In this relocation guide when moving to Las Vegas, we’ll discuss the factors you must consider to help you pick the ideal home. We’ll provide expert insights for each factor to help you better understand your housing options, pick the best location, educational opportunities, and more.
Planning a move or relocating to Las Vegas is an exciting journey. However, it’s a life-changing decision that requires careful planning to ensure a smooth transition. You must arm yourself with essential information to navigate your move to Las Vegas seamlessly.
Location is the number one factor to consider when moving to Las Vegas. You must consider your specific needs and what the area offers to ensure the right match.
Accessibility is another factor that impacts your choice of location. Access to the freeways can make it easy to travel in and out of a particular location to other areas in Las Vegas or neighboring states.
We’ll discuss a few communities or areas in Las Vegas to give potential home buyers some insights into the top communities within the city. These insights will help narrow your options to match what you’re looking for in a community or home.
Summerlin is one of the most desirable communities in Las Vegas. Thus, it is a popular destination for home buyers moving to Las Vegas or Nevada.
However, the popularity of Summerlin comes at a price. It’s more expensive in Summerlin than in most parts of Las Vegas. For example, the median home sales prices are higher than the rest of Las Vegas. The median sales price in Summerlin is $700,000 to $800,000, while the median sales price in Las Vegas is $450,000.
Summerlin offers many new construction and developments, especially in the West area. In addition, there are plenty of guard-gated communities for discerning home buyers.
Another factor that adds to the appeal of living in Summerlin is that many communities and homes offer excellent views of the Red Rock Canyon, and some even have Strip views. Summerlin residents also have access to shopping, dining, and entertainment. The Las Vegas Ballpark is located within the area, which makes it suitable for sports fans.
Henderson is a city, whereas Summerlin is a master-planned community. We’ve talked about Summerlin vs Henderson before, but since Henderson is a city, it is a much larger area with more neighborhoods. In fact, it’s an ideal starting point for anyone wanting to move to Las Vegas because you have more options to suit your needs and budget.
Some top neighborhoods in Henderson are Green Valley, Seven Hills, and the Anthem Country Club. Luxury home buyers can also find MacDonald Highlands and Ascaya.
Another reason to choose Henderson when you move to Las Vegas is its accessibility. It conveniently offers access to the airport and the Las Vegas Strip. In addition, it is close to Lake Mead, so you can take advantage of its location to enjoy water-based activities during the summer. You can also check out this guide on the cost of living in Henderson.
The Southwest area in Las Vegas is one of the most desirable communities for anyone wanting to relocate to Las Vegas. The area thrives with many established communities, such as Spring Valley, Spanish Trails, Enterprise, and other guard-gated communities like Rhodes Ranch and Southern Highlands.
The evidence of the Southwest area thriving is the state of developments, which includes the Durango Casino that is set to open in late 2023. The Uncommons is another top attraction in Southwest Las Vegas, which is a mixed-use area that will serve as the new hub for entertainment, work, shopping, and dining. Thus, Southwest residents don’t have to go to the Strip for dining and entertainment. However, if you need to go to The Strip, it’s still fairly accessible from this area.
Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy living in the Southwest as it has many mountain biking trails. It’s also closer to California, so if you need to travel to and from California for leisure or business, it’s a convenient location.
And finally, investors will enjoy the affordability of the homes in the Southwest of Las Vegas. Home prices are lower than in other parts of Las Vegas, especially Henderson and Summerlin.
The Northwest Las Vegas is a scenic area with gorgeous mountain views. Here, you will find Mount Charleston and Kyle Canyon. It is slightly more remote than the other communities we’ve already discussed, but it is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Residents can access hiking and skiing, and other outdoor explorations. If you like going to shops, bars, and restaurants, living in the Northwest is a bit farther away. However, it is only a 15- to 20-minute drive to Downtown Summerlin.
Potential home buyers can find several desirable communities in the Northwest, and Skye Canyon is a notable one. This community features beautiful homes with views and wide streets. Sunstone is another up-and-coming master-planned community with single and two-story homes.
In general, living in Northwest Las Vegas is more affordable than Summerlin.
The Strip is an excellent location if you want to be in the middle of it all. The Las Vegas Strip is a notable attraction because of its concentration of restaurants, bars, shops, and other forms of entertainment. If you want to be close to all of that, you’ve got plenty of options for high-rise buildings and condos. These condos are available for residential or investment purposes. It could also be where you would invest your second home. Depending on your goal and budget, you’ll find something here.
Speaking of budget, the condos in the Strip vary in terms of pricing. For example, Waldorf Astoria is the top destination for luxury condos ranging in the millions. On the other hand, you’ve got more affordable options that start in the $300,000 range, such as Vdara and Veer Towers.
This part of Las Vegas has gotten a bad rap, but the quality of living you can get depends on which area you live in. Therefore, take time to know each area to find the most desirable ones to live in. If you’re looking for new builds, most developments are concentrated in the Western part of North Las Vegas.
The one downside to buying a home in this location is that they are a bit farther from the airport. Remember this if you travel often and must travel to and from the airport.
The upside is that the homes are more affordable in North Las Vegas than in other parts, like Summerlin and Henderson.
The region of East Las Vegas is another one that is not generally considered by many home buyers moving to Las Vegas. However, it’s a good area to start your search because you will find many established neighborhoods. You can find historic homes with larger lots for a more affordable price than you would find elsewhere for the same lot and home sizes.
In addition, many homes and communities in East Las Vegas don’t have HOA fees. And if they do, the HOA fees are considerably lower than the rest of Las Vegas.
One of the unique things about moving to Las Vegas is that you won’t be paying a state income tax. It’s part of the appeal for anyone relocating to Las Vegas. In addition, the sales tax is lower at 8.38% compared to other major cities in the US. The same goes for property taxes in Las Vegas.
Your taxes on your purchased home will be based on the assessed amount of the home. In the case of new construction homes, it is approximately 1% of the home’s sales price. For example, if you buy a $1 million dollar home in Las Vegas, you will pay the tax amount of $10,000.
Another unique feature of the Las Vegas tax law is that there is a tax cap, which limits how much your taxes can increase per year. The tax cap varies according to what type of property you own and if it’s owner-occupied. For older homes that are owner-occupied, the taxes are considerably lower. There is a tax cap of 3% annually on owner-occupied homes. Therefore, it’s something to consider when buying homes in Las Vegas since you will likely save more when buying established homes.
The HOA fee is an important consideration when moving to Las Vegas because it’s an additional expense you must consider. Most new master-planned communities and condos have HOAs, but it is also possible to find communities without HOA fees. However, the latter are mostly established and older communities.
While paying for HOA is an additional monthly expense when moving to Las Vegas, think about the purpose of paying for the HOA. This cost will cover the maintenance of the amenities, such as pools, parks, and community centers. Therefore, you can get your money’s worth if it provides access to well-maintained amenities.
The SIDs and LIDs are another expense to consider when moving to Las Vegas. Like the HOAs, most communities in Las Vegas do charge them, which you must pay for a finite amount of time (such as up to 20 years). For communities that have SIDs and LIDs, there is a special assessment done upon purchase to determine how much you’d pay for them.
The SIDs and LIDs are fees that cover the basic infrastructure within the community, such as building the streets, sidewalks, and light posts, to name a few. We’ve covered more about this topic in this guide.
Undoubtedly, the cost of living in Las Vegas has increased in the past few years. It is mostly due to the influx of residents moving to Las Vegas from other states.
However, you can make up for the high cost of living because there is no state income tax in Las Vegas. You can use those savings to pay off your mortgage.
It is also worth mentioning that the cost of living in Las Vegas is still lower compared to other major cities in the US, such as Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Honolulu.
The older adult and retiree demographic in Las Vegas is growing by the day. Therefore, it is essential to consider access to healthcare when relocating to Las Vegas.
While you can find hospitals and healthcare centers, there is a significant lack of specialists and advanced healthcare clinics in Las Vegas. However, you can purchase your own healthcare insurance to access basic healthcare services without the premium prices.
The abundance of things to do in Las Vegas is part of the reason why many people are moving to this area. The Strip alone provides a seemingly endless array of entertainment opportunities, dining, shopping, and more. Therefore, it’s a thriving spot for anyone who wants to be part of that lively scene and have access to all kinds of entertainment throughout the year.
But you can still find plenty of things to do in Las Vegas outside of The Strip. The Smith Center and other multimedia venues are available for performances, such as Broadway tours, ballets, etc. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are many golfing courses and hiking trails in Las Vegas. There is something for everyone, so be sure to watch out on our YouTube channel as we publish monthly guides on the top events happening in Las Vegas.
Finally, families relocating to Las Vegas must consider the educational options available for their kids. Luckily, Las Vegas is home to many top-rated public and private schools.
You can also find magnet & charter schools, which are state-funded, so you won’t have to pay extra to send your children to these schools. However, most charter schools have a merit-based admission system, so you can pick the best schools that align with your child’s interests and skills. One example is the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center.
