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'Am thinking about a getaway home, possibly retirement home in the future, and I don't know which is better, Ruidoso, or Cloudcroft? I am somewhat familiar with the area as I grew up in El Paso (don't live there anymore), and all of my experiences in either location were camping trips.
I'd like nice view of course, not in a crowded neighborhood, but not too far from services, groceries, etc. Any input on either would be appreciated.
'Am thinking about a getaway home, possibly retirement home in the future, and I don't know which is better, Ruidoso, or Cloudcroft? I am somewhat familiar with the area as I grew up in El Paso (don't live there anymore), and all of my experiences in either location were camping trips.
I'd like nice view of course, not in a crowded neighborhood, but not too far from services, groceries, etc. Any input on either would be appreciated.
Ok, I'll take a stab at this as one who looked extensively in both places for a number of years. I looked first with an eye for a summer home, and then as a permanent year-around place. I ended up in Durango, CO, buying a tiny place north of there in 2010.
Given my druthers, I'd take Ruidoso just because of the amenities. Both places are touristy, and Ruidoso is crowded in the summer.
You can get groceries, automotive/veterinary/medical/dental/repair/other services without having to leave Ruidoso if you wish. There are good restaurants and various activities.
Cloudcroft is higher and cooler, but if you want any of the above, you have to drive down to Alamogordo. No, it's not that far (16 miles, about 30 minutes because of the fact that it's a winding mountain road with a lot of traffic in the summer), but I wouldn't want to do it that often.
I love them both, but if I were to move again--and had my choice of either, I'd take Ruidoso.
Hook I'm going to do the same thing in a few years and made several trips this summer.
Ruidoso does have more ameties -lots more. Cloudcroft is cooler and hihger up. There are also some places like Mayhill with pretty meadows and High Rolls but temp wise they are not as cool.
La Luz canyon and High rolls are closer to Alamogordo ( maybe 10 min) and Alamogordo has all kinds of shopping but isnt touristy.
Are you going to visit soon? I'm trying to find the owner of a farm - the address on the tax rolls and sign both have wrong info. I may go Aug 24th or so
Hook I'm going to do the same thing in a few years and made several trips this summer.
Ruidoso does have more ameties -lots more. Cloudcroft is cooler and hihger up. There are also some places like Mayhill with pretty meadows and High Rolls but temp wise they are not as cool.
La Luz canyon and High rolls are closer to Alamogordo ( maybe 10 min) and Alamogordo has all kinds of shopping but isnt touristy.
Are you going to visit soon? I'm trying to find the owner of a farm - the address on the tax rolls and sign both have wrong info. I may go Aug 24th or so
Yes, I am thinking of going around September, I wanted to go this month as well, but must be in LA for a week on business. Thanks for the info. You are near me if I recall, Rockport? Anyway, I had always said I'd move to Colorado and retire, but that was in my twenties. I am now much older by a couple of decades and will be "done" in about 5-7 years so am planning on where I will settle.
'Am thinking about a getaway home, possibly retirement home in the future, and I don't know which is better, Ruidoso, or Cloudcroft?
I am someone who was born and grew up in El Paso and whose family has long owned a second home in Ruidoso. But when I was old enough to have family, we chose to purchase an RV and spend our "liesure" time camping out in the Cloudcroft area - primarily because it was cooler in summer than Ruidoso. There is a 2,000 ft. elevation difference between the two towns, and the ambiance along the Sunspot road is incomparable, IMO.
When it came time for me to retire, I chose Ruidoso because of the milder winters and the fact that there is a huge range of housing options plus more readily available health care, shopping and liesure-time activities. I hate it when, for some reason, I'm forced to drive down to the desert in summer or during the high winds in spring. I can find everything I normally need in Ruidoso, other than medical care specialists.
There is very limited housing available (for sale) in the village of Cloudcroft. And if you don't own in the village, water availability can be an issue. As Cathy pointed out, it's not that far to Alamogordo but the steep and narrow highway can be treacherous year around, and is not something I would want to be forced to drive very often. Liesure-time options for a full-time resident are few.
In the final analysis, it's more a matter of personal preference than outright "plus/minus" points that will matter. Which is "better" will depend on ones personal tastes.
Just as an additional thought, drive the small highway between Cloudcroft and Ruidoso to get an ambiance for the area in general. It's very wooded, you may come across cows blocking the road, and it's very pretty.
I recall that there were some fires there a few years ago, I see some lots for sale for prices that seem too low, so I am wondering if they are in, or near the old fires. Can someone familiar with the area/neighborhoods say which areas were affected so I know? I am planning on a short trip there maybe towards the end of the month and don't want to waste time visiting a location I know I won't want. Thanks in advance.
I recall that there were some fires there a few years ago...
Fires are a constant late spring/early summer threat these days, so anywhere there is winter-dead forage, there is the potential for a wind-driven wild fire. Not having many trees on ones property is no guarantee of safety from such fires.
As for low lot prices, it's highly unlikely that recent fires would be the reason but it's certainly possible.
Much more likely reasons are "accessibility" and cost of development on less desirable lots. If the lot is in one of the older developed neighborhoods, it could be the cost is depressed because the neighborhood is depressed looking. This is especially true of lots in the villages of Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs, where many homes were owner-built by people with limited skills in the years before there was building code enforcement. Building code enforcement is still spotty in rural areas of NM, where "anything goes."
Most of the fires in the region in recent years have consumed mostly Nat. Forest and rural properties, but there have been significant housing losses too in the more sparsely settled areas of the counties affected.
The only way to know what you're getting into is to personally visit and assess the property in question.
I kind of wonder about the impact of fires in the area on land prices. My wife and I recently listed our 5 acre lot for sale (Ranches of Sonterra), and haven't had much contact yet. Our lot wasn't burned, but the 2012 fire burned the adjacent lot, along with houses up the street.
We love the area very much and have camped on our lot many times in the 19 years we've owned it. But...we now realize we'll never build there, partly because of our need for specialized medical care. It's a definite consideration if you're looking at things long-term.
I kind of wonder about the impact of fires in the area on land prices. My wife and I recently listed our 5 acre lot for sale (Ranches of Sonterra), and haven't had much contact yet. Our lot wasn't burned, but the 2012 fire burned the adjacent lot, along with houses up the street.
We love the area very much and have camped on our lot many times in the 19 years we've owned it. But...we now realize we'll never build there, partly because of our need for specialized medical care. It's a definite consideration if you're looking at things long-term.
Looked at pricing of these lots just for fun. When they say utilities are available, just how 'available' are they? I'm sure electric, gas, phone are often 'available' if you pay for running the five miles after the first few hundred feet are gifted.
Just curious as to the investments it takes to actually build something other than a cabin with coleman lanterns. I know wells will vary tremendously if even doable. Septic fields will probably vary too depending on many factors.
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