Rental Houses in Las Vegas
You should give the same consideration to size, and location that you would if you were buying a house. Most leases run for a year, and that's a long time to live someplace that doesn't suit you.
Some rental houses are managed by professional property managers, while some are managed directly by the owners. As Landlords, we have tried both ways. We manage our own. Property managers will probably be less flexible (if they are any good) dealing with the terms of the lease. They may be better at solving problems than an owner. An owner managed rental house might offer more flexibility. For instance, we have one tenant who, because of the nature of his work, does not get paid at regular intervals. When he is flush, he pays in advance, so he doesn't have to worry about it (a landlord's dream). In return, if he says he'll be a few days late. we don't sweat it.
You should ask, before renting, if there is a home warranty. Although they don't always provide the fastest service in the world, they can be used to cover repairs to major appliances, much of the plumbing and electrical systems, and various other high ticket items. At least you know that if the A/C needs a new $2000 part, you won't have to worry if the owner can pay for it.
Generally speaking, as a tenant in a rental house, you will be responsible for all utilities, such as electric, gas, water, sewer and trash. The trash runs just under $300/year (Jan 2008) and sewer will run about $220.00 - $240.00 a year. The higher figure for a house with a pool. You will also be responsible for taking care of the landscaping, meaning mowing the lawn (if any), and making sure everything gets watered so it doesn't die. Most houses have an automatic irrigation system to deal with that, so it isn't much work at all.
Deposits often are more than a month's rent, as they will also include deposits for keys (you'd be amazed how many we lose to tenants, requiring a re-keying the entire house), cleaning and pets. By state law, the deposit cannot be applied to rent, unless the tenant leaves owing money. That means, if you decide to leave without paying your last month's rent, the landlord can not only keep your deposit (you violated your lease) he can still come after you for that rent.
Do make sure you can afford to live in the house. Nevada is a landlord friendly state. We once had a serious problem with a tenant on a Friday. We filed eviction papers on Monday. They fought it, and we ended up in court later in the week. They were out Sunday.
The good news is that for the price of the houses, the rents are low. As an example, one house of ours, valued in the mid $200,000 range, rents for $1400/month. In many areas, that same house would be more than $2000/month. Discuss any issues you might have before you sign the lease. If your daughter wants a puppy for her birthday, or you mother-in-law is going to stay all winter, ask first. You'll probably find almost anything can be worked out easily, if you don't make it a surprise to your landlord (or property manager). Enjoy.
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