Any Las Vegas Residents?

[MitchMiller]

It's looking like I will regretfully be forced to leave CA to seek out a tax friendly haven.  There are a few choices, but Las Vegas is top of the list since NV has no state income or capital gains tax and it's only a four hour drive from Palm Springs, where I live now... so I can move myself for a few hundred bucks.

I'm a single retired GWM, just turned 58.  I'm not interested in the bar scene or in meeting dates, but I am interested in platonic social groups. 

I welcome any suggestions about places to live in and around Las Vegas.  I'm looking for a low-class (cheap) apartment (studio) for < $700/month.  If I move it won't be until July 2015.  Suggestions?

[absopozilutely]

Leave Palm Springs?! No way! I loved it there when I went and visited a friend from the site. Went and partied at Hunters and Toucans, it was so amazing the atmosphere there, it felt like Gay people were the "normal" there and the straight couples looked a bit out of place. Lol. I have a friend who lives in Henderson, the big issue is the cost of living, especially during this drought.

[MitchMiller]

Yes, seems gay people are truly visibly everywhere in Palm Springs.  A friend of mine also told me to stay in Palm Springs.

I'm surprised though that you said cost of living was an issue in Henderson.  Perhaps that's due to the cost of water for landscaping? 

I'm finding low-end studio apartments around Las Vegas listed for 500 - 600 per month.  That's 100 per month cheaper than Palm Springs.  Add the state tax savings and my monthly income will increase by $300.  $300 is a lot to idle bums lime me (although I did just accept a part-time seasonal low-wage job).  I do love being a bum after 35 years of work, even if I'm poor.

[absopozilutely]

How much is your happiness worth to you? Yes, you could move to henderson and save money, but what are you going to do with the money? If you're getting by now, then to me, I'd rather be happy where i'm living. I mean, we only live once right?

[Miss Philicia]

The OP did not ask for an assessment of his decision to relocate -- he asked if there were any Las Vegas residents here with apartment suggestions.

[absopozilutely]

The OP did not ask for an assessment of his decision to relocate -- he asked if there were any Las Vegas residents here with apartment suggestions.

Ok, MissP, do I need to explain the concept of a forum? Now let's not turn you into a forum bully. Last I checked I didn't see the label moderator by your profile pic, thus, don't try and facilitate people's conversations, by interpreting what people do or do not want to hear.

[absopozilutely]

The OP did not ask for an assessment of his decision to relocate -- he asked if there were any Las Vegas residents here with apartment suggestions.

I do feel bad if this is how you are deciding to spend your Sunday afternoon by nitpicking my posts. I feel sorry for you.

[Basquo]

One of my besties lives in northwest LV, just outside the loop id that's what it is. I just texted her to see what she's paying for her 1-bedroom. It seemed close to a lot of stuff, and there is a street closeby that has EVERYTHING...Mexican restaurants, wig shops, pawn shops, tobacco stores, one of those small Wal Marts, nail shops, mini casinos...I'll let you know what  she says.

[Basquo]

Casa Grande Pines! They really have pine trees. I keep telling my friend to pick up those pine cones for holiday crafting! They are friends with the maintenance man who had dinner with us and is a fast-talking Cuban firecracker. They have a pool. Their rent on their one-bedroom just got raised to $585...that's about $400-500 less than apartments of a similar distance from downtown Austin. I suggest getting a unit that faces east; she has hard sun in the morning but after noon, it's all on the other side of the building.

http://www.casagrandepines.com/las-vegas/casa-grande-pines/map-and-directions/

She just told me that it's a nice place to live. We were neighbors starting 12 years ago and she's seen the spectrum of living arrangements so I trust that it's okay for low-end. I've been there several times. Plus, that roasted corn is really damn good :-)

[Basquo]

She also says look up CC Locator. They worked with her and got her a good move-in special.

[MitchMiller]

Thanks Basquo!  I saved that link for next spring when I start looking.  So far so good... my stocks haven't plummeted yet!

absopozilutely:  you're right about the relocation being a trade-off... but I don't know anyone here so it's not so hard to part ways.  And like my friend said, even if you meet people in Palm Springs, you can't afford to do anything with them (except maybe the Front Walkers)! 

I'll be renting, so I'll always have the option to liquidate any individual stocks while I'm in NV so I escape the taxes, then move back to CA.  The capital gains tax savings could be from 30 - 50K... so maybe that helps you understand my choice.  That's why a LOT of CA residents head off to low tax state for retirement.  I would have gone to Wilton Manors or Ft. Lauderdale, FL if it wasn't such a major move since FL also has no state tax.  I have an old friend retiring to Ft. Lauderdale soon.

At any rate, who knows what next year may bring in terms of my own health and the health of the financial markets.  I may be moving back to LA to work full time again... hope not.  Life's a gamble until all the chips are gone.

[2tcells]

hey my first time looking in off topic on this site but I live in vegas. it is mostly nice place to live as long as you don't have school age kids because the schools are very low rated. the link someone posted is a good area of town. you want to stay away from the east side (all of it) like Maryland parkway and lv blvd east is the bad part of town until you get far south past russel. stay away from living near boulder highway in Henderson. west, north west, south west is the best areas. north of craig west of mlk in north las vegas is good and cheap. central lv is bad stay away from where 15 and 95 freeway cross....

but vegas is a fun place to live I have kids and if I get a call from there grand parents saying they will take the kids for the night and its 5pm on anyday even Monday I just hit the strip or downtown you can get on the guest list for any club free and pass the line of people waiting, theres show all the time, events, pool partys, red rock canyon for hiking, lake mead for boating swiming, mt charelston for snow and trees and hiking, sheep range for hunting. all withing 30-45 minutes from vegas.

also you can rent 3 bed older homes for 700-800

[weasel]

http://www.apartmentguide.com/apartments/Nevada/Las-Vegas/Pine-Village/192233/   

  This link is for The Pines and many other rental properties .

  Bob and I lived in Las Vegas for 30 years , We first lived at Shetland & Pinto
 A great neighborhood , we rented a house for 4 years .
  Then we bought a home in Hyde Park ,  Charleston & Decatur .
   It was in transition but we loved living close to down town I commuted
 three miles to work 

  Valley View  & Alta is a nice area with several Condo's for rent .

   I hope you enjoy the move , I've been gone for ten years now and still
 miss everything  Las Vegas has to offer .

                                                    Weasel 

[2tcells]

downtown is great I went last night 3 live bands for free had t bone steak and lobster with sides for 9 bucks and gambled and broke even on cash but drank 10 bucks of free drinks. good night but today has been less productive than usual lol

vegas is great for very cheap and good food at casinos 16 oz prime rib 5 bucks all over town steak and lobster 9 bucks most local casinos rack of 16oz ribs 6 bucks. breakfast for steak and eggs is 3 bucks most places! they expect you to go for the food and spend money gambling

[weasel]

downtown is great I went last night 3 live bands for free had t bone steak and lobster with sides for 9 bucks and gambled and broke even on cash but drank 10 bucks of free drinks. good night but today has been less productive than usual lol

vegas is great for very cheap and good food at casinos 16 oz prime rib 5 bucks all over town steak and lobster 9 bucks most local casinos rack of 16oz ribs 6 bucks. breakfast for steak and eggs is 3 bucks most places! they expect you to go for the food and spend money gambling

     Back in the day the Buffets were   25 cents for breakfast , 75 cents for dinner 

     Last Summer I sat in front of a slot machine waiting for a free shot of Vodka , that shot cost me $40.oo
     
      Our house  had a view of the Stratosphere Tower , We could see all of the strip & Downtown
     fireworks from our balcony ,   I miss it so much .

                                                                                  Carl 

[MitchMiller]

Looks like I may be moving next month.  I was told by the managing agent the apartment building I live in is letting tenants terminate the lease early so the new owner can renovate.  I'm now just waiting to get my CA tag stickers so I'm legal to drive to NV.

I've done a lot of searching on the web for cheap, small apartments.  I want a small space to save on AC.  It seems I'll be looking in Winchester, contrary to the recommendations of a lot of LV residents on this and other forums.  Winchester, perhaps Paradise, downtown LV (Fremont area), and the arts district appear to be the only places I can get an apartment for $525 or less.  I don't want to pay more than that unless AC is included.

Does anyone have any opinions about The Diplomat Apartments?  A 430 sq ft. jr 1brm is $525.

I'm using the truila web site that has a color coded map of LV based on crime stats.  I'm looking at the Diplomat on Paradise Rd.  If I can't get one there, I'm going to look on the immediate block off Paradise on Sierra Vista, where the new police precinct in located.  Studios at The Sugar Tree are 415 sq ft and only $425 monthly.  One other choice is Lake Sahara that I like because I can walk to 24 Hour Fitness (it's the only one within walking distance) on Karen, one half block off S Eastern Ave.

The truila crime map shows these blocks as "green" although other blocks close by might be yellow.  Pink and red seem to be the crime hot spots, so it looks like much of the downtown and arts district areas are probably out of bounds for me.  I fear the cheapies in Paradise would be mostly UNLV students. I would rather deal with the crime than students.

I hope this works out because with the savings on rent and income tax, I should increase my monthly cash flow by $250  - enough for a bit of a social life !

[Jeff G]

Yelp ... said go for it ! http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-diplomat-las-vegas

[weasel]

       The Diplomat is a fine place , gay friendly too 

                                                      Carl

[Basquo]

Casa Grande Pines! They really have pine trees. I keep telling my friend to pick up those pine cones for holiday crafting! They are friends with the maintenance man who had dinner with us and is a fast-talking Cuban firecracker. They have a pool. Their rent on their one-bedroom just got raised to $585...that's about $400-500 less than apartments of a similar distance from downtown Austin. I suggest getting a unit that faces east; she has hard sun in the morning but after noon, it's all on the other side of the building.

http://www.casagrandepines.com/las-vegas/casa-grande-pines/map-and-directions/

She just told me that it's a nice place to live. We were neighbors starting 12 years ago and she's seen the spectrum of living arrangements so I trust that it's okay for low-end. I've been there several times. Plus, that roasted corn is really damn good :-)

Well, lookie there, either one of my posts was deleted or this post was edited. I talked about roasted corn but there's no context. How did that happen? Did someone take offense to my real true-life observation of someone selling roasted corn and bootleg DVDs out of an ice cream cart?

[MitchMiller]

Unfortunately, the Diplomat didn't have a unit that was clean to show me.  Seems in Las Vegas agents refuse to show a unit unless it's painted and cleaned, even though it's empty.  Casa Grande Pines have no 1Bdrms available.

So.. I ended up paying a bit more than I intended, but I got a one bedroom for $600 on the west side in a 55+ building, top floor unit, near to gym, strip, shopping.  So hopefully I won't be moving again.  This is my fifth move starting from 2008.  I'm going to try out a couple of the meetup groups.