The Many Sides Of Albuquerque

Whatever your taste or lifestyle, there’s a place for you in our high desert city. From sprawling adobes to stately bricks, your choices for housing seem almost endless. Begin your search by getting your bearings. The majestic Sandia Mountains stand to the east, while flat mesas edge the western horizon.




The city is divided into four quadrants: Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), Northwest (NW), and Southwest (SW). The North/South dividing line is Central Avenue or “Old Route 66.” The East/West dividing line is Broadway. Each quadrant offers a diverse range of housing opportunities through a network of unique subdivisions and neighborhoods.


You’ll find Albuquerque’s friendly lifestyle helps newcomers feel right at home soon after they relocate. Many residents are active in their neighborhood association, of which there are more than 225 throughout the metropolitan area. The office of Neighborhood Coordination (505) 924-3914, a division of city government, provides workshops, a directory, a monthly newsletter and other assistance to neighborhoods dealing with such issues as zoning, parks and traffic.

The city’s Northeast Heights stretches from the University of New Mexico to the foothills of the Sandias. The mountain boundary to the east and Sandia Pueblo to the north limit massive development. Some of the City’s most affluent subdivisions lie within this area, including Sandia Heights, Tanoan, High Desert and Glenwood Hills. One of the newest subdivisions, North Albuquerque Acres, features upscale residences on large lots. Dozens of other neighborhoods offer homes in almost every style and price range.

The Southeast section incorporates Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Laboratories and the Albuquerque International Airport. Housing developments range from the well-established Ridgecrest and Four Hills areas to the refreshingly contemporary Willow Wood. You’ll find this area offers suitable housing for most family needs.

Perhaps the most diverse area of the city lies within the Northwest quadrant. Secluded, rural properties surrounded by massive cottonwoods typify Albuquerque’s serene North Valley. Across the Rio Grande atop the West Mesa are the city’s newest residential and commercial developments; though some, such as Paradise Hills and Taylor Ranch, date back several decades. Dozens of homebuilders offer an extensive array of affordable housing possibilities, with prices starting at around $110,000.

Primarily an agricultural area, Albuquerque’s South Valley offer residents rural living at an affordable price. Many homes are southwestern in style and often include barns for livestock. Come closer to the Downtown area and you’ll find Albuquerque’s prestigious Old Country Club neighborhood. Lushly landscaped and quiet, this neighborhood is widely considered one of the most desirable residential locations in the city. During the Christmas holidays, many of the homeowners set out thousands of luminarias or little lights, creating awesome nightly displays for all to enjoy.

A planned community northwest of Albuquerque, Rio Rancho is known for its phenomenal growth and economic development. Attractive housing prices make it popular with first time buyers and retirees. Financial incentives have also been successful in luring several major corporations to set up shop in the area, including Intel, Gateway 2000, Sprint and Victoria’s Secret.

Adjacent to the North Valley, the village of Corrales is unlike any other. An abundance of small arts and crafts shops and superb restaurants line the winding road that meanders through the township. Residences often sit on large plots of land, sometimes as much as several acres. There are still small, productive farms and orchards. The pastoral setting provides a relaxed lifestyle that residents share with pets, horses and farm animals.

Slightly farther north, Placitas offers sites with more land, bigger homes and continuity of architectural style (Pueblo and Territorial designs are the most relevant). Founded in 1745, the area was initially a large tract of land divided among 21 families, many of whose descendants still live in the area. Today, Placitas is a quiet, low density residential community offering spectacular views day or night.

Minutes away from Albuquerque off South I-25 are the townships of Bosque Farms and Los Lunas. For those who want to leave the hustle-bustle of the city behind and savor a more simple way of life, these two communities are hard to match. Small “Mom and Pop” businesses in the area provide basic necessities. One of the area’s historic landmarks, The Luna Mansion, has been restored into an elegant restaurant.

Through Tijeras (Spanish for “scissors”) Canyon on the east side of the Sandias are several small communities, including Cedar Crest, Sandia Park and Sandia Knolls. All are quiet places inhabited by those seeking a more rural environment and who prefer living along the rugged mountains high in the pinons and pines.

See more about Albuquerque and Real Estate at www.GregLobb.com