[lovestar07]

So my hubby is getting out of the Army in about 4 more months and we are debating on whether to move to Las Vegas or Orlando,FL. (from Georgia)

I just want some input here are the things that are important for us

great school district (we have 3 small children)
lots of activities for kids : i.e. childrens museums, playdates, parks, pools
affordable housing ($140k for a 4 bdrm home)
job opportunities: im interested in Real Estate and he is interested in Gov't jobs.
low crime

Would you guys say Las Vegas has these things?

Any input or direction to other threads would be great also.

[MSchu]

everything but great schools... or so I am told.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by lovestar07

1) great school district (we have 3 small children)
2) lots of activities for kids : i.e. childrens museums, playdates, parks, pools
3) affordable housing ($140k for a 4 bdrm home)
4) job opportunities: im interested in Real Estate and he is interested in Gov't jobs.
5) low crime

Would you guys say Las Vegas has these things?

[Numbers added to quote.]

1) No. But neither does Orlando. If education is that important, move to New England.
2) No. We have parks and pools. But not a whole lot in the museum department. Orlando is the zenith of "kid friendly." Las Vegas is the nadir.
3) Yes -- Actually, you can buy a four bedroom for around $100K.
4) No and no. You can find work, but it is very difficult -- particularly for newcomers. Employers want a verifiable local work history. After you've been here awhile, it gets easier.
5) Our crime situation is better than Orlando's. But we're a large metro area -- so there's plenty of crime.

[Danknee]

No.
Mostly no, there are plenty of parks though.
Yes.
No.
Depends.

[Buzz123]

Las Vegas has all those things and one more ...no humidity, nor any of the other terrible nuisances you find in Florida. Florida is a swamp and humans were never meant to live there. But there are lots of great places to live besides Las Vegas, and I know, I know ...it hurts me to admit that. Most of the great places to live are from the eastern slope of the Rockies in Colorado all the way west to the Pacific Ocean, with the exception of the Central Valley of California.

[lovestar07]

thank you everyone!!

I really like Las Vegas (im from San Diego, CA originally) but the employment is a big one, maybe we will consider somewhere close like Arizona?! Colorado is too cold for me : )

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by lovestar07

thank you everyone!!

I really like Las Vegas (im from San Diego, CA originally) but the employment is a big one, maybe we will consider somewhere close like Arizona?! Colorado is too cold for me : )

I usually throw in a plug for Albuquerque about now. Mild weather similar to San Diego in summer, without the ocean of course, but with mountains. Similarities in the culture too, but way better food than anywhere else in the country. Ask Mary on "In Plain Sight".

[LVPoker1]

I lived in Georgia for 32 years. It has few high ranked school districts, most are in the northern suburbs of Atlanta. CCSD is not going to be much different. The suburban schools do well, the ones closer in do not. If you live on the outskirts of the metro area the schools are fine but you are not going to find many move in ready 140k 4 bedrooms in the areas with great schools. As for the others:

2) lots of activities for kids : i.e. childrens museums, playdates, parks, pools

The areas with the good schools will have a lot of kid's activities. In Summerlin, the calendar is full of activities for kids. No museums though.

4) job opportunities: im interested in Real Estate and he is interested in Gov't jobs.

Better find something before you move here although if you are in the more professional side you will be better off than a tradesman would be.

5) low crime

The areas with good schools also have low crime. If you could get up to $160k-180k spending range you will find exactly what you are looking for although in the far northwest you will find 140k 4 bedrooms, you will also be 20-25 miles from the strip. I am sure there are areas I am not familiar with where you may find what you are looking for in that price range with good schools and kid activities but they will be harder to find.

Have you checked out Greatschools.net? It is a great resource for the good schools. Great elementary and middle schools are plentiful in the outer burbs, high schools can get iffy.