Headed for Alamogordo.... (Farmington, Ruidoso, Tularosa: military, hotel, trip)

[Cathy4017]

I have reservations in Alamogordo, and will be heading out that way this coming Monday to see the area again and look at a few properties.

I'm taking the longest route (I-20/I-10/54), but the apparent quickest and easiest.

I hope to get all of this over with soon. I hate house-hunting.....

I will report either as I go or after I get back. If Alamo does not pan out, it's back up to Farmington in July or August.

[6 FOOT 3]

Way to go Cathy and have a safe journey to Alamo. Hope you get up to Cloudcroft and enjoy the fantastic Sacramento Mountains. Next month is the Cherry Fest in High Rolls as its always cool to visit it and see all the tourists eating Cherry pies and Cherry ice creme and drinking Cherry coffee and well i think iv'e rambled enough......

Have fun..... harry !

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by harry o

Way to go Cathy and have a safe journey to Alamo. Hope you get up to Cloudcroft and enjoy the fantastic Sacramento Mountains. Next month is the Cherry Fest in High Rolls as its always cool to visit it and see all the tourists eating Cherry pies and Cherry ice creme and drinking Cherry coffee and well i think iv'e rambled enough......

Have fun..... harry !

Thanks, Harry. Are there any areas I should avoid? Any advice about the area in general?

Any suggestions would be really appreciated!

[I_LUVNM]

Wishing you the best Cathy! I definitely want to know about Cloudcroft if you make it up there. I would love to go visit there. Mom and I are watching for your Alamo info too. Good Luck!

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

Thanks, Harry. Are there any areas I should avoid? Any advice about the area in general?

Any suggestions would be really appreciated!

Places to avoid?? Can't really think of any as crime is low in Alamo. There's only 2 ways into Alamo from the border and both roads (US 54/US 70) have Border Patrol check points so drugs and criminals etc.. are sometimes weeded out before getting into town.

Most of Alamogordo (pop 40,000) is a long rectangular shape along the Sacramento mountains so the new housing subdivisions are on the extreme southern end around the Golf Course and the extreme northern end around the Mall. The older areas in the core are probably alot cheaper on home prices. Some of the incorporated areas south of the city going to Oliver Lee state park you'll see houses and trailers scattered amongst acres of land. The town of La Luz (pop 1,000) just north is mainly an artist type colony. Also some people live about 8 miles north in Tularosa (pop 2,500) and work in Alamo as its a ranching and farming community.

The hospital on North Scenic is about 8 years old and has expanded 3 to 4 times already now and the Home Depot and Lowes across from the mall were built reciently. Holloman AFB (10 miles west) is getting the F-22 raptors and has gone thru extensive expansion and remodeling. Also a new Business park by the airport west of the city is going up and new construction and industry on the North Bypass which itself is fairly new. Even the drive to and from El Paso on US 54 was reciently expanded fron 2 lanes to 4 lane divided hyway.

Alamo is growing at a even steady pace of housing and businesses as not too fast or slow and also has alot of retirees both civilian and military do to the great year around weather. Some like to golf in the mornings when its cool and then go up to Cloudcroft in the afternoons as it can be 70 degrees up there in july.Your only 20 minutes from the mountain resorts of Cloudcroft and 45 minutes from Ruidoso. The mountain rainge there is roughly 100 miles long and about 40 to 50 miles wide and at peaks of 10,000 ft to Sierra Blanca Peak at 12,000 ft so a wide rainge of mountain fun close by.

If you go to the Lodge hotel up in cloudcroft you may get a glimpse of the resident Ghost Rebecca as she haunts the place. Been on unsolved mysteries etc... Sorry to sound like the Chamber of Commerce as its not the best city in New Mexico but happens to be my favorate place and area. harry!

[chilegal]

Cathy,
Harry said it all. I really love the area, being able to go up in the Mts summer and winter if I want to visit the snow.
On places to avoid, ask your realitor if it is in the flood zone. Taxes are higher and it can flood, we did have that problem last year. And like Harryo said don't rule out La Luz or Tulie for smaller communities.
Good luck on your search.
Jane

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by I_LUVNM

Wishing you the best Cathy! I definitely want to know about Cloudcroft if you make it up there. I would love to go visit there. Mom and I are watching for your Alamo info too. Good Luck!

Thanks, Luv. I'll be sure and report back in!!

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by harry o

Places to avoid?? Can't really think of any as crime is low in Alamo. There's only 2 ways into Alamo from the border and both roads (US 54/US 70) have Border Patrol check points so drugs and criminals etc.. are sometimes weeded out before getting into town.

Most of Alamogordo (pop 40,000) is a long rectangular shape along the Sacramento mountains so the new housing subdivisions are on the extreme southern end around the Golf Course and the extreme northern end around the Mall. The older areas in the core are probably alot cheaper on home prices. Some of the incorporated areas south of the city going to Oliver Lee state park you'll see houses and trailers scattered amongst acres of land. The town of La Luz (pop 1,000) just north is mainly an artist type colony. Also some people live about 8 miles north in Tularosa (pop 2,500) and work in Alamo as its a ranching and farming community.

The hospital on North Scenic is about 8 years old and has expanded 3 to 4 times already now and the Home Depot and Lowes across from the mall were built reciently. Holloman AFB (10 miles west) is getting the F-22 raptors and has gone thru extensive expansion and remodeling. Also a new Business park by the airport west of the city is going up and new construction and industry on the North Bypass which itself is fairly new. Even the drive to and from El Paso on US 54 was reciently expanded fron 2 lanes to 4 lane divided hyway.

Alamo is growing at a even steady pace of housing and businesses as not too fast or slow and also has alot of retirees both civilian and military do to the great year around weather. Some like to golf in the mornings when its cool and then go up to Cloudcroft in the afternoons as it can be 70 degrees up there in july.Your only 20 minutes from the mountain resorts of Cloudcroft and 45 minutes from Ruidoso. The mountain rainge there is roughly 100 miles long and about 40 to 50 miles wide and at peaks of 10,000 ft to Sierra Blanca Peak at 12,000 ft so a wide rainge of mountain fun close by.

If you go to the Lodge hotel up in cloudcroft you may get a glimpse of the resident Ghost Rebecca as she haunts the place. Been on unsolved mysteries etc... Sorry to sound like the Chamber of Commerce as its not the best city in New Mexico but happens to be my favorate place and area. harry!

Well, that just about says it all, LOL!! Much of the area is familiar to me (EP, Ruidoso, et al).....I have also been to White Sands and such, but it has been 30+ years, so.....

I doubt I will do much wide-area exploring. This trip is strictly for house-hunting (ugh) and seeing Alamogordo itself. The agent also said that I might like Tularosa and La Luz. I'll just see what the area has to offer. I find myself gravitating to the older homes (20+) with mountain views out the back.....

Thanks, Harry....

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by chilegal

Cathy,
Harry said it all. I really love the area, being able to go up in the Mts summer and winter if I want to visit the snow.
On places to avoid, ask your realitor if it is in the flood zone. Taxes are higher and it can flood, we did have that problem last year. And like Harryo said don't rule out La Luz or Tulie for smaller communities.
Good luck on your search.
Jane

Thanks, Jane.

I mentioned the flooding to the agent--and a contract will be contingent on not being in a flood zone or where it flooded last year. She will show me the hardest-hit areas, and what to stay away from.

What happened was very unusual for both El Paso and Alamo...and probably won't happen again for several years, but still...I know what you mean.

I'm looking forward to the visit! I just wish it didn't get so hot there.

But....I've looked at temps in all three places (Midland, TX, Farmington/Alamo, NM).....and they don't vary that much. The difference seems to be how long it stays so hot (here, from May to the end of October) and the nights cooling off. They cool off substantially more in the NW, of course.

[Greenchili]

Hi,
we lived in La Luz almost 6yrs ago. I loved that little place,and cant
wait to get back there again. I miss it

Greenchili