Neighborhoods in Santa Fe (Rio Rancho: real estate, rentals, condo)

[skylane]

I am coming to Santa Fe to work for about a year, can someone give me a low down of the area to gravitate toward/ steer clear. I would like to keep my rent as low as possible but not for the sake of living in a dump or in an unsafe area. Actually I really wouldn't care if the place looked bad but was in a safe area in or near town.

I see things listed in "Guadalupe District", Railyard area, south of town near airport.

Can anyone shed some light on the better areas.

[schoenfraun]

I don't have any answers, but would like to second that question.

I am seriously considering a job in Santa Fe and I am wondering the same things...I might be moving there by the end of the summer.

I know the Railyard is where the SITE Santa Fe arts district is (or isn't it?) and that the fantastic farmers' market is near there, too.

What is the Airport Road area like? What would be the name of the area where the Tecalote Cafe is, or the name of the area where the Trader Joe's is?

How is public transport? Are the buses reliable? I ask because I'm looking for an affordable rental while I learn my way around, before I buy somewhere... I won't be able to afford much whether I rent or buy. The job I'm interested in is a gov't job--steady, but low-paying.

I'm not one to romanticize Santa Fe, so I don't need an aged adobe cottage on the Canyon Road, I don't need to live in someone's shed behind their Garcia Street compound.... I'm not into the Santa Fe "mystique"---just this job. So if it's a typical suburban ranch house from the 1950s or 1970s, that's fine with me. I know that if things aren't built in the Pueblo Revival style, the police show up, but honestly, I don't need charming. I don't need a kiva fireplace. Just a place for my stuff.

It's really the food I'm moving for. The food and the mountains and the sky. And the job.

Any info on Santa Fe neighborhoods, or rental advice, would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Zoidberg]

Santa Fe's rents (like their housing prices) are out of this world. What a lot of people do is live in Rio Rancho (45 mins away) and commute every morning. Rio Rancho, despite its status as a bedroom community which is only now starting to find its own soul, has very affordable housing prices.

The catch: hope you like bumper to bumper for an hour-plus every day.

[cloudcroft]

skylane,

I suggest you Google a Internet search using the key words "santa fe real estate" and see what links come up...lots do.

-- John D.

[coltoncity]

How walkable is the Santa Fe area? I would love to find a safe walkable city or town in the area.

[ontheroad]

Santa Fe is walkable in several neighbourhoods--but not all. Downtown is the most walkable.

People get into their cars for all necessities.

Originally Posted by coltoncity

How walkable is the Santa Fe area? I would love to find a safe walkable city or town in the area.

[coltoncity]

Oh I could just imagine how expensive downtown would be. Even a condo a fortune.

[Julia2sf]

The Airport Road is newer/more suburbanie. Definitely need a car. Lived in that general area for 10 years, and never had a problem with crime. Good neighbors!

Railyard/Guadalupe district is considered part of the downtown, and hence . . . pricey.

Two places to check for rentals: Craig's List and www.sfar.com, click on "rentals." Latter's updated every week. Sometimes you can also find some interesting rentals checking on the community boards around town (La Montanita Coop, Wild Oats, Coffee Shop off Guadalupe, etc.)

[BrianH]

I have found the public transport to be pretty good. Reliable? Not really. But ive never seen a public transport that was very reliable.
You have pretty much no choice but to live in an adobe building, they are all that way, reason #1 id never live there. Dont think you can find reasonable rent in the city of Santa Fe either, everythng is high priced, including $8 for a 12oz bottle of beer in places, reason #2 id never live there!

Rio Rancho or Bernalio might be better for you to live in and commute to Santa Fe. Never ben to Rio but have in Bernalio. Bernalio drove me crazy. Went to 6 different business, and between them only found one English speaker. The others could only say "no check, no check". That in itself is why ill never go there again, try Rio!