Retiring in Las Vegas?

Article by Scott Norton.

As more of us are either turning, about to turn, or just starting to think that pretty soon we’re going to be turning 55, the question arises; so where should active adults such as ourselves retire?

Naturally, as the options get kicked around, we start to think about travel destinations we really enjoyed and might want to return to on a more permanent basis. One that came up recently began as kind of a joke – Las Vegas. After all, if what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, then wouldn’t it be cool to stay there too?

What’s funny about it is that Las Vegas actually is an attractive option for retirement after all. We even found a web site that lists the top 10 reasons to live in Las Vegas and discovered that some of them might be of particular interest to active adults.

Take, for example, the Weather. Sure it gets hot in the desert, but it’s only really hot a few months of the year, and locals have discovered lots of easy ways to beat the heat. Lake Mead is close by, and air conditioning is standard on most cars and all new construction. In addition, even in summer, most mornings are rather temperate. Golf, tennis, etc. are still enjoyable options.

Of course, if you’re not as outdoorsy, there’s plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment in Las Vegas. And if you’re concerned about cost of living amid all of these entertainment options, you should know that there’s no personal income tax in Nevada. Yes, we’re sure – we checked out the official City of LV web site. There are no city or state income taxes in Las Vegas (woo hoo).

Then again, maybe your idea of retirement is to finally stay home and cook. What better than to live in an oasis of home with the beauty of the desert as a backdrop? Shea Homes at Ardiente, an active adult community, features easy access to I-15, and the center of the strip/airport area. It’s also close to popular attractions such as Hoover Dam, Lake Mojave, Mt. Charleston, Red Rock Canyon, and Death Valley.

Ardiente is an affordable alternative for West Coast retirees with lots of amenities. The entire community is designed around knowing your neighbors and being active. Features include 30 fitness stations, six beautiful themed parks, a dog park, and a community center that feels like a country club. Nearby golf courses include Shadow Creek, Craig Ranch and Sunrise Vista.