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We will be in Santa Fe in July and would like to drive through some areas to take a look. More interested in town as opposed to burbs. Houses under $450,000 prefer lower small/med. yard suitable for garden, dog. Not ready for a realtor just want some suggestions so we can meander around. Thanks.
Housing in Santa Fe is quirky. If you're wanting to stay away from the newer developments (say, 1980s to present) on the edges of town, yet stay under 450K, yet still have some aesthetic appeal and more than 800 square feet, the choices are limited. At least that's what we found when we moved here this year. We wound up in Casa Alegre, which is a ca. 1950-1960 neighborhood built by Stamm (between Cerrillos and Agua Fria, on either side of Osage). Stamm built tract houses for the postwar boom, but added traditional pueblo revival touches like custom doors, vigas, hardwoods, etc. They're considered affordable gems in Santa Fe. Other Stamm neighborhoods of the same style are Casa Solana (just northwest of downtown) and the area around Kaune school. The houses are usually 3/2 with 1,200-1,600 square feet, usually added on to, garages finished for living space, etc.
The older Guadalupe and Railyard areas have some gems, too. Often those have some traditional adobe construction, but there can be awkward additions and living spaces. South Capitol is nice, but staying under 450K is difficult there if you need some square footage and a yard. If you're only here for a short time you might be put off by what seems like scruffiness (lack of landscaping) in what we consider "nice" neighborhoods. You'll also have to get used to fences and walls around front yards (the practice has roots centuries old, but can seem off-putting to a visitor). My take is that in Santa Fe, it's more about how welcoming and comfortable your home is on the inside, and in its' yards and courtyards, than how it appears to someone driving by. So keep that in mind.
There are homes within your desired price range in all quadrants of town. So much depends on whether you'd consider a condo or prefer a single-family house, what size you want, how many bedrooms and baths, a garage, views, finishes, how much work it needs, etc.
Your best bet is to drive around all areas and find those that attract you most - again, since you'll be able to find properties in most of them (but not single-family homes in the foothills northeast or southeast in town). Once you've narrowed down those areas you'd want to live in, contact a Realtor and describe what you want. Then let that Realtor do the heavy lifting and send you links to and show you those properties that meet many of the preferences on your wish list. That's what we do, and it'll save you a lot of wear and tear.
Thank you for the input on various neighborhoods. I actually like the walled yards so not a problem. The other times we have visited did not really do much other than typical tourist stuff. I am anxious to look at it from a could we live here or afford to live here angle. We are not ready for a condo so single family would be our goal even though we are retired and in our 60's. But we don't want or need a large house so something under 2,000 sq.ft. We will also be looking at Abq. which may be more affordable, but Santa Fe is such a lovely town.
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