Albuquerque Travel Forum

We are a couple living in Sacramento California and we are planning to move to Albuquerque. We want to purchase a duplex and live on one side and rent the other side to tenants. What are the best areas to do that and what areas should we stay away from? We want to live in a good area no gangs or high crime etc. We are also looking to attract good tenants. We are self employed so the commute to work does not matter.

A large number of live/work townhouses have sprung up around downtown in the past few years and might be what you are looking for. Give the Downtown Action Team a call for more info- their number is 505-243-2230. You might want to purchase a small loft in the area as your rental. It's an up and coming area that would be a great investment for you. We have seen our home almost double in value in the downtown area in just 6 years. It is close to the best entertainment and cultural venues in the city. Good luck.

I agree w/ danmike! Like most cities, downtown is going through major changes and is becoming the best part of town to live in :) I was looking at a duplex purchase recently, and most of the places for sale were in, or close to, an area of town called the War Zone .... you can guess why. So I decided to add to my own property instead. Another area to consider is the Near Heights, Ridgecrest, Nob Hill, and University areas .. Abluquerque is like a patchwork quilt w/ good and bad scattered about. You really need to SEE the neighborhood BEFORE you purchase.

If living near an active urban area is not important to you then you might consider Rio Rancho. It is mostly suburban but has a shopping center and housing is cheaper there. It is about 20 miles from Abq city center. If you like to be near more trendy places, then the University area, Nob Hill and Downtown might appeal to you. But...those areas are spotty and you need to look at them first. The north valley has the horsey-set and tends to be expensive with a few modest homes sprinkled in.
Like Kymbanm says, Abq is a patchwork, so caveat emptor.

You cannot miss if you can find a place in the university area north of Central Avenue. The prices have skyrocketed in that area though.