Moving to Belen (Albuquerque, Los Lunas, Grants: relocation, real estate, houses)

[pugsley101]

We are thinking about moving to the Belen area. What can anyone tell us about Rio Grande Estate area. ie. Road conditions, well & septic cost, electric/gas availibity.

[ManzanoWolf]

Originally Posted by pugsley101

We are thinking about moving to the Belen area. What can anyone tell us about Rio Grande Estate area. ie. Road conditions, well & septic cost, electric/gas availibity.

I lived in rural Valencia County for several years and I cannot address the issues you raise except the roads are not well maintained due to lack of state funding and I do not see that improving, but I would definitely research personal safety in that area.

The Rio Community just outside Belen was hit hard by vandalism in the past year; there has been much gang and drug activity in and around the Belen area. Rio Grande Estates is isolated and in unincorporated Valencia County. It is a poor county and the Sheriff's Dept was severely understaffed when I lived there. It was not uncommon to have only 2 deputies on patrol for the entire county. Therefore, it can take several hours to get a response to a call for assistance.

The unincorporated areas of Valencia County have been the recipient of much gang and drug activity, since ABQ began its crack down on crime. The crime merely moved from the city to the edge of the metro area, with easy access to the city.

Good luck with your decision.

[pugsley101]

Originally Posted by ManzanoWolf

I lived in rural Valencia County for several years and I cannot address the issues you raise except the roads are not well maintained due to lack of state funding and I do not see that improving, but I would definitely research personal safety in that area.

The Rio Community just outside Belen was hit hard by vandalism in the past year; there has been much gang and drug activity in and around the Belen area. Rio Grande Estates is isolated and in unincorporated Valencia County. It is a poor county and the Sheriff's Dept was severely understaffed when I lived there. It was not uncommon to have only 2 deputies on patrol for the entire county. Therefore, it can take several hours to get a response to a call for assistance.

The unincorporated areas of Valencia County have been the recipient of much gang and drug activity, since ABQ began its crack down on crime. The crime merely moved from the city to the edge of the metro area, with easy access to the city.

Good luck with your decision.

Thanks for your imput, we are retiring soon and finding a safe place is very important to us.I know there is crime everywhere and good and bad about everywhere you go. We both liked the small town feel and where not to concerned about all the extras, shopping, traffic and such as we would have all day to get there. But being safe is very important. Thanks again

[Hunter Wold]

You might check out Los Lunas, a few miles north of Belen.
Have just traveled thru a few times, but did notice some new retailers, and nice looking houses.

Los Lunas, NM - Official Site
Los Lunas, New Mexico (NM) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

New Mexico Real Estate Los Lunas valencia county area homes
Plus other sites for info.
OBTW it was almost 70 in Abq. Sat.whew..gettin hot.
Today snow in Grants...but not real cold.

Happy trails,
HW

[Susan Hersh]

We have seen NO crime in our golf course community just outside of Belen.
I would NOT live IN Belen.
Retiring here is just fine.
Bring your money.
We also have a great mass transit system that gets you to ABQ.

[Deany]

I have just moved to Rio Community June of 2007, I am originally from Wisoconsin..
Rio Community is a pretty good place to live, if you do not like the big cities.. When I moved here there weren't too many houses for sale.. I had looked in Los Lunas but at that time houses were only on the market for a week.. They problem with Los Lunas is that the house are too close together, you can stick your arms out and pretty much touch houses. Los Lunas is closer to Albuquerque. Being from the Midwest the things I am disapointed with is the amount of trash, While the rest of the Country is going green it doesn't seem parts of this state are on board.. I really love my house, getting use to the culture here is the hardest part, but I am finally getting use to it.. I have met alot people that have moved here from Wisconsin and California.. Well if you have more questions, please ask, I will try and answer them.. You will get a staight forward answer.. Rio Grande is just down the road from Rio Community don't know much about it other than they have an acre or more of land. I haven't heard anything bad about it.

[gothorses]

Any feedback on public schools in the Valencia county area? I'm concerned about the safety factor for my 14 year old daughter. Anyone know of private schools in the area? Thanks for your help anyone.

[Towanda]

Wow - looks like lots of new City-Data Forum members on this thread.

Welcome to the New Mexico forum pugsley101, Susan Hersh, Deany, gothorses!!!!! Have fun posting here and learning more about New Mexico!

[Esoterica]

Hello,

I have very different opinions regarding Belen, New Mexico. I used to live in Miami, Florida- the armpit of HELL! My husband was robbed and beaten at gunpoint once and our car hit twice in drive by shootings and we didn't live in the bad area. At night, we frequently heard gun shots. Prostitutes would accost my husband right outside our front door when he was working on our car. Talk about drugs... .PULEEEZE, it was horrible.

When I hear people talk about the crime in Belen, I honestly find it amusing. There are no hookers turning tricks up the Chelsea Freeze! Okay, yes there are alcohol and drug related problems. There is a methamphetamine and heroin going on here. However, it's not out in the streets. It's hidden. There are some domestic violence issues. If you leave a bike in your front yard, it could be stolen.

Having said the above, I LOVE IT HERE! It's like paradise to me. The Anna Becker park is like a picture out of a book. The people here are friendly and food is really GOOD!!! The town is covered w/ flea markets and swap meets on Sunday's and the town is full of some really great churches. Belen is surrounded by the most beautiful mountains!!! I love the weather and the fact that you have swamp coolers instead of air conditioners here. You can run a swamp cooler 24/7 for about $30 a month.

I like the railroad. Many many trains come through Belen in a day. I love seeing and hearing the trains.

Rent is VERY inexpensive here and so is real estate. You can buy a decent house here for $125,000. You can buy a nice smaller or older home here for under $100,000. It's a great place for real estate investing. There are multi-million dollar homes being built here up on the Mesa. A hospital will soon be coming to Valencia county.

Now, having said all this, the median income is around $30,000. That is pretty low. However, the cost of living here is low too. You won't find jobs here in Belen and probably not Los Lunas either. You will have to spend gas or take the railrunner to Albuquerque to work. I work at home so it's not a problem for me.

Belen has a cozy small town feel to it. The people here don't have much money, but I've found them to be friendly and accepting of new people.

Is there crime here? Let me say this, there is crime everywhere; however, I feel a helluva lot safer here in Belen than in Miami. There are no drive bys.

Now, what has been said of a neighboring community near Los Lunas called MeadowLake is true. I drove out there just to look around and had a very icky feeling. It's mostly spread out dilapidated trailers. It's obvious many are making meth there. I would NOT feel safe living there.

As for police protection here in Belen. I had a small situation occur due to my sister's insane boyfriend. I called the police and they were here FAST. In fact, THREE Belen police officers came here. Los Lunas has plenty of police too.

There is a prison between Belen and Los Lunas - not a max facility- and the prison is very modern and always hiring. They pay very well too.

As for shopping, well, if you can't find it at Walmart, you just don't need it . Walmart and a few Dollar stores are about it here. However, Albuquerque has tons of malls and stuff and you can always go there if you have major shopping needs.

My neighbors are friendly here, and it's a family oriented town. I love it here. We've talked about moving closer to Albuquerque to the cost of gas and my husbands commute. However, we always come to the same conclusion- we love Belen and it just feels right here.

People are fallible all over and there will always be some people who are unkind or into self-destructive thing. Also, there is crime everywhere. However, having lived in many places in my life, I absolutely love Belen, NM.

[Esoterica]

Originally Posted by gothorses

Any feedback on public schools in the Valencia county area? I'm concerned about the safety factor for my 14 year old daughter. Anyone know of private schools in the area? Thanks for your help anyone.

Calvary Chapel has a school in Belen.