Finding Las Vegas home is a real search

Q: We are considering moving to Las Vegas and would like to purchase a new home in a new development. We have several questions: Do you think it is better for us to live in Providence versus Henderson? It is only myself - I am retired - and my mother who would be living there. Providence is nice and is a master-planned community, but we have no children so the schools are not as important to us.

We like to play in the casinos, so we need a location that is near the off-the-Strip casinos. We do not want to live on the Strip itself.

We are also concerned about high crime areas. What areas are considered high-crime areas in Las Vegas?

Is flood insurance required in Henderson? Does it flood?

We are also concerned about high winds. We heard it was too windy in Centennial Hills, which is also near Providence. Is that true?

We are considering several new-home developments. We want only a single-story, newly built house.

What do you think of the area at Farm Road and Decatur Boulevard? Is it a safe area to live?

-A. Z.

A: You seem to know what you want, which is a great place to start.

I'll do my best to address your questions, but have to begin with a disclaimer. As a Realtor, I am not able to make blanket statements about specific neighborhoods and parts of town.

These issues are very subjective. What may be the "right place to live" for one buyer may not seem that way to another. The same can be said for your questions about some parts of town being "too windy" or which neighborhoods may be "a safe place to live."

What I can tell you is that overall locations you mention are generally well-developed and account for a significant number of new-home sales. You should consider your lifestyle and proximity to the places you visit.

As for your question about flooding, we do have periodic flash floods in the Las Vegas Valley, especially in the "monsoon season" of July and August. Many parts of town can experience flooding when our normally dry desert gets a significant shower. A local insurance agent can tell you if flood insurance is required for a specific property.

As for wind, you can check with official sources like the National Weather Service for more detailed information. But in my experience of living here for many years, we do deal with windy weather at times, especially in the spring.

Local law enforcement officials will tell you, crime is not confined to any one area and can occur anywhere. If you want more detailed information on local crime rates, you can check with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and visit www.lvmpd.com. You can also contact a qualified local insurance broker, who can explain how home insurance rates vary by ZIP codes.

As for the specific homebuilders, you can contact the Nevada Contractor's Board to find out about any complaints against specific builders.

While I'm limited in what I can say about specific neighborhoods, I can tell you that there is an active pig farm not far from the area you mentioned around Farm Road and Decatur Boulevard. It has been there for many years, a fact that must be disclosed to homebuyers in that area.

Contact the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce or visit www.lvchamber.com/neighborhoods-and-communities.

Kolleen Kelley is the 2012 president of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors. To ask her a question, email her at ask@glvar.org. For more information, visit www.lasvegasrealtor.com.