*Albuquerque New Mexico: Relocation, Real Estate, and Information*

Patrick F. Montrose - REALTOR®, BA, MAT
Associate Broker
Certified Relocation Specialist
Coldwell Banker Legacy Realtors
6767 Academy Road NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109
Pat@PatMontrose.com
(505) 828-1000 Office
(505) 857-2344 Office Direct Line
(505) 239-4253 Mobile
(505) 821-0399 Fax

Albuquerque is divided into four quadrants: Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), Northwest (NW), and Southwest (SW) . The North and South dividing line is Central Avenue, also known as "Old Route 66." The East and West dividing line is Broadway, or to old timers the railroad tracks. Each quadrant has its own unique qualities and distinctive neighborhoods.. If you want to become active in your new neighborhood, there are over 225 neighborhood associations throughout the city that are coordinated through the Office of Neighborhood Coordination ( 505-768-3790).

Northeast:
This quadrant stretches from the University of New Mexico to the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. The Sandia Mountains to the east and the Sandia Pueblo to the north limit this area to moderate development. Some of the city's most affluent and upscale subdivisions lie within this area. Sandia Heights, Tanoan, High Desert and Glenwood Hills are located here. North Albuquerque Acres, with its large lot size and "country" feel has homes in every style and price range.

Southeast:
This area includes Albuquerque International Airport, Kirtland Air Force Base, and Sandia National Labratories. Subdivisions include the well established Ridgecrest and Nob Hill sections, The Four Hills area, and the contemporary Willow Wood subdivision. This area has homes in every price range to met most family needs.

Northwest:
This area contains the city's oldest most established neighborhood and it's newest more rapidly growing area. The North Valley contains some of Albuquerque's most secluded, rural properties, surrounded by massive cottonwoods, with lot sizes typically of an acre or more. Cross the Rio Grande River and atop the West Mesa you'll find the most rapidly growing area of the city, containing both residential and commercial developments. Taylor Ranch and Paradise Hills do have properties that date back several decades, so a mix of new and old can be found in this area. Ventana Ranch, a master planned community can also be found here (for more information on Ventana Ranch click here. Affordable housing abounds, with dozens of homebuilders offering an array of new homes with prices starting as low as in the $70,000 range. Cottonwood Mall, one of the largest shopping centers in the Southwest, has over 1 million square feet of space.

Southwest:
Starting in the South Valley, you'll find a mainly agricultural area, with many homes southwestern style, that often have barns and livestock. Head towards downtown and you'll find the Old Country Club neighborhood. Quiet and lushly landscaped, this neighborhood is one of the more highly sought after residential areas of the city. This is the area to come to during the Christmas season. Many residents set out luminarias, or little lights, to guide you on a tour of this area.

Communities such as Rio Rancho ( Click here for more information on Rio Rancho ), Corrales, Placitas, Bosque Farms/Los Lunas, and the communites in the East Mountains (east of the Sandia Mountains, Click here for more information on the East Mountains ), border Albuquerque and each has its own unique flavor, feeling, and life style. Information is available about each area (see the section on the East Mountains) and I will gladly provide it to you.

Downtown Albuquerque, has a wide array of recreational and cultural offerings, catering to virtually every interest imaginable.

Take an award-winning zoo, throw in an aquarium, add a botanic garden, and you have the Albuquerque Biological Park. The Rio Grande Zoo is the largest in New Mexico, featuring emus, Komodo Dragons, white rhinos, and an impressive sea lion exhibit. The exhibits of the Albuquerque Aquarium follow a drop of water downriver from the headwaters of the Rio Grande to the Gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande Botanic Garden showcases plants of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts of North America, as well as plants of Mediterranean climates, in a gorgeous riverside setting.

The immense charm of Old Town attracts tourists from throughout the world. Whenever friends or relatives visit me, I always make sure we get a least one day in Old Town. Here, along narrow streets and courtyards, are old adobe buildings housing more than 200 shops and galleries. American Indian craftspeople sell their wares on the historic plaza. Several fine museums are also located in this area. The unique experience of walking through an active volcano can be had at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History (free admission) features permanent exhibits of the city's history as well as traditional and contemporary art, and the Explora! Science Center and Albuquerque Children's Museum offers many exciting hands-on exhibits for children and adults.

The longest single span aerial tram in the U.S., Sandia Peak Tram , rises from the city's eastern edge. It ascends to the nearly 11,000-foot peak of the Sandia Mountains in 20 minutes, giving you great views of the city and surrounding area.

On Albuquerque's West Side, just south of Rio Rancho, is Petroglyph National Monument , where five extinct volcanoes stand silhouetted against the sky. Trails lead visitors through a vast collection of petroglyphs-prehistoric images carved into stone surfaces-scattered along the volcanic encarpment.

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, just west of downtown Albuquerque, is a must-see attraction. It offers a museum with exhibits on the state's 19 Pueblos and programs for children, gift shops, a bookstore, and a restaurant. Crafts demonstrations and dances, free and open to the public (photography is permitted), are held each weekend.

The National Atomic Museum, with its installations and displays on the turbulent history of atomic energy, including the film Ten Seconds That Shook the World, is a free attraction on Kirtland Air Force Base , in the Southwest quadrant of Albuquerque.

GEOGRAPHY: Albuquerque lies along the banks of the Rio Grande River in central New Mexico. Surrounded by mountains, the city is located in a lofty valley between the towering Sandia and Manzano mountains to the east and northeast, and a high volcanic mesa to the west. The city's elevation of 5,314 feet above sea level makes it the highest metropolitan city in the United States. Kirtland Air Force Base is located at the southern edge of the city.

CLIMATE: Semi-arid. Average temperatures range from 25°F to 90°F. Average annual precipitation totals approximately eight inches. Humidity averages 30% in the summer and 44% during winter.

GOVERNMENT:
City - Mayor/Councilors
County - Board of Commissioners
County Seat - Albuquerque
Information concerning city and county government services and policies can be obtained from:
Albuquerque City Hall, 400 Marquette Avenue, N.W., Albuquerque 87102, 768-2000 - Information

Bernalillo County Administrative Office, 1 Civic Plaza, N.W., Albuquerque 87102, 768-4000

TAXES: Property tax rates may fluctuate yearly and vary according to location of residence. For information contact the County Tax Assessor's Office, phone 768-4040.

LICENSES: State auto and driver licenses may be obtained from:
Motor Vehicle Department, 3401 Pan American Freeway, N.E., Albuquerque 87107, 841-2455

ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT: The local economy is primarily based on government and educational employment, manufacturing, construction, finance, insurance, real estate, transportation, utilities, research and development, and the wholesale, retail and service industries.
For current information about employment opportunities in the area, contact:
Employment Security Department, 401 Broadway Boulevard, N.E., Albuquerque 87102, 841-8406

HOUSING: Because the availability and cost of homes and apartments change constantly, it is advisable to check the classified columns of the local newspaper, particularly the Sunday editions, for current information. Or, contact the following for assistance:
Better Business Bureau, 2625 Pennsylvania NE Suite 2050, Albuquerque NM, telephone number is 505-346-0110.
Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, 401 2nd Street, N.W., Albuquerque 87102, 764-3700
Albuquerque Board of Realtors, 1635 University Blvd., N.E., Albuquerque 871132, 842-1433
For additional assistance in finding housing in the Albuquerque area, contact:
Coldwell Banker Legacy Realtors, 6767 Academy, N.E., Albuquerque 87109, 857-2344 and speak to me, Patrick Montrose.

UTILITIES: *Electric: Public Service Company of New Mexico SW Area Offices-
414 Silver Avenue, S.W. 87102, 761-5900
1625 Rio Brave Boulevard, S.W. 87105, 761-5900
SE Area Office - 933 San Pedro Drive, S.E. 87108,761-5750
NW Area Office - 6200 Coors Road, NW 87120, 761-5850
NE Area Office North of Candelaria-
5555 Montgomery Boulevard, N.E. 87109, 761-5700
NE Area Office South of Candelaria-
7901 Mountain Road, N.E. 87110, 761-5800

*Gas: Gas Company of New Mexico, 723 Silver Avenue, S.W., Albuquerque 87158-7158, 880-7460
*Telephone: Qwest, 505 245-6612, 800-244-1111
*Water: City of Albuquerque Water Department, 404 Marquette Avenue, N.W., Albuquerque 87102, 768-2840
*Refuse: City of Albuquerque, 761-8100

EDUCATION: Elementary and secondary public school information may be obtained from: Kindergarten through 12th Grade Information Office Albuquerque Public Schools 725 University Boulevard, S.E. Albuquerque 87106 842-8211 North Area Office 120 Woodland Avenue, N.W. Albuquerque 87107 345-8531 Special Education Programs East Area Office 2611 Eubank Boulevard, N.E Albuquerque 87112 298-6752 South Area Office 601 4th Street, S.W. Albuquerque 87102 247-1012 Colleges/Universities Public: University of New Mexico Private: National College-Albuquerque Branch, Parks College and Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute.

BANKS: The community has nine banks and seven savings and loan associations. In order to transfer credit information ask your present banker for assistance, or contact: Equifax-Credit Information Services 4600-B Montgomery Boulevard, N.E. Albuquerque 87109 889-4600 New checking accounts may take ten working days to open. Grocery stores may not cash out-of-town checks. New residents may need traveler's checks, cash and/or credit cards.

CREDIT UNIONS: The Metro Allbuquerque area is home to seventeen Credit Unions. Their membership requirements are such that almost everyone would qualify to be a member of at least one of them. The local Credit Unions provide all the standard services, including mortgage loans.

PLACES OF WORSHIP: The community has three synagogues and approximately 300 churches of various denominations. Information concerning them may be obtained from obtained from: New Mexico Conference of Churches 124 Hermosa Drive, S.E. Albuquerque 87108 255-1509

NEWSPAPERS: The local daily newspaper is the Albuquerque Journal. For home delivery service, contact: Albuquerque Publishing Company 7777 Jefferson Street, N.E. Albuquerque 87109 843-4400

LIBRARY: Albuquerque Public Library System 501 Copper Avenue, N.W. Albuquerque 87102 768-5140 Libraries are located at the University of New Mexico and throughout the public and parochial school systems.

MEDICAL CARE : Some of the hospitals include Presbyterian, St. Joseph, University of New Mexico and Veterans Administration. For assistance in selecting a family doctor or dentist, contact the referral services of: Greater Albuquerque Medical Association 7770 Jefferson Street, N.E. Albuquerque 87109 821-4583 Albuquerque District Dental Society 3420 Constitution Avenue, N.E. Albuquerque 87106, 268-0545

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION :The Albuquerque Social Security Office is located at 4300 Cutler, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110 call 1800-772-1213

ORGANIZATIONS: A listing of local organizations can usually be obtained from the local chamber of commerce, the phone book, or your present chapter can usually refer you to the local organizations in your new city.

CULTURE: Cultural facilities include a wide variety of theatre, dance and musical groups, the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and many art galleries and museums. Several auditoriums and concert halls are the site of musicals, stage productions and concerts. Cultural events at the local university and colleges are usually open to the public.

RECREATION: For information about recreational programs and facilities, contact: YMCA 12500 Comanche Road, N.E. Albuquerque 87111 292-2298 Parks and Recreation Department 400 Marquette Avenue, N.W. Albuquerque 87102 768-3550 YWCA 7201 Paseo Del Norte, N.E. Albuquerque 87113 822-9922

SHOPPING: Major shopping areas, in addition to the downtown shopping district, include Arrowhead, Coronado Center, Cottonwood Mall, Eastdale, Fidelity Square, First Plaza, Hoffmantown, Montgomery Plaza, Northdale, Winrock and Wyoming Mall. Old Town, historic birthplace of Albuquerque, maintains its old-world charm with the many specialty shops around the gas-lit plaza. Major Retail Outlets Anthony's, Beall's, Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse, Dillard's, Family Bargain, K-Mart, Kistler Collister, Marshalls, MacyΉs, May D and S, McLellan's, Mervyn's, MontgomeryWard, J.C. Penney, Sears Roebuck, TJ. Marx, Target and Wal-Mart. Chain Grocers Albertson, Allsup's, Bag and Save, Circle K, Food Town, Furr's,7-Eleven, Skaggs Alpha Beta and Smith 's.

TRANSPORTATION: Urban transportation is provided by the Albuquerque Transit Division; phone 243-7433, http://www.cabq.gov/transit/tran.html, for routes, fares and schedules. Taxicabs and rental cars are also available. Interstate passenger service is furnished by Greyhound/Trailways Bus Lines and Amtrak. The local airfield, Albuquerque International Airport, is serviced by a number of airlines. There are four secondary airports in the area.

WELCOMING SERVICES: Welcome Wagon International 260-5551

Albuquerque, New Mexico Recent Rankings

• New Mexico Ranked 4th in Small Tech Industry, Small Times Magazine, October 2006
• Albuquerque Named Among Best Cities for Relocating Singles, Primacy Relocation and Worldwide ERC, October 2006
• Albuquerque Ranked High for Data Centers, The Boyd Company, September 2006
• Albuquerque Ranked 3rd Best Metro for Hispanics, Hispanic Magazine, July 2006
• Albuquerque Named One of World's Five Best Vacations, Orbitz, July 2006
• New Mexico Only 1 of 3 States to Receive an "A" in Entrepreneurial Activity, Edward Lowe Foundation, July 2006
• Old Spice Ranks America's Sweatiest Cities; Albuquerque Not at the Top of the List, Old Spice, June 2006
• Albuquerque 39th Fastest-Growing City in the Nation, Census Bureau, June 2006
• Albuquerque Ranked Among Top 10 of America's Brainiest Cities, BizJournals.com, June 2006
• Albuquerque Ranks 8th Best for Lifestyle Options for Relocating Families, Primacy Relocation and Worldwide ERC, May 2006
• Albuquerque Best in Nation for Business and Careers, Forbes, May 2006
• Albuquerque Named a Five-Star Knowledge Worker Metro, Expansion Management, May 2006
• Albuquerque Ranked 3rd Smartest City to Live, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, May 2006
• Albuquerque One of the Top Metros in U.S. Overall for Public Schools, Expansion Management, May 2006
• Albuquerque Ranked 8th Mid-Size Metro in Nation for Top Public Schools, Expansion Management, May 2006
• Albuquerque Ranked #2 Arts Destination, AmericanStyle Magazine, April 2006
• New Mexico Has Sixth Highest Concentration of Tech Workers in the Nation, American Electronics Association, April 2006
• New Mexico 6th in Generation of Wind Power, American Wind Energy Association, March 2006
• Albuquerque Ranked on Milken List of Top 200 Best Performing Cities, Milken Institute, March 2006
• Albuquerque One of America's 50 Hottest Cities, Expansion Management, January 2006
• USA Today Picks Albuquerque as One of the Top 6 Destinations to Travel for 2006, USA Today, January 2006
• Albuquerque Named as the 13th Fittest City in Nation, Men's Fitness, January 2006
• Yahoo! Names Albuquerque Among Cities With Good Work and Life Balance, Yahoo!, October 2005
• Albuquerque Featured as Best Community for Young People, Newsweek, October 2005
• Albuquerque Named 5th Best Real Estate Market and 4th Lowest City for Purchase Costs, Expansion Management, August 2005
• NM Ranked 3rd Best State for Cost of Labor and 5th Best State for Manufacturing Growth, Business Facilities, July 2005
• Albuquerque Inexpensive for Corporate Office Location (PDF), Expansion Management, July 2005
• Albuquerque Featured on MSN as a Best City to Start a Business or Career, MSN, May 2005
• Forbes Magazine Ranks Albuquerque as 5th Best Metro Overall and Lowest Cost City for Doing Business, Forbes, May 2005
• Albuquerque 11th Best City for Relocating Families (PDF)
• National Magazine Names Albuquerque a Five-Star Knowledge Worker Metro, Expansion Management, May 2005
• Albuquerque Ranked 2nd in Poll of Favorite Art Destinations, AmericanStyle Magazine, April 2005
• New Mexico Ranks 3rd on Top 10 Small Tech Hot Spots List for the Third Consecutive Year, Small Times Magazine, March 2005
• Albuquerque One of Top MSAs in the Nation That Saw Its Count of Businesses Grow, infoUSA, March 2005
• New Mexico 6th in Nation for Generation of Wind Power, American Wind Energy Association, March 2005
• Albuquerque International Sunport Voted One of the Top Five U.S. Airports for Wireless Access, Microsoft Small Business Center, February 2005
• Albuquerque Ranks 20th on List of Top Metro Areas for Job Growth and High Tech Output, Business Development Magazine, February 2005
• New Mexico Ranked 5th in Nation for Economic Development from Nanotechnology, Lux Research, January 2005
• Albuquerque Named 10th Fittest City, Men's Fitness Magazine, January 2005
• Albuquerque Ranks 7th on America's 50 Hottest Cities List, Expansion Management, January 2005

• 1. Albuquerque was founded in 1706, and is one of the nation's oldest inland communities.
• 2. Albuquerque's elevation of 5,314 feet makes it the highest metropolitan city in the United States.
• 3. Albuquerque was named for the Duke of Alburquerque, Viceroy of New Spain. The first "r" in the spelling was later dropped.
• 4. New Mexico is know as the "Land of Enchantment." Albuquerque is the geographic center of New Mexico.
• 5. Albuquerque is surrounded by Indian Pueblo country - the oldest farming civilization on the North American Continent.
• 6. The Sandia Mountains, Albuquerque's eastern boundary, are the first mountains west of the Mississippi River.
• 7. The Tramway, from Albuquerque to Sandia Mountain's peak, at 2.7 miles long, is the longest in North America. It starts at a base of 6,600 feet and twenty minutes later, arrives at Sandia Peak at 10,678 feet.
• 8. From Sandia Peak, 10,678 feet, you have a panoramic view of more than 11,000 square miles.
• 9.With a population of 600,000+, Albuquerque has an area of approximately 88 square miles.
• 10. "Old Town", founded in 1706, is a favorite spot for both tourists and residents.
• 11. Albuquerque is home to the arts, traditional and contemporary arts and crafts can be found all over town.
• 12. Albuquerque is home to the University of New Mexico, founded in 1889, and is centrally located in town.
• 13. The University of New Mexico (UNM) is probably best known for its departments of Medicine, Engineering, Anthropology and Romance Languages.
• 14. Albuquerque's Technical-Vocational Institute (TVI) is a public school created to provide post high school technical training, with day and evening classes.
• 15. Albuquerque's Sunport, an international airport, has U.S. Customs facilities.
• 16. More than seven hundred manufacturing companies are located in Albuquerque, producing everything from food products to electrical components.
• 17. Cochiti Dam and Reservoir, 45 miles northwest of Albuquerque, offers water sports and recreational facilities.
• 18. Albuquerque is the Hot Air Baloon Capital of the world. It is the site of international competition annually.
• 19. Albuquerque, according to the Weather Bureau statistics, receives 77% of all available sunshine.
• 20. Albuquerque has two daily newspapers, 32 radio stations, 8 television stations and digital cable television service.
• 21. Albuquerque averages eight (8) inches of rainfall annually, add this to low humidity and plenty of sunshine and we have year round pleasant weather.
• 22. Albuquerque is located at the junction of two interstate highways: east-west Interstate 40 and north-south Interstate 25.
• 23. Albuquerque is on the Amtrak System, providing fast railway service.
• 24. Albuquerque has loads of museums: Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, National Atomic Museum, Albuquerque Museum, University of New Mexico Fine Art Museum, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History.
• 25. Albuquerque is home to the Albuquerque Isotopes a Triple A Minor League Team which is a farm club of the L.A. Dodgers.
• 26. Albuquerque is home to the Scorpions a professional hockey team.
• 27. Albuquerque is home to the Slam a professional basketball team.
• 28. The Rio Grande River bisects Albuquerque just west of Old Town.
• 29. Albuquerque receives its water from underground water tables, over a mile deep, that are recharged from the melting snow in the mountains north and east of town.
• 30. The Albuquerque Public School System, with over a hundred elementary, middle, and high schools, is one of the nations largest.
• 31. In addition to Albuquerque's public schools, there are over fifty private and parochial schools at nursery, elementary, middle, and high school levels.
• 32. Elephant Butte, located 150 miles south of Albuquerque, is the largest lake in the area. The reservoir has 240 miles of shoreline and is open to recreational activities.
• 33. The Jemez Mountains, one hour from town, has trout fishing its crystal streams.
• 34. For hunters, the State Game and Fish Department has imported animals from Africa. Deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and other varieties of game are abundant.
• 35. Albuquerque boasts a 2,200 seat concert hall,Popejoy Hall on the University of New Mexico campus. It is acoustically outstanding and is the site for musicals, lavish stage productions, and touring company productions.
• 36. Mesa del Sol Amphitheatre, seating over 8,400 people, has become a stop on the concert tour of many performers. Many famous names stop by Albuquerque's outdoor theater on a regular basis and perform to sold out audiences.
• 37. The Albuquerque Public Library System includes a multi-million dollar main library, nine branches, and a bookmobile.
• 38. Albuquerque has the following facilities for large assemblies:Civic Auditoriumn 5,500; Tingley Coliseum 15,500; Johnson gym 8,800; University Arena 17,324, Mesa del Sol 8,400; and Convention Center 4,500.
• 39. Albuquerque is served by TWA, American, Eastern, Delta, Continental, United, America West, and Southwest Airlines. Interstate service is provided by small carriers.
• 40. Albuquerque is the location for the Federal Aviation Air Route Traffic Control Center responsible for air traffic in a five stater area.
• 41. Petroglyph Park, just northwest of Albuquerque's westside, contains the world's oldest art form and serves as a fascinating natural art gallery.
• 42. Golf is virtually a year-round sport in Albuquerque. There are courses in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and the East Mountains.
• 43. Sandia Cave, 25 miles northeast of Albuquerque, contains artifacts of primative men dating back approximately 25,000 years.
• 44. Built in 1706, the walls of the San Felipe Church, in Albuquerque's Old Town, are more than 7 feet thick. The church was used as a fortress against the indians.
• 45. Virtually all nationally affiliated adult and youth groups and organizations are represented by at least one branch or chapter in Albuquerque.
• 46. Over 3,500,000 tourists visit Albuquerque each year, and most come back for another visit.
• 47. Kirtland Air Force Base, the 6th largest Air Force Installation in the U.S., is located in Albuquerque.
• 48. Albuquerque's Rio Grande Zoo, Botanical Gardens, and Aquarium is one of the best in the southwest. It has elephants, monkeys, cats, giraffes, polar bears, sea lion, and much more. It also has a children's zoo, fowls, reptiles, rain forest and an exhibit of near extinct animals.
• 49. Albuquerque was the home of famed war correspondent Ernie Pyle who wrote,"if we could have only one house, then it has to be in New Mexico, and preferably in Albuquerque." Pyle's home in Albuquerque is now a memorial library.
• 50. Albuquerque, geographically, is the hub of the southwest. Between Houston and Los Angles, over 32 million people live within an 800 mile radius of Albuquerque.
• 51. Albuquerque has more than 150 parks. Los Altos Park is the largest with an enclosed heated pool, baseball and softball diamonds, tennis courts, a lighted golf course and children's recreational area.
• 52. Albuquerque is serviced by both Contental Trailways and Greyhound bus lines. Both are cross country lines.
• 53. Albuquerque is a craftsmen and central artist center and is the home of the New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair at the State Fairgrounds each June.
• 54. Albuquerque, located in Bernalillo County, has over one half the state's population living in it.
• 55. Albuquerque is home to one of the largest outdoor flea markets in the southwest. Every Saturday and Sunday, the State Fairgrounds turns into acres of fun shopping and eating. It takes hours of fast walking to see most of the offerings available, you can not see everything in a single day's outing.

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