My last HOUSE in VEGAS........give you idea of LV HOUSING MARKET

[Doug]

Every home we looked at had a pool. We made that as a huge priority and I think that may have been the main reason we had such a hard time finding a home. If anyone wants to buy/sell a home in Vegas, a pool is a huge selling point. The thing is in Vegas most homes look exactly the same, especially in Summerlin area where most were built in last 15 years. They have no real idenity without basements, no yards, etc... Not a whole lot of difference between them as they are all pretty much the same compared to where I am from (the mid-west, where homes and yards are quite different).

Looked at one home right by the M (best casino in Vegas nowadays, IMO) but didn't do it. Sorry FH I know we agree on a lot of things but Summerlin is a way better place to live no doubt in my mind. You are right about the closeness of things though in GV but I kind of like how Summerlin has the "no Vegas" feel to it. Go as far west as you can, preferably west of the 215 or in what they call South Summerlin to be specific,, that area is very nice. Over by the Red Rock area, cooler, nice mountain views and away from the hustle and bustle of it all. Good place to walk a dog, LOL.

I think I'd like the far west side ( Summerlin) over GV/ Henderson myself Iceman. I left around Jan 1996. The town ended around Buffalo then ( I think). I don't require the size you and FH seem to need. I've got a bit over 1300 SF and 2BR/ 2.5 ba no garage or carport, and it is too big for two people.

I don't want a condo ever again, hate paying $222 a month for very little. I never paid water bills while in NV from late 1989 ( right before the earthquake game in SF) to around Jan 1996. Is a pool expensive to maintain in the desert ? I could see water becoming a problem in LV. Electricity in the summer for AC could be pretty large too, but not much heating needed so it would even out. I had a swamp cooler at one place I rented by myself, never had utilities in my name elsewhere. I spent 5 years just East of Washington and Eastern....I could buy in that hood for maybe 50k now !

Way out west for a bit over 100k sounds really nice and it can be quite a bit under 1700 sf. I'd like it to be under 10 years old with a 2 car garage and an outdoor jacuzzi and I guess a pool. 2 bedrooms is plenty, no basement of course....I hate wet ass basements anyway ! 1400 SF would be enough.

I think extreme Western LV is now at the front of my potential list of destinations, just have to sell what I got now.

I'd be in familiar territory but a nice neighborhood, and close to familiar old San Diego. I just would have to figure out how to make some money and get health insurance once there.

Anything you find that fits me Iceman ? I'd like to keep it under 125k.

[ronjon619]

FISH, 1700 square feet is not big enough. You have to go 3000 at least and you can afford it.

If you go with the 1700 foot home, then in 9 months you will regret it. GO BIGGER OR DONT GO AT ALL

that's why the housing market is in the toilet. A lot of people are RENTERS now because of this.

[HUSALAH]

I'm on mls now, yes we do have it, crazy when u look at charts of certain demographics peaking then crashing, sad.

[Doug]

that's why the housing market is in the toilet. A lot of people are RENTERS now because of this.

Well I believe PO has several children and some larger animals to house. FH just has his GF. 1700 SF and 3 BR is a bit much for two ( IMO) but he's probably thinking the market recovers and price doubles in 10 years or something like that, so he might buy a 3,000 sf place. He's no idiot, I respect his vision.

I'm fine with just 2 BR and a big garage and I guess a pool too. I want to be able to park a ******* motorcycle in my parking spot if I want to. **** condos.

[Doug]

Spent the past 2 weeks looking at some homes for our move back to LV from SD. Just wanted to see what was out there and boy were we really shocked, sure the prices were affordable and more in line with reality unlike 5 years ago but there was one thing we were not expecting.

Houses are selling fast now. It really surprised me. Every agent told us the same thing but then again I think they are trained to tell buyers that. It seemed if we had any interest in a home it was gone within one day. Sellers are so scared and buyers with record low low interest rates are jumping on these bargains. Bottom line Vegas in finally priced right. After a few weeks of having every house we were serious about be gone within 24 hours we gave up and have decided to stay renting for the time being.

Not sure how serious we really were if push came to shove or what this exactly means either for the future.

I respect what both you and FH have to say about LV property since I've been out of town for 15 years.

I am leaving CT as soon as I can sell my condo, not much reason to stay here. I think both of you guys have helped me to see that back to LV ( in a nicer part) is a real strong option. I think I'd like the west side over Green Valley.

Thanks guys !

[Grits n' Gravy]

Crazy fh. Got a nice spot up in Queensridge for pennies on the dollar a few years back. Owner was desperate to sell. Flipped my place in San Diego and bought my current house. A little too big, but it is a nice private area with a big yard.

[Fishhead]

Renting on the rise
With homeowner markets stressed, it appears renting has become more appealing than owning. Between 2004 and 2009, the number of renter households rose nearly 10% or by 3.4 million, according to a 2010 study of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. The rise was most dramatic in the Midwest, where growth of renter households swung upwards by 15.4% between 2004 to 2009. The South added the biggest number of renter households with a 1.2 million increase from 2004 to 2009, the study states.
All that has made Capitol Hill rethink its definition of the American Dream. As recently as the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, the mantra of homeownership was almost synonymous to civic duty, but top policymakers now say that homeownership isn't necessarily good for everyone.
In May, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan testified before a House committee that the financial crisis proved the need for a better balance between ownership and rental housing. And HUD senior official Raphael Bostic last week told the Washington Post: "In previous eras, we haven't seen people question whether homeownership was the right decision. It was just assumed that's where you want to go," Bostic said. "You're not going to hear us say that."
Owning a home wasn't always as easy as the liar loans of 2000's made it. When the economy went bust during the Great Depression, legislation intended to stimulate plummeting housing starts and defaulting mortgages laid the foundation for a bigger role of government over the housing market. Hoover signed the Federal Home Loan Act, and in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Home Owners' Loan Corporation to provide low interest loans.
And the government was just getting started: a flurry of legislation was passed over the ensuing decades, helping veterans, minorities and the populace as a whole secure mortgages. But it appears the pendulum has swung.
"The government shouldn't blindly encourage homeownership," says Joe Gyourko, real estate finance professor at University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. "If the government does anything the government should encourage people to make the right decision."
Gyourko says that he's not entirely against the idea of homeownership. After all, as a father of two, the 53-year-old professor owns a home. But he stresses that ownership should be looked at more broadly -- beyond any kind of long-term investment or cost benefit over renting.
Owners don't pay the landlord, but they pay taxes and maintenance costs on their house, and Gyourko says those costs can end up being roughly the same.
As far as buying a house as a smart long-term investment, Gyourko says that's not always true. He says between 1975 and 2008, the price for houses of similar quality and size appreciated an average of about 1% per year after inflation. Investors could have earned more by buying Treasury bills.
The post-crisis role the federal government decides to play in the housing market remains to be seen. In response to plunging home prices and record foreclosures rates, the Obama administration is pursuing an overhaul of policies that could put much less focus on homeownership. The administration could also scale down government support of home loans and put more focus on affordable rentals, but it isn't clear what direction officials will take.
The issues with Fannie Mae (FNM, Fortune 500) and Freddie Mac (FRE, Fortune 500), the mortgage-finance giants seized by the government in September 2008 amid huge problems with bad loans, remain a touchy topic with lawmakers.Their combined bailout, according to some estimates, could reach $1 trillion -- a figure some might pin as the ultimate cost of generations of policies geared to favor home ownership.
Many blame the agencies' loose lending practices for contributing to the financial crisis. Republicans wanted the mortgage giants' fates to be addressed in the recently approved Dodd-Frank bill overhauling the nation's financial regulations, but that didn't happen.
However lawmakers define the government's role in the housing market, consumers have already begun redefining the American Dream: One where it has become socially OK to mail in a rent check rather than a mortgage coupon.

[jjgold]

Renting does seem better than owning in many states due to highf taxes especially around northeast.

Florida us only good for people over 65 anyone else I would advise to leave.

[Fishhead]

Renting does seem better than owning in many states due to highf taxes especially around northeast.

Florida us only good for people over 65 anyone else I would advise to leave.

Somewhat true statement..........

I think Florida is best suited for the 21-35 and 68 and older group............36-67 it is a grind.

[betyuda]

I don t know i rather live in a condo. Easier maintenance and cleaning.

[Fishhead]

I don t know i rather live in a condo. Easier maintenance and cleaning.

Not with a ROCK YARD in Vegas.............another VEGAS plus.

[str]

Renting on the rise
With homeowner markets stressed, it appears renting has become more appealing than owning. Between 2004 and 2009, the number of renter households rose nearly 10% or by 3.4 million, according to a 2010 study of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. The rise was most dramatic in the Midwest, where growth of renter households swung upwards by 15.4% between 2004 to 2009. The South added the biggest number of renter households with a 1.2 million increase from 2004 to 2009, the study states.
All that has made Capitol Hill rethink its definition of the American Dream. As recently as the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, the mantra of homeownership was almost synonymous to civic duty, but top policymakers now say that homeownership isn't necessarily good for everyone.
In May, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan testified before a House committee that the financial crisis proved the need for a better balance between ownership and rental housing. And HUD senior official Raphael Bostic last week told the Washington Post: "In previous eras, we haven't seen people question whether homeownership was the right decision. It was just assumed that's where you want to go," Bostic said. "You're not going to hear us say that."
Owning a home wasn't always as easy as the liar loans of 2000's made it. When the economy went bust during the Great Depression, legislation intended to stimulate plummeting housing starts and defaulting mortgages laid the foundation for a bigger role of government over the housing market. Hoover signed the Federal Home Loan Act, and in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Home Owners' Loan Corporation to provide low interest loans.
And the government was just getting started: a flurry of legislation was passed over the ensuing decades, helping veterans, minorities and the populace as a whole secure mortgages. But it appears the pendulum has swung.
"The government shouldn't blindly encourage homeownership," says Joe Gyourko, real estate finance professor at University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. "If the government does anything the government should encourage people to make the right decision."
Gyourko says that he's not entirely against the idea of homeownership. After all, as a father of two, the 53-year-old professor owns a home. But he stresses that ownership should be looked at more broadly -- beyond any kind of long-term investment or cost benefit over renting.
Owners don't pay the landlord, but they pay taxes and maintenance costs on their house, and Gyourko says those costs can end up being roughly the same.
As far as buying a house as a smart long-term investment, Gyourko says that's not always true. He says between 1975 and 2008, the price for houses of similar quality and size appreciated an average of about 1% per year after inflation. Investors could have earned more by buying Treasury bills.
The post-crisis role the federal government decides to play in the housing market remains to be seen. In response to plunging home prices and record foreclosures rates, the Obama administration is pursuing an overhaul of policies that could put much less focus on homeownership. The administration could also scale down government support of home loans and put more focus on affordable rentals, but it isn't clear what direction officials will take.
The issues with Fannie Mae (FNM, Fortune 500) and Freddie Mac (FRE, Fortune 500), the mortgage-finance giants seized by the government in September 2008 amid huge problems with bad loans, remain a touchy topic with lawmakers.Their combined bailout, according to some estimates, could reach $1 trillion -- a figure some might pin as the ultimate cost of generations of policies geared to favor home ownership.
Many blame the agencies' loose lending practices for contributing to the financial crisis. Republicans wanted the mortgage giants' fates to be addressed in the recently approved Dodd-Frank bill overhauling the nation's financial regulations, but that didn't happen.
However lawmakers define the government's role in the housing market, consumers have already begun redefining the American Dream: One where it has become socially OK to mail in a rent check rather than a mortgage coupon.

Capital Hill is rethinking . What a f'in joke!
Banks, and greedy investors hopping out of the market when it would not net 15-30% yearly gains and hopping into the 0% down condo and townhouse market hoping to flip in 3 years is what pulled the vast majority of all real estate down.Yes it was rising to fast but would have fixed itself as it ALWAYS HAS had it not been for the interest only loans or the huge balloon scheme loans created to allow people that in reality could not yet afford a home , to buy one.
Banks and re-finance whores made this happen with the stated income BS among other things. Then everyone runs to the TV and listens to Katie Couric tell you were all gonna die.
Most are renting today because the Banks will not loan to people without stellar credit. The classic over reaction. Those were the same pricks that loaned to ANYONE 3 years ago.
Congress won't challenge the banks! Don't bite the hand that feeds you ,you For Sale to the highest bidder crooked POS!

[ejfel01]

To be honest, there isn't really a particularly bad time to buy an estate.

wow, what a time to buy!

[Fishhead]

To be honest, there isn't really a particularly bad time to buy an estate.

HUH?

[Iceman]

Not with a ROCK YARD in Vegas.............another VEGAS plus.

It's called desert landscape here in LV.

Seriously my wife is obsessed with having to have a small piece of grass (becasue noboday has a big lawn) too look at and for the dogs to go the bathroom. Trees are also something she has to have.

Seriously some of the backyards look like a prison yard. You are surrounded by a 12 foot or so high cement wall with no grass, etc... This is actually fairly common in many backyards in the newer areas. Like you said not much upkeep needed.

[Fishhead]

It's called desert landscape here in LV.

Seriously my wife is obsessed with having to have a small piece of grass (becasue noboday has a big lawn) too look at and for the dogs to go the bathroom. Trees are also something she has to have.

Seriously some of the backyards look like a prison yard. You are surrounded by a 12 foot or so high cement wall with no grass, etc... This is actually fairly common in many backyards in the newer areas. Like you said not much upkeep needed.

A pool, whirlpool, and waterfall are a must have in backyard.

[Scorpion]

If you want to buy a house what are the best web sites for listings and information?

[Fishhead]

if you want to buy a house what are the best web sites for listings and information?

zillow
fatwallet
sbr
money
twoplustwo

[Iceman]

Yeah Doug west is where you want to be but the problem is most things are more expensive out that way, not a lot but more expensive and even harder to find. It's cooler out that way also, nicer, newer, safer, just an all around better area.

How old are you?

True story all my wife and I wanted/needed was something smaller like a 3/2 or 2/2 place in a safe, quiet neighborhood. Surprisngly some of the neighborhoods in LV, though very new don't have the best group of people living there. We don't have kids (yet) so we didn't really care or need to live by them. In fact I personally prefered to not live by them if I had my choice (I know I sound like an old scrooge, I am just saying I like kids but I like quiet) so when I found smaller homes in these real quiet neighborhoods we called on a lot of them and almost all of these were in these so called 50 (or 55) and older communities.

They are super nice and considerably cheaper over there, like 300 dollars or so a month less on average for what you get and most importantly they are evrywhere. It honestly wasn't really about the money either (though that was nice) as I just liked these neighborhoods much better because when i drove by it was like a ghost town, nobody outside, nobody bothering anyone, etc.. I eventually got so frustrated cause every house I found that fit what we wanted and where we wanted was in one of these communities. Finally I said screw it and just called about renting one and tried to bargain with the agent telling her what if I put the lease in my my mothers name and told people I was staying with her cause she was in bad health, etc.... The lady said she didn't know for sure but could see trouble down the road.

If we didn't seriously walk our dogs so much I am not sure we couldn't have pulled it off. Just pull in and out of the garage and get the mail would be the only times anyone would probably see us. Even though I am barrleing down on 40 (yuck), my wife (34) and I look a lot younger then our age so there was no way we could pull it off.

Anyways I am the same as use you, screw condos but those are everywhere. The thing is I am not sure outside of the older communities that they build homes much smaller then 1,200 sq ft and even those are rare. In fact I am sure there is a certain size they must be espcially in a newer community like Summerlin probably 1,200 sq ft or it's a condo. No question at all the place you are describing is those 50 and over commmunites I mentioned. If you are old enough, its exactly where you want to be. If not your probably looking at a minimum $1,250 a month or so to be in the south summerlin area.

[Fishhead]

ICE, you really need to get off "THE WEST is BETTER BANDWAGON"..........

[Fishhead]

The main thing to consider for location if moving to VEGAS is to avoid the NE quadrant.


RANKINGS of QUADRANTS ..........

1T..... SE & NW
3........SW
4........NE

[Fishhead]

I personally could not see myself living nowhere in VEGAS other then in........


SUMMERLIN/NEAR SUMMERLIN or

GREENVALLEY/NEAR GREENVALLEY

[Iceman]

I personally could not see myself living nowhere in VEGAS other then in........


SUMMERLIN/NEAR SUMMERLIN or

GREENVALLEY/NEAR GREENVALLEY

It's not that I don't like GV, it's just I like the Summerlin area more. Now if I was runnning from casino to casino GV may be where I want to be.

I can promise you BillsFan would be all about Summerlin and Billsfan will have the last say, LOL!!!

[Fishhead]

It's not that I don't like GV, it's just I like the Summerlin area more. Now if I was runnning from casino to casino GV may be where I want to be.

I can promise you BillsFan would be all about Summerlin and Billsfan will have the last say, LOL!!!

She loves BARLEYS and GREEN VALLEY RANCH..........particularly BARLEYS.


Don't be so certain of that........other then she would indeed have the last say.

[Fishhead]

Home ownership falls to lowest level in 11 years

By Julianne Pepitone, staff reporterJuly 27, 2010: 5:09 PM ET




NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The number of Americans who own homes fell in the second quarter of the year to the lowest level since 1999, said a government survey released Tuesday.
The Census Bureau said the home ownership rate fell to 66.9% in the second quarter of 2010, down half a percentage point from the previous year. The home ownership rate was 67.1% in the first quarter of the year

[Doug]

Yeah Doug west is where you want to be but the problem is most things are more expensive out that way, not a lot but more expensive and even harder to find. It's cooler out that way also, nicer, newer, safer, just an all around better area.

How old are you?

True story all my wife and I wanted/needed was something smaller like a 3/2 or 2/2 place in a safe, quiet neighborhood. Surprisngly some of the neighborhoods in LV, though very new don't have the best group of people living there. We don't have kids (yet) so we didn't really care or need to live by them. In fact I personally prefered to not live by them if I had my choice (I know I sound like an old scrooge, I am just saying I like kids but I like quiet) so when I found smaller homes in these real quiet neighborhoods we called on a lot of them and almost all of these were in these so called 50 (or 55) and older communities.

They are super nice and considerably cheaper over there, like 300 dollars or so a month less on average for what you get and most importantly they are evrywhere. It honestly wasn't really about the money either (though that was nice) as I just liked these neighborhoods much better because when i drove by it was like a ghost town, nobody outside, nobody bothering anyone, etc.. I eventually got so frustrated cause every house I found that fit what we wanted and where we wanted was in one of these communities. Finally I said screw it and just called about renting one and tried to bargain with the agent telling her what if I put the lease in my my mothers name and told people I was staying with her cause she was in bad health, etc.... The lady said she didn't know for sure but could see trouble down the road.

If we didn't seriously walk our dogs so much I am not sure we couldn't have pulled it off. Just pull in and out of the garage and get the mail would be the only times anyone would probably see us. Even though I am barrleing down on 40 (yuck), my wife (34) and I look a lot younger then our age so there was no way we could pull it off.

Anyways I am the same as use you, screw condos but those are everywhere. The thing is I am not sure outside of the older communities that they build homes much smaller then 1,200 sq ft and even those are rare. In fact I am sure there is a certain size they must be espcially in a newer community like Summerlin probably 1,200 sq ft or it's a condo. No question at all the place you are describing is those 50 and over commmunites I mentioned. If you are old enough, its exactly where you want to be. If not your probably looking at a minimum $1,250 a month or so to be in the south summerlin area.

I'll be 47 in a few months, wife is over 50. No kids, they are adults. I guess I could pull off a 50+ place easily enough.

[Fishhead]

Doug, enjoy all Vegas has to offer..........but keep level headed.

[Doug]

Ice: There are some smaller places....

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/10240--Falling-Needle-Av_Las-Vegas_NV_89135_1118133448?source=ig

This one built in 2003 is only 85k but lacks a pool.

I'm guessing you want to be South of Charleston for it to be called Summerlin South ?

Summerlin was just getting started when I left vegas.

I know what you mean about the prison like yards. You sure don't need a lawnmower at a lot of places, even if you did you might have .2 acres and the house covers 25% of the lot.

an older home might at least have some grass and maybe even a mature palm tree or something.

[Doug]

I lived in this neighborhood from 1990-1995

http://www.zillow.com/homes/2828-willoughby-89101_rb/

Not the greatest hood, older homes from the 60's

These houses were worth 150 k about 4 years ago, now 50K. I saw a sale for $37,000 reported.

[Fishhead]

Geezus Doug, that area's a borderline warzone.


I can't imagine ICEMAN ever living here...........

[Doug]

Geezus Doug, that area's a borderline warzone.


I can't imagine ICEMAN ever living here...........

It wasn't that bad actually. A lot of Mexicans in that hood but they can be very good neighbors. The burglar bars are not a look that I like very much.

I called a friend of mine in LV ( he's a retired realtor) he suggested looking into auctions for homes there, he gave me this site.....

http://www.williamsauction.com/Searc...Date=2010-07-1 0:00&toDate=2010-09-1 0:00&zip=89135&zipradius=30&sqft=1000,10 00000&bedrooms=2,999&bathrooms=2.5,999&y earBuilt=2000,2004

nothing there for 89135 today.

he said there were many more like it.

I foresee a big problem bringing the cat. She hates to be put in a cage and driven anymore....non stop crying. I don't know about 2700 miles of that, and then trying to find pet friendly motels along the way.

Even in LV, I'll need a place for at least a month while looking for a house, cat will be hard to get in.

How did you manage to move your animals Iceman ?

Is it feasible to leave the cat with a friend in CT and somehow have it flown to Vegas later on ? The drive there and month or so renting would be really tough with Cooter.

Now it will probably take me forever to sell the condo. I'd like to be gone by the end of November if possible to miss the winter here.

[Iceman]

Ice: There are some smaller places....

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/10240--Falling-Needle-Av_Las-Vegas_NV_89135_1118133448?source=ig

This one built in 2003 is only 85k but lacks a pool.

I'm guessing you want to be South of Charleston for it to be called Summerlin South ?

Summerlin was just getting started when I left vegas.

I know what you mean about the prison like yards. You sure don't need a lawnmower at a lot of places, even if you did you might have .2 acres and the house covers 25% of the lot.

an older home might at least have some grass and maybe even a mature palm tree or something.

Nice little find. Decent neighborhood over there. If you notice it says contingent offer on it meaning someone is going through the process of livng there and the house is basically off the market unless something falls through. A majority of homes are like this.

True story: We had a guy mow our lawn for like $25 each time or something. Took him about 3 minutes. One time he didn't show so I went out and bout a weed whacker thing and did it and we actually had a average size lawn for Vegas standards.

[Doug]

Yeah Doug west is where you want to be but the problem is most things are more expensive out that way, not a lot but more expensive and even harder to find. It's cooler out that way also, nicer, newer, safer, just an all around better area.

I used to to work construction in the early 90's, very often at the Western edge of town ( I forget if that was Buffalo or Durango or some other street name, but as far West as the roads went back then). I recall the temperature difference, light traces of snow were not uncommon in " Winter".
How old are you?

True story all my wife and I wanted/needed was something smaller like a 3/2 or 2/2 place in a safe, quiet neighborhood. Surprisngly some of the neighborhoods in LV, though very new don't have the best group of people living there. We don't have kids (yet) so we didn't really care or need to live by them. In fact I personally prefered to not live by them if I had my choice (I know I sound like an old scrooge, I am just saying I like kids but I like quiet) so when I found smaller homes in these real quiet neighborhoods we called on a lot of them and almost all of these were in these so called 50 (or 55) and older communities.

What areas are you talking about by like cross streets or zip codes ? I'm gone from living in LV for 15 years now, stuff changes quickly there....or used to !


They are super nice and considerably cheaper over there, like 300 dollars or so a month less on average for what you get and most importantly they are evrywhere. It honestly wasn't really about the money either (though that was nice) as I just liked these neighborhoods much better because when i drove by it was like a ghost town, nobody outside, nobody bothering anyone, etc.. I eventually got so frustrated cause every house I found that fit what we wanted and where we wanted was in one of these communities. Finally I said screw it and just called about renting one and tried to bargain with the agent telling her what if I put the lease in my my mothers name and told people I was staying with her cause she was in bad health, etc.... The lady said she didn't know for sure but could see trouble down the road.

again where is over there ?
If we didn't seriously walk our dogs so much I am not sure we couldn't have pulled it off. Just pull in and out of the garage and get the mail would be the only times anyone would probably see us. Even though I am barrleing down on 40 (yuck), my wife (34) and I look a lot younger then our age so there was no way we could pull it off.

Anyways I am the same as use you, screw condos but those are everywhere. The thing is I am not sure outside of the older communities that they build homes much smaller then 1,200 sq ft and even those are rare. In fact I am sure there is a certain size they must be espcially in a newer community like Summerlin probably 1,200 sq ft or it's a condo. No question at all the place you are describing is those 50 and over commmunites I mentioned. If you are old enough, its exactly where you want to be. If not your probably looking at a minimum $1,250 a month or so to be in the south summerlin area.

I hate dumb rules at Condos. My current place isn't designated as Seniors only, but I'm well below the average and median ages for the place, at 46.5. No facilities at all here like Pool, Jacuzzi, tennis etc, not even garages or a carport It is smaller 57 or 67 units, managed by the old geezers that live here. They make dumb decisions like painting the buildings every 4-5 years instead of putting vinyl siding on them that would last 30+ years...they will be dead by then mentality. Still these units are 200k + for a nice condition 1 BR, 1.5 Ba......way too high. I have 2 br and 2.5 Ba, so we are talking more like 250K here, time to sell before it drops, IMO !

I hear you about how homes have grown in size. There are a lot of older ( 60's) homes that are like 3/1 and 950 sf, like on Willoughby that Jeff calls a warzone.

3 BR and 2.5 ba , and 1200 ++ sf seems to be the standard for post 1995 single family home construction in LV. I just don't want to deal with condo rules like I can't have a motorcycle, or even park one in my assigned parking area.

I'd rather have 2 empty unneeded bedrooms than live in a condo. I'm not going back to Eastern & Washington either, or Charleston & Decatur. Summerlin works for me even if I have to go 3/ 3/ 1500 +. 2/ 1.5/ 900 would be big enough but you are 100% correct....they don't build homes like that anymore. My first ( owned) condo was 1/1/714 and acceptable enough considering all the good stuff that came with it, hot tub, pool, tennis, billiards, indoor hoops etc.

I don't want to rent, will buy...but I need time to look.

[Iceman]

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/apa/1864413417.html

This might be an example of some place we are looking. Pretty nice for $1,600 a month but look at the backyard and how small. First one I found but most are all the same.

[Iceman]

Many neighborhodds have these same rules and fees nowadays. The last vegas home we lived in did also. No boats in driveway, extra cars, can't park in the street, lawn has to kept up including no dead spots, etc... This just isn't in condo areas anymore in fact I think its more the norm these days as currently we are living in Carlsbad, California and same type rules. They are called HOA fees.