Housing in Albuquerque

Housing in Albuquerque can best be described as NEW, AFFFORDABLE AND DIVERSE. Most of Albuquerque’s housing inventory has been built since 1970. New construction is available all over the city and pricing begins in the $275,000 to $315,000 price ranges.

The city’s varied topography offers a wide array of environments. To the east of the city lie the Sandia Mountains. Going west from the Sandias, the landscape changes from mountain foothills to river valley as it runs along the Rio Grande River. Then, the scenery changes again west of the river, as the terrain rises to bluffs offering views of both the river and city.

Housing styles vary as much as the landscape. Albuquerque offers everything from traditional brick/pitch roof homes, to California stucco with tile roofs, to pueblo and traditional Southwest adobe styling.

The maps on this page show the areas that the Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors uses to divide the city into geographic areas. A brief overview of each area is listed below.

The Northeast Quadrant (Areas 10-50 on the map)

The Northeast quadrant of Albuquerque is a well developed, mature area. It is in high demand because of proximity to schools, shopping, Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Laboratories, and business and commerce centers. With mature landscaping, access to many parks and good infrastructure this area enjoys stable values.

The Northwest Quadrant (Areas 110-120 on the map)

Because this area of Albuquerque has access to the extensive area west of the Rio Grande River, it is experiencing rapid housing development. New construction in this area is ample and a buyer can expect to find brand new homes. Realistically, resale home pricing starts at approximately $300,000 and go up to about $800,000 in custom home areas. Cottonwood Mall, the largest shopping mall in the city, is located in area 120 and the entire area has developed excellent shopping, movie theaters, restaurants and business centers.

The North Valley (Area 100 on the map)

Located in the NW quadrant is Albuquerque’s “North Valley”. This area is comprised primarily of older properties in a rural setting, allowing for a change from the typical urban flavor of most communities. Many homes are custom and the area showcases many of Albuquerque’s true estate-type properties. You may expect to pay between $350,000 to over $2,000,000 for homes in the North Valley. Some fixer-upper properties may be available under $300,000. Most property with any type of acreage (.5 acres or more) is quite expensive because of the value of the land. Hence, even property needing work will carry a high price tag in this area of the city.

The Southwest Quadrant (Areas 80-90 on the map)

This area is one of the oldest parts of the city. Homes are located in various settings – some rural and some urban in nature. Pricing ranges from $250,000 to $800,000+ for resale homes. As available land has become more and more scarce in the metro area, the Southwest has developed an area of newer homes. A newer home is priced substantially less here than for the same home in another area of the city beginning at about $250,000. A newer high school has just opened in the area.

Rio Rancho (Areas 140-160 on the map)

Located NW of Albuquerque, Rio Rancho is Albuquerque’s largest neighbor. With a growing population of approximately 130,000—140,000, this city is enjoying rapid growth and strong economic development. Intel is the city’s largest employer, and has been largely responsible for the economic prosperity enjoyed by the community. Ample access to shopping, entertainment and all amenities. Housing prices begin in the $300,000—500,000 price range and top out in the $600,000 – $800,000 range. The community has a wide range of new construction in all price ranges and styles.

Mountain Areas East of Albuquerque (Areas 210-280)

Again, this area is comprised of many small communities. The larger ones are Cedar Crest, Edgewood and Tijeras. Cedar Crest is located directly east in the mountains, along Highway 14 and to the North of I-40. Homes generally have some acreage and are on wooded lots. However, just as in the North Valley area of the city, land values will mean you can expect to pay more for a home. Home pricing begins at approximately $400,000 for a frame home and ranges upward to $1,000,000+. It is possible to find homes priced under $250,000, however, they are often manufactured or modular homes with some acreage. Some of these modular homes are on a permanent foundation, and some are not. Edgewood lies just east of the mountain range on the high plains and to the south of I-40. While pricing is similar to the Cedar Crest area, the terrain consists of more rolling hills and flat plains than Cedar Crest. Land value again affects pricing. Tijeras is located just South of I-40 at the junction of Highway 14. A small, rural village, this community has more of a rambling feel to it. Pricing is very similar to Edgewood and Cedar Crest.

Valencia County – South of Albuquerque (Areas 690-760)

These areas are located south of Albuquerque between 15-30 miles. Valencia County is comprised of many small communities the largest of which are Bosque Farms, Los Lunas, and Belen. Bosque Farms is approximately 15 miles south, Los Lunas is approximately 20 miles south and Belen is approximately 30 miles south. Urban neighborhoods co-exist with rural homes in these small towns and villages. Many homes have acreage and are equipped for livestock. Pricing varies and will range from $200,000 to $1,000,000.

This has been a very brief and limited overview of the many types of housing and pricing available in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Because of the variety offered here, wise buyers will want to consider many things prior to making a decision about where to purchase a home.

ERA Summit‘s trained relocation brokers are available to help you make that decision. Your sales associate will give you a tour of any areas of interest and will consult with you to help select the home that will best suit your needs.

You couldn’t be moving to Albuquerque at a better time!