Apartments for SF (Iron Apartment Challenge!) (Las Cruces, Alamogordo: real estate, apartment complex, rentals)

[OccamsSpoon]

Hi everyone!

I am in a bind, and I was hoping someone might have a suggestion. I found out last week I have to relocate to Las Cruces from Wisconsin by August 13. I am 29 yo single female, with a pet and would really like to find a safe place around $650 or less. I've been looking at Apartment.com, apartmentguide.com and rent.com but those keep on popping up the same 5 or 6 apartment complexes (Cuestas, Park Place, High Range etc. etc.). I have a hotel to stay in on the 13th until I find a place (I will not rent sight-unseen) but, I'm really hoping to find a place by August 23 at the very latest.

Anyone have any ideas? I like places that are owner managed, but I know beggars can't be choosers.

Even if you don't have any specific place in mind, maybe you can help me figure out areas of the city to stay away from.

Also, I've been reading about "swamp coolers," or what I'm assuming are evaporative air conditioning, a concept completely foreign to me. Are they all going to be mildewy and awful like I've been reading?

I'm really nervous about the whole "finding a good place to live" as I'll be homeless from August 13th on. I don't want to jump too quickly and regret, but I can't wait forever. Any help you can provide would be extremely appreciated.

[CindyBQuilts]

Hi there, and welcome to CD!!!

I'm looking in Alamogordo area, and have found that the realtors in the area have a wide range of rentals. You might check there... or at least it's a starting place.

Best of luck in your search, but I think you should be able to find something pretty easy....

Let us know how the move goes - we're going from Iowa to NM, so it's pretty similar.

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by OccamsSpoon

Even if you don't have any specific place in mind, maybe you can help me figure out areas of the city to stay away from.

Also, I've been reading about "swamp coolers," or what I'm assuming are evaporative air conditioning, a concept completely foreign to me. Are they all going to be mildewy and awful like I've been reading?

Hi OccamsSpoon !!! I'm not a current resident but know LC very well so until those who live there post i say just stay off the West Picacho Ave. area west of town i'd say you should be fine.

As for swamp coolers and mold ....that shouldn't be a problem as the pads should be mold free i believe and as long as they are changed once a year and you should be fine.

[wawagj]

Hi. OccamsSpoon , I also have to move into las cruces at august fist. I already found nice one for my family, so I want to give you some website which is used to find house for rent. but these website has information for apartment.

Las Cruces Real Estate Classifieds - Kijiji Las Cruces, New Mexico Classifieds
TNOL.com : Las Cruces, NM Area : Homes For Rent
Las Cruces, NM Classifieds | Cars, Homes, Jobs, Pets & More - Oodle.com
las cruces apts/housing for rent classifieds - craigslist

Apartments.com – Find Apartments For Rent Free Among the Most Visual Rental Listings
Executive Rentals - Rentals in Las Cruces, NM - Residential Rentals
Doña Ana Properties
(the realtor is very nice woman )

Landmark Real Estate Inc. - Rental Properties - Las Cruces homes, Las Cruces commercial real estate, Invest in Las Cruces
Steinborn GMAC Real Estate - Rentals - Las Cruces, New Mexico Real Estate, Homes

[funkymonkey]

What kind of pet/how large? Any other specific requirements? Require a place close to the university? Want a larger complex, smaller complex?

Swamp coolers are fine as long as they're properly maintained, and they don't work when it gets humid outside. I would usually run mine at night and leave it off during the day.

[OccamsSpoon]

Originally Posted by funkymonkey

What kind of pet/how large? Any other specific requirements? Require a place close to the university? Want a larger complex, smaller complex?

I have a cat which is ..well, cat-sized. About 12 lbs. I have a car so I am willing to drive. I will be doing research at the school, so I would prefer where I stay to be quiet, but the size of the apartment complex isn't that important. Managers that are prompt to fix what breaks is more important than size.

A pool would be lovely, but I can live without.

[tecpatl]

The Steinborn realty company does property management and rents homes, apartments, etc. Steinborn GMAC Real Estate - Rentals - Las Cruces, New Mexico Real Estate, Homes I'm sure some other realty companies do the same thing, these folks are the largest.

[funkymonkey]

Originally Posted by OccamsSpoon

I have a cat which is ..well, cat-sized. About 12 lbs. I have a car so I am willing to drive. I will be doing research at the school, so I would prefer where I stay to be quiet, but the size of the apartment complex isn't that important. Managers that are prompt to fix what breaks is more important than size.

A pool would be lovely, but I can live without.

Well, I lived at Espina Place for a while, just up the road from University Avenue, on Espina. I'm not sure if they'd have anything available and you'd have to ask extra nice for your cat. Try to avoid the 2 story building thing.

I had a better deal from Greco Rentals in terms of price, but they didn't allow pets at the complex I lived at. They might have other complexes that allow cats, I'm not sure. I've had friends that lived at the Cuestas, they were pretty nice and allowed cats but a bit far from the university.

There's a complex on Miranda Street near downtown between Parker & Palmer that seems pretty quiet (I forgot the name, sorry). They allow cats I believe.

I knew a few people that lived in some apartments on Nevada, off of Walnut. Again, I'm not sure of the name and I also don't know if they allow pets or not.

The people living at these places were all graduate students/researchers so I assume it was generally quiet enough to get work done.