Albuquerque Travel Forum

I have seen many of the threads on this forum and there is some great information here. I dont mean to be redundant, but I couldn't really find a straight answer on this, when I was looking around, so I apologize. I have been offered a job in ABQ and I was wondering what areas are good to look for a home and where NOT to look for a home. We will be coming down to ABQ for a week to get a sense of the city. We have already been to SF a couple of times and really like it, but we have enver spent any time in ABQ. Also, my in-laws live in AZ, so we already have some idea of exsistence in the desert. Here is some basic info:

- I am coming from PA
- My wife and I dont have kids, but we might someday.
- we are what you'd condsider "upper-middle class" (i.e. not poor, but not wealthy either.)
- Both of us are artists and I am a musician, so culture is important, but not critical. I would say the most critical thing we are looking for is safety in our community, culture comes second.
- The job I would be taking is in the downtown area. I have a car, but if I could find something near public trans, that would be great!

Thanks for any info you can offer up would be most appreciated. We are not coming down to BUY just yet, just to look around, but if anyone has any suggestions of areas/neighborhoods that we should take a look at while we are there, it would make our time much better spent, I think.

Thanks in advance!

If you like artsy yet 'safe' I'd recommend you focus on Ridgecrest, Nob Hill, Old Town, Downtown (some friends live down there is it's really great!) and North Valley. As for schools, well, you'll have to decide upon that once it's an issue! The neighborhoods I've suggested have old, funky, upscale and modest homes all mixed in together.

Public transport out here is improving, but not great .... so the first 4 suggestions are along the most reliable bus routes. The Roadrunner train will be up and running soon and that will take you from downtown to Santa Fe :)

I hope you give our little dessert community a chance. If nothing else, we are MUCH more affordable than San Fransisco!

About abq's areas:
SW- very spotty, mostly lower income, home of most of abq's latino gangs
NW- very expensive along the Rio Grande
near NE- middle income mostly
far NE- expensive homes and more being built
SE- combination of good and bad patches, you'll know them when you see them, contains the UNM and trendy Nob Hill areas.
There are exceptions to all of the above.

Consider living along one of the excellent bike trails to bike to work.
Downtown seems to be on the upswing...condos popping up there and in Nob Hill.
Good luck.