Santa Fe, NM- anyone know this town?

[Anonymous]

Hi, OP! DH and I lived in Santa Fe for 5 years and LOVED it. I 100% urge you to go for it if offered the job. There are some cheaper/ less desire able areas of the city proper. The historic east side, Canyon Road area, Teseque, and many areas in walking distance of the plaza are very expensive. Out along Airport Road is pretty cheap but probably not where you want to live. Instead of living in a cheaper and more dangerous neighborhood, trust me I lived in a ghetto SF neighborhood once, your answer is Eldarado. When I lived in Santa Fe I thought that it was far away, it is not. Seriously, it is 10-15 min drive!
Eldarado has beautiful views and great adobe houses. I love just thinking about all of that sky! I would say that Eldarado is very family centric middle and upper middle class. No poverty, no super rich people. They have a K-8 school, community swim team, sports teams, parks, etc. it would be very nice for your kids. Here is a house under $300K there: http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1-Encantado-Loop-Santa-Fe-NM-87508/6851160_zpid/ You can get a mortgage around $1,300 for a three bedroom. You can also rent there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldorado_at_Santa_Fe,_New_Mexico

If you tell me your budget and if you want to rent or buy I will check back in on this thread and offer suggestions.

Here is a link to the greatschools review of the school in Eldarado http://www.greatschools.org/new-mexico/santa-fe/678-El-Dorado-Community-School/
The only public school in Santa Fe prosper that I am aware of being as good as Eldarado's school is Acequia Madre whose boundaries are some of the highest priced real estate in town.

Here is a link to a local property management rental company. I have not used them, but as I recall they are one of the most popular property management services. http://www.kokoproperty.com/pw_rentals/index/index/page:2/Search.city:Santa%20Fe/sort:rent/direction:asc

[Anonymous]

PP again. You do not want to commute from Los Alamos. That is too far!

[Anonymous]

Very very very hot during summer. But at least it's a dry heat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP again. You do not want to commute from Los Alamos. That is too far!

40 mins tops is not too long.

[Anonymous]

We looked into it and friends said to be very particular about the schools. Most public are not good, but a few are. It sounds like a PP has hooked you up, though. It's so beautiful out there!

[Anonymous]

OP here- wow, thanks so much for all the advice! This is great info and so helpful in easing my fears to hear how much you have all enjoyed living there. And thanks especially to PP with the school info and real estate links. I would probably rent at first, both to learn the area and to get my finances in order after the divorce. The house is lovely but all that desert and adobe will take some getting used to after a lifetime in the green hills and colonial-style houses of the east coast. I will let you all know how the in-person interview goes!!

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm the one who was talking about my husband and the ex, etc. A couple things.

Yes, wait until the divorce is final before you buy a house otherwise it might come up in the divorce and that would really be a mess.

Second, I googled to see what kinds of programs there might be in SF to see if there's somehow assistance etc. I found this, hope it helps. I think it's good to look around for all types of programs that might help you afford a home.

http://www.santafenm.gov/affordable_housing

[Anonymous]

The poster who gave you the links to El Dorado schools and real estate is doing exactly what my parents did when we moved there. It is a good place. And the desert and adobe does take getting used to, but it's also really beautiful. And the skiing in the winter is just so easy and good. You go half an hour and you're there. And the food... I'm actually jealous. Plus, there are really cool, nice people there. Much more interesting and less self-important than most people in DC!

[Anonymous]

PP who sent lots of links here -good luck with your interview! Let us know how it goes. I am happy to recommend trails and cafés if you are flying out there. Be sure to go on at least one small hike. The air is so clean, it smells wonderful, especially right after a rain. The night sky is amazing. When we were visiting this past fall, we drove into the hills, lay down on the ground, and marveled at the Milky Way. We might be back in Santa Fe in a couple of years ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very very very hot during summer. But at least it's a dry heat.

Actually Santa Fe has a pleasant summer temperature as it is higher in elevation than Albuquerque which is a mile high. Albuquerque isn't even as hot as people think it is. The evenings are so pleasant, very few mosquitos. The spring weather is the worst thing about ABQ/Santa Fe. Very windy with sand blowing all over the place. Some years the windy season lasts for months. But the heat. Not a problem.