Military moving to NM (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: rentals, houses, transfer)

[okrednk]

Hello all, I have read many posts and think I have a good grasp of what everyone's opinions are on some of the neighborhoods. Just want to throw a few more tidbits out there to see if I can narrow this list down. Will probably be there around mid July time. Here are some factors that we are looking at, any help would be appreciated.

1) Wife is really wanting to make sure the kids are in one of the best schools (elementary, moving to junior high/middle school next couple years). She thinks either Rio Rancho or Sandia Peak, yes I know it would be an hour drive to the base, but is it worth our child's education?

2) Wife really wants a nice rental home with no less than 2000 sq ft, looking to spend $1,100 mth.

3) My preference would be to live closer than the hour commute I would have to take twice a day but if need be then I will do what it takes. I am really interested in living in a community that is gated and in my price range.

Thanks ahead of time for any help.

Also, I used to live down in Alomogordo when I was in elementary. There used to be a gas station that was more a tourist stop with all kinds of junk they sold inside, but what stood out to me to this day was they had fishing poles with alligator clips on the end and sold balloons that you could go outside and clip the ballons on and put them down in a pit and make a rattlesnake hit the ballon. Is there anything like this around there? I would like to take my kids to something like that.

[mortimer]

okrednk wants to know:

> ... kids are in one of the best schools ...
> ... Rio Rancho or Sandia Peak, ...

Sandia Peak school?

> ... yes I know it would be an hour drive to the base, ...

> ... nice rental home ... 2000 sq ft, / $1,100 mth.

> ... preference would be to live closer than the hour commute ...

Fortunately, there are no one hour commutes in Albuquerque unless
you commute to Santa Fe or from Santa Rosa or Grants or something.

Other people will have better ideas, because I have a small brain and
don't know so much, but I know a guy who commutes to the base
every day via my bus. He transfers to a route that runs down Wyoming.

I would bet that there are neighborhoods in the NE heights with such houses
for rent in this market. You can choose to drive down Wyoming, but if I was
going to live far out and wanted to conserve money, I would pick a place
within walking distance to one of the bus stops that takes you right on the
base. There are other commuter lines that are designed to serve the base.
Some even come in from Rio Rancho. The Wyoming commuter does that.

Its a long ride on the bus, but the money you would save making an
intelligent choice of a house could go toward rent. Just don't fall in
love with the first place you look at. Make sure you aren't building
in an additional half hour of walking time to the bus.

There's jillions of people out there who are going into the landlord
business to avoid recognizing a loss on their house.

[lisdol]

I'm not sure what Sandia Peak school is either? Do you mean Sandia Heights? Or the schools on the east side of the Sandias (San Antonito Elem, etc....).

We live in Edgewood and its a 35 min commute to the commissary, add 10 min to the west side of base.

Husband works with guys who live in Rio Rancho who have a 45 min commute as well. Rio Rancho is pretty big though so it would depend on where in RR you live. I am pretty sure anything in the area west of the Sandia Mountains and some places in the "east mountains" will give you a commute of 45 or much less.

I have no clue on what rents are, sorry.

[mrgoodwx]

okrednk...I think you mean Sandia Park instead of Peak. IMO, I would look at houses somewhere in the northeast heights...or far northeast heights. From neighborhoods near Montgomery/Tramway, you could commute to the base in about 15-20 minutes and find decent schools. I'm seeing more rentals available around this area as people try to capture some income when they can't sell their house in this poor market. I just did a search at realtor.com (just choose rent instead of buy) and found some houses in the far northeast heights for about $1200, although they were more in the 1750-1850 square foot range. My guess is that negotiation may be something to try.

[Tim Rankin]

This agency has a list of homes to browse through:

Bruni Karr Agency - Rentals and Property Management in Albuquerque New Mexico PM Website by HomeRentals.net

I believe they mostly require a 1 yr. lease. We used to live in zip code 87111 and I can vouch for it in terms of good schools. A lot of people think Desert Ridge MS is the best, but Eisenhower MS in 87111 is right up there too.

[okrednk]

Originally Posted by mortimer

okrednk wants to know:

> ... kids are in one of the best schools ...
> ... Rio Rancho or Sandia Peak, ...

Sandia Peak school?

> ... yes I know it would be an hour drive to the base, ...

> ... nice rental home ... 2000 sq ft, / $1,100 mth.

> ... preference would be to live closer than the hour commute ...

Fortunately, there are no one hour commutes in Albuquerque unless
you commute to Santa Fe or from Santa Rosa or Grants or something.

Other people will have better ideas, because I have a small brain and
don't know so much, but I know a guy who commutes to the base
every day via my bus. He transfers to a route that runs down Wyoming.

I would bet that there are neighborhoods in the NE heights with such houses
for rent in this market. You can choose to drive down Wyoming, but if I was
going to live far out and wanted to conserve money, I would pick a place
within walking distance to one of the bus stops that takes you right on the
base. There are other commuter lines that are designed to serve the base.
Some even come in from Rio Rancho. The Wyoming commuter does that.

Its a long ride on the bus, but the money you would save making an
intelligent choice of a house could go toward rent. Just don't fall in
love with the first place you look at. Make sure you aren't building
in an additional half hour of walking time to the bus.

There's jillions of people out there who are going into the landlord
business to avoid recognizing a loss on their house.

Thanks Mortimer, I never even thought about taking a bus. Guess when you have lived in a city of 50,000 you kind of forget about that stuff.

[mortimer]

Yeah, I'm kind of a bus nerd. Anyone will tell you.

It's just that if I can sit there and catch up on my reading whilst
the driver pays attention to the idiots on the road ....

Also, I'm a cheap b@stard and it saves me about $10 to take the
bus to get to work and I get a bit of exercise walking to the
bus stop.

You don't have to do it every day ( I don't ), but if you can add $20-30
a week to your income by not spending the money, you can afford a
rental that is just a bit nicer for your family.

Me? I use the extra money for recreational pharmaceuticals, but that's
pretty evident in my postings.

The only other person in this forum who uses more narcotics than I do
adds a new thread every day or so. You'll figure out who that is soon
enough.

What the others said about negotiating is true. There are deals to
be had out there.

Let us know how it goes.

[okrednk]

Yes it was Sandia Peak sorry about the confusion. I really like the Rio Rancho area, that place looks pretty nice. What seems to be the big deal about the travel to and from? Is the traffic that terrible that it takes twice as long to get there?

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by okrednk

I really like the Rio Rancho area, that place looks pretty nice. What seems to be the big deal about the travel to and from? Is the traffic that terrible that it takes twice as long to get there?

I live in Rio Rancho. My wife works at Kirtland AFB (Past the golf course) her travel time is 45 to 60 minutes one way.

Have you checked KAFB housing office? They usually have some listings.


Rich

[okrednk]

Originally Posted by mortimer

Yeah, I'm kind of a bus nerd. Anyone will tell you.

It's just that if I can sit there and catch up on my reading whilst
the driver pays attention to the idiots on the road ....

Also, I'm a cheap b@stard and it saves me about $10 to take the
bus to get to work and I get a bit of exercise walking to the
bus stop.

You don't have to do it every day ( I don't ), but if you can add $20-30
a week to your income by not spending the money, you can afford a
rental that is just a bit nicer for your family.

Me? I use the extra money for recreational pharmaceuticals, but that's
pretty evident in my postings.

The only other person in this forum who uses more narcotics than I do
adds a new thread every day or so. You'll figure out who that is soon
enough.

What the others said about negotiating is true. There are deals to
be had out there.

Let us know how it goes.

You sure are a big help Moritimer and I'm starting to like your personality already. If you or anyone else can think of any other info that would be good to know about ABQ ahead of time that would be a great help.