vegas

Nicer as in sky high taxes, little boxes for homes, cold weather, bad air, overcrowding and traffic jams and crime. For many years the lie has been told that california is the best place to live. That is no longer true unless you are poor or a millionaire. For the middle class it is a very poor standard of living.

thinbrit

I loved the climate in California. You are pretty much on the nose with everything else. You forgot to mention the abundance of bleeding-heart liberals that call it home

Sally Redux

'World class' doesn't just mean sticking a replica of the Eiffel Tower on top.

Homeiswheretheheartis

I wouldn't worry about the driving test in Vegas. I did it 2 years ago and it scary how easy it was. I had to do a reverse park between two containers. The gap was so big that I could have parked TWO mini buses between them.

You pay aprox $100 deposit on each utility that they usually keep for a year. The TV/cable is really expensive and they charge a connection fee. I would recommend not automatically getting cable TV. We did and after a month of the worst and most expensive TV ever, we got rid and now just use the internet and netflix, you can also pick up a few free channels with a cheap TV ariel.

I would fight for a good relocation package as it cost us much more than we expected coming over.

I'm living in Vegas at the moment, ask away and I'll try to help.

gingerbeacon

Thanks for all the replies.

May I ask how much the connection fee was for cable? For my wife if will be a must.

vegas

Cox is the only real choice for internet in vegas. $50 per month for 25/5. Directv has the best dvr system for tv at about $90 per month with no premium channels.
A very good forum for Vegas info is

http://www.city-data.com/forum/las-vegas/

Homeiswheretheheartis

From what I remember, it cost more depending on how many cable points you had put in. I think asked for 3 cable points and it cost over $300, thats with cox. I do believe as Vegas said that Direct TV is cheaper all round.

I also ment to mention mobile phones, if you go on a contract they ask for a deposit as well. But you can now get non contract with no deposit just pay every month for the same package. Also, when getting a mobile check that the provide works in the area you will be. My husband works just outside Vegas and TMobile doesn't work there. Pay as you go in the US doesn't exist the same as the UK. Don't bother with a Sat Nav as a good mobile will have it on already.

One thing that shocked us when we arrived was the price of second hand cars. Its not like the UK where you can pick up a shed under a grand, that shed here would cost double and have about 175,000 miles on.

We managed for over a year while building up credit, but we did have $5,000 in the bank and payed cash for two cheap cars.

We rent here, will you be renting, as I have a few tips on that as well. Also, I have two kids that are in public school, if you need any info.

Hotscot

Still curious...what type of business and why Vegas particularly for the business?

Poppy girl

Electric and gas you don't need credit but they will request a deposit, in Reno I know if we had not had good credit it was going to be $180 to connect us

Tegwyn

We are looking at Summerlin area of Vegas for one of our retirement homes. Lovely area and I do observe many MANY Californians moving their permanent residences there to escape the taxes. Love that Nevada has no state tax. Always welcome the suckers that come in and plonk their dosh in those guzzling machines as those taxes pay for much of what is needed in the state. Not only that, it is close enough to the coastal area by road or to surrounding states. Loads of friends in Arizona and New Mexico so really a drive away. I am retired now but hubby wants to work another 5 years as he is having fun doing what he is doing. I am heading back to Ayr soon as we are looking at another wee place for my Scotsman that wants a bit of home every now and again.

Homeiswheretheheartis

I live in Summerlin, close to Sun City area, which is the retirement sub division. Vegas doesn't make enough tax from the casinos, the police force have had to take massive cuts and are now asking for sales tax to rise. The school class sizes are at 40+ and schools are overflowing. Theres not enough money for a new school and NVs voted no to extra schools in the last election. Which won't worry you, but Vegas is not rolling in it. Vegas has no tax to encourage people here, why else would anyone live in the middle of the desert miles from everywhere.

House prices are now on the rise as there is very short supply especially Summerlin. So if you are thinking of buying here do so soon.

gingerbeacon

Thanks for all the info.

I cant say which company etc I am with at the moment.

Any advise on Renting would be great. We are told that henserson and sunnerlin are the places to look?

Any good sites so I can get an idea of what is out there.

Moving from the UK so would they ask for more of a deposit?

Bob

You have no credit history, that's why you'll be asked for deposits, on a rental they might want more as it would be easier and safer from to do with someone who has history.

Homeiswheretheheartis

I live in Summerlin but Henderson is also nice, it really depends where you are working for location. Without saying the company, do you know whereabouts you are working.

You will need a deposit we paid $2000 deposit and a months rent upfront of $1500 for a house. Summerlin is a very good area with a mixture of big houses, middle size houses and apartments. Lots of shops close by. I hate saying this but its a very white middle class area. There are other good areas, not just Summerlin, but its the one everyone knows about.

We pay $1500 for a 3 bedroomed, 2.5 bath detached house, no pool. But Summerlin has community pools. Most the housing in Vegas is in sub divisions, think group of houses surrounded by a wall, some with gates, some with guards. If you are looking at a apartment they are usually in a complex that has gates and have swimming pools on the complex.

The sub divisions with gates are no safer that the ones without (expect the ones with armed guards).

Try and rent a house that has an alarm installed, you usually pay monthly for it to a security company. I don't want to scare you but the peace of mind it gives you when your in a country where EVERYONE is armed, is priceless.

Other areas to consider are if schooling isn't an issue are Desert Shores, Centennial Hills (cheaper area because very far out from centre of Vegas and most things) and Peccole Ranch. I can't comment on Henderson as I don't know it well. North Las Vegas/Nellis area is the place people say not to go to.

I would point out that Vegas does get cold so pools are needed to be heated at least 6/7 months of the year. It is REALLY expensive to heat a pool and not that many houses have them. I would recommend getting a house/apartment in a complex or sub division that has one for owners/renters use only.

Also, renting here you need to contact a realtor that will then show you around rental houses.

Rental contacts are not standard here so be careful what you are signing. If you can look for the following points.

1. Garden upkeep, palm trees are expensive to keep on top of so if you can get a garden upkeep included in the rental.

2. If you have a pool, include the pool man as its usually about $100 a month.

3. Washer/dryer are normally included in the rent. Check who fixes them and other appliances.

4. Aircon is the same, check who pays if broken.

5. Also what the cover is fixing things, eg. anything under $100 to pay we have to cover the costs and they don't fix windows

I just wanted to point out that in the US the rental agreements are not the same as in the UK and little things can catch you out. Also, your realtor can negotiate for you.

Depending on the time of year you move, rental availability changes. Its always a little harder in Summer, Jun, Jul and Aug

Sites to look at realtor.com, homes.com and rentlasvegashomes.com

Hope this helps a little

Poppy girl

Homeiswheretheheart is "A country where everyone is armed" plus my corporate office is in Vegas and I asked them about the gun situation before and they laughed at me!