Question about Lordsburg New Mexico and surrounding Area (Las Cruces, Alamogordo: apartment, rentals)

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by baezrogelio

Thanks. I haven't started the Academy yet I just got the call yesterday with the instructions to where to report and when, but since I don't know nothing about NM I'm starting early to seek info about Lordsburg and surroundings. About the weather, can you give me a glimpse about it? What can you tell me about Siver City? Is there a lot to do there? Is there a lot of difference between the weather of Lordsburg and Silver? About amenities in Silver, medical facilities, schools, college? Is the cost of living high in Silver City? Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!

Congratulations to you. I hope you enjoy your experience with the border patrol.

The weather in Lordsburg can get pretty hot, it is desert there and like another poster said they have some pretty bad sandstorms there. They sometimes shut down I-10 in regards to these storms. It is alittle cooler in Silver City because it is at a higher elevation than Lordsburg.

Silver City is a mining town but due to the mines shutting down right now not alot of mining going on. It has a S Walmart, Albertsons and one other store for groceries. There are not alot of places to shop but it is relatively safe there or at least it was when we left there in 2006. It does have a really quaint downtown that has some coffee shops, some local resturants, and some shops.

Of all the 3 places we have been stationed in NM we liked the hospital there the best and we all had really good doctors. But not everyone shared our opinion.

The public schools in NM tend to not be as good in my opinion compared to other states, probably because NM doesn't have alot of money for funding schools. They do have a college there it is Western and from what I hear pretty good.

As far as the cost of living I thought Silver City was alittle more expensive than Alamogordo. Alot of people from CA and the east coast came out to live and brought with them the ability to pay quite a bit for houses. It may not be as bad now. Gas was always pretty expensive there especially if you are considering commuting. I know that there were several agents who either lived in Deming or Silver City and commuted. For me I wouldn't recommend Deming, but others like it's close proximity to Las Cruces. The drive from Las Cruces to Lordsburg would be a long one, but again I am pretty sure there are probably some agents who commute from there also, alot of wives do not want to be in Lordsburg. Will your wife want to work or go to school?

When do you report to Artesia to the academy?If you need some links to real estate or rental agencies in Silver City let me know and I will dm you. I don't know if Lordsburg has any rental properties so if you are not wanting to buy that may prevent you from living there. The only reason I was willing to move there was so we could see my husband more. Anymore questions about Lordsburg or the border patrol let me know and if I don't know the answer I am sure my husband does.

[baezrogelio]

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

Congratulations to you. I hope you enjoy your experience with the border patrol.

The weather in Lordsburg can get pretty hot, it is desert there and like another poster said they have some pretty bad sandstorms there. They sometimes shut down I-10 in regards to these storms. It is alittle cooler in Silver City because it is at a higher elevation than Lordsburg.

Silver City is a mining town but due to the mines shutting down right now not alot of mining going on. It has a S Walmart, Albertsons and one other store for groceries. There are not alot of places to shop but it is relatively safe there or at least it was when we left there in 2006. It does have a really quaint downtown that has some coffee shops, some local resturants, and some shops.

Of all the 3 places we have been stationed in NM we liked the hospital there the best and we all had really good doctors. But not everyone shared our opinion.

The public schools in NM tend to not be as good in my opinion compared to other states, probably because NM doesn't have alot of money for funding schools. They do have a college there it is Western and from what I hear pretty good.

As far as the cost of living I thought Silver City was alittle more expensive than Alamogordo. Alot of people from CA and the east coast came out to live and brought with them the ability to pay quite a bit for houses. It may not be as bad now. Gas was always pretty expensive there especially if you are considering commuting. I know that there were several agents who either lived in Deming or Silver City and commuted. For me I wouldn't recommend Deming, but others like it's close proximity to Las Cruces. The drive from Las Cruces to Lordsburg would be a long one, but again I am pretty sure there are probably some agents who commute from there also, alot of wives do not want to be in Lordsburg. Will your wife want to work or go to school?

When do you report to Artesia to the academy?If you need some links to real estate or rental agencies in Silver City let me know and I will dm you. I don't know if Lordsburg has any rental properties so if you are not wanting to buy that may prevent you from living there. The only reason I was willing to move there was so we could see my husband more. Anymore questions about Lordsburg or the border patrol let me know and if I don't know the answer I am sure my husband does.

Thanks a lot! I like Silver City and I am really looking forward to rent a house there. About those rental agencies I could really use them now because I've been having a tough time finding houses for rent. I will go to the Academy in mid June. I have looking info on the Lordsburg Border Station and since 2008 it have grown and counts with over 200 agents now, so the under staffed days are no more. I am so excited with this opportunity, and so is my wife. Thanks again and hope to hear from you soon.

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by baezrogelio

Thanks a lot! I like Silver City and I am really looking forward to rent a house there. About those rental agencies I could really use them now because I've been having a tough time finding houses for rent. I will go to the Academy in mid June. I have looking info on the Lordsburg Border Station and since 2008 it have grown and counts with over 200 agents now, so the under staffed days are no more. I am so excited with this opportunity, and so is my wife. Thanks again and hope to hear from you soon.

Yes, it has really grown and I think you will really like the work in that area. You get to do alittle of everything that the Border Patrol does. Not to mention in this day and age it is a very stable job with great benefits.

Will you wife follow you to NM in June or wait until you are finished with the academy? I would assume that you probably won't need to do the extended academy for the spanish so you will probably report for duty at the end of August? I will DM you the links to the rental places. Oh and the understaffed back in 2004 was not actually the field agents it was the management but even that has gotten somewhat better, the only problem they have is not enough room in the present station. They are supposed to be getting a new station just don't know when.

[ajzjmsmom]

I dm'd you the information you needed and just wanted to mention, I saw some houses for rent in Tyrone which is a small community between Silver City and Lordsburg that several of the agents used to live in. You still have to go into SC for anything you want as there are no stores there but it does cut some time off of your commute. It is a nice area,we would have loved to live there but the houses are smaller and we had 4 boys at home. I so wish I would have let my hubby put in for the PAIC last year in Lordsburg, but when we were there rentals were very hard to find. There seems like there are enough choices for you and your wife.

[silversurfer]

There are more rentals than ever here in Silver City. (The locals just say Silver)
I think in the down market people are renting rather than having their homes for sale forever. Sadly our housing market is still too high, as it always was, for the jobs, pay and amenities available. Those CA folks went wild in the boom and drove prices up and they still haven't come down to earth, but as I said they were stupidly high in the mid-90's when I came. (Too much "Best Small Town..." books and articles went to people's heads.)
I don't think your wife would care much for Tyrone. The houses are small and close together. The town itself is sort of shabby and small. A woman I know who lives there says many of the old people are crabby (and she's old herself!)
But Silver is a nice town with friendly folks, a university, and a nice choice of shopping and restaurants but nothing like a big city. We have 2 movie screens and SuperWalMart is our mall. But we're growing and things change all the time. I hope you find an ideal spot. Best of luck...

[silversurfer]

Oh, regarding rentals... try craigslist>new mexico>las cruces>housing
we don't have our own spot on craigslist but are dumped into LC.
Good luck

[40FORDJIM]

I live in Silver City. My wife and I moved here in 1992 from Michigan. We looked at Lordsburg, Deming, and some small towns in Arizona also. We still believe that Silver City is the best. If I can help with information for you and your wife just ask. I think there is a small Border Patrol office here too.

[EMC228]

Congrats on academy and starting a career vital to the security of our country. I lived in Lordsburg several years and it is just a funny little dusty Western railroad town. We preferred going to Silver City for our shopping, etc. It's cooler and with the college town influence there are more varied activities and cultures to enjoy than in Deming. The drive up and the scenery is a nice change from the desert of Lordsburg/Deming also. I lived in a dirt devil path that was hilarious. Almost every afternoon like clockwork, around 3:15pm a dirt devil would approach from the West, cut right through my house heading East taking a flurry of toys, flowers, trash and anything else not nailed down with it. But my, my! How clean the yard was afterwards. You can see for miles and miles around... very exciting to watch the thunderstorms come and go. Lots of UFO sightings. Everyone speaks Spanish and half are directly from Mexico, which is a beautiful and short drive to Agua Prieta, where my boyfriend was from, or to Palomas just South of Deming. My best friend owned and lived in the GhostTown of Shakespeare, which was the first settlement there before Lordsburg. It's full of history... Billy the Kid was a dishwasher at the hotel there, various wild west hangings and incidents are reinacted and they have regular gun fights with authentic costumes and arms. She passed away but the town lives on. The shooting range is a favorite spot of law enforcement and my kids loved going out there to pick up shells and give them to re-loaders. Stay in Lordsburg and get to know the culture there... it's different. The undercurrent there is "outlaw with a grin". It's just a way of life there and took some getting used to... which I decided was not what I wanted. Everyone there turns a blind eye and life goes on with a direct influence from Mexico. Plenty of churches there. OH! The AMTrak train stops there and takes you East or West with spectacular views. I've gone from Florida to Lordsburg and Los Angeles several times on AMtrak. Love it!! Silver City was a great get-away spot. (no Amtrak) Good Luck! Thanks for your service! My son is serving in the USARMY, Jalalabad, Afghanistan right now. He thought Lordsburg was a hoot! Being from Puerto Rico you'll find New Mexico VERY dry.

[lilosita]

Hi,
My husband is also a Border Patrol agent thinking about moving to Silver City. We are currently living in Colebrook NH but we are tired of the extreme cold. Can anyone tell me how is it to live there and does the community see Border Patrol agents? Thanks!

[ajzjmsmom]

Silver City is not to bad. The commute to Lordsburg though is about 43 miles one way. That can get old after awhile. We lived there for a year and a half while my husband worked as a BP agent in Lordsburg. It is a small town and offers either the Super Walmart or Albertsons for groceries along with another grocery store. Not to many big chain resturants but some good local ones. If you are outdoorsy people there is alot to do there. There is no mall and for any good shopping you either have to drive to Las Cruces or to Tucson. The weather can be hot but not as hot as Lordsburg. It actually snowed the winter we were there and was cold but not NH cold.

As far as how the community sees BP agents, I can't really comment. It is like any other small town with new-comers but there are other agents who live there. I am sure your husband could actually commute with other agents if he wanted to.

The work for your husband will probably be pretty exciting. I don't think they are quite as busy as they were when we were there in 2006, my husband was the APAIC and worked really long hours as they were short-handed. Now they have more agents, a new PAIC and supposedly are getting a new station. If you are used to city life it might be an adjustment for you but it was okay for me, other than my husband being gone so much. If your husband is a field agent he will do his 10 or 12 hours and be on his way home. Here is a link to the website for Silver City with alot of info about it, realtors websites, and pictures. Official Web Site for Silver City and Grant County, New Mexico, presented by the Silver City - Grant County Chamber of Commerce!