Las Vegas

Las Vegas" translates from Spanish as "The Meadows" — named in 1821 after explorer Rafael Rivera discovered underground springs making the Mojave Desert surprisingly green. Fast-forward two centuries and those meadows now host 42 million visitors a year, more than half of the world's 20 largest hotels, and a real estate market that discerning buyers are taking very seriously. Here's what surprises most people: the famous Strip isn't technically in Las Vegas at all — it falls within unincorporated Clark County. The city incorporated on May 15, 1905, when 110 acres of railroad land sold at auction, and by 1931 Nevada legalized gambling and the city never looked back. Today Las Vegas shines so brightly it's visible from the International Space Station. For buyers, that translates to zero state income tax, 300+ sunny days a year, and homes that deliver more space, more lifestyle, and more value than comparable properties anywhere on the West Coast. What happens in Vegas? Apparently, a very smart real estate decision.