[forestpool]

55 years old active couple, consider retiring or semi-retiring

Children all grown-up, empty nesters.

Purpose of moving LV: Love the outdoors, and plan to bring friends/guests to tour the surroundings/National Park as a business. Have been organizing outdoor tours for friends and plan to turn it into a business (small scale, out of interest). I figure living in LV is the way to go ..
Questions:
(a) What’s the recommended location to look for houses (2000-2500 sqft) is sufficient. Budget $200K-400K. Prefer "safe" location as we travel a lot.
(b) Possible to turn the house into AirBnB when we are gone?
(c) Utilities – is it more expensive vs. Texas? Currently I pay $50 (water), electric ($100-150), internet ($80), etc.
(d) Living costs?
(e) Anything I need to be aware of?
(f) Pros and Cons

Thank you

[movin1]

My 2,067 sq ft house is worth about $600K, one like mine just sold for that. I doubt $400K will get you a 2000 sq ft house in a good neighborhood. Utilities are about the same as yours. Summerlin and Henderson are good areas. A realtor can give you zip codes to look at.

[moguldreamer]

I think you'll find you need to increase your house budget to $500K minimum to get a 2000 sf house that you'd voluntarily live in in a neighborhood that you'd voluntarily live in.

Sorry.

[RosieSD]

Mesquite, NV and St. George, UT might be good alternatives if your budget and square footage requirements are firm.

Both cities would put you closer to all of the Utah National Parks (Zion is a 40 minute drive from parts of St. George), yet still be an easy drive to Las Vegas and Grand Canyon NP.

For incoming clients, there are regular, low cost shuttles from the Las Vegas airport to both towns.


Not going to find 2000-2500 sq feet single family homes for $200,000 that would be worth buying in either or Las Vegas though. Those days have sailed.

[Mike from back east]

The OP says they travel a lot, sounds like they need a "lock and go" place, like a gated SFH community or a condo tower where there's no lawn work to do.

[cunningja]

I would wait another 4-6 months, the prices are just now coming down, and the rising interest rates aren't coming down anytime soon.

We live in the Centennial Hills area, and you could find something on the higher range of your budget right now, but I think in the next few months you will get more for your $$.

[mojo101]

My advice-stay in Txas

[movin1]

Re: AirBnB: IMO, Vegas is probably the worst city to do this. Vegas is party place. Your neighbors don't want your house being a place where people rent to party. Your house will get trashed and you will constantly be dealing with legal hassles with tenants and neighbors. Cost of living here is similar to other places people want to be due to the weather, entertainment, restaurants etc. I.e., that means HIGH. The cost of entertainment and eating out is on par with other major cities, there are no deals here any more. FWIW, I have traveled a lot and have been to many "vacation destinations" in the US and Europe. Your idea might have been good before the pandemic, but I think you will have a hard time making a profit or breaking even on your concept now. Day late and a dollar short.

[Cold Warrior]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

The OP says they travel a lot, sounds like they need a "lock and go" place, like a gated SFH community or a condo tower where there's no lawn work to do.

Soon that will be every apartment building and house.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior

Soon that will be every apartment building and house.

I note from TV shows like House Hunters that more HOAs include doing all the lawn work around SFHs and THs and not leaving it up to occupants, as many occupants are renters with no lawn/garden gear. As more people rent SFHs and THs this trend should expand, and I like it. A lot.

I'm sick of having one full garage space (or plug-ugly yard shed) filled with thousands of dollars of power tools, hand tools, fuels, chemicals, spreaders, nippers, clippers, chippers, rakes, hoes, shovels, hoses, nozzles, sprinklers, ladders, gloves, goggles, knee pads, batteries, chargers, ad nauseam. Multiply that times tens of millions of SFHs in America's massive suburban wastelands and pretty soon we're talking some serious beer money, not to mention all the noise every weekend as millions of Harry Homeowners play the role of Marvel Comic's latest super hero "Property Maintenance Man."