How best to decide where to live in New Mexico
May 10th, 2009, 04:15 PM
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How best to decide where to live in New Mexico
My wife and I plan to move to either the Las Cruces area or the Los Luna area next year when I retire. We're attracted by the slower pace of life, sunshine, and lower cost of living. We'll rent for 6-12 months and use that time to investigate those two areas as possible permanent places to live. Any ideas regarding where to rent in those places - as well as which area do you prefer and hy?
Many thanks.
Many thanks.
May 10th, 2009, 04:37 PM
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We lived in ABQ for many years before moving to SW Colorado 4 years ago. I know a bit about Las Cruces, as my son went to school there for a year.
Where are you coming from? Will you truly be retired or will you [wife] want to work a bit? What kind of work?
Have you been to SW before? Are you familiar with the lifestyle, climate etc.?
Are you healthy? Will living at altitude bother you? Do you need specialists, medically speaking?
These are all important things to consider.
I moved from suburban NYC to ABQ in 2001. A big change. I made a number of trips to visit during different seasons to be sure this was what I wanted. I was going to be retired, but ended up going back to work within 4 months of moving.
The economy here is not good, jobs are scarce, if that is a concern.
Los Lunas is a small town, with newer homes being built west of I 25. They are 6 miles out of town, and it is pretty dry, dusty and isolated out there. There are only a few restaurants, and a WalMart.The good news is that you can drive into ABQ in less than 30 minutes, where there is about everything you can need or want[shopping, restaurants, medical care, entertainment, museums, university, community college etc]. The Railrunner, light rail, has a stop there and you can take it to ABQ and north to Santa Fe. Unfortunately, it doesn't [at present] run on Sundays or past 7 pm or so, that really limits it.
We recently looked at a "retirement" developement in Los Lunas, but decided against it. It wasn't far enough along in building [the clubhouse, in particular] and the houses were not that well built. {we actually ended up buying in a similar developement in Bernalillo, which is just north of ABQ].
Las Cruces is very close to Mexican border in El Paso [Juarrez]. It is much smaller than ABQ, with fewer choices for restaurants, shopping, medical care. I believe you can get some flights out of El Paso, but not sure what the availability is. That would mean traveling to ABQ, which is a straight shot on I 25, but a good 3+ hours.
It is a university town, so there are some opportunities for classes, educational events etc.
As far as lower cost of living, yes in some areas it is less expensive [property taxes on homes being the best example]. Gas, restaurants, movies, are no bargain.
Las Cruces will be warmer in winter and hotter in summer than Los Lunas. Lots of sunshine in both places.
I love NM, I loved moving there from NY. It is good that you are investigating places to live. Posting here is a start, but remember, most people on this site only visit NM. Visiting and living in a place are very different.
Perhaps start reading local papers to get a feel for what it's like here: abqjournal.com
Feel free to email me, check my frofile for my address.
Deb
Where are you coming from? Will you truly be retired or will you [wife] want to work a bit? What kind of work?
Have you been to SW before? Are you familiar with the lifestyle, climate etc.?
Are you healthy? Will living at altitude bother you? Do you need specialists, medically speaking?
These are all important things to consider.
I moved from suburban NYC to ABQ in 2001. A big change. I made a number of trips to visit during different seasons to be sure this was what I wanted. I was going to be retired, but ended up going back to work within 4 months of moving.
The economy here is not good, jobs are scarce, if that is a concern.
Los Lunas is a small town, with newer homes being built west of I 25. They are 6 miles out of town, and it is pretty dry, dusty and isolated out there. There are only a few restaurants, and a WalMart.The good news is that you can drive into ABQ in less than 30 minutes, where there is about everything you can need or want[shopping, restaurants, medical care, entertainment, museums, university, community college etc]. The Railrunner, light rail, has a stop there and you can take it to ABQ and north to Santa Fe. Unfortunately, it doesn't [at present] run on Sundays or past 7 pm or so, that really limits it.
We recently looked at a "retirement" developement in Los Lunas, but decided against it. It wasn't far enough along in building [the clubhouse, in particular] and the houses were not that well built. {we actually ended up buying in a similar developement in Bernalillo, which is just north of ABQ].
Las Cruces is very close to Mexican border in El Paso [Juarrez]. It is much smaller than ABQ, with fewer choices for restaurants, shopping, medical care. I believe you can get some flights out of El Paso, but not sure what the availability is. That would mean traveling to ABQ, which is a straight shot on I 25, but a good 3+ hours.
It is a university town, so there are some opportunities for classes, educational events etc.
As far as lower cost of living, yes in some areas it is less expensive [property taxes on homes being the best example]. Gas, restaurants, movies, are no bargain.
Las Cruces will be warmer in winter and hotter in summer than Los Lunas. Lots of sunshine in both places.
I love NM, I loved moving there from NY. It is good that you are investigating places to live. Posting here is a start, but remember, most people on this site only visit NM. Visiting and living in a place are very different.
Perhaps start reading local papers to get a feel for what it's like here: abqjournal.com
Feel free to email me, check my frofile for my address.
Deb
May 10th, 2009, 09:43 PM
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Deb has given you a lot of excellent advice (so are you guys planning to move back here, Deb? I think my sister-in-law may have looked at the same retirement community you did).
I live in Albuquerque, and personally, I wouldn't want to live in Las Cruces. It gets too hot and looks too deserty for my tastes. I would consider Los Lunas for the reasons Deb mentioned.
If you can, come and visit both towns at different times of the year to get a feel for what it's like here.
Lee Ann
I live in Albuquerque, and personally, I wouldn't want to live in Las Cruces. It gets too hot and looks too deserty for my tastes. I would consider Los Lunas for the reasons Deb mentioned.
If you can, come and visit both towns at different times of the year to get a feel for what it's like here.
Lee Ann
May 12th, 2009, 06:48 PM
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Deb, we moved to northern VA in April, 1964 from LI.. We were here one day and DW said "I love this, I don't ever want to go back to NY." Forty five years later we still enjoy life in VA, the last ten in the Shenandoah Valley.
Deb, we moved to northern VA in April, 1964 from LI.. We were here one day and DW said "I love this, I don't ever want to go back to NY." Forty five years later we still enjoy life in VA, the last ten in the Shenandoah Valley.
May 12th, 2009, 09:40 PM
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Have you been to either place yet? Have you considered areas North of ABQ? We have a home in Placitas. It's 10mi north of ABQ and 32 mi south of Santa Fe. This entire state is remote. You can drive 10 minutes out of ABQ and it's like you're on the moon---no one, nothing around! Rio Rancho and Bernalillo are nice too. Out of town yet close enough to go there when you need to. I wouldn't want to live in the places you mentioned. For sure go stay there awhile before you buy. I love NM, but theres not a lot to do and it took me awhile to get used to the snakes, centipedes, and scorpions! The sunsets make it all worth while!
May 13th, 2009, 06:20 AM
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Placitas is rustic, but lovely. It is snuggled into the mountains, and you feel like you are so far away from the hustle and bustly, yet you are on the interstate in what, 10 minutes and in town [ABQ] in 20 minutes and 30 minutes to airport? We looked at property there to build, it is beautiful. But at this stage of our life, I am wanting a simplier, closer to civilaztion kind of place. We will keep our home in SW Colorado, and that is our rustic, rural area for us.
Hopefully, the original poster will come back for more info.
Deb
Hopefully, the original poster will come back for more info.
Deb
May 13th, 2009, 07:53 AM
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ABQ is 5-10 degrees cooler than LC which depending on the season can be good or bad. Since it is very dry the hot summers in LC don't seem that extreme. I personally prefer Las Cruces over ABQ. The scenic Organ mountains flank the eastern edge of town and old town Mesilla is charming. Due to the NMSU being located in LC and the Fountain Theater in LC there is a bit of culture there.
http://www.fountaintheatre.com/
http://www.oldmesilla.org/
El paso is ~45 minutes and has a mid-sized airport. You usually have to transfer in Phoenix or Las Vegas for most destinations tho. Anyway, if it were me I would rent in ABQ in the winter and LC in the summer to see which climate suits you best.
http://www.fountaintheatre.com/
http://www.oldmesilla.org/
El paso is ~45 minutes and has a mid-sized airport. You usually have to transfer in Phoenix or Las Vegas for most destinations tho. Anyway, if it were me I would rent in ABQ in the winter and LC in the summer to see which climate suits you best.
