Las Vegas Nevada Real Estate and Homes For Sale

Real Estate in Las Vegas, Nevada

One of the nation’s fastest growing cities over the past few decades, Las Vegas is home to some of the country’s newest housing units – including family homes and luxury condos. Offering real estate options ranging from apartments and flats to multi-bedrooms homes and townhouse, Las Vegas real estate remains in high demand for people in search of competitively priced housing. Despite some recent troubles to the local housing market, the economy in Las Vegas continues to be strong in many aspects. With a cost of living below the national average, purchasing real estate property in Las Vegas is once again becoming fashionable to singles and families from across the country.

History:
Spanish explorers were the first to discover Las Vegas. In 1855, Mormon missionaries established a settlement where they cultivated the land and building a fort to provide protection to travelers on the Salt Lake/Los Angeles Trail. The Mormons abandoned the place two years later when the enterprise became unprofitable. In 1864, Fort Baker, a U.S. Army post, was built nearby. In 1867, Las Vegas was detached from the Arizona territory and became part of the Nevada territory. The town was incorporated in 1911. Construction on the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River began in 1931, bringing to the area thousands of men in search of employment. Another important event occurred in 1931 with the state’s legalization of casino gambling. The gaming and entertainment industries boomed in Las Vegas after World War II. A street lined with large, glittering casino hotels came to be known as the “Strip;” downtown, in Casino Center, lavish palaces featured the country's top entertainers. By the 1950s, Las Vegas, Nevada dubbed the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” had become synonymous with the unique form of recreation it had created. Since the 1930s, Las Vegas’ population has steadily increased, jumping from slightly fewer than 8,500 people in 1940 to nearly 25,000 people in 1950. And, between 1980 and 1990, the city experienced a more than 60 percent increase. In the 1990s through the mid-2000, an average of 6,000 to 7,000 people moved into Clark County each month.

Economy:
Tourism drives the economy in Las Vegas, with 37 million people visiting the city each year. In 2004, 20 percent of all jobs were gaming-related. Although many miles away, the terrorist attacks of September 11 had a devastating effect on the Las Vegas economy, costing thousands who worked in the entertainment and service industries their jobs in the weeks following. While the city had mostly recovered by 2003, other problems had set in, namely difficulties in drawing tourists to the other parts of the city, in particular the downtown area. Developments in 2004 and 2005 are helping to revitalize the downtown economy. Constant population growth means that the housing construction industry is vitally important. However, recent housing market difficulties have caused setbacks to the area. While the entertainment and service industries are, collectively, the largest employers in Las Vegas, the major single employer remains the Clark County School District. The labor force in Las Vegas continues to expand as people move into the region in record numbers. Las Vegas boasts the highest rate of new job growth in the country. The Las Vegas job base continues to expand. The gaming and hospitality industries in Las Vegas are expected to continue to improve.

Tourism:
Begin your exploration of the city by visiting the famed Strip. Known for its bright lights, big jackpots and some of the most amazing shows on earth, the Las Vegas Strip has been a popular vacation destination for decades. Families will enjoy Adventuredome Theme Park. This full sized amusement park has mountains of thrills rides all under a spectacular dome. Next, located near downtown Las Vegas in the Arts District, the Arts Factory Las Vegas is a collection of artists, architects, photographers, graphic designers and galleries all gathered under one roof. For the golfer, head to Bali Hai. The course features seven acres of water hazards, 4,000 trees and 100,000 tropical plants. For shopping, the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino is a 1.2-mile retail and entertainment complex at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Of course, there is no shortage of casinos offering everything from blackjack tables, poker rooms, slot machines and amazing shows to help keep you entertained. At night, the city of Las Vegas comes alive. Offering light and water demonstrations, magic shows and buzzing nightclubs staring some of the worlds finest DJs, Las Vegas is capable of keeping any group entertained well into morning.

Colleges/Universities:

• College of Southern Nevadad
• University of Nevada-Las Vegas
• Le Cordon Bleu
• Academy of Hair Design

Interesting Facts:

• In 1906, the first hotel and casino to open in Las Vegas was the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino.
• In 2009, more than 36 million people visited Las Vegas. Compare this to 1970 when a mere 6.7 million people visited the city.
• Betty Willis created the famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign in 1959.
• Bugsy Siegel named his casino the Flamingo after the long legs of his showgirl girlfriend.
• Seventeen of the 20 biggest hotels in the U.S. are in Las Vegas.
• Howard Hughes stayed at the Desert Inn for so long that he was asked to leave. He bought the hotel.

Helpful Links:

• Las Vegas Real Estate Guide
• Las Vegas Moving Companies
• Las Vegas Dental Offices
• Las Vegas Insurance