Taxes (Albuquerque, Alamo: how much, house, inspector)

[weroses]

I live in Ky and everything keeps going up and up in prices and there are very little jobs out here

[eyewrist]

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

Cathy I have to agree with you, even 9 yrs ago when me moved here from Texas we suffered intense sticker shock. Nice custom built houses in Texas were going for $65 a sq ft and we get here and they are almost $100 a sq ft and to be real honest not as well built. You put the cheaper sq ft with no state income tax and it was alot more out of pocket here for us. Where we were from the property taxes weren't to bad. Even now I look at the houses for sale around here and just kinda shake my head. I always say if the German af leaves Alamogordo is in trouble.

You all are right, the homes in Texas are beautiful compared to other states and the choices/cost are unbelievable. I guess I'll stay with my original plan of Texas. Thxs for your input

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by eyewrist

Okay you guys, you are tempting me to move to NM that not fair!
I have plans to move back to Texas but the summers are brutal. I own a duplex in a popular city (Arlington) the entertainment city of North Texas with Six Flaggs, Hurricane Harbor, Rangers and upcoming Cowboys stadiums. I know this city will be growing like crazy once that stadium is finished also the rate to rent will also skyrocket because of it. But it is going to be a madhouse once it's complete and I don't want to be in the middle of it. I was about move just outside of Arlington ( Cedar Hill) to buy a home because of the greenery and the hiilly areas makes you "feel" like you are in the mountains. But you all are saying things that is making New Mexico more attractive.. a place I never considered living but has all the attraction I have always wanted low cost housing, safe neighborhood, new solar energy construction, lower tax. I am not retiring for awhile plus in the medical field we probably won't because of the demand for therapist for the upcoming baby boomers.

So tell me what area is best for the flourishing trees, affordable housing, temperate weather and 30 minutes from a major city with plenty of jobs options in the medical field?

Property taxes are about 20 or 25% of what they are in Texas: an example: we lived in Lewisville for 13 years, we had a zeno lot line home with 1700 sq ft. It was nice, but nothing to rave about: our property taxes when we left 2300 a year; moved to NM, had 1675 sq ft, 1/3 of an acre and a much nicer neighborhood. Of course the house was older: our taxes 810.00 a year. Yes, we did have state income tax, food was about the same, maybe a little less and the weather in NM was much nicer...the summers in ABQ rarely get much about the low 90s, maybe a few days will hit 100, but very few, the best part, no humidity to speak of and cool evenings...Trees, that is a wash, I don't think either place has lots of trees but they can be found in the older areas of Dallas as you know, the same can be said for ABQ. When people say property is higher in NM, that would depend on where you live, our experience, this is not the case....It is a wash pretty much. The one thing you would miss the most, professional and college sports. ABQ doesn't have much to offer in either field...

I would consintrate on some of the closer in area in Valencia County. The county does have problems, but is growing with leaps and bounds, Las Lunas has lots of good housing in the mid price range and is assessable to ABQ via interstate 25. the commute to the major medical facilities would not be much more than 1/2 an hour even during rush hour.

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

Cathy I have to agree with you, even 9 yrs ago when me moved here from Texas we suffered intense sticker shock. Nice custom built houses in Texas were going for $65 a sq ft and we get here and they are almost $100 a sq ft and to be real honest not as well built. You put the cheaper sq ft with no state income tax and it was alot more out of pocket here for us. Where we were from the property taxes weren't to bad. Even now I look at the houses for sale around here and just kinda shake my head. I always say if the German af leaves Alamogordo is in trouble.

I will have to ask you where in Texas did you live and where in NM? I guess, from your comments, you live in alamagordo...

Nita

[lisdol]

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

Cathy I have to agree with you, even 9 yrs ago when me moved here from Texas we suffered intense sticker shock. Nice custom built houses in Texas were going for $65 a sq ft and we get here and they are almost $100 a sq ft and to be real honest not as well built. You put the cheaper sq ft with no state income tax and it was alot more out of pocket here for us. Where we were from the property taxes weren't to bad. Even now I look at the houses for sale around here and just kinda shake my head. I always say if the German af leaves Alamogordo is in trouble.

$100/sq ft would have been a bargain where we bought in the E. Mtns (outside of Albuquerque). Of course, we were on land valued at $60K. Take away the land value entirely and you get pretty close to $100/sq ft for us.

A comparable house where we had lived, in the South, would have cost about half to about $15K more than half of what we paid for this one.

Land is cheaper. Houses definitely are not.

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I will have to ask you where in Texas did you live and where in NM? I guess, from your comments, you live in alamagordo...

Nita

I lived in S Texas. You are correct we are now in Alamogordo.

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by lisdol

$100/sq ft would have been a bargain where we bought in the E. Mtns (outside of Albuquerque). Of course, we were on land valued at $60K. Take away the land value entirely and you get pretty close to $100/sq ft for us.

A comparable house where we had lived, in the South, would have cost about half to about $15K more than half of what we paid for this one.

Land is cheaper. Houses definitely are not.

Maybe each area if different but we have lived in Alamo, Silver City and Carlsbad and all 3 areas had high housing costs. I think my problem with houses here in Alamo for what they are asking they are just not really well built houses and I hear this all the time from people that have bought or are looking to buy. Maybe my heart is just missing Texas.

[lisdol]

When we lived in GA in 1997-99, there were several neighborhoods near the base that threw up "cookie cutter" 3/2, 1200 sq ft houses with a postage stamp yard and a parking slab at an astonishing rate. Some other neighborhoods had slightly larger homes with garages on 1/2 ac (because of the septic) for a bit more. Our second time (2002) at the assignment, the little houses were all rentals, and many of the larger ones were part of the whole Masonite siding falling apart fiasco. We looked at a 4/2 1550sq ft one (without the Masonite siding) for $103K and the 5 yo carpets were in such bad shape that having them restretched was the least thing that needed to be done.

We were lucky to have found our home here, built by an independent builder who does 1-2 homes per year. Owns land around here that someday he will build more houses on, or not. Takes his time.

[eyewrist]

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

Maybe each area if different but we have lived in Alamo, Silver City and Carlsbad and all 3 areas had high housing costs. I think my problem with houses here in Alamo for what they are asking they are just not really well built houses and I hear this all the time from people that have bought or are looking to buy. Maybe my heart is just missing Texas.

But you are right. When I moved to Tennessee, I started to buy a home there. But after staying in the home before I bought it, I began the quality of workmanship was terrible for the price they were asking compared to Texas. Needless to say, I lost money on that one but I didn't mind as long as I didn't purchase that piece of crap. And I am seeing this trend in other states (now living in the Midwest and been to Maryland). I miss Texas too but I'll be back very soon.

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by eyewrist

But you are right. When I moved to Tennessee, I started to buy a home there. But after staying in the home before I bought it, I began the quality of workmanship was terrible for the price they were asking compared to Texas. Needless to say, I lost money on that one but I didn't mind as long as I didn't purchase that piece of crap. And I am seeing this trend in other states (now living in the Midwest and been to Maryland). I miss Texas too but I'll be back very soon.

You know sometimes I wonder if the problem isn't that alot of retirees from CA and the east want to retire where it is not as expensive (ie NM, TN, AZ)and to keep up with these the builders cut corners? When we bought our home in Alamo when we were here before we bought an older home that needed some TLC but it was very well put together. Our realtor at the time told us she had just sold a brand new house and the couple were moving in and after having been unpacking all day they sat down in the living room to rest, the husband was sitting on the floor up against a wall and all of the sudden there was a flood of water coming down from the ceiling. Turns out the plumber forgot to properl connect a pipe and it finally gave away. I remember thinking how in the world did the inspector miss that? Thankfully the house was brand-new and under warranty. We have several friends who built their own homes because the builders here weren't up to their standards. I know it is not only in NM but probably everywhere but since this is where I live this is what I am familiar with. And it doesn't exclude the same thing from happening in Texas I know but you just didn't hear those stories where I am from.