http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/sep/02/moving-vegas-not-anymore/They used to come flocking in especially from California, seeking lower taxes and less urban blight. Unfortunately, tax rates went up. I often wonder if California expats voted taxes up, or the state legislature decided to take advantage of the population boom.
Some analysts say they had anticipated even more people leaving Dodge, and suggest the reason is that many residents are struggling to sell their homes or have not been able to find work elsewhere. The national unemployment rate is 9.5 percent, compared with 14.8 percent in Las Vegas.
“We’re in such bad shape here you’d think a lot more people would be leaving,” said John Restrepo, principal analyst for Restrepo Consulting Group. “And maybe they would if they could, but they’re kind of stuck.”
The Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors reported that 3,748 homes were sold in July, down from 4,602 in July 2009. The number of homes for sale without any pending offers has risen more than 10 percent, which may indicate that people who want to leave can’t. But it could also mean more people are trying to find cheaper housing.
