Feeling Pressure about my possible move to EP (Austin, El Paso: apartments, lease)

[malamute]

Here's a timely article in the El Paso Times today:

El Paso is safer haven for Juarenses fleeing killings - El Paso Times

Thousands of Mexican families are moving over, bringing with them their bodyguards and servants. It's obvious if they bring their bodyguards, they also believe the violence will follow them. Some have very good reason to need bodyguards.

[DesertDog]

Yes I live in the 79938 part of town and the far east off Montana does have bad parts but the part I spoke of has very nice, expensive homes with land which is what you asked about. A few people here only know the parts of Montana they can see from their cars not what is way off the main road. The Tierras is the development I live in and it has homes from approximately 100k up to 275K+. My home is 2200 sq feet, 3bdrm, 2 1/2 bath, living room and family room, 2 car garage, many upgrades and sold for 170K. I hope this gives you an idea of what your money gets you. My daughter goes to El Dorado H.S. and my son to Paso Del Norte Elementry/Middle. Both schools are as good or better than the schools they attended in Nevada. My son rides his bike to school and we don't fear for his safety and my daughter could walk to school without any problems but she is to lazy so we drive her less than 2 blocks. Lots of new stores opening up in the area so no need to even travel to the other parts of El Paso if you didn't want to. Easy access to the desert for quads and dirt bikes or target practice. Traffic can get a little heavy around rush hour but nothing compared to other cities this size. I won't get into the ethnic makeup as I'm sure you have already researched that. The people here are some of the nicest I've ever met anywhere in the country and after 2 years here my opinion hasn't changed. If you have a boat consider selling it, water is 2 1/2 hrs away. Other than that El Paso is a very nice place to live.

[btroop]

Thanks Malamute. How many soldiers have arrived in the past two years? Has anyone noticed the expansion of Ft. Bliss improving El Paso? It is 21 degrees here right now and snowing. Really tired of it.

[btroop]

Originally Posted by DesertDog

Yes I live in the 79938 part of town and the far east off Montana does have bad parts but the part I spoke of has very nice, expensive homes with land which is what you asked about. A few people here only know the parts of Montana they can see from their cars not what is way off the main road. The Tierras is the development I live in and it has homes from approximately 100k up to 275K+. My home is 2200 sq feet, 3bdrm, 2 1/2 bath, living room and family room, 2 car garage, many upgrades and sold for 170K. I hope this gives you an idea of what your money gets you. My daughter goes to El Dorado H.S. and my son to Paso Del Norte Elementry/Middle. Both schools are as good or better than the schools they attended in Nevada. My son rides his bike to school and we don't fear for his safety and my daughter could walk to school without any problems but she is to lazy so we drive her less than 2 blocks. Lots of new stores opening up in the area so no need to even travel to the other parts of El Paso if you didn't want to. Easy access to the desert for quads and dirt bikes or target practice. Traffic can get a little heavy around rush hour but nothing compared to other cities this size. I won't get into the ethnic makeup as I'm sure you have already researched that. The people here are some of the nicest I've ever met anywhere in the country and after 2 years here my opinion hasn't changed. If you have a boat consider selling it, water is 2 1/2 hrs away. Other than that El Paso is a very nice place to live.

Hey, good info! I think your neighborhood is where I've been looking online. I was looking around on Google Earth at the El Dorado Estates which is down Edgemere Blvd, near the end of it I think. This area is probably where I will focus as it would be an easy commute to work. I'd go West on Montana to Global Reach, to the new Biggs gate. That drive appears to be about 20 minutes. Does that sound accurate?

I got a chuckle out of the daughter comment. Sounds like my daughter.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by btroop

Thanks Malamute. How many soldiers have arrived in the past two years? Has anyone noticed the expansion of Ft. Bliss improving El Paso? It is 21 degrees here right now and snowing. Really tired of it.

Yes, I've noticed them, I think the military families are improving El Paso, except I don't like very big cities and El Paso is becoming that. I liked El Paso better when it was smaller, had more variety, more rural places.

The weather here is about the best you can find. There's enough of a winter to know it's winter, unlike some places where there are no seasons. We have seasons here, it's a temperate climate which means you have to wait until the end of February or early March to see flowers begin to bloom. Winter only arrives right before Christmas but there can be a few snow flurries on Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day can be over 70 degrees. I judge winter here to be when most nights where the temperatures fall below 35 degrees, winter days here are almost always over 50 degrees, often 60s and 70s. Spring here is when everything blooms and the winds begin blowing in the warmer weather. Summers are very balmy, hot and dry but cool desert nights, about 2 months, and there's an extra season called the monsoon which starts in July, when the rains begin, temperatures drop but humidity rises, that lasts 2 weeks to a month. Then fall.

The weather is so nice here you can do just about anything outdoors except swimming year round, and skiing and sledding and snow is just a couple hours drive away. Camping is great just about any direction, W, N, E that you might want to go. You can always get a change of weather in a 2-3 hour drive. Wait until you see the cool pine forests of southern New Mexico.

[DesertDog]

Everything Mal says is correct. I was cooking on the grill the day after Christmas and just about every week in the winter you'll get good days. Eldorado Estates is just down the street from me and my older son and family live right across the street from there. It's a nice area with new homes and easy access to everything. Commute time is about right depending on time of day. I think you're on the right track with your hunt. Good luck and if I can be of any help just ask.

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by btroop

Has anyone noticed the expansion of Ft. Bliss improving El Paso?

It will when completed in 2013 as the new buildings and new freeway when done will be beautiful and great for EP .

[mrsrobinson73]

yes mal is right about the cool pine forests of southern NM. Cloudcroft NM is beautiful!!!!

[malamute]

And make sure you get to know the Gila Wilderness. The Cliff Dwellings are a good day trip, Lake Roberts is awesome. the Grand Canyon is a pleasant 8 hour or so drive away. Ghost towns are a great theme kind of trip to do, that will take you to some pretty scenic and historic towns and regions. There's Caballo Lake and Elephant Butte (not quite like the lakes in Michigan but you have to make do sometimes), Percha Dam -- which has a little campground and fishing. You have to get your family over to Carlsbad Caverns which also makes a nice day trip or you can camp out.

In town you can do the trails at Franklin State Park, you can walk all the way to the top and overlook all sides of town, there's an overturned truck up there that no one can explain how it ended up there, Las Cruces is close and has nice things to do. A drive up to Old Mesilla takes you through some nice country and the pecan orchards, you can stop for pecan everything (cookies, icecream, fudge) at Strahans.

[luplor]

bTROOP, WHERE IN THE HECK ARE YOU NOW? After 21 degrees, anything here will be nothing. except the august heat. I get strange looks but stiil wear short sleeves and shorts year round. Havent got used to the "cold weather". You will need a top quality grill, that's a priority, then good ice chest and steaks.