Rio Rancho (Albuquerque, North Valley: affordable house, safe neighborhoods, to buy)

[BrianH]

I am looking at a possible move to Rio Rancho (currently searching job).
What do people think of the area ? Is there much affordable housing ? I don't mind a 20 or 30 minute drive to work if I have to to get affordable housing.

[songinthewind7]

I don't know alot about the area either but am checking into it also.
Send Berncohomes a direct message. He's helping me as far as homes go too.

[karmathecat]

It's a nice suburb.

What's affordable in dollars?

Where is work?

[BrianH]

Looking for HP and a few other places. I am open to anywhere. Not even sure what the salary is like at HP. Have an interview Monday morn.

[lalahartma]

OP: You might want to search in the ABQ forum. There are quite a few threads on Rio Rancho.

[Poncho_NM]

Moving this thread to the Albuquerque forum which also includes the surrounding area.


Rich

[rybert]

Where are you living now?

[Towanda]

This is only my personal opinion and I usually get slammed good for it ... so I repeat ... JUST MY OWN OPINION....

I do not like Rio Rancho and would never live there. It looks like any generic suburb in any of a dozen cities in the U.S. It has no New Mexico history or ... (IN MY OPINION) ... charm. The only thing it has (IN MY OPINION) is a view of the mountains.....which you can get in ABQ, Placitias, Bernallillo, etc.

Could you expand your search to Albuquerque or the East Mountains?

[berncohomes]

So how did the interview go? Did you win them over with your Irish charm?

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Towanda

This is only my personal opinion and I usually get slammed good for it ... so I repeat ... JUST MY OWN OPINION....

OH WHAT IN THE HELL TOWANDA!!! HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY POST THIS??!! I AM ENRAGED!!!! .........





(OK, I am obviously just kidding! )!!!



Actually, Towanda is one of the all-around great NM and ABQ posters, so her advice and thoughts are quite reasonable.

I think that what this all boils down to (and the "Rio Rancho" topics always gets much debate - either "pro"-RR or "con"-RR) is this:

What are you personally looking for, and what is important to you, when choosing a place to live.

To me, I would easily live in Rio Rancho enthusiastically and gladly, and in fact, I would say that if my family and I move back in the next year or so, there is a strong chance we'd move to Rio Rancho.

Why? Well, let me say that actually, I do largely agree with Towanda on her basic summations:

Originally Posted by Towanda

It has no New Mexico history or ... (IN MY OPINION) ... charm. The only thing it has (IN MY OPINION) is a view of the mountains.....which you can get in ABQ, Placitias, Bernallillo, etc.

Rio Rancho indeed is a more classic "newer suburb" that springs up around most any big city. Thus, of course, being new, it just has the more "cookie cutter" or "generic" moniker that are branded to many / most large suburbs of towns. I don't necessarily want to compare it to Scottsdale around Phoenix because RR isn't hoity-toity / swanky like Scottsdale, but you get my point - it isn't "historic" by any means.

Now, remember, where some see "cookie cutter" or "generic", others see "clean, new, and nice"...again, it is just a matter of what you like. Some people would never want to buy a new construction house, as they would see it devoid of character / charm / flavor. Others wouldn't want to buy the historic, lovely old home, as they don't want the hassles of fixing older things, having poorer insulation, etc. Again...what works for one doesn't work for the other.

To me, I have always - ALWAYS - stated that I prefer ideally the Northeast Heights (by far), the North Valley, and some of the UNM areas over Rio Rancho or Northwest Albuquerque. Why? Because I like the more established, older homes and neighborhoods, the better infrastructures (developed for decades), the more plentiful restaurants, stores, parks, etc.

HOWEVER...having said that...

1. My quite reasonable wife always has had more of a soft spot for Rio Rancho / NW ABQ...not because she doesn't love NE ABQ, the North Valley, etc. - she does - but because she likes the newer roads, the newer houses and neighborhoods, the "crisp and clean" look, etc. Again, it is a matter of perspective.

But moreover...

2. I would GLADLY live in Rio Rancho, because:

a. I have never minded a bit of driving, and if Rio Rancho - offering newer, nice homes at a good budget / price, offers safe neighborhoods good for families, offers good school opportunities, etc. - works best for my *residential* family living situation all things considered, I am always still 10 or 20 minutes away from most anything I need throughout Albuquerque.

I can still utilize Albuquerque restaurants, stores, parks, places of interest, etc., quite simply from Rio Rancho.

And...

b. Rio Rancho still shares many obvious things with Albuquerque, including: mild year round temps, plentiful sunshine, dry air, a relative lack of rainfall/snowfall, amazing sunrises/sunsets, great vistas, a proximity to the Sandias, etc.

So to me, because my priority is a nice AND AFFORDABLE house - ideally newer with a lack of fixing up, a safe family-oriented neighborhood, etc., and I don't mind a little driving here and there, I have absolutely no problem whatsoever living in Rio Rancho.

However, to others that might have quite different priorities, Rio Rancho wouldn't be nearly as high on the list.

It is all just what is / is not important to you on this one.