Retired veteran finds new life at Spanish Palms

After spending more than two decades tending to patients as a general practice physician in the Navy, Eden Urbano has finally settled into retirement and enjoys her new role as a proud homeowner at Spanish Palms, just a few minutes west of the Strip.

Urbano is from the Philippines and moved to Illinois in the 1980s, where she lived with her husband for several years. After divorce, she started making plans to move to Las Vegas, where her sister lived.

"Over the course of several trips to Las Vegas to visit my sister, I explored all the great things about living here," Urbano said. "Unfortunately, my sister passed away before I made the move, but inspired by her love of the city, I left Illinois for the big city lights of Las Vegas in 2011 to start a new life."

As a former single-family homeowner, Urbano said she loved her house, but there were several drawbacks to living alone in a detached home. The surrounding neighborhood didn't offer a sense of security, and as someone who lived alone, feeling safe was her priority. A good friend from medical school told Urbano about Spanish Palms, and in 2012, Urbano sold her house and bought a home there.

"The community has gone through an incredible transformation these past few years, and everything that I didn't find in my former home is here at Spanish Palms," Urbano said. "When additional renovations were made earlier this year, more floor plan options became available. Over the summer, I made the decision to buy yet another Spanish Palms residence with a floor plan that I loved even more than my then current home."

Urbano enjoys the 24/7 security as well as the location, which is both a surprising retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet close enough to the Strip, which she visits often when guests, family and friends come into town.

"I'm surrounded by these amazing restaurants, which I'm thankful for because I don't have to cook!" she said. "The church I attend is right around the corner; there is a hospital nearby, and my friends all live in the area. Since living here, I've convinced my other sister from California to move to Las Vegas, as well as a good friend who moved here from Chicago. Of course, they both have homes here in Spanish Palms because it's the only place I recommend to everyone I know."

Spanish Palms offers three floor plans ranging between 744 square feet and more than 1,131 square feet, and with homes starting from $128,900. Spanish Palms signature amenities include Central Park, an expanded fitness center, business center and conference room inside the clubhouse.

For more information on Spanish Palms, visit the sales center at 5250 S. Rainbow Blvd., No. 1055, open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call 702-719-6100; or visit SpanishPalmsLV.com