New Member Intro (Roswell, Alamogordo, Ruidoso: real estate, to rent, home)

[SwansDown]

I just wanted to come out of lurkdom and introduce myself and thank everyone for contributing to all the great information on this forum.

I was born and raised in AK and spent about 10 years in OR and WA before moving to the East Coast. I've been in NY for about 10 years and it is more than time to get the heck outta here and get back out west!

After much research it looks like NM, specifically the Ruidoso area is going to be home. I'm flying out this winter (probably Jan/Feb) to get a first hand look at the area and look at land. Assuming my research hasn't led me astray I plan on relocating late summer or fall of next year.

The plan is to get a few, private, wooded acres --hopefully bordering on BLM or Forest Service land and/or good horse trails-- to build a "green" home. I'm currently leaning toward the high-thermal mass rammed earth style of home with really strong passive solar and grey water elements.

Rachel

[rybert]

Sounds great!

New sustainbale construction sounds like a plan to me!

Welcome to the NM forum!

[Vinegaroon]

If you are not dead-set on Ruidoso, check out the Taos area too. There are good opportunities to buy the kind of land you are talking about. There is also a growing population of green builders there, and many earthships.

[chilegal]

Welcome to the group. One thing to think about is what population do you want to be around? Also, what services do you want? Make a list of what you are looking for and what you do not want and go from there. I love the area you are looking at, but I am enjoying Timberon much more than a larger area.
Take your time looking, and check out the contractors you are interested in on what they can do for you.
You may want to rent before buying to make sure that "this is the place"
Good luck.
Jane

[SwansDown]

Originally Posted by Vinegaroon

If you are not dead-set on Ruidoso, check out the Taos area too. There are good opportunities to buy the kind of land you are talking about. There is also a growing population of green builders there, and many earthships.

How do the land prices compare? Weather?

[Pintada Kid]

Since you will be in Ruidoso Jan.Feb. BRRRRR those are the coldest months of the winter around the area it will be like a Dr. Zhivago winter wonderland around then and maybe lots of wind and temps close to zero or colder. To Warm up you will have to go to Roswell or Alamogordo. While your in Ruidoso check out the Capitan, Carrizozo, White Oaks, Ancho area to me its a much more peaceful area away from some Forest Fires and most of the Wild Animals that seem to hang around where most of the Food is which is in the Larger Places with lots of fast foods. pintada kid at webtv.net

[SwansDown]

Originally Posted by chilegal

Welcome to the group. One thing to think about is what population do you want to be around? Also, what services do you want? Make a list of what you are looking for and what you do not want and go from there. I love the area you are looking at, but I am enjoying Timberon much more than a larger area.
Take your time looking, and check out the contractors you are interested in on what they can do for you.
You may want to rent before buying to make sure that "this is the place"
Good luck.
Jane

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I've done the list -- sight unseen Ruidoso seems to fit the bill. Of course until I see it in person I won't know for sure.

As far as size-wise, I want to be within 30 minutes of a decent sized town (e.g. Ruidoso) and within two hours or so of a pretty major city.

One of the reasons that being *too* rural won't work for me is that I need high-speed internet for my work. Satellite internet is progressing, but I just don't think it's quite there yet.

[SwansDown]

Originally Posted by Pintada Kid

Since you will be in Ruidoso Jan.Feb. BRRRRR those are the coldest months of the winter around the area it will be like a Dr. Zhivago winter wonderland around then and maybe lots of wind and temps close to zero or colder. To Warm up you will have to go to Roswell or Alamogordo. While your in Ruidoso check out the Capitan, Carrizozo, White Oaks, Ancho area to me its a much more peaceful area away from some Forest Fires and most of the Wild Animals that seem to hang around where most of the Food is which is in the Larger Places with lots of fast foods. pintada kid at webtv.net

Thanks for the welcome!

I was born/raised in a small Alaskan town, so I do know what Real Winter is and I don't mind it as long as I get a Real Summer too! And critters don't bother me too much, again I grew up in rural wildlife-full areas. It's been quite a few years, but I'm sure I can get back into the groove with it. Though snakes (not bring up a sore subject!) will be new to me.

Capitan is definitely an area we're looking at. We need good southern exposure to fully take advantage of passive (and maybe eventually active) solar energy. I've jotted down the other areas you've mentioned too.

I'm hoping that between now and January I can connect with a good real estate agent that can a tour of the area and show a variety of suitable land. Suggestions/recommendations are more than welcome!

[songinthewind7]

Welcome Rachel to the forum.
When we looked at the Ruidoso area, we used Mary Weaver from Prudential. That's been a couple of years but she's nice and she helped us out alot even though we decided to live in Timberon (which is probably too isolated for you.)
We have internet but it's not as fast as you would need it for your work. Great place to live though.
Ruidoso is a nice area and you'll enjoy it.
Keep in mind, it also has a lot of tourists. Tourists don't bother me but some people don't like to live in a touristy town.

[Towanda]

Hi SwansDown!

Welcome to the New Mexico forum!

You will get lots of good information here.

I am glad to see you say you will be flying out here in several months to do some in-state research. There is no substitute for seeing the area for yourself and getting a feel for whether you think you like it enough to relocate to the state.