New Mexico DUers, please...

[TygrBright]

Note my thread here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=168x517

Others with experience of the Central/North Central New Mexico area are beseechingly solicited to respond, too.

What are the small towns along the I-25 corridor like? Which ones are "real" towns (that is, they've been there a long time and have history/identity, etc.,) and which ones are the creations of developers plopping McMansions down on the landscape?

What are the neighborhoods like in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and other towns in the area?

Information most gratefully appreciated!

hopefully,
Bright

[burrowowl]

1. Well, unless you are an

American Native, not many small towns where you can live. Bernalillo or Placitas will give you a bit of a head start. But if you live well back in Placitas, won't help much. Madrid or Cerillos is nice, takes the back road to Santa Fe, but snow could sometimes hamper commute.

[TygrBright]

2. Really? Dang...

I was looking at places like Agua Fria, San Ysidro, La Cienega, Lamy, Golden, Cerrillos, Rio Rancho, possibly even Las Vegas. We'd also be willing to go north... Nambe, White Rock, Pojoaque, Espanola, Chimayo...

I spent some time in Chama years ago and would love to go back, but the commute (especially in the winter!) would make that impractical. I'd love to be on the Chama river somewhere, though.

We're not all that keen on moving from where we are, but the economics and some other factors make taking this offer (if it comes to fruition--and that looks likely) the best decision for us right now. And if we have to go somewhere, New Mexico is definitely high on the list, if what we've heard about friendly people, laid-back pace, and care for the environment is true.

ambivalently,
Bright

[burrowowl]

5. Well, if you move near ABQ

maybe we could have more DUers at our meet-up.
Quixote and me were the only ones that showed up.
La Cienega is nice but there are a lot of high priced homes goong up there.
Good Luck!

[LaurenG]

15. My sister lives in Corrales and Loves it

Other family members in Rio Rancho. Great housing for your money especially if you're coming from California, Wash State, Colorado or out east.

[RoadRunner]

3. In the Santa Fe area?

Forget about buying a house in Santa Fe. I recently looked at a 1400 sq ft starter house there - $560,000.

If you're willing to get off I25, check out Abiquiu, Espanola, Hernandez, and the other small communities to the north. They're close enough to commute but won't leave you bankrupt.

Good luck, and welcome to New Mexico!

[TygrBright]

6. ::whimper::

>>I recently looked at a 1400 sq ft starter house there - $560,000<<

eeeek...

Well, we had doubts about being in-city anyway.

Way too rich for our blood, we buy our cars used, grow our own veggies, and feel cheated when an appliance has to be replaced before it's fifty years old...

The only reason we can afford to even think about buying out there at all is because the modest 50s subdivision we bought a starter home in years ago has increased 2.5 times in value. If we get anything like the comparable market price for it and put every dime we get out of the sale into the next house, we MIGHT be able to get by with a mortgage not too much bigger than the one we're currently paying on. Cross fingers.

Isn't Abiquiu where Georgia O'Keeffe had her studio/ranch?

curiously,
Bright

[leftofthedial]

13. "Abiquiu where Georgia O'Keeffe had her studio/ranch"

yup

[greeneyedpookie]

4. Sorry to say

that I am way up north west to join any sort of activities of the sort. I have a full time job that I work 45 hours a week, plus a family. Cannot make those sort of things.

GEP

:bounce:

[catmandu57]

11. My father lives in Bloomfield

but he's totally apathetic when it comes to things political. If it doesn't involve flyfishing or horseracing forget it.

[WHAT]

7. Here's a link...

http://realtor.com/newmexico/nbselnm.asp?st=nm&poe=realtor

I visit this site quite often. There are a lot of options and I always find interesting houses. I've also had email questions answered promptly.

I think living by the continental divide would be so cool!
Good Luck...

[TygrBright]

10. Thanks!

MLS listings are an excellent way to get started. But the most enticing property in the universe could be located in an unfriendly town or unsafe neighborhood... and THAT's the kind of thing I need to know, before some realtor pushes off a "lovely dog" on us. (That expression is totally unfair to dogs, BTW. Can anyone think of a better one, for something that appears attractive but turns out to be yucky?)

thoughtfully,
Bright

[sundog]

8. i'm in the southern part of the state

total red country

santa fe is as blue as it gets here

pojoaque is an interesting spot... still on 285, yet still far enough outside the city to reduce cost of living...

once spent a night there in an arroyo on a full moon smoking grass & drinking southern comfort :7

it was kind

[TygrBright]

9. Youth is wasted on the young...

>>once spent a night there in an arroyo on a full moon smoking grass & drinking southern comfort<<

Gosh, I used to be able to do that a few decades ago, too... now I'd just fall asleep after the first couple of sips/puffs, and wake up stiff and wrinkly. The mental picture still pleases, however.

Will put Pojoaque on the list, the MLS listings I've already scanned had several interesting possibilities there.

appreciatively, Bright

[sundog]

12. ha! don't worry

that was close to 10 years ago...

i can't get as wild as i would like to these days :P

[Celeborn Skywalker]

14. Silver City's pretty blue, too.

Just be sure you live in the town and not out in the county.