Good place to live in Las Vegas area?

[Speeeedbump]

I am considering relocating the family from ATL to LAS, and would appreciate any input on good places to live. Ideally we'd prefer a smallish town with good schools within an hour or so from the airport. So far I have looked at Henderson and Boulder City. BC looks nice, but is a bit on the pricey side for us. Thanks in advance!

 

[DCAA320]

I am considering relocating the family from ATL to LAS, and would appreciate any input on good places to live. Ideally we'd prefer a smallish town with good schools within an hour or so from the airport. So far I have looked at Henderson and Boulder City. BC looks nice, but is a bit on the pricey side for us. Thanks in advance!

If you are gonna do it hurry up. I just bought 2 foreclosed houses. The supply is drying up fast. One is 10 miles north of the airport, just an OK neighborhood, gated, and 10 minutes from Costco. The other is about 12 miles west, a better neighborhood but cost a little more.

Search on Redfin by zip code.

 

[Bobby Orr 4]

Boulder City has no casinos. City by-law from the days of building the dam. They wanted their workers close with no nearby distractions. BC is ideal if you ever plan on purchasing a boat. Very close to Lake Mead. 45 minutes from door step to the SWA pilot lounge from BC.
Henderson is very nice as well.
We live in Summerlin. West side of the valley. Quiet and 40 minutes to the pilot lounge.
Prices are on the uprise. Sooner than later would probably be cheaper.

 

[chqflyer]

Henderson, Summerlin, and Boulder City are the best areas. Avoid North Las Vegas at all costs.

 

[Bobby Orr 4]

Henderson, Summerlin, and Boulder City are the best areas. Avoid North Las Vegas at all costs.

Not true. Aline yourself with the Donna Street Crips and you will have automatic protection.

 

[gutshotdraw]

Speeeed,

Welcome to the desert! It depends on what lifestyle you truly want to lead.

If you want to live an urban, big-city lifestyle where you can walk to clubs and restaurants, there are a number of high-rise apartment buildings where prices are just now starting to recover from the meltdown. That includes a few downtown buildings where a budding techie-hipster vibe is growing thanks largely to Tony Hsieh from Zappos.com.

If you want good-ole American suburbia with a nice house, maybe a yard and a "neighborhood," stick with Green Valley to the south (10-15 minutes to McCarran), Summerlin to the northwest (30-40 minutes to the airport depending on "Spaghetti-Bowl" traffic), or due west at the foothills of the Spring Mountains (15-20 minutes). Avoid the far-east side, northeast, or way north. Avoiding the actual City of North Las Vegas is absolutely imperative.

If you are looking for a suburban ranch type of place that is less crowded but still close to the city, the southwest quadrant of town still has some old-school horse properties with a few acres of land among the subdivisions.

But if you're actually willing to drive an hour to the airport and you want a very rural setting, look at Mount Charleston and the foothills on the way up the mountain on the far northwest side of town. Ski area and a cool lodge at the top of the hill (decent skiing when the snow is plentiful) and great camping and hiking. There is also a little area on the far southwest side called Blue Diamond that is very close to Red Rock (rock climbing, hiking) and there are mountain bike trails literally out the back door. Tucked in among the cottonwoods and scrub oak in a canyon, Blue Diamond is very small, very rural, and very old school.

Now is the time to buy if you're planning on staying for a while. Las Vegas is lagging the rest of the country on real estate recovery but prices are starting to rise especially in the 2000 square foot, sub $300K part of the market.

The advice is worth every penny you paid for it but restaurant referrals will cost ya extra....

Good luck.

 

[Speeeedbump]

Thanks to all for your valuable input! As much as I would like to think of myself as a "techie hipster" , we are really looking for a more traditional surburban setting. Good schools is a big factor, and access to recreation like trails and biking areas a big plus. I will get busy with more research in preparation for our upcoming recon trip!

Speeedbump

 

[CCDiscoB]

I live in Henderson. You want good schools, bike paths, and recreation, you just described Henderson! BC is too far away from airport. Now why are you moving out here? Will you or your wife be able to adjust to the climate? Not that easy.

 

[gutshotdraw]

I live in Henderson. You want good schools, bike paths, and recreation, you just described Henderson! BC is too far away from airport. Now why are you moving out here? Will you or your wife be able to adjust to the climate? Not that easy.

I'm a desert rat by birth so I'm used to it but the better half is all New Yorker and she LOVES this town and the climate. Even after 22 years.

It's an adjustment some can't handle but a swimming pool and some ice water can get you through July and August without too much trouble.

 

[180ToTheMarker]

Look at the Coranado High School area.

 

[Herkdrv]

Summerlin. Better hurry housing is definitely on the way up! PM me if you need a great realtor. Welcome to Lost Wages :beer:

 

[UALjan15]

Both Green Valley/Henderson and Summerlin offer nice neighborhoods, good schools, and similar drives to the airport. Recreationally, they offer up quite a difference. If you are drawn to the lake, go for GV/H. They also have Bootleg Canyon mountain bike park. If you like the mountains and Red Rock, Summerlin is closer. Big offerings are road/mountain biking, hiking, and rock climbing. Normally I would say come out and rent for a year, but right now I would advise buying something right away. You can always sell (probably with a nice profit) if you decide you like somewhere else better.

 

[brokedash]

Word on Blue Diamond. Not far from the SW side of LAS, but might as well be a few hundred miles and several decades in the past. I don't think there are even streetlights on the main road leading to the BD turnoff.

I'm not a big Henderson fan, personally, but really enjoy the newer side of town out by Red Rocks. Lots of great dining and convienent shopping and most houses/apartments are not more than 15 years old.

If you would really like to be a hermit there is always Parhump.

 

[gutshotdraw]

Word on Blue Diamond. Not far from the SW side of LAS, but might as well be a few hundred miles and several decades in the past. I don't think there are even streetlights on the main road leading to the BD turnoff.

I'm not a big Henderson fan, personally, but really enjoy the newer side of town out by Red Rocks. Lots of great dining and convienent shopping and most houses/apartments are not more than 15 years old.

If you would really like to be a hermit there is always Parhump.

In Pahrump, the saying goes: "It's been a business doing pleasure with you..."*


*Brothel prostitution is legal in Nye County aka Pahrump.

 

[$$$4nothin]

I spent my High School years living in Green Valley while my dad was stationed at Nellis. Not sure how old your kids are, but the best high school hands down in Las Vegas is Bishop Gorman High School. It is private and a bit pricey. However your kids will get the best education, and without a doubt the best sports programs in the state. Then again I went there and became a pilot, so maybe they don't always produce the smartest people. Good luck and enjoy southern Nevada. It is actually a great place to raise a family.

 

[tab flyer]

I've been living in Boulder City for twelve years.
Easy commute to anywhere.
No gambling and signs.
No gated streets, the whole town is gated one way in one way out.
Reasonable prop tax and no state tax.
No developers.
Largest town in NV with a footprint the size of Chicago with a pop of 16k.
High School graduating class size 150.
All schools stadium and pool in middle of town, no busses all walk to school.
If town wants to sell land > than 1 acre, must put on ballot during gen election.
Over abundance of police, response time four minutes.
Everyone knows everyone, if your kid is misbehaving your neighbor will tell you.
Curfew for kids inforced with sentencing to clean police cars and pickup thrash.
No gangs, no graffiti.
25 minutes to McCarren and the strip.
On the lake.
Buy used house or lot and build your own.
Most parks per capita in county.
World class mountain bike and bike trails.
Horse corrals.
1930s small downtown.
Many parades and art events in Vegas held in BC.
Airport with hangers.
BMX track
Outdoor cafes and antique stores.
Cat population down with opening of SWA pilot base.