Moving to Santa Fe (Albuquerque, Chaparral: sales, health insurance, credit)

[proshop2001]

Considering moving to Santa Fe NM. We have been looking to buy a home in Eldorado/Valejo area on the southside of Santa Fe. Would like comments on this area and state, county taxs. Does the state of NM tax military retirements and social securtiy. How are medical facilities in Santa Fe?

[Towanda]

We are moving to Eldorado next year, and we love the area. However, most of the properties there have been already sold, and you may have a hard time finding an available building lot.

However if you are buying an existing home, there are many available. The prices are high ~ in the $350,000 - $500,000 range.

Eldorado is a neat place, with several fire stations and an elementary school, a horse stable and greenbelt areas, and more amenities are moving in all the time...there is a good supermarket, bank, some small restaurants and coffee shop, pharmacy, etc. When we were there a month ago, we saw that there is a movie theater coming, as well as some doctor's offices and a fitness center.

And it is really a short drive into Santa Fe.

I am not sure about the tax situation .... that is my husband's area of knowledge.

Good luck with your decision!

P.S. You can search Eldorado here at City-date Forum; they have a good page with a lot of information.

[greatdanes]

Expect a $300k house to be taxed about $1500 per year and a $400K house about $2000 per year. This is approx because the taxes are based on some difficult formulas about comparative value to homes recently sold and 1/3 valuations minus head-of-household and military service credits.
One thing that may be good is there is a 3% yearly cap on increases once you are the home owner of record. Every time the home is sold it becomes subject to the comparative sales analysis figures.

[633red]

We are new to this system and hope we replied to the correct thread relating to moving to Santa Fe. We also are seriously considering a move to an area close to but outside of the city limits of Santa Fe. Eldodrado, Nambe and Pojaque have been suggested. From what we have seen on multiple listings on line, Eldorado seems to be a very good choice for us. We will be making a trip to Santa Fe early this winter to work with a realtor to get a first hand look at these areas. We are retired and one of our primary considerations is medical care. One of us is on Medicare and the other is 63. We are not so much concerned about the Medicare coverage, but we are very concerned about individual coverage. We were with Kaiser Permanente here in Santa Rosa, CA and were very happy with that HMO. Any suggestions in any of these areas would be greatly appreciated. We will be happy to share any info that we gather with the group. Thanks much

[greatdanes]

To 633red:

I don't see why Kaiser Permanente wouldn't cover you in NM, but if they won't the 2 big HMO in NM are Presbyterian Health and Blue Cross/Blu e Shield of NM. They will both cover you for a price and probably both will require a medical exam for rate determination and eligability.

[633red]

To greatdanes,

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately Kaiser does not serve the state of New Mexico. We will look into Presbyterian and Blue Cross plans. Does anyone know anything about LoveLace HMO?

633red

[Towanda]

I have a cousin who lived in Albuquerque before she and her husband were retirement age, and they used Lovelace HMO and were satisfied with it; neither of them had any significant health problems though.

We actually are looking into some of the private insurance companies when we move there. My husband will only be 62 so we won't qualify for Medicare for a few years, and we will no longer have the Blue Cross he has had at his job.

We haven't made any health insurance decisions yet.

[Chaparral]

I'm not a big fan of the HMO style of medical care, so that may be partly why I have a great distaste for the Lovelace plan. But my experience has been that the choice/quality of providers with Presbyterian is generally superior to those associated with the Lovelace plan. On the other hand, Presbyterian's billing/accounting departments leave much to be desired. They've screwed up my billing more times than I care to mention, with one case taking 3 years to resolve.

Chap

[633red]

To Towanda,

Thanks so much for the info. We are also looking at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque. They have individual as well as senior plans for Medicare recipients. How sad that one of the most crucial considerations for a move is health care coverage.

[633red]

Thanks Chaparral. I think Presbyterian will be our first plan to explore. We have really received excellent care with Kaiser in spite of the bad press they get. We appreciate your help.