[DougAderyn]

Originally Posted by anna shun

There is an arts district downtown, a strong new age culture and many Burning Man types -- you'll find left of center, alternative types a plenty here, but I also find that it is very worthwhile here to expand your culture to those that are not of that description, as that is the true definition of diversity to me.

Arts/New Age/Burning Man... You're hitting the nail on the head! I'm ready to accept that no place is going to be Tucson for it's extreme crunch and friendliness; or DC for it's fiery liberal activists. But, like you said it's the diversity and open-minded social life that I'm looking for. I'm open to and excited about new cultures and variety. I just want to find a little tribe to belong to as well.
And yeah, I've heard about the schools... But have you seen DC standards? Yikes!

[DougAderyn]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

Then move to Sedona or Jerome, Arizona. (Or the nearby towns of Cottonwood, Camp Verde, etc.) That's as hippie as you're going to get in the southwest.

Las Vegas is the anti-Sedona.

If you don't believe me about Las Vegas being a conservative bastion, read the editorial page of the Las Vegas Review Journal. Nothing but Ann Coulter and Charles Krauthammer and Bill O'Reilly. This town is so conservative that Steve Sebelius is considered a communist.

I'm not disbelieving you. Just disappointed, since some of the city-stats don't give that impression.
I'd be back in Tucson in a heartbeat. But, jobs, cost of living, family locations and a few other considerations all win out in LV.

Thanks for you honesty though! I appreciate the help.

[Triggerman6]

@DougAderyn: I, for one appreciate your attempt to find out where the areas are here in Vegas that would be more desirable for you and your family to live. As a Realtor, I find it refreshing to have this type of question not tied to one or more of the protected classes where "Steering" of these classes is prohibited by law. I wish more people would do this type of research a year out as you are.

With that said, being a native of Las Vegas, I can't think of one area that is more "Crunchy" than another. I know several professionals that are "Crunchy" but they are spread out all over the valley. Every demographic, life style and life philosophy is blended together with the exception of those in poverty, the Air Force Base and the original cowboy (horse zoned) areas of the Northwest and Southwest. I know many people that actively have done or do what you listed as "Culture" items (make baby food, young professionals, activists, environmental oriented). I guess what I'm saying is that Vegas is very much a blended city where you will find commonality in principle and deed with many, but you won't find it in one general area.

Here are a few things to keep in mind about Vegas. This is a cash money town. Just less than 1/3rd of the 2 million residents work on the strip and in the gaming industry. The largest growing demographic is young adults between the ages of 26-32 with a fairly large retirement community. The city is still recovering and stabilizing from the economic problems of the last decade and has lost it's economic protective shield it had prior to a global economy in addition to the growth and development of gambling Macau, China. The use of Solar energy is a very big and hot topic here as well as water conservation (for the past 20 years). Less than 2% of home buyers state that energy efficient homes are a top priority.

One other note to be aware of, the HOAs here in Vegas can limit things such as composting, political signage/ messaging and the like. So when you start looking for a place to buy or lease, make sure you understand what the HOA will and will not allow you to do for a given property.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[OmegaSupreme]

No, you would have to move to Australia

[Triggerman6]

Originally Posted by DougAderyn

That's too bad. I got the impression it was fairly consumer driven, with the casinos and all. But they also have a lot of benefits set up for small/personal businesses and the voting history leans very strongly left. And the median age is mid-30s.

It is consumer driven.

We do have lots of benefits set up for small/ personal businesses. We have lots of California businesses relocating here for the tax benefits for the company and the employees.

The voting does not lean very strongly left. This state is very conservative. Vegas is a bit left leaning but not strongly left nor liberal by any means.

[DougAderyn]

Originally Posted by Triggerman6

@DougAderyn: I, for one appreciate your attempt to find out where the areas are here in Vegas that would be more desirable for you and your family to live. As a Realtor, I find it refreshing to have this type of question not tied to one or more of the protected classes where "Steering" of these classes is prohibited by law. I wish more people would do this type of research a year out as you are.

With that said, being a native of Las Vegas, I can't think of one area that is more "Crunchy" than another. I know several professionals that are "Crunchy" but they are spread out all over the valley. Every demographic, life style and life philosophy is blended together with the exception of those in poverty, the Air Force Base and the original cowboy (horse zoned) areas of the Northwest and Southwest. I know many people that actively have done or do what you listed as "Culture" items (make baby food, young professionals, activists, environmental oriented). I guess what I'm saying is that Vegas is very much a blended city where you will find commonality in principle and deed with many, but you won't find it in one general area.

Here are a few things to keep in mind about Vegas. This is a cash money town. Just less than 1/3rd of the 2 million residents work on the strip and in the gaming industry. The largest growing demographic is young adults between the ages of 26-32 with a fairly large retirement community. The city is still recovering and stabilizing from the economic problems of the last decade and has lost it's economic protective shield it had prior to a global economy in addition to the growth and development of gambling Macau, China. The use of Solar energy is a very big and hot topic here as well as water conservation (for the past 20 years). Less than 2% of home buyers state that energy efficient homes are a top priority.

One other note to be aware of, the HOAs here in Vegas can limit things such as composting, political signage/ messaging and the like. So when you start looking for a place to buy or lease, make sure you understand what the HOA will and will not allow you to do for a given property.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Thank you very much for your well thought out, balanced and honest answer.
I'm very happy in a blend of ideals and cultures as long as like-minded folks are easily to find among the crowed. That's very good to know! I think I might miss having a funky little arts district to walk to, but I can live without that if I find good friends.

You bring up another question I've had: Are *all* neighborhoods HOA's!?! I lived on the Virginia side of DC for a year and it's the land of HOAs. They drive me NUTS! I seriously might have to reconsider LV just on that issue alone. I'm very against *paying* someone else to tell *me* what I can and can't do with my home. And I have no interest in getting involved with the HOA boards, just so I can tell my neighbors what to do with their property. I love eclectic neighborhoods where everyone's houses reflect their varied personalities and tastes. I find it refreshing to learn to live side by side in peace, instead of force everyone into a specific set of color samples and design choices. It's just a very expensive way to let other people run my life, in my opinion. So, is it really just a fact of life there?

[Triggerman6]

Originally Posted by DougAderyn

You bring up another question I've had: Are *all* neighborhoods HOA's!?! I lived on the Virginia side of DC for a year and it's the land of HOAs. They drive me NUTS! I seriously might have to reconsider LV just on that issue alone. I'm very against *paying* someone else to tell *me* what I can and can't do with my home. And I have no interest in getting involved with the HOA boards, just so I can tell my neighbors what to do with their property. I love eclectic neighborhoods where everyone's houses reflect their varied personalities and tastes. I find it refreshing to learn to live side by side in peace, instead of force everyone into a specific set of color samples and design choices. It's just a very expensive way to let other people run my life, in my opinion. So, is it really just a fact of life there?

No not all neighborhoods have HOAs. You are not alone in your feelings and I often times get asked by clients to find homes without HOAs. I would say that a Majority of homes built in the past 20 years do have HOAs and I can't think of any new developments that don't have HOAs. In this subject, you will find many who feel the same way, but not all.

Eclectic neighborhoods here, as you define it would mean the grass is dead or now the whole front yard is one big concrete driveway. Custom homes are the closest you will find to what you describe as Eclectic. Almost all housing going back to the end of WWII here are some type of tract home unless it is custom.

[beachhead]

You would be way better served by moving to CA. There are plenty of eco-religious people for you to commune with. Lots of social programs where you are encouraged to abdicate your parental duties to the state too. Lots of "culture", and of course, there's the mecca of Hollywood, with it's glittering stars to share their all knowing opinion of world affairs. Lots of "causes" to keep you occupied; anywhere from "save the penny", to "save the whale", CA has it all. It doesn't get any better than CA for the progressive life style, and it's close to your relatives. You can also go to the beach and snow ski in the same day! Truly paradise compared to Las Vegas.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by DougAderyn

You bring up another question I've had: Are *all* neighborhoods HOA's!?! I lived on the Virginia side of DC for a year and it's the land of HOAs. They drive me NUTS! I seriously might have to reconsider LV just on that issue alone. I'm very against *paying* someone else to tell *me* what I can and can't do with my home.

There are plenty of non-HOA neighborhoods here. Most of them look like a bomb went off in between a AutoZone and a Toys-R-Us and the debris was dumped on these non-HOA neighborhoods as a temporary clean-up measure.

I'd rather deal with the nastygrams about weed removal than live next to Fred Sanford.

[DougAderyn]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

There are plenty of non-HOA neighborhoods here. Most of them look like a bomb went off in between a AutoZone and a Toys-R-Us and the debris was dumped on these non-HOA neighborhoods as a temporary clean-up measure.

I'd rather deal with the nastygrams about weed removal than live next to Fred Sanford.

Haha! That's so strange. I'm used to some homes that could use a mow or a little weeding. But, most folks who invest in homes usually want to keep them nice. How strange that people would spend all that money on a house and then let it look like "a bomb went off". That's really sad.