by: David Chandler

Las Vegas is one of the sunniest cities in the United States -- with an average 320 days of sunshine per year and only 4.19 inches of rainfall. The winters in Las Vegas are like no other. Many of us do not pack away our shorts because we can wear them year round.

Las Vegas has been the fastest growing city for over a decade now. It all started in 1993 with the opening of three mega-resorts: MGM Grand, Treasure Island, and Luxor. For ten years, an average of 4,000-6,000 new residents moved here each month. In December 2003, ten years later, over 8,000 new driver's licenses were issued.

Just as the people that live in Las Vegas are very diverse, so is the choice of where to live. People that are not from Las Vegas seem to believe that we all live on "The Strip." Nothing is further from reality. The most popular areas to live, such as Green Valley, Southern Highlands, Anthem, and Summerlin are suburbs nowhere near The Strip. Southwest and Northwest Las Vegas are growing at astronomical rates and, literally, housing cannot be built fast enough to handle our growth.

Housing

Approximately 34% of the households in Las Vegas are rentals. You will find an abundance of rental options throughout Las Vegas, ranging from apartments and condominiums to exclusive corporate housing to single-family homes. The average apartment rent (for all apartments) is $738 with a vacancy rate of less than 5%. Apartments offer some of the best lifestyles to Nevada residents. Apartments in Nevada are different than most states. They are new, larger than most and offer all of the amenities that newer housing communities offer. Many of the newer communities offer 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units, with or without garages.

Las Vegas real estate is still reasonable. It has increased substantially over the past year, but continues to offer some of the most affordable housing in the country. Our diversity in housing choices allow you to choose from town houses to condominiums, gated living to planned communities, high rises to manufactured homes.The quality of life in Las Vegas is generally better than in most areas. Las Vegas offers top-notch exercise facilities, excellent restaurants, the advantages of any other city, plus much more. The average homeowner is 22 years old, so there is plenty of opportunity to advance in your career.

Wages

Nevada ranks in the upper 25 percentile of wages offered throughout the United States. This coupled with our low cost of living makes Nevada very attractable to all professionals. Some media outlets have talked about the lower level of education in Las Vegas, but our average median income continues to topple most major markets.

Working in Las Vegas

Casinos are no longer just gaming; they are entertainment, dining, retail and hospitality. It also is home to many financial institutions such as Citibank, Household Credit Services and First Bank of Marin. Technology companies have recently discovered the benefits of relocating to Nevada, as the infrastructure is new, reliable, and expandable so our technology sector has experienced substantial growth. Healthcare, education, and professional services have maintained a rapid level of growth just to keep up with the booming population.

Churches

Las Vegas has nearly 600 churches, temples, and synagogues representing more than 63 faiths.

Transportation

Public Transportation has also become a priority. A monorail system launched operations in July 2004.

Parks and Recreation

As communities are being developed, so are community parks that offer soccer fields, baseball diamonds, swimming pools, skateboard parks, manmade lakes, volleyball courts, and a variety of other types of recreation.