Quote:
Originally Posted by Hedlock
"EnjoyEP" seems to know alot about the city....maybe he will chime in.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by berncohomes
Oh I'm sure he will  and when he does you will get some good advice. |
Well, wow...what kind words folks! I also play Tuesday nights at the Hampton Inn on Springdale Rd. ...make sure to stop by!!
Anyway, seriously, I only lived in ABQ for 4+ years or so (03-07), and there are folks on this forum that have lived in ABQ for 20, 30, 40+ years, so I don't know if I deserve lofty praise of knowledge.
However, I will say that I am extremely passionate about the Duke City and have spent many a year getting to know the city, and am itching and clawing to get back.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hedlock
We'll be moving to ABQ by the end of the year with our dog and we're looking for a home. We're looking to stay below 190k for a 3br 2ba, with a yard. Reading through some of the posts, it seems that everyone likes the NE area. Is this where we should be looking or are there other options? We're taking everything into consideration....view, trails, nieghbors, safety, resale. Any thoughts on what zip codes we should be looking in?
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I always whip out a list of Albuquerque recommended zip codes that I would suggest - and then I invariably always forget one or three that I should've included. Of course, it would probably just be helpful if I saved them or indexed them somehow, but I never do.
So, I will do it again and hopefully if I miss any, someone can help fill me in:
NORTHEAST
87109 - Portions...generally more northern and/OR eastern (generally north of Montgomery and/or, east of Louisiana)
87111 -
87112 - Portions...generally more northern and eastern
87122 - (Likely out of your price range)
NORTH VALLEY
87107 - Northern areas most desirable, especially near Rio Grande Blvd.
87113
NORTHWEST
87114
87120 - Northern 1/3 or so of this zip
SOUTEAST
87123 - Predominantly in the "Four Hills" neighborhood, although this may be too affluent / out of your price range
RIO RANCHO (suburb on far North West)
87124
UNM / NOB HILL area
87108
DOWNTOWN
87102 - There are some very nice residential areas (perhaps a bit too pricey though) off of Downtown near the river
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In terms of where you'd like to be looking:
Northeast:
Probably my personal favorite in the zips I mentioned. Older and more established in general than the Northwest, and thus more retail, restaurants, established infrastructure, etc. You will get many decades-old well established residential areas, as well as still some newer areas on the northern and eastern edges.
IN GENERAL, this is a pricier area in the zips I mentioned. However, it all depends on the size / age of home, type of neighborhood, etc. I owned a modest sized (1200 square foot) 35 year old (but remodled) home - 4 bed rooms (fairly small BRs!), in an older neighborhood square in the heart of the NE Heights and I was WELL within your price range. You can find houses like this.
But indeed, compared to what you'd get on the Northwest, you'll be paying more $ per square foot and likely would need to buy a smaller / older home than in the Northwest.
For all of these things though, who knows? The way the real estate market is still currently, steals / deals can always be found.
The Northeast is to me semi-"suburban" in feel, yet fairly urban still. A wide blend of people - long-time New Mexicans (including native ABQeans), cops, retired military, empty nesters, renters, young families with kids, affluent sorts, working professionals, elderly, families with high school aged kids, some working class / blue collar families, etc.
The
Northwest tends to feel a bit more "new suburbia" with tons of fairly new (or recent) development - both in terms of retail, as well as residential homes and neighborhoods. If you are looking for "bang for you buck" per square foot in a newer home, this is the place to look. For many, it lacks the "authenticity" or "real Albuquerque vibe" that other areas of the town have - and I don't necessarily disagree (I prefer the NE in a perfect world) - however, I likely would buy here due to all of the younger families that reside here. It has its pluses and minuses - big pluses are the home sizes / ages for their dollar. Minuses involve less established infrastructure (eg: more traffic) and maybe less of an authentic "feel".
Rio Rancho is a popular, rapidly growing suburb on ABQ's northwest side, and if you'd consider ABQ's NW side, you probably should throw Rio Rancho in that mix, too, as RR is in feel largely an extension of ABQ's NW side.
The
North Valley is one of the nicest parts of ABQ...by the Rio Grande. Hotter on summer days and cooler on winter nights due to being in the valley. More "green" than most of ABQ due to its proximity by the river. You may not find prices in your range here, as the nice areas of the Valley are some of the pricier areas, but if you can pull off a steal near, say, Osuna Rd. or Rio Grande Blvd. in the Valley, it has its real pluses - one of which is being so central in the city to everything. It has a similar urban/suburban kind of mixed vibe that the Northeast Heights has.
The
Nob Hill/UNM/Downtown areas I noted zip-wise are more what you'd associate with a more classically "walking friendly" or "younger" or more "hip" area of the city...definitely quite urban. This is the place you'll find more nightlife, more music, more revelry. Lots of authentic and unique shopping. There are some quite affluent areas in this area as well, typically more liberal-leaning folks. There are some beautiful green, wooded areas in these neighborhoods, too, that seem again somewhat unlike the remainder of the desert city. To me, this was a great place to visit (but preferred living in the NE Heights), but to others on the board they wouldn't live anywhere else if they had the choice.
Probably the areas you'd want to stay clear of as a newcomer coming in would be the Southwest, most of the Southeast (except for pockets that would include areas like the very affluent Four Hills area that would probably be too pricey), and some of the Northwest that is closer to I-40.
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I hope this helps you. If you have follow up questions, feel free to shoot. Partially it would be akin to where you'll be working, if you want more "city" or more "home with yard", etc.
Good luck!! And CONGRATS on getting to move to ABQ!!!
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Young active couple relocating to ABQ
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