Las Vegas or San Antonio? Moving but can't decide which place is better (Nevada: real estate market, foreclosure)

[looking4anewlife]

I am a single mother of two teenagers looking to move to either Las Vegas or San Antonio. My decision is based mostly on: warm weather, decent cost of renting or buying a 3 bedroom home in a safe neighborhood where there is a good high school for my kids, and of course overall cost of living, jobs and friendly people. I need to make my move in about a month (two at the most), so please help me with the pros and cons!!! Thank you!

[Insomniac]

I've gone to LV twice on vacation and a few times on business. I don't gamble but still had fun on the strip with the various shows and entertain acts as well as shopping and eating options. Outside of that, that is the only experience I've had with Las Vegas, although I do have a cousin who has lived there since the mid 1990's, but I've probably spoken to him three or four times in the last 10 years.

As for the answers to your questions, SA is a safer city compared to LV. Weather wise, it can get really hot in LV during the summer, much hotter than SA, but SA has the humidity while most times LV doesn't. Cost of living is lower in San Antonio. SA, imo, has much more friendly people although the people I met in LV were either on the strip or in close proximity so 90% of them were probably tourists. What line of work are you in?

[Paka]

I had family that lived in LV...I do not think it is the best of places to raise kids. I often commented on how you never saw kids out in the neighborhoods playing, and the big thing is there are lots of opportunities for kids to get in trouble there, especially if THEY are interested in gambling, drinking, party non stop. That city never sleeps for sure!

While we go to Vegas almost annually to play and have fun as adults, I would not have wanted to raise my kids there personally. I know I could not live there...I always feel like I have landed on the moon there with no green, no grass, just lots and lots of dust and dirt. Great place to visit tho.

There was just an article in last Sundays newspaper here on how "renters" are being evicted in Las Vegas even tho they are making their rent payments on time because the home owner has not keep up with the mortgage payment, and those folks are becoming innocent victims of the mortgage crunch, so please be careful if you intend to rent and ask your realtor how you could possibly avoid becoming the victim of someone elses financial issues. Good luck!

[Eleanor Rigby]

Las Vegas has one of the absolute worst real estate markets in the country right now. Really, it's a complete and total blood bath that was caused by an unholy combination of California speculating investors, over-eager tract home builders and unscrupolous mortgage brokers who gave dishwashers and gardeneres loans for half a million dollars. Whole subdivisions have been emptied out by foreclosure.

And renting is no guarantee either, like Paka said. You might be paying your rent in good faith every month, but the landlord could be in over their head and upside down on the mortgage and not tell you until the Sheriff shows up one day to nail the foreclosure notice on the door.

I've been to LV several times in the past few years but I've never ventured off the strip, so I can't really talk about the aspect of actually living a life there. I will say that the real estate situation is really scary, and should be considered heavily. The San Antonio market is cooling off, and I could make the argument that it will get a lot chillier, but even if it does implode, I don't think it would be anywhere has bad as Las Vegas.

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by Paka

I had family that lived in LV...I do not think it is the best of places to raise kids. I often commented on how you never saw kids out in the neighborhoods playing, and the big thing is there are lots of opportunities for kids to get in trouble there, especially if THEY are interested in gambling, drinking, party non stop. That city never sleeps for sure!

While we go to Vegas almost annually to play and have fun as adults, I would not have wanted to raise my kids there personally. I know I could not live there...I always feel like I have landed on the moon there with no green, no grass, just lots and lots of dust and dirt. Great place to visit tho.

When I was 18 years old, my great-uncle, who lived in Las Vegas, flew me out there for a visit. Although an 18 year-old was legally an adult in Texas, it was 21 in Nevada. Persons under 21 years of age were not allowed on the floor of casinos, and were not allowed to enter some establishments at all. In fact, I saw very few minors or even young adults during my visit.

I didn't see any activities or entertainment that was oriented to persons under 21 years of age, something to consider since you have teenagers. Some people tell me Las Vegas is much more family-oriented than it was when I visited several years ago, but I can't personally vouch for that. San Antonio has always been a more family-oriented city from my perspective.

[HotFudge]

I love Las Vegas, but to raise/move with your kids... definitely San Antonio. Don't think twice.

[blazred]

Truly in order to get a real answer about life in LV is to visit the the LV forum cause most of the answers your gonna get in this one our from tourist that visited the city and probably lived there. I never been there but I heard N. LV was cleaning it's selfup from the other forums from being a ghetto to a middle class area that a alot safer then before. try to visit the LV pages if you didn't already do it. Just so you get a better answer.

[looking4anewlife]

Thank you everyone who has given me advice! It's such a hard decision, because I don't want to have to move again for many many years, if ever. If it wasn't for my two kids, I'd just move one place then move on over to the other if I didn't like it. But to have to pull the children out of school and away from friends breaks not only their hearts, but mine as well.

As for work, I'm a Medical Assistant, so I can pretty much work in a doctor's office anywhere I live in the US. So I'm not too worried about me finding a job where ever I go. I just wish I knew where to go!

I really LOVE San Antonio, I've been there a few times already. The only thing that's pulling me towards LV is that my brother lives there and is offering to help me out for a couple of months by letting us stay with him and his family until I find a job, housing, and save up some money. It's kind of hard to pass up an offer like that. Hmmmmm.

[Insomniac]

I can't imagine how difficult a decision this is for you. Since you answered the career question, as a medical assistant you'll make more in San Antonio than Las Vegas. I really didn't want to post that after reading just how tough a choice you have to make. Though maybe it'll make it easier. Good luck.

[adtobias]

ma make good money here and if u get in a good practice u will be happy here in sa. good luck