What Makes a Nevada Home Different?
If you have lived in multiple states, like I have, you probably have some appreciation for the differences between one and another. While Nevada home development appears to be similar to other homes built in the southwest, they are dramatically different from those built in the Northeast.
No Basement
Since Nevada doesn’t deal with frost and the freezing of the ground that can crack foundations, basements are rare. There are homes built with finished basements, but they are rare.
Elevation / Height
Most of the homes built in Nevada are one and two story dwellings. Since development in the state is relatively new when compared to cities on the East coast, and builders and buyers had a preference for non-vertical living, there is more sprawl in Nevada than vertical build-up. While new high-rise condominiums are starting to change the mix, the numbers are still heavily in favor of one and two story homes.
Detached Structures
Most homes in Nevada are detached homes. While there are townhomes and a few row type home developments, they are few in number. Clearly the preference has been to have a stand-alone home with a private yard. While some of the homes that have been built in the southwest part of town are narrow and an arm’s length from the neighbor, they are relatively few in number and still offer room not afforded in many cities.
Small Lots
Typical in Las Vegas are small home lots. Homeowners in places like Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota are used to having 1 Acre to 10 Acre sites, in Las Vegas a 6,000 square foot lot is typical for a 3,000 square foot home, and many lots are smaller than that. There are, of course, exceptions to the rule. Many custom lots are available that offer 1 Acre or more, but prices increase dramatically for homes with large lots.
Average Age
Most of the homes in Las Vegas were built between 1990 and 2008. There are areas in the City with older homes, and many of those areas are targeted for redevelopment. Thus, the average age of a home in Las Vegas is much newer than that found in many U. S. cities. In some ways that is a real plus, because there is a lot less lead based paint, asbestos and mold.
Construction Quality
Buyers from the Midwest often comment on the construction quality of homes in Las Vegas. The typical tract-home is built with standard wood-framed exterior walls and a wood or particle board sheathing covered with painted stucco on “chicken wire.” Since homes with that finish seem to last for a very long time in the desert, you find very few home built with a brick or a wood exterior popular elsewhere.
Master Planned Communities
Las Vegas, like other states in the Southwest, has seen the development of hundreds of master-planned communities. Their benefits are numerous and include; walking / running paths, bike paths, tennis courts, golf courses, spa facilities, traffic control, established commercial areas and established schools and parks. Many buyers seek out master planned communities for their common element offerings. Others avoid them because of their uniformity.
In summary, homes in Las Vegas real estate are similar to others in the southwest but dramatically different from those in the Midwest or Eastern cities.
Copyright 2008, Glenn Rigdon, Horizon Village Realty
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