[bethp8]

I haven't ever been very active on this board (as anyone glancing at my stats could see), but I have used everyone's opinions and recommendations over the last couple as I've settled in to life here. It seemed that I ought to do my part as I hit five years living in the Valley to offer opinions up for all the other posters and stalkers looking for thoughts on moving to Vegas.

* We're in Henderson. Just like everyone who recommends that area of town, it is a perfectly decent suburb, just like every other perfectly decent suburb of any given metro area. There are parts of the area that are slightly more downscale than others, but absolutely nothing that would constitute a "bad" part of town.

* I hope you like pink or beige stucco, because that is the extent of differences in houses.

* CCSD is not that bad of a school district. It seems they are still reeling from the relentless growth this decade and never found their footing. That said, the schools all seem to range from poor & mediocre to rich & mediocre. Your kids will do as well as you push them to do because they will get minimal support from the system. (And don't be afraid to challenge the system... most folks who work there are burnt out but well-intentioned and will help you once you are politely in their faces)

* Driving down Eastern south of the 215 around rush hour is awful. If you work regular office hours, you'll hate this drive.

* Vegas sprawl still ain't got nothin' on Midwestern sprawl. It's a town of 2 million people but is only 25 miles across.

* UNLV is just as mediocre and under-funded as the K-12 district.

* Vegas and Nevada aren't really liberal or conservative; they're true-to-form Libertarian. There are some folks here who genuinely don't care if they get paved streets, stoplights, or educated kids as long as they don't have to pay the taxes.

* Whatever house you buy will likely have crappy insulation that will render your A/C useless on the south side of the house in August. As much as you pick your neighborhood and landscaping, think about the climate when you are house shopping.

* There really aren't any parts of town that are *that* bad. While I may not choose to live in many areas, I will happily support the restaurants, bars, and shops in every neighborhood around.

* Yes, you will know someone who has had their car stolen. Probably several.

* Whether you are buying or renting, get a copy of the CC&Rs if your community has one. Read it and know it before signing on the dotted line. Some of the HOAs in the 'burbs are downright militant. (On the flip side of that, tread lightly in a newer neighborhood that doesn't have an HOA at all, unless you like to see boats in *every* driveway, dismantled project cars, pit bulls, and loose sand front yards.)

* Watch the drivers. It takes some getting used to driving in the Old West, but the unwritten rules are easy to pick up on.

* If airport noise bothers you, be sure to hang out in the area where you're house shopping for a while to listen. Pretty much anywhere between GV Pkwy/95 to Windmill to Valley View to Flamingo will have a fair amount of takeoff and landing noise at McCarran. Seven Hills and Inspirada will have it from KHND. (I don't know the sound around VGT, but there are enough complaints in the news to know no one is ever happy with them.) We hear it, but it has never bothered us.

I'm sure there's more I could offer, and more those of you who have been around forever can say, but I wanted to be sure to make my initial offering to the masses.

[Y'all smile now! Grandpa?]

Well, I think a good, strong hug is in order!!

[KidsinVegas]

I didn't know there were so many stolen cars. Family has been here since 1987... guess we've been lucky so far.

[unf0rgiven6262]

Originally Posted by KidsinVegas

I didn't know there were so many stolen cars. Family has been here since 1987... guess we've been lucky so far.

It's the car theft capital of the country.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by unf0rgiven6262

It's the car theft capital of the country.

No more....better than LA or Phoenix. Average for the US

[007 license to sell]

Originally Posted by bethp8

I haven't ever been very active on this board (as anyone glancing at my stats could see), but I have used everyone's opinions and recommendations over the last couple as I've settled in to life here. It seemed that I ought to do my part as I hit five years living in the Valley to offer opinions up for all the other posters and stalkers looking for thoughts on moving to Vegas.

* We're in Henderson. Just like everyone who recommends that area of town, it is a perfectly decent suburb, just like every other perfectly decent suburb of any given metro area. There are parts of the area that are slightly more downscale than others, but absolutely nothing that would constitute a "bad" part of town.

* I hope you like pink or beige stucco, because that is the extent of differences in houses.

* CCSD is not that bad of a school district. It seems they are still reeling from the relentless growth this decade and never found their footing. That said, the schools all seem to range from poor & mediocre to rich & mediocre. Your kids will do as well as you push them to do because they will get minimal support from the system. (And don't be afraid to challenge the system... most folks who work there are burnt out but well-intentioned and will help you once you are politely in their faces)

* Driving down Eastern south of the 215 around rush hour is awful. If you work regular office hours, you'll hate this drive.

* Vegas sprawl still ain't got nothin' on Midwestern sprawl. It's a town of 2 million people but is only 25 miles across.

* UNLV is just as mediocre and under-funded as the K-12 district.

* Vegas and Nevada aren't really liberal or conservative; they're true-to-form Libertarian. There are some folks here who genuinely don't care if they get paved streets, stoplights, or educated kids as long as they don't have to pay the taxes.

* Whatever house you buy will likely have crappy insulation that will render your A/C useless on the south side of the house in August. As much as you pick your neighborhood and landscaping, think about the climate when you are house shopping.

* There really aren't any parts of town that are *that* bad. While I may not choose to live in many areas, I will happily support the restaurants, bars, and shops in every neighborhood around.

* Yes, you will know someone who has had their car stolen. Probably several.

* Whether you are buying or renting, get a copy of the CC&Rs if your community has one. Read it and know it before signing on the dotted line. Some of the HOAs in the 'burbs are downright militant. (On the flip side of that, tread lightly in a newer neighborhood that doesn't have an HOA at all, unless you like to see boats in *every* driveway, dismantled project cars, pit bulls, and loose sand front yards.)

* Watch the drivers. It takes some getting used to driving in the Old West, but the unwritten rules are easy to pick up on.

* If airport noise bothers you, be sure to hang out in the area where you're house shopping for a while to listen. Pretty much anywhere between GV Pkwy/95 to Windmill to Valley View to Flamingo will have a fair amount of takeoff and landing noise at McCarran. Seven Hills and Inspirada will have it from KHND. (I don't know the sound around VGT, but there are enough complaints in the news to know no one is ever happy with them.) We hear it, but it has never bothered us.

I'm sure there's more I could offer, and more those of you who have been around forever can say, but I wanted to be sure to make my initial offering to the masses.

Great post, very honest

[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by unf0rgiven6262

It's the car theft capital of the country.

we lost the capital title 2-3 years ago

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by dynimagelv

we lost the capital title 2-3 years ago

recession = less cars to steal?

[dynimagelv]

actually....crime overall is down in Las Vegas [guess the crooks left first]

[jaetay]

Are there bylaws in LV that prohibit Pit Bulls?