need to move to warm climate --nevada (Las Vegas, Henderson: sales, real estate)

It's not easy to be without money in Vegas. Generally speaking, there are fewer assistance dollars/social programs available in the west than what you have in Michigan. I can understand wanting to relocate somewhere with better weather. The warmer dryer climate probably will make you feel better. And you won't have to cope with ice for 1/2 of the year.

Henderson is part of the greater Las Vegas area. It's not really a separate town. One just runs into the other. It's no cheaper to live in Henderson than Vegas. Some parts can be more expensive. Housing is not reasonable in the Las Vegas area(compared to Michigan). Rents and purchase prices are high. Some say they are on the way down and others disagree. The Las Vegas RE market is mostly influenced by California and you know what prices are like there! Lots of jobs are available in Vegas and it's likely you can work if you want to. However, it's also likely you will find the wages quite low. A decent house in a decent area runs around 300K. There are a few bargains around and condos are cheaper. If you buy the condo there are monthly fees to pay and many areas of homes have HOA's that are a sizeable monthly payment as well.

Have you investigated other areas with lower costs of living? One that comes to mind immediately is Pahrump. It's a smallish town about 80 miles west of Vegas. There's always a tradeoff. It will cost somewhat less to live there but there are fewer jobs. Check out Caliente and Ely too.

Spend some time on the Real Estate sites and get to know the market a little. It will give you an idea of how far your money will or won't go! I love Las Vegas for the weather and lifestyle but the initial investment is high. Best of luck!

I agree with just about everything that yellowsnow has said ...very well stated and good suggestions!

I moved to the desert because I too needed the drier climate and I really enjoy the weather. I came from the NW so definitely not as harsh as Michigan winters but the continual gray skies and dampness drove me out.

Pahrump is a good suggestion but you could probably find somewhere closer in where jobs might be more plentiful. Since you're in the car business, if you lived in Henderson, you could go to work for Towbin ...local joke; don't take that seriously.

(*puts hands over ears* ...on a side note, please post in lower case as it appears that you're shouting if typing in all Caps.)


Thanks, more later...

--'rocco

If all you're looking for is a warm climate where the cost of living is fairly low, I'd suggest looking at southern New Mexico or southern Arizona before Las Vegas. It is really expensive to get established here. The other towns that are relatively close...Pahrump, 65 miles; Mesquite, 82 miles; Logandale/Overton 56 miles...may have better deals on homes than Las Vegas. Not much there though, and no work for sure. Finding a job will be easy in Las Vegas, but pay is generally kind of low here too. Don't expect to go to work as soon as you get here because finding the job, getting the interview, getting hired, etc., takes time. Unless you find a job offer before you move here, which is recommended. Also, are you sure you won't lose your disability if you leave Michigan? That's important because Nevada does not pay disability.

JUST for the record......Las Vegas and Henderson are each a SEPERATE city. Yes they border each other....but they are seperate!!!

Ohhh. I see...and the schools? The Health Department? They certainly then don't vote for County Commissioners do they?

Buzz mentioned Mesquite. I'd recommend against it if you're on a tight budget. I'm finding it's not the cheapest place to live. Other areas in the southern part of the state would be better choices for reasonable housing and costs of living.

The majority of the houses in Mesquite are relatively new and the ones recently built and also the ones proposed are geared more toward the planned communities with golf courses ...not the most affordable housing since Mesquite bills itself as a "resort town."

If not considering the more reasonable parts of Las Vegas, I'll stick with the original suggestion of possibly considering Pahrump. Nye county seems to be much more reasonable as far as costs to live.

--'rocco



edit: I initially didn't think to mention this but is something I just went through. I recently purchased an RV. I would've save thousands of dollars if I lived in Pahrump instead of in Clark County. Clark County charges a surcharge in registration on RVs plus has a sales tax rate of 1% more compared to what it is in Nye County.

I haven't checked prices in Mesquite. Just mentioned it because I have a friend who is selling her home in Vegas and moving up there. I think it's a Sun City type community and I thought she was doing it because it's saving her money on the mortgage. I don't think anyplace in Southern Nevada is very cheap any more. My first house cost us $20,900, and was the only development for miles around at Charleston and Lamb. The house I'm in now doubled in value in less than four years. This is all thanks to Californians who 20 years ago started selling their $30,000 homes for $300,000, and coming here to buy $90,000 homes for only $125,000, then laughing at how stupid we Nevadans are. I hated them for it, but now I'm over it. Wanna buy my house? Only $549,900...cheap!

Anyway, I still say if you want warm climate and cheap(er) housing go to New Mexico like we are planning to do. 43 Las Vegas summers are enough. Except for the heat I love it here but gotta do what's best.

BTW: I turned down 5 acres of land in Pahrump in 1980 for $500.00 an acre because I didn't think anyone would want to live there. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

I hear ya, Buzz, I hear ya!

--'rocco