Everyone knows about Las Vegas. They know that in Vegas, there are house rules, and they simply are not the same rules that apply anywhere else in the world. Where but in glittering Las Vegas can you win (or lose) a fortune, get married, see the world's largest circus, and run into Elvis dozens of times, all in one night?

Las Vegas, Nevada is one of the fastest growing cities in America. Savvy developers long ago realized that the real money to be made was not in the Las Vegas casinos, but in Las Vegas real estate.

In one twelve month period between 2003 and 2004, Las Vegas real estate broke all records by showing a 50%+ gain in value. That meant, the home you bought for half a million in January, you could sell for over a mil by Christmas time. Moreover, although no city-not even fast growing Vegas-can maintain this growth rate indefinitely, Las Vegas odds still favor residential real estate for its proven sound investment value.

But if you don't plan to relocate to Nevada, how can you benefit from the escalating values in the Las Vegas real estate market?

Consider buying a vacation home or timeshare. You won't be gambling a cent. There is a constant demand for vacation property in Vegas, and no reason to believe this is going to change. The city simply has too much to offer.

Besides the excitement of the casinos and the challenges of beating Las Vegas odds, there's the always perfect weather, the incredible hotels and restaurants, the beauty of Red Rock Loop, the fabulous golf courses, and the hundreds of shows, themed attractions, water parks, and thrill rides to keep visitors coming back, year after year. Invest in Las Vegas timeshares or homes, and you can go on holiday there as often as you like or use your property as a vacation rental, with assurance that it will always be in top-dollar demand.

The delights of Vegas attract nearly 10,000 new residents to the city and suburban areas each month. But whether you're the owner of a new Las Vegas home, or you're a regular visitor who enjoys condo or timeshare ownership in this glittering oasis, here are a few insider tips that will make your time in Vegas more pleasurable:

• Figuring out how to dress for the temperature is a challenge. Yes, this is a southern Nevada desert. Temperatures in the extended summer months frequently top 100 degrees Fahrenheit (that is a toasty 38 degrees Celsius). However, everywhere you go, especially the casinos and the hotel lobbies, is highly air-conditioned. Wear lightweight, breezy clothing, but tuck a sweater in your bag unless you don't mind your teeth chattering during dinner.
• Albeit heavily air-conditioned, this is still a desert. Pack your lip balm, your eye drops, and a heavy-duty moisturizer. This air is dry.
• Watch the traffic! It is easy to feel like Las Vegas is just one giant pedestrian mall as you stroll from one amazing site to another, but the drivers on the Strip don't share your sentiments. Traffic-like everything else in this town-plays by very different rules.

Remember that clubs and casinos don't want you to know whether it is daylight or dark. A few days in this 24/7 environment and may find yourself with a world-class case of jet lag, without ever leaving the ground. This is the perfect time to head for the great outdoors. Visit Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River Canyon, and the Mojave Desert. Or enjoy the fabulous golf courses in and around the city, including Desert Pines, the Legacy, TPC Canyons, and any of the excellent Angel Park courses.