Winter home in Vegas and my ongoing observations

Dead Money · #1 12-07-2011, 10:38 AM

Purchased a winter home in Vegas, prices just got stupid.

Been here a week, plan on staying Dec 1 thru end of March.

Thought I would run a continuous
"Travel-log" of everyday life here in Vegas.
This is from the perspective of a 62 year old transplanted Cleveland Ohio boy who moved to Tulsa Oklahoma in 1973 and married a wonderful gal in 1981.

Cont'd in a bit...

The Mover · #2 12-07-2011, 11:31 AM

Must be nice ! Really envious of you , keep us posted. Have a couple of realtor friends who keep bugging me about some real steals. Sounds like you got one. Enjoy !

kickserv · #3 12-07-2011, 12:22 PM

LetsMakeMoney · #4 12-07-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mover

Must be nice ! Really envious of you , keep us posted. Have a couple of realtor friends who keep bugging me about some real steals. Sounds like you got one. Enjoy !

besides the gambling part don't be envious,the place is a shithole unless u plan on spending the whole day,everyday at the strip

MonsterNco · #5 12-07-2011, 06:17 PM

I have been in Vegas for 3 months now and really like it here. Don't go the Strip much unless someone I know is in town are few other special things. Walk over to Green Valley most days.

I have to admit besides a warmer climate really don't know why anyone would move here if they don't gamble a lot. For me it has been like a really long vacation.

MadJack · #6 12-07-2011, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dead Money

Purchased a winter home in Vegas, prices just got stupid.

Been here a week, plan on staying Dec 1 thru end of March.

Thought I would run a continuous
"Travel-log" of everyday life here in Vegas.
This is from the perspective of a 62 year old transplanted Cleveland Ohio boy who moved to Tulsa Oklahoma in 1973 and married a wonderful gal in 1981.

Cont'd in a bit...

Looking forward to your posts because I have similar plans with very close time frame as well. I will be off from November thru February every year so it fits well for me. I have other places in mind too because I might not be disciplined enough for Vegas.

WhatsHisNuts · #7 12-07-2011, 10:16 PM

My mom and dad live there and they love it. When I visit, we rarely hit the strip. Green Valley is the place to gamble, IMO. Too each their own. I like the weather and the golf. Wish I lived there.

AR182 · #8 12-07-2011, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadJack

Looking forward to your posts because I have similar plans with very close time frame as well. I will be off from November thru February every year so it fits well for me. I have other places in mind too because I might not be disciplined enough for Vegas.

You should think about the valley of the sun for a 2nd home, Jack....It has everything that you need & is only 4 1/2 hour car ride from Vegas & a 5-6 hour car ride to the west coast....The housing market is very enticing also....

hawkeye · #9 12-08-2011, 04:17 PM

AR-Looking to buy in Green Valley-love the area

PocketAces · #10 12-09-2011, 07:49 AM

I can't wait for your updates. Congratulations by the way. That is great!

MadJack · #11 12-09-2011, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AR182

You should think about the valley of the sun for a 2nd home, Jack....It has everything that you need & is only 4 1/2 hour car ride from Vegas & a 5-6 hour car ride to the west coast....The housing market is very enticing also....

Thanks Al, I'll check it out.

freelancc · #12 12-09-2011, 11:14 AM

i have been to almost every gambling town in the state of Nevada..Las Vegas is the last place i would buy..

but i would visit..

hammer1 · #13 12-09-2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freelancc

i have been to almost every gambling town in the state of Nevada..Las Vegas is the last place i would buy..

but i would visit..

Where would you buy?? RENO ? Gag !!!!!! Tahoe ????? Beautiful but sucks for gaming.
So whats left? Have been going to Las Vegas for 2 to 3 months every winter since 1982 and Jimmy Valvano's miracle over the Cougars. Missed 1 year. This year will be in South America. To me the Vegas when the Stardust was the center of the gaming universe is gone. So the Vegas i knew and cut my teeth in is gone....... So i am gone. Just my take.

PocketAces · #14 12-10-2011, 10:58 AM

How many days/weeks/months a year do you need live there to be considered a resident of the state?

If you are a resident can you call in bets from anywhere or do you need to be in the state to make the call?

Dead Money · #15 12-10-2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PocketAces

How many days/weeks/months a year do you need live there to be considered a resident of the state?

If you are a resident can you call in bets from anywhere or do you need to be in the state to make the call?

Good questions....

I have used my Oklahoma license to sign up for casino "perks"...
Each place I went, I told them I
moved here and presented local address.

At the Hilton, they asked me for a Nevada license and said if I had one, I would qualify for further discounts allocated for "Licensed resident".....inquired what that was and was told 25% additional off rooms, meals, gift shop type stuff.

COX communications has a lock on this town for good reliable internet, cable, phone.....$90 a month for first 6 months, did not inquire past that point as I will be here 4 months.

Someone on this site mentioned signing up with a certain Vegas casino for local on-line betting, via internet. With a little more info I will pursue that option..
My guess is they will want Nevada drivers license, at this point I do not want to screw with drivers licenses from 2 states....sounds like a possible nightmare.

Roger Baltrey · #16 12-10-2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammer1

Where would you buy?? RENO ? Gag !!!!!! Tahoe ????? Beautiful but sucks for gaming.
So whats left? Have been going to Las Vegas for 2 to 3 months every winter since 1982 and Jimmy Valvano's miracle over the Cougars. Missed 1 year. This year will be in South America. To me the Vegas when the Stardust was the center of the gaming universe is gone. So the Vegas i knew and cut my teeth in is gone....... So i am gone. Just my take.

Hammer, I can't tell by your second to the last sentence weather you are positive or negative on Vegas. BTW, I would advocate getting a place close to Vegas where you could go for weekends any time you wanted but not have to live there.

Dead Money · #17 12-10-2011, 01:08 PM

Anyone spending a length of time anywhere, will have differing opinions.

I bought a home in a guarded, gated senior community near Spring Valley.
It is 8 minutes from downtown caisinos, 12 from strip.
Guarded, gated communities are VERY tuff to find, most are simply gated with little security, it took us many months of looking for the right situation in our price range of 70k-80k.

Been coming to Vegas on vacations since 1972.....walking between Caesars and Hacienda, now Mandalay Bay, you were fighting tumbleweeds.

The city just passed an ordinance forcing owners, banks, fannie may to upkeep the empty properties.
Vandalism and neglect are affecting neighbors property values.

They mentioned 40,000 foreclosed empty properties affected...that is a lot of opportunity to buy a property here if you are so inclined.

THE KOD · #18 12-10-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dead Money

Guarded, gated communities are VERY tuff to find, most are simply gated with little security, it took us many months of looking for the right situation in our price range of 70k-80k.

.

.................................................. ................

that must be south Las Vegas

Dead Money · #19 12-10-2011, 07:35 PM

I avoid the strip like the plague, always have for traffic and the infestations of tourists.

While driving around noted a few things of interest, to me anyhow.

Las Vegas has a bazillion eating establishments, majority Ma + Pa places and chains I am unfamiliar with...being an acknowledged food whore, this is heavenly
...stumbled into a Chinatown district off of Spring Valley Rd near Rio Casino.....
...stumbled into a Korean district off of Rainbow and Spring Mountain rds....amazing Kimchee at the Malls
foodcourt, my wife and I were the only non-Koreans eating there..

I never realized there was so many cultural enclaves here....kinda explains the tons of local Orientals at the Pai gow tables here.

One of my favorite TV news segments here is "Dirty Kitchens"..they broadcast a nasty eatery and interview the hapless owner (usually a foreigner) trying to explain away the health departments downgrade of their establishment.

Discovered Trader Joes...sort of a Whole foods market, only on a much smaller basis, with very competitive prices across the board with their house brand products.

Top notch cheeses, ready made no preservative meals, meats, dairy,nuts, breads etc..it is the only place I shop, my wife being fairly picky on food has heartily endorsed it...we just finished a wonderful Trader Joe Chicken Tikki Massala Dinner
for 2...cost 5.99.

Sorry if I ramble...more later on.

kickserv · #20 12-10-2011, 07:41 PM

"kinda explains the tons of local Orientals at the Pai gow tables here"

Don't forget my game baccarat

Dead Money · #21 12-14-2011, 03:29 PM

Rather than buy new furniture, we went today to a "Hotel Furniture Liquidator" in North Las Vegas.

North L.V. part we saw is towards
Nellis Air Force Base..lots of wide open country in this area.

Refreshing to see little traffic, in L.V. after 3pm it is a minor free for all.
Radio mentions 4-5 traffic wrecks daily on the highways, we try to get everything done by 2pm.

This area of North L.V.(I-15north and Craig rd area)
is highly populated by huge spacious multi-use newly made warehouse buildings sublet by a multitude of businesses.

The views are near spectacular, snow capped mountain peaks, and Vegas strip in the far distance..
Nevada, is Spanish for "snow capped peaks".

The hotel furniture liquidator owned by orientals and staffed by hispanics has been liquidating paintings, fixture,furniture from the "Venetian".
Maria told us most hotels, time shares refurnish every 3-4 years.

We picked up nice quality couches, chairs, ottomans for about 15 cents on the dollar.

We received an extra 10% off for cash....
Really a nice way to furnish without paying retail furniture prices.

It looks as if this area has some nice apartments, condos available on the cheap, some had garages.
It appears to me this area was building up for expansion, than the housing issues hit the fan.

Downside, this area is about 20-30 minutes from the strip via freeway, and one good wreck and you are looking at an hour easy.

Also you had better like the sound of high speed military aircraft.

A much nicer part of Vegas is a newer developed area west of strip
"Desert Breeze" community....Big dog park, indoor community pool, astro-turfed ball diamonds...soccer park,
Beautiful homes, condos, etc...might be worth a check with depressed prices if anyone interested in fairly upscale living.

Dead Money · #22 12-17-2011, 02:13 PM

Had an interesting talk with Hotel Furniture head buyer.

It used to be the Vegas Hotels would upgrade every 4-5 years, and the furniture liquidators would by ALL the fixtures and furniture.

NOW with the pinched economy, the upgrades are 7+ years and many are doing what he called "Soft upgrades"
The 5 star properties are keeping their headboards, bed frames and shipping the mattresses to California where they are rebuilt.

The 5 star properties may pass on a lot of their replaced items to their sister "3" star properties.

When the liquidators bid on items, they get to look at maybe 5 rooms and they are told you are bidding on 199 rooms of what you see, minus the headboards, bedframes, and whatever..

Shows me that the bean counters are really stretching the buck here as revenue has been way down for several years.