Jerry Cline Park? (Albuquerque: real estate, houses, neighborhoods)

[spqr_xli]

As I mentioned in another thread a few weeks ago, my Abq-native husband and I are planning to move to Abq once he retires (assuming we can sell our house where we live now, which, given the market here, will require some finger-crossing and prayers to the real estate gods). Our budget will certainly be under 300K, most likely in the $220K-$260K range. Ideally, we need around 2000 square feet (or even somewhat more) on account of all our books (probably a couple thousand--we're academics) and cats (four).

So far in our house-hunting research trips this summer and last, the houses we've liked the most in our likely budget range have been Mossmans in Stardust Skies Park, the Sandia High area, and the little Mossman neighborhood between Comanche and the Hahn Arroyo (bounded by San Pedro and Louisiana). But on Sunday we went to an open house at a 2300 sf Ashcraft home on El Conde Ave. in Jerry Cline Park, and we fell in love with the house--obviously very well built, very logical floorplan, beautiful sunroom and back patio, and it didn't have all its midcentury charm updated out of it. We also liked the rest of that little pocket neighborhood of larger midcentury modern houses in Jerry Cline Park (east of San Pablo and north of Marble). But . . . it is a little pocket neighborhood surrounded by very sketchy areas, so I have a few questions about it for you locals. (Of course I'll ask our realtor too, and try to get in touch with the neighborhood association.)

1. Do any of you live there or know anyone who lives there? If so, how do they like it (or not), and for what reasons?

2. Are property values in the pocket neighborhood likely to remain stable, or is it likely to be on a downhill trend in the near future? The properties seem very nice and very well-maintained, but driving around it looked like there were a lot of older people, so there could be a fair amount of turnover soon. (I know this is a question for our realtor, but it's always good to get more than one perspective, especially from people who live in or near the area.)

3. How is the "new" Winrock Center doing, and Uptown businesses in general? (That's a factor that might bear on #2 above.)

Thanks much for your observations.

[aries63]

There are over a hundred little neighborhoods like this in Albuquerque which is kind of hard for people to wrap their heads around. So there may be nobody here who has lived in this very one. But if you like the house and general location and the area looks well-maintained, then I wouldn't have a problem with it. Louisiana and Lomas area around the Fairgrounds (Expo New Mexico) is a little bit sketchy. Ditto Fair Plaza shopping area (Smith's) at Lomas and San Pedro. You would have good access to ABQ Uptown and Trader Joe's. Winrock is still undergoing major renovations. Your real estate agent would be the best source for home value trends in the neighborhood. Good luck!

[spqr_xli]

Thanks for the helpful reply, aries63. Still keeping an eye on the house--it's a well-built Ashcraft chock full of hardwood. Uptown proximity is an attraction, as is the fact that it's only 10 minutes from UNM. Would have liked to have had a chance to talk to people in the neighborhood when we were out there, but we discovered the house at almost the last minute.