Living in Las Vegas - Fun, Sun and Real Estate

Living in Las Vegas - Fun, Sun, and Real Estate

by Lori Ballen of The Ballen Group at Keller Williams Realty Las Vegas Summerlin

Las Vegas is more than a collection of casinos and all you can eat buffets.  Indeed, for the town’s two million residents, the area is an area of rich natural wonders, and vibrant Las Vegas neighborhoods that the tourist rarely sees.  Living in the largest city in Nevada is an exciting mix of big-city life, and the intrinsic beauty of the barren desert landscape that surrounds the city.

Parks and Recreation

Residents of Sin City quickly learn that the town’s sobriquet, Lost Wages is well deserved.  As such, while the typical tourist allures, which are found inside the towering casinos and flashy floor shows, are lost on the long time resident, there are plenty of things to do without having to be on the Strip.  Lost in the glare coming from the Las Vegas Strip, the majestic Nevada desert offers untold travel treasures.

A scant 15 miles west of the city is a natural marvel that is an outdoor wonderland for area denizens.  Red Rock Canyon, located in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, features massive red rock formations and impressive sweeps of sandstone peaks.  The 195,000 acre park is well appointed with 19 designated hiking trails, and an impressive 14.7 mile bike loop that is not for the faint of heart.    

Nearby Lake Mead is a popular draw for area residents for year round recreational opportunities that include all manner of outdoor recreational activities that range from boating to hiking to fishing and more.  Clark County Parks and Recreation Department manages more than 1,600 acres of parks, pools, open spaces, as well as recreation and senior centers designed to meet the recreational needs of Las Vegas.

Living in Las Vegas

The City of Las Vegas is more than the sum of its parts, and the rich tapestry that emerges is formed from its distinct neighborhoods: Summerlin, Henderson, and North of Las Vegas.  All total, more than two million people call the desert community of Las Vegas home.

Summerlin was born of a development dream of Howard Hughes that began in the 1950s and reached fruition in the 1990s.  In the two decades if its existence, the neighborhood has won many accolades as a superbly executed master planned community.  Located approximately ten miles west of Las Vegas Boulevard, the area is well served by a network of local shopping, dining, and entertainment options.  With Summerlin Las Vegas house prices in the $250,000s, the neighborhood is priced slightly higher than the rest of the city, but the relative youth of the neighborhood ensures modern houses with attractive amenities.  One of the hidden jewels of Summerlin is found in its award winning 150 mile trail system that is a favorite of area residents, and used by an estimated 70% of the populace.      

Although actually a city in its own right, the City of Henderson is intricately linked as a Las Vegas suburb and neighborhood.  Located to the southeast of the downtown area, Henderson offers a great small town feeling, which boasts great big city amenities nearby.  Henderson is probably most well known as the shopping nexus in the area with extensive retail offerings peppered throughout the neighborhood. Most notable are the Galleria at Sunset and the Green Valley Ranch Resort for shopping options that residents, citywide, avail themselves of.  Henderson is also known for its annual Shakespeare in the park series and three day St. Patrick’s Day celebration. 

Like Henderson, North of Las Vegas is an incorporated city that is viewed as an extension of the City of Las Vegas proper than a city in its own right.  North Las Vegas is home to nearly 225,000 people, and this section of town suffered disproportionately during the 2008 financial meltdown.  As such, median housing prices in North Las Vegas fell 50% from their 2007 highs to just over $100,000, which makes the area attractive to new incoming residents.   

If you are looking to relocated to Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, or Henderson and are searching for homes for sale, we invite you to search all available Las Vegas Real Estate Listings at http://www.BallenGroupHomes.com.

The Ballen Group is a Las Vegas Real Estate Agent Team of specialists with teams specializing in Summerlin, Las Vegas, Short Sales, and traditional home sales across the Las Vegas Valley.