Help Fast! What neighborhood is for my family?? (Albuquerque: realty, budget)

[BrazilianSue]

My husband has just been offered a job with SandiaNL, and we must be in Albuquerque in 6 weeks! We are very excited to move to that area but eventhough I had already been looking at homes for months I still haven't gotten a clear picture of where we should be, please help us!!
Let me tell you a little bit of what we like. Larger lots because we have big dogs, don't really like the "suburb look" where houses all look the same and too close together. We have a baby on the way, so safe parks and such things are important. We also come from a very small town and HATE traffic, I have been reading that the commute from the West side is a pain... We like the mountains and trees. We are looking to spend around $250,000.
Where do we go???

[NadiaP]

Check out Taylor Ranch. Yes, it is on the west side but has what you're looking for in your budget. We bought our first home in Albuq in Taylor ranch and loved it. Large lots, ours was too big! Safe area great schools and parks, and within your budget easily. I would have also suggested Ventana Ranch area for your requirements but it is a newer s/d, the lots arent as big as the landscaping not as mature as taylor Ranch. Might be worth a look though.

[HEATHER72]

I use to live in Albuquerque. I can't help but laugh at people thinking it's a pain to go from the west side of abq to the se side. Come to DC & then we can talk about traffic!

I second Taylor Ranch. A lot of people are drawn to it because the landscaping & trees are more mature.

[EnjoyEP]

Some areas I might consider looking if I were you:

Some nicer, more-eastern Southeast Heights areas (not the "conventional Southeast" eg: around Gibson Blvd. / the Sunport)...to me, a "no brainer" for you to start looking in is the FOUR HILLS area. (Do a google search for "Four Hills" - Albuquerque) and stuff'll pop up, including a realty guide for houses in the neighborhood.

This is an oft-forgotten about area in these forums which is rather affluent, safe, quiet, nice. It is older and more established, so it isn't cookie cutter and the lots are bigger. It is close up to the mountains.

Really, I think for your criteria, it would be your best bet. You can still find houses in the area for your $250K range.

The other nice thing about this is that being in the extreme SE, you aren't a far drive at all from SNL. While Taylor Ranch (above mentioned) is very nice, and it is true that ABQ doesn't have traffic comparable to big metroplexes like DC, Chicago, or Phoenix, it'd still be a 30+ minute one-way drive for you in traffic. From Four Hills, probably 10 tops, and probably even less often.

If Four Hills wouldn't work out, check out other areas east of Juan Tabo and/or Tramway Blvd. and south of I-40. Close to the mountains, nice safe older neighborhoods, close to the labs, definitely not cookie-cutterish.

I think if you stuck in this general vicinity, it would be the best match for your criteria listed. Good luck!!

[crna06]

I agree that in your price range and home requirements, Taylor Ranch would be an excellent choice. That's where we lived before we moved away in 2002 and it was a great area for our dogs and kids.

[GregW]

I suggest you ask the SNL housing office for some info on rental property and take some time to investigate the market and teh city before you commit to buy.

A job at SNL - envy time.

[Tim Rankin]

I wouldn't rule out the NE Heights either - one of our neighbors works at Sandia Labs.

There are parts of the heights that are not cookie-cutterish at all, and some of those homes have over-sized lots. That's one of the reasons we bought our house.

I've seen several of these homes recently list and/or sell in the 230-235K range. The schools up in the Heights are top-notch.

[BrazilianSue]

"I use to live in Albuquerque. I can't help but laugh at people thinking it's a pain to go from the west side of abq to the se side. Come to DC & then we can talk about traffic"

I never said I know nothing about traffic. You think DC has traffic try Sao Paulo, Brazil where I am from. 19 million and poor planning. Anyways, just thought I would clarify that I understand the difference just dont dont want to deal with it at all.

[BrazilianSue]

"I suggest you ask the SNL housing office for some info on rental property and take some time to investigate the market and teh city before you commit to buy."

That's not really an option. Rentals dont take two Saint Bernards and that's what we have!!

[mortimer]

BrazilianSue warns:

> ... Rentals dont take two Saint Bernards and that's what we have!!

Might I suggest horse property then?