? Unless you live in either Summerlin or Henderson, NO. No no no and no again. Just no.
If you need a place to raise money for a few months, this is it. But that's my biggest pro.
Please feel free to add your own pros and cons.
1. How is sunshine a con? This is my #1 reason I am in LV. I would be in San Diego for the same reason but your #1 pro is true...much better cost of living (although rents and house prices are going up slowly).
2. Rude people are everywhere and I don't think it's so much rude as it is stupid. People are just ignorantly inconsiderate and this explains the bad driving as well (which I agree with.)
3. The southwest is the new Summerlin in my opinion and prices are still reasonable while the traffic is still light as long as you use I-15 to commute more than 215.
4. In terms of activities there is a ton to do in this city of 2 million. I enjoy hitting up a juice bar on my way to get some stuff at Town Square, followed by getting a coffee at the Container Park and sitting and reading my book (that I got from the library that morning) before going home to Summerlin or Henderson. Just kidding!
For activities, here's the stuff that I have done in my first year here (got here early in 2016):
- Shows and Concerts on the Strip (especially with TMobile opening earlier this year)
- Lots of outdoors activities and hiking with Red Rock, Valley of Fire, finally made it to the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead
- Some might say lame but LV has tons of parks where I go to dog watch (better than people watching on the strip because as OP said people suck while dogs are like kids and are pure joy. I would kid watch at the local playground but that is frowned upon obviously <--- bad joke) and also to just read books
- Lots of 24 hours gyms so easy to fit working out into my busy schedule
- Tons of restaurant options! I got out multiple times a week and have been to most of the AYCE sushi places, Thai restaurants, lots of great ramen joints, Vietnamese/pho places, (I like asian cuisine), burger places, tons of fast food places, and almost every chain restaurant is in this city...there are tons of other places but too many to list
- Cheap bowling especially if you go after midnight for $1 a game and then get some graveyard food at one of the local casinos
- 2 for 1 buffets everywhere...get the american casino guide and sign up with Stations as you will get monthly 2 for 1's even though I have never gambled there (just got the card)
- I play basketball in the card outside and also joined sports leagues through work
- I take the gf/wifey to Town Square, Outlet Malls, and even the nicer malls on the strip for shopping but mainly window shopping since we are both not too big on expensive clothes
- GroupOn has tons of coupons for food (mentioned above) and activities too like bouldering, rock climbing, and yoga which I all tried for the first time here in LV thanks to GroupOn
- I have a diamond card at CET properties through FoundersCard so I go there to watch sports and get free drinks and food
- TopGolf isn't the cheapest but it is a LOT of fun (eat beforehand to save some money)
- Pinball Hall of Fame is actually really cool and lots of fun for like $10 to $20 for a couple of hours
- I like to roadtrip with the gf/wifey and we've been to Phoenix, Reno, Laughlin, LA, San Diego, and we fly up to San Francisco for under 2,000 Southwest miles each way (get the SW credit card or any Chase credit card that lets to transfer points to Southwest). We got for sporting events a lot because that is my BIGGEST complaint with Las Vegas but with the new hockey team and a long shot at getting the Raiders, this might be solved.
- We have seen most of the Cirque shows for free from MyVegas (I also scratch my blackjack itch for free there because I hate losing money and never gamble in the casinos)
- Seen lots of comedy shows for free through those locals free tickets programs (haven't paid for the premium versions, are they worth it?)
- Gf/wifey and I like going to open houses to see the new places being built (this might be weird for some) and to see where we might want to live down the road (currently renting from a private owner for a STEAL!)
- LV has several great donut shops (should be in the food bullet but I'm lazy)
- We got to see the 51's and used to see the Wranglers when we visited here before but we also like the NBA summer league and travel to adjacent cities for sports like Phoenix and LA
- We've made a few friend circles since we got here so many nights are spent at a restaurant with friends or just at someone's house having tea and joking around
- I like to play poker so trying to play at every poker room in town which is surprisingly a TON of rooms (currently up several thousand this year
So if you say there are no activities in LV, you are not looking hard enough. I have more stuff to do than time off from work!
So if you say there are no activities in LV, you are not looking hard enough.
^^ This!
After living in the cold and dreary Midwest we will welcome the sun and the warmth.
We like the bands and lounge acts you can see for free. Lon Bronson, now at Sunset Station, is probably our favorite. First saw his band at the Riviera back in the late 90's.
We also have plans to see the state and national parks in the west. We've never been able to do that and living in Vegas will be a good "base" so to speak.
Then there is the golf, something we can do practically all year around. There are tons of other things, and it doesn't take much to find something interesting to do.
We've never been able to do that and living in Vegas will be a good "base" so to speak.
You're in for a treat. I've been to most of them as a visitor, and the proximity that Vegas has to so many really weighed into my decision to relocate here.
1. How is sunshine a con? This is my #1 reason I am in LV. I would be in San Diego for the same reason but your #1 pro is true...much better cost of living (although rents and house prices are going up slowly).
2. Rude people are everywhere and I don't think it's so much rude as it is stupid. People are just ignorantly inconsiderate and this explains the bad driving as well (which I agree with.)
3. The southwest is the new Summerlin in my opinion and prices are still reasonable while the traffic is still light as long as you use I-15 to commute more than 215.
4. In terms of activities there is a ton to do in this city of 2 million. I enjoy hitting up a juice bar on my way to get some stuff at Town Square, followed by getting a coffee at the Container Park and sitting and reading my book (that I got from the library that morning) before going home to Summerlin or Henderson. Just kidding!
For activities, here's the stuff that I have done in my first year here (got here early in 2016):
- Shows and Concerts on the Strip (especially with TMobile opening earlier this year)
- Lots of outdoors activities and hiking with Red Rock, Valley of Fire, finally made it to the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead
- Some might say lame but LV has tons of parks where I go to dog watch (better than people watching on the strip because as OP said people suck while dogs are like kids and are pure joy. I would kid watch at the local playground but that is frowned upon obviously <--- bad joke) and also to just read books
- Lots of 24 hours gyms so easy to fit working out into my busy schedule
- Tons of restaurant options! I got out multiple times a week and have been to most of the AYCE sushi places, Thai restaurants, lots of great ramen joints, Vietnamese/pho places, (I like asian cuisine), burger places, tons of fast food places, and almost every chain restaurant is in this city...there are tons of other places but too many to list
- Cheap bowling especially if you go after midnight for $1 a game and then get some graveyard food at one of the local casinos
- 2 for 1 buffets everywhere...get the american casino guide and sign up with Stations as you will get monthly 2 for 1's even though I have never gambled there (just got the card)
- I play basketball in the card outside and also joined sports leagues through work
- I take the gf/wifey to Town Square, Outlet Malls, and even the nicer malls on the strip for shopping but mainly window shopping since we are both not too big on expensive clothes
- GroupOn has tons of coupons for food (mentioned above) and activities too like bouldering, rock climbing, and yoga which I all tried for the first time here in LV thanks to GroupOn
- I have a diamond card at CET properties through FoundersCard so I go there to watch sports and get free drinks and food
- TopGolf isn't the cheapest but it is a LOT of fun (eat beforehand to save some money)
- Pinball Hall of Fame is actually really cool and lots of fun for like $10 to $20 for a couple of hours
- I like to roadtrip with the gf/wifey and we've been to Phoenix, Reno, Laughlin, LA, San Diego, and we fly up to San Francisco for under 2,000 Southwest miles each way (get the SW credit card or any Chase credit card that lets to transfer points to Southwest). We got for sporting events a lot because that is my BIGGEST complaint with Las Vegas but with the new hockey team and a long shot at getting the Raiders, this might be solved.
- We have seen most of the Cirque shows for free from MyVegas (I also scratch my blackjack itch for free there because I hate losing money and never gamble in the casinos)
- Seen lots of comedy shows for free through those locals free tickets programs (haven't paid for the premium versions, are they worth it?)
- Gf/wifey and I like going to open houses to see the new places being built (this might be weird for some) and to see where we might want to live down the road (currently renting from a private owner for a STEAL!)
- LV has several great donut shops (should be in the food bullet but I'm lazy)
- We got to see the 51's and used to see the Wranglers when we visited here before but we also like the NBA summer league and travel to adjacent cities for sports like Phoenix and LA
- We've made a few friend circles since we got here so many nights are spent at a restaurant with friends or just at someone's house having tea and joking around
- I like to play poker so trying to play at every poker room in town which is surprisingly a TON of rooms (currently up several thousand this year
So if you say there are no activities in LV, you are not looking hard enough. I have more stuff to do than time off from work!
I love this list!! Things like all....well, most...of these are exactly why my husband and I can't WAIT to move to Las Vegas. It'll still be a few more years for us, yet...we have to get a few ducks in a row first.
1. How is sunshine a con? This is my #1 reason I am in LV. I would be in San Diego for the same reason but your #1 pro is true...much better cost of living (although rents and house prices are going up slowly).
2. Rude people are everywhere and I don't think it's so much rude as it is stupid. People are just ignorantly inconsiderate and this explains the bad driving as well (which I agree with.)
3. The southwest is the new Summerlin in my opinion and prices are still reasonable while the traffic is still light as long as you use I-15 to commute more than 215.
4. In terms of activities there is a ton to do in this city of 2 million. I enjoy hitting up a juice bar on my way to get some stuff at Town Square, followed by getting a coffee at the Container Park and sitting and reading my book (that I got from the library that morning) before going home to Summerlin or Henderson. Just kidding!
For activities, here's the stuff that I have done in my first year here (got here early in 2016):
- Shows and Concerts on the Strip (especially with TMobile opening earlier this year)
- Lots of outdoors activities and hiking with Red Rock, Valley of Fire, finally made it to the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead
- Some might say lame but LV has tons of parks where I go to dog watch (better than people watching on the strip because as OP said people suck while dogs are like kids and are pure joy. I would kid watch at the local playground but that is frowned upon obviously <--- bad joke) and also to just read books
- Lots of 24 hours gyms so easy to fit working out into my busy schedule
- Tons of restaurant options! I got out multiple times a week and have been to most of the AYCE sushi places, Thai restaurants, lots of great ramen joints, Vietnamese/pho places, (I like asian cuisine), burger places, tons of fast food places, and almost every chain restaurant is in this city...there are tons of other places but too many to list
- Cheap bowling especially if you go after midnight for $1 a game and then get some graveyard food at one of the local casinos
- 2 for 1 buffets everywhere...get the american casino guide and sign up with Stations as you will get monthly 2 for 1's even though I have never gambled there (just got the card)
- I play basketball in the card outside and also joined sports leagues through work
- I take the gf/wifey to Town Square, Outlet Malls, and even the nicer malls on the strip for shopping but mainly window shopping since we are both not too big on expensive clothes
- GroupOn has tons of coupons for food (mentioned above) and activities too like bouldering, rock climbing, and yoga which I all tried for the first time here in LV thanks to GroupOn
- I have a diamond card at CET properties through FoundersCard so I go there to watch sports and get free drinks and food
- TopGolf isn't the cheapest but it is a LOT of fun (eat beforehand to save some money)
- Pinball Hall of Fame is actually really cool and lots of fun for like $10 to $20 for a couple of hours
- I like to roadtrip with the gf/wifey and we've been to Phoenix, Reno, Laughlin, LA, San Diego, and we fly up to San Francisco for under 2,000 Southwest miles each way (get the SW credit card or any Chase credit card that lets to transfer points to Southwest). We got for sporting events a lot because that is my BIGGEST complaint with Las Vegas but with the new hockey team and a long shot at getting the Raiders, this might be solved.
- We have seen most of the Cirque shows for free from MyVegas (I also scratch my blackjack itch for free there because I hate losing money and never gamble in the casinos)
- Seen lots of comedy shows for free through those locals free tickets programs (haven't paid for the premium versions, are they worth it?)
- Gf/wifey and I like going to open houses to see the new places being built (this might be weird for some) and to see where we might want to live down the road (currently renting from a private owner for a STEAL!)
- LV has several great donut shops (should be in the food bullet but I'm lazy)
- We got to see the 51's and used to see the Wranglers when we visited here before but we also like the NBA summer league and travel to adjacent cities for sports like Phoenix and LA
- We've made a few friend circles since we got here so many nights are spent at a restaurant with friends or just at someone's house having tea and joking around
- I like to play poker so trying to play at every poker room in town which is surprisingly a TON of rooms (currently up several thousand this year
So if you say there are no activities in LV, you are not looking hard enough. I have more stuff to do than time off from work!
3. The southwest is the new Summerlin in my opinion and prices are still reasonable while the traffic is still light as long as you use I-15 to commute more than 215.
I have shaved ten minutes off of my evening commute by taking I15 to Blue Diamond to Rainbow and North from there rather than the 215. I haven't tried it yet in the morning, but sometimes surface streets (Jones or Decatur to Charleston to Fourth) are faster than freeways for getting downtown. I can't believe how. As the 215 has gotten!
3. The southwest is the new Summerlin in my opinion and prices are still reasonable while the traffic is still light as long as you use I-15 to commute more than 215.
I have shaved ten minutes off of my evening commute by taking I15 to Blue Diamond to Rainbow and North from there rather than the 215. I haven't tried it yet in the morning, but sometimes surface streets (Jones or Decatur to Charleston to Fourth) are faster than freeways for getting downtown. I can't believe how. As the 215 has gotten!
So are we talking about the southwest as in the south portion of Spring Valley? Just trying to get my geography straight... We're considering a move there for retirement; in fact, we were just there last week looking at a few neighborhoods in Henderson, Summerlin, and Lone Mountain. We have 2 years to do the research.
Sunshine is a con from June-August. When it's 110 the last place I want to be is in the sun. I love it in the winter months.
I liked Vegas better 5 years ago. Homes were 40% cheaper. Roads were half as crowded. While this is a very transient town, I have the feeling that there's more people coming here and not leaving.
Summerlin and Green Valley Ranch are overrated. Each house is the exact same; stucco-covered, 2-story, on a tiny lot. There's no privacy. All of the community parks/trails/centers that make this area "special" are crowded with the same stupid selfish people that drive on our roads.
The rural areas are better. I prefer non-HOA parts of Centennial Hills to Summerlin. Many homes are on half acre sites which minimizes the biggest con of Las Vegas - the people.
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Just kidding!
