Choosing between Mountainair and Grants (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: real estate, rent to own, insurance)

[pyropinup]

I've applied to and tentatively received a job offer that would allow me to work in either Grants or Mountainair. I was down there in NM working near ABQ for a few months in 2008 so I got to visit both towns and well, to be honest, neither of them impressed me. I am used to living in a small town (400 people) but the quality of life seemed much better in that small town than it did in either Grants or Mountainair. I may be interested in buying a house if the right offer came along, but it doesn't seem like there are many opporunities there (and yes, I am from CA but I cannot afford nor want the McMansions in the new developments out there around Mountainair). I am a single, late 20s woman who likes going to the outdoors as well as the city, and I have considered living in ABQ and then commuting, but the driving during commuting hours is horrendous. Plus, I am wary of drunk drivers.

I am considering whether I want to take the job. Pay is great, job is great, but location I am unsure of.

What are your thoughts on living in either town, or living nearby like in Belen or Estancia and commuting to Mountainair or live in ABQ and commute to Grants?

Thanks in advance,
Jeanne

[GregW]

Personally, being about as far from a "single woman in her late 20's" as you can get, I would pick Mountainair because it would be a lot closer to Albuquerque for weekend entertainment and not a close to a major Indian Reservation with the associated drunk driving.

[Pintada Kid]

Mountainair is a Quiet little town but it would be my Choice to Live instead of Grants. Belen and Albuquerque and Santa Fe are close by and i would think Mountainair has better real estate prices and better scenery and nice people. The less Driving you do in Cold Weather and Snow Country and traffic the better. Plus less Drunk Drivers in the Mountainair area. el pintada kid

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by pyropinup

I've applied to and tentatively received a job offer that would allow me to work in either Grants or Mountainair. I was down there in NM working near ABQ for a few months in 2008 so I got to visit both towns and well, to be honest, neither of them impressed me. I am used to living in a small town (400 people) but the quality of life seemed much better in that small town than it did in either Grants or Mountainair. I may be interested in buying a house if the right offer came along, but it doesn't seem like there are many opporunities there (and yes, I am from CA but I cannot afford nor want the McMansions in the new developments out there around Mountainair). I am a single, late 20s woman who likes going to the outdoors as well as the city, and I have considered living in ABQ and then commuting, but the driving during commuting hours is horrendous. Plus, I am wary of drunk drivers.

I am considering whether I want to take the job. Pay is great, job is great, but location I am unsure of.

What are your thoughts on living in either town, or living nearby like in Belen or Estancia and commuting to Mountainair or live in ABQ and commute to Grants?

Thanks in advance,
Jeanne

what a decision you have to make, I think, if it were me I would opt for Belen or somewhere near Socoro and commute to Mountainair over Grants. If you do decide on Grants try looking for living arrangements about closer to the west side of Albuquerque. You are right the commute from Albuquerque would be a bit of a stretch unless you love driving...

I also thing Mountainair is much prettier.

Nita

[Zoidberg]

My vote: Grants.

Grants could stand on its own (and does) far better than Mountainair, which has little in terms of things you don't need to leave town for.

People (in both): Not my favorite. Mountainair ranks lower than Grants, IMO, for the aggregate average.

Commute to ABQ (from both): I-40 all the way, versus heavy Valencia County traffic and twisty two-lane roads. Throw in winter conditions, no contest.

They're both pretty average in terms of scenery, for New Mexico.

Drunks: Grants gets more of a bad rap, but mainly because there's a helluva lot more traffic out there for drunks to hit, so your odds aren't necessarily worse. Neither community inspires me in that department.

Hope this is either a) a great-sounding opportunity, or b) the only opportunity.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Zoidberg

My vote: Grants.

Grants could stand on its own (and does) far better than Mountainair, which has little in terms of things you don't need to leave town for.

People (in both): Not my favorite. Mountainair ranks lower than Grants, IMO, for the aggregate average.

Commute to ABQ (from both): I-40 all the way, versus heavy Valencia County traffic and twisty two-lane roads. Throw in winter conditions, no contest.

They're both pretty average in terms of scenery, for New Mexico.

Drunks: Grants gets more of a bad rap, but mainly because there's a helluva lot more traffic out there for drunks to hit, so your odds aren't necessarily worse. Neither community inspires me in that department.

Hope this is either a) a great-sounding opportunity, or b) the only opportunity.

I agee with part of what you are saying, but the drunk driving part, I do not: Grants has a much bigger problem I am sure. Of course I do not have the stats, but we all know they do have a major problem. Of course size makes a difference. If it were me, I am not sure I would want either place, but it isn't me, moving there...

[Pintada Kid]

My Preference for living anywhere in New Mexico is in the East Mountain Area. If i was your age and single and had a good job lined up in Mountainair which is a great place to live in the Country with some stores and Restaurants with wonderful people and its also an artist community with all kinds of single middle age women. I would think about investing on land in that area and building a home there with plenty of Acreage or just rent to own theres all kinds of GREAT deals i would think on land and my favorite place is the East Mountain Area. I looked around in that area for about 10 years before i found the place i liked. But there were lots of Areas that i loved but couldnt afford. >>> I know all those roads all over those mountains from Mountainair to Tijeras Canyon and Estancia and Moriarty use to have good Schools years ago and lots to do in the Summer and Fall and lots of wonderful people but theres areas where you have to think about dust and flooding and traffic and water and lots of other things to consider before you commit yourself to buying. P.S. if i can help with information feel free to em me or pm me through this site im not sure i can answer back on pm. The East Mountain Telegraph and the Independent are two newspapers from that area and for Mountainair. pintada kid at webtv.net el pintada kid

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by pyropinup

I've applied to and tentatively received a job offer that would allow me to work in either Grants or Mountainair.
What are your thoughts

Live in Belen and commute to Mountainair: 44 miles one way
Live in Estancia and commute to Mountainair: 23 miles one way.
Live in ABQ and commute to Grants: 83 miles one way.

I would not live in Estancia, just not enough there for me, I don't know about you.

I considered retiring in Grants a few years back, it's just too far from ABQ.

Mountainair is not that bad. I would just as soon live in Mountainair and work there. For a few years, I commuted 99 miles one way to a very good paying job which I liked. I eventually hated the job because of the commute (different area). But when you start figuring the cost of commuting, not just gas but possible increased insurance and wear and tear on your vehicle, you might reconsider...


If it were me, I would just hunker down and work and live in Mountainair for about a year, or live as close to Mountainair as I could.

I really don't think the "drunk drivers" are going to be a problem. Just long commutes and bad drivers get to you where ever you are.


Rich

[mtncat]

My vote would also be Grants. Like already stated it has all the "basics" as far as what you would need on a daily basis. For a town of that size it has plenty of shopping avaliable for needed items. Not much for the "shopper" in the sense of liking to just wander the stores and spend money though.
The people in Grants for the most part are good people, friendly and will go out of their way to help a neighbor out. It does have it's drug, alcohol, theft problem just like any other town though.
One of the big items for me would be that Mt Taylor and the Zuni mountains are your back yard

[AlisonL]

We had hoped to live in Grants when we first moved to NM. Still hoping it will happen, but not looking too good right now.