[sikwemu]

I've been lurking this board for a while getting all the various thoughts on houses and prices.
My husband and I have decided we will be buying a house. We are English and looking for a base in the South West for three, maybe four, months a year when we retire. We have decided on Vegas because we like its accessibility to Utah, Arizona and Southern California (we have been visiting the area for over twelve years so it isn't a been once-got to move-idea).
We have looked at what we can afford so renting out is not crucial, even though extra money is always nice! We are very, very interested in a new build, reputable builder, etc.etc. in Centennial Hills. Near enough to the Strip for a night out and near enough for the family that have all decided what a wonderful idea it would be for the parents to buy a house in Vegas but far enough away so not to be living in a tourist area.
The proposed Great Mall of Vegas is causing a slight problem though as it will practically be on the doorstep. Is it a "don't choose a house anywhere near it!" as one US friend said or "absolutely wonderful to have all those amenities so close at hand" that another said or even the comment of a third that said they weren't sure if they would like to live there but what a great attraction to short-term renters. None of these people live in Vegas so can I ask opinions of anybody who may live there or live next to a new Mall?

[yellowsnow]

I once lived close to one of the biggest malls in the US. It was handy to just be able to walk down the street to shop. That part was nice.

There were some other things I didn't like too much. Around the holiday season there was never enough parking and people would park in the streets. There would sometimes be huge traffic delays due to the crowds coming or going. Parents tend to use malls as babysitters. They drop off the kids with no or very little money so what are they supposed to do? They wander the surrounding neighborhoods in groups. The mall also attracted panhandlers/beggars and other people who wouldn't usually hang out in suburban neighborhoods. I believe having the mall so close contributed greatly to the crime rate in my area. And it's noisy!

Personally, I wouldn't buy a home at the mall's front door but a couple miles away would be OK!

[olecapt]

It is not that close to Centennial Hills. More like 3/4 mile to 2 miles. Basically it is east of the new hospital which is east of Centennial Hills Residental areas. Only problem I can think of my be some traffic congestion at Durango and 95...but I would think most the the traffic would come in the other way.

If hunting in Centennial Hills I would look for flipper properties rather than new build. Many of those properties have never been lived in and are now beginning to sell below builder prices. The Beazer tract of little two stories at the back of Centennial Hills is a prime target. Got to be 50% vacant. And those folk are hurting.

The buiilders are giving big spifs...but they are funny money. Worth less than 25 cents on the dollar when you sell.

[sikwemu]

Thanks Olecapt.

Do you know if the plans are available anywhere? Preferably on line with being in the UK.

[usafwso]

I think that the Mall Of Las Vegas is really a major crock of "vapor ware" from 555 developers. It seems almost impossible to shoehorn a mall of that proposed size into that plot of land.

They said that it would be finished in 2007. 2007 is almost finished and nothing has been started.

The Mall of Las Vegas is BS.......

It won't be built!

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by usafwso

I think that the Mall Of Las Vegas is really a major crock of "vapor ware" from 555 developers. It seems almost impossible to shoehorn a mall of that proposed size into that plot of land.

They said that it would be finished in 2007. 2007 is almost finished and nothing has been started.

The Mall of Las Vegas is BS.......

It won't be built!

There of course remains uncertainty about whether any project not up will actually be built. It would however appear very unlikiely that the site would be used for anything other than a mall.

What they said however is a matter of record and the post made is incorrect. From the trade press in mid 2006..

*************
With construction on target to begin in early 2008, the mall is scheduled to open to visitors in 2009 or 2010, while the residences could be ready for occupancy as early as late 2011.
**************

[aqualung8705]

I'm looking forward to it opening, even though it's going to be awhile. They're also building a shopping center on the SE corner of Decatur & Grand Teton, near the new DMV. Either way, I look forward to having a book store closer than the ones on North Rainbow & Lake Mead.

[cbell74]

Originally Posted by sikwemu

I've been lurking this board for a while getting all the various thoughts on houses and prices.
My husband and I have decided we will be buying a house. We are English and looking for a base in the South West for three, maybe four, months a year when we retire. We have decided on Vegas because we like its accessibility to Utah, Arizona and Southern California (we have been visiting the area for over twelve years so it isn't a been once-got to move-idea).
We have looked at what we can afford so renting out is not crucial, even though extra money is always nice! We are very, very interested in a new build, reputable builder, etc.etc. in Centennial Hills. Near enough to the Strip for a night out and near enough for the family that have all decided what a wonderful idea it would be for the parents to buy a house in Vegas but far enough away so not to be living in a tourist area.
The proposed Great Mall of Vegas is causing a slight problem though as it will practically be on the doorstep. Is it a "don't choose a house anywhere near it!" as one US friend said or "absolutely wonderful to have all those amenities so close at hand" that another said or even the comment of a third that said they weren't sure if they would like to live there but what a great attraction to short-term renters. None of these people live in Vegas so can I ask opinions of anybody who may live there or live next to a new Mall?

Cheers from this side of the pond. I would personally recommend that you rent a furnished place in Las Vegas for a few months before deciding on a specific property. Some people who move here hate the traffic and end up regretting where they live. Why not spend a little bit on a monthly rental, check out the entire area, and then make a relaxed decision about where to settle? It should be a buysers' market at least through 2008, so you will have plenty of options.

Charles

P.S. There are many places around here that are close to everything. I live in Henderson and am within walking distance to a large mall, several casinos, a movie theatre, multiple grocery stores, and places to eat.

[sikwemu]

Because of all the recent "will it-won't it" regarding the Great Mall we'd already decided to look elsewhere other than Centennial Hills because, as was repeatedly pointed out, being English we have no idea what living against a really large Mall actually means.

We're actually just back from Vegas(came home Thanksgiving Day) and were down in GV, Silverado and Henderson looking at properties, both buying and rental. The choice now, compared to February when we were last over, is really huge because of the problems the housing market is having. Obviously we are aware of it in the UK and particularly so with intending to live in Vegas but until reminding a few estate agents (as they are known here) we have had contact with before that we would be back in town and so they could send details again, and the email and printer nearly went into a nervous breakdown with the number sent, we genuinely hadn't realised just how much, and all areas, is now available and how good some of the prices are. We were just overwhelmed with the choice and that in itself is a problem when a ten hour flight is involved!

[jfkIII]

If you think the prices are good right now...hold on...they may get even better.