Swapping a home (near ELP)..would you consider it? (Las Cruces: crime, mobile home)

[AmberLynn]

Just curious......would anyone swap their LC or LC area home for a home closer to El Paso but still in NM? If so, what areas would you consider?

[6 FOOT 3]

Although i'm very partial to El Paso as i go back to 1970 when i was in first grade when we moved there i think Las Cruces is a great city at a perfect size as it's not too large and not to small and yet only 40 miles from El Paso for the Airport and major centers of Medical and Shopping.

[AmberLynn]

Oh I agree......but what about those who travel back/forth daily...gas prices etc.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by AmberLynn

Just curious......would anyone swap their LC or LC area home for a home closer to El Paso but still in NM? If so, what areas would you consider?

It depends on what kind of house you have to swap, I don't see any reason not to -- but again depending on other factors.

[AmberLynn]

Right.....what would be "good" factors for you? Land? No land? No yard? Small neighborhood? Scenery? Incorporated town? Unincorporated? Mobile home? Site built??

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by AmberLynn

what areas would you consider?

I would think either Santa Teresa or Anthony as the areas depending on your income. Santa Teresa is an expensive suburb of El Paso and Anthony is an affordable town of around 10,000 people about 20 miles from EP.

[AmberLynn]

Santa Teresa..interesting. With all the mosquito problems, too! We also hear the water in Anthony, NM, especially in one area, is pretty bad.

How'd 'bout Vado, Mesquite, Chaparral, etc.

Just kinda getting a "feel" for what others think of those areas as well.

[6 FOOT 3]

Well those 3 towns you mentioned are quasi Colonias which has mainly trailers and a few adobe houses. They have legal and illegal Mexican workers who work at the Dairies in the area and picking Pecans at Stahman Farms and other agriculture farms and Ranches in the area.

I guess you'd have to visit those towns and see what you think.

[AmberLynn]

It's interesting how people have different perceptions of the outlying areas.

For one place, we have done some extensive research on Chaparral.

First of all, Delores Wright, now deceased, was a state representative. She's done some FABULOUS things there. Added some very nice areas some refer to as the "country club" section of Chaparral!

There are five schools, the lowest crime in the entire county....Las Cruces has the highest, per the Sheriff's office.

There may be mobile homes, but many are nice....mostly on the Dona Ana side....as Chaparral spans to Otero county as well.

Property taxes are very low.....it's a nice, quiet area "away" from city life, yet convenient to both LC and ELP.

We don't know much about Mesquite, La Mesa, Vado etc since we know several folks who live in Chaparral already.

Have you visited and spent time in any of these towns to KNOW what they are about? We think people would be amazed at what they are truly about.

I'll bet that Realtors tend to steer away from them due the the same pre-conceived ideas that you have ie: Colonias, "trailers", illegals. Don't think that is the case at all. All we hear about, at least Chaparral, is safe and secure, quiet, no traffic to speak of (and NO traffic light in the entire town!), inexpensive to live, yet so convenient to ELP/LC.

[domino]

Chaparral has an estimate population of 10,000 people and has very little infrastructure. Every home is on a septic tank system, there is not sewerage utility, and several different water systems. The growth of this area is not sustainable without infrastructure improvements. Eventually the residents of this area will have to pay for those improvements, at which time property taxes will increase. Pay me now or pay me later. I just can't see investing in or moving to an area with so little planning.