Looking to re-locate to Las Cruces--areas to avoid? (Dona Ana: for sale, insurance)

[sortlandia]

Hello, our family is looking to relocate to New Mexico from South Dakota and are drawn to the area of Las Cruces. My husband is a mechanic and we are looking for a larger property with a shop on site. We have noticed some affordable properties on Dona Ana Road. Is this a rural area outside of Las Cruces? Also- we have four children. Are there specific areas in Las Cruces to avoid due to crime--and any schools that are ranked better than others? Thanks for any information you can offer--especially regarding the area of Dona Ana Road. The property we are looking at specifically is 8105 Dona Ana. Thanks again!

[TKO]

I live by and travel up and down Dona Ana Rd all the time. It is a rural area like you describe. Near enough to town so it's pretty developed but a lot of large lots and looser zoning than in town. There is some minor property crime, like everywhere, but it's a nice area.

I'll let someone else chime in on the schools.

I would look carefully at any property off highway 70 east of town. There are some perfectly acceptable areas out there and some that aren't terrible but I wouldn't want to live there. There will be semi-rural properties out there that fit your bill and they'll be cheaper than the valley (dona ana rd) so I imagine some will come up in your search.

Good luck!

[sortlandia]

Thank you for the info! After chatting with the realtor, it turns out that the property is in a flood zone (something to due with watering/pecan season?) and we'd have to purchase flood insurance. Sounds like I still have lots to learn!

[joqua]

Originally Posted by sortlandia

Thank you for the info! After chatting with the realtor, it turns out that the property is in a flood zone (something to due with watering/pecan season?) and we'd have to purchase flood insurance. Sounds like I still have lots to learn!

That property is pretty isolated if you're looking for a place where the husband's business would have good exposure to passerby. Additionally, photos on the realtor sites show a rather unconventional structure for a residence.



Flooding from irrigation waters is the least concern since it's essentially "controlled flooding." That property is next to arroyos that drain during flash flooding rain storms, which would be a source of uncontrolled flooding. But there is an earthen **** that appears to be there to redirect runoff from those arroyos. It would be important to know the actual history of the location since there are several other houses adjacent to the one for sale.



OTOH, because it's in the "historic" flood zone of the Rio Grande, which is why it's got irrigation rights. That's likely what the realtor is relating to. Widespread flooding of the Rio Grande is past history and not something to worry about nowadays.

[TKO]

We used to call the church right next door Satan's church when we were dumb kids. We'd drive up there at night and shine the headlights on one of the stained glass windows and you'd see something that looked vaguely (very vaguely) like a goat's head.

I would think J is right, the flooding on that property would be from possibly lower elevation than surrounding properties and water flowing down from the Dona Ana mountains which are right across I-25 to the east. There's a drainage underpass right in that area. It's a good distance from the River.

If I were really interested I would see if there was a history of flooding and look into how much the insurance would cost. Hill, the little community that property is located in, is a nice farming area and no neighbors would be likely to complain about a shop and the occasional car parked there waiting it's turn for service. It would not be a good place to open a retail shop. Too far out of town. As for your own needs, Dona Ana, and the stores there, are not very far away. Real shopping in Cruces would be 10 minute drive.

I'd continue to look in that area and south of town as well if you like the green of the valley. Comes with some downside too though. Irrigation pumps (big diesel engines) running at all hours. Fires from burning the pecan trimmings. Bugs and lots of them. I still like it compared to the desert which you will find east and west of Las Cruces. So do most people I guess, valley property is usually more expansive.

[sortlandia]

Thank you for the information. So would the area south of town be considered a "rural" area or a bedroom community of Las Cruces? Are there specific zip codes you'd recommend searching in that offer more rural properties?

[TKO]

South of town is rural and similar to north of town. They're both the Rio Grande valley and there is a lot of farmland throughout. They're are also a number of smaller town between Cruces and El Paso. And a lot of the kind of properties you seem to be looking for. 88004, 044, 021, 081 are partly within the valley to the south.

[sortlandia]

Originally Posted by TKO

South of town is rural and similar to north of town. They're both the Rio Grande valley and there is a lot of farmland throughout. They're are also a number of smaller town between Cruces and El Paso. And a lot of the kind of properties you seem to be looking for. 88004, 044, 021, 081 are partly within the valley to the south.

Ok- thank you! And are there any specific zip codes to avoid due to crime rate?

[TKO]

The zip codes cover too much disparate type areas to do that kind of analysis. There is no terrible neighborhood in or around Cruces crime wise. You'll see more property crime in lower income neighborhoods but they're not dangerous places.

[mike0421]

This is a burglary map of the city, but it only includes data over the course of this calendar year. The unincorporated area will not have associated burglary data.

ArcGIS Web Application