Belen or Bernallio? (Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas: apartment, crime, how much)

[Riverdog]

Due to unexpected circumstances, it looks like I am not going to be able to buy a house in Albuquerque at the moment.

Now, if you were me, and an apartment isn't an option, it must be a house, would you choose Belen or Bernallio? There are somewhat affordable options in both places.

I know people are going to ask what I am looking for, and the honest answer is Albuquerque. But that isn't feasible at the moment. My partner and I don't mind rural, we're just afraid rural may not like us.

Thanks!

[berncohomes]

How about the East Mountains or Los Lunas?

[Riverdog]

Thanks for the suggestion berncohomes, but at the moment, there is nothing in those areas that is in our tragically limited price range, except for a couple of things in Los Lunas near Meadow Lake. We have been warned repeatedly against the Meadow Lake area.

[berncohomes]

I haven't lived in either, but I know someone who lives in Belen and is very happy there - the commute to ABQ is about 30 minutes I believe.

[EnjoyEP]

Riverdog -

I have followed your posts through the year, and I am sorry for the unexpected difficulties! Darnit all...I know how those go, believe you me!

At any event, at first I got all riled up pondering this for you, but then it hit me much, much, MUCH quicker than I thought it would:

Go Bernalillo. Easily.

I was very, very familiar with Belen from my employer while in ABQ (from 03-07), and I prefer the weather/climate of Belen to Bernalillo slightly. However, beyond that, I would prefer Bernalillo.

Bernalillo's big "drawback" is that it is reputed still in the metro area as an old little town near ABQ still infested with some gang/crime problems. However, in my opinion, much of that rep in comparison to reality is really old and passe. In "current day" reality, Bernalillo largely in many aspects is just simply an extension of Rio Rancho. Bernalillo - the much older and more established town (in comparison to the newish classic suburb RR) is taking on more and more attributes of that town (RR), rather than the reverse (RR taking on Bern's); largely, that is a good thing.

Here's the bottom line Riverdog:

If you go to Belen, you are technically in the Albuquerque metro area, but you are very isolated. It is still a semi-heck of a drive up I-25 everyday to hit ABQ; it surely isn't un-doable, but it surely isn't enviable either. If you *don't* make that drive though, you largely feel fairly limited off into a decent-in-many-spots little city.

However, in Bernalillo, how much worse off are you really than if you'd be in ABQ? In Bernalillo, you are really in the heart of the Albuquerque Metro area. I mean, you are butted up against very-close-to-ABQ-suburb Rio Rancho on one end, and on the other, you are a very quick and efficient 10 or 15 - max - minute drive down I-25 to the heart of ABQ.

I think with your hearts really desiring ABQ (and kind of sounding like you are a bit sad not to be in it), you'd be essentially "in" where you want to be in Bernalillo. Sure, you wouldn't be living in City boundaries, but wow...Bernalillo isn't much more than a real quick skip away from city boundaries - very close and easy and efficient.

However, you do Belen, and you are a good bit of distance of non-inhabited mileage from ABQ. (Sure, you hit the Los Lunas area and the Tome area, etc., but it is a much, much different story than you get from the ease of Bernalillo being squarely in the heart of the metro).

Go Bernalillo. Hands down. Not because it is "better" than Belen. But for your circumstances and what you are looking for, it is the best choice easily.

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by Riverdog

We have been warned repeatedly against the Meadow Lake area.

If i remember correctly Meadow Lake is strictly a trailer community in which over 90% is trailers and cars on blocksthru out it at least that's what i remembered when i was out there several years back so unless your on Social Security or Disability and need a cheap place to live i'd probably look elsewhere than Meadow Lakes.

[rybert]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

Riverdog -

I have followed your posts through the year, and I am sorry for the unexpected difficulties! Darnit all...I know how those go, believe you me!

At any event, at first I got all riled up pondering this for you, but then it hit me much, much, MUCH quicker than I thought it would:

Go Bernalillo. Easily.

I was very, very familiar with Belen from my employer while in ABQ (from 03-07), and I prefer the weather/climate of Belen to Bernalillo slightly. However, beyond that, I would prefer Bernalillo.

Bernalillo's big "drawback" is that it is reputed still in the metro area as an old little town near ABQ still infested with some gang/crime problems. However, in my opinion, much of that rep in comparison to reality is really old and passe. In "current day" reality, Bernalillo largely in many aspects is just simply an extension of Rio Rancho. Bernalillo - the much older and more established town (in comparison to the newish classic suburb RR) is taking on more and more attributes of that town (RR), rather than the reverse (RR taking on Bern's); largely, that is a good thing.

Here's the bottom line Riverdog:

If you go to Belen, you are technically in the Albuquerque metro area, but you are very isolated. It is still a semi-heck of a drive up I-25 everyday to hit ABQ; it surely isn't un-doable, but it surely isn't enviable either. If you *don't* make that drive though, you largely feel fairly limited off into a decent-in-many-spots little city.

However, in Bernalillo, how much worse off are you really than if you'd be in ABQ? In Bernalillo, you are really in the heart of the Albuquerque Metro area. I mean, you are butted up against very-close-to-ABQ-suburb Rio Rancho on one end, and on the other, you are a very quick and efficient 10 or 15 - max - minute drive down I-25 to the heart of ABQ.

I think with your hearts really desiring ABQ (and kind of sounding like you are a bit sad not to be in it), you'd be essentially "in" where you want to be in Bernalillo. Sure, you wouldn't be living in City boundaries, but wow...Bernalillo isn't much more than a real quick skip away from city boundaries - very close and easy and efficient.

However, you do Belen, and you are a good bit of distance of non-inhabited mileage from ABQ. (Sure, you hit the Los Lunas area and the Tome area, etc., but it is a much, much different story than you get from the ease of Bernalillo being squarely in the heart of the metro).

Go Bernalillo. Hands down. Not because it is "better" than Belen. But for your circumstances and what you are looking for, it is the best choice easily.

x2

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Riverdog

Thanks for the suggestion berncohomes, but at the moment, there is nothing in those areas that is in our tragically limited price range, except for a couple of things in Los Lunas near Meadow Lake. We have been warned repeatedly against the Meadow Lake area.

dont do Meadow Lake!!! Los Lunas is nice but as you are finding out, the prices are getting a little high. I think I might be tempted to give Belen a shot, even if it isn't my favorite place, just stay away from the downtown area. have you looked in Rio Communites?

enjoyEP mentioned you would have Los Lunas and of course Tome, obviously he doesn't know too much about the area: Los Lunas is growing with leaps and bounds, but Tome is absolutely nothing. Belen has much more to offer.
Yes, the commute is a little rough, but the new rail system is a great way to get to Albuquerque.
If the city life is more what you are seeking, then Bernallillo would be a better bet.


Nita

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by nmnita

enjoyEP mentioned you would have Los Lunas and of course Tome, obviously he doesn't know too much about the area: Los Lunas is growing with leaps and bounds, but Tome is absolutely nothing.

Ummm...obviously you need to read a quote more thoroughly you are knocking.

I know plenty about the Los Lunas / Tome / Belen coridor, thanks so very much. I have looked at homes to purchase with my wife in Los Lunas. I had a client I worked with in Tome, and I had several business trips necessitated to Belen. I am extremely familiar with the area and have been in and through the area extremely many times.

Now, my exact quote was this:

"However, you do Belen, and you are a good bit of distance of non-inhabited mileage from ABQ. (Sure, you hit the Los Lunas area and the Tome area, etc., but it is a much, much different story than you get from the ease of Bernalillo being squarely in the heart of the metro).

Note that if you read my quote with that context, you will see that the point I was making essentially is that while yes, there is inhabited sections off of or near the I-25 route up to ABQ from Belen, it isn't exactly one large suburb. Much of the trip, drive is very rural still and very wide open. Thus, your point of Tome being so small is EXACTLY MY POINT - that unlike Bernalillo which is pretty much "glued" to the city of ABQ and the direct metro, Belen is still spread out away with much rural land and areas in between. And while Los Lunas obviously is much bigger than Tome, it is all still kind of the same area and LL itself, while growing by leaps and bounds, still isn't exactly Rio Rancho in size.

Originally Posted by nmnita

If the city life is more what you are seeking, then Bernallillo would be a better bet.

That was the very point I was making.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

Ummm...obviously you need to read a quote more thoroughly you are knocking.

I know plenty about the Los Lunas / Tome / Belen coridor, thanks so very much. I have looked at homes to purchase with my wife in Los Lunas. I had a client I worked with in Tome, and I had several business trips necessitated to Belen. I am extremely familiar with the area and have been in and through the area extremely many times.

Now, my exact quote was this:

"However, you do Belen, and you are a good bit of distance of non-inhabited mileage from ABQ. (Sure, you hit the Los Lunas area and the Tome area, etc., but it is a much, much different story than you get from the ease of Bernalillo being squarely in the heart of the metro).

Note that if you read my quote with that context, you will see that the point I was making essentially is that while yes, there is inhabited sections off of or near the I-25 route up to ABQ from Belen, it isn't exactly one large suburb. Much of the trip, drive is very rural still and very wide open. Thus, your point of Tome being so small is EXACTLY MY POINT - that unlike Bernalillo which is pretty much "glued" to the city of ABQ and the direct metro, Belen is still spread out away with much rural land and areas in between. And while Los Lunas obviously is much bigger than Tome, it is all still kind of the same area and LL itself, while growing by leaps and bounds, still isn't exactly Rio Rancho in size.



That was the very point I was making.

and my point, I lived there for 7 years is, Tome is hardly what one would call inhabited, certainly not like Belen, Bosque Farms, Los Chavez and Peralta just to mention a few cities and villages. I doubt Tome has 2000 people, no industry, nothing except an art gallery and some fairly good sized farms plus a post office. I wasn't critizing your comment but corrected your suggestion that Tome is in any way similar to Los Lunas. I don't know how long it has been since you were in Belen and Rio Communities, you may not realize how much they have changed... not all for the better. Of course LL isn't Rio Rancho (thank god) but give it about 10 years...I think we are saying the same thing only in a little different way: I was just surprised to see anyone even mention Tome.

Nita