Moving to the El paso. (Houston, West: apartments, new house, neighborhood)

[Sambeaux]

Hello my wife and I are moving to El Paso next month. I would very much appreciate your input on where to concentrate our focus. My job requires me to be within 30 minutes of the airport. She is a travel Nurse who also needs to be somewhat centrally located to the areas medical centers. I've also read about the traffic issues on the west side with the I-10 Construction project but would like a locals input on just how bad it actually is. We are used to the awful traffic here in Houston so curious if anyone can offer a comparison. With all of that said given the above parameters what area of town would you focus your housing search in? Thanks in advance this forum is an invaluable resource.

[doolish1]

You would have no traffic problems if you live on the west side. Lots of under 200k new houses available. You would take transmountain to 54 to get to the airport easily. This is a pretty commute as well. Houston is much worse than el paso. You wouldn't deal with the west side construction in this case.

To get to the hospitals would be easier from the west than the east. You have some alternatives on the west. I 10 was shut down on the west yesterday and I took Doniphan all the way down with little delay.

I'd look at some new houses near the new hospital being built. I'd look all near the transmountain, resler exit. North and south of transmountain have new houses.

It's a really nice area.

I hope you are ready for the property tax.

[joqua]

Getting to the airport from anywhere on the west side is going to take longer than 30 minutes under normal traffic conditions.

My personal choice would be in the Mountain Park/Park Foothills area. I have never had a problem getting to the medical center via Magnetic/Alabama, or the airport via Fred Wilson/Airport Rd. in 30 minutes or less.

[CactusMaximus]

Traffic can be bad, but it's nowhere as "bad" as Houston traffic, even at its worst. You also have more ways to move in and out, cutting traffic segments in ELP, than in Houston. I would stay close to the Franklin mountains on either side, depending on your preference for the neighborhood feel on each side. :-)

[katzpaw]

If I worked at the airport, and had a 30 minute on-call requirement, I'd live close by in the wedge between Montana and I-10. There are some nice homes (own or rent) and apartments there. If your wife is a "travel nurse" note that over 80% of El Pasoans live the east side.

[skilo]

80% live on the East side? Source? Seems too high to me.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by skilo

80% live on the East side? Source? Seems too high to me.

Look at any map! A comparison of the residential areas makes it "no contest" between west vs east sides of the mountain. Have to take into consideration that the "west side" stops at the TX/NM state line.

[doolish1]

Go to transmountain and resler. Drive to the airport. It's a nice drive, no problem on time. The west side is the newer growing area. That is the place where values are going up and everything is new. That is where you want to go if you can afford it.

[TexasCCW]

I would recommend 79925 and 79935 zip codes.

[Spottednikes]

West side is much nicer, less traffic and great views. Commute to downtown or airport is well under 30 min.