Anyone from Albuquerque?

[Miramonti]

If so, what do you think of it and how do (did) you like it there?

I'm seriously considering moving there later this year but have no idea yet where to look for an apartment. I'd love to live near some trails, but want to be in an area that has fast (or fastest) broadband as well, and low crime.

Reasons for considering ABQ area:

1) good weather yearround
2) decent cost of living
3) scenic surroundings, mountains, trails
4) laid back but w/some metro life
5) some diversity


Any tips/suggestions?

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: jjsole
If so, what do you think of it and how do (did) you like it there?

I'm seriously considering moving there later this year but have no idea yet where to look for an apartment. I'd love to live near some trails, but want to be in an area that has fast (or fastest) broadband as well, and low crime.

Reasons for considering ABQ area:

1) good weather yearround
2) decent cost of living
3) scenic surroundings, mountains, trails
4) laid back but w/some metro life
5) some diversity


Any tips/suggestions?

My fiance is. I've visited his family there several times... his father goes hiking on gorgeous trails all the time (if you need a hiking partner ), and I really like the area by UNM. Downtown is just a hop, skip and a jump away, and the surroundings are beautiful and peaceful. Housing prices are def. reasonable. Good luck!

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Tomato

Originally posted by: jjsole
If so, what do you think of it and how do (did) you like it there?

I'm seriously considering moving there later this year but have no idea yet where to look for an apartment. I'd love to live near some trails, but want to be in an area that has fast (or fastest) broadband as well, and low crime.

Reasons for considering ABQ area:

1) good weather yearround
2) decent cost of living
3) scenic surroundings, mountains, trails
4) laid back but w/some metro life
5) some diversity


Any tips/suggestions?

My fiance is. I've visited his family there several times... his father goes hiking on gorgeous trails all the time (if you need a hiking partner ), and I really like the area by UNM. Downtown is just a hop, skip and a jump away, and the surroundings are beautiful and peaceful. Housing prices are def. reasonable. Good luck!

I'd love to go hiking with him...we could talk about you and I could fill him in on all the things that his future daughter-in-law posts about that he doesn't know about.

What is it in particular that you like about the UNM area? (I plan to visit abq next month, but haven't been there yet.)

 

[Miramonti]

^^^

 

[Safeway]

I'm from Dallas, that help?

 

[notfred]

I visited it, and it was a lot nicer than I expected.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Safeway
I'm from Dallas, that help?

It will if you stay there.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: notfred
I visited it, and it was a lot nicer than I expected.

In what way?

 

[NateD]

Here are some general descriptions, I've lived in Abq most of my life

North East - suberbish, least crime (where I live), expensive near sandias
UNM / Nob Hill - Hippyish, nice area, some crime, fun
Downtown - fun, relatively high crime ( i lived there for 3 years)
Corrales/North Valley - rural, some parts very nice others very bad (near river)
Rio Rancho - suberbish.. not part of abq, commute over river

Remember this is in general, there can be a wide variation in some of these areas.

Edit: Broadband should be available everywhere in the city from Comcast

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: NateD
Here are some general descriptions, I've lived in Abq most of my life

North East - suberbish, least crime (where I live), expensive near sandias
UNM / Nob Hill - Hippyish, nice area, some crime, fun
Downtown - fun, relatively high crime ( i lived there for 3 years)
Corrales/North Valley - rural, some parts very nice others very bad (near river)
Rio Rancho - suberbish.. not part of abq, commute over river

Remember this is in general, there can be a wide variation in some of these areas.

Edit: Broadband should be available everywhere in the city from Comcast

Great info, thanks much NateD.

Questions:

1) In chicago, most apartment leases turn over in march/april and september/october...is there anything like that there? (These last couple years tho the rental market is soft, so its not as strict as it was previously.)

2) Which part of town is the more gang infested areas?

 

[KingNothing]

I move there next week to start my new job. I was there for three months last summer on an internship.

To me, it's a step up from Omaha in almost every way. It's not as green, but the weather's better, there's more to do outside, and everything costs mostly the same. Better concerts too, on the whole.

I don't know if there's busy seasons for housing or not, but I was there in late May apartment hunting and everywhere I went had vacancies for moving in July 1. I was looking at 1-bedrooms, dunno if the situation was the same for 2 and 3 bedrooms, but you get the idea.

Northeast is definitely the best section of town, although the area near the air force base is nice as well. I'd probably get an apartment in northeast first, then scope out the rest of the city and decide where you want to live longer term.

Also, apartmentguide.com is good but make sure to get the paper version from a supermarket when you get there. I found that the paper version was easier to search through. I ended up going with Suncreek Village for $550 a month.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: KingNothing
I move there next week to start my new job. I was there for three months last summer on an internship.

To me, it's a step up from Omaha in almost every way. It's not as green, but the weather's better, there's more to do outside, and everything costs mostly the same. Better concerts too, on the whole.

I don't know if there's busy seasons for housing or not, but I was there in late May apartment hunting and everywhere I went had vacancies for moving in July 1. I was looking at 1-bedrooms, dunno if the situation was the same for 2 and 3 bedrooms, but you get the idea.

Northeast is definitely the best section of town, although the area near the air force base is nice as well. I'd probably get an apartment in northeast first, then scope out the rest of the city and decide where you want to live longer term.

Also, apartmentguide.com is good but make sure to get the paper version from a supermarket when you get there. I found that the paper version was easier to search through. I ended up going with Suncreek Village for $550 a month.

I've heard pretty good things about omaha, so that's encouraging. :thumbsup:

How long did it take you to find a place? I plan to move at the end of august or end of september but need to decide when to go and find an apartment. I like your suggestion, about playing it safe to begin with and use the first year to familiarize with the different areas for longer term living.

Sun Creek looks great according to the pic and the description. The rent is so low, I'm not used to rent that low w/o moving to the ghetto. Is that the norm for the 1br's in that area (assuming its a 1br), or less than average? I'll be looking for a 2br but I also have a large dog, and which usually limits 1/2 the places available right off the bat.

 

[Carbo]

Originally posted by: jjsole: Which part of town is the more gang infested areas?

That would be the South Valley. Avoid that area at all costs.

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: jjsole
I've heard pretty good things about omaha, so that's encouraging. :thumbsup:

How long did it take you to find a place? I plan to move at the end of august or end of september but need to decide when to go and find an apartment. I like your suggestion, about playing it safe to begin with and use the first year to familiarize with the different areas for longer term living.

Sun Creek looks great according to the pic and the description. The rent is so low, I'm not used to rent that low w/o moving to the ghetto. Is that the norm for the 1br's in that area (assuming its a 1br), or less than average? I'll be looking for a 2br but I also have a large dog, and which usually limits 1/2 the places available right off the bat.

I made a list beforehand of the places I wanted to visit using apartmentguide.com, then when I got there (Monday afternoon) I looked at a few of them and picked up the booklet from the supermarket. By Wednesday evening I had looked at over 20 properties and picked which one I wanted. My advice is to take a digital camera and a legal pad with you. Take a bunch of photographs and write down your impressions when you go on tours, and then review your photos/notes that evening to figure out which place you like the best.

If you have a laptop, the Hampton Inn off I-25 and San Antonio has free wireless internet in all the rooms. I'm sure others do too, but I stayed at that hotel while I was there and I liked it.

You don't even need to do a whole year, lots of places there will do shorter term leases. That price is for a 1 bedroom. The large dog will be a bit of a limiting factor. I don't think Suncreek allows large dogs, you might check Cloverleaf, and maybe Wellington. I wouldn't expect to pay more than $750/month for a 2-bedroom, even in the northeast though, unless you go to one of the real expensive places.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: KingNothing

Originally posted by: jjsole
I've heard pretty good things about omaha, so that's encouraging. :thumbsup:

How long did it take you to find a place? I plan to move at the end of august or end of september but need to decide when to go and find an apartment. I like your suggestion, about playing it safe to begin with and use the first year to familiarize with the different areas for longer term living.

Sun Creek looks great according to the pic and the description. The rent is so low, I'm not used to rent that low w/o moving to the ghetto. Is that the norm for the 1br's in that area (assuming its a 1br), or less than average? I'll be looking for a 2br but I also have a large dog, and which usually limits 1/2 the places available right off the bat.

I made a list beforehand of the places I wanted to visit using apartmentguide.com, then when I got there (Monday afternoon) I looked at a few of them and picked up the booklet from the supermarket. By Wednesday evening I had looked at over 20 properties and picked which one I wanted. My advice is to take a digital camera and a legal pad with you. Take a bunch of photographs and write down your impressions when you go on tours, and then review your photos/notes that evening to figure out which place you like the best.

If you have a laptop, the Hampton Inn off I-25 and San Antonio has free wireless internet in all the rooms. I'm sure others do too, but I stayed at that hotel while I was there and I liked it.

You don't even need to do a whole year, lots of places there will do shorter term leases. That price is for a 1 bedroom. The large dog will be a bit of a limiting factor. I don't think Suncreek allows large dogs, you might check Cloverleaf, and maybe Wellington. I wouldn't expect to pay more than $750/month for a 2-bedroom, even in the northeast though, unless you go to one of the real expensive places.

Excellent, thanks very much for the tips. Its hard work preparing for a move (not to mention expensive) as you know, and is great to get feedback from someone who's already done the same legwork.

I had been researching apartments on apartments.com...darn, they have nothing compared to apartmentguide.com. Unfortunately the ones you mentioned list either no pets or cats only, but its worth a call to be sure. There will of course be others if not tho.

I've found that sometimes apartmentratings.com can be useful, but postings for abq (and most places) are too few and far between, unless a place is absolutely loathsome where everyone wants to hammer it, or its absolutely awesome (ie rent = $$$).

What kind of management company a building has makes a huge difference, altho is the hardest things to discern beforehand since you often don't find out until the lease is signed and problems arise that need to be discussed with them.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Carbo

Originally posted by: jjsole: Which part of town is the more gang infested areas?

That would be the South Valley. Avoid that area at all costs.

Would that be here?

 

[frankierx]

i used to date a girl from there when i was 16 yo. although i dont remember much because that was 14 yrs ago.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: frankierx
i used to date a girl from there when i was 16 yo. although i dont remember much because that was 14 yrs ago.

I had a girlfriend when I was 16, altho I can't say we went on too many dates at that point.

 

[Trogdor91]

Occasionaly, I'll be quirky....I'll be quirky....ALBUQUERQUE!!!!

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: jjsole
Excellent, thanks very much for the tips. Its hard work preparing for a move (not to mention expensive) as you know, and is great to get feedback from someone who's already done the same legwork.

I had been researching apartments on apartments.com...darn, they have nothing compared to apartmentguide.com. Unfortunately the ones you mentioned list either no pets or cats only, but its worth a call to be sure. There will of course be others if not tho.

I've found that sometimes apartmentratings.com can be useful, but postings for abq (and most places) are too few and far between, unless a place is absolutely loathsome where everyone wants to hammer it, or its absolutely awesome (ie rent = $$$).

What kind of management company a building has makes a huge difference, altho is the hardest things to discern beforehand since you often don't find out until the lease is signed and problems arise that need to be discussed with them.

Definitely call, my biggest gripe with apartmentguide.com is that the information is sometimes incomplete. It never hurts to ask anyway. If you find a place that you really like that's offering a move-in special (i.e., first month free) then they may be willing to deal with you because they're obviously hurting for new tenants.

Another place to check out is Penn Square Village. I know for sure they allow dogs (dunno about large dogs) because I have in my notes that I heard barking dogs while on the tour. The guy who waited on me at Cracker Barrel lives there, he said he liked it, FWIW. The main disadvantage I saw was that it was located on a major street, so getting in and out could be a pain.

I'll be down there by the end of next week, PM me if you have any more questions.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: KingNothing

Definitely call, my biggest gripe with apartmentguide.com is that the information is sometimes incomplete. It never hurts to ask anyway. If you find a place that you really like that's offering a move-in special (i.e., first month free) then they may be willing to deal with you because they're obviously hurting for new tenants.

Another place to check out is Penn Square Village. I know for sure they allow dogs (dunno about large dogs) because I have in my notes that I heard barking dogs while on the tour. The guy who waited on me at Cracker Barrel lives there, he said he liked it, FWIW. The main disadvantage I saw was that it was located on a major street, so getting in and out could be a pain.

I'll be down there by the end of next week, PM me if you have any more questions.

Sounds great, I'll check it out. Were there any places that you saw that were definite NO'S that I shouldn't waste my time with? (ie people with masks climbing out windows with stereos, people doing laundry in the pool etc. ) Seriously tho, its subjective of course, but maybe some rude people or dumpy or smelly units etc.

 

[henryay]

I guess I'll give some input to this post.

I lived in albuquerque from 1998 to 2002. From a perspective of a young one. (20 years old).
The highways pretty much split the wealth of the city. Anything south of I-40 is considered lower class and north is much more better. I lived in these apartments in the NW side of albuquerque on Calle Cuervo and Corrales Road and it was a great place. Forgot the price though, but the place was new back then. There are many new apartments opening up where I lived near the Paseo Del Norte and Wyoming Blvd area but I think those might be expensive. But yea, the standard of living is much lower in the city.

Personally, I didn't like Albuquerque, but I was forced to move there since my parents owned a restaurant there. The high school I went to was good though. (La Cueva HS)

I'm living in Denver right now, which seems like a bigger albuquerque with sport teams.

Looking for a house? My parents are moving out of albuquerque in the next month. =)

If you have anymore questions, just ask.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: henryay
I guess I'll give some input to this post.

I lived in albuquerque from 1998 to 2002. From a perspective of a young one. (20 years old).
The highways pretty much split the wealth of the city. Anything south of I-40 is considered lower class and north is much more better. I lived in these apartments in the NW side of albuquerque on Calle Cuervo and Corrales Road and it was a great place. Forgot the price though, but the place was new back then. There are many new apartments opening up where I lived near the Paseo Del Norte and Wyoming Blvd area but I think those might be expensive. But yea, the standard of living is much lower in the city.

Personally, I didn't like Albuquerque, but I was forced to move there since my parents owned a restaurant there. The high school I went to was good though. (La Cueva HS)

I'm living in Denver right now, which seems like a bigger albuquerque with sport teams.

Looking for a house? My parents are moving out of albuquerque in the next month. =)

If you have anymore questions, just ask.

Thanks for the input henryay. I'm not in the market for a house at this point but would love to drop in on your folks' restaurant and get some free food. Would telling them that I know you give me a discount, or cost me more, since you abandoned their business.

What in particular did you love about your old place on the NW side...was it mainly the new building or did you like the area as well? I'm not opposed to living in a more spacious out-of-the-way area, altho if I'm not mistaken, its totally across town from costco, hehe.

NateD said above that corrales/north valley is mixed, some good parts, some bad ie near the river. Were you near any riffraff at that place, or was it pretty safe? Also, I read somewhere that its more humid and more mosquitos near the river in the summer, is that true?

 

[henryay]

Well, they sold the business last August because Albuquerque was getting boring and moved to Seattle or else I would've given you a discount. =)

About the apartment, it was mainly the new building. The area was good though, lots of shops and the mall is just down the street. It's only about 15-20 minutes from costco.

Yeah, near 2nd and 4th street is where it's gets kinda old and bad. Anything to the west of Coors Blvd is a great place to live. But, the area I lived in was pretty safe. I don't remember much about humidity and mosquitos, but at the same time every year, there is a population surge of moths. Those things are annoying, heh. Oh, be wary near the Intel plant, there has been complaints of chemical exposures and stuff.

Personally, I prefer the far NE heights. Great schools and better people.

Checkout paradise hills and the new area of Rio Rancho, Albuquerque is expanding that way and most of the newer houses and apts are over there.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: henryay
Well, they sold the business last August because Albuquerque was getting boring and moved to Seattle or else I would've given you a discount. =)

About the apartment, it was mainly the new building. The area was good though, lots of shops and the mall is just down the street. It's only about 15-20 minutes from costco.

Yeah, near 2nd and 4th street is where it's gets kinda old and bad. Anything to the west of Coors Blvd is a great place to live. But, the area I lived in was pretty safe. I don't remember much about humidity and mosquitos, but at the same time every year, there is a population surge of moths. Those things are annoying, heh. Oh, be wary near the Intel plant, there has been complaints of chemical exposures and stuff.

Personally, I prefer the far NE heights. Great schools and better people.

Checkout paradise hills and the new area of Rio Rancho, Albuquerque is expanding that way and most of the newer houses and apts are over there.

Ok, I'll stop begging.

Thanks much for the tips on that part of town, very helpful. :thumbsup: I also thought costco would have been a much longer trip as well.