Tell me about Reno, NV-Vacation/Retirement Home Potential?

Hugh R · 07-19-2011, 05:31 PM

Joe Bob, anyone else have thoughts? Good areas to look? I like the no income tax thing for when I "retire" in about 7 years and the climate looks not too bad. Lay it on me straight.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Todd?

I just visited there for a few days, and stayed with 9dreizig. Seemed like a nice town, I'd like to check it out more.

dan88911 · 07-19-2011, 06:26 PM

I was there last year for a week not a bad looking place. Read about some good real estate deals. And there is a Del Webb retirement community. That being said I have heard the casino industry has been hit hard by the Indian casinos in calif. Making for more hard times on the local economy.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

I once shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die...

Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks...

Seriously though Hugh, I know a few folks that live there and love it. Good size town, nightlife, bands and entertainment always rolling through. Outdoor activities, Tahoe over the hill, Virginia City, Mammoth down the road. What's not to like?

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

A while back, I was considering moving there for a job, and I asked about Reno in a thread.
Here.

I still ended up far west, just a little more south...

Hugh R · 07:25 PM

Thanks guys. Aurel thanks for the other link. When I say Reno, I mean the general area. I don't mind being 10 miles out of town the wife doesn't want to drive for 1/2 an hour to get groceries.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

The only thing to consider is, that I think they actually have a season called "winter". I'm not an expert on that season, but I've heard it can be rather cold....

Hugh R · 07-19-2011, 07:43 PM

Average in Jan/Feb is 21F at night, and 40-45 during the day, so cold, but not like the Northeast where I am originally from. It gets to high 20s at night in the winter here 20 miles north of LA and in the low 50s during the day.

5String43 · 07-19-2011, 08:21 PM

Oh, man. Reno is a wonderful place, once you realize that there are two Renos: The one tourists visit and gamble in, and the other one, outside downtown, where human beings actually lived.

Homes? Dunno. Zillow.com will tell that story. When I was there, the Southwest was the neighborhood of choice, with the Northwest a close second.

I lived there for four years back in another lifetime and would do it again in a heartbeat. Elevation is 4000 feet at the airport, in the bottom of the valley. Weather is pretty darned nice all the time, though storms do roll in over the Sierras. When that happens, watch out. Gets cold, gets snowy, gets icy. Saw it snow once in July 4. During winter, forget about traveling west to the Bay Area. Donner Pass is west. Remember the Donner Party?

I really like the place. It's got it all, including an international airport from which you can get anywhere. Also, Nevada has a very low sales tax, if I recall correctly, and no state income tax.

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

My in-laws retired there from the Bay Area a few years back, and we started spending a lot of time up there, (in Sparks, Spanish Springs area)

Like it. Like it a lot.

Like it enough we are packing the house, and the moving truck gets here Aug 1.

Roughly 30% lower cost of living. No State Income tax, sales tax is about 3% lower, Gas tax is 16¢/gallon lower, gun laws aren't stupid, and frankly the state government isn't trying to run every aspect of your life.

It does get cold, and they do get snow a couple times a year, which doesn't bother me. Seems like they only get enough to stick and cause any problems about once a year, if that.

look 171 · 07-19-2011, 09:48 PM

My cousin and her husband moved there 2 years ago from Rolling Hills. they were both aerospace engineers and tool an early retirement so he can fish. They live in a semi retirement community, made new friends and loves it there.

rcooled · 07-20-2011, 07:29 AM

A good friend of mine lives and owns a business in Reno and I visit there from time to time. Yes, the cost of living is relatively low as others have said but in my opinion, it is truly butt ugly there. Lake Tahoe is fairly close by but unless you feel like driving up there often, you're stuck looking at bone-dry mountains, strip malls and cookie-cutter houses. The neighborhoods just off the downtown "strip" are run down and full of bums...avoid this area like the plague.

pwd72s · 07-20-2011, 08:53 AM

My retired pilot buddy has two homes, both modest, since it's just he & his bride now. One in Sparks, one in Yuma. Yep, he's a snowbird...flying his plane between the two spots, keeping ground transport in both.

If one has the means, this sounds ideal to me...especially when I'm going through my weekly 3 hours mowing chore.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Washoe between Carson and Reno is nice. It gets windy but has nice horse property, gets plowed, has plenty of water and is 15 -20 minutes outside of each.

Has a gas station, contract USPS, 7-11, couple of low life bars, a few restaurants, storage facility, hair cutter, two small lakes with a boat launch, a park and riding trails.

Reno has some high end million dollar property, Carson the State Capitol is a slum.....

Burnin' oil · 07-20-2011, 10:32 AM

i don't like the Reno/Sparks/Carson City area very much. But, if I had to live in Nevada, I would live near Minden, preferably at the base of the Sierras off of SR88.

sammyg2 · 07-20-2011, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Average in Jan/Feb is 21F at night, and 40-45 during the day, so cold, but not like the Northeast where I am originally from. .

21F, as in below freezing? Seriously? People die in that stuff.
You can't live if it gets that cold.
I remember one morning here when is hit 34 degrees, I called in sick.

sammyg2 · 07-20-2011, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcooled

A good friend of mine lives and owns a business in Reno and I visit there from time to time. Yes, the cost of living is relatively low as others have said but in my opinion, it is truly butt ugly there. Lake Tahoe is fairly close by but unless you feel like driving up there often, you're stuck looking at bone-dry mountains, strip malls and cookie-cutter houses. The neighborhoods just off the downtown "strip" are run down and full of bums...avoid this area like the plague.

It's been nearly 20 years since I was there (Univ. of Nev. fire-fighting academy), but your description is exactly how I remembered it.

sammyg2 · 07-20-2011, 11:58 AM

Hugh, have you checked out Wickenburg Ariz?
Get's hot, but not as hot as Phoenix.
Clean, quiet, nice.
In my parent's neighborhood every lot is 1 acre.

Some folks think it's the next Scottsdale.

Hugh R · 07-20-2011, 12:41 PM

I prefer cold to hot, and the no income tax thing is a big deal for me in retirement. 10% of my pension, SSI, 401k and IRA to the state, I don't think so, that alone would pay about 1/2 a year of mortgage if I moved to NV. I'm still looking at places to think about retiring. I visited Sequim, WA based on a suggestion here. I liked it, but the wife didn't. I liked the Florida Keys in the Winter, but not the Summer. Most of TX is too humid for my taste.

I'm going to the Reno area for our wedding anniversary (28th) at the end of September. Just to get a feel for the place, and contact a local realtor.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

+1 on Minden.....also Gardnerville.